Not only for political independence, but for personal liberty. Not only to eliminate foreign but to establish the rule of justice in the affairs of men. That struggle was a turning point in our history. Today, the ideals of those american patriots still shape the struggles of men who hunger for freedom. Proud crowd, yet those who founded our country knew that freedom would be secure only if each generation hoped to renew and enlarge its meaning. Tom the minutemen at concord the soldiers in vietnam, each generation has been equal to that trust. Americans of every race and color have died in battle to protect our freedom. Americans of every race and color have worked to build a nation. Of widening opportunities. And now, our generation of americans has been called on to search fore unending justice within our own borders. We believe that all men are created equal, yet many are denied equal treatment. We believe that all men have certain unalienable rights, yet Many Americans do not enjoy those rights. We believe that all men are entitled to the blessings of are beinget millions deprived of those blessings. Not because of their own failures, but because of the color of their skin. Embeddedns are deeply in history and tradition and the nature of man. We can understand without rancor or hatred how this all happened. But it cannot continue. , the foundation , the principles of our freedom forbid it. Morality forbids it. And the law i will sign tonight forbids it. Product of the months of the most careful debate and discussion. It was proposed more than one year ago by our late and beloved president , john f. Kennedy. It received the bipartisan thirds of more than two of the members of both the house and the senate. An overwhelming majority of republicans as well as democrats. Voted for it. It has received the thoughtful support of tens of thousands of civic and religious leaders in all parts of this nation. And it is supported by the great majority of the american people. The purpose of this law is simple. It does not restrict freedom of any american. So long as he respects the rights of others. It does not give special treatment to any citizen. It does say the only limit to a mans hope for happiness is that the future of his children shall be his own ability. It does say that there are those who are equal before god, shall now he will be equal in the the classrooms, the factories, hotels, restaurants, movie theaters, and other places that provide service to the public. I am taking steps to implement the law under my constitutional obligation to take care that the laws are faithfully executed. First, i will send to the senate my nomination of Leroy Collins to be director of immunity relations service. [applause] governor collins will bring the experience of a long career of distinguished Public Service to the task of helping communities solve problems of human relations through reason and common sense. Appoint anhall Advisory Committee of distinguished americans to assist and knowledge and acknowledge his assignment. Third, i am paying for appropriations to implement the law and for immediate action. [applause] fourth, already today, in a meeting of my cabinet this afternoon, i direct the agencies of this government to fully discharge the new responsibilities of the law and to do it without delay and to keep me personally informed of their progress. To meet withsking representative groups to promote greater understanding of the law and to achieve a spirit of compliance. Theust not approach observance and enforcement of this law in a vengeful spirit. Its purpose is not to punish. Divide,ose is not to , divisionsdivisions which have lasted all too long. Its purpose is national, not regional. Its purpose is to promote a more abiding commitment to freedom, and more constant pursuit of justice. Respect for human dignity. We will achieve these goals because most americans are lawabiding citizens. Who want to do what is right. This is why the Civil Rights Act voluntaryirst on compliance, then on the efforts of local communities and states to secure the rights of citizens. For the National Authority to step in only when others cannot or will not do the job. This Civil Rights Act is a challenge to all of us to go to work in our communities and our states, in our homes and in our hearts, to eliminate the last vestiges of injustice in our beloved country. Urge every public official, every religious leader, every business and professional men, every working man, every housewife, i urge every american to join in this hopet to bring justice and to all our people and to bring peace to our land. My fellow citizens, we have come now to a time of testing. We must not fail. Races close the springs of of racial poison. Let us trade for wise and understanding hearts. Let us lay aside irrelevant differences and make our nation whole. Day when our that unmeasured strength and our unbounded spirit will be free to ordained forworks this nation by the just and wise god who is the father. Of us all. Thank you and good night. [applause] hi, joe. Thank you, mr. President. We did better today than we did the other day. Charlie, you got one . You bet. Hello, philip. Delighted to see you. Roy, so glad to see you. Will you see that the others i want to talk to them after this is over with. Thank you very much. Thank you, wayne. Thank you, my friend. That one just wont work. I will distribute them right now. My daughters birthday, july the second. , this is my ninth anniversary of my heart attack today. Thank you. Somebody from isaf, be sure we get some more pens here. Is everybody covered here . Anybody else . Else . Y on. S move anybody else . Anybody else . Did i get them all . Every sunday at 8 00 p. M. And midnight eastern, you can learn from leading historians about president s and first ladies, their policies, legacies, here on the presidency. Check out our tv schedule. You are watching American History tv, all weekend, every weekend, on cspan3. Ago, on july 2, 1964, president lyndon b. Johnson signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Next on American History tv, talks withorian roger mudd and andrew glass. They recall the debate in passage of the most significant civil rights legislation since reconstruction. This event is about an hour. Good afternoon. It is 12 00. Two verywith distinguished guests, veteran reporters who covered the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I way of introduction, we are in one of the most historic rooms