 United States, the Vice President of the United States, and Robert McFarland. Mr. President, distinguished guests, it's a great honor for those of us who are involved with the National Endowment for Democracy to be here this morning to participate in this gathering and to have you celebrate this occasion with us, you and the Vice President. We're very grateful for that and very honored. We have here an initiative that came from President Reagan and this administration on a concept that is absolutely essential in the judgment of many people who are on the board for the National Endowment and many other people in this country. It is a great opportunity and a great challenge. I don't believe that any time in the history that I've been in the Congress in 30 years, we've ever had coming together the kind of political leadership, the economic and labor leadership, and the leadership that is represented on the board of the National Endowment to carry out a national objective of this kind. Democracy is a vibrant living thing that needs to be explained, promoted, nurtured, and encouraged. The board here, Mr. President, is an outstanding board. I submit we understand the challenge and has to be carried out. We are prepared to meet that challenge because we recognize the importance to the United States and to the world. No, no, please. You've done that. Thank you. Well, thank you very much. Good morning and welcome. It's good to have you all here to help celebrate the launching of a program with a vision and a noble purpose. The National Endowment for Democracy is, just as we've been told, more than bipartisan. It's a genuine partnership of Republicans and Democrats, of labor and business, conservatives and liberals, and of the executive and legislative branches of government. It's such a worthwhile, important initiative that I'm tempted to ask why hasn't it been done before? Well, we're doing it now and it's largely because of the hard work of good people. Chuck Monat, Frank Ferencourt, Dantifacell, Bill Brock, Lane Kirkland, Mike Samuels, you have my heartfelt thanks and warmest congratulations. And a special thank you to our vice president who has been carrying this message for quite some time now on missions here and there throughout the world. The establishment of the National Endowment goes right to the heart of America's faith in democratic ideals and institutions. It offers hope to people everywhere. Last year in London, I spoke of the need and obligation to assist democratic development. My hope then was that America would make clear to those who cherish democracy throughout the world that we mean what we say. What had been praying on my mind that prompted me to say that in that speech of the parliament was that in my lifetime, my adult lifetime, the world has been beset by isms. And we remember one of those isms that plunged us into a war. And it suddenly dawned on me that we, with this system which so apparently works and is successful, have just assumed that the people would look at it and see that it was the way to go. And then I realized that all those isms, they also are missionaries for their cause and they're out worldwide trying to sell it. And I just decided that this nation with its heritage of Yankee traders, we ought to do a little selling of the principles of democracy. We're coming out for human rights and individual liberty and for the role of rule of law and the peaceful reconciliation of differences for democratic values. Principles is good and right. But it's not just good enough. We must work hard for democracy and freedom. And that means putting our resources, organizations, sweat and dollars behind a long term program. Well, the hope is now a reality. The national endowment for democracy, a private, non-profit corporation funded by the Congress will be the centerpiece of this effort. All Americans can be proud of this initiative and the congressional action which made it possible. By engaging the energies of our major political parties of labor, business and other groups such as the academic community, the forces of democracy will be strengthened wherever they may be. We'll have a caring group of Americans to go to, to get assistance from, advice and cooperation. This program will not be hidden in shadows. It'll stand proudly in the spotlight and that's where it belongs. We can and should be proud of our message of democracy. Democracies respect individual liberties and human rights. They respect freedom of expression, political participation and peaceful cooperation. Students which serve their citizens in courage, spiritual and economic vitality. And we will not be shy in offering this message of hope. Through the national endowment, the private sector will promote exchanges between the American people and democratic groups abroad. It'll stimulate participation in democratic training programs and institution building overseas. The endowment will work closely with those abroad who seek to chart a democratic course. And all this work will be sensitive to the needs of individual groups and institutions. And of course it will be consistent with our own national interests. The national endowment will let the people at the grassroots who make our democracy work help build it elsewhere. The organizations that are now being formed by the republican and democratic parties and by labor and business will be the key to success. They'll also be expressions of what's best and most valuable in American public life. Now we're not naive. We're not trying to create imitations of the American system around the world. There's no simple cookbook recipe for political development that is right for all people and there's no timetable. While democratic principles and basic institutions are universal, democratic development must take into account historic cultural and social conditions. Each nation, each movement will find its own root. And in the process we'll learn much of value for ourselves. Patience and respect for different political and cultural traditions will be the hallmark of our effort. But the combination of our ideas is healthy and it's in this spirit that the national endowment reaches out to people everywhere. And we'll reach out to those who can make a difference now and to those who will guide the destiny of their people in the future. Much depends on us but we can be confident that the tide of history is a freedom tide. That's the real message of our time and it may be just the reason why those who don't like to hear the truth are so worried. And nine countries which joined the United Nations since 1978 are democracies. In Africa important states like Nigeria and Senegal have entered fully into the community of democratic states. In our hemisphere, 27 out of 35 countries are democracies now or in transition. And just last week Argentina completed its dramatic return with the inauguration of President Alfonso. Yes beyond the world's trouble spot lies a deeper, more positive and hopeful trend. The march of democracy and the national endowment will be a part of it. Of course any undertaking will ultimately be judged by the challenges it accepts and those that it overcomes. All of you in this room have good reason to be proud. You've accepted a worthy challenge. The national endowment for democracy can make a lasting and important contribution. It's up to all of us to make it happen, to harness the resources, experience and wisdom of both the public and the private sectors. It's up to us to broaden our efforts, make them grow. And with the people in this room, I know we can and I know we will. So again, thank you, good luck and God bless all of you.