Progress toward these noble goals is persistently threatened by the conf lict now engulf ing the world It commands our whole attention absorbs our very beings. We face a hostile ideology global in scope, atheistic in character, ruthless in purpose, and insidious in method Unha ppily the danger it poses promises to be of indef inite duration. To meet it successf ully, there is ca lled for, not so much the emotional and transitory sacrif ices of crisis, but rather those which enable us to carry forward steadily surely and without complaint the burdens of a prolonged and complex strugg le w ith liberty the stake. Only thus shall we remain despite every provocation, on our charted course toward permanent peace and human betterment Crises there will continue to be. In meeting them, whether foreign or domestic great or small, there is a recurring temptation to feel that some spectacular and costly action could become the miraculous solution to all current diff iculties. a huge increase in newer elements of our def enses; development of unrealistic programs cure every ill in agriculture; a dramatic expansion in basic and applied research these and many other possibilities, each possibly promising in itself, may be suggested as the only way to the road we wish to travel But each proposal must be weig hed in the light of a broader consideration: the need to mainta in ba lance in and among natio nal programs balance between the private and the public economy, balance between the cost and hoped for advantages, balance between the clearly necessary and the comfortably desirable, balance between our essential requirements as a nation and the duties imposed by the nation upon the individual, balance between actio ns of the moment and the nationa welfare of the future. Good judgment seeks balance and progress. Lack of it eventually finds imbalance and frustration the record of many decades stands as proof that our people and their Government have in the main, understood these truths and have responded to them well, in the face of threat and stress But threats, new in kind or degree, constantly arise. Of these i mention two only A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mig hty, ready for instant action so that no potentia l a ggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction Our military organization today bears little relation toProgress toward these noble goals is persistently threatened by the conflict now engulfing the world. It commands our whole attention, absorbs our very beings. We face a hostile ideology global in scope, atheistic in character, ruthless in purpose, and insidious in method. Unhappily, the danger it poses promises to be of indefinite duration. To meet it successfully, there is called for, not so much the emotional and transitory sacrifices of crisis, but rather those which enable us to carry forward steadily, surely, and without complaint the burdens of a prolonged and complex struggle with liberty the stake. Only thus shall we remain, despite every provocation, on our charted course toward permanent peace and human betterment. Crises there will continue to be. In meeting them, whether foreign or domestic, great or small, there is a recurring temptation to feel that some spectacular and costly action could become the miraculous solution to all current difficulties. A huge increase in newer elements of our defenses; development of unrealistic programs to cure every ill in agriculture; a dramatic expansion in basic and applied research -- these and many other possibilities, each possibly promising in itself , may be suggested as the only way to the road we wish to travel. But each proposal must be weighed in the light of a broader consideration: the need to maintain balance in and among national programs, balance between the private and the public economy, balance between the cost and hoped for advantages, balance between the clearly necessary and the comfortably desirable, balance between our essential requirements as a nation and the duties imposed by the nation upon the individual, balance between actions of the moment and the national welfare of the future. Good judgment seeks balance and progress. Lack of it eventually finds imbalance and f rustration. The record of many decades stands as proof that our people and their Government have, in the main, understood these truths and have responded to them well, in the face of threat and stress. But threats, new in kind or degree, constantly arise. Of these, I mention two only. A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction. Our military organization today bears little relation to