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INAUGURAL ADDESS
OF
GOVERNOR FARMS BRYANI
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
JANUARY 3, 1961
Govornor Collins. Govornor Caldvoll. noobors of tho Cabinot. tho
unialaturo. and tho Judiciary, distinauishad platfona posts, uy tollou
'lnridiansuay triands.
This is for no a mnt of deepest humility. and a ncnont o!
postast prido: hunility at tho cuparison of my linitod abilitios with
tho unlinited opportunities that no sharo; pride in tho knowledge that
as no grasp thoso opportunitios thorn stand shoulder to ahouldar
with no the citioons of tho finoot state of tho greatest nation upon
which the sun has ovor shono.
Tho political tapaigning is ovor. [or thoao of
you who pmudly and succossfully proclai-od in Hay and in love-bu that "tt'J
tins for Bryant" 1 shall b_o lorovor Eatafu But l960--Sprin; and Fall-ois
behind us, and can ho soon only if no out our gas bahind us. It is no
longor tino for Bryantuit's tins ior [lot-ids. It's tina to forgot tho
rivalrios of hay and Novonhot. It's tino to ranonbor that we ara first and
fora-oat titiuna of no noon stats. tharpd by tho rasponsibilitios at that
citiunship. and by tho haritap no shat-o. to do all in our unitod pom: to
malts living in Plorida tho rich tutorial. social. cultural and moral
axparionco that by roaoon of our natural onduaonta it ought to ha.
1 glass as I drivo around this lowly city and too tho hospitable signs:
'Rfoicont, Gmrnor Bryant." how glad I II to rocoive your voltm! nut it
this day soos no noro than tho inaumrstion ot a now governor. tho sun uiil
sat on a day that will haw boon empty of naaning. This day. to fulfill its
ptonisa, nust sac a non dadication on tho part of tho pooplo of all florida
to donand. and than to contributo to a standard of astollanca on tho part
of all than who labor in this administration novot' botoro athiavod, a
etandard of norelity that id not only above reproech but above euapicion,
e ateednrd of achieve-eat that one the prop-en of peat abiniatratione es
mini-tees, not as eeasurea.
bet ee make it abundantly clear that in deeandina so much I do not
for one mt derogate the achieve-lean either at the edeiniatretion
just concluded or of thoee that have gone before. We take the baton in
thie edeinietratioo where it wee handed to ue by the last. The hloche
vc ley are placed upon thoec that have been laid, and to eapect theee new
blocks to reach new heights ie praise of the pest, not criticise.
if I have sealed to place unusual eepheeie upon the part the citieens
of Florida oust play in the realization of her vest potentiel, it is
not hecauae I a monecioue of the responsibilities of leadership, nor
unwilling to name then. Rather it ia heceuee l conceive that in a
highly developed d-ocracy eoch ee we inherit the true function 0!
political leaderehip it to etieulete the people tinneelvu so that their
reach exceeds their steep. end to no direct their effort. that they work
in concert. and not in conflict. in this teehion not only do we more nearly
achieve our ineodiete scale, but else, and note importantly, we develop
our upiratioo tor-and our ability to reacho-cvan higher and more
significant pels.
A onset ago you heard or take the oath of office. i hope you
took it uith ac. and that ea we evore together we turned our backs on the
political rivalries oi the napalm. the fmtratioue oi the transition
period. the peraonel jealousiea to which men are subject. the misunderstandings
that have divided sectiona and citiea and citizens. t'ith all our great
wealth of talent we have none to spare. the sand, the tunehine. the sparkling
waters. the aoit hreeess, the rich eoil. aupport ue all. The education of
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every child is a natter of concern to the parents of every other child.
The noney spent on roads in one district is collected. in part. in every other
district. The living conditions. the wage scale. the norel standards,
the law enforcement in one section of our State effect every citieen of
the utternost section.
I a not blind to political realities. but I an deternined that the
goveruent of florida will, for the next four years, be as free free
political rifts as it is possible to nake it. To that end I pledge ny
willingness to go the extra nile. I do not plea to recopiee the "Pork Chop
Gang" or the La-b Chop aloe." with every bit of pouer and influence with
which you endow your governor l shell seek to fight efforts to pit a so-called
majority group" in our Legislature against a so-celled 'einority group."
In ny judge. the greatest deterrent to progressive. allvconsiderate
legislation is the division of the Legislature, because of their stand
on one or two significant issues. into voting blocs in which its nae-hers are
robbed of the power of independent thought on neny unrelated but equally
significant issues.
The Legislature of l'lorida is composed of non of intelligence and
good will. working toward a canon goal: the bettonaent of Florida.
It is not strange if their respective viewpoints differ. The coat devoted
husband and wife sonetines differ. The tragedy occurs when those
differences are froeen by ill will into decisions and conic-eats
invulnerehle to logic and reason.
The interests of Mimi and Hadison. of Iowa and rice, are not.
and cannot be expected to be. identical. There is no cupelling reason why,
however, with the help of leedsrship by the executive, restraint by the nave
nedia, and understanding by the people. the Legislature cannot achieve
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s hmioua blonding of varying intorosts to downlop oquitahlo progro-.
including roapportiol-ont. For too lug wo hows boon blocked by tho
iiros of soctionalioo blown out of control by hittsrnoss and oistrust. led
with fool iron ths political woodahod rothsr than quonchcd by a lihorsl
supply of tho nilk of huncn kinbcos.
orida tacos a night, challoogo to oaintain and incroaso in thoso
yoars of groat growth and suddon changs tho quality which has charsctorisod
tho oconooic and social gains oi which no aro so proud. 1! thoro is one
thought upporloost in ny nind today, it is this: A lorida dividod
against itoolt cannat most this chollongo. In union alono is thoro strongth.
Just as l yearn for a min contribution on tho part of tho
citisons of Florida to tho oacollonoo oi thoir govornnont. and vision on
tho part of tho loo-born of tho Logislsturo which was all tho ncods
o! oll Florida. so i shall soak for a suporior oiiort on tho part of tho
ouplnyccs of our govornnont. He shall sock out superior coployccs to roword.
on shall invito and oncourogo. yea. and rmrd, suggestions (or improvonont.
wo shall try to givo ooployoes at all levels a gliopso of tho lsrgor goals
for touch thoy work, wo shall may coqotition, wo shall wood out
iocmpotonco. wo shall sash out and punish dishonooty uhon and it it occurs.
If tho colloction of tons is inprovod, 1 shall not havo handled
ono account. ll bottor roads aro built. 1 shall not how turnod ono shovol.
l! ohcstlon is inprovod, I shall not hawo taught ono child. If those
things are to ho dono, thoy oust ho dono largely by qloyooo who aro sow
sorving this stato. and who will ho sorving tho stato attor this
obinistratlon is gone.
I know tho quality of those servants of Florido. and it is good.
Ho shall innodiatoly and continuously cook to inprowo that quality through
tho nor-a1 porsonnol turnovor, but tho grostoot opportunity (or inrovooont
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lloo wlthln tho ouployooo tho-aolvoo. Ho ohall all: of tho- oatra otlort.
matinth loyalty, tho dodltatloo vhloh oooa a clock only oo a catalog
that procloua tho to do tho taaha that me! to ho doao 1o manta; out.
The blot on tho ata of tho atato nod Dopartnoat rovoalod by
tho lowlatlvo luvootluttu; co-lttoo not he rubhod out. [mothor
tho lnataoooo o! dorollctlon brought to lllht aro loolatod lootaoooo, or
oy-ptono of a vloooproad dlaoaoo. Iuot ho actor-thud lonodlatoly by a
ouprohooalvo doportnontal lovoatlgotloo. Corroctlvo nouoroa, designed to
prom: a rocurroooo. to ro-ootoblloh o-ployoo noralo. out! to otart tho road
nothlnu rolling, out ho l-odlatoly taboo. And thoy will be!
The oocooolty to uhlch thla clrcuotaoco slvoo rloo o! ro-
ootabllohlu; tho coodom of tho 3mm of Mlle Ioada oorvoo to aphasia.
that tlorlda dooo not operate lo a vacuum we are part of a federal
complex, and of a changing world order. 91th: our otato (tool! than in
a conatant contllot hotvoon lovolo o! sworn-cot.
It woo woodrow Hllooo who oald:
"Tho hlatory of llborty lo tho hlotory of
tho llaltatlou o! sworn-out power. not tho
looroau of lt. "hon vo rootot concentration a!
pouor. no aro roolatla; tho pawn of death.
bocauoo concoatratloo of potter 3 what always
proooooa tho dootructloo of humm ubortloo."
today thooo words should ho oopoclally aoanlngtul to no, (or
sown-out at ovory lml to up. to locroaalns lto pwcn and sprawling
than to now floldo. In no aroaa this oxpanaloa lo proceeding .2: .~
barely ootlooablo ooall'o paco, lo othoro at a lull judlclal gallop. The
fodoral gown-out lotrudoo on tho porogatlvoo of otato gown-out. tho
otato morn-oat lntrodoo on tho rlahto of local gonna-oat, and all lntrudo
oo tho froodao that roualo to tho ludlvldual.
0,.
Thou is no one who con oontost tho dosirability of an incuou
in social capital, so that roado. ochoolo, ports. and tandoods of othot
omity hoods con ho lot. Ho would all opprovo tho proposition that in
out oftluont socioty no nos should ho doniod a dipiiiod nininn sub-
sistonco by circustancos ovor which ho has no control or for which ho
coonot ho hl-od. out ovon thou pals. high so thoy stand on the
yard stick of tho "good life", ought not sod nood not ho bought at tho toot
of socriticinl thoso (unduontal lihootias of tho individual which crostsd
tho vory affluenco which nako such goals attainoblc. The one suro way
to dostroy thou lihoctics. in our hosts for inprowonont. is to destroy
tho division of powers which non than say othsr ono choroctoristic of our
morn-out hoo hoot this notion (too and its pooplo independent ond strong.
It will ho out oils to contino tho activitios of tho stato moment
to tho conduct of tho ststo's husinoos--not to tho oottlonont oi loco!
issuos hoot loft in tho hands of local officials. Siniluly. wo will oppose
with visor soy efforts by tho todotol mount to usurp tho prover and
lawful potogatiwcs of the stats.
lt is noodloss for no. sad it is not my purpose as wo tsho this
tirot stop across tho throshold into a now qusdroniun, to cstolog our
appointnonts, to spocify our problems, or to prescribe o oouroo of conduct
to ho followed in only situation. Thou on things appropriato (or o
cupoign. sod (or an sddross to tho haulsturo.
Lot us rsthor spood this hoist hour in dodicotion oi outsolvoo.
not us horo highly rosolvo thot. by tho ace of God. we will ho oqosl to
soy challonaon-thst we will not writo tho history of our tins in
asphalt. not sin; ito opic story to tho tons of a cash resistor. Lot
us coco spin to this historic ground as wo roach tho ond of out oppointsd
tins contidont in tho wordiot of history. that no so s pooplo havo highly
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resolved sud ubly etrlven to do the been of which we could conceive-n
thsc eech future hes been s source at lesmtng, esch success s new
inspiration.
Ever insurgent let us be,
Make us more daring then devout,
It. sleek consent-en: keep us free,
nu us with e bouyen: deubt.
Open our eyes to visions, girl: with
Beeuty, end with wonder 11:;
But slueys let us see the dirt
And s11 the: spewn end die in it.
Open our eyes to mete. and let us
Thrill with eprtng'e rst uces and drums.
But never let us dere forget
The bitter bellads of the slums.
Pto- compromise eat! things half done,
Keep us watch stern end stubborn pride.
And when a: lest the fight is won
God keep us um unsstised.
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TNAEGCR,1L APDEES3 OF GOVERNGfi FARHIS BRYhtiT TALLAHIsSSEE, F"CRIDA JANUARY 3, 1961
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........ C.. nGvro alwlneiesofteCbnt h ..,.......d.e uiiay itignshdpato uet,4. el
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of achieveeltnc that ases the progresti oc past adr It1E 15 metsilice:i. 1-10 Giulw iE away11d31LL ly c le.lt' C ll;tt iti d -lartal[L:; :1i lerLt dero,;ate the acinevemenLs either of the .L6mir .duti er et those CI.lat l'aus! gone before, Et tal.e i at telt LO:1 -.--here it osa alanded tai us isy Ehe last pidedd tipOn CILOhm C aat llaVe tickli laid, at1d CO edi e:ish neu baillies 1.5 itratse of the past, nos evtE1 3 llave airemed LO place tionst1d I c[21;1h:4 1 i a:jivtl -lie must pl-sy in the real islLiun of iter vani. ;1'Meet as I am ur1<.01-e !Du!L a[ the: t'..6j.onsil,-ilit i.cs c-i le.is ,1 neiutre 1-hem. [Lat -.501i 1. is hs!cause T cana --C.a t
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every ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ....... .saiatra ocr otepr~t feeyahrcid The ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ..... m... .p..t -nrasit n ititi clecd 1 ati v district. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ .. Th......d.in, h ng cle h mrlst drs ..e ..... ..fo ....n.. ..e s... gou tt ffc vr ctzn
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a ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ .... ...oncu b...gD ayigitrsatadvlpeucai rga including ~ ~ ~ .. ..porin n .....toin w aebe bakdb h .ie ..... .etoaimbonoto oto ybtens n itut e with ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ .. .... ...tepltclwodhdrte hnqunhdb iea supply~~~~ ..... .h. .iko ua ide
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.... ....... ..e ...yesthmel .iasa s;u hmcir f0
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The re is no one who can conte at the de mirability of an increase in social capital, ao that reads, acheals, parka, and hundreds of other ca=munity needs can be met. We oculd all approve cle propositten that in our affluent socie ty no one should be denied a dignified minimum subsig tence by circumstance s over ubich be has no control or for uh tch he cannot be blamed. But even these goals, high as they stand en t me yard a tick of the ''good life", aught not and nee d nut be bought at the ces t of sacrificing these fund anuental liberties of t'rue individual which created the ve ry affluence which make such goals accainable. The one sure way to destray those liberties, in our haste for improvement, is to destroy the d Evis ton of powers ubich more than any ather one character Es tle of our gove rnmen t has kept this nation free and its people irtdependent and strong. It uiti be our aim ta confine the activities of the state Sovernment to tie conduct of the state's bus teess--not to the settlement of local issu4s best left in the hands of local afficials. Similarly, we will oppose uith vigor any efforts by the federal ;everanu-nt to usurp the proper and layfu! perogat toes of the a tate. It ta needicas for me, and it is not ny purpose as we take this first step across the threshold into a new quad cenium, to catalog our appointmente, to spec1Ey our problems, or to prescribe a course of conduct to be follewed in eve ry situation, These are Lhings appropr kate for a ampaign, and for en address to the Legislature. Let us rathe r spend this brief hour in dedicatcan of ourselves. Le t us here highly resolve Chat by the grace of Gad, ue oil I be equni to any challenge ---that we will not write the his tory of our time in asphalt, nor sing its epic e tory to the tune of a conh regis ter. tet us emme again to this historic grauxd as un reach the and of our appointed t trae confident in the ve cdict of his tocar, that ue as a people have highly
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resolved ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ .. ..dnby.... o otebeto hchu oldcnev
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