TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF SAVINGS BONDS

[Music] ladies and gentlemen a surprising number of servicemen more than a million in fact put part of their pay into savings by their wise looking ahead to a home a car some special training they might want when they muster out whatever their reasons these young lads are carrying on a tradition that started before they were born it started with their own father's 25 years ago this year and we in the entertainment world like to think we've helped establish this tradition today a new generation of stars spread the good word about savings bond but it all reaches back over the years to the dark times of 1941 when our president called the United States savings bond program and to me he needed help in promoting the program and it was natural for Hollywood to lend a hand here were people we already knew all over the country they'd made us hat and cry now they went out among us so much as glamorous names or star personalities but as fellow Americans doing what they were good at that's right your old friend Lucy was there too I'm kind of proud to say that really brings back some great memories you know it's hard to believe that it all happened 25 years ago seems like it was only yesterday I remember so well how scores of our Hollywood men went marching off just like all the rest of the fellows throughout the country and we kissed them goodbye and felt sad Gable Stuart Taylor Fonda Montgomery not just the stars either directors cameramen technicians all those fellows who make the merry-go-round go and we had our own tragedies too right here on the homefront it was on a bond tore that poor Carol's luck ran out it wasn't exactly a soldier's death but she died for her country all the same you remember how it was everybody pitching in famous people and great little guys like Steve Vestal ACOs we used to peddle peanuts in front of the White House for a living he peddled bonds too and if you bought one the peanuts were free or take the William white a family from Washington there can't have been much change lying around after feeding a teen kid somehow these good people managed to saving stamp program they gave in other ways to the oldest boy Theodore couldn't make this little ceremony he was busy with the Navy and all nine of his brothers eventually came to serve with the Armed Forces as the war effort grew bonds became even more important we had rallies big parade all the old hoopla and boom-boom went over the top to help pave the ships and the planes and the guns so our guys were able to get there the fastest like the man said with the mostest it was sad that our commander-in-chief left before the final curtain but he must have seen victory coming just a few months down the road well it was over at last and Wow how we kissed the boys hello and we honored our heroes and yes we shed some tears for faces that were missing [Music] only names to remember now well we thought the war was over and we were to have peace at last but it didn't quite work out that way did it much as we'd like to we couldn't lay down our weapons our armed forces still stand against communist aggression in Korea along with the shameful wall in Berlin and now Vietnam [Music] and as President Johnson said recently we can't stand on the sidelines while they're in the front line but we can back them up with savings bonds and we still depend on the kids to back us up guess it's the only way till the world works out a better one gee wonder if I kissed any of their daddies goodbye by the way do you know what single group of Americans buys the most bonds servicemen wouldn't you know it the same young men that might be heading out one of these days for anywhere well I don't pretend to understand at all I'm just Lucy you know but I do know this year in and year out the good old ship of state keeps plowing ahead there's always good talent around to take the lead savings bonds do a lot more than back up our national defense look what's going on in space we're doing okay there to bond money helps that program along I'm told that during the past 25 years almost a hundred and fifty billion dollars worth of bonds have been sold and the people have cashed in around two-thirds of this for things Americans prized nice homes college for the kids a vacation so it isn't all just war and weapons so let's all celebrate this 25th anniversary sure we still have lots of problems but lots of hope - from the time the pioneers kept one hand on the plow and the other on a rifle it has never been any different anyway let's all take a bottle business and industry you do so much through the payroll savings plan the bank's the advertising industry the labor unions women's groups all the community organizations that keep this very important savings bond program rolling along in high gear your country thanks you god bless you [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]