Invitation To The Nation.

foreign [Music] study at Mount Vernon I wrote many an invitation  to friends throughout our Young Nation the hospitality of my house was always kept up  I prided myself that no one went hungry away important years of my day dined with me in  the date dining room where my portrait hangs and for 20 years we never ate  alone in the family dining room it was my custom to escort distinguished Visitors  by candlelight to the peaceful quiet of the guest room on those rare occasions when there were no  guests my lone candle was out at nine [Music] in the mornings I was happiest at  Mount Vernon I always arose at dawn the air was clean and cool and from the long  paranda I could gaze down the broad Potomac or I could stroll alone among  the many trees I planted in the morning too while the driveway was  still empty of visitors carriages I could plan the day's work before  setting off for Alexandria Christ Church where my family bible may still  be seen looks just as dead in my day [Music] my Masonic Memorial had not even been thought of  then but Martha's son was planning Arlington House a shrine amid the graves of Arlington Cemetery near the amphitheater where Americans pay homage to their hero dead the living  maintain Perpetual vigil [Music] and not far away is the grave of major  Pierre longfonte whose Vision was responsible for the plan of our federal  City the capital of the United States it is hard for me to believe that it has risen  from Marshland in less than two centuries across Memorial Bridge stands the nation's Memorial  to one of my illustrious successors [Music] nearby to my great fellow Virginian Thomas  Jefferson Americans have built another Memorial overlooking the Tidal Basin and the  famed cherry blossoms magnificent views in the city of my dreams are often dominated  by the most famous monument to my memory but the best known Vista is up Pennsylvania  Avenue to the capital of the United States [Music] capital building Cornerstone laid in  1793 is the embodiment of the spirit of our nation where you as a citizen through  your chosen Representatives govern yourself and help plan the destiny of our nation here you  are welcome to visit your Congressman in person near the capitol is the Library of Congress  and the marble home of the Supreme Court once every four years down tree-lined  Pennsylvania Avenue a newly elected president rides to the White House which I plan to call the  president's house here in the news center of the nation the president lives and works directs the  activities of the executive branch of government oldest of all the state department next to  be created the treasury the war department the Navy department and the Department of Justice  and the post office and the others which have been added since my time for the structure of  the government has been greatly Complicated by administrations and commissions and Boards created  by Congress but administered by the president in the National Archives the  nation's most sacred documents are preserved a treasure House of History [Music] Folger Shakespeare Library rewards its visitors art lovers throng to the Cochran art gallery  and to the beautiful National Gallery of Art children and grown-ups are fascinated  by exhibits in Smithsonian institution and the collection in the national museum  historic spots are on every side Peterson house where the dying Lincoln was carried  from Ford's Theater now the Lincoln Museum or two-door place where Martha's  wedding gown is still preserved world famous statuary both symbolic and historic abounds in my city and the capital is  noted for its flower gardens [Music] bordering tree-lined Avenues the embassies and  legations of all Nations make Washington a truly International City and to test our spirit of  friendship and our desire to live at peace but brotherhood begins at home and when  thousands flock to our city to national conventions perhaps in the Armory Washington's  world famous hotels care for them [Music] either downtown or on the wooded  Heights above Rock Creek Park every form of entertainment is  available by day or by night [Music] shopping in department stores and  specialty shops is an adventure I think Washington has become a good place to  live and so do thousands who make their homes here they find the transit system efficient or they  drive their own cars over smooth Boulevard perhaps through the cool depths of Rock  Creek Park a beautiful Municipal playground at the zoo the animals are always  ready to welcome appreciative guests all within the 10 Mile Square  of the city of Washington the city to play you can among many other things ride the broad breast of the  Potomac in all manner of craft or thrilled with the president himself to the annual President's Cup for God where  racing Headliners whisk over the waves or you can leisurely follow the path of the old  sea and old Canal which I helped organize in the belief that it would make my city a great Trade  Center [Music] in the Melting Pot of Washington all Creeds come together edifices of worship  represent all shades of men's faith in God the city is a panorama of the rich history of  our country from quaint old Fairfax Street in Alexandria to busy modern Corners both the past  and the present compete for the attention of visitors to the facility visitors who thrung here  by bus by plane from every point of the compass by automobile over smooth Highway [Music]  or by train from north south or west from every state in the Union they  come at every season of the year businessman workmen Housewives School teachers  school children whole family all of them everyone assures the great-hearted hospitality  of the one truly different American city it is it is democracy it is the  capital of the United States your city so in my own name and in the name of the  city that bears my name I bid you welcome [Music]