IN taking office as President of the American Medical Association I do so with gratitude and humility. I am aware of the responsibilities of my new position. And I am determined to carry out my duties with all the dedication at my command. Tonight, I consider it my duty to speak out on certain fundamental ideas which are vital to medicine, to America, and to mankind.
Medical progress through the years has been inspired by a particular type of man: One who learns from the past, but faces boldly up to the future; who works at the day's task, but works and dreams, also, for tomorrow's progress.
These are the men who blaze the trail for humanity. But they must breathe the air of freedom; and they flourish best in those times and places where all men respect knowledge, value personal initiative, and applaud quality.
They have flourished in America—in