Journal of the Senate of the State of Texas, Regular Session of the Sixty-First Legislature, Volume 1 Page: 26
This legislative document is part of the collection entitled: Texas Senate Journals and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
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26 SEATE JURNA
"That is why, along with such vital
matters as long-range water planning
and improved public education, I
have attached such importance to
constitutional revision. While our
astronauts are going to the moon in
space ships, we're still trying to op-
erate our State government as if we
were crossing the Atlantic Ocean in
a sailing ship.
"Finally, I hope that this adminis-
tration has given voice to . . . has
nurtured in some small way.
a philosophy of government and the
individual.
"The hand of government must be
firm enough to try to take care of
our necessities in a complex world.
But government's far nobler and
more rewarding role is to work to
create a climate providing a broader
base for the full play of human tal-
ent and genius.
"For as impressive as our statistics
on growth or income may be, they
are but limited quantitative measure-
ments.
"The vast legions of Rome, as awe-
some as they were in their day, are
forgotten numbers. Yet the archi-
tectural genius of that age built a
Coliseum unmatched for 2,000 years.
"When we marvel at the wonders of
the Parthenon, the Cistine Chapel,
and the genius of Michaelangelo, the
economic indices of the time pale
into obscurity.
"So as our government meets its day
to day duties, its greater destiny lies
in providing opportunities for the
development of human talents--for
the individual genius of man is the
greatest treasure of our civilization.
And if we provide the atmosphere
and opportunity for man to develop
his hand, his mind, his spirit, we
need not worry about what history
may say about us.
"Nellie and I are eternally grateful
to the people of Texas whose faith
and confidence and support have sus-
tained us throughout these six years.
We are grateful, too, to you in this
chamber . . . for your friendship ...
for your many kindnesses that we
shall always treasure. The honor that
has been ours in serving Texas shall
remain forever the highlight of our
lives.
"Our wholehearted appreciation goes
also to the Texas news media, both
here in the Capitol and across the
State, for fair and constant coverage
of the efforts of this administration.
Although we may not have agreedin every instance on every issue, our
relationship has been one of the high-
est order, and one which I shall
cherish always.
"Our tenure is ended, but yours
goes on.
"I need not remind you that the
mantle of leadership is not without
its burden or its reward. The course
for our future is charted in the ac-
complishments and the shortcomings
of the past. In some cases, the path
is well marked. In others, it is al-
most obscured. In most, there is
conflict and controversy.
"The administration of government
is a continuing process of evolution,
hopefully seeking to satisfy the wants
of today and anticipating the needs
of tomorrow. The necessities, the
hopes and the dreams of mankind are
thankfully insatiable. The time al-
lotted to each of us to contribute our
talents toward exploring and quench-
ing this insatiable thirst is short. We
justifiably may speak of past and
present accomplishments only in the
perspective that they lay the foun-
dations for a future that holds no
impossible dreams. The future shall
be limited only by our timidity, our
lack of vision, our personal selfish-
ness, or our inherent laziness. You
have the responsibility and you have
the power to put aside those human
frailties and to consider the future
of this State and the well-being of its
people with boldness, with courage,
with vision and with faith. You
shall have only this opportunity to
choose your course of action, for:
'The Moving Finger writes; and
having writ
Moves on: nor all your Piety nor
Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a
line,
Nor all your tears wash out a
Word of it.' "
At the conclusion of the address,
the Speaker of the House presented
the lovely First Lady, Mrs. Nellie
ConnaIly, and sons, John and Mark.
The President of the Senate ad-
dressed the Joint Session extending
an invitation to the Members and
their friends from over the State to
attend the colorful Inauguration
festivities.
At the conclusion of the Joint Ses-
sion, the President announced at26
SENATE JOURNAL
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Reference the current page of this Legislative Document.
Texas. Legislature. Senate. Journal of the Senate of the State of Texas, Regular Session of the Sixty-First Legislature, Volume 1, legislative document, 1969; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth145999/m1/26/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.