President Jimmy Carter

The speaker, who is the president, acknowledges the challenges the country is facing, including pain, war, inflation, and recession. They emphasize the need for discipline and unity among the people. The speaker mentions the importance of addressing underlying problems like democracy. They call for a revival of the American spirit. Good evening. This is a special night for me. I promise to you pain and war and especially deeper inflation or recession. And I realize more than ever that as president I need your discipline among your disciples. Don't talk to us about blood and sweat and tears. I feel like ordinary people who have wasted energy. We are also importing inflation plus unemployment. We've got to use what we have tonight. The real issue is freedom. But it also bore out some of my longstanding concerns about our nation's underlying problems, democracy. Let us commit ourselves together to a rebirth of the American spirit. Thank you and good night.