FDR: "One Country, One Constitution, One Destiny"
The 4th of July, our great nation’s 250th anniversary, approaches as we prepare this quarterly edition of our Foundation’s newsletter.
It is fitting to share some of what FDR said about the nation’s founding – commentary that is as relevant today as it was in his day:
On the Declaration of Independence: He stated that in 1776, the description of right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness was "the first time in the history of the world" that a nation explicitly founded its entire existence on the premise of universal human rights.
A Pledge of Unity: He called the Declaration a "passionate pledge of all the people" to support each other in maintaining a free and equal society.
The Vision of a Unified Nation: He frequently quoted George Washington and Thomas Jefferson to emphasize that the true legacy of 1776 was the creation of a single national identity out of thirteen separate colonies, famously using the phrase "One country, one constitution, one destiny" to reinforce national solidarity.
We wish you all a safe and happy celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary.