PRESIDENT HARDING SAYS BEWARE OF DEVELOPMENT OF CLASSES & BLOCS
Augusta, Georgia (JFK+50) On April 7, 1923, the Evening Star reports President Warren G. Harding said last night at a dinner given in his honor here in Augusta that "domestic affairs...are the greatest concern."
The President went on...
"There is a menace to the nation in the development of classes and in the organization of blocs. There is a danger in envy and jealousy. Let us be on guard against their development."
International affairs, according to Mr. Harding, is in fine shape. The President says the nation "need not worry" about that.
President Harding also said an American should...
"think more of what you can do for your government than what your government can do for you."
JFK+50 COMMENT
The origin of JFK's most famous presidential quote "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" has always been questioned. There have been a variety of suggestions made over the years as to where the idea for the line originated.
Not only did President Harding say something similar in 1923, he also said at the Republican convention of 1916, "We must have a citizenship less concerned about what the government can do for it and more anxious about what it can do for the nation."
One possible source I found online suggests that it might have come from a line in Walt Disney's "Zorro" TV show filmed in 1959 where the emissary of Spain says "Ask not what Spain can do for you, ask what you can do for Spain."
While I'm not certain if JFK or Ted Sorenson (speechwriter) watched that episode of Zorro (both were fairly busy in 1959), I can't rule it out.
SOURCE
"President Scores Legislative Blocs," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., April 7, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
