MESSAGE TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
THE SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS

January 9, 1963

Senator Radcliffe, Governor McKeldin, Reverend members of the
clergy, members of that State Senate and House of Delegates, distin-
guished guests and ladies and gentlemen:

It is with a deep sense of pride and humility that again I accept
the responsibilities of the Office of Governor of Maryland. I do so
with a grateful heart—fully aware of the trust and confidence that
the people of this State have reposed in me. During the past four
years, I have devoted myself to the fulfillment of my obligations as
Chief Executive of this State with dignity and with the full realiza-
tion that my actions as Governor strongly influence the future as
well as the present conduct of State affairs. I shall continue to be
guided by this realization. For it is my belief that the task that lies
before us during the next four years is to lay the groundwork for the
development of all our natural and human resources.

I believe that Maryland is on the threshold of a new era—an era
that will witness the greatest expansion of physical and natural re-
sources that has ever been seen in the history of our State. In a very
real sense, we are witnessing in Maryland and throughout the nation
a major transformation—a transformation that requires our best
efforts if we are to cope with the problems that will arise in this and
succeeding decades.

Four years ago, in my first inaugural address, I outlined the prob-
lems that faced my three immediate predecessors when they occupied
the chair that I now hold. Governor O'Conor's task was to insure
that the State rendered a maximum contribution to the war effort.
To Governor Lane fell the job of rebuilding our State's services
that of necessity, had taken second place to the major task of fighting
and winning a world war. To Governor McKeldin fell the task of
guiding our State through a period of intensified growth.

Today, we are faced with a combination of all the problems that
faced those distinguished men. Let us then recognize the tasks that
lie before us for only by recognizing them can we hope to solve them.
It is true, of course, that our country no longer is engaged in a global
war. But it is equally true, that we have not yet attained the peace
that has been so elusive since the conclusion of that great conflict.

The question naturally arises as to what we here in Maryland can