November 13, 1963

May I begin by expressing my gratitude to the members of the
Washington Rotary Club for the warm hospitality I have received here
today. I welcome this opportunity to speak before such a distinguished
group of Rotarians whom I consider to be the leading business and
professional men of this city. I share your pride in Rotary member-
ship for I have been a member for 41 years.

All Americans have a deep sense of pride and strong feeling of
affection for this great capital city which is core and kernel of our
nation. I come here quite frequently and each time I do I experience
anew the exhilaration I felt as a high school student when first I saw
the stately dome atop the Capitol Building and the towering monu-
ment to the father of our country. While in their hearts all Americans
feel that this is their city, we in Maryland believe we enjoy ties with the
National Capital that are stronger than those of others. It is not just
that we are closer to it physically than most others, but is is our con-
tinuing awareness of the historical, cultural and economic inseparability
of Maryland and the Federal District. The interest of Maryland in
the establishment and maintenance of a national seat of government
dates from the very earliest years of the republic.

We recall that the United States in the years immediately following
its victory in the War of Independence was both homeless and im-
poverished. The Continental Congress, exercising both the executive
and legislative authority of the Confederation of States, moved about
from place to place at random—New York; Philadelphia; Princeton;
New Jersey; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Annapolis. In 1783, the Con-
gress was grossly insulted and unhappy in Philadelphia and decided
to move to Princeton. There it was compelled to work in intolerably
cramped quarters and it set about to find a meeting place of safety
and suitable dignity.

Where to turn? Where to move next was one of their pressing
problems. Well, Maryland supplied the answer to that question in a
very generous way. Maryland had just completed its handsome
new State House, the building in Annapolis which today houses the
Executive and Legislative branches of our State government. The
Maryland General Assembly offered to donate to the Congress as an
outright gift the State House and the surrounding public circle. And

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