Fellow Declarationists,

Last week the President delivered the Inaugural Address for his second term. It merits careful attention, principally as a statement of American Principles. And it deserves high praise.

The Declaration Foundation is not in the business of passing judgement on every aspect of American political policy, nor is it a partisan organization. Speaking for myself, and not as President of the Foundation, I know that President Bush will propose policies and programs that I support, and others that I will oppose. But the bedrock of his Inaugural is an affirmation of fundamental truths that are the business of the Foundation, and that he gives with force and clarity.

I urge everyone to read the speech, and to think about it in the light of our own statement of Declaration Principles. The President firmly and clearly asserts that human rights and dignity come from God, and that He, and He alone, is the "Author of Liberty." He defends the right to life of the "unwanted." And he sums it all up in this memorable passage: "When the Declaration of Independence was first read in public and the Liberty Bell was sounded in celebration, a witness said, 'It rang as if it meant something.' In our time it means something still."

We at the Foundation could not agree more.

Well done, Mr. President!

For American and Human Liberty, now and forever,

Dr. Richard Ferrier,
President, Declaration Foundation