50 years ago — November 22, 1965
When the Pilgrims first observed Thanksgiving nearly 350 years ago, life was harsh and unrelenting. Cold and sickness had diminished their ranks. Their shelter was crude. Their future was uncertain. Yet when their harvest was abundant, they considered themselves blessed — and their hearts were filled with gratitude.
Today we have much more than an abundant harvest. … Our physical comforts are unmatched anywhere in the world. … In the past year we have added greatly to that national legacy. We have guaranteed the right to vote to all our citizens. We have pledged dignity to our elderly — even in sickness. … We have broadened the horizons of opportunity for our poor. … But our real blessings lie not in our bounty, they live in those steadfast principles that the early Pilgrims forged for all generations to come: the belief in the essential dignity of man, the restless search for a better world for all. … Let us gather in our homes and in our places of worship to thank God for his generosity.
From “The President’s Proclamation: Thanksgiving 1965” by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
