The Four Point Speech was the inaugural address of United States president Harry S. Truman, delivered on Thursday, January 20, 1949.
In a world only recently emerged from the shadow of war, in which freedom and human rights seemed under threat from many sides, this was Truman's response.
He challenged both Democrats and Republicans to assist people around the world struggling for freedom and human rights; to continue programs for world economic recovery; to strengthen international organizations; and to draw on the expertise of the United States to help people across the world help themselves in the struggle against ignorance, illness and despair.
From time to time, politicians - especially Democrats - align themselves with Truman's position by referring publicly to this speech.
