Over a century ago Washington laid the corner stone of the Capitol in what was then little more than a tract of wooded wilderness here beside the Potomac. We now find it necessary to provide by great additional buildings for the business of the government. (1-2)

Before he gets to the moral lecturing, TR starts things off with a lighter note by showing some of America's baby pictures, so to speak. He talks warmly about how much progress America's made since its founding, how powerful it's become, how cool its new buildings are, and then eaaases the audience into his moralizing.