The real difficulty with getting the Plan approved was not abroad, but at home. Marshall knew it would be a challenge to convince the American people to spend billions of dollars for a European Recovery Plan, especially after a long and costly war. For many months he worked hard to help Americans understand the importance of the project. As he had done during WW II, Marshall made numerous appearances before Congress, speaking with the directness and honesty he was known for. Marshall felt so strongly about the need for this project that he even went one step further. Instead of just letting Congress do the work, he took his idea to the people themselves and traveled all over the nation making speeches on behalf of his project. As always, Marshall encouraged his listeners to think as he did, to consider the future when making plans for the present. Just as investing in soldiers had been good for the war, so would investing in people now be good for peace. Marshall knew that what was good for peace was for all of us, no matter where we lived. Peace was worth Marshall's personal sacrifice in time and energy. It was worth his best hours. It was worth fighting for.

See remainder of biography.