The author, Executive Director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sport (PCPFS), describes the efforts of the Council in improving the fitness levels of Americans through research, information dissemination, and action programs. Defined as the "ability to carry out daily tasks with vigor and alertness, without undue fatigue, and with ample energy to enjoy leisure time pursuits and to meet unforseen emergencies," physical fitness is a positive quality, extending on a scale from death to abundant life. Discussed in the presentation are: the decline in coronary death rates in the United States, the importance of exercise, national exercise patterns, the favorable climate for physical fitness, prevention programs of the PCPFS, presidential support, and PCPFS priorities. (MJB)