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Disabled American Veterans Convention 7/31/89 [OA 6266]
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Disabled American Veterans Convention 7/31/89 [OA 6266]
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Chron File, 1989-1993
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Disabled American Veterans Convention 7/31/89 [OA 6266]
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26
19
2
6
Honorable Edward M. Kennedy
Chairman, Committee on Labor and Human Resources
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
During my testimony before your Committee on June 22, 1989,
I presented this Administration's endorsement of comprehensive
civil rights legislation for persons with disabilities. The
Administration continues to believe that your bill, the Americans
with Disabilities Act, S. 933, is the appropriate vehicle for
landmark legislation in the disability rights area. Our
agreement in concept with S. 933, however, cannot mask the
problems that we have with several of the bill's provisions. I
remain confident, however, that further negotiations will allow
us to reach common ground on the issues over which we have
differed.
For the past month representatives of the Department of
Justice, the Department of Transportation, and the White House
have met with staff from your Committee and from Senator Dole's
office in an attempt to resolve our differences. The
negotiations have proceeded positively and amicably through
numerous sessions, with both sides acting in good faith. The
goal of the negotiations has been to reach agreement on a version
of S. 933 that both the Administration and the sponsors of the
bill could endorse. Although we have reached agreement on a
number of specific issues and provisions, our discussions thus
far have not yet reached that goal.
2
I believe that our meeting with Senator Harkin last night
could prove to be the catalyst for the successful completion of
negotiations between your Committee and the Administration. This
letter is the "bill of particulars" that I discussed at that
meeting. It constitutes a statement of the Administration's
views on the bill as it is currently drafted and is a summation
of the major agreements that we have reached to date. More
importantly, it posits several options for further discussion
over two of the thorny issues over which we have differed:
remedies and the scope of public accommodations.
Employment
Perhaps we have reached the most agreement on the employment
provisions of the bill. The Administration continues to endorse
the concept of paralleling in the disability area Title VII of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We believe that, like Title VII,
coverage should be phased-in over time. We propose that S. 933
apply to all employers with 25 or more employees two years from
enactment of the legislation and that, two years later, coverage
be phased-down to include all employers with 15 or more
employees. This two-year implementation period will give the
Administration time to craft implementing regulations and to
engage in wide-reaching technical assistance efforts to explain
the bill's requirements to covered entities.
3
The Administration endorses using the existing standard from
the Federal Government's regulations implementing section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Thus, employers would be
obligated to make reasonable accommodations to the known
disabilities of applicants for employment or employees unless
such accommodations would result in an undue hardship on the
operation of the employer's business. We recommend that,
whenever possible, language in the statute should be taken
verbatim from the existing Federal section 504 regulations. This
approach is particularly important for the "reasonable
accommodation/undue hardship" requirement.
The Senate staff agreed with our suggestion of deleting
title I of S. 933 and moving certain of its provisions to the
other substantive titles of the bill. For the employment
provisions, we agreed to include language from the general
prohibitions on discrimination found in Subpart B of the
regulations of the Departments of Health and Human Services and
Labor implementing section 504. We have included the concept of
placing severe restrictions on preemployment physicals and
preemployment inquiries about applicants' disabilities, as well
as language on selection criteria and testing. We were pleased
that the Senate staff agreed with the Administration's suggestion
that the notion of "anticipatory discrimination" should be
deleted from S. 933.
4
Remedies
The Administration's position on remedies is based on the
belief that S. 933 should use existing civil rights laws for
minorities and women as its model. Thus, we would use existing
enforcement procedures under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964 for employment and existing enforcement procedures under
title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for public
accommodations. The Administration has opposed extending
remedies in this area to include compensatory and punitive
damages and jury trials for two reasons: our earnest belief that
existing title II and title VII remedies will be effective in
enforcing the new statute and our fear that the lure of large
settlements in compensatory and punitive damages will
unnecessarily promote litigation.
Because of your strong concern that additional remedies
should be available in S. 933, particularly to combat wilful and
egregious acts against persons with disabilities, we have given
consideration to other options. There are a range of
alternatives in the remedies area that, while falling short of S.
933's current requirements, would nonetheless provide additional
remedies for persons with disabilities. Using the pattern and
practice authority given to the Attorney General in the Fair
Housing Act Amendments of 1988 as a model, the Attorney General
could be given authority to seek civil penalties in cases
5
involving egregious and wilful violations. Such an approach
could provide penalties in set amounts, perhaps up to $50,000 for
the first violation and up to $100,000 for any subsequent
violations.
Similarly, courts could be given authority to levy civil
penalties in suits brought by individuals, again for egregious
and wilful violations. These civil penalties would be much like
punitive damages, but the monies would revert to the Federal
government, perhaps to a trust fund established for the express
purpose of providing grants for the removal of architectural
barriers or for providing reasonable accommodation. This type of
approach would not likely foster needless litigation and would
still provide a strong fiscal incentive for covered entities to
avoid discriminatory practices.
There are other approaches to consider: placing a cap on
punitive damages or giving courts authority to levy compensatory
damages, but not punitive damages. We believe, however, that
these extraordinary remedies should be restricted to those
situations of intentional discrimination that are wilful and
egregious.
6
Public Accommodations
The Administration believes that any new civil rights law
for persons with disabilities must cover public accommodations if
that law is to guarantee access to the mainstream of American
life. To this end, during negotiations, we have proposed
paralleling the coverage of title II of the Civil Rights Act of
1964. This would provide coverage of inns, hotels, motels,
restaurants, cafeterias, lunchrooms, gasoline stations, motion
picture houses, theaters, concert halls, sports arenas, and other
places of entertainment. We have also entertained the concept of
adding other categories of public accommodations to this list,
particularly the professional offices of health care providers.
The Administration continues to link the scope of coverage
of public accommodations with the extent of the nondiscrimination
obligation. To this end, your Committee's proposal to separate
out treatment of "potential places of employment" from other
public accommodations and to require that such public
accommodations make only their new facilities accessible is a
promising start. Such an approach, if expanded to other types of
public accommodations, could become the basis for further
agreement in the area of public accommodations.
We have recently given consideration to alternatives
suggested by your two-tiered or bifurcated approach to accessible
7
public accommodations. Perhaps we can explore the ramifications
of a bifurcated or two-tiered approach that would duplicate the
broad coverage of S. 933 but which would provide reduced
obligations for some public accommodations.
Under one version of such an approach, the first tier would
include all public accommodations covered by title II of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 plus the professional offices of health
care providers. These public accommodations would be subjected
to the full array of obligations specified in S. 933, including
minimal retrofitting requirements (those that are "readily
achievable") and the requirement to provide auxiliary aids to
persons who have hearing or vision impairments.
The second tier would include all other public
accommodations in S. 933 but these broad categories of
accommodations would be subjected to a significantly less far-
reaching set of requirements. Under this compromise approach,
the obligation would be prospective only; there would be no
retrofitting obligation. Instead, entities covered by this
second tier would be required to have any new facilities
constructed for first occupancy 30 months after enactment of the
bill be accessible. Similarly, when such entities made
renovations or alterations of their existing facilities, they
would have to make such alterations in an accessible manner.
8
The second tier could contain an exemption for small
businesses, perhaps based on the square footage of the
enterprise, the number of employees in the business, or some
other criterion. In addition, the second tier public
accommodations would not be required to install an elevator in
buildings up to either 2 or 3 stories in height. Similarly, the
obligation to provide auxiliary aids would be restricted.
This approach has the advantage of providing broad coverage,
thus promising a fuller implementation of the goal of opening up
all aspects of American life to persons with disabilities. It is
a still cost conscious, however, avoiding costly retrofitting
requirements for the second tier and restricting second tier
requirements to the more cost effective approach of making new
buildings accessible. (Generally, it costs less than one half of
one per cent of the cost of a new building to make that building
accessible.) This approach would, however, subject a wide range
of entities to Federal jurisdiction, in a sense establishing a
Federal building code for public accommodations. The
Administration would be interested in having the views of S.
933's sponsors on this type of approach to making public
accommodations accessible.
During the negotiation process, we have come to understand
S. 933's use of the term "readily achievable," the concept that
will apply to making alterations in existing facilities. The
9
Senate staff's proposal that facilities will only need to be
retrofitted if the alteration is easily accomplishable, or is
able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense is an
approach that, if fully supported in the legislative history with
specific examples, can be endorsed by the Administration.
Treatment of Religious Entities
The Administration believes that any legislative initiative
in this area should be carefully crafted to avoid any potential
confrontation with the First Amendment to the Constitution. We
are pleased with your Committee's offer to exempt employment
practices from Federal jurisdiction if they are based on the
religious tenets of a religious organization or if the employment
decision is based on the religion of the employee. The
Administration continues to believe, however, that a broader
exemption of religious entities, particularly in the public
accommodations area, also is necessary. It appears inappropriate
to call churches, synagogues, or other places of worship public
accommodations. We believe that the most prudent course of
action would be only to regulate the secular activities of
religious entities and not to entangle the Federal government
with their religious activities.
10
Public Transportation
Our goal remains that persons with disabilities have access
to adequate transportation in this country. For this reason, we
continue to recommend that all new public buses purchased after
enactment of the bill be accessible. Similarly, the bill should
also require paratransit services that supplement, rather than
duplicate, fixed-route bus service. This paratransit service
should be open to those persons with physical or mental
disabilities who are unable to use the mainline accessible system
by virtue of their disabilities.
We continue to believe, however, that the Secretary of the
Department of Transportation should have leeway, in the form of a
waiver authority, to make determinations in limited circumstances
that not all new buses need be lift-equipped. It is axiomatic
that no rule is reasonable without an exception. For example, if
the supply of lift-equipped buses is disrupted, the purchase of
new buses should not come to a halt.
Similarly, we believe
that the obligation to provide paratransit services should be
subject to a cost limitation, at some figure below 3% of the
transit provider's operating budget.
11
Private Transportation
During the negotiations, your Committee staff came forward
with a proposal that would reduce the requirements of S. 933 for
private transportation. The Administration continues to believe,
however, that any requirement in this area would be premature.
Little is known of the exact nature of the demand for accessible
service private transportation by persons with disabilities.
Further, there is substantial evidence of the financial fragility
of private transit providers, and our concern is real that the
additional costs of providing accessible transit could drive
private providers out of business and would result in decreased
services for everyone, especially in rural areas. For these
reasons, the Administration believes that S.933 should commission
an in-depth study of this area and contemplate recommendations
for possible legislation in the future.
Telecommunications
The Administration once again endorses the concept of making
our Nation's telecommunications system accessible to persons who
are deaf or who have hearing or speech impairments. We believe
that equivalent phone service for persons with hearing or speech
impairments should be provided at both the interstate and
intrastate level. We note that negotiations over amendments to
the requirements in title V of S. 933 are continuing, and we
12
remain hopeful that an agreement on the exact nature of the
legislative vehicle that will ensure such equivalent service will
soon be reached.
I am certain that you will find this "bill of particulars" a
useful spur to negotiations. I suggest that the Senate and
Administration negotiating teams meet again on an expedited basis
to discuss these issues. Then, as we discussed last night, the
principals can meet this Thursday evening to attempt to reach
consensus on the major issues over which we still disagree. I do
not believe that we need to agree on every particular in order to
make a mark-up next week a successful endeavor for all of us.
The Administration looks forward to your views and to those of
your staff in response to this document.
Sincerely,
Dick Thornburgh
Attorney General
DAV
7/20/89
Shiree will get packets
Ed Timberloke
Bill Joyne
233-7587
Derwinski
233-3775
195
Bob Putnom 233-5587
119
59
20
393
Allen clarks 233- 2822
JJ Forester 233-3116
traditional for Prus
to speak
to Vet. CAMP.
PAB
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
MEMORANDUM
TO:
DAVID DEMAREST / STEVE STUDDERT
FROM:
JOSEPH W. HAGIN
SUBJECT:
APPROVED PRESIDENTIAL ACTIVITY
EVENT:
Address Disabled American Veterans Convention
DATE:
July 31, 1989
TIME:
1:00 p.m.
DURATION:
30 minutes
LOCATION:
Las Vegas, Nevada
ATTIRE:
Business Suit
REMARKS REQUIRED: Yes
MEDIA COVERAGE:
Open
FIRST LADY
PARTICIPATION: TBD
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION:
CONTACT:
,
TELEPHONE: OFFICE
HOME
NOTE: PROJECT OFFICER, SEE ATTACHED CHECKLIST
Ed Rogers
Marlin Fitzwater
David Bates
James Cicconi
David Demarest
David Valdez
Fred McClure
Jean Lamb
USSS- PPD
Susan Porter Rose
Steve Studdert
Gary Walters
Patty Presock
John Keller
WHCA Audio/Visual
Chriss Winston
Tim McBride
WHCA Operations
Laurie Firestone
J. Bonnie Newman
Amy Louisa Buckley
Robert Guttman
Tony Lopez
C. Boyden Gray
Bruce Zanca
D
I
DEABLED AMERICAN
A
Motto: "If I cannot speak good of my comrade, I will not speak ill of him."
VETERANS
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS
V
NATIONAL SERVICE and LEGISLATIVE HEADQUARTERS
807 MAINE AVENUE, S.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20024
(202) 554-3501
June 14, 7/31/89 1989
RECEIVED
JUN1 10
Mr. Joseph W. Hagin
Director of Presidential
SCHEDULING
Appointments and Scheduling
OFFICE
The White House
Rm. 182
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. Hagin:
I was most pleased to learn of the substance of your recent
telephone conversation (6/7/89) with Mr. John F. Heilman of my
staff, concerning the forthcoming Las Vegas National Convention
of the Disabled American Veterans.
I look forward to your official confirmation of that
conversation, as well as the opportunity to meet with you in the
near future for appropriate follow-up discussion.
Sincerely,
CHARLES Charles National E. JOECKEL, Adjutant JR. Jh.
CEJ: lms
26261
AMERICA
DISABLED
9
bs/
VETERANS
BILLY E. KIRBY
PHONE: 554-3501
NATIONAL COMMANDER
March 31, 1989
AREA CODE 102
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
On behalf of the more than one million members of
the Disabled American Veterans and its Auxiliary, it
is my pleasure to invite you to attend our 68th
National Convention, to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada,
July 30 to August 3, 1989, at the Las Vegas Hilton
Hotel.
I believe our joint opening session with the DAV
and Auxiliary, on July 30 at 1:00 p.m., would be a
particularly appropriate forum for your remarks.
This invitation is tendered with the knowledge
that our delegates -- men and women disabled during
wartime in service to our country -- would be deeply
honored to have in attendance a man who has done so
much on behalf of this nation's disabled veterans and
their families.
Accordingly, we truly hope you will be able to
accept this invitation. If so, we would appreciate it
if your staff could inform Mr. Charles E. Joeckel,
Jr., National Adjutant, at your earliest convenience.
Should you agree to attend, it would mark the
first occasion that our organization would be honored
by the presence of a sitting President. We can think
of no one more suited to the occasion than the
President who has held America's disabled veterans in
such high regard.
Cordially,
Billy E.
Kinly
BILLY E. KIRBY
National Commander
BEK:cp
NATIONAL SERVICE AND LEGISLATIVE HEADQUARTERS - 807 MAINE AVENUE. S.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20024
3
DEPARTMENT AMERICAN
A
Motte: "If I cannot speak good of my comrade, I will not speak ill of him."
VETERANS
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS
V
NATIONAL SERVICE and LEGISLATIVE HEADQUARTERS
807 MAINE AVENUE, S.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20024
(202) 554-3501
Mr. Joseph W. Hagin
June 14, 7/31/89 1989
Director of Presidential
Appointments and Scheduling
The White House
Rm. 182
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. Hagin:
I was most pleased to learn of the substance of your recent
telephone conversation (6/7/89) with Mr. John F. Heilman of my
staff, concerning the forthcoming Las Vegas National Convention
of the Disabled American Veterans.
I look forward to your official confirmation of that
conversation, as well as the opportunity to meet with you in the
near future for appropriate follow-up discussion.
Sincerely,
CHARLES Charles National E. JOECKEL, Adjutant JR. J.
CEJ:lms
SENI 1818000101
Associated Press
BUSH TO SPEAK IN LAS VEGAS
President Bush is reported to visit Las Vegas later this
month to address a national veterans group.
Bush is scheduled to speak July 31 at the national
convention of the Disabled American Veterans, according to
Republican sources. A tentative plan calls for him to arrive
and leave the same day.
More than 6,000 members of the veterans organization will
attend the convention at the Cas Vegas Hilton.
The appearance is part of a trip that will take Bush to
Chicago and Tennessee.
Bush's last visit to Las Vegas was in 1986 when, as vice
president, he campaigned for Jim Santini who was running for the
U.S. Senate against Sen. Harry Reid.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Edward J. Derwinski also will
attend the Disabled American Veterans convention.
7/19/89
To: JGK, JS, GF, LT, CM
From: PH
-- FYI --
A.M.
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Bush adm
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Van Woolworth
Los Vegan Hiltor H,
(702) 732-5111
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Outstanding Disabled Veteran for 1988
1
Loss of Leg Fails to
Coode
Wouldn't
Forbid
Explosives
Slow Philadelphia's
Upset
Crime Fighter
Carlife
Defeats
Willams for DA
The Voters Speak
-
"He's hell on crimel"
That statement by one of his aides aptly describes Ronald
D. Castille, district aubrney of the nation's fourth largest city
and this year's selection as the DAV's Outstanding Disabled
Veteran of the Year.
Castille, a life member of Philadelphia DAV Chapter 14,
carries the same zeal and competence into his job as was in-
grained in him as a young Marine Corps second lieutenant in
South Vietnam.
"Then, I had to discipline Marines," Castille says. "Now, I
have to discipline civilians."
As district attorney for the city of Philadelphia, Castille
oversees a staff of 240 attorneys who prosecute about 50,000
criminal cases each year. With his election to a four-year
term on Nov. 5, 1985, Castille became the first republican
elected city-wide in 16 years.
It was a major upset in Philadelphia politics, and just one
of a series of uphill battles for Castille since losing his right
leg to a 50-caliber Viet Cong machine gun slug in 1967.
As a Marine Corps platoon commander, Castille was lead-
ing a team assigned to remove casualties of another platoon
that was pinned down by & Viet Cong battalion in a rice paddy
near Due Pho in Quang Ngai Province. A machine gun slug
struck Castille in the upper right thigh, knocking him down.
He patted a fistful of the soft gray mud into his wound to slow
the bleeding, then continued to direct his troops in the recov-
ery operation.
"Cpl. Angel Mendez saw me and began
wound had infected his leg, causing gan-
In 1984, he and three other Vietnam vet-
coming toward me, Castille explains. "He
grene to set in. The doctors had to remove
erans established the Philadelphia Viet-
said, 'Hold on, lieutenant. I'm coming.' I
the leg, despite Castille's protests.
nam Veterans Memorial Fund. During the
yelled, 'Stay there. Stay there.'
"One of the reasons 1 never felt sorry for
next 3½ years, fund volunteers raised ap-
"He came over and pulled me back. As
myself was that I volunteered for combat,"
proximately $750,000 in private donations
he pulled me up an embankment, he
Castille says. "I was lucky. I came back. A
to erect a monument at Penns Landing to
caught a round in his chest
Angel diso-
lot of my friends didn't. An awful lot
perpetuate the names of the 630 Phila-
beyed orders."
didn't."
delphians who died in Vietnam.
Castille's eyes
get watery as he
Castille was sent to the Philadelphia
The monument, covering nearly a
continues.
Navy Base Hospital for rehabilitation, and
square block area and containing a long
"Angel was an orphan from New York
spent 18 months at that facility before join-
curved wall on which are etched the 530
City. There is no orie to mourn Angel Men-
ing friends at the University of Virginia
names, was completed last year. It was dedi-
dez
but me."
Law School. He received his law degree in
cated on Oct. 26, 1987.
It was March 16, 1967, Castille's 23rd
1971, and returned to Philadelphia be-
Castille is also active in other community
birthday. Helicopters came for the wound-
cause, as he says, "I fell in love with the
affairs, including the Youth Aid Council,
ed. Castille was the last to be loaded. He
city."
Youth Services Coordinating Commission,
was lying on the floor of the last helicopter
He joined the district attorney's staff, and
the Orban Coalition, and the USO. He is
to leave the area when a machine gun slug
spent 11 years as a trial lawyer, two years as
founder and member of the board of direc-
ripped through the floor, shattered, and
chief of the Career Criminal Unit, and
tors of an anti-drug program, "Philly Kids
struck his already wounded right leg and
nearly two years as deputy district attorney
Play Safe," and is on the executive com-
lower body.
before seeking the top post in 1985. He
mittee of the Philadelphia Council of the
The shock of the second machine gun
began his four-year term as Philadelphia
Boy Scouts of America.
blast stopped his kidneys, and he almost
district attorney in January 1986.
He is also legislative chairman of both
bled to death before he reached Clark Air
Castille is actively involved in veterans
the National and Pennsylvania District At-
Force Base Hospital in the Philippines two
affairs, and is generally regarded as the Vi-
torneys Associations, requiring him to testi-
days later.
etnam veterans' spokesman in Philadel-
fy before Congress and the State Legisla-
He lay in a body cast for a week, not rea-
phia. He is often asked to speak at Memori-
ture regarding criminal laws.
lizing how grievously he was injured. Bac-
al Day and Veterans' Day ceremonies.
As district attorney, Castille has facilitat-
teria from the mud he'd packed into his
ed major changes in the city's juvenile jus-
Page 10
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2
selling drugs and for some violent
crimes.
The loss of his right leg has not ham-
pered Castille's interest in sports. He is still
an excellent golfer, often playing with the
best in celebrity benefit tournaments. He
also swims regularly, and loves deep sea
fishing, a sport he developed while growing
up in Florida.
He also is an expert alpine skier, some-
thing he learned during his Navy rehabili-
tation period. He later spent three winters
at Vail, Colo., where he qualified as an in-
structor for handicapped skiers. He uses a
single ski with two outrigger skis.
As the son of a career Air Force pilot who
saw service in two wars, Castille spent his
early years at various military bases across
the country and overseas. He was born in
Miami, Fla., on Mar. 16, 1944, and gradu-
ated in 1961 from Itazuke High School in
in photo at left. Philadelph District Attor-
fice has waged a successful campaign
Fukuoka, Japan.
ney Ron Castille proudly shows off a
against organized crime. Cestille believes
He attended Auburn University, where
framed copy of the front page of the Phila-
the arrest and prosecution of Nicky Scarfo
he joined the U.S. Marine Corps Platoon
delphia Daily News, which reports his
and his associates on murder and related
Leaders Program, and was commissioned a
stunning upset victory.
Above, Castille
crimes has effectively decimated the lead-
second lieutenant after graduation in 1966.
pauses at the wall of the Philadelphia VI-
ership of organized crime in Philadelphia
He served in South Vietnam with Co. F,
etnem Veterans Memorial that he and
and South Jersey.
2nd Btn., 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division,
other Vietnam vets helped to build. in
His office also is playing a leading role in
and planned to make the military a career.
photo below, Castille. center, stops to
the investigation and prosecution of Com-
He is married to the former Judy O'Con-
chet with colleagues in front of Phila-
mon Pleas Court judges taking bribes. Cas-
nor, daughter of Cmdr. Robert O'Connor,
delphia's historic City Hall.
tille is one of the state's leading advocates
who was commander of the Philadelphia
for a system of judicial merit selection to re-
Navy Base when Castille was stationed
tice system, and was instrumental in pas-
place the present electoral process.
there for rehabilitation. Although Judy and
sage of state legislation strengthening laws
Often at odds with the mayor and other
Ron had met briefly at that time, they did
concerning dangerous juvenile offenders.
city officials, Castille's latest battle has been
not meet again until 1981, when he was on
He has also formed a volunteer program
an attempt to stop city officials from releas-
the district attorney's staff. They were mar-
to try to help rehabilitate first-time non-
ing city prisoners because of a U.S. Court
ried a year later. She is an advertising
violent juvenile offenders. Youth Aid Pan-
order that sets the city's jail population at
executive.
els selected from the community are
3,750. Castille claims the 3,750 figure is too
Despite the seriousness of his job, Cas-
trained by the district attorney's staff to su-
low; that the city jails can house 4,300 pris-
tille still has a healthy sense of humor.
pervise qualified juvenile cases and admin-
oners without overcrowding.
"People ask me if this is a challenging job,"
ister community service and counseling in
The release of such prisoners causes
he says. "Being in combat and directing a
lieu of traditional punishment.
safety hazard for the citizens of Philadel-
platoon of troops was the real challenge.
"I have very little sympathy for crimi-
phia, Castille claims, because some of those
People ask me if it's frustrating. I tell them,
nais," Castille says. But, he admits that he is
being released have prior convictions for
'No, golf is really frustrating."
willing to give first offeriders a chance. "If
they take it, great," he says. "If they choose
not to take it, they must face the
responsibilities."
Castille convened two grand juries short-
ly after taking office in January 1986 to in-
vestigate the operation of the city's aban-
doned housing abatement program and the
reconstruction of 61 homes on Osage Ave-
nue destroyed by the May 1985 MOVE
incident.
After an exhaustive examination, the
grand jury last year returned separate pre-
sentments in each case, recommending
charges be filed against three men who
were accused of stealing more than
$700,000 in taxpayer funds.
Castille has also prosecuted city employ-
ees for loafing on the job at taxpayers' ex-
pense, and for taking payoffs for illegal
trash removal.
In cooperation with federal, state, and
local authorities, the district attorney's of-
JULY 1988
Page 11
Rhett
To
To Rhett
Date
7/26
Time 3:40
Date
Time
WHILE YOU WERE OUT
WHILE YOU WERE OUT
M
M
of
of
Phone
Phone
Area Code
Number
Extension
Area Code
Number
Extension
TELEPHONED
PLEASE CALL
TELEPHONED
PLEASE CALL
CALLED TO SEE YOU
WILL CALL AGAIN
CALLED TO SEE YOU
WILL CALL AGAIN
WANTS TO SEE YOU
URGENT
WANTS TO SEE YOU
URGENT
RETURNED YOUR CALL
RETURNED YOUR CALL
Message
Message alan clark
UA
Melenda
7000
233-2822
Operator
Operator
AMPAD
AMPAD
EFFICIENCY®
23-020
EFFICIENCY@
23-020
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
- Nom byBR to be Dep Admin
of UA - 8 years-ega ego
Gov Clemens' Vets liaison
for 30 months
-VFW ell vets oigs.
VIDA
From Austin TX
- no hospital
- Jesse Brown
554-3500
fouit openning session
Disabhd American Veterans
- Volunterism
Chriss Goodwyn - eraig Wray-bad
Local/Pursonal Color
Chacks forckel
Policy - OPD
554-3561
Policy - U.A.
-Duration -
tocation - Hilton Hotel, Los Vegas
- How many people - 3,500
- BushColor-
-Fax - Bio of P. during wartine
-
for intro- 2 minuts.
-
115
160
295
41275
68 170
29
is
55
32
3
RW-
me Arthur's 64
Farewell Speech to
Codet Point Corps @ West
Markowski
Murkowski
6mg stumg
Cwil Rights - - Chichs/tolicy
War Poet
Donald Bain - It maybe that our late selves
or else cell emborn sons
707-5394 Poctry did
will search for meaning in thdust
5522
20
of long deserted gens.
10-12
10:30
Disabled American Veterans speech
- Executive Order on non-competitive conversion of personal
assistants.
Allows individuals who work as assistants to disabled
Federal employees to convert to career appointments on
a non-competitive basis.
Might be some good anecdotes from OPM on this, perhaps
even involving veterans.
I'm not sure what the idea to emphasize is: help to the
disabled by making recruitment of asistants easier,
or help to the agency by making it easier for these
people to stay in government. Ask OPM.
- HHS regulation on "substantial gainful activity."
We put out a Statement by the Press Secretary on Friday
praising this regulation that would increase the amount
of money that someone can earn and still stay on the
disability rolls.
I'm not sure if any of this audience gets both VA pensions
and HHS disability insurance. Another issue: do VA
disability recipients lose eligibility if they try to work?
I think not, and the contrast of the VA program and how
we're trying to move the HHS program in this direction
might help.
- Administration support for legislation to extend civil
rights protections to Americans with disabilities.
We're about to move into a confrontation mode with
Senate Democrats about the details of this legislation,
but we've never stopped to take credit for what we've
done. What we've done is come forward and support a
significant expansion of civil rights laws, and that
is something a Republican Administration hasn't done
lately.
Themes: into the mainstream; conciliation over confrontation
-- stressing the point that a lot more people will benefit
from the voluntary compliance with a new law than a law
suit.
(Lange/Wallace)
July 25, 1989
3:45 p.m.
[VETS.DOC]
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS CONVENTION
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
MONDAY, JULY 31, 1989
1:00 P.M.
Thank you, Billy. National Adjutant Joeckel [JOKE-el],
MURKOWSKI
Officers; Senator Markaski, Congressman Stump, Secretary
Derwinski
my friends -- and brothers in arms:
I am proud to be with you today, at your 68th annual
convention. I understand I'm the first sitting President to meet
with this group. Well
I thought it was about time. [pause]
Just sorry I couldn't get here sooner
This is a gathering of extraordinary Americans. An assembly
of heroes. Together you represent over one million men and women
disabled during inmilitary wartime, in service to our country.
In the name of freedom; for the sake of justice; to defend
democracy -- all of you have made the final, ultimate commitment
to keep America first, free, strong, and proud.
And while you were living up to that commitment, serving
your country, many of you will remember -- and some of you
thankfully won't -- how in one brief, blinding instant,
everything changed.
Maybe you remember the hammer of chopper blades, the voices
in darkness, the hands that reached for you, the vessels that
delivered you from the horror of war.
2
All of you still bear those wounds -- and can bear them with
pride. Fighting to tear power from tyrants, struggling to secure
freedom around the world, the disabled veterans of America have
paid the highest price the living can pay for freedom.
The moment you fell in service, you ascended in the hearts
and minds of all Americans. Short of death itself, there can be
no greater gift given to -- nor accepted by -- a grateful nation.
No words are the equal of your actions.
And while such a debt can never be repaid, it can and will
be remembered. You should be able to take our gratitude for
granted. But what you deserve
is our respect.
[pause]
And that's what I want to talk to you about today:
respecting those wounded in service -- and encouraging them to
find new strength in service to America.
First, respect. A nation that respects wounded veterans
won't stand by as the flag that so many of them fought for -- and
so many have died for -- is desecrated. Honest people can differ
on the approach we take. But we all agree on principle: It is
wrong -- simply, completely wrong -- to desecrate the American
flag. It stands for too much. Too many have died for it.
Second, a nation that respects wounded veterans makes sure
that they have a strong voice in the government that serves them.
That's why I've been so pleased to welcome the Department of
Veteran's Affairs to a place in the Cabinet. [pause] And when
I
see my close friend and former Congressional colleague, Ed
3
Derwinski, sitting around the table at Cabinet meetings, I know
we did something right for America's veterans.
Third, a nation that respects wounded veterans works to
guarantee them a fair shot in the marketplace. So we're
supporting a significant new expansion in civil rights laws, with
legislation to extend those protections to all Americans with
disabilities.
The disabled should be able to play their strong suit,
without paying for lawsuits. It's time to trade litigation for
cooperation.
And fourth, a nation that respects wounded veterans must do
all it can to make sure that they get quality health care.
[pause] You know that improvements are needed -- and in spite of
budget constraints, I'm committed to see that they're made.
This month Secretary Derwinski sent to Congress our proposal
to create a national commission, that will review VA medical
facilities across the country. We want to
improve the system to
include specialized centers of excellence,
ambulatory care,
community-based care, and home health care options.
We also want to broaden services and control costs, by
encouraging the VA and the Department of Defense to share
facilities -- providing better services through better
cooperation. You've given your best -- the least we can do is
provide you with the very best health care.
My friends, so much has been expected of you -- in war, and
in peace. So this may strike you as a paradox -- but this
4
President is asking you to do more. To give more of yourselves,
your time, your talents -- to others.
You may find, as many here have, that the more you give, the
more you have to give. There may be no greater feeling in the
world, than to have someone depending on you -- and to live up to
their expectations.
About a year ago, at another convention, I referred to the
Disabled American Veterans as part of "a brilliant diversity
spread like stars, like a thousand points of light in a broad and
peaceful sky.'
You are such people -- part of a constellation of concerned
citizens, committed to building a better America. In war, you
have seen the worst. In peace, you're among the best.
Your country needs you once again.
Each of you has come to terms with war and its costs --
fighting private battles that those you fought for, and defended,
can only dimly understand. A poet I admire, who did understand,
wrote:
It may be that our later selves, or else our unborn sons,
Will search for meaning in the dust of long-deserted guns.
For many of you, that search for meaning has led you to the
faces of young people threatened by drugs and alcohol. To a
basketball court, or a little league team, that needs a coach.
5
To the small business that needs your skills. Or the local
school that needs a teacher.
Maybe you know Allen Clark, who lost both legs to mortar
fire at the age of 24. Over 15 months and 12 operations, he says
he had plenty of time to think. "I wondered how I would be able
to support myself," he says. "What I would be doing. Whether I
would be able to pick up children in my arms. How I could bring
my life together again."
But he doesn't stop there. "We can do anything that we
decide we can do," he says. "We can train or retrain ourselves.
We can redirect our lives. I thank the Lord for the opportunity
to live a second life. One of my friends once told me you have
never lived until you've almost died. For those who fight for
it, life has a flavor the protected will never know."
Just ask Ron Castille, who at 23 was already wounded and
lying on the floor of a helicopter, when another machine gun slug
ripped through the floor and hit him. Today he's district
attorney for the city of Philadelphia -- serving the Youth Aid
Council, the Urban Coalition, and founding an anti-drug program
for kids. Ask him if his job is frustrating, and he'll tell you,
"No, golf is really frustrating."
This year's Outstanding Disabled Veteran, Tommy Clack, has
travelled to all 50 states as a speaker and lecturer. He's held
posts in the Georgia Department of Veterans Services, the
Jaycees, the Red Cross, the Atlanta VA Medical Center, and
6
organized a program that has helped over 400 veterans secure $84
million in Small Business Administration loans since '83.
He hunts deer and ducks each fall from his wheelchair. They say
he "always gets his deer." Lucky man.
I single out the few, because they represent the many.
They, like every one of you, represent America's highest, most
enduring ideals. They're the ideals of duty. Honor. Sacrifice.
But above all, redemption. Because once you're given a second
chance, you never look back.
We have within our reach -- and many of you have found -- a
way to heal the wounds within. You have turned your gaze
outward, and focused the brilliance of your will to live on those
who most need it -- and in doing so, you have found yourselves
strengthened.
Your volunteer and auxiliary programs provide over two
million hours of absolutely vital help each year in VA Medical
Centers. That makes sure that deserving veterans aren't turned
away, and wards aren't closed.
And volunteers behind the wheel of vans in the DAV
Transportation Program will travel over seven million miles this
year, getting vets to facilities for medical treatment. These
are outstanding examples of private initiatives meeting crucial
needs. I'd like to commend all of you involved -- along with
your director of voluntary services, Bruce Nitsche.
[pause]
7
Gathered here today, you represent a million Americans --
men and women we call "disabled," but who rightly ought to be
known as the handi-capable.
Let me encourage you to apply your talents, your strength,
your insight, your sensitivity, your compassion -- the depth and
brilliance of your gifts -- to bring new and hopeful light to
every corner of America, whether inner cities or mountain
hollows.
Let this now be a war waged against drugs, alcohol abuse,
child abuse, violence against women, illiteracy, pollution --
against all lost hopes and broken dreams. In this battle, your
best weapon will be hope.
I know you already have the courage and will to persevere.
You've shed blood for America. And as long as your hearts beat
within you, you can do good for America.
Together, we can prove that patriotism can neither be
patronized, nor compromised. Together, we can show the world
that everywhere that there is a need in America, we have the
strength to meet it.
Through thousands of acts of quiet valor, you are turning
what lesser men and women might have let be tragedy, to triumph.
Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States
of America.
# # #
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
DATE: 7-20-89
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Chris
To:
Dave
Before
I in not sure
what Life really
wants.
If this is night
double check the
Hirshito parts
with Brent
Let me see funal
MY IMPRESSIONS - WORLD WAR II
December 7, 1941
I was walking across the campus at Andover when I heard the news.
I was 17. It came as a shock - a jolt - an awakening. I did not
fully comprehend World Affairs. My interests were our undefeated
soccer team, Christmas vacation only a month away, and graduation
then college. Things changed instantly. I knew right then that
I wanted to go into the service.
December 8, 1941
Our headmaster, a great historian and tough disciplinarian,
summoned us all into George Washington Hall, the school's
assembly place. There was the normal joking, kidding, sloppy
posture. Dr. Fuess called to order the 800 students by saying
something like this: "Your country is at war. We have just
played the Star Spangled Banner. From now on when the Star
Spangled Banner is played you will stand at attention, hands at
your sides and you will show respect." From that day on, without
fail, I have stood at attention when the Star Spangled Banner was
played.
Early June 1942
Secretary Stimyson, an alumnus of Andover, gave the commencement
2
address. He encouraged the graduating class to get some college
education before serving. (sheck these facts). I was
determined, not to go on to college, but to become a Navy pilot.
Secretary Stimpson was a towering world figure but I wondered
about this call of his.
June 12, 1942
On my 18th birthday I was sworn into the Navy as a Seaman 2nd
Class. The first step towards becoming a Navy pilot. The Navy
had just changed the rules. It no longer required two years of
college before becoming a Navy pilot; pilots were urgently
needed. The Navy moved to accept High School graduates for pilot
training. Walter Levering, LT USNR, swore me in at Boston. I
went on active duty as an Aviation Cadet August 6, 1942.
August 6, 1942
Active duty at last.
I climb on a southbound train at Penn Station. My dad was a big,
strong guy. He put his arm around me and said goodbye. I'd
never seen my dad shed a tear before.
June 1943
Having been stationed at Chapel Hill for preflight, Minneapolis
for Primary Training, and Corpus Christi for Advance, I received
my Navy wings and Ensign's Commission June 4 . I was still 18
3
years old. I wanted to fly in combat. All my classmates wanted
to fly in combat. Our country was at war - united. I selected
Torpedo Bombers
I fell in love early on with the 'low and
slow' TBF. It carried 2,000 lbs of bombs, it was the biggest
single engine aircraft in the fleet. It had a crew of 3. I went
off to Fort Lauderdale to learn to fly this, the Grumman Avenger.
Training up and down the East coast, dropping torpedoes off Cape
Cod, bombs and torpedoes in Lake Okechobee, Florida,
Chincoteague, Virginia, Charleston Rhode Island, Miami
I
saw 'em all. I had an Ensign's stripe and an Admiral's
confidence. I was a Navy pilot.
Spring - Summer 1944
I
Having been assigned to Air Group 51, the first air group to be
abroad the new fast Carrier San Jacinto, CVL
30,
We
had
been
on
a
shake down cruises to Trinidad, put San Jac into Commission at
Philadelphia! headed for the Pacific via the Panama Canal,
at San Diego
touched the USA one last time and then went West. One roommate,
A
subsequently killed, Tom Waters had a red face but the seas were
so bad that his face turned green. Many of the Air Group and
ship's company had spent no time at sea.
We struck Wake Island on May 23, 1944 and my close friend and
roommate, Jim Wykes went off on a search mission and never came
back. I lay in my upper bunk and cried for my friend, but no-one
saw me - that wouldn't do.
4
September 2, 1944
Over Chi Chi Jima, my plane, was hit by antiaircraft fire at about
8:30 a.m. The submarine Finback picked me out of the water close
to the Japanese held island of Chi Chi. I learned later that my
for about 2 hour,
crewmen were killed. In that life raft K wondering if my life
-vomited
shed
tear.
would be spared, I prayed, and again I
I
was a scared
just 20,
year bld
kid away from his mother and dad.
September 1944 - abroad the Finback in Japanese waters
The Submarine Finback stayed on its war patrol. We got depth
charged by Japanese ships. The submariners in Finback didn't
seem too concerned about that, but Jim Beckman, Tom Keene and I,
the 3 rescued pilots, didn't like that a bit. to Finbach's
shipper won a silven Star for sinhug Japanese shipping.
October 1944
Back in Pearl Harbor for a week at a rest home - some flying,
Adwal Bull
then hitch hiked back to the fleet - Task Forde 38 under, Halsey
off the Philippines. I wondered at the tremendous Naval power I
and at ulithe Atoll
saw in and around Pearl HarborA You could feel things moving our
way. We were still shown the pictures of Japanese atrocities. It
was Hirohito's fault. Hitler was beginning to get kicked hard in
Europe but for us there was one unifying symbol - Hirohito and
the evil he represented. I wanted badly to rejoin my squadron -
to fly more, to do my part.
5
November 1944
I fly final combat mission over Luzon Bay, November 19, 1944.
Puffs of antiaircraft fire, blackymenacing, but nothing like the
concentrated fire over Chi Chi Jima. Still you wonder. There
was a sense of exhilaration in our ready room. We were going
home. We'd probably make it in time for Christmas. Several of
our VT 51 squadron mates had been killed, but that was accepted.
The war had us together on one track. In a sense, the ferocity
of the battle helped heal the hurt for the fallen comrade. It
was our duty, our honor. We were fighting for the USA against
tyranny. The Country was united. We, on a carrier, were a part
of something great and good. At times we were scared, but there
were never any doubts.
Christmas Eve 1944
I arrive home. I stopped at the Rye Station on the way to
Greenwich. There my fiancee, Barbara, climbs on the train. We go
the 10 minutes to Greenwich. My mother and dad meet us. I was
glad to be home for Christmas. I was glad to be surrounded by
love. At church the next day, Christmas Day, I counted my
blessings. I thanked God I was home - and in the quiet of our
church I thought about Jim Wykes, Dick Houle, Ted White, John
Delaney and others who would never come home for Christmas. I
think I asked Why, but there was not any agony about the cause.
There were no divisions about the War. We were right, God was on
6
our side. We had suffered a surprise attack and, now three years
later we were winning; and I, a 20 year old Lt. (j.g.) was part
of the greatest fighting force in the world. I had grown up. I
had flown with the best off a great carrier that flew the Texas
flag into battle. I was part of a team. We cared about each
other in our squadron. We understood each other's fears and
loves. We played together, sang together, flew together. We
bitched about our Squadron Commander - too tough, too demanding,
too serious, but we loved to fly on his wing - we respected Don
Melvin.
If we hot dogged it or risked the lives of the ship's crew by
some careless maneuver, Captain Beauty Martin would kick some
serious butt, but he was our Captain and we bragged about him.
He didn't know me from Adam's off Ox. But why should he - I had
one stripe, finally then 1 1/2, and he had 4. We gave him a lot of room.
We gave him a lot of respect.
We saw the pictures of Japanese soliders executing kneeling
captives and we knew the Emperor was to blame. We saw the
executioners swords held high and as we passed the pictures
around we knew we were right and that we would win, and that we
were the best. We were the best
cocky devils, sure of our
ability, sure of our mission, 20 years old and we knew exactly
what had to done.
We were the best pilots. When we ground looped on land, it was
7
that damned gust of wind, or it was low hydraulics in the left
brake. When we missed the proper wire landing on the carrier, it
was that crazy landing signal officer
"Damn fool, had me too
high all the way in, or too fast, or too slow"; but we never told
him. He held our lives in his hands and besides, the skipper
always thought he was right. We hated Hirohito. Evil, he was
the epitome of all evil. He started this. He and Hitler.
Winter - Spring 1945
Barbara and I were married January 6th. We had time for a
honeymoon, then off we went to carrier re-qualification in the
Great Lakes. We bought our first car - a 1941 Plymouth - price
$350. Joining our squadron in Lewiston, Maine, up and down the
East Coast in VT 153, a new torpedo squadron manned by some of my
pals from VT 51. I checked out in the F4U, the hot shot gull
corson
wing ^ fighter
and for a moment I wondered if low and slow
...
was good enough for me anymore. Fleeting thought only, since by
now the feel of the TBF was a part of my very existence. The TBF
was a forgiving airplane and though I was a pretty good pilot,
I'd still make some pilots errors that needed forgiveness.
August 1945
I'm 21 now.
We are based in Virginia. Barbara and I are having more time
together as our new squadron, with orders in hand to go back to
the Pacific, starts our final training
the war ends. I'll
8
never forget the screaming and the cheering and the dancing in
the street and the praying. Bar and I went to church. The War's
end meant we would not have to be separated, and that I would not
them
have to cover any more landings of Marines on beaches 'A getting
get
slaughtered as the Japanese dug in to defend their homeland.
September 18, 1945
I am discharged from the Navy on points and now I go to college.
The togetherness of it all disperses. We all re-focus. It's
soccer, baseball - it's our first baby and Economic classes.
Barbara and I know family joy and the happiness of being at
school and looking forward shortly thereafter to a new life in
our west. We have lots of new friends. The letters from the
shipmates slow down. They are finding their new way too.
January 20, 1989
I am sworn in as President of the United States. A TBF on a float
goes by in our Inaugural parade. On it are some squadron mates
from VT 51 and a couple of old submariners who were aboard
Finback when she picked me out of the drink off Chi Chi Jima.
They are smiling and waving and no-one knows who they are. But I
knew.
February 1989
I go to Japan for the funeral of Emperor Hirohito. It is an icy
9
cold day and the long ceremony is beautifully done. Sitting
there in the cold surrounded by World leaders I had time to
think. Yes, I thought about the burst of antiaircraft fire from
thought
Chi Chi Jima that killed my friends, but that did not dominate.
I thought about Hirohito going to call on MacArthur, about
Japan's remarkable recovery and about her democracy. I thought
little
about the quiet ^ man and his love of nature and how that
contrasted with the pictures we saw 45 years ago
I thought
of Japan.
They are now democrati a duoca
Our alliance is strong, our friendship is genuine How remarkable
that is. Maybe Ted White, Jack Delaney, and Jim Wykes did not
die in vain. It was right that I went back to Japan to the
Emperor's funeral. I didn't see the raised swords.
I saw Fapor a new Emperson. - a respected Feg me
symbol in a country that is on freed
3,000 people in audience
/
not issue of combat
/
"God + the sol die we all adore
When on the bank of dages, not beto re
in The danges passed, both alike
are requited
Rack God is forgotten, and the
soldier slighted 1
post In Gilbrator
DAV
7/20/89
Ask Ed:
I
Who are Billy Kirby
Butch Joeckel
- Volunters
\
Legisl Pack
Amer. w/ Diobbiliets Act
Symbollic aspects
7/24/89
HansKuttner 2638
Exec. Order
personal post.'s of dispbled
Veterans
Administration
Memorandum
July 19, 1989
Date:
1,000 Pts.
Special Assistant to the Secretary (007)
From:
President's Speech at DAV July 31, 1989
Subj.
of Light
Ed Timperlake
To:
Topics requested to be covered by President:
1. Commitment to Health Services on behalf of veterans.
3. 2. DOD/VA DAV's Volunteer Sharing of Program. facilities. (See Attachment) sounds interesting
4. DAV Transportation program re: Providing vans. (See Attachment)
5. Flag. cald be if At too controversible
X
Honest men differ on afsproach but assee on Disneysal:
6. Advanced copy of Secretary Derwinski's and President's
You many
speeches requested by DAV when available.
Stlay must not be
People to be mentioned in Speeches:
deservated It starch
Billy Kirby - National Commander from Texas
Butch Joeckel - National Adjutant Pronounced "JOKE L"
allen Clark
Allen Clark
Attachment
CC: Secretary Derwinski
SEB cell lost Lawelks) both legs
cell J.J. Forester
VA FORM
2105
SEP 1984
DAV VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
DAV and Auxiliary VAVS volunteers:
11,252
DAV and Auxiliary Older Veterans
Assistance Program volunteers:
4,678
Total Volunteers:
15,930
Hours volunteered at VAMCs in 1988:
2,006,186
If the Department of Veterans Affairs were to hire people
to work the same number of hours, it would take more than 1,000
additional employees.
DAV Transportation Network
DAV has hired 170 Hospital Service Coordinators to
treatment at VA medical facilities.
coordinate volunteer transportation for veterane needing
Last year, DAV Transportation Network volunteers drove over
5,000,000 miles and transported more than 100,000 veterans to VA
facilities for medical treatment.
steps
Based on the statistics for the first five months of this
1.000
year:
DAV volunteers will provide more than
150,000 veterans with transportation in 1989
and drive over 7,000,000 miles.
DAV has also donated 112 vans to the VA to be
used in this volunteer transportation program.
Department and Chapter
Department of Veterans Affairs
Voluntary Service donations:
(January 1, 1988 - December 31, 1988)
$1,583,268.00
Other hospital & service related donations
from Departments and Chapters:
(This includes Dept. & Chap. costs
$6,299,244.00
associated with welfare & relief,
as well as the HSC & DSO programs)
Total donations:
$7,882,512.00
ANNUAL REPORT
BRUCE G. NITSCHE
NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTARY SERVICES
TO THE
68TH NATIONAL CONVENTION
OF THE
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 1989
NATIONAL COMMANDER KIRBY, NATIONAL OFFICERS, DISTINGUISHED
GUESTS AND DELEGATES TO THE 68TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS:
It is my pleasure to present to you the annual report of
DAV Voluntary Services.
DAV and DAV Auxiliary volunteer activities are the
lifeblood of DAV service to disabled veterans and their
dependents. It is not a service provided for the reward of
money or recognition, but for the rewards of an ailing veteran's
smile or the tears of appreciation for being there when his
family couldn't be. Volunteering is part of a deep sense of our
caring for the veterans who gave so much in the defense of our
country. All of us share America's debt to her defenders. It's
an obligation that is being paid back in spades by DAV and DAV
Auxiliary volunteers. Volunteers carry out a proud tradition of
service that dates back to the founding of the DAV and those
first disabled veterans who sought to help each other.
Each year Americans donate some 15 billion hours of
volunteer time to a variety of worthwhile causes. Nowhere
is that volunteer more needed, more important, than in serving
disabled veterans and their dependents. Nowhere is the service
volunteers perform more crucial to the treatment and
rehabilitation of disabled veterans, than is the service of DAV
and DAV Auxiliary volunteers serving in Department of Veterans
Affairs medical facilities and within their own communities.
Anyone familiar with VA hospitals knows they face common
problems. Funds to operate and care for patients is tight and
getting tighter. Costs have escalated and the nation as a whole
faces a growing shortage of health care professionals -- nurses,
pharmacists, doctors and therapists.
These problems have grown particularly bad in VA hospitals
as the population of older veterans has grown larger. Many more
veterans, for the first time in their lives, are turning to the
VA for health care and other services. Many are turned away
because the staff and the resources just aren't there.
Volunteers make the difference between treating one more
deserving veteran or turning him away from care. It's the
opportunity to keep doors open on wards that would have been
forced to close long ago. It's the chance to truly make a
difference, truly make a significant contribution
sives
Once again, DAV volunteer programs have gained increased
support. I am pleased to present to you this recap of the great
strides we've made. The statistics compiled herein represent
both the calendar year ending December 31, 1988, and the period
of January 1, 1989, through April 30, 1989. Veterans Affairs
Voluntary Service (VAVS) statistics reflect the 12-month period
ending March 30, 1989.
This report totals the figures on money spent, hours
volunteered and the number of volunteers involved in DAV
volunteer programs. But it can never represent the leadership
and generous acts of giving by our State VAVS Chairmen, Hospital
Representatives, Deputies and all of our volunteers in their
daily volunteer activities. Transportation for medical
treatment, sports and rehabilitation programs for the disabled
veteran, entertainment for hospitalized veterans, assistance to
older veterans, and performing immeasurable deeds of friendship
to veterans in need, are just a few of the many services they
provide. These statistics are the result of DAV members,
families and friends fulfilling the purpose of our organization.
We've seen growth not only in the established VAVS program
but on the continuing development of the two-year-old DAV
Transportation Network as well. This program involves the
placement of a Hospital Service Coordinator (HSC) at each of the
172 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs). DAV members can
feel especially proud of their accomplishments over a short
period of time in this program. By the end of April 1989,
programs were active at 167 VA medical facilities. During 1988,
volunteers drove over five million miles to transport more than
100,000 veterans to VA medical facilities. without the DAV
Transportation Network these veterans would have been denied
medical care because they were unable to get to medical
facilities. To further support this program, DAV Departments
and Chapters, together with the national organization, have
donated 92 vans to medical centers nationwide. DAV HSCs and DAV
VAVS Representatives working together have added hundreds of new
volunteers to our voluntary service programs. These programs
range from offering VA claims assistance to being at the bedside
of hospitalized veterans when they need a friend.
Since April 1, 1988, the number of DAV VAVS volunteers grew
by 962, a 15% increase. Furthermore, DAV VAVS volunteers
donated 225,247 more hours than the previous year. DAV and DAV
Auxiliary VAVS volunteers reached another milestone during this
period by providing more than 2,000,000 hours of service in
VAMCs. If the VA were to hire people to work the same number of
hours, it would take more than 1,000 additional employees.
In addition to the past year's volunteer statistics, this
programs. report contains a brief overview of some of our major volunteer
another from the DAV Auxiliary who have decicated themselves
to helping veterans through their volunteer activities. A
distinguished, independent selection committee reviews each of
the nominations that are submitted from Department of Veterans
Affairs medical centers nationwide. The committee selects the
winners who best exemplify the volunteer spirit of the late
George H. Seal in whose memory this award is presented. The
winners of this award are given an all-expense-paid trip to the
site of the DAV National Convention where they are presented the
award at the Opening Session by the DAV National Commander. This
year we received 97 nominations of DAV VAVS volunteers and 63
nominations of DAVA volunteers. The winners are Rhea Garrett,
Bay Pines, Florida VAMC and James J. Chmiel, Long Beach,
California VAMC.
THE DAV VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
This publication is devoted exclusively to providing
information of interest to DAV and DAVA volunteers. It is
published quarterly and sent to all volunteers registered on the
national organization's volunteer data base. The goal of this
newsletter is to publicize successful volunteer programs so they
may be established wherever needed. As the name suggests, it is
the volunteer's newsletter. In this regard, volunteers are
encouraged to share their program successes and ideas for
articles. The newsletter is also used for announcing
recognition programs such as Hour pins, Volunteer T-shirts,
think
Mileage Pins and future recognition efforts for the
organization's volunteers. The DAV Volunteer Newsletter has
1000
been very well received in the short time we have been
publishing it. The credit for its success goes to Frank
Norberg, Editor of DAV Magazine, who has worked diligently to
see we are successful in meeting the information needs of our
nationwide network of volunteers.
THE GOLDEN AGE GAMES
The Golden Age Games were sponsored by the DAV Charitable
Service Trust in 1988 and are designed to promote maximum
involvement of senior veterans to enhance their mental, social,
physical, and emotional well-being and improve their day-to-day
quality of life. All participants must be age 55 and older and
receiving treatment at a VA medical facility.
More than 200 veterans participated in the 1988 games that
were held at the Marion, Indiana VAMC. The success of these
games became clear when one participant stated "I didn't win a
medal, but I have a certificate that says I competed. And, best
of all, I have a head full of wonderful memories that nobody can
take away from me."
s
To assure the future success of this program, 1989 has been
set aside as a year for the formal development of operational
procedures by the Department of Veteran Affairs. The Games are
then planned to be held on an annual basis with site selection
at least one year in advance.
HANDICAPPED SKIING
Chapstick Ski Challenge
This year marked the first time the Ski Challenge (formerly
called Winterfest) was held apart from the National Disabled Ski
Championships. It's the largest winter sports event in the
country for the physically disabled. This year's Ski Challenge
attracted 600 participants from throughout the nation. The
event consists of a week-long series of clinica to teach the
disabled how to ski. The clinics also trained and certified
instructors. Instructors learned how to conduct team and
individual races and further expand sports and rehabilitation
opportunities for the disabled.
National Alpine Disabled Ski Championship
This championship race features disabled skiers who have
qualified from a field of 1,000 in 18 regional races across the
country. The DAV National Commander's Trophy is presented
annually to & disabled veteran who puts in an outstanding
performance at this competition. The winner of this year's
trophy was mono-ski competitor Chad Colley, Past National
Commander of the DAV. Second and third place medals were
awarded to Jim Martinson of Puyallup, Washington, and Chris
Young of Boulder, Colorado.
NATIONAL WINTER SPORTS CLINIC FOR VETERANS
More than 100 disabled veterans from 17 states attended
this DAV-sponsored event held at Powderhorn Ski Resort in
Colorado from February 26 to March 3, 1989.
Participation in this winter sports clinic 1s open to
veterans throughout the U.S. with visual impairments, spinal
cord injuries, certain neurological problems, orthopedic
amputations and other disabilities. Veterans currently having
inpatient or outpatient treatment status with the VA have first
priority. The five-day clinic conducted by the Grand Junction,
Colorado VAMC and hundreds of volunteers consists of ski lessons
and training as well as alternative activities. Some of these
activities are aerobics, swimming, archery, basketball,
trap-shooting and self defense workshops. In addition, there
tours. are self-directed activities such as snowmobiling and scenic
5
The objective of this clinic is to provide the disabled
veteran with opportunities to recognize their abilities,
self-development in physical and social skills, new adaptive
techniques to meet the challenges of winter sports and develop a
healthier and more active lifestyle.
HANDICAPPED GOLF
National Amputee Golf Association Open Championship
This is the third year of our involvement in the National
Amputee Golf Championships. The DAV believes summer sports are
just as important as winter sports in the disabled veteran's
continuing rehabilitation and more active lifestyle. When one
thinks of summer sports, golf automatically comes to mind. This
sport is probably more readily available to disabled veterans
than any other. One of the ways the DAV recognizes golfers who
are disabled veterans is by presenting the National Commander's
Trophy annually to the disabled veteran amputee golfer with the
best overall performance in the National Amputee Golf
Association (NAGA) Open.
This year's trophy went to DAV Life Member Tom Quinn from
East Quoque, New York. At the 1988 national tournament held
November 8-10 at Atlantic City Country Club, National Commander
Kirby best described this award by stating, "The award is
presented annually to the disabled veteran whose overall
performance in the NAGA Championships matches the courage and
determination that they displayed to defend human freedoms
during a time of war.
First Swing Learn to Golf Clinic
This marks the first year of our involvement with the First
Swing Program. This special golf program is sponsored by the
DAV Charitable Service Trust and will be held at several VAMCe
this year. First Swing utilizes the fundamentals of golf as a
rehabilitative medium in recreation and physical therapy
programs. In addition to teaching golf to the disabled veteran,
the program uses a Professional Golf Association of America
(PGA) curriculum and PGA and National Amputee Gulf Association
(NAGA) instructors to introduce and prepare physical,
recreational and rehabilitation therapists to conduct basic
instruction in golf.
As PCA states "The game of golf is one of the oldest sports
in the world and was originally played by kings and noblemen on
sandy links in Scotland. In golf, unlike most sports, you don't
have to be big, strong, fast or a member of a team to be
successful. Anyone -- men, women, young or old, amateur or
professional can play golf." The DAV believes this is an
excellent program that encourages disabled veterans to acquire a
life." lifetime leisure activity that will improve their "quality of
6
DAV ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM
The DAV Entertainment Program continues to draw praise from
VA medical center directors and other VA health care
professionals across America. They have lauded the program as
extremely effective in improving the quality of life for
hospitalized veterans.
We are privileged to sponsor visits to the nation's VAMCe
by some very gifted and caring people. These people are Larry
Barnett and Eddie Montague, major league baseball umpires --
Larry in the American League and Eddie in the National League.
Additionally we sponsor visits by Carol Steele, a country
western singer. Over the past several years, Larry Barnett has
visited every VAMC in the nation. In 1988 alone he has cheered
patients at 42 VA hospitals. During the past year, Eddie
Montague has visited 35 VA medical centers and Carol Steele has
visited 61.
A new addition to our entertainment program is Kevin
Dobson, star of TV's "Knots Landing,' who will be making visits
to VAMCs during the coming year. Kevin will encourage others to
join the VA's volunteer ranks at open meetings during his visits.
We take great pride in the fact these individuals chose the
DAV VA Voluntary Service Program as the vehicle for their
humanitarian service to veterans.
As this report reflects, many new volunteers have joined
the rolls of the DAV and DAV Auxiliary volunteer corps during
the past year. These new volunteers, working alongside our
volunteers with many years of loyal service, have been involved
in both our new and traditional programs. The ability and
dedication of all our volunteers to recognize today's veterans'
needs, and start innovative programs to meet those needs, is
critical to caring for disabled veterans and their families.
Our volunteers are performing critical jobs that are more
important to VA health care than ever before.
This very successful volunteer year would not be possible
without the help of many people who have earned our gratitude:
First, I would like to thank National Commander Billy Kirby
for his emphasis on recognizing volunteers for their
contributions. His leadership has significantly increased the
visibility of our volunteers' accomplishments.
Our success by a shared commitment goos to the staffs of
our Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati, Ohio, offices under the
leadership of National Adjutant Charles "Butch" Joeckel. Butch
has continuously promoted our volunteers as an essential
resource to the DAV's commitment to service.
7
Nowhere are the benefits of partnership better demonstrated
than through the cooperation between DAV and DAV Auxiliary
volunteers. Through the leadership of DAV Auxiliary National
Commander Rose Marie Schilpp and National Adjutant Maria Tedrow,
this partnership has become more productive than ever.
A particular note of appreciation goes to the officers and
directors of the DAV Charitable Service Trust for their
compassionate leadership in approving grants to support the
Golden Age Games, First Swing -- Learn to Golf Clinics, DAV
Transportation Network, the Homeless and Chronically Mentally
Ill program and many other praiseworthy programs. These
programs reflect the tremendous impact the DAV Charitable
Service Trust has made in the lives of veterans and their
families.
Deserving of special attention are the DAV Hospital Service
Coordinators who have organized effective volunteer
transportation programs in short periods of time with limited
resources. With the support and training assistance by National
Service Officers they have become valuable resources for service
work in VA medical facilities. A result of this training is
more than one half of the HSCs have received accreditation as
representatives of the DAV by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
A special thank you to Ed Rose, Director of VA Voluntary
Service, for his "can do" attitude when confronted with
bureaucratic obstacles many would consider insurmountable.
The most important thank you goes to the thousands of DAV
and DAV Auxiliary volunteers. These volunteers, through their
countless deeds of love, make the DAV a source of comfort and
hope to all veterans in need of help. It has again been my
pleasure to be associated with such a wonderful group of
people. Thank you.
DAY VOLUNTARY SERVICES REPORT - 1989
VA VOLUNTARY SERVACE (VAYS)
April 1, 1988 through March 31, 1989
NUMBER OF REGULARLY SCHEDULED VAVS VOLUNTEERS
7,444
NUMBER OF HOURS BY REGULARLY SCHEDULED VOLUNTEERS
1,465,475
NUMBER OF ASSIGNMENTS BY REGULARLY SCHEDULED VOLUNTEERS
8,897
NUMBER OF VISITS BY REGULARLY SCHEDULED VOLUNTEERS
266,111
NUMBER OF HOURS BY OCCASIONAL VOLUNTEERS
58,731
NUMBER OF VISITS BY OCCASIONAL VOLUNTEERS
15,877
NUMBER OF HOURS BY ALL VAVS VOLUNTEERS
1,524,206
NUMBER OF VISITS BY ALL VAVS VOLUNTEERS
281,988
NUMBER OF STATE CHAIRMEN
19
NUMBER OF STATE CHAIRMEN ALSO SERVING AS REPRESENTATIVES
1e
NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES
173
NUMBER OF DEPUTY REPRESENTATIVES
344
NUMBER OF ASSOCIATE REPRESENTATIVES
36
NUMBER OF DEPUTY ASSOCIATE REPRESENTATIVES
4
NUMBER OF APPOINTED POSITIONS
594
ANNUAL JOINT REVIEWS RECEIVED FOR THE YEAR
111
DEPARTMENT AND CHAPTER VAVS DONATIONS
(January 1, 1988 through December 31, 1988)
$1,583,268.00
OTHER HOSPITAL AND SERVICE RELATED DONATIONS
FROM DEPARTMENTS AND CHAPTERS
$6,299,244.00
(This includes Dept. & Chapter costs associated with
welfare & relief, as well as the HSC & DSO programs)
TOTAL DONATIONS
$7,882,512.00
OLDER VETERANS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (OVAP)
NUMBER OF OVAP VOLUNTEERS
4,678
NUMBER OF CHAPTER OVAP TEAMS
747
NUMBER OF REQUESTS FOR SERVICE FORMS
629
NUMBER OF OVAP GRANTS ISSUED TO DATE
170
AMOUNT OF OVAP GRANTS ISSUED TO DATE
$136,636.56
TRANSPORTATION
January 1. 1988 through April 30. 1989
These DAV Transportation Statistics reflect the data gethered from January i,
1988 through April 30, 1989.
Monthly DAV Transportation Network
(vetorans transported by month)
1988
1989
JAN - 5,154
APR - 7,572
JUL - 8,042
OCT - 9,726
JAN - 12,546
FEB - 6,549
MAY - 8,595
AUG - 10,134
NOV - 9,601
FEB - 11,134
MAR - 8,314
JUN - 9,400
SEP - 9,297
DEC - 9,665
MAR - 13,016
APR - 11,341
Transportation Totals for the Periods of: 1/01/88
1/01/89
1/01/87
12/31/88
4/30/89
4/30/89
TOTAL NUMBER OF
HOSPITAL SERVICE COORDINATORS (HSCs)
152
167
167
NUMBER VETERANS TRANSPORTED
105,504
48,037
171,694
TRANSPORTATION HOURS
288,137
120,583
463,926
TRANSPORTATION MILES
5,432,137
2,406,273
8,830,460
1988-89 NATIONAL GRANTS TO DEPARTMENTS
Jan 88 . Dec 88
Jan 89 - Apr 89
(not including vans)
NATIONAL GRANTS
$ 773,596.02
$ 265,569.37
48 VANS PURCHASED 1986 (delivered 1989)
$ 435,713.64
1988 TOTAL NATIONAL GRANT EXPENDITURES
$ 1,209,309.66
(including vans)
1988-89 TOTAL NATIONAL GRANT EXPENDITURES $ 1,474,879.03
(January 1988 thru April 1989)
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SPEECH MATERIAL/TALKING POINTS ON VETERANS ISSUES
(for consideration by the President)
ISSUE #1 -- ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES (INCLUDING
REFERENCE TO REALIGHMENT COMMISSION):
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BENEFITS VETERANS EARNED IN SERVICE
TO THEIR COUNTRY IS MEDICAL CARE. IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY
APPARENT IN RECENT MONTHS THAT IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED IN THE
EXISTING SYSTEM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THAT CARE.
ACCESS TO SERVICES HAVE BECOME UNEVEN AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND
THE SYSTEM HAS HAD DIFFICULTY KEEPING UP WITH NEW EQUIPMENT NEEDS.
MEALTH
FURTHERMORE, NEW NEEDS ARE BEING POSED BY THE INCREASINGLY
AGING VETERAN POPULATION. AND THE MEDICAL WORLD IS CHANGING FAST,
WITH HOSPITAL-BASED MEDICAL CARE SYSTEMS EVOLVING INTO MANY NEW
MODES OF NON-INSTITUTIONAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
TO RESPOND TO THESE PRESSURES, SECRETARY DERWINSKI HAS SENT
CONGRESS (ON JULY 17) OUR PROPOSAL FOR A NATIONAL COMMISSION TO
REVIEW THE ALIGNMENT OF VA MEDICAL FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
THIS COMMISSION WILL PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE
CHANGES. STRUCTURE OF THE VA SYSTEM, INCLUDING ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR MISSION
THE COMMISSION IS MODELED AFTER THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BASE
CLOSURE COMMISSION WITH ONE IMPORTANT EXCEPTION -- THIS IS NOT A
CLOSING COMMISSION. THE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL DEVELOPED BY VA
ANTICIPATES NO MEDICAL CENTERS WILL BE CLOSED.
APPOINTING SUCH A BLUE RIBBON COMISSION OF INDEPENDENT MEDICAL
EXPERTS SERVES TO TAKE THE POLITICS OUT OF THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
FUTURE OF VA MEDICAL SERVICES. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BADLY
NEEDED, BECAUSE THE VA SYSTEM HAS GROWN AND BEEN SUBJECT TO
PATERNALISTIC DIRECTIONS FROM CONGRESS FOR MANY YEARS. UNDER THIS
RECOMMENDATIONS AS A SINGLE PACKAGE.
NEW PROPOSAL, CONGRESS WOULD BE ASKED TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE THE
THE HEALTH CARE MIX OF THE FUTURE SHOULD INCLUDE SPECIALIZED
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE, AMBULATORY CARE, COMMUNITY-BASED CARE AND
HOME HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS. WE WANT THE VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM TO BE
ABLE TO PROVIDE VETERANS WITH THE MOST MODERN AND MOST APPROPRIATE
MOVE TOWARD THAT GOAL.
KINDS AND LEVELS OF CARE AVAILABLE. THIS COMMISSION WILL HELP US
ISSUE #2: DAV'S VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
VOLUNT.
YOUR VOLUNTEER AND AUXILIARY PROGRAMS OVERALL ARE SPECIFIC
of
SYSTEM SIMPLY COULD NOT DO WITHOUT.
EXAMPLES OF SERVICES SELFLESSLY RENDERED THAT THE VA HEALTH CARE
ago
$1 TRANS. JOHNNT
Page 1
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THE NEARLY 16,000 DAV AND AUXILIARY VOLUNTEERS GIVE OVER TWO
MILLION HOURS OF THEIR TIME EACH YEAR IN VA MEDICAL CENTERS
...
AND THEY CLEARLY MAKE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE IN THE
QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HOSPITALIZED VETERANS.
NO PRICE TAG CAN ADEQUATELY MEASURE THAT KIND OF CONTRIBUTION.
BUT IF WE COULD MEASURE THE COST, IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE GREATER THAN
SIMPLY THE SALARIES OF THE MORE THAN 1,000 ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES IT
WOULD TAKE TO DO JUST THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED WORK DAV VOLUNTEERS
PERFORM.
ISSUE #3: DOD/VA SHARING OF FACILITIES:
WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, VA HAS SHOWN THAT
FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS CAN NOT ONLY WORK WITH EACH OTHER, BUT WITH
STATE PLANNERS, PRIVATE CONTRACTORS AND A HOST OF OTHERS TO SHARE
MEDICAL SERVICES IN A WAY THAT ASSURES THAT VETERANS AND SERVICEMEN
GET IMPROVED CARE.
HEALTH FACIF
IT'S QUITE CLEAR THAT FURTHER COOPERATION BETWEEN VA AND DOD
FACILITIES IN HEALTH CARE PLANNING AND DELIVERY IS INDICATED AND, IN
FACT, IMPERATIVE.
THE EXPERIENCE FROM THE VA-DoD EXPERIMENTS THUS FAR CERTAINLY
HAVE INDICATED THAT, AS MEDICAL STAFF AND PATIENTS FROM VA AND
MILITARY FACILITIES HAVE BEGUN TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE ARRAY OF
SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOUND "ON THE OTHER SIDE"
...
THEY FIND THESE EXPEDIENTS BROADEN SERVICES AND IMPROVE
CARE AT A COST LOWER THAN IF EACH DEPARTMENT HAD FOLLOWED AN
INDEPENDENT ROUTE. creative
WE RECOGNIZE VALUE IN ORGANIZATIONAL
problem-sdung THE saving MAINTAINING #, THE
INTEGRITY OF OUR RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS. BUT WE'VE GOT
TO CONTINUE TO MINIMIZE "TURF BATTLES" WHERE IT'S CLEAR THAT
INCREASED SHARING WILL BRING IMPROVED PATIENT SERVICES TO BOTH
ORGANIZATIONS.
ISSUE #4: DAV TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM (Providing VA medical
facilities with vans to transport patients):
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE DAV ON ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE,
PRACTICAL EFFORTS EVER LAUNCHED BY A VETERANS ORGANIZATION. I KNOW
TRANS. VOLUNT.
MANY VETERANS GROUPS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED THAT DISABLED VETERANS
AREN'T ALWAYS ABLE TO GET TO VA FACILITIES TO OBTAIN CARE.
BUT ONE ORGANIZATION -- DAV -- HAS TAKEN STRONG, INDEPENDENT
ACTION TO HELP, THROUGH ITS TRANSPORTATION NETWORK.
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I UNDERSTAND THAT NEARLY 100 VANS HAVE NOW BEEN DONATED TO THE
VA SINCE THIS PROGRAM BEGAN SOME TWO YEARS AGO, AND THAT DAV'S GOAL
IS TO PLACE A VAN AT EACH OF THE 172 MEDICAL CENTERS IT'S ALSO
TREMENDOUSLY IMPRESSIVE THAT DAV PROVIDES SOME 155 FULL-TIME
HOSPITAL SERVICE COORDINATORS, WORKING IN VA MEDICAL CENTERS, TO
COORDINATE THE VOLUNTEER TRANSPORTATION NETWORK.
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF PRIVATE-SECTOR INITIATIVE AND A
GREAT SERVICE TO SOME VETERANS WHO MIGHT HAVE NO OTHER ACCESS TO
MEDICAL CARE.
ISSUE #5: THE FLAG:
BY NOW, MOST EVERY PUBLIC OFFICIAL WORTH HIS OR HER SALT HAS
COMMENTED ON THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION THAT A PERSON COULD NOT BE
CONVICTED FOR DESECRATION OF THE AMERICAN FLAG.
I WAS SHOCKED AT THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION, AND -- AS YOU
MAY KNOW I HAVE ADVOCATED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD
PROHIBIT DESECRATION OF THE FLAG.
I KNOW VETERANS HAVE A SPECIAL STAKE IN THIS DECISION, SINCE IT
WAS THEIR -- YOUR -- SACRIFICES THAT MADE THIS FLAG MORE A SYMBOL OF
AMERICA THAN A SIMPLE PIECE OF CLOTH.
BEFORE THIS PARTICULAR GROUP, I'D LIKE TO MENTION ONE OTHER
THOUGHT I'VE HAD ON THE FLAG ISSUE. IT OCCURED TO ME THAT THE STARS
AND STRIPES DOESN'T JUST FLY OVER OUR MILITARY BASES, AND OVER OUR
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
IN A MORE POIGNANT SENSE, OUR FLAG IS "AT WORK" OUR NATION'S
NATIONAL CEMETERIES -- IN WHICH LIE OUR NATION'S HONORED DEAD --
WHAT IT IS.
EVERY DAY, SYMBOLIZING AMERICA AND MEMORIALIZING THOSE WHO MADE IT
so I INTEND TO CONTINUE SPEAKING OUT ON THIS -- LOUD AND
CLEAR: WHATEVER THE JUDICIAL RULING IS, WE KNOW THIS IN OUR
HEARTS: ********** BURNING THE AMERICAN FLAG IS UTTERLY WRONG -- PERIOD.
PEOPLE TO BE MENTIONED:
Billy Kirby -- National Commander from Texas
Butch Joeckel -- National Adjutant (pronounced "JOKE L")
To Steph
Date
1/24
Time 9:40
WHILE YOU WERE OUT
M
of
Phone
Area Code
Number
Extension
TELEPHONED
PLEASE CALL
CALLED TO SEE YOU
WILL CALL AGAIN
WANTS TO SEE YOU
URGENT
RETURNED YOUR CALL
Message
Dave Gorman
554-3501
Disabled Veterans
Operator
AMPAD
EFFICIENCY®
23-020
AUGUST 1989
The
KIDS AS CAPITAL AMERICA HANDLERS
THE
REAL
WAR
1939-1945
AN
EXPERIENCE
IN
HORROR
AND
MADNESS
BY
PAUL
FUSSELL
THE
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One
395525
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY
there that he saw "the most repulsive thing I ever saw an
N SOME WARTIME VERSES TITLED "WAR POET," THE
American do in the saw a young Marine officer
I
British soldier Donald Bain tried to answer critic
select a Japanese corpse, stand over it, and urinate into
and patriots who argued that poets were failing to
its mouth. Speaking of the "incredible cruelty" that was
register the meaning of the war, choosing instead to
commonplace when "decent men were reduced to a
note mere incoherent details and leaving untouched and
brutish existence in their fight for survival amid the vio-
uninterpreted the great design of the whole. Defending
lent death, terror, tension, fatigue, and filth that was the
contemporary poets and writers, Bain wrote:
infantryman's war," Sledge notes that "our code of con-
We in our haste can only see the small components of
duct toward the enemy differed drastically from that pre-
the scene;
vailing back at the division CP." Unequivocal is Sledge's
We cannot tell what incidents will focus on the final
assertion that "we lived in an environment totally incom-
screen.
prehensible"-not just to civilians at a great distance but
A barrage of disruptive sound, a petal on a sleeping
"to men behind the lines."
face,
But for Sledge, the worst of all was a week-long stay in
Both must be noted, both must have their place.
rain-soaked foxholes on a muddy ridge facing the Japa-
It may be that our later selves or else our unborn sons
nese, a site strewn with decomposing corpses turning
Will search for meaning in the dust of long deserted
various colors, nauseating with the stench of death, "an
guns.
environment so degrading I believed we had been flung
We only watch, and indicate, and make our scribbled
into hell's own cesspool." Because there were no latrines
pencil notes.
We do not wish to moralize, only to ease our dusty
and because there was no moving in daylight, the men
throats.
relieved themselves in their holes and flung the excre-
ment out into the already foul mud. It was a latter-day
But what time seems to have shown our later selves
Verdun, the Marine occupation of that ridge. where the
that perhaps there was less coherent meaning in th
artillery shellings uncovered scores of half-buried Marine
events of wartime than we had hoped. Deprived of a sat
and Japanese bodies, making the position "I stinking
isfying final focus by both the enormousness of the wa
compost pile."
and the unmanageable copiousness of its verbal and visu
al residue, all the revisitor of this imagery can do, turnin
If a marine slipped and slid down the back slope of the
now this way, now that, is to indicate a few component
muddy ridge, he was apt to reach the bottom womiting.
of the scene. And despite the preponderance of vilenes
I saw more than one man lose his footing and slip and
not all are vile.
slide all the way to the bottom only to stand up horror-
stricken as he watched in disbelief while fat maggots
One wartime moment not at all vile occurred on Jun
tumbled out of his muddy dungaree pockets. cartridge
5, 1944, when Dwight Eisenhower, entirely alone and fo
belt, legging lacings, and the like
the moment disjunct from his publicity apparatu
We didn't talk about such things. They were too hor-
changed the passive voice to active in the penciled state
rible and obscene even for hardened veterans.
It
is
ment he wrote out to have ready when the invasion W
too preposterous to think that men could actually live
repulsed, his troops torn apart for nothing, his plan
and fight for days and nights on end under such terrible
ripped and smashed to no end, his warships sunk,
conditions and not be driven insane
To me the war
reputation blasted: "Our landings in the Cherbour
was insanity.
Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold an
And from the other side of the world the youing British
I have withdrawn the troops." Originally he wrote, "I
officer Neil McCallum, in Journey With a Pismol, issued a
troops have been withdrawn," as if by some distar
similar implicit warning against the self-delussive attempt
anonymous agency instead of by an identifiable m
to confer high moral meaning on these grievours struggles
making all-but-impossible decisions. Having venture
for survival. Far from rationalizing their actions as ele-
this bold revision, and secure in his painful acceptance
ments of a crusade, McCallum and his men, the said, had
full personal accountability, he was able to proceed
"ceased largely to think or believe at all."
evasively with "My decision to attack at this time
place was based on the best information available
Annihilation of the spirit. The game does not: appear to
Then, after the conventional credit," distributed equ
be worth the candle. What is seen through The explo-
ly to "the troops, the air, and the navy," came Eisenho
sions is that this, no less than any other wanr. is not a
er's noble acceptance of total personal responsibility:
moral war. Greek against Greek, against Persian, Ro-
man against the world, cowboys against Indianns, Catho-
any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is m
lics against Protestants, black men against withite-this
alone." As Mailer says, you use the word shit so that
is merely the current phase of an historical story. It is
can use the word noble, and you refuse to ignore the
war, and to believe it is anything but a lot of people kill-
pidity and barbarism and ignobility and poltroonery
ing each other is to pretend it is something enise, and to
filth of the real war so that it is mine alone can flash ou
misread man's instinct to commit murder.
bright signal in a dark time.
AUGUST
"OH GOD, I'M DEAD"
BY ALLEN B. CLARK, JR.
APRIL 27, 1979
DALLAS, TEXAS
SYMPOSIUM: "ISSUES IN MAINSTREAMING FOR HANDICAPPED AND DISABLED."
THE DATE WAS JUNE 17, 1967. THE PLACE WAS DAK TO, SOUTH
VIETNAM. THE TWO ENEMY COLUMNS WERE CONVERGING ON OUR GREEN BERET
CAMP FAR UP IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF SOUTH VIETNAM ABOUT TEN
MILES FROM THE TRI-BORDER POINT, WHERE LAOS, CAMBODIA AND SOUTH
VIETNAM JOINED. I WAS IN THE ELEVENTH MONTH OF MY TOUR OF DUTY
AT THIS CAMP, AND WAS TO BE LEAVING THAT MORNING TO GO BACK TO
SAIGON TO BEGIN MY OUTPROCESSING. I HAD PLANNED A FIVE DAY REST
AND RECUPERATION TRIP TO THAILAND OR AUSTRALIA, AND THEN WOULD
RETURN TO PICK UP MY REPLACEMENT TO BRING HIM BACK TO THIS ISOLATED
CAMP IN THE MIDDLE OF SOUTH VIETNAM.
IN OUR CAMP, WE HAD ABOUT 25 AMERICANS AND ABOUT 400
MONTAGNARDS, WHO WERE THE ABORIGINE TRIBESMEN OF THE CENTRAL AREAS
OF VIETNAM. WE HAD HIRED THEM AS OUR MERCENARIES TO BE THE
PROTECTORS OF THE CAMP AND ALSO AS THE SOLDIERS TO PATROL THE
ENEMY AREAS.
PAGE 2
AT 4:00AM I HAD GONE ON GUARD DUTY IN THE INNER PERIMETER
OF OUR CAMP. I HAD MADE MY ROUNDS OF THE MORTAR PITS. I WAS
WRITING A LETTER TO MY WIFE IN THE CAMP MESS HALL, WHEN I BEGAN
TO HEAR A COMMOTION OUTSIDE.
AS IT TRANSPIRED, AN ENEMY FORWARD UNIT HAD SET UP ACROSS
THE RIVER FROM OUR CAMP AND HAD SET UP MORTAR POSITIONS THE DAY
BEFORE. THEY BEGAN A HEAVY MORTAR BARRAGE ON OUR CAMP AT 4:30
IN THE MORNING.
WE NEEDED TO GET FLARES IN THE AIR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
TO LIGHT UP THE SKY IN CASE THERE WAS A GROUND ATTACK. WE ALSO
NEEDED TO BEGIN RETURN FIRE IF WE COULD LOCATE THE ENEMY POSITIONS.
I SPOTTED THE AREA WHERE I THOUGHT THE ENEMY POSITION WAS PROBABLY
LOCATED, AND AS IT TURNS OUT LATER--THAT WAS WHERE THEY WERE.
WE HAD THREE MORTAR PITS IN THE CAMP AND IT WAS MY JOB
TO SEE THAT THE SOLDIERS, AS THEY WERE AWAKENED AND CAME OUT OF
THE BUNKERS AND TENTS WERE DIRECTED TO THESE STRATEGIC POSITIONS.
PAGE 3
A ROUND OF MORTAR HIT RIGHT BETWEEN MY LEGS.
THE BLAST THREW
ME FORWARD AND I VERY VIVIDLY REMEMBER SAYING, "OH GOD, I'M DEAD."
I FELL TO MY FRONT AND WAS ON MY STOMACH UNABLE TO SEE
MY LEGS, WHICH HAD TAKEN VERY HEAVY MORTAR SHRAPNEL. AS IT LATER
TURNED OUT, I RECEIVED NO FRAGMENTS ABOVE MID-THIGH, BUT ONE LEG
WAS TRAUMATICALLY AMPUTATED IN A FORWARD FIELD HOSPITAL WITHIN
THREE HOURS OF MY WOUND. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN MY SECOND LEG
FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS BEFORE IT WAS AMPUTATED BACK IN THE
UNITED STATES AT BROOKE GENERAL HOSPITAL IN SAN ANTONIO.
AT THE AGE OF 24, HAVING BEEN A VERY PHYSICALLY ACTIVE
WEST POINTER, REGULAR ARMY OFFICER AND GREEN BERET IN VIETNAM,
IT WAS THE END OF MY WORLD TO THINK ABOUT GOING THROUGH MY
LIFE WITHOUT MY LEGS.
I HAD THE TYPICAL FEARS AND PHYSICAL PAIN OF A NEWLY
WOUNDED SOLDIER FRESH OFF THE BATTLEFIELD. IT WAS SIX WEEKS
BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO DO WITHOUT MY EVERY 3 HOURS MORPHINE SHOT,
AND THEN I WAS ON A PAIN KILLER FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AFTERWARDS.
THE LONG HOSPITAL STAY ENDED AFTER 15 MONTHS AND 12 OPERATIONS.
PAGE 4
MY WIFE WAS BESIDE ME FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. SHE
IS A VERY DEVOUT CHRISTIAN WOMAN WHO PRAYED TO THE LORD EVERY
SINGLE DAY FOR MY REHABILITATION AND RECUPERATION.
I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO HAVE THE TYPICAL FEARS, THOUGHTS
OF DEPRESSION, DISSATISFACTION AND FEELINGS OF INADEQUACY. MY
SELF IMAGE WAS OBVIOUSLY DAMAGED NOT BEING ABLE TO WALK.
I WONDERED HOW I WOULD BE ABLE TO SUPPORT MYSELF--WHAT
I WOULD BE DOING--WHETHER I WOULD BE ABLE TO HOLD AND PICK UP
CHILDREN IN MY ARMS--HOW I COULD BRING MY LIFE TOGETHER AGAIN.
AFTER MANY MONTHS OF PRAYER, THROUGH ADVICE AND
ASSISTANCE FROM MY WIFE AND OTHERS, I DECIDED TO GO BACK TO
STUDY BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND, IN FACT, WENT INTO GRADUATE
SCHOOL HERE AT SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY IN DALLAS.
SINCE THAT TIME, I'VE BEEN IN BANKING OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS
AND HAVE REBUILT MY LIFE.
PAGE 5
I FRANKLY FEEL THAT ANY HANDICAPPED OR DISABLED
PERSON IS ONLY AS HANDICAPPED OR DISABLED AS IS THEIR OWN
MIND, HEART, AND SOUL. WE CAN DO ANYTHING THAT WE DECIDE THAT
WE CAN DO. WE CAN TRAIN OR RETRAIN OURSELVES. WE CAN REDIRECT
OUR LIVES. WE CAN BECOME NORMAL PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY
AGAIN.
I FEEL MYSELF TO BE ONE OF THE MUCH LUCKIER HANDICAPPED
INDIVIDUALS. OBVIOUSLY, I'M MOBILE. I CAN WALK AROUND, BUT I
WENT THROUGH SOME DEEP FEARS, FRUSTRATIONS, AND TRAUMA THAT MANY
OF MY FELLOW HANDICAPPED AND DISABLED PEOPLE HAVE FELT. I HAVE
GONE THROUGH THE EMOTIONAL TURMOIL OF WONDERING WHAT I WAS GOING
TO DO. ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT, I HAD THE SOCIAL ASPECT OF HAVING
GONE OFF AND SACRIFICED IN A WAR WHICH FEW APPEARED TO SUPPORT
BACK IN MY COUNTRY.
I HAVE WORKED OUT ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS, AND HAVE WITH
THE HELP OF MY WIFE AND WITH THE HELP OF GOD, RECUPERATED AND
REDIRECTED MY LIFE.
PAGE 6
I AM DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO BE IN A POSITION IN
STATE GOVERNMENT NOW WHERE THE CONCERNS OF THE HANDICAPPED
AND THE DISABLEDWILL CONTINUE TO BE ATTENDED TO AND BE HEARD.
IT IS THE INTENTION OF MY EMPLOYER, GOVERNOR CLEMENTS,
TO BE A GOVERNOR FOR ALL TEXANS. PEOPLE SHOULD BE JUDGED BY
THEIR ABILITIES, NOT HOW THEY LOOK OR WHAT COLOR THEIR SKIN IS,
OR WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE IN A WHEELCHAIR OR HANDICAPPED.
IT IS HIS DESIRE THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
TO BE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.
MY APPOINTMENT TO THE POSITION AS HIS SPECIAL ASSISTANT
FOR ADMINISTRATION IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF HOW HE JUDGES PEOPLE.
HE IS A LEADER WITH "SYMPATICO."
( ADD STORY ABOUT BECOMING THREE INCHES TALLER WITH
NEW LEGS)
PAGE 7
IN CLOSING, ALLOW ME TO EXPRESS THAT WE AS HANDICAPPED
OR DIABLED CAN DO ANYTHING. I MUST PERSONALLY RELATE TO YOU
THAT ANYTHING I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED HAS BEEN DUE TO THE SUPPORT
OF MY WIFE AND TO GOD, MY CREATOR. HE SAVED ME AND I DERIVE
ALL MY STRENGTH FROM HIM.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS FORUM
AS THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS,
WILLIAM CLEMENTS. IT IS A DISTINCT PRIVILEGE AND PLEASURE.
ase
ONE NATION UNDER GOD
WHERE Do WE DRAW
THE
LINE
?
National Association of State Directors
of Veterans Affairs
Mar. 31,1984
VETERANS FOR REAGAN
CONFERENCE
August 6, 1979
San Antonio, Texas Houston, Tx.
Allen B. Clark, Jr.
General Patton, sentlemen,
Mr Kaufman, Representative Brown, Mr. McKelvey, Aubrey and Sam, it is pating
indeed a great privilege and pleasure to be here in San Antonio, addressing
in this gathering of my fellow Veterans who are State Directors of Veterans
Affairs In my estimation, there is no greater group possible to be a part
of than to be a veteran. You are my fellow warriors and none can rank you in
my books.
This morning I would like to recount a little bit about what happened to
me in Vietnam, not to retell a war story because many better and more
exciting ones will be told and retold at this convention, but only to
set the stage for a story of one Vietnam veteran who came back to a
country that unbelievably didn't appear to care that I had gone at all
E' appreciated by many, that are called a moble cance by a President
to risk my lifelo the cause of freedom A conflict though unrecognize
Oh God, I'm dead! These are the words that I screamed out as the mortar I admire
round knocked me forward. The date was June 17, 1967, the place was Dak and respect
To, South Vietnam. Our Green Beret camp was located in a strategic
valley that was a main battle route into the province capitols of the
greatly
central highlands. The North Vietnamese Army had three columns of
soldiers converging on our camp and the area was getting very hot! The
U.S. Army 173rd Airborne Brigade had been called in, but they hadn't yet
arrived. The time was 4:30 in the morning and I had been on guard duty.
It's amazing that the very first words that I uttered as I began my
tormenting experience that eventually resulted in the amputation of both
my legs below the knee, was a reference to my God, my Creator. I was
returned to the United States to Brooke General Hospital in San Antonio
within 7 days from the battlefield. I had one leg taken off immediately
at a forward hospital and the second leg was removed in San Antonio 10
days after I was hurt.
The long 15 months recuperation and rehabilitation period was a time of
great soul searching and awakening and rethinking a lot of things in my
life, I had gone to West Point to become a professional army officer
and I had volunteered for Vietnam service because I believed in the
cause of fighting totalitarianism in that small, far away country. I
had been accustomed to being very physically active and the prospect of
no longer having legs was quite sobering and saddening to say the least.
During the course of my hospital stay and in between the 12 different
operations I had for amputations, skin grafts, bone grafts, or revision
of my leg stump, I had a lot of time to just lie and think. I thank the
Lord for the opportunity to live a second life. One of my friends once
told me you have never lived until you've almost died. For those who
fight for it, life has a flavor the protected will never know.
Heroes Program over
There is no more fitting thing we can do to be in this convention
than to reflect on our fallen heroes. John F: Kennedy once said "a
nation reveals itself, not only by the men it produces, but also by the remains
men it honors, the men it remembers". In our cemeteries lie the souls bodies
of our countrymen who yielded the highest sacrifice and exemplified that
final commitment to duty. Our war dead- still speak out to us today with
voices that will never be silent. Our young men who would have rather
lived and breathed, instead took up arms as they always have for something
in which they believed.
Our nation was born 20 yearş ago with a vision for a country in which
all men are created equal by our God. Our founders had a vision that we
could govern ourselves under a free decentralized system. The vision
included protection of just rights, but with attendant responsibilities.
A much closer world today has broadened the perspective of our country
and other issues and dangers and questions have had to be resolved upon
fields of strife.
Our men have died for differing reasons, but each in his own way, as
an expression of his country's perception at the time, died for causes
of human freedom or maintenance of justice. When our men have died for
freedom or justice, they have died for more than a flag, they have died
for an eternal ideal and this last measure of sacrifice has high signi-
ficance.
For the families of lost men in all our wars, no words can overcome the
loss and grief. Some consolation must be derived from the gratitude of
the nation and more deeply from the thoughts that eternal ideals were
served. These are high sacrifices indeed that we have laid upon our
altars of justice and freedom.
Let us soberly remember today that these known and unknown soldiers we
honor, bought us our safety with their blood and death. They brought
us the comfort we enjoy in our land. Their lives brought us our laughter,
their quiet brought us our merriment. Our enjoyment of this beautiful
day, and the sun, the sky, the trees, the flowers comes from their eyes
blinded by the eternity of death.
We must reflect seriously like this from time to time to be reminded of
the sacrifices and we must be in awe and admiration and gratitude of our
war dead.
The story of our dead and our living veterans is one that is worth
telling and re-telling. General Douglas MacArthur, speaking at West
Point on May 12, 1962, and was priviledged to be there, said "the
soldier, above all other men, is required to practice the greatest act
of religious training -- sacrifice
however hard, the incidents of
war may be, the soldier who is called upon to offer and to give his life
for his country, is the noblest development of mankind". One of my proud-
est associations is to be a fellow American man-at-war with you assembled
expressing our support for the great President
here today. 1-1 am proud TO be a part of a conference
that is Ronald Reagen, This President has a
-2- caring soul and he
appreciates all we
have ever done
For us who are here today, some might fight again, but we essentially
have responsibilities only as private citizens, but we have a heavy
responsibility on the domestic battlefields. It would be sad indeed for
the country to lose on the domestic battlefield all we have fought to
save on the international battlefields. All of us have a few differing
attitudes on social and domestic issues, and that is only natural and
very healthy in a free society. Naturally these differences cause
partisan battles of a political nature, that are good. The competition
of ideas and people is challenging for the strength of the country.
It is my suggestion that we all consider in our own way, how we are ful-
filling our citizen resonsibilities today. It is not enough to just in support
must be informed on the issues and we must learn about the condidates. of
register
and
"a700
We
must
be
involved
in
the
political
He
a
To find out about the country and its governmental is very
President
important We must candidates before accord who we
ing to tanding of spreblems, their intelligence, training, know
moderation, and disposition to self-säcrifice, rather than their appoal
to US all
supports the national defense so dear
We have much for which we can be thankful in this country and it has
come about with a cost of much sacrifice and with a requirement for
eternal vigilance.
Vigilance is the by-word of the members of our various veteran's groups
Because we have been vigilant, we have all gone each to our own wars to
fight for the cause of freedom and on our return to the nation we have
contantly had to be vigilant to be sure that the country remembers and
recalls the great service that the veterans have made to this country.
We must be ever alert to the dangers of foreign and domestic enemies.
Vigilance brings me to my final topic. President Reagon well knows
that Vigitance and preparation
are
the oat ways
to counter the sords of evil and total it anism.
Our recent involvement in the Victnam conflict may bave been the most
controversel war our country foughts Our generation of
warriors has honorably and faithfally semwed but has returned to a
nation host of issues has been raised questioning faith
and service America has always had strong since of mission to all
peoples.
In my opinion after being there and personally observing the situation,
we should have been there. The rights of enjoyment of freedom in this.
country impose on us certain responsibilities that must be met. I feel
that our country was accepting a proper responsibility by fighting in
Vietnam. Our enemies within and without our shores are well organized and
dedicated to their cause. We must be tougher to win. George Washington
said "If we desire to secure peace, it must be known that we are at all
times ready for war". We must recognize that the Soviet Union and Red
China are dedicated to the ideal and proposition that their system is
the world's best system by which to dominate the world. We obviously
have a competitive system. We must always be ready to compete in this
world in a military manner if necessary. President
Reagan believe
that and he must be re-elected to
continue
his programs and The work he has begun,
-3-
Only through strength and preparedness can there be a chance for a
lasting peace. An amoral enemy (defined as one without a conscience)
dedicated to a goal will never be merciful to us as Americans. If we
are ever defeated by any enemy, we will not have the chance Germany and
Japan have had to build themselves up again and to be free nations. We
must work for peace but always remain strong to preserve by force of
'arms if necessary, our citizen's heritage of Liberty and Freedom with
this distinction, and it is a very important one, either at our own
shores for this generation or on distant shores when we are thinking
about the generations to follow us in this great nation. Plato, that
wise Greek Philosopher, once said "only the dead have seen the end of
war". We must recognize this, we are the living and we have many, many
battles to fight yet.
What I have been talking about is a message of optimism for those of us
we have sacrificed for
who depend on rights and the preservation of individual dignity. These
important ideals have been responsible for the formation, the growth and
the continuity of this great country of ours. Ronald Reagan op. Tomies
in Thought, word and deed these great traditional values which
If I may impose upon your good graces to end on a personal note. My own
conviction and understanding about life, this world, positive action and
a code of ethics is based upon a distinct abiding faith in my Creator,
God. The world He made was to be peopled by men and women with minds and
souls able to think and act freely. I thank Him that I was born in a
country that has provided that liberty. I came close to giving my life
for that ideal on a far away foreign shore. A newspaper man in typical
blunt journalistic fashion, asked me once after I was back with both
legs off, "Was it worth it?" I had agonized during eight operations
with four to go. I was a regular army officer who had volunteered for
Vietnam. The dissident movement and lack of commitment had already set
in the country. I was hurting, I was sad, -I was disappointed, but I
answered quickly, "Yes it was". A twinge of doubt touched my concience
as I mouthed the words. I really wasn't sure! I left the hospital,
studied for a new. career, became a father to two little sweethearts and
become involved in my community. I have been keeping my eyes, ears and
mind open and I can say now with a little bit more maturity, a little
bit more learning, a great deal of observation, a great deal of study,
with total and complete conviction that my own personal sacrifice was
worth it. Let us commend to our prayers and attention and gratitude on
this day and every day, the memory of the many hundreds of thousands of
American men and women who have given that last full measure of their
devotion to us so that we and the generations after us could enjoy each
July 4th and our blessings of freedom. I know if they could, they would
join me. As I close with the words of that popular Up With People song
"Freedom isn't free, you have to pay the price, you have to sacrifice
for your liberty.
-4-
Veterans
Administration
Memorandum
Date:
July 20, 1989
From:
Special Assistant (007)
Subj:
President's Appearance at DAV Convention - July 31, 1989
To:
Special Assistant (002) ED Timper lake 2337587
1. Jesse Brown has determined that President Bush is qualified to be a member
of DAV and at his speaking engagement they would like Secretary Derwinski to
present him a size 7 1/2 cap (with Washington, D.C. Chapter # 17 membership
emblem) so he can wear it during his speech.
2. DAV will get it to me so I can get it to our Secretary.
3. Will you communicate this request to Shiree Sanchez and see if that is
O.K. with President Bush?
have
Allen B. Clark, Jr.
4.
CC: Secretary Derwinski (00)
required
1 will provide talking pts. on hist legislative
package tomorrow
- will expond on pts. 1-4 (nxt p.)
VA FORM
2105
SEP 1984
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7021 ; 7-21-89 :12:14PM ;
2022338778-
4566218;# 1
FAX TRANSMISSION
Date:
JULY 21, 1989
From:
VA
Public Affairs
Contact:
Bob Putnam"/Bob Klear
Phone:
FTS
COM: 233-5588
Fax #:
FTS: 376-8778
COM: (202) 376-8778
To:
Stephane Blessey
White House Speectionster
# of pages:
3
Comments:
(As Promised)
George Bush for President
EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
CONTACT: 504/762-1820
Thursday, August 18, 1988
EXCERPTS OF REMARKS FOR
VICE PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1988
Thank you. Thank you very much.
I have many friends to thank tonight. I thank the voters
who supported me. I thank the gallant men who entered the
contest for the presidency this year, and who have honored me
with their support. And, for their kind and stirring words, I
thank Governor Tom Kean of New Jersey -- Senator Phil Gramm of
Texas -- President Gerald Ford -- and my friend, President Ronald
Reagan.
I accept your nomination for President. I mean to run hard,
to fight hard, to stand on the issues -- and I mean to win.
There are a lot of great stories in politics about the
underdog winning -- and this is going to be one of them.
And we're going to win with the help of Senator Dan Quayle
of Indiana -- a young leader who has become a forceful voice in
preparing America's workers for the labor force of the future.
Born in the middle of the century, in the middle of America, and
holding the promise of the future -- I'm proud to have Dan Quayle
at my side.
Many of you have asked, "Whell will this campaign really
begin?" I have come to this hall to tell you, and to tell
America: Tonight is the night.
For seven and a half years I have helped a President conduct
the most difficult job on earth. Ronald Reagan asked for, and
received, my candor. He never asked for, but he did receive, my
loyalty. Those of you who saw the President's speech this week,
and listened to the simple truth of his words, will understand my
loyalty all these years.
But now you must Eee me for what I am: The Republican
candidate for President of the United States. And now I turn to
the American people to share my hopes and intentions, and why --
and where -- I wish to lead.
19
733 15TH STREET, N.W., SUITE 800, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005
TELEPHONE: (202) 5-2-1988
Patal
And so tonight is for big things. But I'll try to be faiz
to the other side. I'll try to hold my charisma in check. I
reject the temptation to. engage in personal references. My
approach this evening is, as Sergeant Joe Friday used to say,
"Just the facts, ma'm."
After all, the facts are on our side.
I seek the presidency for a single purpose, a purpose that
has motivated millions of Americans across the years and the
ocean voyages. I seek the presidency to build a better America.
It is that simple -- and that big.
I am a man who sees life in terms of missions -- missions
defined and missions completed. When I was a torpedo bomber
pilot they defined the mission for us. Before we took off we all
understood that no matter what, you try to reach the target.
There have been other missions for me -- Congress, China, the
CIA. But I am here tonight -- and I am your candidate -- because
the most important work of my life is to complete the mission we
started in 1980. How do we complete it? We build on it.
The stakes are high this year and the choice is crucial, for
the differences between the two candidates are as deep and wide
as they have ever been in our long history.
Not only two very different men, but two very different
ideas of the future will be voted on this election day.
what it all comes down to is this:
My opponent's view of the world sees a long slow decline for
our country, an inevitable fall mandated by impersonal historical
forces.
But America is not in decline. America is a rising nation.
He sees America as another pleasant country on the U.N. roll
call, somewhere between Albania and Zimbabwe. I see America as
the leader -- a unique nation with a special role in the world.
This has been called the American Century, because in it we
were the dominant force for good in the world. We saved Europe,
cured polio, we went to the moon, and lit the world with our
culture. Now we are on the verge of a new century, and what
country's name will it bear? I say it will be another American
century.
Our work is not done -- our force is not spent.
There are those who say there isn't much of a difference
this year. But America, don't let 'em fool ya.
-
3
Two parties this year ask for your support. Both will speak
of growth and peace. But only one has proved it can deliver.
Two parties this year ask for your trust, but only one has earned
it.
Eight years ago I stood here with Ronald Reagan and we
promised, together, to break with the past and return America to
her greatness. Eight years later look at what the American
people have produced: the highest level of economic growth in
our entire history -- and the lowest level of world tensions in
more than fifty years.
Some say this isn't an election about ideology, it's an
election about competence. Well, it's nice of them to want to
play on our field. But this election isn't only about
competence, for competence is a narrow ideal. Competence
makes
the trains run on time but doesn't know where they're going.
Competence is the creed of the technocrat who makes sure the
gears mesh but doesn't for a second understand the magic of the
machine.
The truth is, this election is about the beliefs we share,
the values we honor, the principles we hold dear.
But since someone brought up competence
Consider the size of our triumph: A record high percentage
of Americans with jobs, a record high rate of new businesses -- a
record high rate of real personal income.
These are facts. And one way you know our opponents know
the facts is that to attack the record they have to misrepresent
it. They call it a swiss cheese economy. Well, that's the way
it may look to the three blind mice. But when they were in charge
it was all holes and no cheese.
Inflation was 12 percent when we came in. We got it down to
four. Interest rates were more than 21. We out them in half.
Unemployment was up and climbing, now it's the lowest in 14
years.
My friends, eight years ago this economy was flat on its
back -- intensive care. We came in and gave it emergency
treatment: Got the temperature down by lowering regulation, got
the blood pressure down when we lowered taxes. Pretty soon the
patient was up, back on his feet, and stronger than ever.
And now who do we hear knocking on the door but the doctors
who made him sick. And they're telling us to put them in charge
of the case again. My friends, they're lucky we don't hit them
with a malpractice suit!
We've created seventeen million new jobs in the past five
-more-
years -- more than twice as many as Europe and Japan combined.
And they re good jobs. The majority of them created in the past
six years paid an average of more than $22,000 a year. Someone
better take 'a message to Michael': Tell him we've been creating
good jobs at good wages. The fact is, they talk -- we deliver.
They promise -- we perform.
There are millions of young Americans in their 20's who
barely remember the days of gas lines and unemployment lines.
Now they're marrying and starting careers. To those young people
I say, "You have the opportunity you deserve -- and I'm not going
to let them take it away from you."
The leaders of the expansion have been the women of America
-- who helped create the new jobs, and filled two out of every
three of them. To the women of America I say "You know better
than anyone that equality begins with economic empowerment.
You're gaining economic power -- and I'm not going to let them
take it away from you."
There are millions of older Americans who were brutalized by
inflation. We arrested it -- and we're not going to let it out
on furlough. We're going to keep the social security trust fund
sound, and out of reach of the big spenders. To America's
elderly I say, "Once again you have the security that is your
right -- and I'm not going to let them take it away from you."
I know the liberal democrats are worried about the economy.
They're worried it's going to remain strong. And they're right,
it is. With the right leadership.
But let's be frank. Things aren't perfect in this country.
There are people who haven't tasted the fruits of the expansion.
I've talked to farmers about the bills they can't pay. I've been
to the factories that feel the strain of change. I've seen the
urban children who play amidst the shattered glass and shattered
lives. And there are the homeless. And you know, it doesn't do
any good to debate endlessly which policy mistake of the '70's is
responsible. They're there. We have to help them.
But what we must remember if we are to be responsible -- and
compassionate -- is that economic growth is the key to our
endeavors.
I want growth that stays, that broadens, and that touches,
finally, all Americans, from the hollows of Kentucky to the
sunlit streets of Denver, from the suburbs of Chicago to the
broad avenues of New York, from the oil fields of Oklahoma to the
farms of the great plains.
Can we do it? of course we can. We know how. We've done
it. If we continue to grow at our current rate, we will be able
to produce 30 million jobs in the next eight years. We will do
-more-
:: by maintaining our commitment to free and fair trade, by
keeping government spending down, and by keeping taxes down.
Our economic life is not the only test of our success. One
issue overwhelms all the others, and that is the issue of peace.
Look at the world on this bright August night. The spirit
of democracy is sweeping the Pacific rim. China feels the winds
of change. New democracies assert themselves in south America.
One by one the unfree places fall, not to the force of arms but
to the force of an idea: freedom works.
We have a new relationship with the Soviet Union. The INF
treaty -- the beginning of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan
:- the beginning of the end of the Soviet proxy war in Angola,
and with it the independence of Namibia. Iran and Iraq move
toward peace.
It is a watershed.
It is no accident.
It happened when we acted on the ancient knowledge that
strength and clarity lead to peace -- weakness and ambivalence
lead to war. Weakness tempts aggressors. Strength stops them.
I will not allow this country to be made weak again.
The tremors in the Soviet world continue. The hard earth
there has not yet settled. Perhaps what is happening will change
our world forever. Perhaps not. A prudent skepticism is in
order. And so is hope. Either way, we're in an unprecedented
position to change the nature of our relationship. Not by
preemptive concession :- but by keeping our strength. Not by
yielding up defense systems with nothing won in return -- but by
hard cool engagement in the tug and pull of diplomacy.
My life has been lived in the shadow of war -- I almost lost
my life in one.
I hate war.
I love peace.
We have peace.
And I am not going to let anyone take it away from us.
Our economy is strong but not invulnerable, and the peace is
broad but can be broken. And now we must decide. We will surely
have change this year, but will it be change that moves us
forward? or change that risks retreat?
In 1940, when I was barely more than a boy, Franklin
Roosevelt said we shouldn't change horses in midstream.
-more-
6
My friends, these days the world moves even more quickly,
and now, after two great terms, a switch will be made. But when
ou have to change horses in midstream, doesn't it make sense to
switch to the one who's going the same way?
An election that is about ideas and values is also about
philosophy. And I have one.
At the bright center is the individual. And radiating out
from him or her is the family, the essential unit of closeness
and of love. For it is the family that communicates to our
children -- to the 21st century -- our culture, our religious
faith, our traditions and history.
From the individual to the family to the community, and on
out to the town, to the church and school, and, still echoing
out, to the county, the state, the nation :- each doing only what
it does well, and no more. And I believe that power must always
be kept close to the individual -- close to the hands that raise
the family and run the home.
I am guided by certain traditions. One is that there is a
God and He is good, and His love, while free, has a self imposed
cost: We must be good to one another.
I believe in another tradition that is, by now, imbedded in
the national soul. It is that learning is good in and of itself.
The mothers of the Jewish ghettoes of the east would pour honey
on a book so the children would know that learning is sweet. And
the parents who settled hungry Kansas would take their children
in from the fields when a teacher came. That is our history.
And there is another tradition. And that is the idea of
community -- a beautiful word with a big meaning. Though liberal
democrats have an odd view of it. They see "community" as a
limited cluster of interest groups, locked in odd conformity. In
this view, the country waits passive while Washington sets the
rules.
But that's not what community means -- not to me.
For we are a nation of communities, of thousands and tens of
thousands of ethnic, religious, social, business, labor union,
neighborhood, regional and other organizations, all of them
varied, voluntary and unique.
This is America: the Knights of Columbus, the Grange,
Hadassah, the Disabled American Veterans, the Order of Ahepa, the
Business and Professional Women of America, the union hall, the
bible study group, LULAC, "Holy Name" -- & brilliant diversity
spread like stars, like a thousand points of light in a broad and
peaceful sky.
-more-
Does government have a place? Yes. Government is part of
the nation of communities -- not the whole, just a part.
I do not hate government. A government that remembers that
the people are its master is a good and needed thing.
I respect old fashioned common sense, and have no great love
for the imaginings of social planners. I like what's been tested
and found to be true.
For instance:
Should public school teachers be required to lead our
children in the pledge of allegiance? My opponent says no -- but
I say yes.
Should society be allowed to impose the death penalty on
those who commit crimes of extraordinary cruelty and violence?
My opponent says no -- but I say yes.
Should our children have the right to say a voluntary
prayer, or even observe a moment of silence in the schools? My
opponent says no -- but I say yes.
Should free men and women have the right to own a gun to
protect their home? My opponent says no -- but I say yes,
Is it right to believe in the sanctity of life and protect
the lives of innocent children? My opponent says no -- but I say
yes. We must change from abortion :- to adoption. I have an
adopted granddaughter. The day of her christening we wept with
joy. I thank God her parents chose life.
I'm the one who believes it is a scandal to give a weekend
furlough to a hardened first degree killer who hasn't even served
enough time to be eligible for parole.
I'm the one who says a drug dealer who is responsible for
the death of a policeman should be subject to capital punishment.
I'm the one who won't raise taxes. My opponent now says
he'll raise them as a last resort, or a third resort. When a
politician talks like that, you know that's one resort he'll be
checking into. My opponent won't rule out raising taxes. But I
will. The Congress will push me to raise taxes, and I'll say no,
and they'll push, and I'll say no, and they'll push again. And
all I can say to them is no new taxes, period.
Let me tell you more about the mission.
On jobs, my mission is: 30 in 8. Thirty million jobs in
the next eight years.
Every one of our children desarves d first rate school. the
liberal democrats want power in the hands of the federal
government. I want power in the hands of the parents. I will
increase the power of parents. I will encourage merit schools.
I will give more kids a Head Start. And I'll make it easier to
save for college.
I want a drug free America -- and this will not be easy to
achieve. But I want to enlist the help of some people who are
rarely included. Tonight I challenge the young people of our
country to shut down the drug dealers around the world. Unite
with us, work with us. "zero tolerance" isn't just a policy,
it's an attitude. Tell them what you think of people who
underwrite the dealers who put poison in our society. And while
you're doing that, my administration will be telling the dealers:
whatever we have to do we'll do, but your day is over, you're
history.
I am going to do whatever it takes to make sure the disabled
are included in the mainstream. For too long they've been left
out. But they're not going to be left out anymore.
I am going to stop ocean dumping. Our beaches should not be
garbage dumps and our harbors should not be cess pools. I am
going to have the FBI trace the medical wastes and we are going
to punish the people who dump those infected needles into our
oceans, lakes and rivers. And we must clean the air. We must
reduce the harm done by acid rain.
1 will put incentives back into the domestic energy
industry, for I know from personal experience there is no
security for the United States in further dependence on foreign
011.
In foreign affairs I will continue our policy of peace
through strength. I will move toward further cuts in the
strategic and conventional arsenals of both the United States and
the Soviet Union. I will modernize and preserve our
technological edge. I will ban chemical and biological weapons
from the face of the earth: And I intend to speak for freedom,
stand for freedom, and be a patient friend to anyone, east or
west, who will fight for freedom.
It seems to me the Presidency provides an incomparable
opportunity for "gentle persuasion."
I hope to stand for a new harmony, & greater tolerance.
We've come far, but I think we need a new harmony among the races
in our country. We're on a journey to a new century, and we've
got to leave the tired old baggage of bigotry behind.
Some people who are enjoying our prosperity have forgotten
what it's for. But they diminish our triumph when they act as if
wealth is an end in itself.
-more-
There are those who have dropped their standards along the
way, as :: ethics were too heavy and slowed their rise to the
top. There's graft in city hall, the greed on Wall Street;
there's influence peddling in Washington, and the small
corruptions of everyday ambition.
But you see, I believe public service is honorable. And
every time I hear that someone has breached the public trust it
breaks my heart.
I wonder sometimes if we have forgotten who we are. But
we're the people who sundered a nation rather than allow a sin
called slavery -- we're the people who rose from the ghettoes and
the deserts.
We weren't saints -- but we lived by standards. We
celebrated the individual -- but we weren't self-centered. We
were practical -- but we didn't live only for material things.
We believed in getting ahead -- but blind ambition wasn't our
way.
The fact is prosperity has a purpose. It is to allow us to
pursue "the better angels," to give us time to think and grow.
Prosperity with a purpose means taking your idealism and making
it concrete by certain acts of goodness. It means helping a
child from an unhappy home learn how to read -- and I thank my
wife Barbara for all her work in literacy. It means teaching
troubled children through your presence that there's such a thing
as reliable love. Some would say it's soft and insufficently
tough to care about these things. But where is it written that
we must act as if we do not care, as if we are not moved?
Well I am moved. I want a kinder, gentler nation.
Two men this year ask for your support.
And you must know
us.
As for me, I have held high office and done the work of
democracy day by day. My parents were prosperous; their children
were lucky. But there were lessons we had to learn about life.
John Kennedy discovered poverty when he campaigned in West
Virginia; there were children there who had no milk. Young Teddy
Roosevelt met the new America when he roamed the immigrant
streets of New York. And I learned a few things about life in a
place called Texas.
We moved to west Texas 40 years ago. The war was over, and
we wanted to get out and make it on our own. Those were exciting
days. Lived in d little shotgun house, one room for the three of
us. Worked in the oil business, started my own.
In time we had six children. Moved from the shotgun to a
duplex apartment to a house. Lived the dream -- high school
football on Friday night, Little League, neighborhood barbecue.
People don't see their experience as symbolic of an exa :-
but of course we were. So was everyone else who was taking a
chance and pushing into unknown territory with kids and a dog and
a car. But the big thing I learned is the satisfaction of
creating jobs, which meant creating opportunity, which meant
happy families, who in turn could do more to help others and
enhance their own lives. I learned that the good done by a
single good job can be felt in ways you can't imagine.
I may not be the most eloquent, but I learned early that
eloquence won't draw oil from the ground. I may sometimes be a
little awkward, but there's nothing self-conscious in my love of
country. I am a quiet man -- but I hear the quiet people others
don't. The ones who raise the family, pay the taxes, meet the
mortgage. I hear them and I am moved, and their concerns are
mine.
A President must be many things.
He must be a shrewd protector of America's interests; And he
must be an idealist who leads those who move for a freer and more
democratic planet.
He must see to it that government intrudes as little as
possible in the lives of the people; and yet remember that it is
right and proper that a nation's leader take an interest in the
nation's character.
And he must be able to define :- and lead -- a mission.
For seven and a half years I have worked with a President --
and I have seen what crosses that big desk. I have seen the
unexpected crises that arrive in a cable in a young aide's hand.
And I have seen problems that simmer on for decades and suddenly
demand resolution. I have seen modest decisions made with
anguish, and crucial decisions made with dispatch.
And so I know that what it all comes down to, this election
-- what it all comes down to, after all the shouting and the
cheers -- is the man at the desk. And who should sit at that
desk.
My friends, I am that man.
I say it without boast or bravado, I've fought for my
country, I've served, I've built -- and I will go from the hills
to the hollows, from the cities to the suburbs to the loneliest
town on the quietest street to take our message of hope and
growth for every American to every American.
I will keep America moving forward, always forward -- for a
better America, for an endless enduring dream and a thousand
points of light.
That is my mission. And I will complete it.
Thank you. God bless you.
....
3
And that's what I want to talk to you about today:
respecting those wounded in service -- and encouraging them to
find new strength in service to America.
A nation that respects those wounded in wartime makes sure
that they have a strong voice in the government that serves them.
That's why I've been so pleased to welcome the Department of
Veteran's Affairs to a place in the Cabinet. [pause]
And when I see my close friend and former Congressional
colleague, Ed Derwinski, sitting around the table at Cabinet
meetings, I know we did something right for America's veterans.
A nation that respects those wounded in wartime works to
guarantee them a fair shot in the marketplace. So we're
supporting a significant new expansion in civil rights laws, with
legislation to extend those protections to all Americans with
disabilities.
Voluntary compliance will benefit everyone -- and allow the
disabled to play their strong suit, without paying for lawsuits.
It's time to get the disabled into the mainstream, and out of the
courtroom.
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON
STATEMENT BY VICE PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH ON DISABLED AMERICANS
The vast majority of the 36 million disabled Americans
believe that their lives have improved in the past decade.
Attitudes toward disabled people are changing in a positive
direction and more disabled people than ever before are being
educated. These are some of the findings of the first
comprehensive survey of disabled people, conducted by Lou Harris
and Associates and released in 1986. But I firmly believe, and
the survey also indicates, that without aggressive public and
private support, disabled people will not be able to achieve
their highest priority, namely, the independence necessary to
achieve control over their own lives and integration into the
mainstream of American life.
Integrating Disabled People Fits Republican Philosophy
By speaking with experts, with handicapped people and with
parents of handicapped children from around the country, I have
learned much more about the needs of disabled individuals. I
understand what disabled people strive for - independence,
control of their own lives and integration into society. Many of
the disabled I have met with have major responsibilities in local
and national organizations such as The National Council on
Independent Living, National Parent CHAIN, Capitol People First
of Sacramento, and the Association on Handicapped Student Service
Programs in Postsecondary Education, which are all run by and for
disabled people. I am proud that from the start I have been able
to speak directly with handicapped people and the parents of
handicapped children, bypassing the intermediaries.
These handicapped individuals made it very clear that those
in the disability rights movement have two critical goals: the
right of people with disabilities to control their own lives and
make meaningful choices; and the right to be integrated into all
aspects of society.
These goals may sound revolutionary in regard to the
treatment of people with disabilities; but they are not radical
in relation to the American values of individual freedom of
choice and involvement in the social, political and economic
mainstream. Although handicapped adults and children have made
many gains in the last decade, the stark fact remains that
unnecessary segregation and exclusion of handicapped people
continues. As a result, disabled adults and families with
disabled children suffer from stress, dependency, and isolation.
-more-
-2-
We must remember that we are addressing a large and
significant percentage of Americans. The Harris survey
established that over 36 million Americans have disabilities;
27 million of these Americans are 16 years of age and over.
Forty percent of all disabled adults did not finish high school -
three times more than non-disabled individuals. In 1984 fifty
percent of all disabled adults had household incomes of $15,000
or less. Among non-disabled persons, only twenty-five percent
had household incomes in this wage bracket. With respect to
employment, only one in four disabled persons works full-time,
another ten percent work part-time. There are at least eight
million unemployed individuals with disabilities who want to work
but need help finding employment. The statistics consistently
demonstrate that disabled people are the poorest, least educated
and largest minority in America, and they come from all walks of
life.
Our society cannot ignore the needs of this excluded
population. We must develop programs and policies that promote
independence, freedom of choice and productive involvement in the
social and economic mainstream. This does not merely mean
employment. It also means access to the mainstream educational
system, to public accommodations, to public transportation - in
other words, meaningful access to all aspects of society.
Further, we must include people with disabilities and their
parents in the process to ensure that their real needs are
addressed.
The stakes are enormous. On the cost side, the National
Council on the Handicapped states that current spending on
disability benefits and programs exceeds $60 billion annually.
Excluding the millions of disabled who want to work from the
employment ranks costs society literally billions of dollars
annually in support payments and lost income tax revenues. On
the benefit side, the United States is now beginning to face
labor shortages as the baby boomers move through the work force.
The disabled offer a pool of talented workers whom we simply
cannot afford to ignore, especially in connection with the high
tech growth industries of the future.
During the past six years, I have advocated the appointment
of disabled persons and parents of disabled persons to major
posts in the Federal Government. As President, I will expand the
number of disabled persons and parents of disabled persons
appointed to key positions in my Administration.
Moreover, I pledge that my administration will do away with
"Hire the Handicapped Week" and replace it with Federal
legislation that gives people with disabilities the same
-more-
-3- -
minorities. protection in private employment that is now enjoyed by women and
In order to assure that every American who wants a
productive job in the private sector has a job, I will continue
to support initiatives to:
-
Ask the private sector to work more aggressively in
hiring disabled people, using my office to educate
employers about the statistics showing clearly that,
other things being equal, disabled employees perform
above average.
-
Train disabled people for jobs that really exist where
they live.
-
Work with Congress to eliminate disincentives that
discourage disabled persons who wish to work from
working.
-
Improve transportation and work place accessibility for
existing facilities and insist on accessibility for all
new construction.
-
Support independent-living-centers to help disabled
persons with the transition to independence.
-
Urge private insurers to find ways to include--not
exclude--disabled workers in their programs.
Handicapped individuals are not a small, uniform minority
with narrow interests. The disabled community includes every
race, culture, age, sex and economic class. Membership is open
to all and most of us who live our full lifespan will join this
community sooner or later.
#####
March 31, 1988
TO JUSTITIA OF MUSETICE
Department of Justice
STATEMENT
OF
DICK THORNBURGH
ATTORNEY GENERAL
BEFORE
THE
COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES
U. S. SENATE
CONCERNING
THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
ON
JUNE 22, 1989
Mr. Chairman, distinguished members of the Committee, it is
a great pleasure for me to be able to present to you the
Administration's views on the proposed Americans With
Disabilities Act. Twenty-five years ago to this day, Congress
and the President were putting the finishing touches on the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, the most important civil rights legislation
ever passed. It is exciting for me to be a part of the process
which, this year, will pass legislation that will extend the
Nation's civil rights guarantees to the disability community.
Persons with disabilities have already made enormous
contributions to American society, and can and will contribute
even more as legislation goes forward in this Congress to improve
their even greater entry into the mainstream.
It is estimated that there are over 36 million Americans
with disabilities. President Bush has consistently supported
efforts to bring these Americans into the "mainstream" of
American society. As Vice President, he stated that we must
develop programs and policies that promote independence, freedom
of choice, and productive involvement in the social and economic
mainstream. This means access to education, jobs, public
accommodations, and public transportation - in other words, full
participation in and access to all aspects of society. This
year, in his remarks to the Joint Session of Congress, the
President reiterated this commitment. We at the Department of
Justice wholeheartedly share these goals and commit ourselves,
along with the President and the rest of the Administration, to a
bipartisan effort to enact comprehensive legislation attacking
- 2 -
discrimination in employment, public services, transportation,
public accommodations, and telecommunications.
Despite the best efforts of all levels of government and the
private sector and the tireless efforts of concerned citizens and
advocates everywhere, many persons with disabilities in this
Nation still lead their lives in an intolerable state of
isolation and dependence. Fifteen years have gone by since the
Rehabilitation Act was passed. In that time the doors of
educational opportunity have been opened to persons with
disabilities. Nevertheless, persons with disabilities are still
too often shut out of the economic and social mainstream of
American life. The unreasonable and, in most cases, unthinking
failure to eliminate attitudinal, architectural, and
communications barriers in employment, transportation, public
accommodations, and telecommunications denies persons with
disabilities an equal opportunity to contribute to and benefit
from the richness of American society. The continued maintenance
of these barriers imposes staggering economic and social costs
and inhibits our sincere and substantial Federal commitment to
the education, rehabilitation, and employment of persons with
disabilities. The elimination of these barriers will enable
society to benefit from the skills and talents of persons with
disabilities and will enable persons with disabilities to lead
more productive lives.
Efforts to develop comprehensive legislation to ensure equal
opportunity for disabled persons should, of course, also be
- 3 -
mindful of other principles as well. First, any new legislation
should take into consideration the existing fabric of Federal
laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of handicap. During
the past two decades, Congress has enacted a series of statutes
focusing on a wide range of problems and providing an intricate
web of enforcement procedures. The courts and Federal agencies
have also been active in interpreting these laws, defining the
meaning of nondiscrimination in the context of disability. Any
new legislation should be coordinated with this body of law in
order to avoid inadvertent conflicts, confusion, the inefficient
use of enforcement resources, and unnecessary litigation.
New legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of
disability should use as its model the panoply of civil rights
laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color,
national origin, and sex. We must end the anomaly of widely
protecting women and minorities from discrimination while failing
to provide parallel protection for people with disabilities.
New legislation should also be designed to keep the
development of intrusive Federal regulation to a minimum. It is
the Administration's goal to regulate the private sector only in
those situations where it is necessary and only to the extent
called for by the problem at hand. Concerns for the economic
efficiency of America's businesses, especially its small
entrepreneurs, and for competitiveness in the world economy must
be given due weight. Legislation which unduly burdens American
businessmen and women is ultimately in no one's interest.
- 4 -
Federal action in this area should likewise recognize that States
can act (and most have already acted) to protect the rights of
persons with disabilities in ways tailored to each State's
particular circumstances.
Finally, the issue of costs, both the fiscal cost of lost
income tax revenues and increased transfer payments when disabled
persons are not accommodated and the cost of accommodating
persons with disabilities, must be considered. Careful
consideration must be given to whether the line on costs has been
drawn in the proper place, and we will need to work together in
the weeks ahead on this.
The cost issue is made more difficult because it is
virtually impossible to put a price tag on the accommodations
required by any bill in this area. For example, while widening
an existing doorway will cost $300 to $600, no one can estimate
with any degree of reliability how many doorways will need to be
widened. Making accurate cost predictions is also hampered by
ambiguity in the standards enunciated in S. 933.
Similarly, we must recognize that passing comprehensive
civil rights legislation protecting persons with disabilities
will have direct and tangible benefits for our country. As with
the area of costs, we have found it difficult to quantify the
exact economic benefits of legislation in fiscal terms.
Certainly, the elimination of employment discrimination and the
mainstreaming of persons with disabilities will result in more
persons with disabilities working, in increased earnings, in less
- 5 -
dependence on the Social Security system for financial support,
in increased spending on consumer goods, and increased tax
revenues.
With these principles as a guide, I would like to address
the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1989." This Committee is
to be commended for its efforts in drafting S. 933. One of its
most impressive strengths is its comprehensive character. Over
the last 20 years, civil rights laws protecting disabled persons
have been enacted in piecemeal fashion. Thus, existing Federal
laws are like a patchwork quilt in need of repair. There are
holes in the fabric, serious gaps in coverage that leave persons
with disabilities without adequate civil rights protections. In
some areas, there are overlapping pieces of fabric, duplication
that has resulted in confusion and counterproductive enforcement
efforts. The Administration supports the legislative effort to
enact a bill that is at one time cohesive, coordinated, and
comprehensive.
I am pleased that S. 933 includes provisions pertaining to
job discrimination. Perhaps the most glaring omission in the
landscape of disability rights laws is that there is nothing in
the Federal law that prohibits discrimination in employment in
the private sector against those with disabilities. While
persons who work for the Federal Government, who work in
federally assisted programs, or who work for certain Federal
contractors are protected from discrimination on the basis of
handicap, most other workers are not. Each year in this country,
- 6 -
over 150,000 young men and women with disabilities complete their
education under the Education of the Handicapped Act, some
receiving high school diplomas, some receiving certificates of
completion. This education law has been one of our modern
success stories in the disability area. But if our investment in
the education of these students is to bear fruit, we must ensure
that they face an employment arena similarly free of
discrimination on the basis of handicap.
President Bush endorses your concept of paralleling in the
disability area Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the
landmark statute that prohibits discrimination on the basis of
race, color, national origin, sex and religion. Furthermore, it
is the Administration's view that such legislation should use the
standard provided by section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 -- the concept that nondiscrimination includes the
requirement that an employer make reasonable accommodation to the
known mental or physical impairments of qualified disabled
persons as long as making the accommodation would not result in
an undue hardship on the operations of the employer.
Such a law would be a major step forward for persons with
disabilities. We must be mindful, however, of the cost burdens
that this law more than other civil rights laws will place on
businesses. It is our goal here to seek a balance: to bring
persons with disabilities into the mainstream of American
economic life and reduce the cost to society of exclusion while,
at the same time, keeping the American economic system strong and
- 7 -
viable. We are concerned with the impact of S. 933 on small
businesses. Because small businesses have limited financial
resources, they do not have the advantage of spreading the costs
of accommodations over a large payroll. Further, their small
workforce gives them limited flexibility in restructuring jobs, a
frequently used method of making reasonable accommodations. For
these reasons, the Administration would like to join the dialogue
with this Committee on the appropriate extent of coverage for
smaller employers.
of course, any legislation must be consistent with Federal
drug-free workplace initiatives. I need not remind this
Committee of the scourge of illegal drug use in this country and
its frightening impact on daily American life. We believe that
this bill should make clear that substance abusers should not be
included within the protections of this civil rights statute.
The bill should also be fully consistent with this
Administration's commitment to the eradication of substance abuse
in the workplace and elsewhere.
The inclusion of public accommodations in the "Americans
with Disabilities Act" is a Federal recognition of their
importance in American life. Just as Title II of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 opened up restaurants and theaters to Black
Americans, S. 933 promises to persons with disabilities the
ability to enjoy full participation in our American way of life.
The Administration endorses the prohibition of discrimination on
the basis of disability in public accommodations. Recent studies
- 8 -
show that persons with disabilities are too often discouraged
from attending concerts, going to restaurants, and attending
movies. We recognize that requiring public accommodations to
make themselves accessible to persons with mobility impairments
and to provide auxiliary aids to those with visual and hearing
impairments could result in significant costs. We would like to
work with this Committee to develop provisions that will
ameliorate the cost burden. Similarly, we need to work together
to define the parameters of coverage in this area. We think that
modifications to S. 933 should address our concerns regarding the
scope of public accommodations.
We also seek a bill in this area that will provide clear
guidance so that unnecessary and costly litigation can be
avoided. Great care then should be taken in crafting a standard
for what constitutes discrimination. It may be preferable to use
terms and concepts from section 504, a law that now has a 16-year
history, rather than developing new terms and standards.
Finally, any new legislative initiative should avoid potential
confrontation with the First Amendment to the Constitution that
might arise with the coverage of religious institutions.
The provision of accessible transportation for persons with
disabilities has been one of the most complex issues faced by
Congress and the Executive Branch. Four statutes¹ and a series
1 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended,
29 U.S.C. § 794; section 16 (a) of the Urban Mass Transportation
Act of 1964, as amended, 49 U.S.C. § 1612 (a) ; section 165 (b) of
the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973, as amended, 23 U.S.C. § 142
(continued...
- 9 -
of current DOT regulations present an interrelated, complicated
set of obligations. Several Federal circuit courts have
interpreted these statutes and rules. The President agrees with
this Committee that additional legislation is needed to set the
record straight. We must be careful, however, that our efforts
clarify the picture, rather than adding to the confusion.
Our goal, and yours, is to ensure that persons with
disabilities have access to adequate transportation in this
country, and we support legislation that would focus our efforts
on publicly funded transportation services. We recommend
enactment of a bill that would, for the first time, guarantee
that public bus systems in this country be accessible to persons
with mobility impairments. Thus, legislation should require that
all new public buses be accessible to persons with disabilities.
The Secretary of Transportation should have the flexibility to
relax this requirement for any municipality where accessible bus
service would prove to be impractical. For instance, in
localities with extremely inclement climates where wheelchair
lifts do not function for much of the year, it may be more
practical to provide accessible paratransit service. Because the
average life of a bus is 12 years, accessible bus transportation
would become a reality in this country in a relatively short
period of time, except for the cases where accessible buses are
ineffective. As with other sections of S. 933 that involve state
1 ( continued)
note; and section 317 (c) of the Surface Transportation Assistance
Act of 1982, 49 U.S.C. § 1612 (d).
- 10 -
and local government services, my experience as a Governor
teaches me that it will be important to get input from the
affected officials and people with disabilities from around the
country before finalizing these provisions.
In addition, legislation should also require paratransit
services that supplement, rather than duplicate, the fixed-route
bus service. Ideally, paratransit service should be aimed at
those severely disabled persons who are unable to use mainline
accessible transportation.
Again, we should recognize the cost implications of these
requirements. In the public transportation area, a considerable
percentage of the capital costs of public transit authorities is
borne by the Federal Government. It is unlikely, given existing
fiscal constraints, that any substantial amount of new monies
will be available in the Federal budget for transportation.
Thus, these increased costs for accessibility must be carried out
with already planned outlays. Given these fiscal constraints, we
think some reasonable limitation on paratransit service costs may
be appropriate and we are prepared to discuss with the Committee
the level for such a limit.
On another matter, the Administration agrees that a
comprehensive bill should address the issue of making our
Nation's telecommunications system accessible to deaf persons.
The inability to communicate by telephone renders the routine
tasks of daily living -- such as making a doctor's appointment or
inquiring about a job opportunity -- difficult or even impossible
- 11 -
to accomplish. Establishment of a telecommunications relay
service is clearly a vital step toward full integration of deaf
persons into the mainstream. Legislation addressing this issue,
though, should take into account the ongoing Federal
Communications Commission inquiry mandated by the
Telecommunications Accessibility Enhancement Act, 2 and preserve
the maximum degree of freedom for the FCC to use its expertise in
determining which specific requirements will result in the most
efficient and cost-effective system.
Because S. 933 uses existing civil rights laws for
minorities and women as its model, the remedies under this bill
should parallel these existing laws. For example, the
enforcement procedures and remedies now available under title VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 should be used for violations of
discrimination based on disability in the employment area; and
title II's enforcement scheme should be available to redress
discrimination based on disability in places of public
accommodation. This approach is fair and easy to implement. It
would provide persons with disabilities with a full array of
remedies, including preventive relief and reimbursement for out-
of-pocket expenses, including backpay. In addition, use of
enforcement mechanisms already in existence should ease
enforcement and eliminate inconsistencies and confusion among
those who have to comply with the law.
2 Pub. L. No. 100-542, 102 Stat. 2721 (1988).
- 12 -
I have witnessed the many faces of discrimination
confronting persons with disabilities. As noted, over 36 million
people in this country are disabled by reason of some physical or
mental handicapping condition. The mere existence of these
handicapping conditions does not for many of these individuals
prevent them from interacting freely with others in society, or
from performing the tasks that others perform on a daily basis.
But persons with disabilities are all too often not allowed to
participate because of stereotypical notions held by others in
society--notions that have, in large measure, been created by
ignorance and maintained by fear.
It is precisely these sorts of antiquated attitudes that
have blocked people with disabilities from entering the
mainstream of American life. Certainly attitudinal changes
cannot be simply commanded or even legislated out of existence.
No particular court order or single piece of legislation can
alone change longstanding perception or misperceptions;
regrettably, attitudes can only be reshaped gradually. One of
the keys to this reshaping process is to increase contact between
and among people with disabilities and their able-bodied peers.
And an essential component of that effort is the development of a
comprehensive set of laws supported by a helpful set of
regulations that all work together to promote the integration of
people with disabilities into our communities, schools, and work
places.
- 13 -
Mr. Chairman, the "Americans with Disabilities Act" can be
the vehicle that brings persons with disabilities into the
mainstream of American life. On behalf of President Bush, I
pledge to this Committee and to the Congress our full support for
comprehensive civil rights legislation for persons with
disabilities.
We have an historic opportunity to move this legislation
expeditiously through the Congress given the broad support for
its purpose. Administration representatives are prepared to
begin the task immediately of meeting with your respective staffs
and those of other principals, such as Senator Dole, to work in
good faith towards a consensus of all the issues. During this
process, meetings at the principal level would also be beneficial
in resolving any major policy questions that arise.
In that spirit, I would urge that the Committee not let an
artificial deadline, such as a mark-up, stand in the way of
completing this crucial task. I see no reason why a productive
effort could not result in such a consensus within a relatively
short period. Faced with the opportunity of enacting landmark
legislation, a few more days of careful work would be time well
spent in my view.
Thank you for this opportunity to testify. The
Administration looks forward to working constructively with you
on this enormously important piece of legislation.
everything youietompt. is working (c.f.Eurpe).
Heroes - in
Disabled American Veterans speech
- Executive assistants. Order on non-competitive conversion of personal
Allows individuals who work as assistants to disabled
Federal employees to convert to career appointments on
a non-competitive basis.
Might be some good anecdotes from OPM on this, perhaps
even involving veterans.
I'm not sure what the idea to emphasize is: help to the
disabled by making recruitment of asistants easier,
or help to the agency by making it easier for these
people to stay in government. Ask OPM.
- HHS regulation on "substantial gainful activity.
We put out a Statement by the Press Secretary on Friday
praising this regulation that would increase the amount
of money that someone can earn and still stay on the
disability rolls.
I'm not sure if any of this audience gets both VA pensions
and HHS disability insurance. Another issue: do VA
disability recipients lose eligibility if they try to work?
I think not, and the contrast of the VA program and how
we're trying to move the HHS program in this direction
might help.
- Administration support for legislation to extend civil
rights protections to Americans with disabilities.
We're about to move into a confrontation mode with
but we've never stopped to take credit for what we've
Senate Democrats about the details of this legislation,
done. What we've done is come forward and support a
significant expansion of civil rights laws, and that
lately. is something a Republican Administration hasn't done
Themes: into the mainstream; conciliation over confrontation
-- from stressing the point that a lot more people will benefit
suit. the voluntary compliance with a new law than a law
Haans Kuttner
X6563
FACT CHECK Copy
(Lange/Wallace)
July 26, 1989
9:00 a.m.
[VETS.DOC]
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS CONVENTION
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
MONDAY, JULY 31, 1989
1:00 P.M.
Thank you, Billy. National Adjutant Joeckel [JOKE-el],
Officers; Senator Murkowski, Congressman Stump, Secretary
Derwinski
my friends -- and brothers in arms:
I am proud to be with you today, at your 68th annual
Kerby
convention. I understand I'm the first sitting President to meet
Letter
with this group. Well
I thought it was about time. [pause]
Just sorry I couldn't get here sooner
This is a gathering of extraordinary Americans. An assembly
of heroes. Together you represent over one million men and women
disabled during wartime, in service to our country.
military
In the name of freedom; for the sake of justice; to defend
democracy - - all of you have made the definitive commitment to
keep America first, free, strong, and proud.
And while you were living up to that commitment, serving
your country, many of you will remember -- and some of you
thankfully won't -- how in one brief, blinding instant,
everything changed.
Maybe you remember the hammer of chopper blades, the voices
in darkness, the hands that reached for you, the vessels that
delivered you from the horror of war.
2
All of you still bear those wounds -- and can bear them with
pride. Fighting to tear power from tyrants, struggling to secure
freedom around the world, the disabled veterans of America have
paid the highest price the living can pay for freedom.
The moment you fell in service, you ascended in the hearts
and minds of all Americans. Short of death itself, there can be
no greater gift given to -- nor accepted by - ------- a grateful nation.
No words are the equal of your actions.
And while such a debt can never be repaid, it can and will
be remembered. You should be able to take our gratitude for
granted. But what you deserve is our respect. [pause]
And that's what I want to talk to you about today:
respecting those wounded in service - and encouraging them to
find new strength, in service to America.
First, respect. A nation that respects wounded veterans
won't stand by as the flag that so many of them fought for -- and
so many have died for is desecrated. Honest people can differ
on the approach we take. But we all agree on principle: It is
wrong --- simply, absolutely wrong -- to desecrate the American
flag. It stands for tco much. Too many have died for it.
Second, a nation that respects wounded veterans makes sure
that they have a strong voice in the government that serves them.
Marcl 13,
That's why I've been so pleased to welcome the Department of
1989
Veteran's Affairs to a place in the Cabinet. [pause] And when I
see my close friend and former Congressional colleague, Ed
1959-1983
- 1966- 1990
3
Derwinski, sitting at the table in Cabinet meetings, I know we
did something right for America's veterans.
Third, a nation that respects wounded veterans works to
guarantee them a fair shot in the marketplace. So we're
supporting a significant new expansion in civil rights laws, with
OLD
Haans Keettnee
legislation to extend those protections to all Americans with
Kinnedy
disabilities. It's time to trade litigation for cooperation.
Letter
And fourth, a nation that respects wounded veterans must do
all it can to make sure that they get quality health care.
[pause] You know that improvements are needed - - and in spite of
budget constraints, I'm committed to see that they're made.
This menth Secretary Derwinski sent to Congress our proposal
to create a national commission, that will review VA medical
susan Jacobs
facilities across the country. We want to improve the system to
include specialized centers of excellence, ambulatory care,
4500g
community-based care. and home health care options.
care
reflectedin We also want to broaden services and control costs, by
OMB Comments
encouraging the VA and the Department of Defense to share
omB
facilities - - providing better services through better
cooperation. You've given your best -- the least we can do is
provide you with the very best health care.
My friends, SO much has been expected of you - in war, and
in peace. So this may strike you as a paradox --- but today this
President is asking you to do more. To give even more of
yourselves, your time, your talents - to others.
4
You may find, as many here have, that the more you give, the
more you have to give. There may be no greater feeling in the
world, than to have someone depending on you --- and to live up to
their expectations.
P.6
About a year ago, at another convention, I referred to the
Convention
Disabled American Veterans as part of "a brilliant diversity
speech
spread like stars, like a thousand points of light in a broad and
peaceful sky.
You are such people -- part of a constellation of concerned
citizens, committed to building a better America. In war, you
have seen the worst. In peace, you're among the best.
Your country needs you once again.
Each of you has come to terms with war and its costs --------
fighting private battles that those you fought for, and defended,
can only dimly understand. A poet I admire, who did understand,
wrote:
atlantic
It may be that our later selves, or else our unborn sons,
monthly
Will search for meaning in the dust of long-deserted guns.
Donald
Ban
For many of you, that search for meaning has led you to the
faces of young people threatened by drugs and alcohol. To a
basketball court, or a little league team, that needs a coach.
To the small business that needs your skills. Or the local
school that needs a teacher.
5
Maybe you know Allen Clark, who lost both legs to mortar
P.4 Dallas
fire at the age of 24. Over 15 months and 12 operations, he says
speech
he had plenty of time to think. "I wondered how I would be able
to support myself," he says. "What I would be doing. Whether I
holdand
would be able to pick up children in my arms. How I could bring
my life together again. "
But he didn't stop there. He's inspired people across the
P.S Dallas
that
country, saying "We can do anything that we decide we can do.
quesn
We can train or retrain curselves. We can redirect our lives. I
P.I Houston
thank the Lord for the opportunity to live a second life. One of
speech
my friends once told me you have never lived until you've almost
died. For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the
protected will never know.
DAU
Just ask Ron Castille, who at 23 was already wounded and
Magazene
lying on the floor of a helicopter, when another machine gun slug
ripped through the floor and hit him. Today he's district
attorney for the city of Philadelphia -- serving the Youth Aid
Council, the Urban Coalition, and founding an anti-drug program
for kids. Ask him if his job is frustrating, and he'll tell you,
"No, golf is really frustrating.'
-Ron Drach
DAV magagen This year's Outstanding Disabled Veteran, Tommy Clack, has
July
1989 travelled to all 50 states as a speaker and lecturer. He's held
P6
posts in the Georgia Department of Veterans Services, the
Jaycees, the Red Cross, the Atlanta VA Medical Center, and
organized a program that has helped over 400 veterans secure $84
million in Small Business Administration loans since '83.
6
He hunts deer and ducks each fall from his wheelchair. They say
he "always gets his deer." Lucky man.
I single out the few, because they represent the many.
They, like every one of you, represent America's highest, most
enduring ideals. They're the ideals of duty. Honor. Sacrifice.
But above all, redemption. Because once you're given a second
chance, you never look back.
We have within our reach -- and many of you have found -- a
way to heal the wounds within. You have turned your gaze
outward, and focused the brilliance of your will to live on those
who most need it --- and in doing so, you have found yourselves
strengthened.
Dave
Your volunteer and auxiliary programs provide over two
Gouna million hours of absolutely vital help each year in VA Medical
DAU
Centers That makes sure that deserving veterans aren't turned
away, and wards aren't closed.
And volunteers behind the wheel of vans in the DAV
Bruce Nitchee
Ed
Transportation Program will travel over seven million miles this
year, getting vets to facilities for medical treatment. These
are outstanding examples of private initiatives meeting crucial
needs. I'd like to commend all of you involved -- along with
your director of voluntary services, Bruce Nitsche.
[pron.
]
[NITS-
Gathered here today, you represent a million Americans --
shee]
men and women we call "disabled," but who rightly ought to be
known as the handi-capable.
7
Let me encourage you to apply your talents, your strength,
your insight, your sensitivity, your compassion -- the depth and
brilliance of your gifts -- to bring new and hopeful light to
every corner of America, whether in inner cities or mountain
hollows.
Let this now be a war waged against drugs, alcohol abuse,
child abuse, violence against women, illiteracy, pollution --
against all lost hopes and broken dreams. In this battle, your
best weapon will be hope.
I know you already have the courage and will to persevere.
You've shed blood for America. And as long as your hearts beat
within you, you can do good for America.
Together, we can prove that true patriotism can never be
patronized, nor compromised. Together, we can show the world
that everywhere there is a need in America, we have the strength
to meet it.
Through thousands of acts of quiet valor, you are turning
what lesser men and women might have let be tragedy, to triumph.
For that I thank you. God bless you.
And God bless the United States of America.
# # #
To
Steph. Blessey
Date
7/21
Time 6:13
WHILE YOU WERE OUT
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Chuck Hagel
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