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1976/04/05 - Older Americans Proclamation Signing Ceremony
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1535131
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1976/04/05 - Older Americans Proclamation Signing Ceremony
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The original documents are located in Box 58, folder "1976/04/05 - Older Americans
Proclamation Signing Ceremony" of the James M. Cannon Files at the Gerald R. Ford
Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 58 of the James M. Cannon Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 2, 1976
SIGNING OF THE OLDER AMERICANS PROCLAMATION
Monday, April 5, 1976
3:00 p.m. (15 minutes)
The Oval Office
From: Jim Cannon
I.
PURPOSE
To sign the Older Americans Proclamation designating
May as Older Americans Month.
II. BACKGROUND, PARTICIPANTS & PRESS PLAN
A. Background: Each year a proclamation is issued
designating May as Older Americans Month. This
year the proclamation discusses the importance
of employment and volunteer service for older
citizens and for society and the Bicentennial
Charter for Older Americans prepared by the
Federal Council on Aging. The Charter is an
update of the Charter for Senior Citizens
developed by the 1961 White House Conference
on Aging.
B. Participants: List attached at Tab A
C. Press Plan: Open Press Opportunity: to be announced
III. TALKING POINTS
1. It is especially fitting this year that we set aside
a period of time to honor our older citizens. Their
insight and experience, their wisdom and courage, has
contributed beyond measure to the development of our
200-year-old nation.
2. We must make it possible for older Americans to
continue their involvement in our national life.
One of the best ways we can draw upon their strengths
and skills is in the job and volunteer market. Too
often older, and even middle-aged, Americans are the
victims of myths and prejudices regarding their
capabilities. Americans must repudiate these myths
and prejudices, as we have repudiated others, and
GEORALD
- 2 -
assure older Americans the chance to prove that
time has only enhanced their demonstrated abilities.
3. It is important that our Nation make every effort
to recognize the worth and dignity of our older
citizens. To this end, the Federal Council on
Aging has prepared a Bicentennial Charter for
Older Americans. This Charter sets forth principles
to guide us in evaluating our nation's response to
the problems facing older persons, and in appreciating
their response to the problems now confronting our
nation.
4. One of these principles is the right to an adequate
standard of living in retirement. Let me reaffirm
that older Americans have earned the right to live
securely, comfortably and independently. As I.
have said before, the value of our Social Security
system is beyond question. I will do all I can to
ensure the integrity of the trust fund so that future
generations of retirees may continue to rely on it.
5. With these thoughts and commitments in mind, I am
happy today to sign this annual proclamation desig-
nating May as Older Americans Month. I urge-all
organizations concerned with employment and volunteer
services to observe this month with ceremonies,
activities and programs designed to increase oppor-
tunities for older persons. And I urge that such
programs include public forums for discussion of the
Bicentennial Charter for Older Americans.
6. I ask all Americans to join me in reflecting upon
the achievements and the needs of our older citizens.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
PARTICIPANTS
Government
Secretary F. David Mathews
Stanley Thomas
Assistant Secretary for
Human Development
Department of Health, Education
and Welfare
Dr. Arthur Flemming
Commissioner of Aging
Department of Health, Education
and Welfare
Victor Hruska
Director, Older Americans
Volunteer Programs
ACTION
John Martin
Federal Council on Aging
Cleo Tavani
Executive Director
Federal Council on Aging
Associations
John F. McClelland
President
National Association of
Retired Federal Employees
Nelson Cruikshank
President
National Council of Senior Citizens
William Hutton
Executive Director
National Council of Senior Citizens
Joseph C. Davis
Grey Panthers
Austin Kerby
Director of Economics
American Legion
GERALD R. FORD
- 2 -
Jack Ossofsky
Executive Director
National Council on the Aging
Mrs. Alice Van Landingham
President-Elect
American Association of Retired
Persons
Cy Brickfield
Counsel
American Association of Retired
Persons
Miss Harriet Miller
Executive Director
American Association of Retired
Persons
Mrs. Crettie Lee
National Center on Black Aged
Mrs. Mae B. Phillips
National Center on Black Aged
Fred Brummitt
Treasurer
National Retired Teachers
Association
Colonel Donald C. Foster
Executive Director
Retired Officers Association
Colonel Minter L. Wilson, Jr.
Director of Communications
Retired Officers Association
Arthur C. Clinkscales, III
Director
National Alliance for Senior Citizens
Others
Mr. and Mrs. James E. Mills
President Ford Committee
Z. D. Blackistone
Florist
FORD & GERALD LIBRARY
OLDER AMERICANS MONTH, 1976
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Among our nation's most precious natural resources
are the collective wisdom, experience, and productive ability
of our senior citizens.
In recent years we have become more aware of the important
contributions older Americans have made in the past and in the
tremendous potential they hold for the future. We are in-
creasing our efforts to ensure that they have the opportunity
for security of income, maintenance of health and continued
usefulness.
America's senior citizens have earned the gratitude and
respect of our society, as well as our recognition of their
worth and dignity. Their rights and obligations have been
expressed in the Bicentennial Charter for Older Americans
prepared by the Federal Council on Aging.
The job market and volunteer services provide some of
the best opportunities to draw on the strengths and talents
of older Americans. Unfortunately, older, and even middle-
aged workers, are too often the victims of myth and prejudice
regarding their capabilities. Our society needs the know-how,
experience, judgment and eagerness these solid citizens bring
to the job.
GERALD 8. FORD
- 2 -
NOW, THEREFORE, I GERALD R. FORD, President of the United
States of America, do hereby designate the month of May, 1976,
as Older Americans Month.
I urge all private and public organizations that are
related to the field of aging to observe this month by
arranging public forums where the Bicentennial Charter for
Older Americnas will be discussed and recommendations developed
for implementation.
I urge all organizations concerned with employment to
observe this month with ceremonies, activities and programs
designed to increase employment opportunities for older workers.
I urge all organizations engaged in the delivery of services
to persons in need to observe this month by increased emphasis
on efforts to recruit, train and place older volunteers.
And I urge all Americans to observe this month by focusing
on the achievements of older persons and supporting programs
to make the last days of life the best days for increasing
numbers of our older Americans.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
day of
,
in the year of our Lord
nineteen hundred seventy-six, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundredth.
GERALD FORD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 5, 1976
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
UPON SIGNING THE PROCLAMATION FOR
OLDER AMERICANS MONTH - 1976
THE ROSE GARDEN
3:06 P.M. EST
Secretary Mathews and distinguished guests:
It is especially fitting this year that we set
aside a period to honor our older citizens. Their insight
and experience, their wisdom and their courage has contributed
beyond measure to the developments of our 200-year-old Nation.
We must make it possible for older Americans to continue
their involvement in our national life.
One of the best ways we can draw upon their
strengths and skills is in the job and volunteer markets.
Too often older and even middle-aged Americans are the
victims of myths and prejudices regarding their capabilities.
Americans must repudiate these myths and prejudices, as we
have repudiated others, and assure our older Americans the
chance to prove that time has only enhanced their demonstrated
abilities.
It is important that our Nation makes every effort
to recognize the worth and the dignity of our older citizens.
To this end, the Federal Council on Aging has prepared a
Bicentennial charter for our older Americans. This charter
sets forth principles to guide us in evaluating our Nation's
response to the problems facing older persons and appreciating
the response to the problems now confronting our Nation.
One of these principles is the right to an adequate
standard of living in retirement. Let me reaffirm that older
Americans have earned the right to live securely, comfortably
and independently.
As I said before, the value of our Social Security
system is beyond question. I will do all that I can to insure
the integrity of the trust fund so that future generations
of retirees may continue to rely on it.
With these thoughts and commitments in mind, I am
happy today to join in this annual proclamation designating
an Older Americans Month. I urge all organizations concerned
with employment and volunteer services to observe this month
with ceremonies, activities and programs designed to increase
opportunities for older persons, and I urge that such programs
include public forums for discussion of the Bicentennial charter
for older Americans.
I ask all Americans to join me in reflecting upon
the achievements and the needs of our older citizens.
END (AT 3:10 P.M. EST)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 5, 1976
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
OLDER AMERICANS MONTH, 1976
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Among our Nation's most precious natural resources
are the collective wisdom, experience and abilities of
our older citizens.
In recent years we have become more aware of the
important contributions older Americans have made in the
past and in the tremendous potential they hold for the
future. We are increasing our efforts to ensure that
they have the opportunity for independent living through
security of income, maintenance of health and continued
useful involvement in the life of our Nation.
America's older citizens have earned the gratitude
and respect of our society, as well as our recognition
of their worth and dignity. In this spirit, the Federal
Council on Aging has prepared the Bicentennial Charter for
Older Americans expressing their rights and obligations.
The job market and the area of volunteer services
provide some of the best opportunities to draw on the
strengths and talents of older Americans. Unfortunately,
older, and even middle-aged workers, are too often the
victims of myth and prejudice regarding their capabilities.
Our society needs the know-how, experience, judgment and
eagerness to serve that these citizens bring to the job.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GERALD R. FORD, President of the
United States of America, do hereby designate the month
of May, 1976, as Older Americans Month.
I urge all State and Area Agencies on Aging and
other private and public organizations that are related
to the field of aging to observe this month by arranging
public forums where the Bicentennial Charter for Older
Americans will be discussed and recommendations developed
for implementation.
I urge all organizations concerned with employment
to observe this month with ceremonies and programs de-
signed to increase employment opportunities for older
workers.
I urge all organizations engaged in the delivery of
services to persons in need to observe this month by in-
creased emphasis on efforts to recruit, train and place
older volunteers.
more
2
And I urge all Americans to observe this month by
focusing on the achievements of older persons and supporting
programs to make the last days of life the best days for
increasing numbers of our older Americans.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fifth
day of April in the year of our Lord
nineteen hundred seventy-six, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundredth.
GERALD R. FORD
#####