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Issues Group (2)
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This file contains material relating to a White House group studying presidential campaign issues and themes.
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James M. Cannon Files (Ford Administration)
James Cannon's Political Files
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Presidential campaign, 1976
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The original documents are located in Box 41, folder "Issues Group (2)" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 41 of the James M. Cannon Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
[Eept.1976]
Remarks by the President at Vail, Colorado on August 27, 1976
Our campaign is national, and we believe -- as I said in the
acceptance speech -- we concede no State, we concede no vote.
Secondly, we have refined the areas that we think important
for this campaign to emphasize:
Number one, jobs, meaningful jobs with an opportunity for
advancement.
Number two, an accelerated home ownership program. That is
something more Americans are more interested in today than
almost anything as we look at the polls that have been taken
and the surveys that have been made.
Number three, quality health care that is affordable to the
American people. We have to keep pressure on the costs of
health care and make sure the quality of health care they
are getting today will be continued and expanded.
Number four, crime. As I said in the acceptance speech, we
will not tolerate the kind of crime rate increases that have
taken place over the last three or four years, and we have
not only a reiteration of what I have said in three or four
speeches on the crime issue, but also some new thoughts and
ideas that will be announced in the campaign.
The last, in the domestic area, recreation. Some -- or, I
hope, all -- of you are going with us to Yellowstone Park on
Sunday. We will have some announcements at that time that
I think will show we are interested in the increased quality
of life.
They really incorporate five points: Jobs, home ownership,
quality health care, a reduction in crime and better recreation
facilities. One other falls under that category, and that is
in the field of education.
But, there is one other point that has to be made because it
is sort of all-encompassing -- peace throughout the world.
As I said in the acceptance speech, we want peace at home
and peace throughout the world.
Those will be the thrust, those will be the emphasis, those
will be the objectives we will try to convey to the American
people that the Ford-Dole Administration of the next four
FORD
years will emphasize.
is
GERALD
LIBRARY
PEACE
PEACE
"I am proud to stand before this great Convention as
the first incumbent President since Dwight D. Eisenhower
who can tell the American people: America is at peace. "
"Today America is at peace and seeks peace for all
nations. Not a single American is at war anywhere on
the face of this earth tonight."
"The world now respects America's policy of peace through
strength. The U.S. is again the confident leader of
the free world.
"Nobody questions our dedication to peace, but nobody
doubts our willingness to use our strength when our vital
interests are at stake.
"I called for an up-to-date, powerful Army, Navy, Air
Force, and Marine Corps that will keep America secure
for decades to come. A strong military posture is always
the best insurance for peace. "
--Kansas City Acceptance Speech
"We are at peace. We are at peace because we are strong."
--February 13, 1976
"Our foreign policy today is based on man's respect for
man on our understanding that we are indeed riders on
the earth together and a constant effort to make reason
the strongest force in the conduct of nations. This is
why America has always stood for freedom and justice,
self-determination, the duty of the strong toward the
weak, of the prosperous toward the poor.
"Americans have learned that we cannot police every remote
corner of the earth, nor fill every empty bowl, but we
can be an immense influence for good and for justice, for
reason and for peace in this world in which we live."
--In Cleveland, Ohio, June 6, 1976
FORD & LIBRARY 07/839
PEACE
(Continued)
"We are strong today, and our allies and our adversaries
know it, and that is why America today is at peace.
Let there be no doubt whatsoever, we intend to stay
strong SO that we can stay at peace. "
--- In San Diego, California, May 24, 1976
PEACE
9/3/76
JMC
Suggestion:
That the President make a foreign policy speech,
before the United Nations, in late September or early
October with the theme: "Atoms for Peace II".
This speech could articulate the President's
policy decisions on the Fri nuclear project -- Nuclear
Proliferation, Waste Disposal, and Exports.
GERALD R. FORD
JOBS
Gorog
September 3, 1976
JOBS
The role of Government should be to maintain policies which
protect the jobs of the 88 million people who are produc-
tively employed, and to develop policies which will permit
the private sector to create the new jobs needed for our
growing labor force. At the same time, we deplore the
fact that we have a large number of unemployed, particularly
among the young and new entrants to the labor force. We
must find ways to encourage a more rapid expansion of the
private sector to provide jobs for these individuals.
We must not, however, do so at the risk of threatening
the entire job force with a new round of inflation and
recession.
It should be clearly understood that there can be no "trade
off" between unemployment and inflation. Inflation causes
unemployment, and excessive Government spending causes
inflation. We, therefore, must reject policies which seek
to temporarily alleviate some unemployment through Govern-
ment spending at the expense of higher inflation later with
less job security for all. Such policies invite a return
to inflation and another cycle of recession and unemployment.
The keystone to providing new jobs is the creation of an
economic environment promising long-term economic stability;
access to investment capital at reasonable interest rates;
and tax policies that encourage productive investment and
productive job creation. The most important contribution
that Government can make to create this environment is to
control inflationary Government spending. Programs like
Humphrey-Hawkins
Government spending to artificially
lower unemployment rates
pose a dangerous threat to the
Nation's recovery and the job security of 88 million Americans
now productively employed.
JOBS
9/3/76
JMC
Every American is entitled to a job.
My goal is a job -- a productive and permanent
job -- for every American who is willing and able to
work.
My goal is two million new permanent jobs every
year.
Can we do it? In the last 18 months we created
more than three million jobs.
And today, there are more Americans at work --
88 million of them -- than ever before in our history.
Those jobs were created by competitive enterprise,
not by government.
Don't forget: The job Congress gives you is a
job Congress can take away.
SEALO FORD
HOME
OWNERSHIP
TAB C
HOME OWNERSHIP
"I will ask for additional housing assistance for 500,000
families. These programs will expand housing opportunities,
spur construction and help to house moderate and low income
families.
"But, with lower interest rates and available mortgage
money, we can have a healthy recovery in 1976.' (State of the
Union)
"Pursue the primary goal of expanding housing opportunities"
while also pursuing "the companion goal of reducing the degree
of direct federal involvement in housing."
Seek "a continuous, stable and adequate flow of funds" for
real-estate mortgages "at realistic interest rates."
"Urge continued incentives to support the development of
low and moderate-income housing," with high priority on rehabili-
tation of existing housing.
Develop "a co-ordinated national urban policy baded on
the principle that the levels of government closest to the cities'
problems are best able to respond." (Republican Platform)
- 2 -
Brief Summary of Presidential Record
HOME OWNERSHIP
The goal of the Administration's housing policy has been
to improve the quality of housing stock and to facilitate
homeownership for low and moderate income families. To
achieve this goal, President Ford has taken steps to maximize
the number of families receiving assistance, widen the range
of housing choice available, and increase the amount of
Federal mortgage insurance obtainable toward the purchase of
a new home. His actions include:
-- Signing the Housing and Community Development Act of
1974, which established a new program of housing
assistance for low-income families and increased the
mortgage credit for single family homes by $10,000 to
$20,000 for various types of insurance programs;
-- Signing the Emergency Home Purchase Act of 1974 which
extends Government National Mortgage Insurance on a
limited basis to conventional mortgages;
-- Signing the Emergency Housing Act of 1975, which pro-
vides emergency mortgage foreclosure relief;
-- Signing the Tax Reduction Act of 1975, which provided
up to a $2,000 tax rebate for the purchase of new
homes in 1975.
-- In the 1976 budget, authorizing HUD to enter into
subsidy agreements with more than 400,000 families;
-- Approving HUD's reactivation of a revised homeowner-
ship subsidy program which will subsidize more than
250,000 new single family units.
HOME OWNERSHIP
9/3/76
JMC
Home is the best way to keep a family together.
Every American who wants to own his own home, and
is willing to work for it, should have his own home.
For 200 years the opportunity to have a place you
can call your own has been a traditional and worthy
aspiration that built this country.
Owning a home builds good neighbors. It means
belonging to a community. It means sharing American
traditions and sharing American values.
A place you can always come back to gives
permanence, security and pride.
GERALD STRUET 077 FORD
HEALTH
TAB B
HEALTH CARE
"Hospital and medical services in America are among the
best in the world, but the cost of a serious and extended
illness can quickly wipe out a family's life savings.
"Increasing health costs are of deep concern to all, and
a powerful force pushing up the cost of living. The burden of
catastrophic illness can be borne by very few in our society.
We must eliminate this fear from every family.
"I propose catastrophic health insurance for everybody
covered by Medicare. To finance this added protection, fees
for short-term care will go up somewhat, but nobody, after
reaching age 65, will have to pay more than $500 a year for
covered hospital or nursing home care, nor more than $250 for
one year's doctor bills. We cannot realistically afford
Federally dictated national health insurance proving full
coverage for all 215 million Americans*
"But I do envision the day when we may use the private
health insurance system to offer more middle income families
high quality health services at prices they can afford and
shield them also from their catastrophic illnesses.
"Using resources now available, I propose improving the
Medicare and other Federal health programs to help those who
really need protection -- older people and the poor. To help
States and local Governments give better health care to the
poor, I propose that we combine 16 existing Federal programs,
including Medicaid, into a single $10 billion Federal grant.
"Funds would be divided among States under a new formula
which provides a larger share of Federal money to those
States that have a larger share of low income families.
"I will take further steps to improve the quality of
medical and hospital care for those who have served in our
Armed Forces." (State of the Union)
"We will ensure the integrity of the Social Security
system and improve Medicare so that our older citizens can "
enjoy the health and the happiness that they have earned.
(Kansas City Acceptance Speech)
-2-
"Support extension of catastrophic-illness protection to
all who cannot obtain it."
Oppose compulsory national health insurance that, as
proposed by the Democrats, "could require a personal income-
tax increase of approximately 20 per cent."
Consolidate federal health programs "into a single grant
to each State, where possible, thereby allowing much greater
flexibility in setting local priorities. "
Expose and eliminate fraud in medicare and medicaid.
(Republican Platform)
- 3 -
Brief Summary of Presidential Record
HEALTH CARE
The President has pursued the goal of insuring every
American's access to quality health care by taking the
following actions:
-- Initiating improvements in the quality of health
care available in nursing home programs;
-- Encouraging the expansion of the National Health
Services Corps which places health professionals
in critical health manpower shortage areas;
-- Coordinating rural health activities to serve
individuals in rural areas;
-- Initiating a program of unprecedented scope to
immunize all Americans against the possible out-
break of swine flu;
-- Initiating a study of alternative means of provid-
ing health insurance to Americans who are not
adequately insured;
-- Proposing the catastrophic health insurance program
that would (1) protect the elderly against the
devastating cost of a serious illness and (2) hold
down the inflationary surge in health costs;
-- Proposing that 16 Federal health programs, includ-
ing Medicaid, be consolidated into a single $10
billion block grant to the states.
HEALTH
9/3/76
JMC
We can have quality health care for every
American, but we cannot afford waste and we will not
tolerate medical profiteering.
Our doctors, hospitals and medical services are
among the world's best; but making them the best has
also made them expensive.
My goal is to keep costs down for those who
can afford to pay and to provide as much assistance
as we can afford to those who cannot.
I believe in a partnership between public and
private health to provide every American access to
quality care at a reasonable cost.
I do not believe a huge and expensive program of
national health for all Americans would work. It hasn't
in Great Britain, and it hasn't worked in other countries.
FORD
CRIME
TAB D
CRIME
"Protecting the life and property of the citizen at
home is the responsibility of all public officials, but it
is primarily the job of local and State law enforcement
authorities***
"My recommendations on how to control violent crime were
submitted to the Congress last June with strong emphasis on
protecting the innocent victims of crime. To keep a convicted
criminal from committing more crimes, we must put him in prison
so he cannot harm more law-abiding citizens**
"Too often criminals are not sent to prison after conviction
but are allowed to return to the streets.
"Some judges are reluctant to send convicted criminals to
prison because of inadequate facilities. To alleviate this
problem at the Federal level, my new budget proposes the con-
struction of four new Fedearl facilities.
"To speed Federal justice, I propose an increase this year
in the United States Attorneys prosecuting Federal crimes and
the reinforcement of the number of United States Marshals.
"Additional Federal judges are needed, as recommended by
me and the Judicial Conference.
"Another major threat to every American's person and
property is the criminal carrying a handgun. A way to cut
down on the criminal use of guns is not to take guns away from
the law-abiding citizens, but to impose mandatory sentences
for crimes in which a gun is used; make it harder to obtain
cheap guns for criminal purposes and concentrate gun control
enforcement in high crime areas***
"I have directed all agencies of the Federal Government
to step up law enforcement efforts against those who deal in
drugs
"I recommended months ago that the Congress enact manda-
tory fixed sentences for persons convicted of Federal crimes
involving the sale of hard drugs. Hard drugs, we all know,
degrade the spirit as they destroy the body of their users***
-2-
"Under the Constitution, the greatest responsibility for
curbing crime lies with State and local authorities. They are
the frontline fighters in the war against crime***
"I would propose in the new budget that the Congress
authorize almost $7 billion over the next five years to assist
State and local Governments to protect the safety and property
of all their citizens." (State of the Union)
"I called for a major overhaul of criminal laws to crack
down on crime and illegal drugs. The other party's platform
deplores America's $80 billion cost of crime. There is the
problem again -- their own Congress won't act." (Kansas City
Acceptance Speech)
Provide "automatic and mandatory minimum sentences for
persons committing offenses under federal jurisdiction that
involve the use of a dangerous weapon" but "oppose federal
registration of firearms."
Continue federal help for State and local agencies through
the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration.
Treat drug addicts but "remove the pushers from the
street and give them mandatory sentences.'
In prison reform, put "a high priority" on helping the
young first-time offender.
Take strong steps against terrorism- "both domestic
and international" with "sanctions against countries that aid
terrorists.
"
(Republican Platform)
- 3 -
Brief Summary of Presidential Record:
CRIME
President Ford has emphasized three areas of Federal
responsibility in combatting crime. These include improv-
ing the quality of Federal laws and the criminal justice
system; enacting and enforcing laws covering criminal con-
duct which cannot be adequately regulated at the State and
local level; and providing financial and technical assist-
ance to State and local governments.
In a special crime message sent to Congress in June
1975, the President specifically called for:
-- Enactment of anew comprehensive criminal code;
-- Enactment of a mandatory minimum sentence law
which would make imprisonment a certainty for
persons convicted of (1) a Federal offense
involving the use of a dangerous weapon, (2) an
extraordinarily serious offense such as hijack-
ing, kidnapping or trafficking in hard drugs,
or (3) repeated offenses which cause personal
injury to others.
In that same crime message, the President also proposed
the following improvements in the Federal criminal justice
system:
-- Establishment of "career criminal" programs
designed to assure quick identification and prose-
cution of persons who repeatedly commit serious
offenses.
-4-
-- Continuation and expansion of programs designed
to divert certain first offenders into rehabil-
itation prior to trial.
-- Creation by the Congress of additional Federal
District Court judgeships and expansion of the
criminal jurisdiction of United States
Magistrates.
-- Improvement of prison facilities, including the
replacement of large, outdated prisons with
smaller, more modern ones.
-- Enactment by the Congress of legislation to
provide limited compensation to victims of
Federal crimes who suffer personal injury.
In the area of Federal financial aid for State and local
law enforcement, the President in 1976 proposed that the
Congress continue the Law Enforcement Assistance Administra-
tion through 1981 at a higher funding level which would
authorize $6.8 billion for the next five years. The bill
places additional emphasis on improving State and local court
systems and on funding "High Impact" crime-prevention projects
in crime-ridden urban areas.
CRIME
9/3/76
JMC
Every American is entitled to safety in his home,
on the street, and in his community.
I want every American to be free of any fear of
violence -- to himself, to his family, to his neighbor.
To make America safe for every citizen, we must
get the criminals off the street and into jail.
Most crimes today are committed by persons who
have committed crimes in the past. We must work with
state and local governments, who have the responsibility
under our Constitution to preserve domestic tranquility,
to see that they have the policemen, the prosecutors,
and the judges to make sure that those who live by crime
will be taken off the streets and kept off the streets.
I propose a certain imprisonment for anyone convicted
of:
-- a Federal offense with a dangerous weapon;
-- kidnapping or high-jacking;
-- trafficking in hard drugs;
-- repeated crimes causing personal injury to others.
GENALD FORD
RECREATION
TAB E
Suggested Draft Paragraph: RECREATION
As our quality of life improves, the complexity of daily
living increases. Each American should be able to experience
the simple pleasure of stretching his limbs -- and his mind --
in the open air. To secure this privilege for all citizens,
I am committed to preserving and upgrading our recreational
lands. To ensure that our children will inherit this
natural legacy, I intend to double our recreational lands.
From city parks to wilderness areas, our fragile natural
resources must be protected.
EDUCATION
TAB A
EDUCATION
"We will return control of our children's education
to parents and local school authorities." (Kansas City
Acceptance Speech)
Propose "consolidating federal categorical-grant programs
into block grants and turning the money over to the States
with minimum bureaucratic controls."
Favor a constitutional amendment so "local communities
wishing to conduct nonsectarian prayers in their public schools"
would be able to do SO. (Republican Platform)
- 2 -
Brief Summary of Presidential Record:
EDUCATION
By law and tradition, State and local governments have
the responsibility for providing free and universal public
education. President Ford has emphasized his belief that
maximum decisionmaking flexibility be provided at the State
and local level and that Federal funds be used to support
special needs programs.
The President has initiated a series of structural and
financial reforms to achieve these goals. These include:
-- Signing the Education of All Handicapped Children
Act of 1975, which supports equal educational
opportunity for all handicapped children;
-- Proposing the Financial Assistance for Elementary
and Secondary Education Act, which would consolidate
twenty-four existing programs into a single program
and continue to target funds on populations with
special needs;
-- Requesting greater support for the National Insti-
tute of Education in the amount of a 28 percent
increase over the 1976 appropriation;
-- Requesting full funding of the Basic Education
Opportunity Grants program in 1976 and 1977, which
facilitates access to a post-secondary education for
any student demonstrating need.
EDUCATION
9/3/76
JMC
I want to return the education of American
children to their parents, and to their teachers.
Every American is entitled to an education that
matches his efforts, his ability, and his hopes.
Parents have the first responsibility for their
children's education.
Parents also have the right to choose the school
their children should attend.
Communities can best determine how to run their
schools.
The education of our children should be determined
not in Washington, but in the community where the
children live and where their families pay taxes.
The real answer to a good education is what it has
always been in America: a good teacher, and a willing
and interested student.
GERALD FORD
[sept. 19767
1. Peace
Scowcroft
2. Jobs
Seidman, Greenspan
3.
Home Ownership
Lynn - O'Neill
4. Health
Reichley (Support from
Domestic Council)
5. Crime
Cannon - Quern
6. Recreation
Reichley (Support from
Domestic Council)
7. Education
Cannon - Quern
Vision and Overview -- Ann Arbor 9/13 or 9/14
First Debate -- Domestic and Economic Affairs
Jashes Droup
[sept 1976]
1.
Peace
Scowcroft
2. Jobs
Seidman, Greenspan
3.
Home Ownership
Lynn - O'Neill
4. Health
Reichley (Support from
Domestic Council)
5. Crime
Cannon - Quern
6.
Recreation
Reichley (Support from
Domestic Council)
7.
Education
Cannon - Quern
Domestic Council
Quality Health Care
[sept.1976]
To a great extent our ability to enjoy life and to
contribute to life depends on staying healthy. Health
care is something we Americans now expect to be of the
highest quality and the widest availability.
These expectations, however, all too often bypass
those with low incomes or fixed incomes. I will submit
to the 95th Congress my $10 billion program of health care
for low income Americans. I will also submit again legis-
lation assuring every senior citizen that they need never
be fearful of having a lifetime of savings wiped out by
the costs of illness and insist that the next Congress
act.
These proposals, taken together, can end the dissarray
and abuse and waste which plague our current Federal
health care programs.
OMB
Home Ownership
[sept.
My goal is homeownership for every American family that
wants to own its own home and is willing to work for it.
During my Administration, the Government has assisted over
400,000 families in owning their own home through the tandem
mortgage plan.
There are three principal barriers to the achievement of
the goal of expanded homeownership, and I intend to deal with
each of them. The most important barrier, of course, is high
interest rates. My economic policies, including tight control
of unnecessary Federal spending, will bring interest rates down,
as well as make available more funds for the private sector,
including home mortgages. In addition, the growth in the
economy which my Administration has brought about will put
more families in a position to own their own home because of
rising incomes.
The second important barrier to homeownership is downpay-
ment requirements which often require years of saving. For
those families who have proved they can hold a job and pay their
bills, I shall next year be recommending one or more changes in
the FHA law to reduce downpayments on lower- and middle-price
houses, by 20 to 50 percent.
The third important barrier to homeownership, is the size
of the monthly payments. To deal with this problem, I will
order expanded use of existing authorities to lower payments
in the early years of homeownership and gradually increase
them as family income goes up. We already have one successful
2
demonstration program under section 245 of the Housing Act
which is doing that on an experimental basis. I believe
that that program can be expanded across the country.
JMC/sept.1976]
Domestic Council
Education
No one place in our society better combines the
hopes and promises of our future than our classrooms.
We must assure every American school child the finest
education.
The real answer to improving the quality of edu-
cation is what it has always been in America: a good
teacher, and a willing and interested student.
To better equip schools to achieve quality education,
I have sent to the Congress and will send again to the
9th Congress a $3.5 billion simplification of 24 Federal
elementary and secondary school programs. Replacing
24 programs with 1 will assure Federal support while
minimizing Federal interference. Teachers can again
concentrate on students instead of forms, and classrooms
can be guided by their communities rather than by the
Congress.
Under my Administration, the education of American
children will be returned to their parents, their teachers,
and their community.
Domestic Council
Jobs [sept. 1976]
We must set goals and keep after them.
My first goal is 2 million new permanent jobs every
year. Can we do it?
Yes. In the last 18 months we created more than 4
million new jobs. Today, there are more Americans at
work -- 88 million of them -- than ever before in our
history.
But there are still too many Americans out of WORK,
and
in paret
young
in
allows who cannot find a good job, or get the training
and experience they need to find a good job.
Americans have long since recognized the importance
of assuring that every high school graduate who is willing,
able and qualified be able to go to college. We have done
so through grants, loans and scholarships
I believe we can apply should This create new a good job
and create a
scholarship program for young people who choose not to go
to college but want a job at which they can learn a trade,
a skill, a craft or good business experience.
My "Job Scholarship Program" would provide an
:
incentive for a high school graduate to select the kind of
job he wants and train for it, and at the same time provide
a financial incentive to an employer to take young and
inexperienced people into apprentice jobs and train them.
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
[Sept 19767
A
Suggested Insert, Page 6 --
I am particularly concerned that there are too many young
Americans who cannot find a good job, or get the training
and experience they need to find a good job.
Americans have long since recognized the importance
of assuring that every high school graduate who is willing,
able and qualified be able to go to college. We have
done so through grants, loans and scholarships.
I believe we can apply this same good principle and create
a program for young people who choose not to go to college
but want a job at which they can learn a trade, a skill,
a craft or good business experience.
[sept. 1976]
A
Suggested Insert, Page 6 --
I am particularly concerned that there are too many young
Americans who cannot find a good job, or get the training
and experience they need to find a good job.
Americans have long since recognized the importance
of assuring that every high school graduate who is willing,
able and qualified be able to go to college. We have
done so through grants, loans and scholarships.
I believe we can apply this same good principle and create
a program for young people who choose not to go to college
but want a job at which they can learn a trade, a skill,
a craft or good business experience.
[sept 19767
Suggested Insert B, Page 9 --
We must find ways through the tax system to alleviate
the burden on the families who choose to send their
children to private schools and colleges.
[sept. 19767
Suggested Insert B, Page 9 --
We must find ways through the tax system to alleviate
the burden on the families who choose to send their
children to private schools and colleges.
[sept. 19767
1. Peace
Scowcroft
2. Jobs
Seidman, Greenspan
vaiable Rate
3.
Home Ownership
Lynn - O'Neill
4. Health
Reichley (Support from
Domestic Council)
5. Crime
Cannon - Quern
6. Recreation
Reichley (Support from
Domestic Council)
7. Education
Cannon - Quern
Domestic Council
CRIME
9/3/76
JMC
Every American is entitled to safety in his home,
on the street, and in his community.
I want every American to be free of any fear of
violence -- to himself, to his family, to his neighbor.
To make America safe for every citizen, we must
get the criminals off the street and into jail.
Most crimes today are committed by persons who
have committed crimes in the past. We must work with
state and local governments, who have the responsibility
under our Constitution to preserve domestic tranquility,
to see that they have the policemen, the prosecutors,
and the judges to make sure that those who live by crime
will be taken off the streets and kept off the streets.
I propose a certain imprisonment for anyone convicted
of:
--
a Federal offense with a dangerous weapon;
--
kidnapping or high-jacking;
--
trafficking in hard drugs;
--
repeated crimes causing personal injury to others.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 9, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR: DICK CHENEY
FROM:
JIM CANNON Jmc
SUBJECT:
Issues Group
The Issues Group is moving ahead. At this point, we have
these meetings scheduled:
1. Friday, 9/10, with Jim Baker briefing
2. Monday, 9/13, Home Sat. Ownership Reviews for options 10:30
pla. KRisie
3. Tuesday, 9/14, with Bob Teétor briefing & Baker 9:30
4. Thursday, 9/16, Steering Committee
DR30 11:00
sit Room
Lynn May
FORD in LIBRARY 07V330
Thursday, Sept. 9
MEMO TO:
MR. CANNON
FROM:
CAMERON
SUBJECT:
Issues Group Mtgs.
Jim Baker's office called today to confirm the Issues
Group mtg. tomorrow, Friday, at 4:30. Baker thinks
you mentioned to him that you might just call-off this
mtg. Is the mtg. still on?
YES
NO
We have also scheduled an Issues Group mtg. for next
Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. Is Baker to be invited to this mtg. ?
Teetor will be briefing.
YES
NO
late pm Mon. Home Ownership Reviews for options
Wed. Steering Committee
See note dictated
FORD & LIBRARY 078836
Kris:
Please call the members of the Issues Group and invite
them to a meeting on Friday, Sept. 10, at 4:30, in the
Situation Room.
Baker will be attending.
Please inform JMC that I have arranged this time and
place with Baker's office.
thanks
cameron
celled
Tues. Thurs,
Q
?
O'neill Cavanaugh - also has Jerry gones' intgot 4:30.
Scowcroft
Chanock
- Reichley
Seidman
Lynn
1
Greenspon
Hartmann
Doug
Anith
Zarb
\
9:30 -Tues
Baker ast Teeter will brief
LIBRAST BERALD R FORD
Thurse
I your
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
5-6:00
Mr. Cannon:
Foster said the only time Jim
Baker could make it Thursday is
11:00. Foster suggests that we
start the meeting at 10:30, take
care of the other business, then
Jim Baker could come at 11:00, and
end the meeting at 11:30 so you
could have 1/2 hour to prepare for your
12:00 meeting with the President.
OK, SET UP
OTHER
Cancelled 6:15 9/7
k
Jeanne
457-6400
FORD & LIBRARY 07V838
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Kris:
Check with JMC about when you
should do the inviting for the
9:30 mtg. next Tuesday.
also, Baker. +
cd
Tector - when
briefing?
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Cameron:
Have I called all the
members of the Issues Group?
This is all I have - is it
correct?
k
CC: Cannon
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 3, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
JIM CAVANAUGH
FROM:
DICK CHENEY
You've got the action to work with Jim Cannon on the Issues Group.
Make certain all that stuff moves forward.
Jun check
In
4/10 Friday - us Home Bahar
ourship
4/13 9/14 The - wf Futor
minday - Housing Group
troup 4 options
reviews
den ur Stelling Conuth & FORD
LIBRARY 07V838
(C:
ISSUES GROUP MEETING
Friday, September 10, 1976
4:30 p.m.
Situation Room
Trota
18 states
9/14/16
mut again Thursday
I
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will we an dong
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FORD is LIBRARY 078835
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Not as will the 00
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will Camy areb Kans.
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FORD HOLDER is 077835 LIBRARY
Personal sofety.
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crime -
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Inflation/ Econ our
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GERALD PUBLIC
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GERALD R. FORD
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FORD & LIBRA
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LIBRARY GERALD FORD
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GERALD LIBRARY R. FORD
8
15
[9/20/76]
Interview
CARTER/MONDALE CAMPAIGN
Interview With Jimmy Carter: COMBATING THE BIG SPENDER LABEL
Republicans in Kansas City charged that five programs that
you've talked about would cost more than $100 billion and would
home loan was 4%. The budget, over his six or seven years in
cause personal taxes to rise by 50%. How do you respond to the
office, was balanced. There was an average surplus of about
charge that you're a big spender?
$2.4 billion. Now we have had an average inflation rate of
Well, I've never been a big spender. I've always been careful
almost 7% under Nixon and Ford, and the highest unemploy-
with my own money and careful with whatever taxpayers'
ment rate we've ever had since the Great Depression. This
money I had under my charge. They are trying to cover up
shows that they're not necessarily countervailing forces.
their mistakes. I intend as President to achieve a balanced
When inflation goes up, under Nixon and Ford, unemploy-
budget by 1980. With a modest growth in gross national
ment has gone up along with it, and there's such an enormous
product to about 4% to 6% a year, and an unemployment rate
drain on our economy just to finance the cost of people not
of 4% to 4½ at the end of that time, with careful planning
being at work. Presidents Nixon and Ford have tried to fight
and meticulous detail work, and phasing in the programs that
the evils of inflation with the evils of unemployment. This has
we've evolved, we would have a balanced budget by 1980.
brought the highest combination of inflation and unemploy-
As to welfare reform cost, I think our total net cost would
ment in this century. So I don't think there's an inherent
be much less than the roughly $17 billion that we're spending
economic law that says when inflation goes up, employment
this year on welfare payments and unemployment compensa-
goes down, or vice versa.
tion. Health programs? I don't think the net cost to our
country would be any substantially greater figure.
To fight inflation, you said that you would like to attack the
I would be very careful in phasing in programs in
supply side. How do you get the private sector to go along and
accordance with available income. I think eliminating gross
get involved in the supply side, to prevent capacity bottle-
waste in government, duplicative programs, excessive
necks?
numbers of agencies, would save a great deal. So there would
It's hard for me to answer that question. There are supplies
be no disturbance to our national economy, no need for an
of different types. One would be automobiles. Another would
increase in taxes to carry out the promises that I've made.
be food, another would be recreation, and so on. Some of those
are determined directly by the government at all levels; others
We've heard that you are considering holding government
are almost exclusively the prerogative of business. I don't see
spending to around 21% of GNP, near the current level. How
how the federal government could tell the business sector to
would you impose this restriction and still fund the programs
produce more autos, or more motor scooters, or more bikes,
you've talked about?
but I think at the same time a more predictable government
Well, that's a goal for me, and I'm not sure about the 21%
policy on taxation, transportation, regulatory agencies,
figure. The existing percentage of federal government
energy, exports, imports would have a greatly beneficial effect
spending compared to GNP has been fairly stable over the last
on the confidence of the business community as it made plans
couple of decades, and that would be a goal that I would set
for the future
As a matter of general philosophy, my own
for myself. There will be very careful pacing of initiation of
belief is that the best way to control inflation is not to make
new programs as old ones are phased out.
money scarce, not to try to drive interest rates up, and not to
try and keep people out of work and depend on welfare and
This talk of savings reminds us of the Vietnam "peace divi-
unemployment compensation benefits to meet those hard-
dend." is there a chance that these savings will also disappear?
ships, but rather to put our people back to work, to hold
The savings are there to be realized. I don't say that we're
interest rates down, and keep our economy growing, at a
going to cut that much out of total spending and give it back
reasonably high rate.
to the taxpayers, but to help programs be more efficient. I
think we have now some 300 programs in health, adminis-
You have said that you thought that wage and price increases
tered by about 76 agencies. There's no way now to decide in
should be announced 30 or 60 or 90 days in advance and that
Washington who's responsible for errors, who is in charge of
labor and management should set voluntary price goals. What
the management of government. A clear delineation of
kind of mechanism do you have in mind to make this work?
authority, a reduction in the number of agencies responsible
I would like to keep the present Council on Wage & Price
for the same function, combined with a reassessment of
Stability intact. I would like to meet with business and labor
priorities on an annual basis under zero-based budgeting,
leaders and ask them to exercise voluntary restraint. If they
would result in substantial savings. We figure that over a four
could communicate with each other on a regular basis, maybe
year period we'll have at least an increased income for the
through me, and just lay down some general voluntary
federal government-not in savings, but in dividends-of
guidelines that they would pursue, let the council be informed
about $60 billion cumulatively.
30 days or 45 days ahead of time for projected, substantive
You know, I'm a businessman
and I'm very conscious
price or wage demands, and let the pressure of public opinion
always of costs, projections, balanced budgets, and that will
be focused to see whether or not the need is justified-that in
itself would have a greatly beneficial effect.
be part of my consciousness as President.
Recently, we've detected from some of your staff that they are
Do you foresse then, in addition to this prenotification proce-
dure, voluntary price or wage guideposts.?
equating the fight against unemployment with the fight against
inflation. How do you think that you can carry out these two
Yes, what I would like to do, and what we are doing now in
an embryonic way, is to talk to business and labor leaders to
apparently contradictory efforts?
I don't believe that they are contradictory as far as inherent
find out what sort of guidelines they would self-impose. I
think the President can induce business and labor leaders to
characteristics are concerned. When President Truman went
out of office, after enormous drains on our economy, with the
say publicly: "We'll try to hold down our price increases, our
wage increases, to this level."
Marshall Plan, with the Korean War, aid to Turkey and
Greece, and so forth, we had an inflation rate of less than 1%
Now, I can't tell you what the figure would be. I want them
to be involved in the initial decision about what their volun-
We had an unemployment rate less than 3%. Interest on a
tary restraints might be.
16
In a recent speech you promised to maintain farmers' income
while insuring stable prices for consumers. How do you do this
in the few countries that have comprehensive health insur-
and how much would it cost?
ance, the usage of the health services has gone up. Have you
It wouldn't cost any more than it costs now. All of the
thought about what that would do to costs?
target prices, all of the loan prices that prevail now in the
I have, a great deal. There have been studies made by the
agricultural industry are substantially less than prevailing
Rand Corp., the Brookings Institution, by governmental agen-
prices for farm products. The thing that we have suffered
cies, that show that this is not necessarily the case. We now
under with Agriculture Secretary [Earl L.] Butz and lack of
have tremendous pressure on the part of doctors, hospitals,
leadership in the White House is unpredictability-the
insurance companies, to put people in long-term care. I read
farmers don't have any idea what we're going to do next.
some statistics the other day that show that a person who
We oversold wheat in '73 because Butz didn't know how
goes to the hospital in Brooklyn, the average stay is 13 days.
much the Russians were buying, and he didn't realize that our
The person who goes to a hospital in San Diego with the same
own reserves were so low. This was a major inflationary
medical problems has an average length of stay of four days.
factor. But the farmers want to produce, they want to sell.
You have twice as much chance of being operated on if you go
The average American thinks that if we sell a bushel of wheat
into the hospital in Brooklyn as you do if you go into the
to Russia, you're taking bread out of their kids' mouths. But
hospital, say, in Michigan. Many insurance policies won't pay
we are now exporting 60% of our total wheat production. We
off if you get outpatient care. You've got to be an inpatient,
export 50% of all our soybeans, 50% of all our rice, 25% ofall
with tremendous additional cost, before you can get cover-
our corn. And if this were predictable, if the markets were
age.
assured, if our customers knew they could buy good quality
grains from us, it would help a great deal.
Many of the suggestions you have made concerning U.S.
The other point I make is this. We've had disgraceful
relations with the Third World have been tried by the Ford
performance in grain quality inspection because Secretary
Administration. Do you believe that commodity price deals can
Butz and President Ford have blocked the professionalized
be negotiated with the less developed countries?
inspection service. They still permit private inspectors, repre-
Yes. I can't guarantee that I've got the answer to every
senting companies whose directors serve on the boards of the
question. But I do think that the best approach is to have a
grain exporters, to be responsible for the quality of wheat that
better bilateral relationship toward developing nations, and
we ship overseas. Butz and Ford are blocking the shift away
not treat them as a homogeneous group, which they aren't.
from private grain inspection for export. This is the kind of
Let them know that we understand their problems and send
thing that really disturbs the farm community.
top dipiomatic officials to represent us in their nations. Treat
them with respect, jointly search the trade items that might
In your acceptance speech, you said: "It's time for a nation-
be exchanged more readily. Lower the barriers to their
wide, comprehensive health program for all our people." What
finished goods, keeping in mind all the time that we have to
kind of program do you have in mind, and how much will that
keep our people employed, and have long-range trade agree-
cost?
ments with them, arranged through the private sector.
As I said earlier, the net cost probably won't be
I strongly believe that the best approach to the developing
substantially greater. My own inclination is to have a package
countries is in increased trade, building up their own econo-
of basic health care that's available to all Americans.
mies, long-range mutual agreements, and some increase in
Whether it's financed by large groups in a major corporation
our stockpiles of basic commodities, which will tend to level
like Kaiser or U.S. Steel or through private insurers, or
out. the wild fluctuations in price.
through general revenues, that's not very important to me.
Coverage to indigents would be furnished by the government.
One of the first problems you may face if you're elected is a
But there would be an emphasis on preventive health care,
15% hike in oil prices by the OFEC countries. How would you
which we don't have now. There would be a tight control over
handle that?
Well, we can't go to war over it. The one thing that we can
do is to reduce our consumption of oil. Hopefully, by next year
I would like to keep the
we'll have the oil pipeline from Alaska in operation, which
will help. [So will a] shift toward. coal and a shift of
our
present Council on Wage
oil purchases as much as possible to more stable suppliers.
& Price Stability intact
You have spoken of the need to stabilize or reduce the present
worldwide consumption of oil. How can this be done without
interfering with economic growth?
any sort of charges for hospital care or doctor's care under
Lots of ways. We now use about 70 or 71 quads of energy [I
reasonable levels of cost. But to participate in the program,
quad = 1 quadrillion Btu] in this country. It's estimated by
doctors would have to adhere to peer review, doctors checking
several independent groups that the total consumption will be
on doctors' prices.
in the neighborhood of 100 quads by the end of this century.
Another thing that we need to do is to use more medical
So the growth is going to be fairly modest compared with
personnel in addition to medical doctors, and have a broader
what we've experienced in the past.
distribution of medical care for people that don't get it now.
We can [also] shift toward coal. At the present rate of
Along with the initiation over a period of time, three or four
years, of the kind of health programs that I've described to
you, with the private sector doing as much as possible, I think
that we could have no substantial increase in overall health
care cost. There might be some additional cost to the federal
government, mavhe $10 billion.
FORD VIRRAGE
fair competitive chance to get those kinds of industries.
You told the APL-CIO that housing is in a slump, and you talked
at great length about the high cost of construction. How would
your program of guaranteeing mortgages and subsidizing a
portion of mortgage interest rates cope with the problem of high
housing costs?
One of the reasons that houses cost so much is that there
are so few of them being built. In multifamily home units in
July alone, there was a 30% decrease in housing starts.
Overall, there was a 9% decrease in that month alone. Or-
dinarily, we've been producing about 2 million houses per
year. Last year we only produced about 1 million new home
units. We've got about an 18% unemployment rate in con-
struction. We don't have any government programs that are
predictable except the Section 208 program, which subsidizes
rent. Inevitably, we're going to have to shift toward more
condominium dwellings, multifamily dwellings, a tighter
consumption, we've got about 300 years of coal in this country
concentration of home locations, closer correlation between
alone. [But] we don't have any strict conservation measures
job location and where people live to minimize use of trans-
yet. Conservation has got to be implemented regardless of
portation. I would also concentrate on reducing interest rates.
what else we do about energy.
I think there needs to be a better long-range commitment to
So to summarize, 1 think we need to shift from oil to coal,
housing programs, with some last-resort government pay-
have strict conservation measures, have an additional em-
ment of interest rates if they exceed a certain level.
phasis on solar power. The Oak Ridge people, who primarily
But the main thing about the housing industry is predicta-
are into atomic power, say anywhere from 2 to 8 quads can
bility-similar to farming. You have to know three years, four
come from solar power by the end of this century. The Federal
years, five years ahead of time what the government is going
Energy Administration says as much as 20 quads-I think
to be doing, and the hit-or-miss approach to better housing
that's probably too optimistic. And then whatever energy
construction is one of the things that exacerbates inflation.
needs we can't make up with those methods, we'll have to
make it up with atomic power.
Have you done any refining on the specific programs that you
proposed earlier to solve the structural unemployment problem
You appear to oppose the deregulation of natural gas prices
among young people, women, and minorities?
immediately. How would you stimulate the exploration for natural
In general, when unemployment goes up in this country, the
gas in the u 3.?
people most severely affected are minors, minority groups,
I have advocated the deregulation of new natural gas for a
women. I believe the present unemployment rate among
limited period of time-four to five years-and [said that] at
young black Americans is about 40%. The first step would be
the end of that time we should reassess to see if the deregula-
to have a general emphasis on employment through business
tion should be extended. This would involve continuing the
incentives and [incentives] for better housing construction,
present contract prices. and commitments for the delivery of
[with] public-service jobs as a last resort. I would favor a CCC-
natural gas and the renewal of those contracts as they expired
type of program, similar to what we had during the Depres-
at the existing price. This deregulation of newly discovered
sion years, for young people, and I think it should be oriented
natural gas would be an incentive to explore. We are wasting
toward urban areas, instead of rural, as much as possible.
too much natural gas because of the extremely high intrastate
prices and the very low interstate prices. I favor the increased
Will organized labor go along with this?
price of natural gas in the interstate market.
Yes, but it would have to be designed as much as possible to
One other adverse factor is the unwarranted shift of
be noncompetitive with regular jobs. I'm talking now about
industry that uses natural gas as a heat source or as a basic
additional employment, and as you know we now have a
raw material toward those few states that produce natural
substantial amount of federal budget revenues going for this
gas. This robs New England, it robs all the other states of a
purpose. The federal share of the narrowly defined welfare
budget is about $5 billion, and I think the total amount of
money now spent in CETA [Comprehensive Employment &
Training Act] programs, job training, is around $14 billion.
Some of the businessmen who had lunch with you at the '21' in
New York the week after the Democratic convention believed
that what you told them about business' role in the economy is
not competible with the tone of the speech you made before the
Business Week, 9/20/76)
Ralph Nader meeting in Washington shortly thereafter. How do
you reconcile this difference?
The audiences were different, but I don't think what I said
was different: I responded in both instances to questions, and
when the businessmen asked me a question about interna-
FORD
tional trade, [said I'm] for international trade. When the
consumers ask what I think about a certain emphasis on
LIBRARY
appointing members to regulatory agencies that would be
oriented toward consumers, I said that's what I favor. And in
both instances my statements were accurate and reflect my
long-standing positions. It would be suicidal for me, politically
speaking, to make a different kind of answer to the same
question. But the tone might very well be shaped by the origin
of the audience or the type of questions I get.