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Veterans Speech, ca. 1948
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Veterans Speech, ca. 1948
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Speeches
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United Nations
Peace movements
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The original documents are located in Box D13, folder "Veterans Speech, ca. 1948" of the
Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File 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. The Council 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 D13 of The Ford Congressional Papers:
Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
I. Introduction
A. Frequency of Var--In 4000 yrs only 268 yrs of
peace. In spite of 8,000 peace treaties.
B. Cost of War
1. U.S. expenditures in /W II. 300 billion
2. Caeser--75q
30 Yrs Nar--$50.
Civil War--$5,000
World Nar I.--$25,000
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
World War II.--$200,000
II. THE WORLD WOR II VETERANS BLOC AND ITS PRIME
OBJECTIVE
A. 20 million men & women served between 1939 and
1947.
B. *Peace" always the objective.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
III. VETERANS LACK OF UNITY ON MANNER OF ACHIEVING
OBJECTIVE
A. Heterogeneous make-up of our citizens Army.
B. Bi-partisan foreign policy influence.
C. Should "Veteran Organizations" be the unffying
influence?
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
IV. PRE-WAR ATMOSPHERE (1920-1941)
A. Education (text-books & educators) showed futility
of War.
B. Passing events demonstrated futility of War.
C. Post Warld War I trend:
1. Failure of U.S. to join League of Nations.
2. Disarmament Conferences
3. Kellogg-Briand Treaty--"outlawing War. If
4. Increasing of National Defense appropriation
FORD & LIBRARY 63RALD
5. Great Britain--U.S. old-age destroyers for
Western Hemisphere bases.
6. Selective Service Act.
V. "TO BE G.I." PRE-WAR ATTITUDE.
A. Emphasis on "Appeasement."
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
VI. "TO BE G.I." 1942 ATTITUDE (Roper Poll)
A. 91% said, "keep on fighting this war and don't
make peace as hings stand now."
B. Enlistments following "Pearl Harbor."
FORD & LIBRARY 976839
VII. "TO BE G.I." WHAT WERE WE FIGHTING FOR IN 1942?
A. Freedom & liberty
45.1
B. Democracy-American ideals
26.9
90.7
C. To stop Fascism, Nazism
18.7
D. Peace
9.0
16.9%
E. To Protect our country
7.9
FORD & LIBRARY 078835
VIII. ATTITUDE OF FIGHTING MEN--WINNING WAR OR WINNING
PEACE?
A. Until 1944? War an all occupying occupation.
B. Following Germany's capitulation--U.N. organiza-
tion conference.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
IX. The VETERAN'S ATTITUDE TOWARD WORLD PEACE
A. As Expressed by Veteran Organizations
I. AMERICAN LEGION***We reaffirm our approval of the
United Nations organization."
National Executive Committee--proposed strengthening
amendments to the U.N. charter.
a) greater representation on Security Council.
abolishment of veto power in cases of aggre-
sion. Majority vote.
reorganization of World Court.
b) authority in Security Council to suppress
aggresion and a World Police Force to ac-
complish the same.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
IX (continued)
2. AMERICAN VETERAN'S COMMITTEE (AVC)
"We support a strong United Nations as the basis for
world understanding. Te further urge, as a means
of enforcing this authority, the creation of a world
armed Force recruited from individuals of the United
Nations who will owe exclusive allegiance to the
United Nations.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
IX. (continued)
B. Individual Attitude--Polls of Public Opinion.
American Institute of Public Opinion--Gallup Poll
Q--Are you satisfied or disatisfied with the progress
that the United Nations has made to-date?
Satisfied
Disatisfied
Genl/Public
Veterans
Genl/Public
Veterans
uly 46
26%
27%
49%
60%
an. 47
39%
41%
33%
38%
Roper Poll
Q--America should continue to count on the U.N. organ
FORD ization and do all it can to make it work
i
GERALD
LIBRARY
Veterans
Non-veterans
anuary 1947
62.9%
54.5%
IX (continued)
American Institute of Public Opinion
Q--Do you approve or disapprove of the bill asking for
250 million dollars to aid Greece?
April 2, 1947.
Genl/Public
Veterans
YES
56%
57%
NO
32%
36%
NO OPINION
12%
7%
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
IX. (continued)
Roper--Fortune Poll
1946 December
Presidential Choices by Veterans.
Dewey
Stassen
Truman
Wallace
Taft
"Significant differences in foreign policy
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
X. MEANS OF SECURING ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR U.S.
A. Universal Military Training
1. American Legion stand.
2. Poll of servicemen while still in service.
70% in favor of.
26% against.
3% don't know.
3. American Veterans Committee.
Not in platform.
FORDO & LIBRARY PERALD
NAME
First
Initial
Last
ADDRESS - Home
Business
PHONE - Home
Business
PRECINCT
PETITION - Circulated
Checked
Filed
(For additional information see other side)
Conclusion
(W/WI)
Important to know Veteran's attitude
kcanner of long service & contacts
with froms of war.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
Vitenans Speech:
I Introduction
A- - Frequency of war
B. Cost of War:
1). Caesar- 754
2). 30 years - $50.
3). Civil - $5,000.
4). World war I- - $25,000.
s), n "I-200,000.
Total Expenditure in World Wan II -300 billion
III The World Wan II reterans blse + its prime abjective
A. 20 million serood between 1939 V1947.
B. Peace- always the objective
III Veterans lack.funity on how to achieve aljective.
A. Heterogeneous make-mp of citizens army.
B. Bi- partican foreign policy influence.
C. Perhaps influence. Veteran Organizations should be FORD unifying
GERALD LIBRARY
2
IV Pre- war atmosphere (1920-1941)
A. Education showed futility of was
B. Passing events showed futility of war.
C. Trend
1). Failure to join League of Ations (extreme (reslationsam)
2). Desarmament Conferences -
3). Increased national fenar appropriations
Fellogg Briand Treaty flawing war.
4) Britch-246 base & destroyer deal
5). Selective Service
I. "To be D.I." pre-war attitude
A. appeasement
II. "To be G.I." 1942 attitude (Roper Poll)
A- 91% said "beep on fighting this war of
don't make peace as thing stand now."
VII "To be G.I W hat were we fighting for in 1942
(Roper Poll)
A - Freedom T liberty -45.1
Democracy-Aminision ideals - -26.9
To stop Fasasin, Mayism - 18.7
Peace - 9.0
To intect run country - 7.9
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
HVIII attitude of Fighting men - Winning War on Wrnning Place.
A - Until 1944
B- - Following Germany's capitulation
U.N. organization conference.
3
IX The Veterans attitude toward World Peace
A. as expressed by Veteran organizations
1). american Legion - "We reaffirm our
approval of the United nations organization."
National Executive Committee - proposed
strengthening amenlments to U.N. charter.
1. a) greater representation m Security Conncil.
v). abaleohment of vets power in cases
of appression. Majority Note.
c) Reorganyation of World Count.
2. authority in Security Cruncil Too
suppress aggression
3; World p alice Force.
2). a.v.c. - "We support a storng United
Matron's as the basis for world
understanding. We farther urge,
authority, the creation It a world
as a means of inforcing This
armed Yorce recounted from
individuals of the United nations
who will owe exclusive allegeance
to the United lations."
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
4
B. Intevidual attitude - Palls of public openion
1). american Institute I Public Opinion
are you satisful on disatricted with the
Progress that United Disatisful nations has made to-date ?
Satisfied
May 1946
37%
37%
July ")
26%
49%
NN. "
27%
43%
Jan. 1947
39%
33%
Heneral satisful Public
Viterans
General Putlic
Veterans
July 1946
26%
27%
49%
60%.
Jan. 1947
39%
47%
33%
38%.
1)(a) america should continue to crunt on the N.N. organ-
yation V Veterans do all it can to Not make a veteran it work Jan 1947
62.9%
54.5%
Roper Pall.
2.) American Institute 3 Public Openion
april 2, 1942.
Do you approve N disapprove of the bill
ashing for 250 million dollars to aid Freen ?
General Public Viterans
yes
56%
57%
No.
32%
36%
no opinion
12%
7%.
BERALD FORD LIBRARY
3
3). Roper Polls - - Fortune Magazin
Presidential chrices
Denney, Stassen, Truman,
Wallace & Teft.
a). significant differences in
foreign policy Jeach
X means of Securing adequate Protection for GERAL V.S. FORD FIBRARY
a). Universal Initiary Training
1). American Aqin-
2]. Pollon
Roservelt record - March 20, 1933 Economy act.
Ceterans legeslator
/
1). Repealed all laws granting etc.
[1948]
2). Bonus - ,935 vetoed
1936 #
Passed over his veto
adjusted compensation act
Willcams
National Level - legislation primarily non-pastisan
Vote 1
Harry Hopkins of andrey H.
600 made. droumed- me identification
G.I. Bell: FOR - Against
I
Terminal Leave"
"
Key West incident
G.I. Bill (Servicemen's Readjustment act of 1944)
Public act 346. (sualos Public act 16)
A. Educational Benefits
D. Elementary, high school & college.
2). On The job + apprenticeship Training Programo
B. Loans
1) Homes, Farms, Business purperty.
C: Employment of Viterane
1) selective Service act.
a) Super-seniority -Dem Sup. CT.
Fishgold V. Sullivan Drydock & Repair Co.
May, 1945
D. Unemployment Comp ation
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
52-20 Club.
Terminal leave Pay
War assets administration (Surplus Properties)
i). Original set-up.
2). Revisions so Vets come Third.
3). Graft itc.
Veterans Housing Program
I. a) 10 yr program - 225,000 homes per year
b). 20 yr. program - 500, 000 " " "
Really period. means 750,000 during Republican
c). Report of progress.
not Wilson a what acching ander. lumber
1946 - 1,200,000 plan to start A complete.
Jan 1, 1946 to July I, 1946 originally claimed
completed 625,000. Corrected to
but O not on logs
400,000. Many completed hadbeen started
II. New york failure.
1). Turk to Republican controlled legislature.
2). In n.y. results a). state 2,437 apts.
as foct.1, 1946. 6/. Fed.goit - 812.
KNICKERBOCKER PRESS
The House of
GOOD PRINTING
Than
Phone 9-3309
824 Lake Michigan Drive
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
G.I Bill
Passed May 18, 1944
no- 0
ayes- 1 Republican 197
Democrat 187
american Fabor
Progressive / 2
Form fabor /
Terminal Leave
Passed June 11, 1946
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
no 9/0-0 - 0
american Democrats Fabor 208 & Farm fabor leach.
ayes- - Republican 170
II
State Level- composition of Michigan legilature.
State Bonus - WorldWarI -1921, #15. for each month
You. Kelley -
Little
but
Special Session - Representative Higgins
amend. - nov, 5
Kim Sigler ) Oct. 16th radio address.
Veteran Organization support.
Veterans Trust Fund - $50,000,000.
Funks controlled by Vets themselves.
Viterans Facility - Grand Rapids, Battle Cruh, Detroit,
Veterans Institute
Educational appropriations - can't use M.I. Bill
Ciril Aerice Preferences - -
Dr. Program Elliott - administration of 7rd. Vet Elucational
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
Mississippi pick- back.
Soldiers V Sailors Reliy act. (upt.00 mills)
Enabling act.
Homestead Exemption act.
state Office of Veterans affairs
Veterans Counseling Centers
III
Community Level.
Practical approach 1 what do local
Democratic & Republican leaders actually do?
a) Grand Rapids
1) Housing
a) Vet Housing Project
City Commission
Being bult under direction
of N.H.A. Originally to
be completed aug. 1946. as
yet mo one has moved in.
no one will until nn. &
then only a for; rest by
Feb. 1947.
b). Quonset Hut -
Wyoming Township Letter
2). Veterans Institute
3) On the Jeb Training
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
I.
national Level
Legalation premarily non - partisan.
G.I. Bill - Public faw 346 & Public act. 16.
Servicemen's Readjustment act of 1944,
A- Educational Benefits
B. Loans
2). On the Job Happrenceship Training Programs.
1). School college
/. Homes.
2. Farms.
3. Business property.
C. Employment /. of Viteralns.
Supersephrovity - Dim. Supreme ct.
Jishgold fulluan Drylash & Repair Co. (may 1946)
Terminal D. Unemployment Leave Pay compensation -32-20 club
State
War assets administration - Signlers Properties
II
Level Viterans Emergency Housing -N.H.A. (NR example - aug. but
State Bonus - For. Kelley
(Worl War I-1921
"Little
#4, 000, 000 -15. preach
special Session
month of service.
amendment - nov.
Kim Sigler - date of speech & quotation
Veterans Trust Fund- - $50,000,000
Viterans facility notitute -
Educational facilities - can't use G.I. Bill unless adequate
Literays
V15
State cape Services Pyrference. for Viterans
Dr. Elliott 1 administers - Feb. educational program.
Mississippi example kich- bach.
Soldins & Saulons Relief act - 1917 County Relief (2 mills -
III
Community Level off
State office Veterans aftainsh - Viterans Counseling centers.
Homestead Exemption
Practical approach - what do local Democratic &
Republican leaders actually do?
a) Hand Rapido
1). Housing
a) City Commission
b). Quonset Hut
2). On the Job & apprenticiship Programs R.
3) Veterans Institute.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY