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Michigan Association of Nurserymen, Grand Rapids, MI, February 11, 1965
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4525819
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Michigan Association of Nurserymen, Grand Rapids, MI, February 11, 1965
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Speeches
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Egypt
Republican National Committee (U.S.)
U.S. House of Representatives. 3/4/1789-
Agriculture
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1965
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1965
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The original documents are located in Box D19, folder "Michigan Association of
Nurserymen, Grand Rapids, MI, February 11, 1965" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 D17 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
ADDRESS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD (R-MICH)
February 11, 1965 at Grand Rapids, Michigan
Banquet of the Michigan Association of Nurserymen, Inc.
FOR RELEASE AT 6:30 p.m., Feb. 11, 1965
The theme of your annual convention is to up grade the landscape
and nursery industry. Republican Congressmen are attempting to do the same
to
in federal government.
up-grade its goals at home and abroad,
its direction, its efficiency and its ability to function with fiscal
responsibility.
As in your businesses, the federal government operates on a
to
indigent budget. However, themax while you work Dar make a profit, the
under the present Administration
United States good spends more than it takes in.
President Johnson's proposed 1966 budget greases the skids
for an even longer slide into red ink. Since President Eisenhower left
office,
the
government
in the fiscal years 1962 through this proposed
more than 32 billion
budget for 1966---- has or will have gone dollars deeper
in debt.
-more-
1966 doing budget justythat demands A weighty now. long and Targe careful and involved study Republican document, Congressmen the President's are GERALD FORD
1 LIBRAR
budget speech
2x2x
-2-
Recently, in a speech Mr. Eisenhower asked "who is finally
to pay the piper?" Obviously, this is one of the major tasks
facing Republicans in Washington.
Mr. Eisenhower also said that "swollen expenditures are more
damag ing than merely forcing our voteless chil ren to support
spendthrift parents; living on credit tends to debase our currency and
leads to inflation. Yet, anyone who openly opposes deficit spending is charged
by the 'sophisticated' theorists of being more 'interested in money than in
people. "
Republicans are interested in both money and people. The financial
record of Republican Administrations and a positive, new appreach to a large
number of problems involving money and people the proof,
A weighty, larged and involved involved document, the President's
1966 budget demands long and careful study. Republican Congressman, I'm certain,
are doing just that now.
have discovered quickly.
One thing to the Republicans We find that this budget
is higher than $100 billion dollars... a figure the Administrat ion is boasting
GERALD
about in trying to figure out ways to create a "Great Society" of that
AU,
turn
more
budget speech
-3-
We must dispel the myth about this proposed budget being
below 100 billion dollars. Including the "new obligational authority"-- a
phrase when translated into understable language means "the right to spend
government funds"----the budget total is 106 BILLION dollars.
I am not opposing the President's alleged goals of greater
efficiency in government and a less burdensome tax system. But, those goals
in
as outlined his Xismx economic report to Congress must be mentally x-rayed.
We must dig behind the scenes to see whether the budget will even come close
to accomplishing those two goals Mr. Johnson says he hopes to achieve.
I regret that the President--in his deficit budget--
principles
omitted from his list of bas ic any mention of fiscal responsibility.
Certainly, this could not have been an oversight.
We must keep in mind that this annual report on financing
is political as well as being factures mainly factual. The amount of politicking
in the budget is something Republican Congressmen intend to discover as soon as
possible. Our discoveries will be made known to the American people.
The President's request for some 45,000 more employees
GERALD B. FORD X LIBRARA
in civilian agencies should have surprised many Americans, especially
since the impression has been given that Mr. Johnson was really hounding agencies
more
budget speech
todex -4-
to cut the corners on civilian employment.
year,
Last when we adopted the tax cut bill, the Democratic
majority inserted a pledge to give priority to balancing the budget, and
to reduce the debt.
This 1966 budget facing exploration in depth by Republicans
on Capitol Hill doesn't seem to exactly include those promises. We are not
making any progress by increasing the national debt to ten billion dollars
in two years.
A recent example of the Administration
going on a spending spree, throwing money away at a rip-roaring and gallopping
pace, was the President's request for an extra 1.6 billion dollars for to be used by
the Department of Agriculture in bailing out the Community Credit
Corporation.
This corporation has virtually exhausted its borrowing authority
of 141 billion dollars. It has assets of more than 7 billion dollars, striduing
including ownership of 4.7 billion dollar's worth of agricultural commities.
The agency
could sell these products of the
soil to get cash, but this would break commodity markets all over the world.
BERA FORD CIBRARY
more
budget speech
-5-
It was clearly evident last year when the Agriculture budget was adopted
that the 1.6 billion dollars the President seeks nay was needed Then. But, the Administration
deliberately, I believe omitted that amount for political
reasons. A year ago, the Johnson Administration in failing to include
a needed 1.6 billion dollars gave the impression that it was cutting down
the budget.
This year
the 89th Congress by a vote of 204 to 177
clamped down on the use of public money to help col. Salam Nasser of the United
Arab Republic.
In considering the allotment of 1.6 billion dollars for the
Department of Agriculture, the House adopted a provision which blocks the
Administration from using any of a 200 million portion of this appropriation
in the United Arab Republic.
I have always favored the use of surplus agricultural commodities
to assist the needy at home and abroad, provided those overseas were not
aiming to destroy us.
I am willing to give away our products when it means the
toves GERALD
This
preservation of life and health. I candefend the sale of subsized products
to allies and true neutrals.
more
budget speech
-6-
But, the sale of tax-subsidized wheat to Communist conspirators
who would "bury us" is in an entirely different category whether done inectly
n indirectly
Col. Nasser's aid to the Congolese rebels, whom we oppose, is
made easier by the 140 million dollar's worth of surplus wheat, beef and
poultry we supply to the United Arab Republic each year under our
"food for peace" program.
How else has Nasser's government reacted to the help given to it
by the people of the United States under a Democratic Administration?
The past November the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library
in Cairo was sacked and burned by mobs, which the government of Col. Nasser
was either unwilling or unable to control.
A month later, his Air Force shot down an unarmed American-owned
commercial plane. Four days after that deplorable action, Nasser admitted
he was supplying arms to Congolese rebels. The United Arab Republic leader
told the United States to go fly a kite.
In view of Col. Nasser's attitude, it is very difficult to
white Hum
understand why the Democratic leadership objected strenuously to restricting
aid to the Arab Republic government.
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
more
budget speech
-7-
I strongly urged the adoption of holding the line on helping
the government of Col. Nasser and every Republican House member agreed. We
are grateful to the 76 Democrats who helped us win a victory for all Americans.
There is no doubt about it. I feel the action of the House
was right and sound. Col. Nasser deserves a rebuke for his conduct.
As a matter of fact, the House amendment does not tie the hands
of the President. It permits donation of surplus food, and it doesn't affect
commitities
the sale of agricultural for foreign currency to Egypt after July 1.
Furthermore, thntex the restriction has no impact
regular foreign
on the federal aid appropriation.
The House is the voice of the American people, who have the right
a majority
to an expression on the conduct of foreign affairs. By our action we were
expressing the will of the people.
Ear lier I spoke of a positive, new approach to problems,
including the proposed budget, which is already in action under Republican
leadership in Congress.
more
BERALD FORD LIBRARY
budget speech
-8-
A fewdays ago the House Republican Conference Committee
announced the establishment of a planning and research group, with
Representative Charles E. Goodell of New ork as chairman.
This is a major Innovation that will help mobilize constructive
Republican activity in developing long-term solutions to problems. And the
way Congress is to spend public money gets high priority on the list of jobs
the Planning and Research committee is already tackling with enthusiasm.
a
The committee headed by Goodell, will include presearch team
u rider the direction of Dr. William Prendergast, former research director of
the Republican National Committee.
has
Dr. Prendergast experience in making car efully
documented analyses of federal government operations. He will bring in outside
experts as consultants to help Republicans analyze and critique Congressional action,
particularly in budget matters.
Four task-forces are at work in the areas of agriculture,
economic opportunity, minority staffing, Congressional reform and implementation
of the 1964 Republican Party platform.
BERALD R.FORD UBRART
We cannot accept the
claim that the "duty of the opposition
party is to oppose." This is too narrow and too negative a formulation of our
responsibility.
more
budget speech
-9-
Republicans must do more than respond to the initiatives
of the Administration. We must take the initiative ourselves in two major
ways.
First, we must offer alternative measures to cope with national
problems, such as the budget, when the Administration's proposals are unwise.
Secondly, we must press for action to deal with the problems
to which the Administration is blind or indifferent.
House Republicans have a major responsibility as the representatives
of approximately 43 percent of the electorate, who voted us into office last
year.
That duty, as we see it, is to exert whatever influence we can to
guide the Nation toward the goals of freedom, security, peace and well-being---
D
with fiscal responsibility.
This is the positive, new approach. It is based on detailed
planning and research by some of the greatest minds in the Nat ion working
as task forces on a number of problems directly
involving the lives of the American people.
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
more
budget speech
-10-
Fiscal policy is to be given much attention by our new
Planning and "esearch team of in the House.
The Democrats and the Republicans are widely split in their
I believe
attitudes on budget matters. discoment that the Democrats
tend to look upon government as the only real guardian of our economy.
en contrast
Republicans serve as monitors of the Nat ion's economic inherent strength.
Starting now, Republicans must do a better job of selling the
individual liberty
voters on the meaning of and responsibility and the dangers of
government control.
The formation of the Planning and Research Committee is a major
step in that direction. There will be other actions taken, some on a current
basis, others during the years ahead.
Up-grading may mean taking the hard way at times. There is no
slick, easy method of solving the problems facing our Nat ion.
Republicans pleasings in Congress are wary of "easy" ways.
The tough and difficult task is most often THE brings the best results.
the the om
We will do everything possible to lower taxes and reduce spending.
We are working to aline the very life of government with the good and the true,
#
#
#
Excerpts from a speech
by Rep. Gerald R. Ford (R,Mich)
Banquet of Michigan Association of Nurserymen
Feb. 11, 1965, Grand Rapids, Mich.
FOR RELEASE AT 6:30 p.m, Feb. 11, 1965
The President's 1966 budget demands long and careful study. One thing
many of us have discovered quickly. We learned from the Johnson Administration
budget last year that by a searching and honest analysis we can dispel the
myth about this proposed budget being less than 100 billion dollars.
Including the "new obligational authority"---a phrase when trenslated
into more understandable terms means "the right to spend government funds"---
the budget total is 106 billion dollars.
In addition, when we turn to the "cash budget", federal expenditures
under the Johnson budget will be over 126 billion dollars in 12 months, a new
all-time spending record for Uncle Sam.
*
I am not opposing the President's alleged goals of greater efficiency
in government and a less burdensome tax system.
These goals as outlined in his economic report to Congress, however,
must be mentally x-rayed.
The President---in the deficit budget---omitted from his list of basic
principles any mention of fiscal responsibility. This could not have been an
oversight.
We must keep in mind that this annual report on financing is political
as well as being mainly factual.
-more-
FORD is LIBRARY 0FRALD
Excerpts from Rep. Ford speech
(budget) Grand Rapids, Mich., Feb. 11
&
Last year, when we adopted the tax cut bill, the majority inserted a
pledge to give priority to balancing the budget, and to reduce the debt of our
country.
in This proposed 1966 budget---undergoing exploration in depth by both
Republicans and Democrate--- doesn't keep these promises, especially when the
national debt has increased to 10 billion dollars in two years.
#
We cannot agree that the "duty of the opposition party is to oppose."
This thinking is too narrow and too negative. Instead, we must--and are doing--
something constructive by having alternatives when we think they are needed.
Four of our task forces are at work in the areas of agriculture,
economic opportunity, Congressional reform--- all directly linked with the
proposed budget. You will hear and read of their recommendations many times
this year.
Congress must do more than to respond to the initiatives of the
Administration. Both political parties should offer alternative measures to cope
with national problems.
*
Our duty, as we see it, is to exert whatever influence we can to guide
the Nation toward the goals of freedom, security, peace and well-being by
adopting legislation with fiscal responsibility.
*
*
#
There are no slick, easy, catch-word ways of solving national financial
problems. The tough and difficult task most often brings the best results.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY