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San Jose, CA, May 22, 1965
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San Jose, CA, May 22, 1965
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Speeches
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Agriculture
Civil rights
Education
Government reorganization
Inflation (Finance)
Legislation
Political reform
Poverty programs
Unemployment
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
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1965-05-31
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5
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1965
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1965
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The original documents are located in Box D18, folder "San Jose, CA, May 22, 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
San Jose, Calif.
May 22
(luncheon)
INTRODUCTION
New job, additional title, more problems with fewer numbers
but with fringe benefits fully discussed by the Nation's press.
*
*
*
Got Minority Leader job by landslide 73 tp 67 nevertheless
am a politician because of job security!
*
*
*
Football Mich. beat Oregon tate by 27 points in Rose Bowl
3 days later Ford won by only 6 points
maybe chose wrong
profession
wonder about accepting pro ball offer
on the Supreme Court.
BERALD perhaps LIBRARY
-more-
San Jose luncheon
-2-
After 16 years in Congress learned this isn't such a bad world after all once
you learn to be nervous about everything.
*
*
*
Despite rumors not true Lyndon Johnson plans change name of Nation's Capitol
to Austin-East... also not true that Internal Revenue Service plans to
print on income tax returns next year the message "The Eyes of Texas are
Upon You."
**********
GERALD LIBRARY
3
San Jose, Ealif. lunchaon
Republicans in the House have at least five major duties and responsibilities:
1. Must exert our influence in a positive manner to help guide
Nation toward freedom, security, peace
within
framework
of
fiscal responsibility and the Constitution.
2. Must expose any failures of Johnson Administration to keep
promises made during 1964 election campaign.
3. Should support Administration when it is right, oppose when
it's wrong, (alternative proposals) (Vit nam) (
4. Establish strong 2-party system overcome imbalance of power
AMOUNT
5. Maintain and strengthen unity in ranks.
San Jose luncheon
-4-
Must EARN respect of American people
Increase
getive
membership:
Women.
Young GOP
farmers
working men business industry
Must still be Party of principle not party of political expediency
Must persuade voters in all segments that we are concerned about
their problems
Must make this Nation a place where a man can live deeper, reach higher, see
farther, think bigger and grow greater than anywhere else on earth.
# # #
GERALD R FORD
REPUBLICAN SOEECH OUTLINE
As a minority party, our task is to carry the torch of dissent responsibly and
constructively.
We look forward, not backward. Our people are Best less and impatient
with problems too long unsolved and too often compounded by bad laws and
bureaucratic failings.
Congress turns to its part in the always unfinished task of making
America united, strong, and free.
GERALD R.FORD EVORABY
GOP
-2-
Three types of problems:
1. How to increase jobs and output without inflation
2. How to move ahead toward equality for all citizens
3. How to improve government and its services
EDUCATION
While there are courses of actions that strike at each of these problems, there is
a common remedy that effects all three
education.
GERALD
GOP
-3-
Problemg of unemployment is particularly the problem< of the young, inexperienced,
unskilled person of inadequate schooling.
More and better schooling will reduce racial tensions and speed the
Negro's economic and social progress.
Improved education will help to solve the problems of government
by enlightening both the electors and the elected.
GOP
-4-
Every youth must be encouraged to pursue his education as far as his talents
will take him.
Drop-outs must be encouraged to go back to school for an education
or training to fit their ability.
Curricula must be enriched. People already working should be given chance to
retrain and upgrade their skills and earning power,
Vocational Rehabilitat ion
for the handicapped must be expanded.
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
GOP
-5-
This cannot, and should not, be done by Federal government alone.
But there is much that the national government can do to promote this effort
without the heavy hand of federal control.
For example, Congress should ease the financial burden of going to college.
Doors of education must be opened wide.
(Discuss Republican proposal for federal income tax credit for college students
and their parents. )
FORD in 07V835 ABRARY
GOP
-6-
COMPASSION WITH COMPETENCE
Must liberate the War on Poverty from waste, controversy, and bad odor of
polical bossism....must combine compassion with competence.
This nation can afford what is necessary to help the less fortunate to
help themselves. Children of poor must have highest priority.
How many of poor actually received any of $23 hundred million taxpayer
dollars from present war on Poverty? Tragically, very few.
(poventy cards)
FORD in LIBRARY
Poverty erxamplos
These are a few stunning examples of poor management of the war on poverty:
In Newport, Rhode Island, enrollees in the Youth Corps included the sons
of a surgeon, businessmen, an executive, a school official, a lawyer, and
Naval officers.
The New York Times reported that in our largest city the Harlem Youth Project
had overspent $2 million in funds contributed to the program by taxpayers.
The. director of the Camp Breckinridge, Ky., Job Corps training center was
fired when it was learned his wife and the wives of 51 other middle management
employees were on the payroll. The camp had 350 staff members for the 358
trainees.
It was disclosed in Omaha, Nebraska, that 90 percent of the youths employed
in a neighborhood poverty project were not from low-income families.
GERALD
GOP
-7-
Poor themselves must have important role in policy decisions at community level.
States should be partners in war on poverty. It is time poverty fighters
stopped fighting each other.
Republicans will offer specific proposals to redirect this program to
achieve goals without waste, scandal and bureaucratic infighting.
Without such changes, the good will fall with the bad under fiscal pressures
created by Viet Nam and massive new domestic spending programs.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
GOP
-8-
America long waged effective war on poverty through genius of private enterprise
cooperating with government.
We urge enactment. of Republican proposed Human Investment Act...
will bring private enterprise more effectively to bear on problem of creating
productive jobs for the poor.
Through 7 % tax credit will encourabe business and labor to employ
and FORD LIBRARY
train people with limited skills and education.
GOP
-9-
EXECUTIVE REFORM
Executive branch needs reform....not Presidential repatching and piecemeal
creation of new departments.
Now 42 separate Federal agencies involved in education alone
252 welfare programs
57 job training programs
65 federal programs to improve health
During 5 Dem-controlled Congresses, Federal employees increased 175,000
FORD & LIBRARY GERAL
and Federal spending by $57 billion
GOP
-10-
Executive branch is bureaucratic jungle....need
to cut back wild growth.
Urge new indepedent Commission patterned after two distinguished Hoover
Commissions to recommend reforms in Executive branch.
COST OF LIVING
Must be price stability today threat of inflation EisenhAwer dollar worth
90 cents cost of living 2 percent higher than year ago....price rise is a
secretsales tax silently stealing millions from pockets of American
people GERA FORD LIBRARY
GOP
-11-
LBJ inflationary policies have major impact on living cost. Administration
uses double standard. One hand creates upward pressure on prices and with other
bludgeons workers and businessmen for responding to that pressure.
Real villain is Administration which will increase cost of Federal govt.
by $26 billion in a two-year period.
Most direct and effective weapon for national govt to halt inflation is
to curb Federal spending
requires President and Congress to set priorities
FORD & LIBRARY CERA
GOP
-12-
President must in his budget classify spending plans according to necessity
and urgency. : Congress and people not been given a straight-forward
and realistic assessment of federal budget problems. Republicans will give
LBJ's budget a searching examination. Truth in Budyetting.
Whatever needed =-really needed--for national S ecurity must be provided.
FORD THE LIBRARY
GOP
-13-
Urgent domestic programs that contribute to real economic growth, advance cause
of equal opportunity need not be sacrificed...believe $55 billion proposed by
LBJ on non-military spending can be and must be reduced.
TAXES
Laws passed last year--supposedly cutting taxes, have increased them $35 billion.
LBJ now wants more tax burdens to finance costs at home and abroad.
With prudent restraint on spending, no new takes are needed.
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
GOP
-14-
AGRICULTURE
Farm parity ratio in 1965 was below level of five years ago.
At home we seek free and prosperous agriculture by encouraging operation of
a healthy market economy.
GOP will resist Administration efforts to artificially
depress market prices of farm commodities and to control farmers.
Urge extension of Eisenhower Food for Peace program
GERALD
Urge enactment of law to establish U.S.World Food Study and
Coordinating Commission... to begin closing growing food gap on our planet.
GOP
-15-
POLITICAL REFORMS
Surprised and pleased when LBJ touched on political reforms. he didn't go
far enough.
Ways must be found to eliminate vote fraud, curb cost of political
campaigns, expand the franchise. Republicans propose:
* to guard against abuses in raising and use of political funds;
* to raise ceiling on political spending to realistic levels;
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
* to bar political contributions from corporations and unions
GOP
-16-
* to require meaningful reporting of political contributions and
expenditures.
STATES OF THEUNION
Nation has thrived on diversity and distribution of powers embedded in Constitution.
Administration believes in centralizing authority, ignoring and bypassing
and undermining State Desponsibilities in almost every law passed.
So..constitutional structure today in dangerous disrepair.
FORD
States are vital cornerstone of fede(al system. headlong plunge toward KARI
GERA
centralization of power in Washington must be halted.
GOP
-17-
Salute gallant fight of Senator Dirksen againstrepeal of 14-B
* Urge tax sharing plan to return to states a fixed percentage of
personal income tax with Federal controls
These funds will lighten load of local taxation, spur solution of
vexing problems, revitalize programs in education, health and welfare
at local level.
is LIBRARY GERALD
GOP
-18-
UN EMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
Changes are needed, particularly to provide standby protection against the
contingency of a substantial rise in number of workers without jobs.....need
constructive suggestions worked by by State Unemployment Compensation administrators.
We oppose Administration's bill that would substitute federal Judgment for state
determination in matters such as standards and benefits.
GERALD INVUSIT
GOP
-19-
CIVIL RIGHTS
Making real for all Amerzicans the equality to which Nation is committed still
urgen national concern. Recent progress encouraging, but not enough....
No citizen should be satisfied merely with the expectation of a better tomorrow.
Constitution should be put in force everywhere now.
Congress enacted four civil rights acts since 1957...Now need to review those
laws and tighten those designed to prevent violence and intimidation of
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
citizens who exercise their constitutional rights.
GOP
-20-
Hesitant administration of existing laws makes them less effective... LBJ has
even failed to make the Community Relations Service the effective instrument
Congress intended
There cannot be two kinds of justice one for whites, another for Negros.
Nor can there be tolerance of riots, looting, violence, and disorder. These impede
progress sought by overwhelming number of Americans.
is LIBRARY GERALD
GOP
21
President has chided Americans who believe we cannot fight a war 10,000
miles away with setting priożities at home.
He asked: Whom will they sacrifice?
the poor?
Our answer is a resounding NO.... we will not sacrifice poor people.
We will sacrifice poor programs, poorly conceived and pomrly carried out.
will sacrifice ppor administrators.
will sacrifice poor arithmetic in public accounting.
Any macrifices we call for cannot be compared with those being made by thousands
of Americans in Viet Nam.
GERALD LIBRARY
GOP
-22-
What of sacrifices of their families at home who name: share Unequally in the
promises of the Great Society? we urge more adequate housing and benefits
for our fighting men and their families. We spearheaded a new GI Bill of rights,
which the President refused to consider.
We won't sacrifice future of Americans whose lifetime savings and modest
pensions are being nibbled away by inflation.
FORD & LIBRARY GLRALD
Outnumbered 2 tol in Congress, but will still speak out...will not
sacrifice our ideals...nor the sacred right of loyal dissent. Our duty to America
VIeT Nam
1
As President Johnson directs the war, Republicans support a position of
strength against Communist aggression. We will oppose those Democrats in the
Congress who support a policy of appeasement, a weakness which led to World War II.
Republicans have long supported bipartisanship in foreign policy, and most
especially at a time when the lives of Americans are at stake. But, bipartisanship
is a two-way affair. It does not involve accepting decisions without first demand-
ing a full, frank and public disclosure of the facts upon which those decisions
are made.
As the late Senator Arthur Vandenberg once said, a fundamental prerequisite
for a truly acceptable bipartisan policy is that "total information must be made
available to Congress and the country and that Congress must completely explore
and approve the measures by which; the President's policy is to be implemented."
From the public viewpoint, there has not been this completeness of disclosure
during the Viet Nam struggle.
VIeT Nam
The American people were not told in 1964 of the Hanoi peace overture. They
were not fully advised of the degree and duration of the buildup of United States
participation in the Viet Nam ground war.
Not until the 1966 State of the Union Message was there full, official
Presidential indication of the distressing possibility that shedding American
blood in Viet Nam could well last "for years."
Whereas Republican Congressional leaders were invited to meet with the President
prior to his decision to resume bombing of North Viet Nam, there was not the same
degree of communication when the President decided to order an extended pause in
such bombings.
Y.W / Honolulu
As Senator Vandenberg said upon another occasion: "We'll stand by you on the FORD
crash landings but would like to be consulted at the take-off."
GERALD
LIBRARY
Excerpts from a speech by Rep. Gerald R. Ford (R-Mich)
San Jose, Calif. May 22, 1965
This Nation has been described as a place where a man can live deeper, reach
higher, see farther, think bigger and grow greater than anywhere else on earth.
The Republican Party starting at this moment- must be dedicated to preserve
America as just that,
To accomplish the task, we need far more members in the ranks, more unity in
the Party, courage, resourcefulness, creative ideas and readiness to work and earn
our way.
*
*
*
There have been strong indications of unity in the Congressional ranks of the
Republican Party in recent weeks. It has been evident in the votes we have had
since the start of the 89th Congress.
Republican Party shoulder-to-shoulder unity provides some counter-weight to the
imbalance of power between the executive and legislative branches of our government,
both of which are overwhelmingly dominated by the same political party.
This imbalance must be redressed through the establishment of a strong two-
party system to insure Constitutional checks and balances.
Republicans are vastly outnumbered in this Congress, but we can still speak
with the voice of a dedicated majority.
*
*
*
While the President has been badgered by some strong Democrats to withdraw from
Viet Nam, he has received strong support from the Republican leadership in both
the House and the Senate.
In bargaining with the Communist nations, our country constantly gives much and
gets little or nothing in return.
Until we and our allies agree to a "no concession-no deal" policy, we can
expect more Koreas and Viet Nams---an ever-widening circle of Communist subversion
around the earth.
*
*
At times, Republicans in Congress will oppose both the aims and the methods of
the Administration. However, we will not oppose for the sake of opposition. We will
continue to support the Administration when it is right, and oppose it when it is
wrong.
*
*
*
The record the minority party will write in the 89th Congress will result in
widespread Republican victories in 1966.