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John Ericson Republican Club Annual Pig Roast, Rockford, IL, October 25, 1965
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John Ericson Republican Club Annual Pig Roast, Rockford, IL, October 25, 1965
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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The original documents are located in Box D19, folder "John Ericson Republican Club
Annual Pig Roast, Rockford, IL, October 25, 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 D19 of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary
and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
John Ericsson Republican Club
of Winnebago County
Annual Pig Roast
of
MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1965
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS
PROGRAM
DINNER MENU
INVOCATION
Dr. Joseph C. Cleveland
ROAST PORK
APPLE SAUCE
WELCOME
Lyle Olesen, President
BEETS
COLE SLAW
John Ericsson Republican Club
HOT VIENNA BREAD
DINNER
APPLE CRISP
SINGING
Howard Lindstrom
COFFEE
Accompanied by Henry Carlson, Accordionist
ORGANIST
Edwin Kotche
INTRODUCTION OF LOCAL JOHN ERICSSON CLUB OFFICERS -
J.E.
Lyle Olesen, President
GOP
INTRODUCTION OF STATE LEAGUE OFFICERS
Stuart B. Nordquist
State President
Leland J. Nordlund
State Treasurer
RECOGNITION OF SPECIAL GUESTS-David L. Martenson,
1965 OFFICERS OF JOHN ERICSSON REPUBLICAN CLUB
Chairman Republican Central Committee
OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
INTRODUCTION OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN B. ANDERSON
Lyle Olesen, President
PRESIDENT
Lyle D. Olesen
INTRODUCTION OF SPEAKER BY CONGRESSMAN ANDERSON
FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT
Ralph C. Glans
SPEAKER
The Honorable GERALD R. FORD
Minority Leader House of Representatives
SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT
Roy E. Gustafson
BENEDICTION
Dr. Joseph P. Cleveland
SECRETARY
Corbin B. Munson
TREASURER
Stanley W. Palmer
Organ
Courtesy Jackson Piano Company
COUNTY CHAIRMAN
Robert K. Skolrood
Floral Decorations
Courtesy Alpha Floral Company
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Bertil T. Rosander
****
****
GERALD
LIBRARY
JOHN ERICSSON REPUBLICAN CLUB
OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
"PIG ROAST - COMMITTEES
October 25, 1965
GENERAL COMMITTEE
Howard Nordvall, Chairman
Roy E. Gustafson
Thorsten Thorstenson
Leland J. Nordlund
Leonard A. Friberg
Gust E. Lindstrom
Carl Ecklund
William G. Davidson
SPEAKERS COMMITTEE
Bob Skolrood - Chairman
David L. Martenson
Merle K. Anderson
Bertil T. Rosander
John W. Nielsen
ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE
Walter Staff Chairman
Doral L. Falconer
Ross Oldenburger
Lawrence Gustafson
Sol Stern
Arnold Moen
John Ghent
TICKET COMMITTEE
Corbin Munson - Chairman
Walter A. Olson
Roy J. Capron
Tagee Bengston
Fred F. James
Charlotte Becker
Peter Perrecone
Mrs. Lyle Olesen
Ralph W. Walquist
***
READING TEXT
Reekford, Illinois
October 25, 1965
It is an extraordinary experience to be in Rockford, which I
understand is an outstanding example of Swedish industry and
culture.
I regret not being able to accept the invitations of several factories
became of
and schools to visit them while I am here
a
tight and
inflexible schedule.
Since my election as House Republican Leader I have traveled to
more than 35 states making speeches as part of my extra-legislative
activities. If traveling is broadening, I should be 10 feet wide.
John Anderson's kind remarks remind me that introductions often
are more interesting than the speeches that follow.
VIRGIN ISLANDS GOVERNOR
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
-mor
Rockford, n.
B
John's invitation to be with you tonight was sometrimat unusual.
It went something like this:
"Dear Jerry:
"The John Ericsson Republican Club of Winnebago County
by tradition has enjoyed outstanding programs and speeches."
John then listed several distinguished orators including
Senators Dirksen, Morton and Scott.
John concluded his letter: "We hope you will accept the
invitation. Unil now, the programs have been exceptionally
good!"
Roting 2 / membership you
-
-
-
follow the advice of my wife Betty.
Only hadber said
KISS
no
one what you
(into GOP speech)
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
GOP
-1-
The Executive branch of the federal government, the alleged
Great Society, the erosion of the rights of local governments,
and the loss of individual identity in America are the issues
that will bring widespread Republican victories.
I will share with you some of my views based on 162 years in the
as to
Congress where we stand as a Nation at this fateful time in
history and how the Republican Party will again have stewardship
of government- in state houses, in counties, in townships-
in Washington.
Let us carefully examine the Executive Branch under a Democrat
Administration.
The use and misuse of power by the White House is terrifying.
This awesome strength is used to crush all opposition to a scheme
that would concentrate all power in central government. It attempts to
abolish responsible dissent, and thus gags the American people, no
matter their partisan political affiliations.
-more-
GOP
-2-
The present Administration rode into office on a landslide characterised
by pre-empting the middle of the road without justifications by
promoting a glittering scheme with an appealing name; by capitalizing
on the weakened emotions of a Nation in sorrow.
Behind the facade of the Great Society, the President is actually
more interested in being known as the most popular President in
history than he is in true progress.
Unfortunately for the Nation, the White House has a headlock on the
subservient 89th Congress, which might be given the title---
"the speed-of-sound Congress." It takes only a few telephone calls
from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue to pass White House-pampered
legislation.
The President also is a master of the silent treatment. He throttles
open debate on vital and controversial issues.
One of the most brazen uses of gag rule was the restriction clamped
on debate in the House before a vote on repealing Section 14-B of
FORD is LIBRARI GERALD
the Taft-Har tley Act.
-more-
GOP
-3-
Without discussing the merits, or lack of merits, of the proposal,
I do say that the Nation was the victim of gag-rule on this issue.
reversed
Fortunately, Republican Senator Everett Dirksen
the situation
in the Senate!
The result of use and misuse of power by the White House is causing
deep concern even among close political friends of the President.
Senator Mansfield, the Majority Leader, says he hopes Congress next
year will---in his words--"spend [ less time on new legislation and
more time correcting oversights in legislation we have passed."
The distinguished Senate leader notes that the Congress "very hastily"
passed many major bills. This may be the understatement of the year!
Vice President Humphrey has pointed to "the huge legislative tonnage
dropped on our doorstep." Perhaps it would be more appropriate to
say "huge legislative tonnage shoveled to our doorstep."
-more-
FORD 3 LIBRARY 9FRALD
GOP
4-
The Great Society claims it makes progress.
What is progress?
Is it progress to retreat from the principles of the Constitution?
Is it progress to perpetuate poverty for political exploitation and
purpose?
Is it progress to destroy incentive?
to take one man's taxes to
pay
another
man
rent?.... to have a national debt greater than that of
v
all the other nations in the world combined?
Is it progress to have a steady growth of hidden and direct taxes?...
to have living costs high and going higher?.... to have state and
local governments crumbling under the iron fist of federalism?
The Great Society is more interested in a welfare state than in the
state of the general welfære.
Erom it comes the haunting shadow of inflation, reckless spending,
the spawning of the most gigantic bureacracy in world history.
-more-
GOP
-5-
Millions of Americans are rapidly learning that they have less to
spend on necessities, slimmer bank accounts, and more taxes arbitrarily
taken from their paychecks!
And why?
The price of an alleged Great Society runs high into the billions.
It's based on the theory of take more and the government spends
more
borrow against tomorrow and spent it all today.
Based on estimated figures, federal spending from the year Lyndon Johnson
took office until 1968 will have soared to the almost unbelievable total
of $149 billion annually....an increase of $40 billion in
and all of it from the American taxpayer#!
Let us consider the relationships of federal government and the states.
I believe governors in many states now realize that if their units of
government are to be strong partners in the republic, their constitutions
must be modernized. More governors are strengthening their desire to assume
responsibilities and not pass them off to Washington.
GERALD LIBRARY
more
GOP
-6-
However, the issue remains. State and local goverments are being
blocked by the Administration from following the advice of Abraham
Lincoln when he said..."the best rule, after all, is to let the
people do pretty well as they please with their own business."
I have outlined the issues...our ammunition in the coming campaigns.
The situation today is comparable to the story of David and Goliath.
The towering tyrant, the bully with the power--the Goliath is the
Administration.. the Democrat organization.
We Republicans are in the role of a David..... courageous, anxious to
tackle Goliath and confident we will win.
I believe our plan of battle is a direct and orderly one.
We must be a broadly-wased, united Republican Party.
Republican victories must be won in the state houses, counties and
townships.
FORD
We must develop strong fund-raising campaigns.
And, I recommend a neighbor-to-neighbor crusade to get this message
across to the electorate.
-more-
GOP
-7-
The message I will give to you is supported by the issues I have
discussed with you here.
It is easily understood, I believe it will be readily acceptable
by the electorate.
This is the message: a government big enough to give us everything
want
we hase A is big enough to take from us everything we have.
Thank you.
# # #
GERALD LIGHTST FORD
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
Excerpts from a speech
Release for Ams
Rockford, Ill. Oct. 25, 1965
or at time of
speech delivery
At the root of America's domestic problems today is an Administration
more interested in creating a welfare state than in the state of the welfare.
We need only to look at the poverty program, which has already become a
top-heavy bureaucracy.
Republicans, Democrats and political independents alike are concerned about
poverty, but with the way things are going under the Great Society's plan
it is time to take the profit out of poverty.
The Great Society is a shambles of contradiction. Its programs are dressed
in purity of name. And, in fiscal 1966 its new programs will cost American
taxpayers an estimated additional $16.7 billion over and above the so-called
regular expenditures. Meanwhile, our national debt is not the $320 billion
appearing on the record books, Actually it is $800 billion in committments
for future spending that requires no new laws or programs.
*
*
*
The President has predicted that this Congress "will leap into history as
the most effective and most rewarding Congress for all the people in all the
history of America."
Is it rewarding to have skyrocketing living costs and the threat of
spiraling inflation. to have state and local governments crumbling under the
heavy hand of federalism? Is it effective to have reckless spending by the
Administration and its irresponsible economic policies that could lead the way
toward national and personal bankruptcy?
At this point, we recall that it was Dwight D. Eisenhower who said that one
answer to bigger government in Washington is better government in the states.
*
*
*
The record of President Johnson presents the Republican Party with a
magnificant opportunity to return sound, sensible and responsible government.
It gives us the issues of reckless spending, bureaucratic sprawl, inflationary
pressures and higher hidden taxes
and the loss of individual freedom and
identity.
FORD LIBRARY
-more-
Speech excerpts
Rep. Gerald R. Ford (R-Mich)
The common cause the cause of good government is great enough and
big enough to over-shadow all the minor differences that sometimes separate
us.
There are plenty of Democratic political scalps available without us
having to sharpen our hatchets in each other's back.
For us to win the chance to restore balance to government and return
dignity to the individual, for us to seize the golden opportunity that the
Administration's record has given us, we must present the American people
with a broad-based, united Republican Party.
We need to develop strong fund-raising campaigns. We should enlist more
articulate, personable and knowledgable candidates. By our record we must
earn the respect of the electorate to regain stewardship of government in
state houses, counties, townships and ultimately, in Washington.
I propose a neighbor-to-neighbor crusade to tell the facts of the
alleged Great Society. We should ask our neighbors some questions about the
Administration's claim of progress.
Is it progress to retreat from the principles of the Constitution? Is it
progress to perpetuate poverty by political exploitation and purpose? Is it
progress to stifle individual incentive? Is it progress to set a record for
a national debt?
We should remind the electorate that millions of Americans, under the
Democrat Administration, have less money to spend on necessities, slimmer
savings accounts, and more taxes arbitrarily taken from their paychecks.
*
*
*
With one party dominating Congress and controlling the White House, millions
of Americans have nothing to say about the conduct of the Nation's business.
In the coming elections they will have an opportunity to make our society
not a G reat one, but a good one.
*
*
Let's get on with the job. Let's forget 1964. Let's become once again
one Republican Party. This does not mean a huge monolithic political
organization Certainly we can have responsible disagreement. We should have
intelligent dialogue.
Together shoulder-to-shoulder we can win Republican victories.
# # #
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
Excerpts from a speech
Release for Ams
Rockford, n. Oct. 25, 1965
or at time of
speech delivery
At the root of America's domestic problems today is an Administration
more interested in creating a welfare state than in the state of the welfare,
We need only to look at the poverty program, which has already become a
top-heavy bureaucracy.
Republicans, Democrats and political independents alike are concerned about
poverty, but with the way things are going under the Great Society's plan
it is time to take the profit out of poverty.
The Great Society is a shambles of contradiction. Its programs are dressed
in purity of name. And, in fiscal 1966 its new programs will cost American
taxpayers an estimated additional $16.7 billion over and above the so-called
regular expenditures. Meanwhile, our national debt is not the $320 billion
appearing on the record books, Actually it is $800 billion in committments
for future spending that requires no new laws or programs.
*
*
#
The President has predicted that this Congress "will leap into history as
the most effective and most rewarding Congress for all the people in all the
history of America."
Is it rewarding to have skyrocketing living costs and the threat of
spiraling inflation... to have state and local governments crumbling under the
heavy hand of federalism? Is it effective to have reckless spending by the
Administration and its irresponsible economic policies that could lead the way
toward national and personal bankruptcy?
At this point, we recall that it was Dwight D. Eisenhower who said that one
answer to bigger government in Washington is better government in the states.
*
#
*
The record of President Johnson presents the Republican Party with a
magnificant opportunity to return sound, sensible and responsible government.
It gives us the issues of reckless spending, bureaucratic sprawl, inflationary
FORD
pressures and higher hidden taxes
and the loss of individual freedom and
identity.
-more-
Speech excerpts
Rep. Gerald R. Ford (R-Mich)
The common cause the cause of good government is great enough and
big enough to over-shadow all the minor differences that sometimes separate
us.
There are plenty of Democratic political scalps available without us
having to sharpen our hatchets in each other's back.
For us to win the chance to restore balance to government and return
dignity to the individual, for us to seize the golden opportunity that the
Administration's record has given us, we must present the American people
with a broad-based, united Republican Party.
We need to develop strong fund-raising campaigns. We should enlist more
articulate, personable and knowledgable candidates. By our record we must
earn the respect of the electorate to regain stewardship of government in
state houses, counties, townships and ultimately, in Washington.
I propose a neighbor-to-neighbor crusade to tell the facts of the
alleged Great Society. We should ask our neighbors some questions about the
Administration's claim of progress.
Is it progress to retreat from the principles of the Constitution? Is it
progress to perpetuate poverty by political exploitation and purpose? Is it
progress to stifle individual incentive? Is it progress to set a record for
a national debt?
We should remind the electorate that millions of Americans, under the
Democrat Administration, have less money to spend on necessities, slimmer
savings accounts, and more taxes arbitrarily taken from their paychecks.
*
*
*
With one party dominating Congress and controlling the White House, millions
of Americans have nothing to say about the conduct of the Nation's business,
In the coming elections they will have an opportunity to make our society
not a G reat one, but a good one.
*
*
*
Let's get on with the job. Let's forget 1964. Let's become once again
one Republican Party. This does not mean a huge monolithic political
organization Certainly we can have responsible disagreement. We should have
intelligent dialogue.
Together -shoulder-to-shoulder- we can win Republican victories.
# # #