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Kent County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations, Grand Rapids, MI, February 1, 1966
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Kent County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations, Grand Rapids, MI, February 1, 1966
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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The original documents are located in Box D19, folder "Kent County Council of Parent-
Teacher Associations, Grand Rapids, MI, February 1, 1966" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
KENT COUNTY COUNCIL
OF
PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS
GRAND RAPIDS. MICHIGAN
FEBRUARY 1, 1966
THE PRESENT SESSION OF THE 89TH
CONGRESS SHOULD "SPEND LESS TIME ON NEW
LEGISLATION AND MORE TIME CORRECTING OVER-
SIGHTS IN LEGISLATION WE HAVE JUST PASSED.'
THESE ARE THE WORDS SPOKEN PUBLICLY BY
SENATOR MIKE MANSFIELD, DISTINGUISHED
MAJORITY LEADER AND A HIGH RANKING DEMOCRAT.
SENATOR MANSFIELD WENT ON TO SAY
"WE HAVE PASSED A LOT OF MAJOR BILLS AT THIS
SESSION, SOME OF THEM VERY HASTILY, AND THEY
STAND IN EXTREME NEED OF GOING OVER FOR
LOOPHOLES, ROUGH CORNERS, AND PARTICULARLY
FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT AND ULTIMATE
COST
"
HOPEFULLY, I WISH THE CONGRESS THIS
SESSION WILL FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF SENATOR
MANSFIELD AND THOSE ON OUR SIDE OF THE AISLE
Digitized from Box D19 of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
2
IN THE HOUSE WHO DEMAND THAT THE BILLS
PASSED LAST YEAR BE GIVEN A HARD, CALCULA-
TING LOOK.
ALTHOUGH THE CONGRESS HAS A RESPONSI -
BILITY TO CREATE LEGISLATION THAT WILL
HELP STRENGTHEN THE NATION, I HAVE A STRONG
CONVICTION THAT EDUCATION IS THE ANSWER TO
MANY OF OUR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.
1) training sentrained
3) better trained electors Thoma elected
c) helpin the solution 2 Mr macial, conflicts
AS A NATION WE HAVE LED THE WORLD IN
PROGRESS TOWARD UNIVERSAL EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES& FOR EXAMPLE, INL 1964
THE NATION SPENT NEARLY $40 BILLION ON
EDUCATION. THIS REPRESENTED 6.3 PERCENT
OF OUR GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT.
A DECADE AGO, THIS AMOUNT OF INVEST-
MENT WOULD HAVE BEEN VIEWED AS A WILD DREAM.
ACTUALLY, IT HAS BEEN A MIRACLE WROUGHT BY
THE FREE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
BERALD FORD LIBRARY
3
EXPRESSED IN EVERY STATE AND COMMUNITY.
MUCH ATTENTION HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON
CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION MADE BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET THAT AMERICA'S
PROGRESS IN EDUCATION HAS REALLY BEEN THE
GENIUS OF LOCAL ACTION.
ADMITTEDLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS
PLAYED AN IMPORTANT IF NOT THE CONTROLLING
ROLE IN EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT
OUR NATION'S HISTORY.
DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF ABRAHAM
LINCOLN THE FIRST OF THE HISTORIC LAND GRANT
COLLEGE ACTS BECAME LAW& THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF OUR STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM BEGAN. IN
1917 A NATIONAL EFFORT BEGAN TO ENCOURAGE
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
IT WAS ENLARGED IN 1946. THE WORLD WAR II
G.I. BILL RESULTED IN A SURGE OF COLLEGE
ENROLLMENTS.
4
THESE WERE ALL MEANINGFUL ACTIONS.
BUT, IN A SENSE, THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE
FEDERAL INTEREST IN EDUCATION ATALL LEVELS
WAS EXPRESSED BY PRESIDENT EISENHOWER IN
1958. HIS RECOMMENDATIONS WERE THE BASIS
FOR THE NATIONAL DEFENSE EDUCATION ACT.
STRIKING AT CRITICAL DEFICIENCIES IN
KEY AREAS AT ALMOST EVERY LEVEL OF EDUCATION,
THE EISENHOWER PROGRAM:
--IMPROVED TEACHING OF SCIENCE AND
MATHEMATICS,
--UPGRADED COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE
WORK IN SCHOOLS,
--ESTABLISHED LARGE-SCALE TESTING
PROGRAMS,
--RESULTED IN GIANT STRIDES TOWARD
IMPROVING STUDIES OF LANGUAGES--
SOMETHING DESPARATELY NEEDED IN A
CHANGING WORLD.
IN THE 1950'S THE NATION WITNESSED
THE SPEED-UP OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS UNDER
THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION PARTICULAR
5
EMPHASIS WAS ON IMPROVING THE SKILLS OF
ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS.
ALSO IN 1963---WITH STRONG BI-PARTISAN
SUPPORT--THE NATIONAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
ACTS WERE MODERNIZED AND EXPANDED TOGETHER
WITH THE MANPOWER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
ACT OF 1962 A VERY STRONG FEDERAL EFFORT
RESULTED TO PREPARE PEOPLE FOR AVAILABLE JOBS.
THROUGH THE YEAR 1963, FEDERAL INTEREST
IN EDUCATION WAS EXPRESSED THROUGH CAREFULLY
CONCEIVED LEGISLATION INVOLVING A BI -
PARTISAN EFFORT. HOWEVER, IT WAS BECOMING
EVIDENT THAT THE FEDERAL ROLE IN EDUCATION
WAS SOMEWHAT ILL-DEFINED. THERE WERE SIGNS
OF OVERLAPPING RESPONSIBILITIES AND
DUPLICATION OF EFFORT.
A SIGNIFICANT REPORT ISSUED BY CONGRESS-
WOMEN EDITH GREEN, A DEMOCRAT OF OREGON,
AND CHAIRMAN OF A SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE DEALING
WITH EDUCATION AND LABOR, WAS REVEALING.
6
IT POINTED DUT THAT 42 SEPARATE FEDERAL
AGENCIES WERE INVOLVED DURING 1963 IN
ADMINISTERING EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THE
NUMBER TODAY IS PROBABLY CLOSE TO 45.
RECENT LEGISLATION HAS ADDED VASTLY
TO THE CONFUSION WITH THE SCRAMBLED COMPLI-
CATIONS OF THE POVERTY PROGRAM INTRODUCING
AN ALMOST CHAOTIC NOTE.
CAREFULLY DRAWN FEDERAL PROGRAMS
RECOGNIZING STATE AND LOCAL RESPONSIBILITIES
STRIKE DIRECTLY AT CRUCIAL PROBLEMS. THEY
REALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWTH OF OUR
SCHOOLS.
CONFUSED AND HASTILY-DRAWN
FEDERAL ACTS STRIKING OUT IN ALL DIRECTIONS
SERIOUSLY UNDERMINE THE WORK OF EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE JOB OF PUTTING
COMMON SENSE INTO EDUCATIONAL LEGISLATION
IS A MAJOR RESPONSIBLITY CONFRONTING THIS
SESSION OF THE CONGRESS&
GERALD R.FORD LIBRARY
7
FOR EXAMPLE
THE ELEMENTARY AND
SECONDARY SCHOOL ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1965
QUITE CANDIDLY IS A HODGE-PODGE OF PROGRAMS
AND PURPOSES. IT HAS SERIOUS DEFECTS WHICH
WERE WIDELY RECOGNIZED AT THE TIME OF
ENACTMENT. HOWEVER, THE ADMINISTRATION
STUBBORNLY INSISTED UPON INCLUDING WHAT
I BELIEVE ARE DEFECTS.
LET ME BE SPECIFIC ON THIS POINT.
PART OF THE LAW AUTHORIZES MONEY FOR LOCAL
SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR USE IN PROGRAMS DESIGNED
FOR STUDENTS HANDICAPPED BY POVERTY--THE
UNDERPRIVILEGED IN AN ECONOMIC SENSE.
THE TRAGEDY IS THAT THIS MONEY FAILS TO REACH
THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHERE THE NEED IS
GREATEST. THE MONEY GOES INSTEAD TO THE
WEALTHIEST COUNTIES IN AMERICA, WHERE
SCHOOLS ARE GENERALLY THE BEST MONEY CAN BUY.
THE FORMULA FOR DISTRIBUTING THE FEDERAL
FUNDS IS SO ARRANGED THAT THE 10 WEALTHIEST
COUNTIES IN THE NATION RECEIVE TWICE AS
8
MUCH MONEY AS THE 10 POOREST COUNTIES.
THE NUMBER OF IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN IS
ABOUT EQUAL IN THE CLUSTERS OF BOTH RICH
AND POOR COMMUNITIES.
A SIMPLE AMENDMENT SPONSORED BY CONGRESS-
WOMEN GREEN AND SUPPORTED BY REPUBLICANS
COULD HAVE CORRECTED THIS SITUATION. THE
ADMINISTRATION DEFEATED IT.
THE REMAINING FIVE TITLES OF THE BILL ARE
TOTALLY UNRELATED TO THE NEEDS OF ECONOMICALLY
AND CULTURALLY DEPRIVED CHILDREN. THEY
EXTEND THE FEDERAL ARM DEEP INTO SCHOOL
PROGRAM AND CURRICULUM PLANNING
INTO
THE PROVISION OF TEXTBOOKS
INTO SUPPLE-
MENTAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL. IN THE PROCESS, THEY VIRTUALLY
IGNORE STATE RESPONSIBILITY IN EDUCATION.
THE SO-CALLED POVERTY PROGRAM RELATING TO
EDUCATION IS VERY BADLY PLANNED. IN MANY
AREAS IT IS CHAOTIC---AND THIS MAY BE A
CHARITABLE JUDGMENT.
9
MUCH OF WHAT HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED IS
DESIRABLE, HOWEVER. "OPERATION HEADSTART"
IS AN EXAMPLE. YET, THIS TYPE OF EFFORT
SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN A SYSTEMATIC
FASHION BY THE U.S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION,
WORKING WITHSTATE AND LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS.
SIMILARLY, OTHER PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE
YOUTH AND JOB CORPS NEED TO BE MORE CARE-
FULLY MESHED WITH NATIONAL EFFORTS IN
VOCATIONAL AND MANPOWER RETRAINING.
UNLESS THERE IS CLOSE COORDINATION,
WITH A MAXIMUM USE OF OUR LIMITED JOB-
TRAINING PERSONNEL, THE PROGRAMS WILL
PRODUCE THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE
NOT EQUIPPED FOR AVAILABLE JOBS---THUS
PLUNGING THEM FURTHER INTO A CLIMATE OF
DEFEAT AND DESPAIR.
THE CONGRESS CAN CORRECT SHORTCOMINGS,
ABUSES, AND CONFUSION IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS
IF IT EXERCISES ITS INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT
IN SUCH MATTERS.
10
WHAT'S MORE--THE CONGRESS CAN PROPOSE
IMAGINATIVE AND EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS TO
MOBILIZE ALL OUR RESOURCES TO OVERCOME
EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS.
ONE SUCH PROPOSAL MADE BY REPUBLICANS
IN BOTH HOUSES---IS THE HUMAN INVESTMENTS
ACT. IT WOULD GIVE TAX CREDITS TO PRIVATE
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO OFFSET THE COSTS
OF PRIVATE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR THE
UNSKILLED AND UNEMPLOYED.
THERE IS WIDESPREAD AGREEMENT THAT
THE MOST EFFECTIVE JOB CORPS CENTERS ARE
THOSE OPERATED BY PRIVATE INDUSTRY ON A
CONTRACT BASIS. EVEN CONGRESSMAN ADAM
CLAYTON POWELL, WHO RAM-RODDED THE EXISTING
POVERTY PROGRAM THROUGH CONGRESS, HAS
RECOGNIZED THE INADEQUACY.
RECENTLY, HE CHARGED IN A SPEECH THAT
THE PROGRAMS ARE UNCOORDINATED BY SAYING:
"ALL WE NEED ARE JOBS
WE ARE GOING TO
CHANGE THE LEGISLATIVE IMAGE OF THE WAR ON
11
POVERTY THIS YEAR TO PLACE THE EMPHASIS
ON JOB CREATION AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING.
MANY OF THESE CULTURAL AND SOCIAL FRILLS
ARE GOING TO BE CUT OUT."
DELINQUENCY AND THE JOB CORPS PORTION
OF THE SO-CALLED WAR ON POVERTY ARE
DIRECTLY CONNECTED. THIS SITUATION CAME
CLEARLY INTO FOCUS CLOSE TO GRAND RAPIDS
THE PAST YEAR.
I WILL NOT GET INTO THE DETAILS OF
THE INCIDENT THAT INCLUDED RIOTING IN THE
STREETS OF A NEIGHBORING CITY. ALL OF US
HAVE READ AND HEARD MUCH ABOUT THEM.
HOWEVER, IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT
RESPECT FOR THE LAW IS BASIC TO ALL GOOD
CITIZENS. IT IS CLEAR TOO THAT THE APATHY
OF MANY AMERICANS TO THE PRESERVATION OF
LAW AND ORDER IS A KEY FACTOR IN THE NATION'S
WAR AGAINST CRIME AND CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON--ALSO CONCERNED
12
ABOUT THE 2-1/2 MILLION SERIOUS CRIMES
REPORTED IN THE UNITED STATES IN JUST ONE
YEAR---HAS MENTIONED AMONG POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
THE USE OF MORE AND BETTER TRAINED POLICE
OFFICERS.
THE SOLUTION, IT SEEMS TO ME, IS MORE
DEEPLY-ROOTED IN OUR UFE. COLLECTIVE
INDIFFERENCE IS BREEDING DISRESPECT FOR
THE LAW, AND THIS CAN ONLY RESULT IN THE
CONTINUING ACCELERATION OF OUR CRIMÉPROBLEM.
A GREATER NEED FOR UPGRADING CITIZEN
MORAL AND CIVIC STANDARDS IS INTERWOVEN IN
CRIME STATISTICS THIS, I BELIEVE, IS
AMONG THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS,
TEACHERS AND EDUCATION IN GENERAL.
RECENTLY A WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER DESCRIBED
THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SMOKE MARI -
JUANA AT PARTIES HELD ALMOST WITHIN SIGHT
OF THE NATION'S CAPITOL. THERE ARE THOSE
WHO ARGUE IN FAVOR OF LEGALIZING NARCOTICS.
13
THIS WOULD ELIMINATE THE USE, SALE AND
POSSESSION OF DRUGS AS A CRIME.
TO ME THIS KIND OF REASONING AND TALK
ONLY AIDS THOSE WHO DISREGARD LAW AND ORDER.
WHAT KIND OF A WORLD WOULD WE HAVE IF ALL
CRIMES WERE LEGALIZED? YET, THERE IS A
GROWING OUTCRY TO DO JUST ABOUT THAT---
IN SOME AREAS, SUCH AS NARCOTICS.
SOUND EDUCATION IS THE ANSWER TO
MANY OF OUR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.
AND BY EDUCATION, I INCLUDE ALL THAT IS
PROVIDED BY EACH OF US---PARENTS, TEACHERS,
THE FAMILY UNIT, INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS.
A SOUND AND MORALLY ORIENTED EDUCATION
HAS THE SOLUTION FOR DISTURBING, IRRESPON-
SIBLE RIOTING AND DEMONSTRATIONS BY STUDENTS
AND ADULTS ALIKE.
THE KIND OF EDUCATION WE WANT CAN
PREVENT UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS SUCH AS
BURNING OF DRAFT CARDS, ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK
MOVEMENT OF TROOP TRAINS TO PORTS OF
14
EMBARKATION, AND OTHER EXAMPLES OF
IRRESPONSIBLE DISSENT.
MAY I INJECT A FOOTNOTE AT THIS
POINT. THE PRESENT SELECTIVE SERVICE LAW
SHOULD BE STUDIED FOR POSSIBLE REVISION
IN THE FACE OF THE PROBABLE INCREASE IN
DRAFT CALLS. IT SEEMS TO ME THERE ARE TOO
MANY DOOPHOLES, PERHAPS SOME ANTIQUATED
PEACETIME IDEAS, INCORPORATED IN THE
PRESENT LAW. BY THE PRESIDENT'S VIETNAM
DECISION THE SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT FACES
NEW CIRCUMSTANCES, A DIFFERENT CRISIS.
I HAVE DETAILED SEVERAL CHALLENGES
TONIGHT. THEY ARE TO BE FACED--AND I HOPE
--MET TOGETHER.
WHATEVER COMES FROM CHALLENGE OR DIFFI-
CULT CIRCUMSTANCES DEPENDS ON THE NATURE OF
THE RESPONSE. VICTORIES ARE WON, NOT WHEN
WE RETREAT FROM CHALLENGE, BUT WHEN WE
ACCEPT CHALLENGE WITH FAITH.
15
PERHAPS THE BEST FINAL ANALYSIS OF WHY
WE MUST STAND STRAIGHT TO THE PROBLEMS AND
CHALLENGES OF TODAY AND THE FUTURE ARE
FOUND IN SOMETHING WRITTEN MANY YEARS AGO
---"A SHIP IN HARBOR IS SAFE. BUT THAT IS
NOT WHAT SHIPS ARE BUILT FOR."
&&&&&&&&&&&&
MEMO
February 1,1966
A. OBSCENE MATERIAL IN MAIL
1. Am contacted by constituents on this from time to time.
2. Congress is terribly concerned about the overall problem.
3. Attitude of the courts is a major factor in the problem.
4. Recently Congress enacted legislation authorizing prosecution
in gudicial districts where mail is received as well as where
it is mailed.
Much is mailed from New York and California where the courts
are especially liberal.
Congress felt that to prosecute where the mail was received
was logical as that is where the damage is done, and
would undoubtedly result in more convictions because of the
difference in attitude by judges and juries.
However, it appears this law itself may be tested in the courts.
5. Congress will continue to examine and enact legislation aimed
at curtailing the movement of obscene material in interstate
commerce.
B. PRAYER AND BIBLE READING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
1. Interest continues, petitions are being received.
2. I have always indicated my agreement with the dissenting
opinion of Justice Potter Stewart.
3. I signed the discharge petition in the 88th Congress when it
appeared that the Committee on the Judiciary was taking no action.
4. When about 160 names were on the petition the Committee decided
to hold hearings which were extensive and filled three large
volumes of small print. Every organization or individual who
wished to testify was given an opportunity.
5. Following hearhgs no further action was taken largely because the
spokesmen for the large denominations in our country, including
the conservative, orthodox Bible-believing groups, endorsed the
position of the Supreme Court and opposed the constitutional
amendment to overrule it.
It was generally their position that religious instruction should
be left to the home and the church; That because of the large
number of denominations and groups the public school could not
possibly meet the needs of its students in this respect.
6. Unless the major denominations and their leaders change their
attitude we can expect no further affirmative action by the
Congress on this issue.
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
Kent County Council of Parent-Teachers Association
For release at time
Grand Rapids, Michigan February 1, 1966
of speech
EXCERPTS
Much attention has been focused on contributions to education made by the
Federal government. However, we should not forget that America's progress in
education has really been the genius of local action,
# * *
It is becoming evident that the role of the Federal government in education
is somewhat ill-defined, There are signs of overlapping responsibilities and
duplication of effort.
Recent legislation has added vastly to the confusion with the scrambled
complications of the poverty program introducing an almost chaotic note.
Confused and hastily-drawn Federal acts striking out in all directions
seriously undermine the work of educational institutions.
The job of putting common sense into educational legislation is a major
responsibility facing this session of Congress.
*
*
*
The so-called poverty program relating to education is badly planned. In
many areas it is chaotic---and this may be a charitable judgment. Much of what
has been attempted is desirable. "Operation Headstart" is an example. Yet, this
type of effort should be carried out in a systematic way by the U.S. Office of
Education working with State and local school systems. Similarly, other
programs such as the Youth and Job Corps need to be more carefully meshed
with national efforts in vocational and manpower retraining.
*
*
*
The Congress can correct shortcomings, abuses, and confusion in Federal
programs if it exercises its independent judgment. What's more, Congress can
propose imaginative and effective programs to mobilize all our resources to
overcome educational problems. One such proposal, made by Republicans, is the
Human Investments Act. It would give tax credits to private business and
industry to offset the costs of private training programs for the unskilled
and the unemployed.
LIBRARY
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
Kent County Council of Parent-Teachers Association
For release at time
Grand Rapids, Michigan February 1, 1966
of speech
EXCERPTS
Much attention has been focused on contributions to education made by the
Federal government. However, we should not forget that America's progress in
education has really been the genius of local action.
*
*
*
It is becoming evident that the role of the Federal government in education
is somewhat ill-defined. There are signs of overlapping responsibilities and
duplication of effort.
Recent legislation has added vastly to the confusion with the scrambled
complications of the poverty program introducing an almost chaotic note.
Confused and hastily-drawn Federal acts striking out in all directions
seriously undermine the work of educational institutions.
The job of putting common sense into educational legislation is a major
responsibility facing this session of Congress.
*
*
*
The so-called poverty program relating to education is badly planned. In
many areas it is chaotic---and this may be a charitable judgment. Much of what
has been attempted is desirable. "Operation Headstart" is an example. Yet, this
type of effort should be carried out in a systematic way by the U.S. Office of
Education working with State and local school systems. Similarly, other
programs such as the Youth and Job Corps need to be more carefully meshed
with national efforts in vocational and manpower retraining.
*
*
*
The Congress can correct shortcomings, abuses, and confusion in Federal
programs if it exercises its independent judgment, What's more, Congress can
propose imaginative and effective programs to mobilize all our resources to
overcome educational problems. One such proposal, made by Republicans, is the
Human Investments Act. It would give tax credits to private business and
industry to offset the costs of private training programs for the unskilled
and the unemployed.
[General]
speekes
FORD, G.R.)
MEMO
February 1,1966
A. OBSCENE MATERIAL IN MAIL
1. Am contacted by constituents on this from time to time.
2. Congress is terribly concerned about the overall problem.
3. Attitude of the courts is a major factor in the problem.
4. Recently Congress enacted legislation authorizing prosecution
in gudicial districts where mail is received as well as where
it is mailed.
Much is mailed from New York and California where the courts
are especially liberal.
Congress felt that to prosecute where the mail was received
was logical as that is where the damage is done, and-wenk
would undoubtedly result in more convictions because of the
difference in attitude by judges and juries.
However, it appears this law itself may be tested in the courts.
5. Congress will continue to examine and enact legislation aimed
at curtailing the movement of obscene material in interstate
commerce.
B. PRAYER AND BIBLE READING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
1. Interest continues, petitions are being received.
2. I have always indicated my agreement with the dissenting
opinion of Justice Potter Stewart.
3. I signed the discharge petition in the 88th Congress when it
appeared that the Committee on the Judiciary was taking no action.
4. When about 160 names were on the petition the Committee decided
to hold hearings which were extensive and filled three large
volumes of small print. Every organization or individual who
wished to testify was given an opportunity.
5. Following hearhgs no further action was taken largely because the
spokesmen for the large denominations in our country, including
the conservative, esthodox Bible-believing groups, endorsed the
position of the Supreme Court and opposed the constitutional
amendment to overrule it.
It was generally their position that religious instruction should
be left to the home and the church, That because of the large
number of denominations and groups the public school could not
possibly meet the needs of its students in this respect.
6. Unless the major denominations and their leaders change their
attitude we can expect no further affirmative action by the
Congress on this issue.