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4525981
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Scout Leaders, October 1966
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4525981
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Scout Leaders, October 1966
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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Boy Scouts
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1966-10-31
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1966
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The original documents are located in Box D21, folder "Scout Leaders, October 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
Digitized from Box D21 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
GRF Remarks to Scout Leaders--
Good evening, friends. I certainly wish I could have been with
you tonight but too many things are popping here in Washington as we
begin winding up this session of Congress.
I'm proud to have been asked to talk to you Scouters of the
Grand Valley Council. I have always felt there is really no young
people's movement in the world that quite approaches the Boy Scouts.
To have a vital role in a movement of that kind does give one a deep
feeling of satisfaction, a sense of genuine accomplishment.
You are in on the ground floor of that character-building group --
providing the leadership that takes immature youths and makes real men
of them. I can conceive of no finer service that you could render to
God or to country.
You know, I myself was a Boy Scout. I reached Eagle rank, and
I'm mighty proud of that. I also --- just last June - was named an
honorary member of the National Council. I did not accept this honor
lightly, I have been thinking a lot about the Boy Scout movement, the
increasing rate of crime in America and the upsurge of violence in
this country.
GERALD LIBRAR
-2-
It seems to me the steady rise in the crime rate, including
Juvenile delinquency, is a clear challenge to Scounting.
It's not enough to build men from nice boys. Let's send those
nice boys out to round up boys from less fortunate homes, boys who don't
really want to become Scouts or think it's sissy, but who might be
prevailed upon to come to a Scout meeting. Every time you manage to save
a potentially tough kid you reduce the juvenile delinquency statistics,
make less work for the sergeant who handles the police blotter, and
improve our community.
You already deserve the thanks of your friends and neighbors.
You are doing and can do a great job. I perhaps should not suggest
that you do more. But we need to teach boys a way of life that is truly
American. You know what it means to dedicate your lives to a life of
service --- service to your country and to your fellowman. That's the
stuff of which great Americans are made.
Many of the finest men this nation has ever produced grew up in
the Scout movement. True to the principles of Scouting, they never
FORD is LIBRARY GENATO
- 3 -
shirked responsibility. They were never found wanting when their
country needed them. That's the kind of folks we find in the Grand
Valley Council. Keep up the good work.
...