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Maritime Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, Washington, DC, December 20, 1967
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Maritime Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, Washington, DC, December 20, 1967
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The original documents are located in Box D23, folder "Maritime Trades Department of
the AFL-CIO, Washington, DC, December 20, 1967" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
Distribution Full +20 Mr Ford
11:45a.m. 12/20/67
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE IN WEDNESDAY PMs--
December 20, 1967
Excerpts from a Speech by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., before the Maritime Trades
Dept. of the AFL-CIO, Wednesday noon at the Statler-Hilton Hotel, Wash., D. C.
Three years ago President Johnson promised the Nation a new maritime policy
aimed at rebuilding our commercial sea power. We are still waiting.
The plight of the American merchant marine continues to worsen under the
Johnson-Humphrey Administration.
It has been estimated that under the present Administration's ship replace-
ment program, the number of U.S. merchant ships of all types will decrease from
917 in 1968 to 355 in 1979 and that the number of U.S.-flag "dry bulk" carriers
will drop from 71 to nearly zero.
The percentage of oceanborne foreign trade carried in U.S.-flag ships shows
a continued decline to 7.3 per cent in 1966--the lowest since 1921. This is
according to figures recently released by the U.S. Maritime Administration.
The American shipbuilding industry now ranks 15th (as of July 1967) among
principal countries of the world in terms of new merchant ship construction in
the 1,000-gross-tons-or-over class.
At the end of 1966, the U.S. dropped from fourth to fifth place among
the nations of the world in terms of tanker capacity--outranked by Liberia,
Norway, the United Kingdom and Japan, in that order.
All of these figures underscore the fact that the Johnson-Humphrey
Administration is virtually writing off the American merchant marine in favor
of airlift and is gradually reducing this Nation to the status of a minor maritime
power in terms of its merchant shipping.
All that the Nation and maritime labor have received from the Johnson-
and
Humphrey Administration in the area of maritime affairs is an empty promise--
the promise of a "new" maritime policy which never materializes. By contrast,
President Eisenhower acted throughout his eight years in office to upgrade the
Merchant Marine--through the Liberty Ship conversion program, a study of nuclear
propulsion for commercial ships, establishment of maritime manpower offices,
designing of seven prototype vessels, establishment of the U.S. Merchant Marine
Academy as a permanent institution, launching of the Nuclear Ship Savannah
(more) FORD LIBRARY
Digitized from Box D23 of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
-2-
project, establishment of a maritime research and development program, develop-
ment of a hydrofoil ship, and enactment of a vessel exchange law.
These accomplishments of the Eisenhower Administration are solid evidence
that Republicans are keenly aware of the importance of our merchant marine.
The American people and maritime labor deserve a better deal than they
are getting from the Johnson-Humphrey Administration.
You won't find a Republican administration or a Republican congress
relegating the reserve fleet to the ashcan in favor of airlift.
When Republicans make a promise, we come through--for the good of the
Nation and the greater glory of America.
# # #
NOTES FOR MARITIME DEPT. SPEECH
1. THREE YEARS AGO THE JOHNSON-HUMPHREY ADMINISTRATION PROMISED TO SEND CONGRESS
LEGISLATION TO IMPLEMENT A 'NEW' MARITIME POLICY. WE ARE STILL WAITING.
2. PLIGHT OF THE AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE CONTINUES TO WORSEN UNDER THE JOHNSON-
HUMPHREY ADMINISTRATION.
A. UNDER THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION'S SHIP REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, THE
NUMBER OF U.S. MERCHANT SHIPS OF ALL TYPES IS EXPECTED TO DECREASE FROM
917 IN 1968 TO 355 IN 1979, AND THE GREATEST LOSS WILL OCCUR IN DRY
AND LIQUID BULK CARRIERS. SIGNIFICANTLY, SUCH BULK CARGOES NOW CONSTITUTE
MORE THAN 85 PER CENT OF OUR OCEANBORNE FOREIGN TRADE IN TERMS OF TONNAGE
AND 35 PER CENT IN TERMS OF VALUE.
B. ALSO, BETWEEN 1968 AND 1979, THE NUMBER OF U.S. FLAG DRY BULK
CARRIERS LIKELY WILL DROP FROM 71 TO NEARLY ZERO, AND THE SAME WILL
2/MARITIME
BE TRUE WITH REGARD TO NON-SUBSIDIZED FREIGHTERS. DURING THIS SAME
PERIOD, THE NUMBER OF TANKERS IS EXPECTED TO DECREASE FROM 251 TO 94.
C. AT THE END OF 1966, THE U.S. DROPPED FROM FOURTH TO FIFTH POSITION
AMONG THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD IN TERMS OF TANKER CAPACITY--OUTRANKED BY
LIBERIA, NORWAY, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND JAPAN, IN THAT ORDER.
D. THE U.S. CONTINUES TO HOLD THE SAD DISTINCTION OF OPERATING THE
OLDEST TANKERS AMONG THE MAJOR MARITIME NATIONS.
3. AS TO THE STATUS OF AMERICAN MERCHANT SHIPBUILDING, THE U.S. RANKED 15TH AS OF
JULY 1967 AMONG THE PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD IN TERMS OF NEW MERCHANT SHIP
CONSTRUCTION UNDER WAY OR ON ORDER IN THE 1,000-GROSS-TONS-OR-OVER CLASS.
3/MARITIME
4. ALL OF THESE FIGURES UNDERSCORE THE FACT THAT THE JOHNSON-HUMPHREY ADMINISTRATION
IS WRITING OFF THE AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE AND IS GRADUALLY REDUCING THIS NATION TO
THE STATUS OF A MINOR MARITIME POWER IN TERMS OF ITS MERCHANT SHIPPING.
5. ALL THAT MARITIME LABOR AND THE NATION HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE JOHNSON-HUMPHREY
ADMINISTRATION IS AN EMPTY PROMISE. THEY HAVE FAILED COMPLETELY TO FULFILL THAT
PROMISE, MADE BY PRESIDENT JOHNSON IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE ON JAN. 4, 1965,
WHEN HE SAID: "I WILL RECOMMEND...A NEW POLICY FOR OUR MERCHANT MARINE."
6. THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PERIOD SINCE PRESIDENT EISENHOWER LEFT OFFICE, GOV'T
MARITIME PROMOTIONAL PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED BY LAW HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE SHORT END OF THE
STICK IN THE FEDERAL BUDGET. YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE PROMOTIONAL LAWS YOU WANT ON THE
BOOKS, UNTIL YOU HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION THAT WILL CARRY THEM OUT, AN ADMINISTRATION
DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE MARITIME CAUSE, OUR MERCHANT MARINE WILL CONTINUE TO SINK
4/MARITIME
UNTIL IT PRACTICALLY FADES OUT OF SIGHT.
7. UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIONS IN POWER SINCE 1961, THE U.S. MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
HAS BEEN COMPLETELY SUBMERGED WITHIN THE DEPT. OF COMMERCE. IN THAT TIME WE HAVE HAD
THREE SECRETARIES OF COMMERCE, THREE MARITIME ADMINISTRATORS AND TWO ACTING MARITIME
ADMINISTRATORS.
8. AND IT IS THE JOHNSON-HUMPHREY ADMINISTRATION WHICH SOUGHT TO CONTINUE SUBJUGATION
OF THE us. MARITIME ADMINISTRATION BY DUMPING IT INTO THE NEW TRANSPORTATION DEPT.
BEFORE A NEW MARITIME POLICY WAS FORMULATED OR ANY OTHER ACTION TAKEN TO REVITALIZE
THE MERCHANT MARINE.
9. NOT ONLY DID REPUBLICANS COMBINE FORCES WITH PERCEPTIVE DEMOCRATS TO BLOCK THIS
SCHEME, BUT--LARGELY THROUGH REPUBLICAN EFFORTS--THE HOUSE ON OCT. 17 OF THIS YEAR
PASSED A BILL CREATING AN INDEPENDENT MARITIME ADMINISTRATION. WHILE THE BILL BEARS
5/MARITIME
THE NAME OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN--NATURALLY--THE LANGUAGE IN THE BILL IS TAKEN
WORD FOR WORD FROM LEGISLATION INTRODUCED BY REP. WILLIAM MAILLARD OF CALIF., RANKING
REPUBLICAN ON THE HOUSE MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES COMMITTEE.
10. THE MOVE BY THE HOUSE TO GIVE THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION INDEPENDENT STATUS
AND TO UPGRADE IT MUST BE APPROVED BY THE SENATE AND BY THE PRESIDENT BEFORE IT CAN
BECOME REALITY. THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT THE SENATE WILL PASS THE BILL--OR, IN THE
EVENT THE SENATE DOES PASS IT, THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL SIGN IT.
11. EVEN IF AN INDEPENDENT MARITIME ADMINISTRATION IS CREATED, THIS IN ITSELF WILL
NOT GUARANTEE A STRENGTHENING OF THE AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE.
12. THIS NATION AND ALL AMERICANS WHO BELIEVE IN A STRONG MERCHANT MARINE NEED
A CONGRESS DEDICATED TO THE OBJECTIVE OF REVITALIZING THE MERCHANT MARINE, AND A
PRESIDENT WHO HEWS TO THE SAME OBJECTIVE.
6/MARITIME
13. THE RECORD INDICATES THAT A REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION WOULD GIVE THE MARITIME
WORKER AND THE MERCHANT SEAMAN A BETTER DEAL. IN THAT CONNECTION, LET ME CITE THE
EISENHOWER ADMINISTRATION'S RECORD IN MARITIME AFFAIRS.
A. IN 1953 THE EISENHOWER ADMINISTRATION UTILIZED RESERVE FLEET SHIPS FOR GRAIN
STORAGE AND SOLD THREE SHIPS UNDER PUBLIC LAW 81-856 TO AID SHIPPING ON
THE GREAT LAKES.
B. IN 1954 THE FIRST STEPS WERE TAKEN IN A SHIP REPLACEMENT PROGRAM...
THE LIBERTY SHIP CONVERSION PROGRAM.
C. IN 1954-1955 AN EMERGENCY SHIP REPAIR PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED (UNDER
PUBLIC LAW 83-608) TO AID SHIPYARDS AND UPGRADE RESERVE FLEET SHIPS;
THE CARGO PREFERENCE ACT WAS ENACTED (AUGUST 26, 1954); THE MARITIME
7/MARITIME
ADMINISTRATION EMBARKED ON A STUDY OF NUCLEAR PROPULSION WITH THE ATOMIC
ENERGY COMMISSION; AND THE ADMINISTRATION ESTABLISHED MARITIME MANPOWER
OFFICES.
D. IN 1956 THE EISENHOWER ADMINISTRATION COMPLETED DESIGN PLANS FOR SEVEN
PROTOTYPE VESSELS AND MADE THE U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY A PERMANENT
INSTITUTION.
E. IN 1957 PRESIDENT EISENHOWER ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED AN INITIAL
APPROPRIATION FOR THE N.S. (NUCLEAR SHIP) SAVANNAH, AND THE ADMINISTRATION
COMPLETED THE SALE OF MARINERS FOR RETURN OF MORE THAN $146 MILLION TO
THE U.S. TREASURY.
F. IN 1960, THE EISENHOWER ADMINISTRATION ESTABLISHED A MARITIME RESEARCH
8/MARITIME
AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, CONTRACTED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HYDROFOIL
SHIP, AND SENT CONGRESS A VESSEL EXCHANGE BILL WHICH WAS ENACTED INTO LAW ON
JULY 5, 1960.
14. THESE ARE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE EISENHOWER ADMINISTRATION IN MARITIME AFFAIRS.
A NEW REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE JUST AS FORWARD-LOOKING. YOU'LL GET A BETTER
DEAL WITH A REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION AND A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS. YOU WON'T FIND A
REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION OR A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS RELEGATING THE RESERVE FLEET TO THE
ASHCAN IN FAVOR OF AIRLIFT. WHEN WE MAKE A PROMISE, WE COME THROUGH...FOR THE GOOD
OF AMERICA AND THE GREATER GLORY OF THIS NATION.
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE IN WEDNESDAY PMs--
December 20, 1967
Excerpts from a Speech by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., before the Maritime Trades
Dept. of the AFL-CIO, Wednesday noon at the Statler-Hilton Hotel, Wash., D. C.
Three years ago President Johnson promised the Nation a new maritime policy
aimed at rebuilding our commercial sea power. We are still waiting.
The plight of the American merchant marine continues to worsen under the
Johnson-Humphrey Administration.
It has been estimated that under the present Administration's ship replace-
ment program, the number of U.S. merchant ships of all types will decrease from
917 in 1968 to 355 in 1979 and that the number of U.S.-flag "dry bulk" carriers
will drop from 71 to nearly zero.
The percentage of oceanborne foreign trade carried in U.S.-flag ships shows
a continued decline to 7.3 per cent in 1966--the lowest since 1921. This is
according to figures recently released by the U.S. Maritime Administration.
The American shipbuilding industry now ranks 15th (as of July 1967) among
principal countries of the world in terms of new merchant ship construction in
the 1,000-gross-tons-or-over class.
At the end of 1966, the U.S. dropped from fourth to fifth place among
the nations of the world in terms of tanker capacity--outranked by Liberia,
Norway, the United Kingdom and Japan, in that order.
All of these figures underscore the fact that the Johnson-Humphrey
Administration is virtually writing off the American merchant marine in favor
of airlift and is gradually reducing this Nation to the status of a minor maritime
power in terms of its merchant shipping.
All that the Nation and maritime labor have received from the Johnson-
Humphrey Administration in the area of maritime affairs is an empty promise--
the promise of a "new" maritime policy which never materializes. By contrast,
President Eisenhower acted throughout his eight years in office to upgrade the
Merchant Marine--through the Liberty Ship conversion program, a study of nuclear
propulsion for commercial ships, establishment of maritime manpower offices,
designing of seven prototype vessels, establishment of the U.S. Merchant Marine
Academy as a permanent institution, launching of the Nuclear Ship Savannah
(more)
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
-2-
project, establishment of a maritime research and development program, develop-
ment of a hydrofoil ship, and enactment of a vessel exchange law.
These accomplishments of the Eisenhower Administration are solid evidence
that Republicans are keenly aware of the importance of our merchant marine.
The American people and maritime labor deserve a better deal than they
are getting from the Johnson-Humphrey Administration.
You won't find a Republican administration or a Republican congress
relegating the reserve fleet to the ashcan in favor of airlift.
When Republicans make a promise, we come through--for the good of the
Nation and the greater glory of America.
# # #