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Commencement Address, Grove City College, Grove City, PA, June 8, 1968
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4526133
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Commencement Address, Grove City College, Grove City, PA, June 8, 1968
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Speeches
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Civil disobedience
Crime
Economics
Inflation (Finance)
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
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1968-06-30
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1968
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1968
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The original documents are located in Box D27, folder "Commencement Address, Grove
City College, Grove City, PA, June 8, 1968" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 D25 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AT GROVE CITY COLLEGE,
GROVE CITY. PA., JUNE 8, 1968.
introduced an the minity Jender the Home - all handred know
In a miped audince 2 am always embaranced to be
who The minority Tender of The Hobse.
We also know, as husbands, who The Specher of the Hown is,
"A TIME OF DECISION"
MR. PEW, PRESIDENT HARKER, DEAN
SWEZEY, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, FACULTY AND
FRIENDS OF GROVE CITY COLLEGE, AND THE FAMILIES
AND MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 1968, GREETINGS
AND CONGRATULATIONS.
WHEN DR. HARKER ASKED ME TO SUPPLY THE
TITLE OF MY SPEECH FOR TODAY'S PRINTED PROGRAM,
AND I REPLIED, WITHOUT HAVING YET FORMULATED
WHAT I INTENDED TO SAY, THAT WE MIGHT CALL IT
"A TIME OF DECISION," WE DID NOT KNOW HOW
FITTING THAT WOULD BE. I HAD IN MIND, OF COURSE
THAT THIS IS A NATIONAL ELECTION YEAR, BUT NOW
WE KNOW THAT THE TIME OF DECISION WILL NOT WAIT
EVEN UNTIL NOVEMBER. IT IS NOW,
GERALD FORD VIDRARY
THIS AFTERNOON I MUST RETURN TO
-2-
WASHINGTON TO PAY MY LAST RESPECTS TO SENATOR
ROBERT F. KENNEDY, BUT I THINK HE WOULD BE THE
LAST
TO WANT
TO DAMPEN THE SPIRITS OF YOUNG
MEN AND WOMEN ON THIS LONG-AWAITED DAY. LIFE
IS NEVER FREE OF TRAGEDY AND SORROW, AND WE
THINK ALSO OF THE 99 BRAVE MEN OF THE SUBMARINE
SCORPION, WHO ALSO WERE TAKEN FROM THEIR LOVED
ONES IN THE PRIME OF MANHOOD WHILE SERVING THEIR
COUNTRY IN ANOTHER WAY.
WE CAN NEITHER FULLY UNDERSTAND NOR
COMPLETELY PREVENT SUCH LOSSES, BUT WE CAN --
AND WE MUST -- HERE AND NOW RESOLVE TO CUT THE
RED THREAD OF VIOLENCE AND INTOLERANCE, WITH
ITS UGLY KNOTS OF ASSASINATION AND ANARCHY,
WHICH HAS RUN THROUGH ALL YOUR STUDENT YEARS.
THIS SERENE CAMPUS, THE EMBODIMENT OF
THE FOUNDING FATHERS DREAM OF DOMESTIC
TRANQUILLITY, SEEMS LIKE A LOVELY OASIS OF
CIVILIZATION TO ME AFTER THE TURMOILS AND
TENSIONS OF RECENT WEEKS. I WOULD LIKE TO
-3-
LINGER HERE FOR REFRESHMENT OF MY CONFIDENCE
IN AMERICA S FUTURE THAT BEING AMONG YOU HAS
ALREADY BEGUN. LI AM DEEPLY HONORED, AND DEEPLY
MOVED, BY THE HONORARY DEGREE THAT GROVE CITY
COLLEGE HAS DECIDED TO CONFER UPON ME, MAKING
ME ONE OF YOU AND ONE WITH YOU IN THE
REMEMBRANCE OF THIS DAY.)
ΓT IS PARTICULARLY GRATIFYING TO
RECEIVE A DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF LAWS BECAUSE
AM
A LAWYER BY PROFESSION AND A LAWMAKER BY CHOICE,
AND THROUGH THE TRUST OF MY GOOD CONSTITUENTS.
THIS THING WE CALL CIVILIZATION, WHICH HAS BEEN
NURTURED THROUGH COUNTLESS CENTURIES, IS AT ALL
TIMES AND IN ALL PLACES A HIGHLY COMPLEX AND
DELICATE MECHANISM. IT IS LIKE A FINE WATCH,
IN WHICH THE COLLEGES AND THE CHURCHES ARE SET
AS JEWELS, AND THE MAINSPRING IS THE ETERNAL
ENERGY OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT SEEKING A FULLER LIFE
AND A BETTER WORLD.
ALLD FORD LIBRI
BUT THE BALANCE WHEEL OF THAT MECHANISM
-4-
IS THE LAW.
WITHOUT THE LAW, EVERYTHING GOES AWRY,
AND THE WATCH IS WORSE THAN USELESS. I DO NOT
BELIEVE THAT ANY PERSON OR ANY GROUP CAN TINKER
OR TAMPER WITH THIS BALANCE WHEEL OF THE LAW
WITHOUT RUNNING THE RISK OF WRECKING CIVILIZATION
ITSELF. AMERICA IS SAD TODAY, BUT AMERICANS
WILL BE MAD TOMORROW.
LIKE A GATHERING SUMMER STORM, A
POWERFUL DEMAND AND DETERMINATION FOR CHANGE IS
STIRRING AND SURGING THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY.
THESE TIMES THAT TRY MEN'S SOULS.-TO BORROW
TOM PAINE'S WORDS- MAY SUMMON PATRIOTS TO ACTION,
BUT THEY ALSO CAN RAISE DEMAGOGUES TO POWER.
TRULY THIS IS A TIME OF DECISION FOR AMERICA --
AND I TELL YOU WITH ALL THE SINCERITY I POSSESS,
THAT OUR FIRST DECISION MUST BE TO LIVE WITHIN
THE LAW.
I WAS INFORMED ON MY WAY HERE THAT THE
ONLY DEMONSTRATION WHICH HAS OCCURRED ON THE
-5-
GROVE CITY CAMPUS THIS YEAR WAS A DEMONSTRATION
BY STUDENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
I'M NOT TOO CLEAR WHAT THE CONTROVERSY WAS
ABOUT BUT I CERTAINLY COMMEND THIS KIND OF
STUDENT POWER -- THE STUDENT POWER THAT SPRINGS
FROM WILLINGNESS AND WORK.
I ALSO AM DELIGHTED TO HEAR THAT THE
ONLY KIND OF BLACK. POWER AND WHITE POWER YOU
that ultimate democracy a
HAVE HERE IS THE POWER, OF # BLACK "X" ON A
WHITE BALLOT. THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
AND THE WAY IT IS WITH MOST AMERICANS WHATEVER
THEIR BACKGROUNDS OR THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS.
OF COURSE, COMMOTIONS ON COLLEGE
CAMPUSES IN THE SPRINGTIME ARE NOT EXACTLY A
NEW IDEA. IN MY DAY THE CHIEF CAUSES OF CAMPUS
COMMOTION WERE SWALLOWING GOLDFISH, OR RAIDING
THE WOMEN'S DORMITORIES. I UNDERSTAND THE
LATTER SITUATION HAS BEEN REVERSED NOWADAYS,
WITH THE GIRLS DOING THE RAIDING, AND TO ME
THIS SEEMS TO BE REAL PROGRESS.
-6-
AS FOR THE GOLDFISH SWALLOWING -- I
BELIEVE THE RECORD WAS 87 -- THAT APPEARS TO
HAVE PASSED QUICKLY, PROVING ONLY THAT WHAT YOU
PUT INTO YOUR HEAD IN COLLEGE IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN WHAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR STOMACH.
LET ME SUGGEST, HERE IN THE INDUSTRIAL
HEART OF AMERICA, THAT THE FIRST POOR PEOPLE'S
MOVEMENT OF THIS COUNTRY WAS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
OCEAN, AND THEN ON ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS, AND
IT HAS NEVER REALLY CEASED.
THESE POOR PEOPLE, THESE OUTCASTS,
THESE DISADVANTAGED, THESE REBELS AGAINST THE
OLD ESTABLISHMENT, BROUGHT VERY LITTLE WITH
THEM, BUT WHAT THEY DID BRING WAS PRECIOUS AND
MUST BE PRESERVED. THEY BROUGHT, EVEN AS THEY
PROTESTED ITS CAPRICIOUS ABUSE, AN ABIDING
RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW -- THEY BUILT
THEMSELVES SYSTEMS OF ORDERLY SELF-GOVERNMENT
EVEN BEFORE THEY ERECTED DRY HOUSES.
LD 1817 FORD
THEY BROUGHT, ALSO, TO THIS UNKNOWN AND
-7-
UNTAMED WILDERNESS, A PROFOUND APPRECIATION OF,
ANDINSISTENCE UPON, THE DISCIPLINES OF FORMAL
EDUCATION. AS THEY BUILT CRUDE LOG STOCKADES
THEY ALSO BUILT SCHOOLROOMS, AND THEN OPENED
THEM TO THE CHILDREN OF THEIR SAVAGE ENEMIES AS
WELL AS THEIR OWN.
FINALLY, THIS POOR PEOPLE' S MARCH HALF
A WORLD AROUND CARRIED WITH IT A COMMON COMMIT-
MENT TO THE FUTURE, TO THE HALF-HUMANIST, HALF-
THEOLOGICAL IDEA OF THE PERFECTABILITY OF
SOCIETY, THE ENLARGEMENT OF FREEDOM AND THE
INNATE AND UNIQUE WORTH OF INDIVIDUAL MAN. EACH
morning
OF YOU, AS YOU RECEIVE YOUR DEGREES THIS EVENING,
REPRESENT THE LATEST FRUITION OF THIS ANGLO-
AMERICAN LEGACY OF LAW, LEARNING, AND LIBERTY.
WE HEAR A GOOD DEAL THESE DAYS ABOUT A
"GENERATION GAP" WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO CUT OFF
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN, SAY, THE CLASS
OF 1935 AND THE CLASS OF 1968. I AM NOT SURE
THIS IS ANYTHING MORE PROFOUND THAN A NEW NAME
-8-
FOR A VERY OLD COMPLAINT; PAPA ISN'T T ALWAYS
LISTENING WHEN SONNY IS TALKING, AND VICE VERSA.
YOUTH AND AGE -- OR FOR THAT MATTER MALE AND
FEMALE -- HAVE ALWAYS GRUMBLED THAT THEY
WEREN' T REALLY UNDERSTOOD BY THE OTHER, AND
WHAT A DULL LIFE IT WOULD BE IF WE ALWAYS WERE !
YOU CAN REACH BACK INTO THE PAST ABOUT
3000 YEARS AND FIND IN THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON
PAGE AFTER PAGE OF GOOD ADVICE FROM FATHER TO
SON, WITHOUT ANY HINT AS TO WHETHER THE SON
EVER PAID ANY ATTENTION, TO IT.)
ONE PROVERB THAT STICKS IN MY MIND,
HOWEVER -- AND IT IS HONESTLY THE ONLY THING I
CAN NOW REMEMBER FROM MY OWN BACCALAUREATE --
GOES LIKE THIS:
"WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING: THEREFORE
GET WISDOM:
"AND WITH ALL THY GETTING, GET
UNDERSTANDING."
RALD
NOW THIS IS PRETTY GOOD COUNSEL, COMING
-9-
FROM SOLOMON, WHO WAS REPUTED TO BE THE WISEST
MAN OF ALL TIME -- THOUGH 11 VE ALWAYS WONDERED
HOW YOU COULD SAY THAT ABOUT ANYONE WHO HAD
700 WIVES AND 300 PLAYMATES IN ONE PALACE. YOU
HAVE TO ADMIT, THOUGH, THAT SUCH A HOUSEHOLD
DOES CALL FOR A LOT OF UNDERSTANDING.
I THOUGHT "D SEE WHETHER SOLOMON S
ADVICE TO HIS SON HAS ANY RELEVANCE FOR TODAY'S
GRADUATING SENIORS. SO I ASKED ONE OF MY YOUNGER
GENERATION CONSULTANTS, WHO STILL COMMUNICATES
FAIRLY SUCCESSFULLY, WHAT IT MEANT TO HIM:
"WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING: THEREFORE
GET WISDOM:
"AND WITH ALL THY GETTING, GET UNDER-
STANDING."
HIS ANSWER WAS NOT LONG IN COMING.
"I GUESS THAT MEANS, LIKE, FIRST YOU
GET WITH IT; BUT DON'T JUST GET WITH IT -- GET
This was his Translation
INTO IT!" ts THE WAY HE TRANSLATED H.
GERALD
LIBRARY
NOT BAD. I DOUBT THAT IT WILL REPLACE
-10-
THE KING JAMES RENDERING, OR EVER GO VERY BIG
IN THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS. BUT 1' M GOING TO TOSS
the
IT ACROSS, GENERATION GAP TO YOU TODAY, FROM
SOLOMON AND ME, 30 YEARS I OR 30 CENTURIES GIVE
OR TAKE A LITTLE, AND HOPE YOU LL REMEMBER IT.
"DON' T JUST GET WITH IT -- GET INTO IT."
I CAN ALMOST HEAR SOME OF YOUR FATHERS
AND MOTHERS WHISPERING: NOW WHAT ON EARTH IS
HE TELLING THEM -- THEY'RE ALREADY MESSING INTO
A LOT MORE THINGS THAN THEY OUGHT TO BE.
WE
ALWAYS HEARD THAT JERRY FORD WAS A NICE, SOLID
TYPE AND HERE HE IS TALKING LIKE THAT!
AND DID I HEAR STILL ANOTHER WHISPER?
YEAH, WHAT HAVE WE GOT TO GET INTO --
THE ARMY? WHO DO YOU THINK YOU RE KIDDING
ABOUT LAW AND LEARNING AND LIBERTY? WE VE HAD
TOO MUCH OF THE FIRST, JUST ABOUT ENOUGH OF THE
SECOND, AND NOT VERY MUCH OF THE THIRD. YOU
AND ALL THE POLITICIANS WHO HAVE BEEN RUNNING
THINGS EVER SINCE WE WERE BORN HAVE REALLY MADE
-11-
A MESS OF IT. SO NOW NOW/YOU YOU WANT US/TO US GET INTO
IT WITH YOU.
WELL, WE ARE IN QUITE A MESS, THAT'S
CERTAIN. I SUPPOSE I COULD DUCK THIS BY
SAYING I'VE BEEN IN THE MINORITY MOST OF THE
YEARS I'VE BEEN IN CONGRESS, SO DON'T BLAME
ME. THAT WON'T DO, OF COURSE. ALL ADULT
AMERICANS HAVE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY, AT
LEAST SOME RESPONSIBILITY, FOR THE WAY THINGS
ARE; BECAUSE AS THEODORE ROOSEVELT PUT IT
BLUNTLY:
"THE GOVERNMENT IS US; WE ARE THE
GOVERNMENT, YOU AND 1."
HAD BEEN
ANOTHER PRESIDENT, WHO WAS ALSO A
PROFESSOR, SAID IT A LONGER WAY:
"GOVERNMENT," SAID WOODROW WILSON, "IS
MERELY AN ATTEMPT TO EXPRESS THE CONSCIENCE OF
EVERYBODY, THE AVERAGE CONSCIENCE OF THE NATION,
IN THE RULES THAT EVERYBODY IS COMMANDED TO
1817
OBEY. THAT IS ALL IT IS. IF THE GOVERNMENT IS
-12-
GOING FASTER THAN THE PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, IT
WILL PRESENTLY HAVE TO PULL UP; IF IT IS NOT
GOING AS FAST AS THE PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, IT WILL
PRESENTLY HAVE TO BE WHIPPED UP."
THE TRUTH OF WILSON'S DEFINITION IS
NOWHERE MORE EVIDENT THAN IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, WHICH IS WHY SERVING THERE IS
SO REWARDING. CONGRESS IS OFTEN THE SCAPEGOAT
FOR THE SINS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY BECAUSE CONGRESS
IS THE PEOPLE IN MICROCOSM. THIS YEAR AND EVERY
TWO YEARS WE GO HOME TO THE PEOPLE WHO SENT US
TO WASHINGTON AND DO WHAT MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN
DOING -- SEEING ABOUT A JOB. IF THEY LIKE THE
WAY WE' VE BEEN ACTING FOR THEM AND SPEAKING UP
FOR THEM THEY HIRE US FOR ANOTHER TWO-YEAR
CONTRACT, BUT IF THEY DON'T -- THAT'S ALL,
BROTHER! IF YOU DON' T GET GOVERNMENT THAT
SERVES YOU BEST OUT OF THIS ARRANGEMENT YOU AT
LEAST GET THE KIND THAT SERVES YOU RIGHT, AS
GOOD AS YOU DESERVE.
-13-
BUT IS THIS GOOD ENOUGH TO COME TO
GRIPS WITH TODAY'S CHALLENGES?
NO, FRANKLY, IT IS NOT.
WITHOUT WANTING TO STRIKE A PARTISAN
NOTE IT'S MERELY A FACT OF RECENT HISTORY THAT
MY PARTY GAINED 47 SEATS IN THE HOUSE TWO YEARS
AGO. WE NEEDED REINFORCEMENTS BADLY, WE
REJOICED IN THE QUANTITY, BUT EVEN MORE IN THE
QUALITY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO JOINED OUR
RANKS -- MANY OF THEM NOT TOO FAR FROM THEIR
OWN COLLEGE COMMENCEMENTS.
THESE HARD-DRIVING, ENTHUSIASTIC AND
TOUGH-MINDED YOUNG LEGISLATORS NOT ONLY BROUGHT
THE INSIGHTS AND INITIATIVES OF A NEW BREED OF
POLITICIAN TO OUR DEBATES; ALREADY THEY HAVE
LEFT THEIR MARK ON THE CONGRESS. THEIR EXTRA
VOTES AND PERSISTENT PRESSURES HELPED TO CREATE
A NEW CODE OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT FOR THE HOUSE,
TO GREATLY IMPROVE AND STRENGTHEN ANTI-CRIME
AND CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS, TO EXPOSE WASTE LIBRAR
-14-
AND CORRUPTION IN THE POVERTY AND FOREIGN AID
PROGRAMS, TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON URBAN NEEDS,
TO DEMAND LONG OVERDUE REFORMS IN THE MACHINERY
OF CONGRESS AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, TO
MENTION ONLY A FEW AREAS OF THEIR ACTIVITY.
THE YOUNGER MEN AND WOMEN COMING UP IN
WASHINGTON ARE NOT ONLY WITH IT, THEY ARE IN
IT -- AND WE ARE WAITING TO WELCOME MORE. BUT
OBVIOUSLY, IT WILL REQUIRE MORE THAN BETTER AND
DEAL
BOLDER LEADERSHIP FROM GOVERNMENT TO
NH
WITH
THE PROBLEMS THAT FACE US. IF MY GENERATION HAS
LEARNED NOTHING ELSE IN THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
OF EXPERIENCE IT MUST BE THAT GOVERNMENT CAN DO
ONLY SO MUCH, THAT SIMPLY PASSING LAWS THAT
PROMISE EASY SOLUTIONS AND RAISING TAXES TO
REDISTRIBUTE THE GREAT WEALTH OF THIS COUNTRY
CANNOT BEGIN TO COPE WITH WHAT ARE ESSENTIALLY
MORAL AND INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS; INDEED, GOVERN-
MENT ACTION CAN COMPOUND THEM.
LOOK AT THE GRAVE ISSUES WHICH FACE
-14-
AND CORRUPTION IN THE POVERTY AND FOREIGN AID
PROGRAMS, TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON URBAN NEEDS,
TO DEMAND LONG OVERDUE REFORMS IN THE MACHINERY
OF CONGRESS AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, TO
MENTION ONLY A FEW AREAS OF THEIR ACTIVITY.
THE YOUNGER MEN AND WOMEN COMING UP IN
WASHINGTON ARE NOT ONLY WITH IT, THEY ARE IN
IT -- AND WE ARE WAITING TO WELCOME MORE. BUT
OBVIOUSLY, IT WILL REQUIRE MORE THAN BETTER AND
DEAL
BOLDER LEADERSHIP FROM GOVERNMENT TO
CORE
WITH
THE PROBLEMS THAT FACE US. IF MY GENERATION HAS
LEARNED NOTHING ELSE IN THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
OF EXPERIENCE IT MUST BE THAT GOVERNMENT CAN DO
ONLY SO MUCH, THAT SIMPLY PASSING LAWS THAT
PROMISE EASY SOLUTIONS AND RAISING TAXES TO
REDISTRIBUTE THE GREAT WEALTH OF THIS COUNTRY
CANNOT BEGIN TO COPE WITH WHAT ARE ESSENTIALLY
MORAL AND INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS; INDEED, GOVERN-
MENT ACTION CAN COMPOUND THEM.
LOOK AT THE GRAVE ISSUES WHICH FACE
-15-
OUR NATION AND EACH OF US TODAY. ALL OF THEM,
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT SERIOUSLY, ARE AT THE
VERY CORE/MORAL CONCERNS. THE PROS AND CONS OF
THESE QUESTIONS ARE FUNDAMENTALLY MORAL ARGUMENTS,
AND PERHAPS THIS EXPLAINS WHY DEBATE HAS BECOME
SO IMPASSIONED AND EVEN VIOLENT.
TAKE THE WAR IN VIETNAM. THIS IS A
MAJOR NATIONAL CONCERN, PROBABLY THE CHIEF
CONCERN OF YOUNG AMERICANS. LET THERE BE NO
DOUBT ON ONE POINT -- WE ALL, EVERY ONE OF US,
WOULD MUCH RATHER MAKE LOVE THAN WAR. THIS WAR
IS UNPOPULAR, BUT I DOUBT VERY MUCH THAT THE
UNITED STATES HAS EVER HAD A REALLY POPULAR
WAR -- EVEN THE WAR WITH SPAIN HAD ITS AFTER-
MATH OF DISILLUSIONMENT. THE YEAR I WAS
GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN WAS
THE YEAR ADOLF HITLER SEIZED ALL POWER IN
GERMANY -- AND MY GENERATION DIDN'T LIKE THE
PROSPECT OF WAR DISRUPTING OUR LIVES ANY MORE
LIBRAR
THAN YOURS. BUT THE NATION MET THAT CHALLENGE
-16-
SUCCESSFULLY BECAUSE AMERICA' S MORAL COMMITMENT
TO THE CAUSE OF HUMAN DECENCY WAS CLEAR, AND WE
SAW IT CLEARLY. WE FOUGHT THAT WAR FOR YOU --
EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN' T YET EXIST.
THE MORAL DILEMMA OF VIETNAM IS MUCH
MORE DIFFICULT. ITS MAGNITUDE IS MEASURED BY
THE CRUEL FACT THAT JUST LAST WEEK, EVEN WITH
PEACE TALKS GOING ON -- 438 YOUNG AMERICANS
WERE KILLED IN ACTION IN VIETNAM, MORE THAN
GROVE CITY COLLEGE WILL GRADUATE HERE TODAY.
IT HAS BECOME A CLICHE TO SAY THAT WE ARE
BOGGED DOWN IN A WAR WE CANNOT WIN AND CANNOT
LOSE, THAT THERE IS NO WAY OUT. THIS NATION
HAS THE MATERIAL STRENGTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES
TO DO ANYTHING IT SETS ITS MIND TO, WHAT IS
LACKING IS THE CLEAR MORAL COMMITMENT OF OUR
PEOPLE TO A COURSE OF ACTION THAT IS BOTH
REASONABLE AND RIGHT, AND WE HAVE NEITHER NOW.
THE TASK OF LEADERSHIP IS TO SET SUCH
A COURSE. THE TASK OF CITIZENS IS TO MAKE SUCH
-17-
A COMMITMENT. IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, I SAY TO
THE CLASS OF 1968 TO GET INTO IT. WE ARE THE
GOVERNMENT, YOU AND 1. NOBODY IS GOING TO GET
US OUT OF THIS MESS EXCEPT OURSELVES.
TAKE CRIME AND LAWLESSNESS, RIOTS AND
DISORDERS. ALREADY, THIS LOOMS AS A LARGER
NATIONAL ISSUE THAN THE WAR, AND ALREADY IT
DIRECTLY AFFECTS MORE AMERICANS. HALF THE
WOMEN IN THIS COUNTRY ARE AFRAID TO WALK ALONE
AT NIGHT IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS -- AND NO
WONDER, SOMEONE IS MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD EVERY
41 MINUTES AND A SEXUAL ATTACK OCCURS EVERY
19 MINUTES, ON THE AVERAGE.
THE CRIME RATE IS RISING EIGHT TIMES AS
FAST AS THE POPULATION. IN THE TIME 11 VE BEEN
TALKING here THERE HAVE BEEN SIX ROBBERIES
AND NINE AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS SOMEWHERE IN
AMERICA. THEY SAY IN WASHINGTON IT'S SO BAD
EVEN THE PURSE-SNATCHERS AND MUGGERS ONLY WALK
IN PAIRS.
GERAL
BRANT
-18-
EVERY OTHER AMERICAN NOW OWNS A GUN,
AND ADMITS IT. MORE ALARMING, ONLY LAST
AUGUST ONLY 27% OF THESE GUN-OWNERS SAID THEY
WOULD USE THEIR WEAPON AGAINST ANOTHER PERSON
IN THE EVENT OF A RIOT; NOW 67% SAY THEY D SHOOT
UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES. TUNTOUCHED BY THE
POLLSTERS ARE THOSE WHO ARE KILLING JUST FOR
KICKS, OR OTHER MENTALLY SICK MOTIVES.
OF COURSE THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
ORDINARY CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES AND THE RIOTS AND
ARSON AND LOOTING THAT SWEPT MORE THAN 125
CITIES IN ONE WEEK LAST APRIL. BUT THE
DISTINCTION IS NOT SO PRECISE AS ONE MIGHT THINK',
IT WAS ONE "ORDINARY" CRIME -- MURDER -- THAT
TRIGGERED THE "EXTRA-ORDINARY" RACIAL EXPLOSION
THAT FOLLOWED; AND THAT SPASM OF ANARCHY AND
DESTRUCTION WAS COMPOSED OF THOUSANDS OF
INSTANCES OF THE "ORDINARY" CRIMES OF BURGLARY
THEFT, ARSON, ASSAULT AND MURDER.
WHAT ALL THESE FORMS OF LAWLESSNESS AND
-19-
VIOLENCE HAVE IN COMMON, WHETHER IN A DARK ALLEY
OR IN FRONT OF NEWSREEL CAMERAS, IN BROAD DAY-
LIGHT OR IN THE ACADEMIC HALLS OF IVYx IS THE
BREAKDOWN OF THE MORAL VALUES AND THE BOUNDARIES
AROUND BEHAVIOR BY WHICH SOCIETY JUSTIFIES AND
PROTECTS ITSELF.
THUS THIS NATIONAL CONCERN OVER CRIME
IS ALSO, AT THE CORE, A MORAL MATTER. IT HAS
BEEN PROVED TIME AND AGAIN THAT CONGRESS CANNOT
LEGISLATE MORALITY; ONLY IN AN IMPERFECT SENSE
CAN IT REINFORCE AND DEFINE, AS WILSON SAID,
THE AVERAGE CONSCIENCE OF THE NATION. TO SAY
THAT GOVERNMENT IS BASED UPON THE CONSENT OF
THE GOVERNED IS TO STOP TOO SHORT; IT IS NOT
ENOUGH THAT A MAJORITY OF CITIZENS CONSENT TO A
LAW, AND AGREE TO OBEY IT THEMSELVES. THAT
SAME PREPONDERANCE OF THE PEOPLE MUST COMMIT
THEMSELVES TO THE MORAL PRINCIPLE THAT ALL LAW
MUST BE OBEYED.
OF FORD LIBR
THE TASK OF LEADERSHIP IS TO TRANSLATE
-20-
THE NATIONAL CONSCIENCE INTO EFFECTIVE LAWS
AND TO ENFORCE THOSE LAWS FIRMLY BUT FAIRLY
AGAINST OFFENDERS. THE TASK OF CITIZENS IS
TO MAKE THEIR BROAD COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF
LAW CLEAR AND UNEQUIVOCAL AND TO USE THE READY
ELECTORAL, LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL MECHANISMS
TO CHANGE SUCH SPECIFIC LAWS AS SEEM TO THEM
UNWISE OR UNJUST. SO I SAY AGAIN TO THE CLASS
OF 1968, GET INTO IT. WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT, YOU
AND 1. NOBODY IS GOING TO GET US OUT OF THIS
MESS EXCEPT OURSELVES.
THE LAST GREAT NATIONAL CONCERN I SHALL
MENTION TODAY IS INFLATION, AND YOU MAY WONDER
HOW I AM GOING TO MAKE ECONOMICS A MORAL ISSUE.
YOUR PROFESSORS AND PARENTS ARE PERHAPS MORE
TROUBLED BY CONTINUOUSLY RISING PRICES, RISING
TAXES, RISING INTEREST RATES THAN YOU HAVE
BEEN. THE DOLLAR DRAIN HAS BEEN, FOR SOME OF
YOU, A PROBLEM BEST SOLVED BY A COLLECT PHONE
CALL TO DEAR OLD DAD. AND EVEN WHEN YOU RE
ABRARY
-21-
HOLDING DOWN A JOB IN COLLEGE, IF I REMEMBER
RIGHTLY, YOU DON'T HANG ONTO ANY DOLLAR BILL
LONG ENOUGH TO REALIZE IT'S LOSING ITS VALUE.
BUT I ALSO SUSPECT A LOT OF YOU, IN
CONSIDERING WHICH JOB LOOKS BEST, HAVE HAD
OCCASION TO COMPARE THE FRINGE BENEFITS AND
VARIOUS PENSION PLANS AND PROFIT-SHARING
SYSTEMS WHICH TODAY'S EMPLOYERS USE TO ATRRACT
THE ABLEST GRADUATES AND KEEP THEM ONCE THEY' RE
ON THE PAYROLL. MAYBE YOU FIGURED YOUR CAREER
WOULD BE BRIGHTER WITH ONE COMPANY RATHER THAN
ANOTHER, EVEN THOUGH THE STARTING SALARY WAS A
LITTLE LESS, BECAUSE OF THESE PROVISIONS FOR
YOUR FUTURE SECURITY AND THAT OF YOUR FAMILY.
YOU WOULDN' HAVE ANY DOUBT THAT IT WAS
A MORAL ISSUE IF, AFTER GIVING THE BEST YEARS
OF YOUR LIFE TO THAT EMPLOYER, YOU WERE TOLD
WHEN YOU REACH THE AGE OF 50 OR 60 THAT THEY' D
SPENT THE MONEY, YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AS WELL, FORD
LIBRAR
ON SOMETHING ELSE, SO YOU'D HAVE TO GET ALONG
-22-
ON HALF THE PENSION THEY' D PROMISED YOU IN
1968.
IS IT ANY DIFFERENT WHEN THE GOVERNMENT
DOES THIS TO EVERYBODY? AND THIS IS EXACTLY
WHAT GOVERNMENT HAS DONE, AND IS STILL DOING.
IF AUNT JANE GAVE YOU A SAVINGS BOND -- WHAT
DO THEY CALL THEM NOW, PEACE BONDS? -- WHEN YOU
GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, LET ME BREAK THE
BAD NEWS -- INTEREST AND ALL, IT ISN'T WORTH
AS MUCH TODAY AS WHAT DEAR OLD AUNT JANE PAID
FOR IT IN REAL PURCHASING POWER. IF IT'S WRONG
FOR UNCLE SAM TO TAKE A FEW YEARS OUT OF A
CITIZEN'S LIFE AT THE START OF IT, AS SOME YOUNG
PEOPLE CLAIM, THEN IT'S CERTAINLY IMMORAL FOR
UNCLE SAM TO RUIN THE LAST FEW YEARS OF A
CITIZEN'S LIFE BY STEALING HALF HIS SAVINGS.
AND THAT'S WHAT INFLATION IS ALL ABOUT.
THE EXPERTS WARN WE'RE ON THE BRINK OF
THE WORST WORLDWIDE FISCAL CRISIS SINCE 1931.
I
REMEMBER THAT AS WELL AS YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST
-23-
DAY IN COLLEGE -- AND I DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN
AGAIN. BUT IF CAN HAPPEN IF WE AS A NATION
FAIL TO PUT OUR FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER, IF WE
HESITATE TOO LONG TO TAKE THE NASTY ECONOMIC
MEDICINE EVERY DOCTOR HAS PRESCRIBED. THIS
COUNTRY IS RICH AND PRODUCTIVE BEYOND THE
WILDEST IMAGININGS OF THE MEN WHO BUILT THIS
COLLEGE. OUR ECONOMY CAN "AFFORD" ANYTHING WE
NEED AND MUCH THAT WE REALLY DON' T NEED, BUT IT
CANNOT GIVE US EVERYTHING WE WANT AND EVERYTHING
WE MUST HAVE AND DO ALL THESE THINGS AT THE
SAME TIME.
must
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SET PRIORITIES
FOR OUR NATIONAL UNDERTAKINGS EXACTLY AS YOU
HAVE HAD TO SET PRIORITIES FOR STUDYING FOR
FINALS, WRITING TERM PAPERS, DATING AND DANCING
AND DEMONSTRATING AND WHATEVER ELSE SENIORS DO
THESE DAYS. A SOUND DOLLAR DOESN'T TURN
EVERYBODY ON EMOTIONALLY LIKE THE DEADLY WAR FORD IN
VIETNAM AND THE CRIME RAGING IN OUR CITIES, BUT
-24-
IT TOO DEMANDS CITIZEN COMMITMENT AND
ENLIGHTENED LEADERSHIP. IT TOO IS SOMETHING
THE CLASS OF 1968 OUGHT TO GET INTO. WE ARE
THE GOVERNMENT, YOU AND 1. NOBODY IS GOING TO
GET US OUT OF THIS MESS EXCEPT OURSELVES.
WHY DO I KEEP TELLING YOU TO GET
COMMITTED, TO BECOME INVOLVED, NOT JUST TO GET
WITH IT BUT TO GET INTO IT. VE VISITED 22
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES ALREADY THIS
YEAR AND I KNOW VERY WELL THAT'S JUST WHAT YOU
INTEND TO DO. I AM PERFECTLY AWARE OF WHAT
THIS GENERATION OF STUDENTS IS LIKE AND I'M NOT
CONFUSED BY THE ANTICS OF AN IMMATURE HANDFUL
WHO BANG THEIR HEADS ON THE FLOOR OR THREATEN
TO HOLD THEIR BREATH IF THEY CAN' T HAVE THEIR
WAY -- OR DON' T GET ENOUGH ATTENTION. 1' M MORE
WITH SEN. McCARTHY'S YOUNG VOLUNTEER WORKERS
THAN I AM WITH HIS POLITICS, TO BE HONEST, BUT
I'D RATHER YOU ALL WENT OUT AND WORKED TO ELECT
DEMOCRATS THAN GO OUT TO STORM THE PENTAGON, DO
-25-
BLOODY BATTLE WITH THE POLICE, OR SHOUT DOWN
THOSE WITH WHOM YOU DISSENT.
YOU ARE GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE IN A
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN YEAR, AND WHILE THIS IS
HIDDEN BY A LOT OF FUN AND HOOPLA THERE ARE
GRAVE AND VITAL CHOICES TO BE MADE NEXT NOVEMBER
THAT WILL AFFECT YOUR LIVES VERY DIRECTLY.
DON'T JUST GET WITH IT -- GET INTO IT.
I RECENTLY GOT A LOOK AT A VERY
EXTENSIVE SURVEY MADE BY THE GALLUP POLL FOR THE
AMERICAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ON THE ATTITUDES
AND POLITICAL OPINIONS OF YOUNG AMERICANS AGED
21 THROUGH 29. MUCH OF IT HASN'T BEEN PUBLISHED
AND IT'S AS FULL OF SURPRISES AND CONTRADICTIONS
AS YOUTH ITSELF.
FIRST, YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE TO THINK OF
THEMSELVES AS "INDEPENDENTS" IN POLITICS --
THIS CATEGORY OUTNUMBERS BOTH REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS AND AMONG COLLEGE GRADUATES IT AMOUNTS
TO 44 PER CENT. YOUNG MEN ARE MORE INDEPENDENT
-26-
THAN YOUNG WOMEN -- I'M SPEAKING STRICTLY OF
POLITICS -- AND, CURTOUSLY, THOSE TRADITIONAL
BASTIONS OF DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN STRENGTH
THE SOUTH AND MIDWEST, TURN OUT THE MOST
INDEPENDENT 20-YEAR-OLDS.
IN THIS AGE GROUP TWO-THIRDS EXPRESSED
CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN POLITICS, AND THIS ROSE
TO 80 PERCENT ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUSES. FORTH-ONE
PERCENT SAID THEY D BE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER FOR
CAMPAIGN WORK AND 42 PERCENT WOULD KICK IN $5
FOR THEIR FAVORITE CANDIDATE OR PARTY -- A LOT
BETTER ON BOTH COUNTS THAN THEIR AFFLUENT AND-
COMPLACENT ELDERS.
BUT THEN WHEN IT COMES TO THE SIMPLEST
TEST OF POLITICAL COMMITMENT -- VOTING IN A
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION -- YOU DON' T COME OFF SO
WELL. TOO OFTEN, "INDEPENDENT" REALLY MEANS
"INDIFFERENT." WHEN A RECORD 65 PERCENT OF
FORD
THE ELIGIBLE ELECTORATE VOTED IN THE CLIFFHANGER
KENNEDY-NIXON CONTEST OF 1960, ONLY 54 PERCENT
-27-
OF THOSE IN THEIR TWENTIES TURNED OUT. IN '64
THE RECORD WAS SLIGHTLY WORSE.
THIS YEAR, ALTHOUGH IT S EARLY IN THE
GAME, ONLY 48 PERCENT OF THOSE IN THE 21 TO 29
BRACKET ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE PRECINCT
WHERE THEY LIVE. FOR ALL THEIR EXPRESSED
INTEREST, FOR ALL THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH
EXCITING CAUSES AND FOR ALL THEIR IDEALS, ONLY
ABOUT 13 MILLION YOUNG AMERICANS ARE ACTUALLY
EXPECTED TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS THIS YEAR.
SURE, YOU GET BUSY, DOING YOUR JOB,
STARTING A HOME, MOVING AROUND., BUT THAT' S WHY I
KEEP HARPING ON MY THEME: GET INTO IT, AND STAY
IN.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WAY IT IS, DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT. MAYBE YOU DON' T WANT TO
MAKE PUBLIC SERVICE YOUR CAREER, OR EVER RUN FOR
ELECTIVE OFFICE. BUT THERE ARE A MILLION WAYS
EACH OF YOU CAN UPGRADE THE STANDARDS OF
FORD
POLITICS AND THE QUALITY OF GOVERNMENT AT EVERY
-28-
LEVEL. YOU CAN' T ALL BE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES, BUT PROBABLY ALL OF YOU WHO WANT
TO BADLY ENOUGH TO WORK AT IT COULD BE PRESIDENT
OF A SCHOOL BOARD, OR CHAIRMAN OF A COUNTY
CENTRAL COMMITTEE. AND REMEMBER, IF YOU DON' T
YOU CAN BE SURE SOME IDIOT WILL GET THE JOB AND
DO EVERYTHING WRONG. NOBODY IS GOING TO GET US
OUT OF THIS MESS EXCEPT OURSELVES. WE ARE THE
GOVERNMENT, YOU AND 1.
ONE FINAL WORD AS ONE WHO HAS SOME
EXPERIENCE WITH MINORITY STATUS. I HOPE MINE IS
TEMPORARY, BUT YOURS IS PERMANENT. YOU ARE
ABOUT TO JOIN THE OLDEST MINORITY IN THE WORLD --
THOSE WHO HAVE THE BRAINS AND THE DISCIPLINES
OF EDUCATION THAT ENABLE THEM TO GIVE
CIVILIZATION A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THEY TAKE
FROM IT.
THE EDUCATIONAL EXPLOSION IN THIS
COUNTRY HAS BEEN FAR MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN ANY
NUCLEAR BLAST. IN 1900 ALL THE INSTITUTIONS OF
-29-
HIGHER LEARNING IN AMERICA AWARDED 27,410
DEGREES, ONLY 5,237 TO WOMEN. WHEN I RECEIVED
MY DIPLOMA AT ANN ARBOR, THE COMBINED CLASS OF
1935 WAS NEARLY FIVE TIMES THAT LARGE, TWO-FIFTHS
OF THEM WOMEN. YOU ARE AMONG AN ESTIMATED
673,000 SENIORS GRADUATING THIS SPRING, ANOTHER
FOURFOLD INCREASE. THERE STILL AREN'T QUITE
ENOUGH GIRLS TO GO AROUND -- I THINK THEY SEE
TO THAT.
BUT WE BACHELORS OF ARTS AND ALL LIVING
AMERICANS WHO HAVE EARNED A COLLEGE DEGREE STILL
AMOUNT TO ONLY ABOUT 11 PERCENT OF THE ADULT
POPULATION. WE ARE STILL IN THE MINORITY AND
ARE LIKELY TO REMAIN THERE ALL OUR DAYS. SO
LET'S TAKE AS OUR MOTTO "BUILD, MAN, BUILD!"
INSTEAD OF "BURN, BABY, BURN."
TRY
LET'S BUILD ON THE SOLID TRIAD OF LAW,
LEARNING AND LIBERTY -- NOT FOR OUR ANCESTORS'
SAKES, BUT FOR OUR DESCENDENTS. LET'S NOT
ERALD LIBRARY
QUENCH THE REBEL AND THE DISSENTER IN us, BECAUSE
-30-
OUR FATHERS WERE REBELS AND DISSENTERS AND SO
WILL OUR CHILDREN BE. BUT LET'S BUILD INSTEAD
OF BURN, WORK INSTEAD OF WRECK AND HELP INSTEAD
OF HATE.
JOHN STEINBECK IN "THE GRAPES OF WRATH"
WROTE THAT, ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE, "MAN GROWS
BEYOND HIS WORK, WALKS UP THE STAIRS OF HIS
CONCEPTS, EMERGES AHEAD OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.'
YOU HAVE FINISHED THE WORK OF THE
CLASSROOM, YOU HAVE SORTED OUT YOUR CONCEPTS,
AND NOW COMES THE TIME FOR ACCOMPLISHMENT.
COME OUT AHEAD, CLASS OF 1968, AND GOD BE
WITH YOU.
- END -