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American Association of Amusement Parks, Chicago, IL, December 2, 1968
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4526170
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American Association of Amusement Parks, Chicago, IL, December 2, 1968
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
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1968
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The original documents are located in Box D26, folder "American Association of
Amusement Parks, Chicago, IL, December 2, 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
12/2/68
NOTES FOR AMUSEMENT PARKS
I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE, SPEAKING BEFORE PEOPLE
WHO ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING OTHER PEOPLE HAPPY.
GOODNESS KNOWS WE HAVE ENOUGH OF GLOOM AND MISERY IN
THIS WORLD. I CONGRATULATE THOSE WHO SERIOUSLY DEDICATE
THEMSELVES TO MAKING FUN FOR OTHERS.
YOURS IS A GOOD BUSINESS. VERY WORTHWHILE BUSINESS...
A NEEDED BUSINESS. WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE TODAY WHO LOOK
AT THE DOUGHNUT AND SEE NOTHING BUT THE HOLE.
Digitized from Box D26 of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary
and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
2/AMUSEMENT
IN FACT, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SO SOURED
ON LIFE THAT THEY REMIND ME OF THE ROOSTER WHO SAID:
"WHAT'S THE USE? YESTERDAY AN EGG, TOMORROW A FEATHER
DUSTER."
POLITICANS, YOU KNOW, ARE EXPECTED TO "VIEW WITH
ALARM," PARTICULARLY WHEN THEIR OWN PARTY IS OUT OF
POWER.
TODAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF VIEWING THE FUTURE WITH
CONSIDERABLE OPTIMISM. THAT'S BY WAY OF SAYING I AM
GOING TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THE NEW NIXON ADMINISTRATION.
3/AMUSEMENT
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION?
WHAT WILL THE CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATIONS MEAN FOR BUSINESS?
FIRST OF ALL, THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION WILL BE
FRIENDLY TO BUSINESS. THERE WILL BE A WHOLE NEW TONE
IN WASHINGTON...A TONE THAT SAYS, WE WANT TO KEEP
BUSINESS HEALTHY; WE WANT TO KEEP THE ECONOMY HEALTHY.
ONE OF THE HAPPY ASPECTS OF MR. NIXON'S ELECTION
VICTORY IS THIS: HE WON IT ON HIS OWN. HE DOES NOT OWE
HIS ELECTION TO BIG BUSINESS, AND HE DOES NOT OWE IT TO
4/AMUSEMENT
THE LEADERS OF ORGANIZED LABOR. SOME OTHER PRESIDENTS
I KNOW COULD NOT MAKE THAT STATEMENT, AND IT WAS
REFLECTED IN THEIR ADMINISTRATIONS.
THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION WILL BE A FRIENDLY
ADMINISTRATION AND A "COOL" ADMINISTRATION. COOL IN THE
SENSE THAT THE KIDS USE THE WORD...CALM, AWARE, STEADY,
UNFLAPPABLE.
MR. NIXON WILL COOL OFF AND END THE VIETNAM WAR.
HE WILL COOL OFF INFLATION WHILE MAINTAINING A HIGH LEVEL
5/AMUSEMENT
OF PROSPERITY IN THIS COUNTRY. HE WILL COOL OFF RELATIONS
BETWEEN THE RACES WHILE HELPING NEGROES WALK THROUGH THE
DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY.
IN THAT CONNECTION, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT
AMUSEMENT PARK OPERATORS OBVIOUSLY ARE DOING SOMETHING
RIGHT. I AM TOLD THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RIOT IN
YOUR PARKS. THE TROUBLE AT GLEN ECHO AMUSEMENT PARK
NEAR WASHINGTON, D.C., FOR INSTANCE, TOOK PLACE OUTSIDE
THE PARK. SO YOU ARE VERY MUCH TO BE COMMENDED.
6/AMUSEMENT
I HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN OF THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION AS
THE COOL ADMINISTRATION. BY THAT I MEAN IT WILL BE DEEPLY
CONCERNED WITH BRINGING ORDER OUT OF CHAOS AND CONFUSION...
BOTH IN THE GOVERNMENT AND THROUGHOUT THE (c) UNTRY. IT WILL
BE A PRAGMATIC ADMINISTRATION. NIXON WILL BE A PRAGMATIC
PRESIDENT CONCERNED NOT WITH WHETHER A PROGRAM IS
LABELED CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL BUT WHETHER IT WORKS AND
PAYS OFF IN BENEFITS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMMENSURATE
WITH THE DOLLARS INVESTED. I SAY DOLLARS "INVESTED" AND
NOT DOLLARS SPENT BECAUSE DICK NIXON HAS ENDORSED THE
7/AMUSEMENT
CONCEPTS ADVANCED BY THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP FOR
A FRESH ASSAULT ON THE PROBLEMS OF THE CITIES...THE
APPROACH OF TAX CREDITS TO DRAW INDUSTRY INTO AN ATTACK
ON URBAN ILLS, NOT AS SIMPLY A PARTNER WITH GOVERNMENT
BUT AS A PROBLEM-SOLVING LEADER. THE TAX CREDIT APPROACH
HAS ALREADY PROVED ITSELF IN CONNECTION WITH TAX CREDITS
FOR INVESTMENT IN NEW PLANT AND EQUIPMENT. IF WE CAN USE
THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE FOR "BRICK & MORTAR" -- WHY NOT
FOR PEOPLE.
8/AMUSEMENT
BUT WHATEVER HE HAS ENDORSED IN CONCEPT, DICK NIXON
WILL ENTER THE PRESIDENCY A FREE MAN. HE IS NOT WEDED TO
ANY PARTICULAR PROGRAM, NOR IS HE INDEBTED TO ANY GROUP
OR INDIVIDUAL FOR HIS ELECTION. HE IS FREE TO SEIZE THE
TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY THAT IS HIS TO "BRING US TOGETHER,"
END THE VIETNAM WAR AND BRING ALL AMERICANS INTO THE MAIN-
STREAM OF THE RICH LIFE THAT THIS GLORIOUS CONTINENT OFFERS
US ALL IF WE CAN / BUT GRASP IT.
THE NIXON PROGRAM WILL BE CAREFULLY PLANNED. DICK
9/MMUSEMENT
NIXON IS NOT SIMPLY ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
HAVE EMANATED FROM THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN COORDINATING
COMMITTEE AND ITS TASK FORCES, OR THE HOUS E REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP AND ITS TASK FORCES. HE HAS...AND I APPLAUD
THIS MOVE...SET UP TASK FORCES OF HIS OWN IN KEY PROBLEM
AREAS.
I THINK ANOTHER KEY TO THE NIXON PERSONALITY AND THE
KIND OF ADMINISTRATION HE WILL OFFER IS CONTAINED IN THE
NIXON-JOHNSON COMPACT ON FOREIGN POLICY. I THINK THIS IS
10/AMUSEMENT
INDICATIVE OF HOW ANXIOUS DICK NIXON IS TO END THE VIETNAM
WAR, AND IT UNDERSCORES HIS DETERMINATION NOT TO ALLOW
POLITICS TO INTERFERE WITH AN EARLY AND HONORABLE
SETTLEMENT OF THE WAR. PRESIDENT JOHNSON NOW IS ENGAGED
IN DELICATE NEGOTIATIONS, WITH SAIGON AS WELL AS WITH
HANOI. IT IS ONLY BECAUSE DICK NIXON HAS PUBLICLY
ANNOUNCED HIS SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S CONDUCT OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN THE INTERIM PERIOD THAT THERE IS ANY
PROSPECT OF FORWARD MOVEMENT TOWARD PEACE IN VIETNAM AT
11/AMUSEMENT
THIS TIME. THIS WAS AN ACT OF STATESMANSHIP. IN ADDITION,
IT TELLS THE WORLD THAT MR. NIXON IS A MAN OF SUBSTANCE
AND INTEGRITY.
THE NEXT REVEALING CHAPTER IN THE NIXON STORY WILL
BE THE APPOINTMENTS HE MAKES TO THE CABINET AND OTHER KEY
POLICY POSITIONS IN HIS ADMINISTRATION. MR. NIXON WILL
BEGIN MAKING HIS TOP APPOINTMENTS ABOUT DECEMBER 5. THOSE
APPOINTMENTS WILL INDICATE THE NATURE OF HIS PRESIDENCY.
HE IS CONDUCTING A FAR-RANGING TALENT SEARCH. HE HAS
12/AMUSEMENT
PERSONALLY DISCUSSED SOME OF HIS POSSIBLE CABINET CHOICES
WITH ME. I AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE CALIBRE OF THOSE WHO
WILL SERVE.
I AM CONVINCED THAT THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION WILL BE
ALMOST BIPARTISAN IN NATURE. AND IT WILL BE AN ACTIVIST,
NOT A CARETAKER, ADMINISTRATION.
NOW, A SUMMING - UP
1. THE TONE OF THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION WILL BE ONE OF
MODERATION OF REORGANIZATION OF TIGHTENING UP
13/AMUSEMENT
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS OF REVIEWING ALL PROGRAMS AND
ABANDONING ANY WHICH ARE NOT WORKING.
2. IT WILL BE A MIDDLE-OF-THE -ROAD ADMINISTRATION
WORKING WITH A MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD CONGRESS. QUITE
FRANKLY, MR. NIXON WILL GET ALONG BETTER WITH THE 91st
CONGRESS THAN HUBERT HUMPHREY WOULD HAVE.
3. MR. NIXON WILL SEEK TO STREAMLINE THE FEDERAL
GOVE RNMENT. WORK OUT A SYSTEM OF PRIORITIES, AND...OVER
A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS...SWING THE FEDERAL BUDGET
TOWARD BALANCE. OF INTEREST PERHAPS -- NIXON WILL USE
14/ AMUSEMENT
MONETARY AND FISCAL POLICY AFFIRMATIVELY.
4. MR. NIXON WILL TAKE A NEW APPROACH TO THE POVERTY
WAR. IF CONGRESS IS WILLING, AND WILBUR MILLS IS A KEY
HERE, NIXON WILL USE TAX CREDITS TO GET INDUSTRY DEEPLY
INVOLVED IN PROVIDING JOBS FOR THE HARD-CORE UNEMPLOYED
THROUGH ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND NEW PLANTS IN THE INNER
CITIES.
5. MR. NIXON WILL SEEK AN ESCALATOR CLAUSE IN THE SOCIAL
SECURITY LAW, PROVIDING FOR AN AUTOMATIC INCREASE IN
15/AMUSEMENT
BENEFITS IF AND WHEN THE COST OF LIVING RISES SUBSTANTIALLY.
6. HOWEVER, MR. NIXON WILL SEEK TO COOL OFF INFLATION BY
HOLDING FEDERAL SPENDING TO REASONABLE LEVELS. AND WHEN
WE LOOK AT THE PRESENT AND RECENT PROBLEMS OF FRANCE AND
GREAT BRITAIN, WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY.
7. MR. NIXON WILL EMPLOY A MIX OF THE NEW ECONOMICS AND
THE OLD ECONOMICS TO KEEP THE ECONOMY GROWING BRISKLY
WITHOUT SHARP PRICE INFLATION.
8. MR. NIXON WILL DE-MERICANIZE THE VIETNAM WAR AND
16/AMUSEMENT
WILL END THE MASSIVE U.S. PARTICIPATION BY SUBSTITUTION
OF SOUTH VIETNAM troops.
9. MR. NIXON WILL CRACK DOWN ON ORGANIZED CRIME, USING
WIRETAPS UNDER COURT SUPERVISION AGAINST THE CRIME
SYNDICATES, AND WILL EXPAND FEDERAL AID TO LOCAL POLICE
THROUGH THE LEGISLATION APPROVED BY THE LAST CONGRESS.
10. MR. NIXON WILL SEEK TO DECENTRALIZE GOVERNMENTAL
PROBLEM-SOLVING IN THIS COUNTRY, IN ADDITION TO ENCOURAGING
INDUSTRY TO LEAD AN ASSAULT ON URBAN ILLS. HE WILL SEEK
17/AMUSEMENT
DECENTRALIZATION THROUGH THE MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF
FEDERAL FUNDS TO STRENGTHEN THE ROLE OF THE CITIES AND
STATE S. INSTEAD OF FORCING THE CITIES TO FIGHT THEIR
WAY THROUGH A BUREAUCRATIC MAZE TO OBTAIN FEDERAL FUNDS,
MR. NIXON WOULD SHARE FEDERAL REVENUE WITH THE STATES AND
CITIES THROUGH BLOCK GRANTS AND EVENTUALLY A PERCENTAGE
SLICE OF INCOME TAX RECEIPTS. THE CONCEPT IS DEFINITELY
ON THE ACTION AGENDA. ITS IMPLEMENTATION COULD MEAN VAST
GOVERNMENTAL CHANGES. IT WILL MEAN GREATER EFFICIENCY IN THE
USE OF FUNDS BY COMMUNITIES WHICH KNOW THEIR OWN
18/AMUSEMENT
PRIORITIES FAR BETTER THAN WASHINGTON DOES. AND IT WOULD
ELIMINATE THE DUPLICATION AND OVERLAPPING WHICH ARE
INEVITABLE UNDER THE PRESENT SYSTEM.
A WORD OF CAUTION..
THESE ARE NOT DEVELOPMENTS WHICH
WILL OCCUR OVERNIGHT. IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATIONS TO BUILD UP THE BUREAUCRATIC STRUCTURE.
IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME FOR THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION TO
CUT AWAY THE DEADWOOD.
19/AMUSEMENT
11. MR. NIXON WILL REVIEW OUR ENTIRE DEFENSE CAPABILITY,
WITH A VIEW TO FILLING THE GAPS AND HOLES WHICH HAVE
DEVELOPED UNDER THE OUTGOING ADMINISTRATION. AGAIN, IT
WILL TAKE SOME TIME BEFORE DECISIONS CAN BE MADE REGARDING
NEW WEAPONS SYSTEMS AND IMPROVEMENT OF EXISTING SYSTEMS.
BUT WE DO KNOW THAT OUR PRESENT WEAPONS INVENTORY AND
STRATEGIC SUPERIORITY HAS BEEN DRAWN DOWN BY THE
OUTGOING ADMINISTRATION DURING THE TRAGIC YEARS OF VIETNAM.
so AN END TO U.S. PARTICIPATION IN THE VIETNAM WAR WILL
20/AMUSEMENT
NOT MEAN THAT OUR MILITARY OUTLAYS WILL SUDDENLY DROP BY
25 TO 30 BILLIONS. WE WILL HAVE TO REPLENISH OUR
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE STOCKS (OUR MOBILIZATION
RESERVES) AND CONCENTRATE ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR
A NEW FAMILY OF STRATEGIC WEAPONS. -- THE WAY TO ACHIEVE
PEACE IS THROUGH A POSITION OF STRENGTH. --
12. IN THE AREA OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS, MR. NIXON WILL
TAKE STEPS TO ASSIST U.S. AUTO, CHEMICAL, STEEL AND
TEXTILE INDUSTRIES AMONG OTHERS IN FIGHTING UNFAIR FOREIGN
COMPETITION, WHERE WAGE DIFFERENTIALS ARE ALMOST
UNBELIEVABLE. BUT HE WILL NOT BE A PROTECTIONIST IN THE
21/AMUSEMENT
SENSE OF ABANDONING THE FREE TRADE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE
IN THE MIDDLE YEARS OF THIS CENTURY.
13. MR. NIXON WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE 10 PER CENT INCOME
TAX SURTAX EXPIRE AS OF NEXT JUNE 30 -- AND so WOULD I.
THE ECONOMY COULD HIT A SOFT SPOT ABOUT THAT TIME AND MAY
NEED SOME STIMULATION.
14. MR. NIXON WILL STRENGTHEN OUR CONDUCT OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS BY STRENGTHENING OUR ALLIANCES AND BY STRENGTHENING
AMERICA'S PREPAREDNESS AND THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE TO BE
22/AMUSEMENT
FIRM IN THEIR LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE WORLD. HE IS
DETERMINED THAT THERE SHALL BE NO MORE VIETNAMS FOR
AMERICA.. NO MORE SITUATIONS IN WHICH WE FIGHT VIRTUALLY
ALONE IN A COUNTRY HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD. THIS DOES
NOT MEAN RETREAT TO A NEW ISOLATIONISM. THIS SIMPLY
RECOGNIZES THAT THE NATIONS OF THE FREE WORLD MUST
CONTRIBUTE PROPORTIONATELY TO THE DEFENSE OF THE FREE
WORLD WHETHER THAT DEFENSE IS UNDERTAKEN IN SOUTHEAST
ASIA OR IN THE HEARTLAND OF EUROPE.
/AMUSEMENT
MR. NIXON HAS GIVEN VOICE TO SOME HIGH HOPES AND
BRAVE DREAMS. WE WILL REALIZE THOSE HOPES AND MAKE
THOSE DREAMS COME TRUE ONLY IF THOSE PARTISANS WHO WOULD TEND
TO OPPOSE THE NEW PRESIDENT UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES WILL
MEASURE UP TO THE DEMANDS OF THE MOMENT THE URGENT NEED
FOR A SPIRIT OF BIPARTISANSHIP IF NOT NONFARTISANSHIP IN
THE AMERICA OF TODAY.
I SAID EARLIER I EXPECTED MR. NIXON TO GET ALONG
BETTER WITH THE 91st CONGRESS THAN MR. HUMPHREY WOULD
HAVE.
24/AMUSEMENT
I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT MEN LIKE HOUSE
SPEAKER JOHN McCORMACK AND SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER MIKE
MANSFIELD ARE MEN OF HONOR WHO WILL PLACE COUNTRY AHEAD
OF PARTY IN DECISIONS THAT ARE CRUCIAL TO THIS NATION'S
WELFARE.
AND so, NAIVE AS THE CYNICS MAY FIND IT, I LOOK
FOR A NEW ERA OF GOOD FEELING IN AMERICA...A TIME OF
REDEDICATION TO THE TRUTHS SET FORTH IN THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE.. A TIME WHEN MEN OF GOODWILL WILL JOIN
TOGETHER TO MEET, CHALLENGE AND CONQUER THE NATION'S
25/AMUSEMENT
PROBLEMS...A TIME WHEN PEACE WILL BE RESTORED ON OUR
STREETS AND IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND IN FOREIGN LANDS.
LET UNITY BE OUR THEME AND PEACE OUR GOAL AS WE MOVE
FORWARD TO CONFRONT THE GREAT CHALLENGES THAT FACE OUR
NATION. IF WE WILL ALL REMEMBER THAT WE NEED EACH OTHER,
WE CAN BUILD A GREATER AMERICA UNDER RICHARD NIXON'S
LEADERSHIP. THUS IT IS THAT HE WILL "BRING US TOGEHTER,"
WHICH IS THE GOAL OF ALL.
# # #
NOTES
CHIGAGO, ILL, DEC. 2, 1968
Congress of the United States
Office of the Minority Leader
Herald R. 3nd
house of Representatives
M.C.
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
MONDAY
AMERICAN Assoc, OF
AMUSEMENT PARKS
a OIT GERALD'S FORM