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4526193
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NAACP Youth Conference 18 Year Old Vote, Washington, DC, April 22, 1969
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4526193
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document
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NAACP Youth Conference 18 Year Old Vote, Washington, DC, April 22, 1969
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Speeches
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Voting
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4526193
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1969-04-30
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4
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1969
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1969-04-01
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4
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1969
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The original documents are located in Box D26, folder "NAACP Youth Conference 18 Year
Old Vote, Washington, DC, April 22, 1969" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 D26 of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and
Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
NOTES FOR
N,A.A.C.P. YOUTH CONFERENCE ON 18-YEAR-OLD VOTE
11:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, 1969
Senate Office Building Auditorium
1968 Republican Platform Statement on Vote for 18-year-olds
OUR YOUTH TODAY ARE ENDOWED WITH GREATER KNOWLEDGE AND
MATURITY THAN ANY SUCH GENERATION OF THE PAST. THEIR
POLITICAL RESTLESSNESS REFLECTS THEIR URGENT HOPE TO
ACHIEVE A MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COMMENSURATE WITH THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AS RESPONSIBLE
CITIZENS.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE ABILITIES OF THESE YOUNGER
CITIZENS, THEIR DESIRE TO PARTICIPATE, AND THEIR SERVICE
IN THE NATION'S DEFENSE, WE BELIEVE THAT LOWER AGE GROUPS
SHOULD BE ACCORDED THE RIGHT TO VOTE. WE BELIEVE THAT
2/ GOP PLATFORM ON LOWER VOTING AGE
STATES WHICH HAVE NOT YET ACTED SHOULD REEVALUATE
THEIR POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO 18-YEAR-OLD VOTING
AND THAT EACH STATE SHOULD DECIDE THIS MATTER FOR
ITSELF. WE URGE THE STATES TO ACT NOW
####
Michigan Referendum Nov. 8, 1966 onVote for 18-year-olds
Statewide, Michigam voters voted better than 3 to 2
against lowering the voting age to 18. The vote was
1,267,872 "no" to 703,076 "yes."
--
In the Fifth Congressional District, voters rejected the
proposal:
by more than 2 to 1, The combined vote in
Kent and Ionia Counties was 71,170 "no" to 31,173 "yes."
NOTES FOR N.A.A.C.P. CONFERENCE ON 18-YEAR-OLD VOTE
11:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, 1969, Senate Office Bldg Audit.
1. HAVE LONG SUPPORTED GIVING THE VOTE TO 18*YEAR*OLDS.
2. SHOULIN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT EGIVING" THE VOTE TO
18-YEAR-OLDS BECAUSE THEY HAVE EARNED IT.
3.
THEY HAVE EARNED IT BECAUSE THEY ARE
FAR MORE MATURE AT THAT AGE THAN AMERICANS OF EARLIER
GENERATIONS
HAVE SHOWN THEY CAN ACCEPT OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITY.
2/ NOTES ON LOWER VOTING AGE
ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR COUNTRY OR EARNING A LIVING
OR DEBATING THE GREAT ISSUES OF THE DAY IN COLLEGE.
ARE IN MANY CASES BUYING A HOME, RAISING A FAMILY
AND PAYING TAXES.
4.
HAVING ACCEPTED THE OBLIGATIONS AND DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBIDITIES OF CITIZENSHIP, 18*YEAR*OLDS SHOULD
HAVE
ARE ENTITLED TO
THE BASIC RIGHT OF CITIZENSHIP,
THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
3/ NOTES. e NAS.A.C.P. LOWER VOTING AGE
5. LET'S LOOK AT TODAY'S 18*YEAR*OLD: HE IS
BETTER EDUCATED THAN HIS) PARENTS WERE AT THAT AGE
FAR MORE IS EXPECTED OF HIM
HE
THROUGH THE MEDIUM
OF TELEVISION.
IS
SEE HISTORY HAPPENING AND THUS
FAR MORE
KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT CURRENT EVENTS THAN
THE
18*YEAR*OLD OF PREVIOUS GENERATIONS.
FORD
KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT OUR POLITICAL PROCESSES
AND
CAPABLE OF MAKING INTELI IGENT VOTING DECISIONS.
4/ N.A.A.C.P. NOTES ON LOWERING VOTING AGE
6. WHAT IT ALL ADDS UP TO IS THAT OUR 18-19-and-20
YEAR OLDS HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD THROUGH
THE BALLOT.
7.
TODAY THE VAST MAJORITY OF
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
SHOULD, BY RIGHT, BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK AT THE POLLS.
I, FOR ONE, BELIEVE THEY HAVE A CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE
TO THE REST OF THE NATION.
#####
NOTES
WASH, D.C.
APR. 22, 1969
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S.
OFFICE OF THE MINORITY LEADER
Herald R. 3nd
PUBLIC DOCUMENT
M.C.
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
TUESDAY
11:15A.M.
N.A.A.C.P. YOUTH CONFERENCE
18 YR.- OLD VOTE
FORD LIBRARY