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GOP National Convention, Miami Beach, FL, August 23, 1972
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4526442
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GOP National Convention, Miami Beach, FL, August 23, 1972
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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The original documents are located in Box D33, folder "GOP National Convention, Miami
Beach, FL, August 23, 1972" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
(Prom RNC files)
191
REMARKS OF MINORITY LEADER GERALD R. FORD
ovation)
PERMANENT CHAIRMAN
OF THE
1972 GOP NATIONAL CONVENTION
:e I am deeply honored to
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA
airman of the National
8/23/72
1. The record shows that
5
over 70 percent of the delegates here today and 85 percent
6
of the alternate delegates with us are participating for the
7
first time in a national convention. Only a very few of you
8
were here when I banged down the gavel to adjourn our 1968
9
convention four years ago. No wonder I got elected today
10
SO easily.
11
I want to express my deep appreciation and to thank
12
the old timers and also the first termers. We need both and
13
we want both in this great campaign in 1972. (Applause)
Furthermore, I am very proud to be the choice of
14
15
delegates freely selected through the open door policy of
16
our Republican Party. (Applause)
17
Republicans have done this without the heavy hand
18
of arbitrary quota, without discrimination or drumming anybody
out of our ranks, and I might add without highest pretentions.
19
We have gathered here a greater and more representative con-
20
vention than ever before in the history of the Republican
21
Party. (Applause)
22
Thirteen percent young, five percent black, thirty-
23
four percent of the sweeter and the stronger sex. More
24
25
Digitized from Box D33 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
191
1
(Applause and standing ovation)
2
CHAIRMAN FORD: Once more I am deeply honored to
3
have been chosen the Permanent Chairman of the National
4
Convention of the Republican Party. The record shows that
5
over 70 percent of the delegates here today and 85 percent
6
of the alternate delegates with us are participating for the
7
first time in a national convention. Only a very few of you
8
were here when I banged down the gavel to adjourn our 1968
9
convention four years ago. No wonder I got elected today
10
so easily.
11
I want to express my deep appreciation and to thank
the old timers and also the first termers. We need both and
12
13
we want both in this great campaign in 1972. (Applause)
Furthermore, I am very proud to be the choice of
14
delegates freely selected through the open door policy of
15
16
our Republican Party. (Applause)
Republicans have done this without the heavy hand
17
of arbitrary quota, without discrimination or drumming anybody
18
out of our ranks, and I might add without highest pretentions.
19
We have gathered here a greater and more representative con-
20
vention than ever before in the history of the Republican
21
Party. (Applause)
22
Thirteen percent young, five percent black, thirty-
23
four percent of the sweeter and the stronger sex. More
24
25
192
1
importantly, we are all 100 percent dedicated to a better
2
future for all Americans. (Applause)
3
Yes, there is a very big difference here in Miami
4
in 1972. If I might, let me say something quite personal.
5
There is also a very big difference in my own feeling as I
6
assume this responsibility this afternoon. Four years ago
7
I presented our candidate to the cheers that shook this
8
convention hall. I felt then that his election in 1968 was
9
essential for the survival of the Republican Party. This
10
year, my fellow Americans, I feel with all my heart that
11
the re-election of Richard Nixon is absolutely essential to
12
the survival of the United States of America. (Applause)
There is a big difference in 1972 to our party but
13
an even bigger difference to our country and millions and
14
15
millions and millions of Americans know this -- Democrats,
16
Independents and Republicans.
17
Four years ago we campaigned on promises as Repub-
18
licans. This year we campaigned on performance, on promises
President Nixon has kept to the American people. (Applause)
19
Four years ago we had a fine candidate with long
20
experience in government and world affairs. This year we
21
have a proven candidate, a proven President, the seasoned
22
statements of the world as a whole. (Applause)
23
Recently I returned from a 19,000 mile journey to
24
the Great Wall of China following the peace making path set
25
193
1
by President Nixon and our wonderful First Lady. There was,
2
however, one part of China, that part which we used to call
3
Manchuria, where we, our party, were the very first official
4
Americans as visitors for 24 years.
5
In the seal making center in far northeast China
6
one afternoon I took a casual stroll after lunch. I came
7
upon a row of bulletin boards along the sidewalk displaying
8
photographs of current events. The Chinese call this display
9
the people's newspaper. The crowd was clustered tightly
10
around just one of the many boards and I as a stranger pressed
closer to see what caused their curiosity, to see what they
11
12
were looking at. Can you imagine what they were looking at?
13
They were looking at the pictures of President Nixon's historic
visit to Peking. They turned to me, a lone American, with
14
smiles that shattered the language barrier and defied a full
15
16
generation of suspicion.
At that very moment, it was a very funny thing for
17
me to think of but I did. Surrounded by Chinese of all ages
18
in a far away city I thought back to January 3, 1949, when I
19
had just lowered my right hand after being sworn in as a
20
freshman member of the House of Representatives. One of the
21
first hands that grasped mine was that of a very, very, very
22
senior Congressman from California -- he had been in the
23
House one full term. He said to me, "Jerry, I'm Dick Nixon;
24
we are glad to have you here."
25
194
1
And there was Richard Nixon, President of the United
2
States, on a Chinese bulletin board 23 years later, making
3
friends for me in the middle of Manchuria.
4
My fellow Americans, I have had the privilege of
5
seeing first-hand what tremendous things Richard Nixon has
6
done for all of us at home or abroad. Let me speak now for
7
just a minute quite freely. From my vantage point in the
8
Congress and specifically in the House of Representatives, I
9
have also seen what he has tried to do for America but unfor-
10
tunately could not do. President Nixon could not do it
11
because, for the last four years, he has had to work with a
12
majority of the other party in control of the House of Repre-
sentatives and the same problem in the Senate with a whole
13
fistful of would-be Presidents and self-appointed Secretaries
14
of State. (Applause)
15
Let me ask all of you Delegates and Alternates and
16
17
guests a question. Doesn't President Nixon deserve a Republi-
can Congress for the next four years? (Applause)
18
Really, truly, that could. be the biggest difference
19
of all between 1968 and 1972. This year a Republican Congress
20
is not an impossible dream. Let's do it starting right
21
tonight. (Applause)
22
As Republicans, we seek not power but responsi-
23
bility to finish the work we are in to bind up the Nation's
24
wounds, to return problem-solving to the people themselves,
25
195
1
to serve the common causes of order as well as justice, to
2
increase the opportunity and the prosperity of all, and to
3
make certain a full generation of peace worldwide, and we so
4
pray. In this task, we welcome the help of all Americans, and
5
we pray for the blessing of Almighty God.
6
Thank you very much. (Applause)
7
(Musical interlude)
8
(Showing of film of President Nixon arriving at
9
Miami International Airport)
10
CHAIRMAN FORD: Delegates, Alternates, and guests,
11
wasn't that a fabulous welcome for a great President to the
12
State of Florida? (Applause)
13
Delegates and Alternates ,at this point Mrs. Ranny
Riecker, National Committeewoman for the State of Michigan,
14
15
has requested permission for a special presentation to the
16
Republican Party.
17
MRS. RIECKER: Thank you, all of you.
18
Mr. Chairman, a special gavel has been carved this
year from a limb of an oak tree growing at the site and time
19
of the first Republican Convention, on July 6, 1854, at
20
Jackson, Michigan. A month ago, Michigan Republicans dedi-
21
cated ground, "Under the Oaks," in Jackson for a political
22
museum.
23
We would like this gavel, deep with historical sig-
24
nificance, to become the permanent gavel for all future
25