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Ford Interviews, September 1948
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4529681
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Ford Interviews, September 1948
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This file contains material relating to Bartel Jonkman.
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Interview Transcripts
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Marshall Plan
Congressional elections
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1966-02-28
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1966
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1948-09-01
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1948
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The original documents are located in Box D37, folder "Ford Interviews, September 1948"
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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 D37 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
HOLLAND RADIO INTERVIEW - September 9, 1948
Radio Station WHTC.
Announcer We now take you to the Warm Friend Tavern etc. etc.
Ford - This is Ford, Jr. speaking. 1"e We are gathered here
Thank you mn Ladiest geatlement
tonight for the purpose of discussing some of the issues of the
campaign in the Fifth District Congressional race in the Repub-
lican Primary. I am one or the candidates and I wish to give the voter
of this community a clear idea of what I stand for. I want to
make the issues plain and discuss them freely. I regret that my
opponent, Mr. Jonkman, did not meet me in public debates so that
we could discuss the issues before the people in a democratic
manner. However, you have a right to know what I stand for.
You are the citizens I hope to serve and I would not presume to
ask for your support unless you knew my opinion on certain fund-
amental questions.
Allen - am a representative citizensof this community and I would
I 2nthemame the
like to begin the discussion by asking you what 1s the most im-
portant issue of this campaign? Why did you decide to run for
Congress and why should we change representatives?
Ford - Mr. Ken Allen, I'm glad you asked me those questions. They are to
the point and should be answered.
I made my decision to run for this office over a year ago.
I had returned from four years duty with the Navy. I had resumed
my civilian status and settled down to work when it gradually
appeared to me that our representative in Washington from this
district was not truly reflecting the opinions of his consti-
tutents.
Allen - In what way?
Ford - Well, one of the first things that struck me was this. The
United States had just finished fighting one of the most devastat -
ing wars of all time. We had barely finished the job of winning
an all-out war and had committed ourselves to trying to establish
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
some semblance of order in war torn nations when the present con-
gressman from our district began to show himself unwilling to go
along with the sound bi-partisan plans of our national leaders
for the economic rehabilitation of Europe.
Allen - You mean the European Recovery Program and other legisla-
tion for the reconstruction of destitute countries?
Ford - Yes, precisely.
Allen - In what way was our congressman failing to "go along",
as you put it?
Ford - It all began with the question of the amount of aid that was
to be given Europe. From the end of the war until very recently
he balked at the recommended appropriations and persistently tried
to whittle them down to ineffective levels. Frankly, I was very
surprised that anyone from our own district would take such an
attitude.
Allen - You mean that folks from this district are in favor of aid
to Europe?
Ford - Absolutely, and speaking of aid, I would venture to say that
the records will show that no other section of the United States
has contributed "more generously by private gifts to relatives
and friends over-seas.
Allen . It's true many citizens in this area have close ties with
friends and relatives in Europe but do you think the European
Recovery Program will help the ordinary citizen in those countries?
Ford - Naturally, that is the aim of the program. It must give the
common man of Europe a real basis for faith in free government.
The program is not designed to make the rich richer and the poor
poorer.
Allen Do you think that we will get our dollars worth out of aid to
Europe?
Ford I most certainly do. Our administrative officials must be
alert and efficient and must tightly supervise the distribution of
materials and funds 80 that the people of Europe can get back on
their feet. A healthy Europe is vitally important to our own
insert>
welfare.
GERALD LIBRARY R. FORD
- 2
Allen - I have heard the criticism that while the United States is
spending vast sums overseas we are neglacting many of our own
citizens who are in need. In this a valid argument against aid
to our former allies? to some sptent
Ford The criticism is just, True, we must spend money in Europe
to and
and try to dry up the communist influence that threatens our
freedom. It is both protective and constructive and we cannot
afford not to do so. However, in our enthusiasm we must not
neglect our deserving citizens at home.
Allen - Speaking of the needs of our own people, what do you think
of the present social security set-up?
Ford - The present social security program should be improved by
broadening the coverage where practical from an administrative cost
point of view and the payments should be put on a more real-
istic level. That is what I was referring to. We are negleot-
ing to provide adequate payments to the people who are dependent
on social security for a livelihood. The money has been paid in
could be funds available
and there are many willions of surplus to increase the payments
without adding to the present 1% deductions. The man who re-
ceived $47.50 a month six years ago and who receives the same
amount today is actually receiving about 60% of his former
purchasing power. There should be an immediate adjustment in
this situation to bring payments up to a fair level. Further,
the money collected from the working man and the employer should
Theysand
This is sound insurance practice.
be ear-marked and used for the purpose for which it was collected.
The money belongs to the people and they should have a fair return.
Allen - To change the subject, I would like to ask a question on
national defense. What do you think should be done to strengthen
our armed forces?
Ford - We now have the peace time draft. We should not be satisfied
with teaching our young men nothing but military techniques.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
From my own experience of 4 years in the Navy in World War II, I
know that in peace time a young man can be taught a civilian
- 3 -
trade and educated to be a productive citizen when his period of
military service ends. The educational phase can best be handled
by competent civilian instructors and I favor a program that will
place this kind of training in the hands of non-military personnel.
I would like to add at this point, while speaking on the ques-
tion of national defense, that we must do everything possible to
keep our country out front in scientific research and development.
It is useless to train men unless we can give them the finest fight-
ing equipment.
Allen - When we started you mentioned "other reasons" why you decided
to run for Congress. What are some of these?
Ford - Well, take the subject of local improvements. I feel that more
should be done for our locality than has been done in the past.
We must remember that the federal government won't step in and do
things for us unless someone is aggressively pushing our needs
to the front, and that is the job of our representative. For
example, the Grand Haven harbor project languished needlessly when
the necessity for expansion was obvious. AN eight year delay was
finally ended but only with outside help. The Holland harbor,
which must be enlearged and improved if this community is to go
forward economically, has not, been given proper attention.
Allen - Can you give any other examples in the field of local im-
provements?
Ford - Yes, I certainly can, and the residents along the Grand River
in both Kent and Ottawa counties are wrought up because they feel
the entire Grand River Valley should have been included in the
flood survey and not just the area around Lansing. As you know,
in 1947 and again in 1948 the Grand River went on & rampage des-
troying thousands of dollars worth of property from the head
waters to its mouth. During the last regular session of Congress
an appropriation was made to survey the river for flood control
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
in a limited area. The damage in Kent and Ottawa counties was
equal to if not greater than that in Lansing, but we weren't
included and Ifeel the blame for this slip-up can be laid
and a failure to appreciate our nuds.
directly to my opponent's lack of vigor1 In the special
session he promised to have the appropriation increased 80
that the lower Grand River areas would be included but the
incumbent came back empty handed and as far as we are con-
cerned the survey is unnecessarily delayed for another year.
Allen - Didn't I read that you had attended a meeting where the
question of soil erosion and lake front property damage was
the subject?
Ford - Yes, and I think it was unfortunate that the State of
Michigan had no official representative present. We all
know that the recent high water in the Great Lakes has
caused great damage to farm land and to other property.
This is just one part of the huge losses this entire nation
is sustaining because we aren't keeping up with nature. Soil
erosion and the loss of productive land for other reasons must
be checked. The conservation of our natural resources should
be a number one item on the agenda for the next Congress.
The 78th, the 79th and 80th Congresses have voted re-
peatedly vast sums of money for reclamation and irrigation
projects which have created great new resort areas in the west.
I have no complaint against these worthy projects that benefit
our nation as a whole, but If I'm elected to Congress I will not
sit idly by and permit our local harbors and tourist facilities
to be neglected.
Allen:- I understand that your opponent has made the statement that
there are no issues in this campaign. What do you think of this
GERALD FORD LIBRANA
assertion?
Ford - If there were no issues I can assure you I wouldn't be in
the race. If I felt this district was being truly represented
Purhaps we should in Washington, There mention are The issues, I age would the dozens candidates. say, let of well them. Mr. Imsman enought I wish alone. is there over was 64 years time old. for 2 am 35.
other
us to examine each questions. We have covered some of the most
important problems facing us. You now know where I stand
on national defense, foreign aid, social security, local 1m-
provements and conservation. These are only a few of the issues
mont
but they touch each and every one of us.
If elected to Congress I promise to make every effort to
represent you to the best of my ability. The worker, the business-
man, the farmer, and the public at large have their rights as
citizens of the United States and each has a stake in this elec-
tion on Tuesday, September 14. No individual, no group, nor
any combination of groups should be permitted to dominate the
other. I will earnestly strive for constructive legislation
that will be for the benefit of this area and the nation as a
whole. It is your decision, be sure to get out and vote Septem-
ber 14th.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD