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4/3/75 - White House Conference, San Diego, California
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1252274
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4/3/75 - White House Conference, San Diego, California
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
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The original documents are located in Box 7, folder "4/3/75 - White House Conference, San
Diego, California" of the President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies 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. Gerald Ford 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 7 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN def.
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1975
- 1 -
I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE TODAY ON THE BEAUTIFUL SHORES
OF SAN DIEGO BAY -- AMERICA'S CLEANEST BAY IN TERMS OF SIZE AND
TRAFFIC.
I AM ESPECIALLY PLEASED BECAUSE THIS IS A SHOWCASE
OF WHAT AMERICANS CAN DO ON A LOCAL LEVEL TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND
RESPOND TO THE FUTURE WITH CREATIVITY AND CONFIDENCE.
- 3 -
SAN DIEGO HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY IS GOOD BUSINESS.
I COMMEND YOUR CAREFULLY
MANAGED RESIDENTIAL GROWTH.
SAN DIEGO IS TRULY A CITY
ON WHICH OTHERS COULD BE MODELED.
- 4 -
I AM ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES
NAVY AS A GOOD CITIZEN IN SAN DIEGO, AMONG OUR GREATEST NAVAL
BASES.
AND I PLEDGE TO YOU TODAY, AS ONE WHO SAILED FROM
HERE DURING WORLD WAR TWO, THAT I REMAIN COMMITTED TO A NAVY
SECOND TO NONE IN READINESS, CAPABILITY AND DEDICATION TO OUR
NATION'S HIGHEST IDEALS.
- 5 -
I KNOW THAT THE CONCERNS OF THIS AREA GO BEYOND
YOUR VITAL NAVY INSTALLATIONS.
TOO MANY AMERICANS
ARE WITHOUT EMPLOYMENT.
PRICES AND TAXES ARE TOO HIGH.
NEW SOURCES OF ENERGY ARE ESSENTIAL.
- 6 -
I ALSO KNOW THAT LOCAL PROBLEMS ARE BEST SOLVED
BY LOCAL PEOPLE.
THIS ADMINISTRATION RESPONDED TO YOUR
PIONEERING OF GROWTH MANAGEMENT STRATEGY TO PRESERVE
THE RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT HAS JUST APPROVED SAN DIEGO'S APPLICATION
FOR NINE-POINT-ONE MILLION DOLLARS UNDER THE HISTORIC
NEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT LEGISLATION.
- 7 -
THIS CONFERS UPON SAN DIEGO THE DISTINCTION OF BEING ONE OF THE
VERY FIRST MAJOR CITIES TO RECEIVE SUCH ASSISTANCE.
YOUR ABLE MAYOR, PETE WILSON, TELLS ME THAT ONE OF
THE WAYS THIS GRANT WILL BE USED IS TO SPEED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
BY ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIES TO SAN DIEGO.
- 8 -
FUNDS FROM THIS NEW BLOCK GRANT APPROACH ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE
FIRST TIME TO PREPARE SITES AND, TOGETHER WITH THE ON-THE-JOB
TRAINING PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, OFFER AN EXTRA
INDUCEMENT FOR NEW ENTERPRISES TO LOCATE IN YOUR ALREADY
WORLD-RENOWNED CLIMATE.
- 9 -
THIS KIND OF LOCAL INITIATIVE AND PLANNING PROVES
WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH BLOCK GRANTS INSTEAD OF TRYING
TO RUN EVERYTHING FROM WASHINGTON, AND DEMONSTRATES MY FIRM
CONVICTION THAT THE BEST FEATURES OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
SHOULD NEITHER BE SACRIFICED IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE
NOR STIFFLED BY FEDERAL RED TAPE.
- 10 -
SAN DIEGO IS A SHOWCASE OF THE GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY.
THE NEARBY MEXICAN BORDER IS THE BUSIEST INTERNATIONAL CROSSING
IN THE WORLD, MAKING THIS A GATEWAY CITY WITH A UNIQUE
CHALLENGE.
SAN DIEGO AND TIJUANA SHARE THE SAME AIR AND
WATER AND SEEK JOINT SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS THAT CROSS NATIONAL
BOUNDARIES.
- 11 -
I COMMEND FRONTERAS 1976, THE SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY'S
BICENTENNIAL PROJECT, JOINTLY SPONSORED BY THE CITY AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SAN DIEGO.
THIS PROJECT WILL
ADVANCE REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING --
DEMONSTRATING TO THE WORLD THE POTENTIAL OF CREATIVE COOPERATION
AND INTERDEPENDENCE AMONG SOVEREIGN NATIONS.
- 12 -
SERIOUS PROBLEMS CONFRONT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
AT HOME.
YET UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE GROWTH OF OUR ECONOMY,
AS WELL AS OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO
RELATIONS WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD.
- 13 -
IN RECENT WEEKS WE WITNESSED DISCOURAGING AND TRAGIC
EVENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST ON WHICH WE DEPEND FOR FAR TOO MUCH
OF OUR ENERGY NEEDS.
THESE DEVELOPMENTS DRAMATIZED THE
URGENCY OF MOVING AHEAD IN SAN DIEGO AND THROUGHOUT AMERICA
WITH CONSTRUCTIVE ACTION TO MAKE THIS NATION INDEPENDENT OF
FOREIGN SOURCES OF ENERGY.
- 14 -
TODAY I RENEW MY CHALLENGE TO THE CONGRESS TO ACT BEFORE THE
END OF THIS MONTH ON THE URGENTLY-NEEDED ENERGY PROGRAM I
REQUESTED LAST JANUARY.
WE CAN AFFORD NO MORE DELAYS.
- 15 -
I WOULD NOT BE FRANK AND HONEST WITH YOU IF I WERE TO
IGNORE THE SERIOUS SETBACKS WE HAVE SUFFERED IN RECENT WEEKS IN
OUR QUEST FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND, MORE RECENTLY AND
MORE DRAMATICALLY, IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.
- 16 -
EVEN AS I SPEAK, THE DIMENSIONS OF THE HUMAN
CATASTROPHE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA INCREASE.
WHETHER FROM
YOUR EVENING NEWS SHOWS OR MORNING HEADLINES OR FROM
MY TOP SECRET REPORTS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO BE MOVED
AND SHAKEN BY THE SUDDEN AND TRAGIC DEVELOPMENTS IN
SOUTH VIETNAM.
ALL AMERICANS ARE SHOCKED AND SADDENED
AND WONDERING WHAT WE CAN DO.
- 17 -
FIRST, WE ARE TAKING ALL THE HUMANITARIAN MEASURES
WE CAN TO RELIEVE THE INNOCENT CIVILIAN REFUGEES IN SOUTH VIETNAM
WHOSE PLIGHT TOUCHES THE HEART OF AMERICA.
AT THE SAME TIME,
WE ARE PROVIDING FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL THE AMERICANS WHO FROM A
DEEP SENSE OF DUTY MIGHT BE ENDANGERED BY SWIFT CHANGES IN THE
BATTLE ZONE.
- 18 -
SECOND, AS SOON AS THEY RETURN FROM THEIR EASTER
RECESS AND I HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THEM, I WILL ASK THE
MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS FOR A FIRM AMERICAN COMMITMENT TO
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR THE HELPLESS VICTIMS OF NORTH
VIETNAMESE AGGRESSION IN FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF THE PARIS.
ACCORDS, WHICH SOUGHT TO END THE SUFFERING AND BLOODSHED
ON A CIVILIZED BASIS.
- 19 -
FINALLY, I MUST SAY WITH ALL THE CERTAINTY OF WHICH
I AM CAPABLE: NO ADVERSARIES OR POTENTIAL ENEMIES OF THE UNITED
STATES SHOULD IMAGINE THAT AMERICA CAN BE SAFELY CHALLENGED;
AND NO ALLIES OR TIME-TESTED FRIENDS OF THE UNITED STATES SHOULD
WORRY OR FEAR THAT OUR COMMITMENTS TO THEM WILL NOT BE HONORED,
BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT CONFUSION AND CHANGING SITUATION IN
SOUTHEAST ASIA.
WE STAND READY TO DEFEND OURSELVES AND
SUPPORT OUR ALLIES AS SURELY AS WE ALWAYS HAVE.
- 20 -
AS IT ALWAYS HAS, ADVERSITY IS CREATING A NEW
SENSE OF NATIONAL UNITY AMONG AMERICANS IN THESE SAD AND
TROUBLED TIMES.
I WILL NOT ENGAGE IN RECRIMINATIONS
OR ATTEMPTS TO ASSESS BLAME, NOR SHOULD ANY OF US.
NOT ALL THE FACTS ARE KNOWN.
WHAT IS ESSENTIAL NOW IS
THAT WE KEEP OUR NERVE AND OUR ESSENTIAL UNITY AS A POWERFUL BUT
PEACE-LOVING NATION.
- 21 -
AS PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF, IT IS MY SWORN
DUTY TO MAINTAIN AND STRENGTHEN THE POWER FOR PEACE WHICH THE
UNITED STATES POSSESSES BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD.
- 22 -
THE MILITARY STRENGTH OF THIS NATION DEPENDS, AS IT
ALWAYS HAS, ON ITS ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND THE WILL POWER AND
SELF-DISCIPLINE OF ITS PEOPLE.
THE CREDIBILITY OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE WORLD,
BOTH AMONG OUR ALLIES AND OUR ADVERSARIES, DEPENDS UPON THEIR
ASSESSMENT OF OUR MORAL, ECONOMIC AND MILITARY STRENGTH AND
STAYING POWER.
ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL.
- 23 -
LET ME CONSIDER BRIEFLY THE PROBLEM OF ENSURING AND
INCREASING OUR ECONOMIC STRENGTH.
IN THIS, THE OBVIOUS
PRIORITY IS TO GET OUT OF THE RECESSION WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING,
AND PARTICULARLY TO INCREASE EMPLOYMENT AND GET THE JOBLESS BACK
INTO PRODUCTIVE JOBS.
- 24 -
BUT ALONG WITH THAT URGENT GOAL GOES AN OTHER PRIORITY,
LESS OBVIOUS TO SOME, WHICH IS TO END THE RECESSION WITHOUT
ADDING UNNECESSARILY TO THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES WHICH HAVE
PLAGUED US FOR MANY YEARS PRIOR TO THE RECESSION AND WHICH
HELPED TO BRING IT ON.
WE MUST MAKE MORE JOBS AND REVERSE
THE RECESSION WITHOUT RECKLESSLY INVITING A NEW ROUND OF
DOUBLE-DIGIT INFLATION,
RISING INTEREST RATES
Y
AND HIGHER PRICES
WHICH IN THE LONG RUN WOULD CANCEL OUT WHATEVER STIMULUS AND
EXPANSIONARY INCENTIVE WE CAN APPLY TO THE ECONOMY IN THE SHORT
RUN.
- 25 -
THAT IS WHY I AM DETERMINED TO HOLD THE LINE ON ALL
THE MASSIVE FEDERAL SPENDING PROGRAMS WHICH ARE MOVING THROUGH
THE CONGRESS.
THAT IS WHY I HAVE DRAWN THE LINE AT A MAXIMUM
BUDGET DEFICIT OF SIXTY BILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS WHERE WE STAND
NOW AND IS AS FAR AS WE DARE TO GO WITHOUT ENDANGERING ECONOMIC
RECOVERY.
- 26 -
I AM GRATIFIED THAT SOME OF THE RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS
OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL
AISLE, HAVE SPOKEN PUBLICLY OF THE DANGER OF MORE MASSIVE
DEFICITS.
NOT MERELY THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT THE COUNTRY
NEEDS THEIR HELP AND WILL NEED THEIR VOTES WHEN THE SHOWDOWNS
COME.
- 27 -
BUT I HAVE NO WISH TO WAGE A VETO WAR WITH CONGRESS.
WE HAVE ENOUGH REAL WARS AND RUMORS OF WAR.
WHAT I WOULD
PREFER IS FOR THE CONGRESS TO EXERCISE ITS CONSTITUTIONAL POWER
OF THE PURSE WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY AND PRUDENCE THAT THE PEOPLE
EXPECT OF IT.
CONGRESS MUST CUT RATHER THAN SPEND; IT MUST
REDUCE EXISTING PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF CREATING NEW ONES.
28
IT CANNOT GO ON GIVING AWAY MORE AND MORE GOVERNMENT BENEFITS
WITHOUT CONSIDERING HOW TO PAY FOR THEM, AND THE DAMAGE THAT
WILL BE DONE BY BORROWING TO PAY FOR THEM.
29
WHEN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE TIGHTENING THEIR BELTS
TO GET THROUGH THE WORST RECESSION OF RECENT TIMES -- CAUSED
IN LARGE PART BY DECADES OF DEFICITS AND EVER-GROWING GOVERNMENT
PROGRAMS -- THE CONGRESS SHOULD NOT ASK THEM TO SUFFER THE
CONSEQUENCES OF MORE OF THE SAME FISCAL FOLLY.
- 30 -
I WOULD LIKE THE CONGRESS TO FIX AN ABSOLUTE CEILING
ON FEDERAL SPENDING FOR THE COMING YEAR,
THE CEILING WHERE
I DREW THE LINE.
TO DO THIS EFFECTIVELY, THE CONGRESS MUST
GO ONE STEP FURTHER -- PUT THE ALREADY ENACTED PROCEDURES OF
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET AND IMPOUNDMENT CONTROL ACT OF 1974
INTO EFFECT A WHOLE YEAR AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, STARTING THIS JULY 1.
- 31 -
IN THE FACE OF A HUGE DEFICIT THAT COULD REACH
ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS IF MY BUDGET IS OVERRIDDEN,
IT IS HARD TO SEE HOW CONGRESS CAN REFUSE TO DO THIS AND
RETAIN ANY FISCAL CREDIBILITY.
32
EXCESSIVE FEDERAL SPENDING FOR YEARS HAS FUELED THE
FIRES OF INFLATION AND IMPOSED THE UNFAIREST TAX OF ALL ON THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE -- ROBBING THE RETIRED OF THEIR PENSIONS,
THE ELDERLY OF THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY,
THE HARD-WORKING MAJORITY
OF THEIR PAYCHECKS' FULL VALUE IN THE SUPERMARKET. RUNAWAY
INFLATION CAN RUIN THE PRODUCTIVE GROWTH AND ESSENTIAL STRENGTH
OF THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM AND CRIPPLE OUR ENTIRE AMERICAN
ECONOMY.
33
THAT IS WHY MY ECONOMIC RECOVERY PROGRAM CONTAINS
TWO ELEMENTS, EACH ESSENTIAL TO ITS SUCCESS.
ONE,
\
A QUICK
ONE-TIME TAX CUT TO STIMULATE BUYING POWER AND NEW INVESTMENT
IN JOB-PRODUCING EXPANSION.
THE OTHER,
\
SPENDING CUTS AND
A ONE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON NEW SPENDING BY THE GOVERNMENT --
EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCY AND ENERGY NEEDS.
FEDERAL TAX CUTS ALONE
WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT SIMULTANEOUS FEDERAL SPENDING RESTRAINTS.
- 34 -
I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT SOME ELEMENTS IN THE
CONGRESS WILL TRY TO PAY FOR ADDITIONAL SPENDING PROGRAMS
BY DANGEROUSLY STRIPPING BILLIONS FROM THE DEFENSE BUDGET.
AT A TIME LIKE THIS, NOTHING COULD BE MORE SHORTSIGHTED OR
DEVASTATING TO OUR SAFETY.
INDIVIDUALLY, MANY OF THE DOMESTIC SPENDING
PROGRAMS PROPOSED IN THE CONGRESS MAY HAVE ATTRACTIVE ASPECTS.
THEY PROVIDE HELP TO SOME WORTHYGROUP.
- 35 -
IT IS HARD FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO OPPOSE THEM --
IT WILL BE HARD FOR ME TO VETO THEM IF CONGRESS ENACTS THEM.
BUT IT IS NOT THE INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE UNACCEPTABLE
BUT THE SUM TOTAL OF THEM -- ADDING UP EASILY TO
THIRTY BILLION DOLLARS OR MORE TO BRING THE DEFICIT INTO THE
ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLAR RANGE.
- 36 -
DEFENSE SPENDING, ON THE OTHER HAND, PROVIDES NO
BENEFITS EXCEPT THE MOST PRECIOUS BENEFIT OF ALL -- THE FREEDOM
OF OUR COUNTRY AND THE LAST HOPE FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD.
AS PRESIDENT EISENHOWER so WISELY OBSERVED, ONLY THE STRONG ARE
FREE.
CERTAINLY WE HAVE AMPLE REASON TO BELIEVE THIS TRUTH
TODAY.
- 37 -
MY BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE ARE
THE MINIMUM I BELIEVE TO BE ESSENTIAL FOR OUR SAFETY.
38
IT IS NOW A POPULAR IDEA THAT BECAUSE AMERICANS ARE
NOT FIGHTING ANYWHERE, BECAUSE WE ARE SEEKING TO BROADEN EVERY
AVENUE OF PEACE, THAT WE CAN EXPAND SOCIAL BENEFIT PROGRAMS
AND PAY FOR THEM OUT OF DEFENSE CUTBACKS.
SIMPLE ARITHMETIC
DISPROVES THIS.
I HAVE SEEN CAREFUL MATHEMATICAL PROJECTIONS
THAT SHOW, IF WELFARE AND OTHER TRANSFER PAYMENTS CONTINUE
MERELY AT THEIR PRESENT RATE OF GROWTH -- ABOUT NINE PERCENT
ANNUALLY FOR THE PAST TWENTY YEARS -- HALF OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WILL BE LIVING OFF THE OTHER HALF BY THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND.
39
EXCEPT FOR VASTLY INCREASING TAXES ON THOSE WHO WORK,
THE ONLY WAY SUCH PAYMENTS CAN BE CONTINUED INDEFINITELY IS TO
TAKE THEM AWAY FROM OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE.
OTHER SUPERPOWERS
ARE DOING NOTHING OF THE KIND.
I PLEDGE TO YOU TODAY THAT
I WILL RESIST STRIPPING AMERICA'S DEFENSE CAPABILITY IN EVERY
LEGAL WAY AVAILABLE TO ME.
- 40 -
BUT IF THE MEN AND WOMEN YOU SEND TO THE CONGRESS FAIL TO FACE UP
TO THESE INESCAPABLE REALITIES,
/
REFUSE TO EXERCISE THE BALANCED
JUDGMENT THEIR OWN NEW BUDGET COMMITTEE HAS BEEN SET UP TO
ENFORCE, THEN BY SIMPLE ARITHMETIC IT WILL ONLY BE A FEW SHORT
DECADES BEFORE OUR DEFENSES WILL BE DOWN TO A SINGLE SOLDIER
WITH A SINGLE RIFLE WITH A SINGLE ROUND OF AMMUNITION.
- 41 -
I HAVE MORE FAITH IN AMERICA THAN THAT.
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A OPTIMIST.
AND WHENEVER
I CAN GET AWAY FROM WASHINGTON AND SEE AMERICANS AS THEY
REALLY LIVE AND WORK AND PLAY AND PLAN FOR THEIR CHILDREN,
MY SENSE OF WHAT'S RIGHT WITH OUR COUNTRY IS RECHARGED AND
REINFORCED.
- 42 =
I AM VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY IN THE OPTIMISTIC
ATMOSPHERE AND PROBLEM-SOLVING CLIMATE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
I AM AMONG PEOPLE WITH GREAT EXPERIENCE AND GREAT COURAGE.
43
MANY OF THE HEROIC P.O.W.'S, WHO WERE LIBERATED FROM
NORTH VIETNAM ARE HERE IN SAN DIEGO.
THEY KNOW THE NEED FOR
AN ORDERLY AND PEACEFUL WORLD.
THEY ALSO KNOW --
AS MEN WHO LIVED ON THE BRINK OF DOOM, THE DANGER OF
PESSIMISM.
THEY KNOW THAT THE OBJECTIVE FACTS ARE NOT AS
BAD AS A MOOD OF FRUSTRATION AND FUTILITY TO WHICH SOME OF
OUR COUNTRYMEN ARE TEMPTED TO SUCCUMB.
- 44 -
TODAY I WANT TO APPEAL TO THE COMMON SENSE AND
COURAGE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THIS IS NOT A MOMENT FOR DESPAIR OR FATALISM.
OBVIOUSLY IT IS NOT THE TIME TO DISMANTLE OUR DEFENSE
CAPABILITIES -- INCLUDING OUR INTELLIGENCE CAPACITIES.
- 45 -
WE WILL GO ON HELPING PEOPLE TO HELP THEMSELVES.
IT IS IN KEEPING WITH OUR RELIGIOUS HERITAGE,
1
OUR DECENCY AND OUR
OWN SELF-INTEREST.
WE WILL PRESERVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH PEOPLE
STRIVING FOR FREEDOM.
- 46 -
I REJECT THE PROPHETS OF DOOM WHO SEE
NOTHING BUT DEPRESSION AT HOME AND DESPAIR ABROAD.
I WILL
REJECT ANY ADVICE TO PULL DOWN THE STARS AND STRIPES AND
SAIL HOME FROM THE SEAS OF THE WORLD TO THE SAFE ANCHORAGE OF
SAN DIEGO BAY.
IF WE DO so, THIS ANCHORAGE WILL NO LONGER
BE SAFE.
YOU KNOW IT.
AND I KNOW IT.
- 47 -
UNDER MY PRESIDENCY, WE WILL NEITHER FURL THE FLAG
NOR ABANDON HOPE.
WE WILL MAINTAIN CONSTANCY AND
CREDIBILITY IN AMERICAN POLICY, AT HOME AND ABROAD.
WE ARE LIVING IN A COMPLICATED AND TROUBLED TIME.
EVENTS
ARE MOVING VERY RAPIDLY.
BUT WE WILL NOT WITHDRAW INWARD
NOR SURRENDER TO A STATE OF SHOCK.
- 48 -
AMERICA IS BEING PUT TO THE TEST.
IT IS NOT JUST
A TEST OF OUR MORAL AUTHORITY IN THE WORLD.
IT IS A TEST OF
OUR WILL TO DEVELOP OUR OWN ENERGY RESOURCES,
TO REDUCE
BUREAUCRATIC WASTE,
\
AND TO PRESERVE OUR DOLLAR BY GUARDING
AGAINST NON-ESSENTIAL SPENDING WITH THE SAME VIGILANCE THAT
WE CONTINUE THE WATCHFULNESS AND STRENGTH OF OUR ARMED FORCES.
49
IT IS A TEST OF OUR WILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF
OUR FAMILIES WHILE ASSURING THE MILITARY SECURITY OF OUR NATION.
WE CAN MEET THIS TEST ONLY BY REDUCING VULNERABILITY TO WA
WEAKNESSES IN OUR ECONOMY AND ENERGY CAPACITIES.
THAT IS WHY
AN ADEQUATE SECURITY PROGRAM GOES HAND-IN-HAND WITH SOUND
ECONOMIC POLICIES AND PROMPT, EFFECTIVE ENERGY LEGISLATION.
- - 50 -
AMERICA HAS THE WILL.
AMERICA HAS THE RESOURCES.
AMERICA HAS THE KNOW-HOW.
AND AMERICA HAS THE FAITH.
I SHARE YOUR BELIEF IN AMERICA.
IF YOU DESPAIRED
OF THIS NATION AND ITS FUTURE, YOU WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.
TOGETHER, WE WILL BUILD A NEW AND BETTER TOMORROW.
END OF TEXT