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4/28/76 - Forth Worth-Tarrant County Bar Association, Fort Worth, Texas
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1252827
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4/28/76 - Forth Worth-Tarrant County Bar Association, Fort Worth, Texas
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches and Statements
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Legal matters
Crime
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1976-04-28
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1976-04-28
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The original documents are located in Box 30, "4/28/76 - Forth Worth-Tarrant County Bar
Association, Fort Worth, Texas" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 30 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
PRESIDENT'S REMARKS AT FORT WORTH/
TARRANT COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION LUNCHEON
APRIL 28, 1976
Thank you, Richard-Lee
Senator Tower
John Lawrence / Bill David and Loren Hansen
Judge Brown and Members of the Judiciary
Ladies and Gentlemen
at the outset, let me especially thank the
Southwest High school Band and the Castleberry
High School Concert choir
-1- -
IT IS A GREAT HONOR FOR ME TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON
BEFORE THE DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE FORT WORTH-TARRANT
COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION,
THE FEDERAL BAR ASSOCIATION,
J
AND
THE FORT WORTH- TARRANT COUNTY YOUNG LAWYERS ASSOCIATION
IT IS A SPECIAL PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO BE SPEAKING TO
YOU JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE WE CELEBRATE LAW DAY ALL ACROSS
THE UNITED STATES
-2-
THE RULE OF LAW IS THE VERY FOUNDATION OF ANY
RATIONAL SOCIETY
AND THE RULE OF LAWS CREATED BY
THE PEOPLE,
I
WHICH THE PEOPLE WILLINGLY OBEY,
IS CENTRAL
TO A FREE AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY
-3-
IN OUR BICENTENNIAL YEAR, LAW DAY TAKES ON
SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE.
FOR OUR FOUND ING FATHERS, IN
ESTABLISHING THIS COUNTRY, DARED TO PUT THE ULTIMATE
AUTHORITY INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE FIRST
THREE WORDS OF THE CONSTITUTION: WE, THE PEOPLE
-4-
NOT ALL MEN ACCEPTED THIS IDEA
THOMAS JEFFERSON, IN HIS FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS,
RECOGNIZED THAT SOME HONEST MEN FEARED A REPUBLICAN
GOVERNMENT COULD NOT BE STRONG
-5-
BUT JEFFERSON DISAGREED WITH THEM
HE BELIEVED
THIS TO BE THE STRONGEST GOVERNMENT ON EARTH
HE SAID: " I BELIEVE IT THE ONLY ONE WHERE EVERY MAN,
AT THE CALL OF THE LAW, WOULD FLY TO THE STANDARD OF THE
LAW, AND WOULD MEET INVASIONS OF THE PUBLIC ORDER AS
HIS OWN PERSONAL CONCERN.'
-6-
JEFFERSON TOUCHED THE VERY HEART OF OUR NATIONAL
FAITH
HE SAID HISTORY WOULD TELL WHETHER MEN COULD
BE TRUSTED TO GOVERN THEMSELVES
AND HISTORY HAS
ITS ANSWER
TWO CENTURIES LATER, THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA IS STILL A COUNTRY WHERE THE PEOPLE MAKE THE LAWS,
AND THE PEOPLE OBEY THEM
-7-
AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA STILL HAS THE
STRONGEST AND FREEST FORM OF GOVERNMENT ON EARTH,
AND THAT'S WHY WE CAN SAY
-1
WE ARE PROUD TO BE
AMERICANS
-8-
NOW WE ARE ON THE THRESHOLD OF OUR THIRD
CENTURY
I SEE THIS AS THE CENTURY OF INDIVIDUAL
FREEDOM, IN WHICH INDIVIDUALS WILL INCREAS INGLY
FULFILL THEMSELVES AND ACHIEVE THEIR NATURAL POTENTIAL
-9-
FOR THIS TO BE THE CENTURY OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM,
IT MUST BE THE CENTURY OF INDIVIDUAL SECURITY
FOR THE LAW TO PROVIDE THAT SECURITY, WE MUST HAVE
LAWS THAT ARE RESPECTED
WE MUST KEEP THE LAW ALIVE
BY MAKING SURE THAT IT CHANGES TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS
OF OUR SOCIETY
-10-
WHILE PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED,
OUR EMPHASIS MUST ALWAYS BE ON PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF
THE VICTIM
THE VICTIM MUST BE OUR PRIMARY CONCERN,
AND THE LAW MUST BE OUR MEANS OF FULFILLING THE PROMISE
IN OUR CONSTITUTION: TO ENSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY
-11-
WE MUST CONTINUE WORKING TO IDENTIFY AND SOLVE
THOSE SOCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSE
CRIME IN THE FIRST PLACE
BUT THERE ARE ALSO NEW
EFFORTS WE CAN MAKE, AND HAVE BEEN MAKING, TO FIGHT
CRIME BY IMPROVING THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
WE MUST ENSURE THAT THE LAW IS ADMINISTERED FAIRLY,
SWIFTLY AND SURELY
-12-
ONE OF MY EARLIEST CONCERNS AS PRESIDENT WAS
TO SEEK SOME CURES FOR OUR CRIME PROBLEM
A PROBLEM
WHICH HAS BEEN GROWING FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS
I PUT CRIME CONTROL AMONG THE TOP ITEMS ON OUR NATIONAL
AGENDA
IN 1975 WE SAW THE RATE OF INCREASE IN
CRIME DROP SUBSTANTIALLY, FROM 17 PERCENT IN 1974
TO 9 PERCENT
-13-
AND WE HAVE FOUND SOME PRODUCTIVE WAYS TO
DEAL WITH CRIME BY PROVIDING IDEAS AND FEDERAL SEED
MONEY TO THE STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES WHO HAVE THE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR MOST CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.
-14-
HERE IN TARRANT COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE
LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION WILL HAVE
PROVIDED ALMOST 2 MILLION DOLLARS IN AID TO THE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FROM 1973 TO 1978
-15-
THE MONEY HAS BEEN USED IMAGINATIVELY BY YOUR
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO SERVE MANY PURPOSES
IT HAS HELPED YOUR ATTORNEYS TO USE THEIR TIME AND TALENTS
MORE EFFECTIVELY, BY PROVIDING ADMINISTRATIVE HELP,
CONTINUOUS TRAINING
AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS SUCH
AS COMPUTERS
-16-
ONE VERY IMPORTANT FUNCTION IT HAS SERVED HAS
BEEN TO PUT PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS IN DIRECT AND IMMEDIATE
CONTACT WITH POLICE OFFICERS
-17-
BY SCREENING THE CASES AS THEY ARE BROUGHT IN, PROSECUTION
HAS BEEN MADE MORE EFFECTIVE
THIS HAS HELPED TO
RELIEVE OVERCROWDING IN THE COURTS, WHICH ALL TOO OFTEN
LETS CRIMINALS HIDE BEHIND THE LOGJAM
-18-
WE MUST CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL
TO HELP LOCAL AUTHORITIES IMPROVE THEIR ADMINISTRATION OF
JUSTICE
THAT IS WHY I HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT FUNDING FOR
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION BE EXTENDED
THROUGH 1981, so THAT PROGRAMS LIKE THESE MAY CONTINUE, AND
so THAT WE CAN CONFRONT SPECIAL CRIME PROBLEMS
-19-
FOR EXAMPLE, THE L.E.A.A., LAST YEAR FINISHED
A REPORT ON RAPE AND ITS VICTIMS, AND IS CURRENTLY
SPONSORING A MAJOR NATIONAL SURVEY ON THAT SUBJECT
-20-
THE STUDIES WILL HELP LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO DEAL MORE
SENSITIVELY WITH RAPE VICTIMS, AND WILL AID IN THE
PROSECUTION OF RAPISTS
OVER 18 MILLION DOLLARS OF
L.E.A.A. FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED BY STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES
TO FIND MORE EFFECTIVE WAYS OF DEALING WITH RAPE
-21-
IN ANOTHER AREA, I AM PLEASED TO NOTE THAT TODAY
THE L.E.A.A. AND THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE AGING ARE
SIGNING AN AGREEMENT WHICH WILL HELP TO TARGET LAW
ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES ON THE CRIMINAL THREAT TO THE
ELDERLY
-22-
STILL ANOTHER PROGRAM WITH SPECIAL PROMISE WAS
INSTITUTED AT MY DIRECTION, SHORTLY AFTER I TOOK OFFICE
IN SEPTEMBER OF 1974, I DIRECTED THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT TO UNDERTAKE, IN CONNECTION WITH STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, A CAREER CRIMINAL IMPACT PROGRAM.
-23-
THE CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAM IS FOUNDED ON A
VERY BASIC TRUTH: MOST AMERICANS ARE LAW-ABIDING,
AND THE VAST MAJOR ITY OF SERIOUS CRIMES IN THIS COUNTRY
ARE COMMITTED BY A SMALL MINORITY OF HABITUAL OFFENDERS
-24-
THIS SMALL MINORITY HAS CHOSEN TO PLACE ITSELF
OUTSIDE SOCIETY, COMMITTING CRIMINAL ACTS NOT ONCE BUT
AGAIN AND AGAIN
THEY ARE A CHRONIC THREAT TO OUR
SECURITY
WE MUST IDENTIFY THEM, BRING THEM TO
JUSTICE AND MAKE THEIR PUNISHMENT SWIFT AND CERTA IN
-25-
HERE IN TEXAS, TWO CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAMS
ARE UNDERWAY
IN HOUSTON, ONE PROGRAM BEGAN IN
JULY OF LAST YEAR
AND TODAY THE AVERAGE TIME FROM
9
ARREST TO INDICTMENT IS NINE DAYS FOR THOSE IDENTIFIED AS
CAREER CRIMINALS, VERSUS 42 DAYS FOR OTHER CRIMINAL
CASES
-26-
THE TIME FROM ARREST TO TRIAL FOR CAREER CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS
IS A MONTH LESS THAN FOR OTHER CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS.
SENTENCES HAVE AVERAGED 25.8 YEARS
-27-
AND -- MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL -- SINCE THIS
PROGRAM GOT UNDERWAY IN HOUSTON, THERE HAS BEEN A
SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ARMED ROBBERIES
COMPARED TO THE YEAR BEFORE
-28-
NOT FAR FROM HERE, IN DALLAS, ANOTHER CAREER
CRIMINAL PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN EFFECT FOR THE LAST SIX
MONTHS
IN THAT BRIEF TIME IT HAS ZEROED IN ON 23
THIRD TIME OFFENDERS.
-29-
IT HAS SHOWN THE CAREER CRIMINAL WHAT AWAITS
HIM
OF THOSE 23,
20 HAVE RECEIVED LIFE SENTENCES
AND THREE RECEIVED 40- YEAR SENTENCES
-30-
LET ME MAKE CLEAR THAT WE DO NOT PURSUE THIS
SWIFT JUSTICE AND THESE HEAVY SENTENCES OUT OF VINDICTIVENESS
I BELIEVE THAT IN GENERAL WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO REHABILITATE THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES, AND
TO HELP THEM REGAIN THEIR PLACE IN SOCIETY
-31-
-
BUT FOR THESE CAREER CRIMINALS
REHABILITATION
HAS OBVIOUSLY FAILED
THESE INDIVIDUALS HA VE ALL BEEN
TO CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS BEFORE,
AND THEY HAVE
DEMONSTRATED THAT FOR THEM
AT LEAST
REHABILITATION
PROGRAMS HAVE SERVED NO USEFUL PURPOSE
-32-
THEREFORE, OUR DUTY IS TO PROTECT THEIR INNOCENT
VICTIMS
AND POTENTIAL VICTIMS
-
BY SEPARATING
THESE CAREER CRIMINALS FROM SOCIETY, AND BY KEEPING
THEM CONFINED FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME
-33-
THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS THIS, WE CAN HELP
RELIEVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OF A TERRIBLE THREAT TO THEIR
LIVES AND SAFETY
BY COMBATTING CRIME. WE REAFFIRM
THE RIGHT OF EVERY AMERICAN TO ENJOY LIFE
LIBERTY AND THE
PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
-34-
WE MUST NOT BE CONTENT UNTIL THE POTENTIAL
CRIMINAL FACES ARREST so CERTAIN, PUNISHMENT so HEAVY
THAT HE WILL LOSE HIS TASTE FOR ACTS OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE
-35-
LET ME SUMMARIZE THE ACTIONS I HAVE TAKEN TO
REDUCE CRIME IN AMERICA
IN ADDITION TO INSTITUTING
THE CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAM.
AND RECOMMENDING THE
EXTENSION OF FUNDS FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE
ADMINISTRATION:
-36-
-- MY BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 1977 PROVIDES
FUNDS FOR FOUR NEW FEDERAL PRISONS;
directed
-- I HAVE ASKED THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO
DEVELOP NEW PROGRAMS TO PROTECT AND ASSIST ALL
WITNESSES IN FEDERAL CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS;
-37-
-- WHILE fully SUPPORTING THE RIGHT OF LAW ABIDING
1
CITIZENS TO OWN FIREARMS, I HAVE RECOMMENDED LEGISLATION
WHICH WOULD MAKE MANDATORY SENTENCES FOR THOSE WHO
USE A GUN IN THE COMMISSION OF A FEDERAL CRIME
-38-
-- I HAVE INTENS IFED THE FIGHT AGAINST HARD
DRUGS, WHICH WE ALL KNOW ARE CONNECTED WITH CRIME
JUST YESTERDAY, I SENT TO THE CONGRESS A SPECIAL MESSAGE
ON DRUG ABUSE CALLING FOR MANDATORY MINIMUM PRISON
SENTENCES FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF TRAFFICKING IN HARD DRUGS
-39-
I HAVE CONSULTED WITH THE LEADERS OF MEXICO,
COLOMBIA AND TURKEY TO URGE STRONGER ACTION BY THEM
IN COOPERATING WITH US TO HALT THE FLOW OF HARD DRUGS INTO
THE UNITED STATES
AND I HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT THE
CONGRESS INCREASE FEDERAL FUNDS TO GET DRUG ADDICTS INTO
TREATMENT AND OUT OF CRIME
-40-
WE ARE SPENDING TEN TIMES MORE FEDERAL FUNDS ON DRUG
PREVENTION
TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION THIS YEAR THAN
WE SPENT JUST SEVEN YEARS AGO
-41-
-- IN ADDITION TO MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES
FOR DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND FOR FEDERAL CRIMES INVOLVING THE
USE OF DANGEROUS WEAPONS, I HAVE RECOMMENDED TO THE
CONGRESS MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES FOR REPEAT
OFFENDERS WHO COMMIT VIOLENT CRIMES, AND FOR CRIMINALS
GUILTY OF GRAVE OFFENSES SUCH AS AIRCRAFT HIJACKING AND
KIDNAPPING
-42-
ALL OUR EFFORTS IN THESE MANY AREAS HAVE BEEN
AIMED AT ENSURING DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY AND THE RULE OF
LAW
BUT LET US REMEMBER THAT CRIME IS JUST ONE THREAT
TO THE PEACE AND SECURITY OF ALL AMERICANS
AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL, WE MUST FULFILL OUR OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE
NATIONAL SECURITY AS WELL AS PERSONAL SECURITY
-43-
UNTIL WE CAN ACHIEVE THE RULE OF LAW IN THE
GLOBAL SENSE, A STRONG MILITARY CAPABILITY IS ESSENTIAL
-44-
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MUST BE KEPT SECURE AND
FREE FROM THE THREAT OF OUTSIDE ATTACK
THIS MEANS
WE MUST MAINTAIN OUR HIGH STATE OF MILITARY READINESS --
AND WE WILL
WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA IS UNSURPASSED IN MILITARY CAPABILITY
-45-
HERE IN TEXAS YOU PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN
MAINTAINING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY
YOUR AEROSPACE
INDUSTRY KEEPS US STRONG
HELPS US IN THE SEARCH
FOR NEW WAYS TO DETER AGGRESSION
AND I SALUTE YOU FOR
IT
-46-
THE DEFENSE PROGRAM I AM PROPOSING WILL MEAN
THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL REMAIN UNSURPASSED FOR YEARS
TO COME
-47-
-- JUST ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO WE LAID THE KEEL
FOR THE FIRST OF A NEW CLASS OF NUCLEAR SUBMARINES
TO BE ARMED WITH THE MOST ACCURATE SUBMARINE BALLISTIC
MISSILES IN THE WORLD
THIS TRIDENT MISSILE FLEET WILL
BE THE FOUNDATION FOR A FORMIDABLE, TECHNOLOGICALLY
SUPERIOR FORCE THROUGH THE 1980' So
-48-
-- WE ARE NOW COMPLETING FINAL TESTING
ON THE WORLD'S MOST MODERN AND CAPABLE STRATEGIC BOMBER,
THE B-1.
AND I HAVE BUDGETED OVER ONE AND A HALF BILLION
DOLLARS FOR ITS PRODUCTION IN FISCAL YEAR 1977
-49-
-- WE ARE ACCELERATING WORK ON A NEW INTERCONT INENTAL
BALLISTIC MISSILE FOR THE 1980's;
-- WE ARE DEVELOPING A NEW CRUISE MISSILE FOR OUR
AIR AND NAVAL FORCES
-- NOR DOES OUR EFFORT STOP WITH WEAPONS
FOR
WE ARE ALSO EXPANDING OUR ARMY FROM 13 TO 16 COMBAT
DIVISIONS
-50-
I PLEDGE THAT WE WILL KEEP AMERICA STRONG
NOT STRONG FOR THE SAKE OF WAR -- BUT STRONG FOR THE
SAKE OF PEACE
WE WILL CONTINUE OUR POLICY OF
PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH
AND AT THE SAME TIME
WE
WILL MAINTAIN OUR ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP,
NEGOTIATING WHEREVER POSSIBLE TO REDUCE THE LEVEL OF
TENSIONS IN THE WORLD
-51-
THERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS, NO SIMPLE SOLUTIONS
TO THE COMPLEX PROBLEMS OF PERSONAL AND NATIONAL SECURITY
BUT OUR DETERMINATION TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS IS IN
ITSELF A SOURCE OF STRENGTH
-52-
AND OUR WARNING TO THOSE WHO THREATEN OUR SECURITY,
AT HOME OR ABROAD, IS THE SAME:
AMERICANS WILL NEVER BE INTIMIDATED, AND AMERICANS
WILL KEEP THE SECURITY AND INDEPENDENCE WE HAVE HAD
FOR 200 YEARS
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
END OF TEXT