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5/13/76 - Remarks at Annual Meeting of American Jewish Committee
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1252863
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5/13/76 - Remarks at Annual Meeting of American Jewish Committee
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
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The original documents are located in Box 32, "5/13/76 - Remarks at Annual Meeting of
American Jewish Committee" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 32 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE
WASHINGTON HILTON HOTEL
THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1976
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE DINNER
THANK YOU, MR. FISHER.
(Max Fisher introduces you.)
MR. WINTER
(President of the American Jewish
Committee)
YOUR EXCELLENCIES
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
MY ASSOCIATES IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
-1-
I AM PLEASED AND HONORED TO CONGRATULATE
THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE ON ITS 70th ANNIVERSARY
AS THE COMMITTEE TODAY CELEBRATES ITS ANNIVERSARY,
WE ARE
(
ALL OF US,
)
OBSERVING OUR BICENTENNIAL
-2-
THE BICENTENNIAL RIGHTFULLY ADDRESSES THE JEWISH CONTRIBUTION
TO AMERICA, ALONG WITH THE OTHER VITAL INGRED IENTS
OF OUR NATIONHOOD
THE TRADITIONAL JEWISH CONCEPTS
OF JUSTICE
LIBERTY,
FAMILY AND CITIZENSHIP ARE PART AND PARCEL
OF THE AMERICAN HERITAGE
-3-
WHEN AMERICA'S FOUNDERS CREATED THIS REPUBLIC
200 YEARS AGO, THEY SAW IT AS A PROMISED LAND
THEY WERE INSPIRED BY THE MORAL AND ETHICAL VALUES
OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AS WELL AS BY THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS
-4-
AS WE REAFFIRM AMERICA'S TRADITIONAL SEPARATION
OF CHURCH FROM STATE, WE ALSO HONOR THE SPIRIT
OF OUR CONSTITUTION WHICH DRAWS ITS MORAL PHILOSOPHY
FROM THE JEWISH-CHRISTIAN HERITAGE.
-5-
RELIGIOUS VALUES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF THE PROMISE
OF AMERICA:
-- THE INFINITE VALUE WE PLACE ON EACH INDIVIDUAL,
-- THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN DIGNITY,
-- THE COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS, AND
-- THE FIRM BELIEF IN JUSTICE FOR ALL
-6-
AMERICA HAS GROWN GREAT BECAUSE AMERICA
HAD THE WISDOM TO INVITE DIVERSITY.
JUDAISM AND ALL OF OUR RELIGIONS HELPED TRANSLATE
THE BASIC CREDOES OF RELIGIOUS FAITH INTO THE PRINCIPLES
AND RULES THAT GOVERN OUR DAILY LIVES.
-7-
I AM TONIGHT ESPECIALLY MINDFUL OF THE UNIQUE
BLENDING OF THE JEWISH HERITAGE WITH THE MULTITUDE OF
DIVERSE CULTURES OF OUR COUNTRY
I COMMEND THE WORK
OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE AND THE SPIRIT WITH
WHICH YOU HAVE TRANSLATED JEWISH CONCERNS INTO CONCERN
FOR ALL HUMANITY
-8-
WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE AN AGENCY OF THE AMERICAN
JEWISH COMMITTEE CO-SPONSOR A WHITE HOUSE MEETING
ON ETHNIC DIVERSITY AND GROUP IDENTITY NEXT MONTH
-9-
WHEN SIX MILLION JEWS WERE so CRUELLY MURDERED
IN WORLD WAR TWO, THE VICTIM WAS NOT ONLY THE JEWISH PEOPLE
BUT CIVILIZATION ITSELF.
ON MY VISIT TO THE NOTORIOUS AUSCHWITZ CONCENTRATION
CAMP LAST SUMMER, I SAW THE WORDS "NEVER AGAIN".
THIS MUST APPLY TO ALL GENOCIDE
EITHER PHYSICAL OR CULTURAL
-10-
THE UNITED STATES STANDS BY THE FUNDAMENTAL
HUMANITARIAN PRINCIPLE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE FREE
TO EMIGRATE AS THEY CHOOSE
A FEW YEARS AGO,
WE ACHIEVED A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN EMIGRATION
FROM THE SOVIET UNION
-11-
I WILL DO MY UTMOST TO RESTORE THIS EMIGRATION
IT WILL BE A COMPLEX PROCESS,
IN WHICH THE CONGRESS
AND I WILL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER
BUT THE DOORS WERE
OPEN BEFORE AND WE MUST STRIVE TO RE-OPEN THEM NOW
-12-
THE REALIZATION OF OUR MUTUAL GOALS
f
ADVANCEMENT OF THE POLITICAL AND SPIRITUAL FREEDOM OF ALL
PEOPLE
IS A PRIORITY ITEM ON AMERICA'S CONSCIENCE.
THE PROCLAMATION OF LIBERTY MUST BE WRITTEN NOT ONLY
IN OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE BUT IN OUR HEARTS
-13-
YET, JUST AS YOU CANNOT DO ALL THAT MUST BE DONE,
NEITHER CAN YOUR GOVERNMENT
TOGETHER, WE MUST HAVE
A CREATIVE PARTNERSHIP
VOLUNTARY EFFORTS SUCH AS THOSE
PERFORMED so BRILLIANTLY BY THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE
-
COMBINED WITH FEDERAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITY AND THE WILLINGNESS
TO ACT,
TO PRESERVE AND EXTEND THE VALUES WE SHARE.
-14-
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO THERE WERE RELATIVELY
FEW JEWS IN AMERICA
THOUGH SMALL IN NUMBER,
THEY WERE GREAT IN SPIRIT
THEY SERVED IN ALL CAPACITIES.
-15-
GEORGE WASHINGTON TURNED TO ONE PATRIOT
OF JEWISH FAITH, HAYM (HIGH-M) SOLOMON, WHEN THE
BUDGET OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY WAS DEPLETED
SOLOMON
SACRIFICED HIS PERSONAL FORTUNE AND ENCOURAGED OTHERS TO
JOIN IN FINANCING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
IN PURSUING
JUSTICE AND LIBERTY, HE PERSONIFIED THE FINEST QUALITIES OF
AMERICAN PATRIOTISM
-16-
IN THOSE EARLY DAYS, WE BENEFITTED NOT ONLY
FROM OUR OWN PATRIOTS BUT FROM OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE
TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN OUR INDEPENDENCE
TODAY, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF RELIGION,
SEE JUSTICE IN THIS NATION'S TRADITIONAL AND SPECIAL
RELATIONSHIP TO A KINDRED NATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST --
THE STATE OF ISRAEL
-17-
THE FIRST HEAD OF A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO VISIT
THE WHITE HOUSE IN THIS BICENTENNIAL YEAR WAS PRIME MINISTER
RABIN OF ISRAEL
HE PAID HOMAGE TO THE SHRINE
OF OUR FREEDOM IN PHILADELPHIA®
THE ISRAELI TRIBUTE TO OUR BICENTENNIAL
DEMONSTRATES THE BASIC VALUES SHARED BY AMERICA WITH ISRAEL
-18-
-- BOTH NATIONS WERE BORN IN THE FACE
OF ARMED OPPOSITION
-- BOTH NATIONS ARE A HAVEN FOR PEOPLE
FLEEING PERSECUTION.
-- BOTH NATIONS FIND THEIR VITALITY AND THEIR VISION
IN A COMMITMENT TO FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY.
-19-
-- BOTH NATIONS SHARE THE COURAGE AND DETERMINATION
TO PRESERVE THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY.
ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE AN AFFINITY
NOT ONLY FOR EACH OTHER BUT FOR BASIC PRINCIPLES
OF DEMOCRATIC SELF-GOVERNMENT WHICH DISTINGUISH
THESE TWO NATIONS FROM MOST OF THE OTHER COUNTRIES
OF TODAY'S WORLD
-20-
AMERICA MUST AND WILL PURSUE FRIENDSHIP
WITH ALL NATIONS
BUT, THIS WILL NEVER BE DONE
AT THE EXPENSE OF AMERICA'S COMMITMENT TO ISRAEL
A STRONG ISRAEL IS ESSENTIAL TO A STABLE PEACE
IN THE MIDDLE EAST
OUR COMMITMENT TO ISRAEL WILL MEET THE TEST
OF AMERICAN STEADFASTNESS AND RESOLVE
-21-
MY ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT BE FOUND WANTING
THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE TO HELP ISRAEL
PROVIDE FOR HER SECURITY
-22-
THE FUNDS WHICH I HAVE PROPOSED TO THE CONGRESS
FOR THE TWO BUDGETS I HAVE SUBMITTED TOTAL OVER
FOUR BILLION DOLLARS
I FAVOR SUCH AID BECAUSE IT IS
so CLEARLY IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST OF THE
UNITED STATES AND so ESSENTIAL TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE PEACE
IN THE MIDDLE EAST
-23-
THESE FIGURES SPEAK FAR MORE ELOQUENTLY THAN
ANY WORDS OF MY COMMITMENT TO THE SURVIVAL AND SECURITY
OF ISRAEL
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE REMAIN TRUE TO OUR
COMMITMENTS NOT ONLY FOR OURSELVES BUT FOR ALL THOSE WHO RELY
UPON US
WE MUST NOT LOSE THE VISION THAT HAS MADE THIS
COUNTRY A BEACON TO ALL WHO SEEK FREEDOM
-24-
BUT OUR STRENGTH AND OUR GOALS ARE TO NO AVAIL
IF WE LACK THE COURAGE, THE UNITY, AND THE WILL TO UTILIZE
OUR STRENGTH IN SUPPORT OF OUR FRIENDS
WITHOUT COHESIVENESS OF PURPOSE AT HOME, OUR FRIENDS CANNOT
REALLY BE PROTECTED NOR OUR OPPONENTS LONG DISSUADED
FROM AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS
-25-
MY DEDICATION TO ISRAEL'S FUTURE GOES BEYOND
ITS MILITARY NEEDS TO A FAR HIGHER PRIORITY -- THE NEED
FOR PEACE
-26-
WE APPRECIATE ISRAEL'S DILEMMA IN MOVING TOWARD
PEACE
ISRAEL IS ASKED TO RELINQUISH TERRITORY --
A CONCRETE AND ESSENTIALLY IRREVERSIBLE STEP --
IN RETURN FOR BASICALLY INTANGIBLE POLITICAL MEASURES
BUT IT IS ONLY IN WILLINGNESS TO DARE THE EXCHANGE OF THE
TANGIBLE FOR THE INTANGIBLE THAT HOSTILITY CAN BE ENDED
AND PEACE ATTAINED
-27-
I AM VERY PROUD THAT DURING MY ADMINISTRATION,
THE UNITED STATES HAS SEEN A MAJOR AND SUCCESSFUL MOVEMENT
TOWARD PEACE, PROSPERITY AND TRUST ABROAD AS WELL AS
AT HOME
-28-
LAST SEPTEMBER'S SINAI AGREEMENT WAS A MILESTONE ON THE ROAD
TO PEACE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN INCONCEIVABLE JUST A FEW YEARS
AGO
I COMMEND ISRAEL'S BOLD AND COURAGEOUS DECISION
ISRAELIS AND EGYPTIANS ARE NO LONGER DYING IN THE SANDS
OF THE SINAI PENINSULA
-29-
THE PEACE PROCESS MUST CONTINUE WITHOUT
ONE-SIDED CONCESSIONS -- BUT WITH STEADY PROGRESS
STALEMATE AND STAGNATION CREATE UNACCEPTABLE RISKS
OF FURTHER CONFLICT
-30-
THE UNITED STATES IS DEDICATED TO A JUST AND
LASTING PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
WE HAVE WORKED
UNCEASINGLY TO THAT END
WE SHALL CONTINUE TO DO so
YET, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, IT IS THE PARTIES TO THE DISPUTE
WHO MUST MAKE PEACE A REALITY
-31-
THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ACHIEVE THAT PEACE
EXISTS EQUALLY ON ALL THE PARTIES, WHO MUST CONTRIBUTE,
EACH IN FULL MEASURE, TO THE PEACEMAKING PROCESS
AMERICA'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ENCOURAGE BOTH SIDES
TO END THE STATE OF WAR THAT HAS FOR TOO LONG PLAGUED
THE MIDDLE EAST AND THREATENED WORLD PEACE
-32-
THE 1973 WAR HAS HAD DANGEROUS POLITICAL AND
ECONOMIC REPERCUSSIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
IT CAUSED STRAINS ON OUR ALLIANCES AND NEAR-CONFRONTATION
WITH THE SOVIET UNION.
THE RESULTING OIL EMBARGO AND
DRASTIC AND UNWARRANTED OIL PRICE INCREASES CAUSED
SEVERE PROBLEMS OF RECESSION AND INFLATION.
-33-
I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE
EAST
THIS IS NOT ONLY FOR THE SAKE OF THE ISRAELI AND
ARAB PEOPLES BUT FOR THE WELL-BEING OF ALL AMERICANS
AND ALL HUMANITY
-34-
THE UNITED STATES HAS DEMONSTRATED THE STRENGTH
OF OUR FREE ECONOMY -- AS WELL AS OUR FAITH AND VISION
OF THE FUTURE
THESE QUALITIES ARE CHARACTERISTIC
OF A KINDRED PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
-35-
AMERICANS AND ISRAELIS HAVE BOTH BEEN INSPIRED BY MORAL
AIMS
INDEED, MY COMMITMENT TO THE SECURITY AND FUTURE
OF ISRAEL IS BASED UPON BASIC MORALITY AS WELL AS ENLIGHTENED
SELF-INTEREST
OUR ROLE IN SUPPORTING ISRAEL HONORS
OUR OWN HERITAGE
-36-
AMERICA REMAINS THE REAL HOPE FOR FREEDOM
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
WE WILL REMAIN THE ULTIMATE GUARANTOR OF
ISRAEL'S FREEDOM.
IF WE FALTER, THERE IS NO ONE TO PICK UP THE TORCH
IF WE WITHDRAW INTO OURSELVES, THOSE WHO RELY ON US,
THOSE WHO GAIN THEIR STRENGTH FROM US, ARE LOST
-37-
BUT WE WILL NOT FALTER; WE WILL NOT WITHDRAW
WE WILL REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR DEDICATION
TO PEACE AND TO THE SURVIVAL OF ISRAEL
-38-
THERE MAY AT TIMES BE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
AMERICA AND ISRAEL OVER THE MEANS TO ACHIEVE MUTUAL GOALS
BUT THERE HAS NOT AND WILL NOT BE ANY EROSION OF THE
FUNDAMENTAL AMERICAN-ISRAELI FRIENDSHIP
NOR WILL
I FORSAKE THE GOAL OF PEACE OR THE MORAL COMMITMENT
TO ISRAEL WHICH I NOW REAFFIRM
-39-
WITH THAT CONVICTION, I TONIGHT REITERATE
THE WORDS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON TO THE HEBREW CONGREGATION
OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND TWO CENTURIES AGO
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE "TO GIVE
TO BIGOTRY NO SANCTION, TO PERSECUTION, NO ASSISTANCE
THAT IS MY GOAL WORLDWIDE AS IT IS AT HOME
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
END OF TEXT