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6/11/76 - Japanese Americans Citizens League Convention
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6/11/76 - Japanese Americans Citizens League Convention
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Paul Theis and Robert Orben Files (Ford Administration)
Paul Theis' and Robert Orben's Presidential Speeches and Public Statements Files
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Speeches, addresses, etc.
Japanese Americans
Presidential messages
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1976-06-30
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1976-06-01
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The original documents are located in Box 61, folder "6/11/76 - Japanese Americans
Citizens League Convention" of the Paul Theis and Robert Orben Files 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 R. 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SCHEDULE PROPOSAL
DATE: May 25, 1976
FROM: Myron B. Kuropas
MK
THRU: William J. Baroody,
Jr.
B
VIA:
William Nicholson
MEETING:
Filmed message for Japanese American
Citizens League.
DATE:
Any day prior to June 20, 1976
PURPOSE:
To address the Japanese American Citizens
League National Convention stressing those
activities of the Ford Administration which
have benefited Japanese Americans.
FORMAT:
Location: Sacramento, California
Participants: 2500 convention delegates
Expected length of participation: 4 minutes
CABINET
PARTICIPATION:
NONE NEEDED
SPEECH
MATERIAL:
Remarks to be prepared by Robert Orben
and staff
PRESS
COVERAGE:
NONE NEEDED
STAFF:
Myron B. Kuropas
RECOMMENDED:
William J. Baroody, Jr., Myron B. Kuropas
OPPOSED:
:NONE KNOWN
Schedule Proposal
Page 2
PREVIOUS
PARTICIPATION:
The last time the President met with
JACL leadership was on February 19
when he signed a Proclamation recog-
nizing Executive Order 9066 as null.
and void.
BACKGROUND:
The Japanese American Citizens League
is the largest Japanese American organi-
zation with some 30, 000 members. It
is very active both socially and political-
1y and tends to lean towards President
Ford.
RESEARCH
to toRES RES 11:00
6/6mms
to Edit
6/10 12:28
GAMS
REMARKS FOR FILMED MESSAGE TO JAPANESE
AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE CONVENTION
JUNE, II, 1976
on- murs
-1-
I AM DELIGHTED TO GREET THE DELEGATES AND GUESTS
OF THE JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE AS YOU MEET FOR YOUR
of
24th NATIONAL CONVENTION
THIS YEAR WE MARK THE BEGINNING OF OUR THIRD
CENTURY AS AN INDEPENDENT NATION -- AS WELL AS THE 200th
ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
FOR TWO
CENTURIES OUR NATION HAS GROWN, CHANGED AND FLOURISHED
A DIVERSE PEOPLE, DRAWN FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD,
HAVE JOINED TOGETHER TO FULFILL THE PROMISE OF DEMOCRACY
THIS NATION HAS BEEN BUILT BY THE LABOR AND
DEDICATION OF AMERICANS WHOSE FOREBEARS CAME FROM MANY
LANDS
-2-
NO GROUP HAS WORKED WITH GREATER DEVOTION AND COMMITMENT
TO ITS ADOPTED HOME THAN THE MEMBERS OF THE JAPANESE
AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT MANY JAPANESE AMERICANS
WERE UNJUSTLY TREATED DURING THE WAR YEARS, YOUR
COMMUNITY DID NOT TURN ITS BACK ON AMERICA BUT
VOLUNTEERED TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM IN EUROPE -- AN EFFORT
WHICH LED TO THE FORMATION OF THE FAMED 100th INFANTRY
BATTALION AND THE 442nd REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM
-3-
TOGETHER THESE TWO DISTINGUISHED FIGHTING UNITS RECEIVED
SEVEN SEPARATE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATIONS FOR OUTSTANDING
PERFORMANCE/WHILE E/V INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THESE TWO UNITS
WERE AWARDED A TOTAL OF ALMOST SIX THOUSAND AWARDS AND
MEDALS FROM A GRATEFUL UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
IN THE WORDS OF PRESIDENT TRUMAN, WHO MET
WITH THE PROUD MEMBERS OF THE 442nd REGIMENTAL AFTER THE WAR,
"YOU FOUGHT NOT ONLY THE ENEMY, BUT YOU FOUGHT PREJUDICE --
AND YOU HAVE WON."
-4-
TODAY THE JAPANESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY CAN
POINT WITH PRIDE TO OUTSTANDING ARCHITECTS, SCULPTORS,
MUSICAL CONDUCTORS, UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS AND, MORE
RECENTLY, MAYORS, STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND MEMBERS OF
THE CONGRESS
"A PROUD LEGACY," THE THEME OF YOUR
J-A-C-L CONVENTION IS INDEED A MOST APPROPRIATE DESCRIPTION
OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF YOUR ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS YOUR
COMMUNITY.
AS I SPEAK TO YOU THIS EVENING, I AM REMINDED OF
THE LAST TIME I MET WITH A NUMBER OF YOUR LEADERS
IT WAS ON FEBRUARY 19, 1976 WHEN I SIGNED A PRESIDENTIAL
PROCLAMATION ENTITLED "AN AMERICAN PROMISE"
-5-
THE PROCLAMATION DECLARED THAT IN COMMEMORATING OUR
BICENTENNIAL, "AN HONEST RECKONING MUST INCLUDE A
RECOGNITION OF OUR NATIONAL MISTAKES AS WELL AS OUR
NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS."
TONIGHT, I REAFFIRM MY PLEDGE TO CONTINUE THE
FIGHT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AND PREJUDICE IN AMERICA UNTIL
ALL AMERICANS, REGARDLESS OF RACE, RELIGION, SEX OR
NATIONAL ORIGIN ARE TREATED EQUALLY, EQUITABLY AND WITH THE
RESPECT THAT IS OWED ALL OF OUR CITIZENS
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
END OF TEXT
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SCHEDULE PROPOSAL
DATE: May 25, 1976
FROM: Myron B. Kuropas
MK
THRU:
William J. Baroody,
Jr.
VIA:
William Nicholson
MEETING:
Filmed message for Japanese American
Citizens League.
DATE:
Any day prior to June 20, 1976
PURPOSE:
To address the Japanese American Citizens
League National Convention stressing those
activities of the Ford Administration which
have benefited Japanese Americans.
FORMAT:
Location: Sacramento, California
Participants: 2500 convention delegates
Expected length of participation: 4 minutes
CABINET
PARTICIPATION:
NONE NEEDED
SPEECH
MATERIAL:
Remarks to be prepared by Robert Orben
and staff
PRESS
COVERAGE:
NONE NEEDED
STAFF:
Myron B. Kuropas
RECOMMENDED:
William J. Baroody, Jr., Myron B. Kuropas
OPPOSED:
:NONE KNOWN
Schedule Proposal
Page 2
PREVIOUS
PARTICIPATION:
The last time the President met with
JACL leadership was on February 19
when he signed a Proclamation recog-
nizing Executive Order 9066 as null.
and void.
BACKGROUND:
The Japanese American Citizens League
is the largest Japanese American organi-
zation with some 30, 000 members. It
is very active both socially and political-
ly and tends to lean towards President
Ford.
Myron B. Kuropas
PROPOSED REMARKS FOR FILMED MESSAGE TO JACL CONVENTION
x
I am delighted to have this opportunity to greet the delegates and guests
of the Japanese American Citizens League 24th Biennial National
Convention in Sacramento, California.
We now mark the beginning of our Third Century as an independent
nation as well as the 200th Anniversary of the American Revolution.
For two centuries our nation has grown, changed and flourished. A
diverse people, drawn from all corners of the world, have joined
together to fulfill the promise of democracy. P This nation has been
built by the labor and dedication of Americans whose forebear came
from many lands. No group has worked with greater devotion and
commitment to its adopted homel and than the members of the
Japanese American community.
Despite the fact that many Japanese Americans were unjustly forced
to spend the war years in internment camps, your community did not turn
its back on America but volunteered to fight for freedom in Europe, an
effort which led to the formation of the famed 100th Infantry Battalion
and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Together these two distin-
guished fighting units received seven separate Presidential Unit
Citations for outstanding tactical operations while individual members
almost % sex thousand
of these two units were awarded a total of 5,940 awards and medals
fr om a grateful United States Government. R In the words of President
met with
Truman, who viewed the proud members of the 442nd Regimental
after the war, "you fought not only the enemy, but your fought
prejudice and you have won. 11
Today the Japanese American community can point with pride to
outstanding architects, sculptors, musical conductors, university
professors and, more recently, mayors, state representatives and
members of Congress. "A Proud Legacy, " the theme of your JACL
convention is indeed a most appropriate description of your organization
as well as your community.
As I address apeale to you this evening, I am reminded of the last time I
met with a number of your leaders. It was on February 19, 1976
on the occasion of my signing a Presidential Proclamation entitled
"An American Promise. 11 The Proclamation declared that in com-
memorating our Bicentennial, "an honest reckoning must include a
recognition of our national mistakes as well as our national achievements. 11
I called on the American people to recognize that the war time
evacuation of loyal American citizens was wrong and to resolve that
this kind of action shall never again be repeated.
Tonight, I reaffirm that promise and pledge to continue the fight against
discrimination and prejudice in America until all Americans, regardless
of race, religion, sex or national origin are treated equally,
equitably and with the respect that is owed all of our citizenry.
Thank you.
Janka
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 7, 1976
MEMO RANDUM FOR:
GENERAL SCOWCROFT
FROM:
ROBERT T. HARTMANN
SUBJECT:
Proposed Remarks for Filmed Message to
Japanese American Citizens League Convention
Sacramento, Calif.
6/11/76
The President has asked me to obtain your comments on the
draft attached and report them to him. Therefore, I respectfully
request your priority attention and personal response on this
draft (even if you simply approve it as is) by 10:00 AM 6/8/76.
Please return your comments to Bob Orben in the Editorial Office
in Room 115, OEOB (ext. 6573).
To expedite this process, it is not necessary to have your views
on the literary style or grammatical purity of this draft. Please
indicate legibly your suggestions for improving the factual accuracy
and/or the substantive policy statements that are within your area
of expertise and responsibility (either on the attached drafts or on
a separate piece of paper if extensive revisions or substitutions are
recommended).
We will either incorporate your suggestions or, in case of conflicting
views, present the options to the President for his final decision.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Please check one box and sign below:
( ). I approve the draft without changes.
(
Suggested revisions are noted on the draft
or attached separately
Initials: B.S
(Kuropas)
June 7, 1976
FIRST DRAFT
PROPOSED REMARKS FOR FILMED MESSAGE TO JACL CONVENTION 6/11/76
I am delighted to have this opportunity to greet the delegates and
guests of the Japanese American Citizens League 24th Biennial National
Convention in Sacramento, California.
We now mark the beginning of our Third Century as an independent
Nation as well as the 200th Anniversary of the American Revolution.
For two centuries our Nation has grown, changed and flourished. A diverse
people, drawn from all corners of the World, have joined together to fulfill
the promise of democracy.
This Nation has been built by the labor and dedication of Americans
whose forebears came from many lands. No group has worked with greater
devotion and commitment to its adopted home1
than the members of the
Japanese American community.
Despite the fact that many-Japanese Americans were unjustly
treated during
forced for to spend the war year in internment camps; your community did not
turn its back on America but volunteered to fight for freedom in Europe -- an
-2-
effort which led to the formation of the famed 100th Infantry Battalion
and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Together these two distinguished
fighting units received seveñ separate Presidential Unit Citations for
outstanding performance tactical operations while individual members of these two units
were awarded a total of almost six thousand awards and medals from a
grateful United States Government.
In the words of President Truman, who met with the proud
members of the 442nd Regimental after the war, "you fought not only the
enemy, but you fought prejudice -- and you have won. "
Today the Japanese American community can point with pride
to outstanding architects, sculptors, musical conductors, university
professors and, more recently, mayors, state representatives and members
J-A-C-L
of Congress. "A Proud Legacy, " the theme of your JACL convention is
the achevenent P
algoals
indeed a most appropriate description of your organization as well as your
community.
As I speak to you this evening, I am reminded of the last time
-3-
I met with a number of your leaders. It was on February 19, 1976 when I signed
a Presidential Proclamation entitled "An American Promise. " The
Proclamation declared that in commemorating our Bicentennial, "an honest
reckoning must include a recognition of our national mistakes as well as our
national achievements. I-called on the American people to recognize that
the war time evacuation of loyal American citizens was wrong and to resolve
that this kind of action sha 11 never again be repeated
MY
Tonight, I reaffirm that promise and pledge to continue the
fight against discrimination and prejudice in America until all Americans,
regardless of race, religion, sex or national origin are treated equally,
of cityers
equitably and with the respect that is owed all our citizenry.
Thank yourtry you much.
and offer # # # congratulations and respect
dedication in the sacred
to the League weren with reneeved
frust of forebears RECEIVED into America's
third century.
O.C.
(Kuropas)
June 7, 1976
FIRST DRAFT
PROPOSED REMARKS FOR FILMED MESSAGE TO JACL CONVENTION
6/11/76
I am delighted to have this opportunity to greet the delegates and
guests of the Japanese American Citizens League 24th Biennial National
Convention in Sacramento, California.
We now mark the beginning of our Third Century as an independent
Nation. as well as the 200th Anniversary of the American Revolution.
For two centuries our Nation has grown, changed and flourished. A diverse
people, drawn from all corners of the World, have joined together to fulfill
the promise of democracy.
This Nation has been built by the labor and dedication of Americans
whose forebears came from many lands. No group has worked with greater
devotion and commitment to its adopted homel
than the members of the
Japanese American community.
Despite the fact that many Japanese Americans were unjustly
forced to spend the war years in internment camps, your community did not
turn its back on America but volunteered to fight for freedom in Europe -- an
-2-
effort which led to the formation of the famed 100th Infantry Battalion
and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Together these two distinguished
fighting units received seven separate Presidential Unit Citations for
outstanding tactical operations while individual members of these two units
were awarded a total of almost six thousand awards and medals from a
grateful United States Government.
In the words of President Truman, who met with the proud
members of the 442nd Regimental after the war, "you fought not only the
enemy, but you fought prejudice -- and you have won. "
Today the Japanese American community can point with pride
to outstanding architects, sculptors, musical conductors, university
professors and, more recently, mayors, state representatives and members
of Congress. "A Proud Legacy, 11 the theme of your JACL convention is
indeed a most appropriate description of your organization as well as your
community.
As I speak to you this evening, I am reminded of the last time
-3-
I met with a number of your leaders. It was on February 19, 1976 when I signed
a Presidential Proclamation entitled "An American Promise. " The
Proclamation declared that in commemorating our Bicentennial, "an honest
reckoning must include a recognition of our national mistakes as well as our
national achievements. " I called on the American people to recognize that
the war time evacuation of loyal American citizens was wrong and to resolve
that this kind of action shall never again be repeated.
Tonight, I reaffirm that promise and pledge to continue the
fight against discrimination and prejudice in America until all Americans,
regardless of race, religion, sex or national origin are treated equally,
equitably and with the respect that is owed all our citizenry.
Thank you.
# # #
(Kuropas)
to Res Xo
Research
June 7, 1976
To 6/7 Edit. 4:30 4Apm
4/7 3:06 ins
I 4:30
FIRST DRAFT
PROPOSED REMARKS FOR FILMED MESSAGE TO JACL CONVENTION 6/11/76
I am delighted to have this opportunity to greet the delegates and
oh
ale
OR
guests of the Japanese American Citizens League 24th Biennial National
ok
Convention in Sacramento, California.
oh
We now mark the beginning of our Third Century as an independent
oh
Nation as well as the 200th Anniversary of the American Revolution.
For two centuries our Nation has grown, changed and flourished. A diverse
people, drawn from all corners of the World, have joined together to fulfill
the promise of democracy.
This Nation has been built by the labor and dedication of Americans
whose forebears came from many lands. No group has worked with greater
devotion and commitment to its adopted homel
than the members of the
Japanese American community.
Despite the fact that many Japanese Americans were unjustly
ch
oh
P.50
forced to spend the war years in internment camps, your community did not
oh
ok
turn its back on America but volunteered to fight for freedom in Europe -- an
-2-
Leh
effort which led to the formation of the famed 100th Infantry Battalion
of
sh
and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Together these two distinguished
me.
fighting units received seven separate Presidential Unit of Citations for
Leh
(oh
m.
P.3
on
of
outstanding tactical operations while individual members of these two units
oh
cah
Loh
were awarded a total of almost six thousand awards and medals from a
Low oh
grateful United States Government.
oh
In the words of President Truman, who met with the proud
oh
oh
members of the 442nd Regimental after the war, "you fought not only the
(or
ph
enemy, but you fought prejudice -- and you have won."
Today the Japanese American community can point with pride
to outstanding architects, sculptors, musical conductors, university
professors and, more recently, mayors, state representatives and members
Kuropas
oh
(oh
of Congress. "A Proud Legacy, " the theme of your JACL convention is
indeed a most appropriate description of your organization as well as your
community.
As I speak to you this evening, I am reminded of the last time
-3-
wh oh
I met with a number of your leaders. It was on February 19, 1976 when I signed
oh
LOH
a Presidential Proclamation entitled "An American Promise. " The
Proclamation
oh
ch
of
Proclamation declared that in commemorating our Bicentennial, "an honest
2-19-76
reckoning must include a recognition of our national mistakes as well as our
(oh
national achievements. " I called on the American people to recognize that
the war time evacuation of loyal American citizens was wrong and to resolve
that this kind of action shall never again be repeated.
Tonight, I reaffirm that promise and pledge to continue the
fight against discrimination and prejudice in America until all Americans,
regardless of race, religion, sex or national origin are treated equally,
equitably and with the respect that is owed all our citizenry.
Thank you.
# # #