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7345350
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Remarks of the Vice President at Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Missouri [Speeches by Others]
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7345350
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Remarks of the Vice President at Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Missouri [Speeches by Others]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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1976-08-19
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8
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1976
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Digitized from Box 30 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR INTEDIATE DELIVERY
AUGUST 19, 1976
Office of the Vice President
(Kansas City, Missouri)
REMARKS OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
KEMPER ARENA
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
(7:05 P.M. CDT)
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Delegates to the convention, fellow Americans, last
night in this hall the Republican. Party made history. First,
it endorsed the solid achievements of the first person ever
to hold the office of President of the United States by
appointment.
(Applause.)
The man who brought this Nation successfully through
one of the gravest constitutional crises, Gerald R. Ford.
(Applause.)
Second, in the spirit of spirited contest, it showed
everyone how in our society a political party can choose its
standard bearer by open balloting with the world watching.
(Applause.)
Third, it showed how the contest was resolved. The
contenders could meet afterwards with mutual respect and good
will and pledge their joint efforts for the party and for the
Nation.
(Applause.)
I ask you, ladies and gentlemen, where else in the
world would the winner go to call on the runner-up?
(Applause.)
And in how many places in the world would he be
received by the runner-up at all, much less be greeted so
graciously as was Gerald Ford last night by Ronald Reagan.
(Applause.)
When we came here, it was my hope, and I believe
the hope of most Americans, that out of this convention
would come a re-united, re-invigorated Republican Party; a
party determined to meet the Nation's problems with new
solutions, grounded on historic American principles.
A giant step was taken in that direction last night.
Tonight we take another such step, for tonight we choose a
running mate for our Presidential candidate.
And for that, we need to choose first and foremost
a person who could serve as President if, God forbid, the
President himself could no longer serve. Secondly, a person
who is devoted to the principles of the Republican Party and
MORE
Page 2
not only the fundamental principles of our American system
of government, but also the principles of our unique enter-
prise system, to our personal liberty, and our individual
economic freedoms. Third, a person who can be a partner of
our President and our Presidential candidate in this election
and an aid to our President in the discharge of his duties.
You and I know such a man. If emergency required,
he could serve as our Chief Executive, for he knows the ways
of government. He has served local government as a County
Attorney for four years. He has served his State as a Legis-
lator. He has served in the Federal Government; first elected
as a member of the House of Representatives, serving for
eight years, and thereafter elected as a Senator, a United
States Senator, now serving in his second term.
He knows our economic system. He has served in
two of the most important committees of the Senate -- the new
Budget Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.
He understands the complexities of modern economic
life. He never loses sight of what really makes our enter-
prise system tick. He knows what it takes to have a healthy
farm economy.
(Applause.)
He knows how vital America's farm families and
their productivity are to feeding the world. He knows that
our founding fathers did not ordain that all wisdom should
be derived from the District of Columbia, but that the great
driving force of this Nation was to be found in the common
people of America -- in their cities, in their home towns,
and their farms, in our individual enterprise system. in our
voluntary efforts.
He has lived this knowledge, not only in his public
life but in his civic associations, his professional activ-
ities, and in his philanthropic causes.
He is a person of compassion. He has never for-
gotten the sacrifices of others -- our Vietnam POWs, the
families of our men missing in action, the handicapped who
have no greater champion.
He knows, too, how precious is the gift of freedom,
He knows that every generation of Americans must secure that
freedom, again and again, by its own sacrifices.
He has lived this knowledge, too, through five and
a half years of combat in World War II, twice wounded and
twice decorated for heroic achievement.
He has that quality of candor, of openness, forth-
rightness, so needed in our times, in the Executive posts
of our government, in the Legislative process, and in our
political campaigns and our political candidates.
He is able, articulate, courageous, and decisive.
He is a man who can pass the test once put out by that great
and beloved Missourian from Independence who said so aptly:
"If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen."
(Applause.)
HORE
Page 3
The man of whom I speak can take the heat, ladies
and gentlemen, and if you ask those of us who really know him,
he cannot only take it, believe me, he can really dole it
out.
(Applause.)
I have the honor to nominate as the Republican
candidate for the Vice Presidency of the United States the
distinquished Senator of Kansas, Senator Robert J. Dole.
(Applause.)
END
(AT 7:20 P.M. CDT)