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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Blackwell, Morton: Files
Folder Title: Christian Voice (2 of 2)
Box: 35
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection.
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
file
CHRISTIAN VOICE
Strategy and Objectives
I.
Premise: Christian Voice is the key to re-establishing
a government and society which:
A. Encourages rather than penalizes capitalism.
1.
Less taxes/more investment incentives.
2.
Less regulation.
3.
Respect and admiration for the entrepreneur,
rather than disparagement.
B. Restores a sound economic base.
1.
Decreased inflation, increased productivity.
2.
Balanced budgets; greatly reduced social welfare
expenses.
C. Vastly increases national defense to insure not only
the survival of our free enterprise system and republic, but to
ensure the safety and primacy of America's over seas interests,
traderoutes, access to world markets, access to strategic minerals,
etc., etc.
D. Restores law and order so that citizens are safe on
the streets and in their homes.
1.
Instituting capital punishment much more fre-
quently and without unnecessary delay.
2.
Reforming parole and probation to ensure criminals
stay in prison, not on the streets.
3.
Reforming prison systems to serve not merely
as "holding areas", but as real disincentives
for return.
4.
Reforming the criminal code to put more teeth into
law enforcement and stop criminals from getting
off scott free due to procedural technicalities.
E. Restores Christian morality to an exalted place in
public life.
1.
Puts God and Christian virtues on discipline,
thrift, hard work and sacrifice back in our schools, breaks the
hold of secular humanism, teaches creation, etc. Obviously, this
begins with the return of voluntary prayer.
2.
Outlaws abortion on demand.
Christian Voice - Strategy and Objectives
Page 2
3.
Restricts the production and distribution of
pornography which is leading the nation to increased moral
deterioration.
4.
Puts a stop to the normalization of homosexuality
through "Gay rights" laws.
5. Stops the encroachment of the government par-
ticularly the IRS upon churches, Christian Schools, and missions.
II.
How is this to be accomplished?
A.
Through the electoral process.
1. The Conn. Mutual Survey clearly demonstrates what we
have suspected all along, i.e., that the majority of the people
adhere to moral and conservative "principals" which are considered
unfashionable by the nations ruling elite. 1980 was a major expres-
sion of this undercurrent.
2.
Many liberal Congressmen (usually 50 or so in
each election) are elected by a relatively small margin of 15,000
or less votes. A voter shift of 7,600 or less can defeat these
incumbents. By distributing the incumbents voting record to 100,000
Christians within the incumbents district we can persuade enough
Christians to change their voting pattern to make the difference.
This was done successfully in a number of races: Harris & Fisher
of Virginia; Corman of Los Angeles; Culver of Iowa; Buchanan of
Alabama; Fields (the challenger) in Texas; Brademas of Indiana, etc.
The conservative challenger will base his or her
campaign on secular issues like inflation, big government and
national defense. Secular conservative political action committees
like Terry Dolan's NIC PAC will hammer away at the same issues.
It is our job to go after an entirely different
segment of the population - the Christian community which is primarily
motivated on moral issues. The challenger, his campaign staff and
conservative PACs can be relied upon to garner the candidate 45% of
the vote. It is our responsibility to provide the victory margin by
motivating Christians who don't vote or who blindly vote for the
incumbent to change their vote because of the incumbents votes on
prayer, abortion, pornography and homosexuality as well as issues
like balancing the budget. (We use all these issues.) I.e., the
Northeastern Catholic labor union member may be more easily reached
on abortion or sex education than on complex defense arguments or
"republican economics" which are viewed as principally helping the
wealthy. Likewise, the lifelong southern democrat may be more
responsive to abortion, prayer in school, gay rights, etc. than to
traditional Republic political issues.
Christian Voice - Strategy and Objectives
Page 3
We must realize that there are literally millions of
Christians who don't bother to vote. This group alone could sway
any election.
By using moral issues we can mobilize "new" votes
to put the challenger over the top. The bottom line is the election
of men who will also take the right stand on free enterprise, national
defense, etc.
One reason our report cards are so effective, is that
they are seen as a non-partisan, educational effort rather than as
campaign propaganda. That is why we don't endorse the challenger.
We can say the same thing as the challenger and have much greater
credibility since the challenger's comments will be dismissed by many
as self serving rhetoric.
3. Funding - To do an effective job on distributing
these voting records in 50 races would cost a minimum of $1,000,000.
Financial donors are limited to a gift of $5,000 in each calendar
year (each adult member of a family may give $5,000) and gifts are
not tax deductible.
A really sophisticated plan would call for us to
run TV spots explaining the incumbents voting record and offering
free copies to viewers. Such a program would cost a minimum of
another $15,000 per district.
We have the only Christian conservative Political
Action Committee organized on a national scope. Others may do it in
a hit or miss fashion. But what is needed is a broad overview,
a nationally coordinated strategy, pooling of information and re-
sources, etc. Also, we don't know of any other Christian PAC's who
have any staff people who could be considered political strategists.
So, the point to be made to potential donors is very
clear: do they want a Congress which will unleash their potential
and protect them, or do they want to get nationalized or restricted
out of business by a social democrat mentality. If the answer is
positive, do they have the ability to see that we offer a very power-
ful, very new and a very unique tool for accomplishing this goal?
B. The second half of our strategy for realizing our objective,
involves aggressive legislative action. It doesn't do any good to
elect new Congressmen and then not hand them an agenda, and keep
the pressure on. Otherwise, our opposition which is certainly well
organized, will convince them that they are the pressure groups which
must be satisfied if the member is to be re-elected.
Christian Voice - Strategy and Objectives
Page 4
And of course, we need to be lobbying crucial issues
right now. Like Reagan's budget, national defense, abortion, etc.,
issues which can't wait until 1983!
The key to lobbying Congress is to understand that the
"swing vote" of moderates is entirely dependent upon what they
perceive the mood in their district to be (which is usually apathetic).
Most Congressmen, except for the most ardent conservatives and liberals
(surely not more than 20% of Congress) have as their first priority
getting re-elected.
If such a Congressman gets 500, 1,000, or (Heaven forbid!)
5,000 handwritten letters from his constituents he becomes extremely
cooperative. His rule of thumb is that for each person that writes
there are another 10 - 100 who feel the same way. When you realize
that this Congressman is probably getting elected by 5,000 - 25,000
votes, you see his dilemma!!
Now this is not news - far from it. The problem has
been that no one on our side has figured out how to do this on a
national basis. It does no good for local groups to win over 2 or
3 members - 50 must be won over within a relatively short time frame.
There are in this country 60 million people who identify themselves
as "born-again". That's about 100,000 for each Congressional district.
We need to reach at least 10,000-20,000 of them to guarantee at least
500 - 1,000 letters.
HOW do we do that? Obviously, mass media is the answer.
According to the National Religious Broadcasters, over 47 million
people listen weekly to Christian programing.
This media breaks down into several areas.
1.
Christian programs like the 700 Club which use
secular stations to reach millions. We tested this concept when
we placed Phil Crane on the 700 Club, to ask viewers to write Congress
-
Walter Cronkite reported (in a special segment on Christian Voice)
that over 100,000 people responded.
Now, of course, we could be coordinating many more
guests of this nature on any number of programs, but we need several
full time staff people to do it.
2.
Of more value to us (since we are not subject to
the whims of scheduling, etc.) are the 1300 Christian radio and
television stations many of which are willing to air our commentaries,
actualities), etc. on a regular basis free of charge. We also have
approximately 100 secular radio stations which will give us a daily
5 minute commentary free of charge!
Christian Voice - Strategy and Objectives
Page 5
To take advantage of all these station offers of
free air time, will cost us in the neighborhood of $15,000 a month
for production, distribution, staff, handling mail, reprinting scripts
for distribution, etc. These stations alone might provide us with
the necessary access to generate the required amount of mail to
Congress.
3.
The most valuable of course, will be our own daily
radio and TV programs - bought and paid for on the stations of
our choice (reaching the right Congressional district.)
A further refinement of this concept would be our
use of daily 60 second spots in every major media market. Each week
would feature spots on a new subject. (The economy, defense, abor-
tion, etc.) with a different authority figure (Senator, economist,
General, pastor, etc. and stress what action the viewer can take.
Spots would be tied to current legislation in Congress.
For the first time, we would have an ability to
inform the population as to what the problem was and what they can
do about it - right now! We know that millions agree with us, but
they don't know what to do, when, or how!
Of course, these spots could be pinpointed into the
districts where a Congressman is sitting on the fence on an issue
and this could be brought to the attention of constituents - which
would be incredibly effective.
The approximate costs of such an endeavor are
listed in our "dream sheet" budget.
Once again, no one else is committed to such a plan.
I should point out that 60 second spots are going to reach millions
more than would normally tune in to a 30 minute "religious show".
Obviously, our ability to educate the Christian community on a
daily basis would have a tremendous pay-off come election time.
The people would know how their representative was voting. When
the conservative challenger made statements on issues they would
ring true - due to a year of our programming. This is what the
liberal news media has done for years - to pre-condition voters.
All of this cannot be undone 90 days before each election. It
needs to start now!
There are other ways to reach the Christian community in each Con-
gressional district. One of these is to mail "action packages"
to conservative clergy in each district and have them pass the
information on to their congregation. We have 40,000 such pastors
or lay leaders on a roster, but lack the funds to reach them on a
consistent basis. Just 5 or 10 small churches or one large one in
each district could do the trick!
Christian Voice - Strategy and Objectives
Page 6
Another thing that could be done is to computerize every Christian
in each district (from compiled lists) and send them a special
letter every time there was a vital issue at stake.
Basically then, this is the plan we have to "sell" regarding both
legislation and elections. Certainly we have enough of a track
record, massive press exposure, an impressive Advisory Board, and
very competent technicians all which suggests that we are capable
of successfully executing such a comprehensive strategy.
November 1980
The Christian Voice Moral Government Fund
THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT IN 1980: AN ELECTION PERSPECTIVE
I. WE TURNED THE EVANGELICAL VOTE FOR REAGAN
There are an estimated 60-80 million evangelicals in America. Up to election
day, the media projected that we were failing to win them over to Reagan. (Most
supported Carter in 1976 or did not vote.) Final results among white evange-
licals: 66% voted for Reagan.
HOW DID WE DO IT? First, we were the only national independent Christian
Political Action Committee to endorse or campaign for Reagan. We formed
Christians for Reagan and embarked on a multi-faceted strategy. Our overview
was to point out to the Christian Community that:
1. Ronald Reagan was also a Christian, and
2. Jimmy Carter had betrayed the interests of the Christian Community.
We utilized a number of techniques, including:
Airing our special 30-minute TV/radio interview between our Honorary Chair-
man George Otis and Ronald Reagan (where Reagan gives a dynamic testimony
of faith) over 200 times on Christian stations.
Mailed over 2,000,000 pamphlets comparing Ronald Reagan's stand to Jimmy
Carter's to ministers and key lay people in crucial swing states. An addi-
tional 200,000 were hand-distributed in critical areas. Many pastors
reported our information in their church bulletins, etc. Over 50,000 special
editions of the excellent newspapers, "Christian Inquirer," featuring four
pages of strategy guidance from our Christians for Reagan arm, were distri-
buted to conservative pastors.
Worked with local Moral Majority, pro-lifers, and church groups in coordina-
ting their campaign efforts, and supplying them with material.
Placed full-page ads for volunteers in Christian and conservative publications.
Perhaps our most exciting effort was the use of our hard-hitting, 30-second
TV spots that caused Jimmy Carter, Vice President Mondale, Press Secretary
Powell, and numerous other Carter aides to attack us by name. (See attachment
#1).
The fact that the President himself attacked us demonstrates that
we had a devastating impact. ABC network ran these spots twice nationally,
and other networks reported Carter's direct attacks on us.
WHAT WAS OUR STRATEGY? Very simply, to break Carter's hold on southern evangel-
icals who vote for Carter from regional pride or Christian brotherhood, but who
are very conservative on social and family issues. We concentrated these
spots in crucial southern states that were considered "too close to call."
Our spots tied Jimmy Carter to the Gay Rights movement which he, his family,
and his aides had been courting for the last year, culminating in the Carter-
approved Gay Rights plank in the Democratic platform. We are indcbted to
Mike Thompson of Long Advertising in Florida, the brilliant creator of these
spots. Mike formerly handled all the media specials for the American Conservative
Union and Anita Bryant.
We demonstrated that Carter cannot send his mother and son, Chip, to solicit gay
support around the nation, and then appeal to fundamentalist voters the next
day without being caught in the obvious inconsistency.
Page Two
II. CONGRESSIONAL VICTORIES: Out of our 36 "target" races, we were victorious in
22, which was much better than we expected. (See Voting Records, Attachment #2)
WHAT DID WE ACTUALLY DO? Were we really a factor in these races? Some high-
lights:
a. IOWA: The national media called the race between liberal incumbent Senator
John Culver and Congressman Charles Grassley a classic confrontation with
the religious right. Newsweek predicted we could make the difference.
Culver made Christian Voice and our "zero" rating of him a major issue.
Indeed, Iowa was our "paramount effort." In Iowa, we maintained a full-time
state coordinator, Leroy Corey, who united the Iowa Conservative Union,
Moral Majority, and various other state organizations behind our efforts.
We dispatched four members of our national staff to Iowa for organizational
rallies and press conferences through the state. Our activities were
the subject of intense local coverage as well as coverage by ABC network,
CBS, and Japanese television. Over 600 conservative pastors received
Culver's voting record for distribution.
Final result: 200 volunteers distributed tabloids comparing Grassley's
voting record with Culver's on moral issues to 120,000 church goers Sunday
morning before the election. Grassley, who had been behind in the polls,
won by 100,000 votes.
b. IDAHO: In this race, pitting Congressman Steve Symms against liberal incum-
bent Senator Frank Church, the Christian Voice Voting Record of both
men (Symms 100%; Church 0%) again played a major role. Several Christian
organizations made much of the fact that Symms had received a "Christian
Statesman" award from Christian Voice.
Our national field coordinator, Phil Sheldon, on location in Idaho, worked
with Moral Majority and GOP activists to insure Idaho's churches were
covered with Senator Church's voting record the Sunday before election.
In addition, a series of ads (see attachment #3) were run in the state's
major papers. Result: Frank Church lost.
C. SOUTH DAKOTA: George McGovern finally couldn't hide his ultra-liberal voting
record from the people back here. Part of the reason was that we ran a
series of ads exposing his voting record in the state's leading newspapers
(similar to the enclosed ads on Senator Church). Additionally, we identified
every conservative pastor in the state and conducted a special mailing
which included a copy of our "Report Card" on McGovern's voting record for
them to pass on to their congregations.
d. INDIANA: Liberal Senator Birch Bayh went flaming down to defeat claiming the
"Christian Right" had done him in. Bayh was upset by our "zero" rating
on his report card which was mailed to hundreds of ministers throughout the
state. Two of our national directors personally supervised our Indiana
operation in distributing over 50,000 voting records to church members.
_2-
Page Three
e. NEW HAMPSHIRE: Our volunteers flooded the churches of this state with
Senator Durkin's voting record, which, combined with our special state-
wide mailing, helped retire this liberal senator.
f. ALABAMA: Democratic incumbent Senator Donald Steward loved to tell the story
(especially to the press) of how he was approached in his office in Wash-
ington by a delegation of Alabama Christians who confronted him with his
miniscule 23% score on our voting record, and demanded he "shape up." The
Senator fairly threw them out, according to his story. The Christian
Community in like fashion dismissed Senator Stewart during his own Demo-
cratic primary after substantial publicity over his flunking the Christian
Voice Voting Record. Christian conservative Jeremiah Denton is the new
U.S. Senator from Alabama.
8. NEW YORK: Ministers and lay people worked hard for the defeat of liberal
Senator Jacob Javits using our Christian Voice Report Card as a major
weapon (Javits scored zero). A1 D'Amato scored an upset victory. Supported
by Christian Voice volunteers he went on to defeat by 1% liberal Congressman
Holtzman.
Other Senate races, which we didn't target, but on which we had an impact,
include:
h. NORTH CAROLINA. where Democrat Robert Morgan, who openly attacked Christian
Voice in the press, lost in a surprise upset to Christian conservative
John East. Additionally, our low scores and publicity were contributing
factors in the defeats of Senator Nelson (Wisconsin), Stone (Florida), and
Magnuson (Washington).
II.
HOUSE SEATS: space does not allow in thie brief overview to detail the
sixteen races in which we successfully defeated the incumbent; some by
very close margins where our help was clearly critical. It was heart-
warming to receive reports from across the nation of ministers including our
voting record in their Sunday bulletins and of volunteers distributing them
throughout their districts. At this writing reports are still coming in.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS:
John Brademas of Indiana: the third-ranking leader in the House (Majority Whip)
was soundly defeated by a 27-year old conservative. We sent two field directors
into this district to insure the distribution of 50,000 Report Cards on Brade-
mas to church members. Additionally, conservative clergymen received a special
information package and were urged to share it with their people.
Buchanan of Alabama: the liberal Republican defeated in this primary reportedly
laid his defeat at the "Moral Majority forces using the Christian Voice Congress-
ional Voting Record to defeat me." We also made an exception
to our usual non-endorsement policy: we honored candidate Albert Lee Smith's
request for a public endorsement. Smith defeated Buchanan.
Fisher and Harris of Virginia: as forty of our volunteers were covering every
church in these two congressional districts (see attachment #4), the Washington
Post ran an editorial attacking our use of voting records in these two districts.
We won both races and narrowly. Clearly our efforts made the difference!
Page Four
Eckhardt of Texas: perhaps one of our most successful campaigns. Challenger
Fields distributed 50,000 of our Report Cards on incumbent Eckhardt. Fields
won.
James Wright of Texas: while we lost this race against the second most power-
ful Democrat in the House, the fact that we put Majority Leader Jim Wright on
the defensive is notable in itself. The national press consistently wrote that
Wright was running scared, and that we, in concert with Rev. James Robison,
had clearly put Wright on the defensive.
In Texas Wright issued a number of attacks against Christian Voice Moral Govern-
ment Fund. See attachment #6 as a sample of the press generated by this
campaign.
Corman of California: until the last days of this campaign, polls and press
showed Corman taking the lead. But quietly, working behind the scenes,
Christian volunteers enlisted 76 pastors and rabbis, and a number of civic leaders
to help distribute our voting records at churches and synagogues. Election day
saw Bobby Fiedler win an upset victory over Corman in this important San Fernando
Valley district.
III. MEDIA COVERAGE: during the course of the campaign, our "Congressional Report Card"
received extensive coverage in over 600 newspaper and magazine articles (see
attachment #7). Several dozen liberal members of Congress lashed back under-
scoring the fact that they felt threatened. Many local papers reprinted the
incumbent's entire Christian Voice Report Card!
Our report card strategy was featured several times in U.S. News and World Report,
Time, and Newsweek. NBC and ABC both featured our congressional strategy as well.
ABC's 20/20, and CBS's 60 Minutes also did special features on our congressional
strategies. We were the subject of coverage by hundreds of local TV and radio
newscasts and a regular topic on talk shows coast to coast. We were, in 1980,
a "media phenomenon."
IV. FINANCES: we launched our Christian Voice Moral Government Fundpolitical action
committee in April 1980 and in just seven incredible months, raised $500,000
and recruited 20,000 new supporters. More importantly, we recruited hundreds of
volunteers, from full-time field coordinators to local pastors and laymen. Many
reprinted tens of thousands of our Report Card at their own expense. If we
had to pay for what they provided it would have run into millions of dollars.
We also received several million dollars worth of free publicity, including the
national airing of our anti-Carter commercials. $500,000 has never accomplished
so much! Of course, the obvious is that without God's guidance each step of the
way none of this would have been possible. We give Him all the credit.
V. THE FUTURE: the next two years may be the most difficult this country has faced
since World War II. Resistance to President Reagan's economic belt-tightening
and increased defense spending will be assured. The liberal media will fight
him every step of the way; the entrenched bureaucracy will resist with all their
might; the universities and intellectual elitists will join with radicals for
massive demonstrations and riots over any potential issue: the draft, military
involvement, high unemployment, etc. Almost certainly President Reagan's anti-
inflation and military preparedness programs will be unpopular with many people.
-4-
Page Five
Congress will come under tremendous pressure to resist Reagan's reforms as
too costly (unemployment, etc., in the short term. His commitment to returning
our nation to high moral standards will be fought at every turn.
We must have one massive nation-wide Christian Voice that will support the
President and the Congress with millions of letters and provide a clear counter-
weight to the liberal forces which will attempt to rally the nation against
the new administration.
We will continue to maintain the nation's largest Christian conservative lobby
staff led by Gary Jarmin (five years chief lobbyist for the American Conservative
Union) and Bill Chasey, Ph.D., former vice president of the Religious Round-
Table. Key issues in 1981 will include:
Prayer in Schools
Sex and violence on TV.
IRS vs. Christian Schools
National defense
Gay Rights laws
Tougher crackdown on pornography
Abortion
Cutting back on government spending and waste
Of course, we will begin planning for the 1982 elections by the fall of 1981. With
the media whipping up emotions against the Reagan Administration and with the
Left now organizing to copy our 1980 tactics, a number of our newly-won seats
may be in danger. We will concentrate in 1982 on holding our seats in Congress
as well as targeting liberal incumbents for defeat.
VI. A WORD OF CAUTION: in our victory we must be humble. We must be lovingoof the
defeated. We must be supportive of our new leaders. The media is intent on
portraying us as Khomeini-style zealots to encourage a "back-lash" against us.
Unfortunately, a few representatives from the "New Right" organizations have
played into the liberals' hands. It is crucial to our success in unifying the
Christian Community that we do not "glory" in the limelight of success or swagger
about claiming that "we did it all." It is especially important that we be
magnanimous in victory, not immediately threatening recrimination against anyone
who is not in total agreement with us. If we lose a Christ-like spirit, we will
lose the battle.
AS A FINAL NOTE, THE MEDIA AND LIBERAL POLITICIANS HAVE TRIED TO INFER THAT OUR
VOTING RECORDS WERE "MORAL JUDGMENTS" OF INDIVIDUAL MEN, OR ATTEMPTED TO JUDGE
OFFICE HOLDERS" "CHRISTIANITY" OR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. NOTHING COULD BE
FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
Attachments:
#1:
Carter fights
#2:
Congressional Report Card
#3:
Ad
#4:
Morality groups
#5:
Pro-Reagan group targets
#6:
Wright apology
#7a-b Collages
#8a-g Press statements
CVD/jps
Carter Fights to Hold Southern Vote
As Reagan Visits Great Lakes Area
President Battles
Saturday, Nov. 1, 1980. Monterey Prninsula Geruld
about 15,000, including hundreds of chil-
cates. acceptance of homosexuality.
dren excused from school for the occa-
Ronald Reagan stands for the tradition-
Fatigue in Make
sion, was considered an encouraging
al American family."
sign by Jay Hakes, Florida state coor-
The second features an older woman
dinator for the Carter campaign.
who says that "as a Christian mother, I
Or Break Effort
Although recent polls in the state
want my children to be able to pray in
have shown the president trailing Rea-
school. I don't want them being taught
By Pat Griffith
gan in the battle for Florida's 17 elec-
that abortion and homosexuality are
toral votes, Hakes said he feels the
perfectly all right. I was sorry to learn
Herald Washington Bureau
state is "dead even."
that President Carter disagrees with
HOUSTON, Texas - Battling fa-
From Florida, the Carter campaign
me on all these issues.
figue, the calendar, and gloomy post-
moved on to Memphis, Tenn., for yet
She then goes on to say that as a
debate polls, President Carter stumped
another town meeting.
"Christian mother" she has no choice
across the South Friday in a make or
Here Carter unleashed a strong at-
but to vote for Ronald Reagan for
break effort to hold onto the "home
tack on Christian Voice, a right-wing
president.
turf" states he won overwhelmingly in
fundamentalist organization headquar-
Carter said he was particularly
1976.
tered in Pacific Grove, for television
pleased to address the subject of funda-
The fact that Carter is devoting two
commercials it has started to run this
mentalist attacks on him in Memphis, a
full days in the final hours of the presi-
week which suggest that Carter caters
strong evangelical community and the
dential campaign to defend his south-
to homosexuals and which questions his
headquarters of the Southern Baptisti
em base is indication in itself that not
Christian faith.
Convention.
everything is going well for the presi-
dent three days before the election.
The subject came up when Carter
Regardless of the commercials, Car-
New concern was evident in the Car-
was asked by a woman in the audience
ter campaign officials in Tennessee say
how he was reacting to attacks on his
the president is leading in that state
ter camp Friday when a White House
and they predict he will win by a seven:
alde let it be known that a fresh poll
personal Christian beliefs.
to 10 point margin on Tuesday.
shows Carter has stopped gaining voter
The president recounted his religious
The president's final stop of the day
support since the nationally televised
upbringing-"from the time I was
was Houston, where the most enthu-
debate with Republican presidential
three years old I never missed Sunday
siastic crowd of the day overflowed
candidate Ronald Reagan.
school said that it )was not until
Miller Outdoor Theater. For the first
the present campaign that anyone has
The White House official said the
time on this campaign trip, the presi-
ever "questioned my commitment to
latest poll by Pat Caddell shows "a
dent was engulfed with shouts of "four
God."
pause in the momentum" for the
more years! Four more years!
'Viclous Ads'
president.
Beaming broadly, he shouted,
The president said he had heard of,
"You've got it!"
While refusing to give details, he said
but not seen, "vicious. television ads
The president will spend all day barn-
the polls show Ronald Reagan appar-
questioning my religious faith." He
storming across Texas today, still an-
ently got "a little help out of. the de-
brought the crowd to its feet with a
other state in which polls say the elec-
bate, at least in the short term. He
standing ovation when he declared "In
tion is up for grabs.
'came across as appearing much more
our country we ought to be able to sepa-
credible than his statements actually
rate church and state."
were-as we're all now discovering.'
The television commercials to which
Caddell's findings apparently con-
Carter refers are being broadcast
firm results of other polls conducted in
the past three days since the showdown
through the South and in southern Ohio.
One shows a parade of "militant bo-
debate in Cleveland. According to sev-
mosexuals
flaunting their lifestyle
eral voter surveys, the majority of per-
in San Francisco." An announcer's
sons who watched the debate felt Rea-
voice continues with the statement:
gan was the clear-cut "winner.".
"And now the march has reached
More Bad News
Washington and President Carter's
Further unwelcome polling news
greeted the Carter campaign in Friday
platform carries his pledge to cater to
homosexuals' demands. Carter adyo-
morning's newspaper in Columbia, S.C.
This was a poll on black voter
strength across the country which
showed that 48 percent of the blacks
upon whom Carter is counting so heavi-
ly have either not registered to vote or
say they do not plan to vote.
According to Data Black, a New
York polling firm, 19 percent of the
blacks who have registered have not
yet decided for whom they will vote.
Colonel
#3
SECTION
IDAHO STATE JOURNAL
B
Pocatello, Idaho Monday, Oct. 27, 1980
City-Region
DOES FRANK CHURCH
REPRESENT YOU IN
THE UNITED STATES SENATE
WHEN HE VOTES AGAINST:
FRANK
PROTECTING CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
CHURCH
VOTED
Amendment to prohibit Internal Revenue Service from formulating
or implementing any new regulation that would cause. loss of
NO
X
tax exemption for Christian Schools.
YES
FRANK CHURCH VOTED AGAINST PROTECTION FOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS!
FRANK
PARENTAL PERMISSION ON SEX EDUCATION
CHURCH
VOTED
Amendment requiring public elementary schools receiving federal
funds to obtain parental permission before providing sex educa-
NO
X
tion to students.
YES
FRANK CHURCH VOTED AGAINST PARENT'S RIGHTS!
FRANK
CHURCH
ABORTION CUTBACKS
VOTED
Schweiker. motion to extend prohibitions on spending of tax dol-
NO
X
lars to fund abortion.
YES
FRANK CHURCH VOTED AGAINST LIMITING ABORTION SPENDING!
DOES FRANK CHURCH REPRESENT YOU ON THESE
CRITICAL MORAL ISSUES?
CHRISTIANS HAVE A RIGHT AND A DUTY TO BE HEARD!
WE HAVE BEEN SILENT TOO LONG!
FRANK CHURCH DESERVES OUR PRAYERS
....
BUT NOT OUR VOTES!
RETIRE FRANK CHURCH
FROM REPRESENTING YOU IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE!!
FOR MORE INFORMATION WRITE
Christian Voice Moral Government Fund
418 "C" Street N. E.
Carriage House
Washington, D.C. 20002
This is a paid political advertisement, not sponsored by any candidate or candidate's committee
Gary Jarmin- reasurer
1980, Washington Post Co.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1980
Morality
Right-Wing Morality Group
Group Fights
Asks Voters to Defeat Fisher
Rep. Fisher
VOICE, From B1
compassion for children, compassion
men and women to preserve this na-
for the unemployed," said Fishe
tion!," contained no mention of Fisher's
spokeswoman, Jean McDonald. "As 1
By Ed Bruske
opponent, 41-year-old Vienna lawyer-
as we're concerned, Joe kloes' pret
Washington Post Staff Writer
lobbyist Frank Wolf. Wolf campaign
well on those."
Hundreds of Arlingtonians
manager Gus Hubal said the challenger
While the leafleting left Fisher aid
emerged from church services
had, "no knowledge" of the organi-
shrugging their shoulders, it disturb
last Sunday to find their cars
zation's leafleting activities. But a
some preachers and parishioners ali!
graced with a religious message.
spokesman for the California-based
"I don't agree with that kind of b.
The message: Get Rep. Joseph
group's political arm in Washington
tantly political approach by a su
L. Fisher out of Congress.
sald The Christian Voice had spoken
posedly Christian organization," BE
Contained in fliers wedged
with Wolf organizers as recently as two
the Rev. Bill Hoffman of Arlingto
under windshield wipers at five
months ago to "reassure us of the can-
Church of the Covenant. "They call
10th District churches in Ar-
didate's positions."
The Christian Voice,' which I find
lington, it was a denunciation
"In all cases, we're in support of the
rogant and presumptuous."
of the throe-term Domocratic
challenger or we wouldn't be putting
"Some of the church leaders were d
incumbent. The "Congressional
out the literature," said Gary Jarmin,
pleased that the things were just F
Report Card" was distributed
national director of the group's Moral
on there and left," said Richard Vins
by volunteers for The Christian
Government Fund. "The last thing
seminarian at Calvary Methoc
Voice, a national, self-
wo're going to do is ask our volunteers
Church. "But many people just ki
proclaimed morality watchdog
is go out and distribute these things
of laughed it off."
organization and right-wing po-
if the challenger is going to be just as
litical group that is campaigning
bad as the incumbent."
this year against 45 congres-
On all of the "moral" issues for which
Reward Set for Data
sional incumbents nationwide.
The group, which claims
The Christian Voice has given Fisher
and Harris failing grades, among them
On Damage to Caves
about two dozen conservative
congresamen among its 100,000
homosoxuality, prayer in public schools,
tax-exempt status for parochial schools,
RICHMOND, Oct. 30 (UPI) T
members, has chosen Fisher
and 8th District Democratic in-
abortion, busing and sex education,
Virginia Cave Conservancy yesterd
cumbent Horbert E. Harris as
Wolf and his 8th District counterpart
offered a $400 reward for informati
two Washington-area candi-
Stan Parris passed with flying colors,
on persons damaging caves in the ste
Jarmin said. Hubal acknowledged
John Wilson, president of the new
dates worthy of defeat.
Campaign aidos said they
Woll's positions agree with those of
formed conservancy, suid the row:
were unaware of any anti-Harris
the group in each case.
is the result of the cavers' concern 0
We would think Christian issues
the continued vandalism and pollut
leafleting by the group.
would involve compassion for the poor,
of Virginia caves.
The literature, proclaiming'
"We cannot. .rely on ungodly
See VOICE, B4, Col. 1
The
Star
The Washington Star Co.
WASHINGTON, D.C., SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1980
Phone (202) 484-6000 Classhed
Copyright 1960
Ceculation 484-3000
By, November 1, 1980
#5
Pro-Reagan Group Targets Y
Sunday Worshippers
By Jim Castelli
The Carter-Mondale campaign de.
Washington Star Religion Editor
voted one of its own commercials
Tomorrow morning thousands of
to attacking the Moral Majority, an
worshippers at fundamentalist
organization led by the Rev. Jerry
churches in the Washington area
Falwell. an influential television
will receive fliers from a group
and radio evaugelist.
called Christians for Reagan.
But Moral Majority filed a libel
Those who live in Northern Vir-
suit against the Carter-Mondale cam.
ginia will receive an extra piece of
paign, charging that the ad- which
literature- a scorecard giving their
had already been pulled off the air
congressman, Herb Harris in the 8th
- "caused numerous listeners to
District and Joseph Fisher in the
perceive a thinly veiled comparison
10th, failing grades in Christian mo-
between Moral Majority and Na.
rality for their votes in the 96th
zism."
Congress.
Yet another set of commercials,
Those scorecards and similar ones
sponsored by People for the
being distributed in about 45 other
American Way, A group headed by
congressional races across the coun-
television producer Norman Lear,
try are based on votes such as sup-
features born-again Christians op-
port for federal abortion funding
posing the notion that there is only
and opposition to a balanced budget
one "Christian" way to vote.
or establishing diplomatic relations
Efforts by Lear's group which
with the Peoples Republic of China.
boasts a host of prestigious religious
Christians for Reagon is an off-
leaders on its advisory board and
shoot of Christian Voice, one of sev-
criticism by groups such as the No.
eral new ultraconservative
tional Council of Churches, the Bap-
Christian lobbies which have them-
tist Joint Committee on Public
selves become an issue in the 1980
Affairs and the Lutheran Council
elections.
in the U.S.A. - seam to have put
The controversy over these
the now Christian lobbies on the
groups can be seen in this week's
defensive.
battle of television commerçials.
The mainline religious groups,
Christian Voice bought time for
which- for the most part diasgree
30-second ads on stations in Cincin-
with the so-called "New Christian
nati and several key Southern cities
Right" on the Issues, have not ques
accusing Carter of advocating ha
tioned the conservatives' right to
mosexual lifestyles. Spokesman for
become involved politically.
Carter have attacked the ads as di-
But they have said they do not
visive, misleading and a misrepre-
have the right to claim that theirs
sentation of Carter's position.
is the only position acceptable for
The Rev. Robert Maddox, Carter's
Christians.
White House liaison with church
Reagan has wooed the Christian
groups. said Carter does not support
Right in an effort to undercut Cart.
a homosexual Ilfestyle. but believes
er's support among southern evan-
people should not be discriminated
gelicals. but polls indicate It is not
against because they ute
jet clear whether this strategy will
homosexuals.
succeed.
CHRISTIAN VOICE:
THEONLY CHRISTIAN
LOBBY AGGRESSIVELY BACKING PRES. REAGAN'S BUDGET!
lant
any
luture
misunderstanding
about
Christian Voice
our position," Grant said.
The group has been criticized in the past for its "mor-
Budget Vote Called
al" ratings of members of Congress on such issues
ap-
proval of the Panama Canal treaty
en
To Rate House's
es
'Moral Issue'
consint
a
receive 'moral' consistent
rating
a
Vote on Budget
WASHINGTON (UPI)
vative political-religious lo
House
faces
Herald Washington Bureau
it considers the upcoming H
Reagan
budget cut vote in criticized
g
gan's budget proposals a "m
WASHINGTON - Christian Voice, a
islators on how they vote.
on
prominent New Right lobby represent-
"The President's budget
ing some evangelical and fundamen-
sal in the immoral policies of
THE
THE
talist Christians, intends to include the
ticed by the Federal Govern
upcoming House vote on the Reagan
decades," said Robert Grant,
budget proposal in its annual "moral
moral issue considered by Col
it vote considers the upt on roposals legis-
sistently
"This may well turn out
rating" report card on members of
He said it is the first time
Congress.
position in advance of a particu
Dr. Robert Grant, chairman of Chris-
"We feel it is extremely il
tian Voice, said the organization will
with congressmen as to where
lators on
probably use the vote on the adminis-
tration-supported compromise budget
plan, sponsored by Rep. Delbert Latta,
stewardship and the stewardship said and stewardship.andliving.
mark immoral a reversal in in the theral by past several head
"The
personal with God," Grant said organization
"would Grant prefer believes even the Reagan hope pro
R-Ohio, as the test vote.
He said this marks the first time the
organization has announced in advance
ward before Christian elections. indicative neve of a
the church-goe
to
Grant, be
cuts" gram but "is the best we can
what vote it will include in its ratings.
of
group, This may well turn out to
This vote was selected, he said, be-
cause the president's budget cuts
"mark a dramatic reversal in the im-
low morality score or is relationship with
moral policies of fiscal irresponeibiti.
Star
practiced bv
The p
The pr Christian Voice Rating House congressmen as to it on is Budget about important issue Vote for its "moral" with he to Tuesday arm voters, Reagar his
of
Gary
org
would
et cuts than tho
president," he
politic vole Voice a conservative
congressmen as to The in the past approval "repre impre his Ja
st
dent's proposa
hope to achieve
Although the
coming a "moral "The be in
said. consistently low ratings implied that a ly ow or min
cards purport
nor personal that "restoring
Jari
array of moral
low score is not
tive of a congres
rality or relation
in the immoravernment time the group has by announced a
N
G
cers of Congres.
underscored the group's underscored the droup's the belief federal budget than is a it
Robert Grant,
Voice, said the
bably
use
the
1981." position Grant in said advance it is the of a first particular Budget vote. Vote
this
marks
the
first
time
Reagan Called Issue'
the very takes THE a more steward- the worth rui-
said ization has in advar
political-
it
will
its
ratin
vote ore was seiected. be said. becau
President
ship nous of our and inflation in, money living caused a a a by the poor and the even the elderly. the deeper
resident's budget cuts "mark a dr
reversal in the immoral polici.
upcomingroposals a they vote. dramatic
a
Grant cuts" said but believes for the moment." 10+ SCOTT rate .s best Cong Dr.
practiced
hv.
Washington Dateline
Robernment,
budget we can hope to achieve Green), as that indicative a
ing
caid
-
Does
the
Bible
support
Reagan's BIBLICAL economic BACKING plan? Christian Voice, a lobbying
group representing evangelical and fundamentalist
Budget Vote To Get Moral Rating
Christians, thinks so.
The lobbyists have pronounced upcoming House
Christian Voice Makes 1st
Dr. Grant said Voice strong
votes on Reagan's budget proposals a moral issue, and
Advance Announcement
ly
believes
that
principle
they intend to make voters aware of congressmen's
of
fiscal
stews:
the
federal
Blage
budget
is
a
very
moral
issue.
moral track records.
"The President's budget cuts mark a dramatic
WASHINGTON Christian Voice, a
When
Government
ensibly
spends
reversal in the immoral policies of fiscal irrespon-
prominent New Right lobby represent-
more than it takes in IC violates every
sibility practiced by the federal government over the
ing some evangelical and fundamen-
Biblical principle of good stevardship
past several decades," said Dr. Robert Grant,
talist Christians, announced Saturday
and living within one's means."
Christian Voice chairman,
that it will include the upcoming House
"We would prefer taepe budget
The Bible promotes a balanced budget as well, he
cte on the Reagan budget proposal in
cuts
than
there
believes.
Its annual "moral rating" report card on
President. he i:i 1.
more
than
CHRISTIAN VOICE:
National School Prayer fight!
Leading the
San Francisco Chroni
Favoring or leaning toward
School Prayer
Virtually identical legislation
passed the Senate in 1979 but was
support: Robert Byrd, D-W.Va.;
Washington D
bottled up in the House Judiciary
John East, R-N.C.: Dennis DeConci-
ni, D-Ariz.; Jeremiah Denton, R-
BIBLICAL BACKING - Does
Backers Think
Committee. An effort by Crane to
bring the issue to the floor of the
Ala.; Robert Dole, R-Kan.; Charles
Reagan's economic plan? Christia
Grassley, R-lowa; Orrin Hatch, R.
group representing evangelical
House failed by a narrow margin.
Utah; Howell Heflin, D-Ala.; Paul
Christians, thinks so.
299
They Can Win
Representatives of most orga-
Laxalt, R-Nev., and Strom Thur-
The lobbyists have pronounce
nized religious bodies had testified
mond, R-S.C.
votes on Reagan's budget proposal
against the proposal in hearings.
they intend to make voters awar
Washington
Opposed: Max Baucus, D-
moral track records.
Claiming a majority in the
Jarmin said he believes passage
Mont.: Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.,
"The President's budget cuts
Senate Judiciary Committee, sup-
of the proposed legislation depends
and Howard Metzenbaum, D-Ohio.
reversal in the immoral policies
porters of prayer in the public
on getting around the Judiciary
sibility practiced by the federal g
schools said yesterday they believe
Committee this session of Congress.
Undecided or position un-
past several decades," said I
Crane already has filed a special
known: Joseph Biden, D-Del.; Pat-
Christian Voice chairman.
they can pass pro-prayer legislation
petition to move the proposal to the
rick Leahy, D-V.t.: Charles McC
during the current session of Con-
The Bible promotes a balanced
"
gress.
House floor without passage by the
Mathias, R-Md.; Arlen Specter, R-
believes.
ol
committee, and is collecting signa-
Pa., and Alan Simpson, R-Wyo.
'When government irresponsib
es
"Never before has the pro-
tures.
United Press
it takes in, it violates every Bibli
e
school prayer movement been as
stewardship and living within one
is well organized or as influential as it
is is today," -said Gary Jarmin, a
leader of the religious lobby group
-The Nation
c Christian Voice.
h
Jarmin announced formation
of the new Project Prayer coalition
Alabama congressmen are feeling
01
of about 50 politically and religious-
us
ly conservative groups pushing for
passage of legislation sponsored by
the heat from school prayer issue
Senator Jesse Helms, R-N.C., and
P
Representative Philip Crane, R-III.
BY ToM SCARRITT
2
ed to Congress that Christians have enor
News Washington correspondent
clout," Jarmin said. "We are a growing for
to
The legislation would remove
WASHINGTON - Politically active conserv-
politics."
school prayer issues from the juris-
t
diction of federal courts includ-
ative. Christians are flexing their muscle over the
The Christian lobbyists also demonstrate
t1 ing the Supreme Court, which has
issue of prayer in the schools, and Congress is
are willing to play hardball. They called
ent
banned classroom prayers - and
feeling the pressure.
congressional office to 'see where the me
ic open the way for states to write
Already,more than 130 I
of
the
House
of
stand, and the results were printedji Moral
C new laws reinstituting prayers.
Representatives - includ
to
Classroom prayers itv's 275,000-circulation backers newsletter.
nnd
have signed a petition to
e
c
on tl
by
top
claim 299 congressional support
M
V
Analysis
WASHINGTON (UPI) - Claiming a
Rep. Robert Kastenmeier, D-Wis., a supporter of the
majority in the Senate Judiciary Com-
bill in this Congress," Jarmin said.
t
prayer ban, has kept the proposal bottled up for 18 months
mittee, supporters of prayer in the public
Virtually identical legislation passed
the Senate in 1979 but was bottled in
f
his judiciary subcommittee.
This spring, conservatives began a push to secure
signatures needed to pry the bill from Kastenmeier'
School 299 Prayer
the House Judiciary Committee. An effort up
y Crane to bring the issue to the floor of
So far, Crane has about 175 backers.
le House with a discharge petition failed
y a narrow margin.
"Dozens of members of the House who thus fa
S
declined to sign (the petition) report increasing p
Battle Tests
Representatives of most organized
from religious organizations closely associated with
ligious bodies had testified against the
oposal in hearings.
called 'new right," said Stan Hastey of the Bapti
Committee on Public Affairs.
Jarmin said he believes passage of the
led by Jewish groups, mainline Protestant denom
New Coalition
oposed legislation depends on a similar
As the pressure built, opponents of the prayer legis!
scharge effort during this session of
ngress. Crane already has filed a
and the Southern Baptist Convention - finally t
organize.
By DAVID E. ANDERSON
charge ures. petition and is collecting sig-
Kastenmeier also announced the subcommittee
hearings on the issue late this month. Observers
move will relieve some pressure on congressmen
of put the prayer back in public schools is shaping up as a key
WASHINGTON (UPI) - The increasingly bitter battle to
lembers of the new coalition "are
eady mailing millions of letters to urge
not yet signed the discharge petition, and prob:
others to take their names off the petition.
power of a new alliance of theological fundamentalists test
sage" of the proposed legislation and
and political conservatives.
concentrate on the discharge petition,
1.
Groups supporting the prayer ban have outli
n
If the movement succeeds, it would signal the strength of
min said.
position in a series of news conferences, statem
other the new coalition and could influence legislators on
roject Prayer's survey of the Senate
briefings for congressional aides.
and "moral" issues, including abortion, homosexual a host rights of
iciary Committee showed 10 members
conservative
religious
gr
the Equal Rights Amendment.
otential supporters, three opposed
five undecided or not responding.
Christians FOR Reagan
Paid for by Christians for Reagan. A project of Christian Voice Moral Government Fund. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
418 C Street, N.E., Carriage House, Washington, D.C. 20002, (202) 543-4220
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Christian
LEGISLATIVE OFFICE
Rev. Robert G. Grant, Ph.D.
418 C Street N.E., "Carriage House"
Minister
Washington, D.C. 20002
Ted Hurlburt
(202) 544-5202
Minister
Rev. Jess Moody, D.D.
Voice
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
P.O. Box 7061
Minister
Pasadena, California 91109
(213) 795-5412
Robert Morgan, Esq.
Mr. Morton Blackwell
Attorney at Law
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
Office of Public Liason
P.O. Box 415
Rev. Don Sills
Pacific Grove, California 93950
Minister
Room 134 Uld Executive Office Bldg.
(408) 375-4772
Paul S. Webb, LL.D.
Media Consultant
The White House
CONGRESSIONAL ADVISORS
wasnington, D.C. 20500
Hon. John Ashbrook
Hon. Skip Bafalis
Hon. Don Clausen
Dear Morton:
Hon. James Collins
Hon. Philip Crane
Hon. Dan Daniels
Hon. William E. Dannemeyer
1 read your election perspective with great interest
Hon. Jack Fields
and want you to know that I agree with your perspective
Hon. John Paul Hammerschmidt
Hon. George Hansen
1,000 percent!
Hon. Orrin G. Hatch
Hon. James Jeffries
Hon. Thomas Kindness
While there may be exceptions to the rule, I am in
Hon. Trent Lott
Hon. James McClure
complete agreement that the major factor in winning
,Hon. Larry McDonald
elections is the degree to which one side out organizes
Hon. Clarence E. Miller
Hon. Sonny Montgomery
and mobilizes its grass-roots constituency over the
Hon. Stan Parris
Hon. Ronald Paul
other. That, of course, is precisely what CV is all
Hon. Norman D. Shumway
about.
Hon. Albert-Lee Smith
Hon. Gerald Solomon
Hon. Floyd Spence
Hon. Bob Stump
In fact, I think the two recent special elections in
Hon. James H. Quillen
Ohio and Mississippi help greatly to underscore your
Hon. Guy Vander Jagt
analysis. In both elections the candidates won or
NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD
Rev. Ray Allen
lost by extremely narrow margines. What was different
Educator
from 1980, however, is that Christian groups were
Rev. Fletcher Brothers
Family and Freedom Foundation
not active in either of these contests. Part of the
Rev. Karl Coke, Ph.D.
reason that CV did not participate is because of
Minister
assurances from NRCC officials that both elections
Leroy Corey
lowa Conservative Union
were expected to be a "cake walk" and that our (Christian)
Colonel V. Doner
involvement wasn't greatly needed. Obviously, they
Businessman
Rev. David DuPlessis
were wrong and so were we for taking their advice.
Minister
Doris Enderle
Pro-Family Coalition
On the other hand, when Christian and New Right
Raymond Gauer, Esq.
groups were active in the Siljander race, we were
Citizens For Decency Through Law
able to beat the "establishments" chosen candidate
Hon. James E. Johnson
Former Under Sec'y of the Navy
and win the final election by a more comfortable
Hal Lindsey
margin.
Author
Rev. Ron Marr
The Christian Inquirer
Unfortunately, there appear to be quite a few people
Brigadier General H. M. Monroe
in the RNC, NRCC and White House who think we New
U.S. Army, Ret.
William J. Murray
Right "kooks" are unimportant. Hopefully, these
Faith Foundation
recent elections will make them realize that we can
Mrs. Sheila A. Olsen
Public Relations
mobilize campaign workers and activists that they
Sandra Ostby
cannot compensate for by simply outspending an opponent
American Christian Cause
four-to-one.
John Reinholt
Businessman
Jerry Shaw
Thanks again for taking the time to meet with me
Christian Services, Inc.
Rev. Louis P. Sheldon
recently and don't hesitate to call if we can be of
Minister
any assistance.
Rudy Vallee
Entertainer
Rev. Don Wildmon
Best wishes,
National Federation For Decency
Richard Wright
Businessman
Rev. Richard Zone
Gary Director
Minister
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR
GLJ/jf
Gary Jarmin
Chi
one,
isuan
American as 200
125 544 C.
Voice
MEMBERSHIP SERVIC
PO How 70
00
1882 C. forms 9'1
(213. 795-54
MJ gs. Esq
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFIC
100
PC Es. 4
H. in Sing
Pa I.C Grove California 870
Paid were LLD
..... Consultant
litation
(408) 47
SIONAL ADVISORS
" Ashtrook
612 8a'e.s
Din Clauser
April 7, 1983
... James Couins
non Phine Crane
Mun Dar. Daniels
Mor Witham E Dannemeyer
MEMORANDUM
Hon Jack Fields
Hon John Pau Hammerschmidt
nor George Hanser
Hon Orrin G Halch
non James Jettnes
Mon Thomas Kindness
TO: Steve Markman, Bill Barr, Dick Dingman, et.al.
Mon Trent Lott
mon James McClure
non Larry McDonaid
FROM: Gary Jarmin
for Clarence E Miller
- - Montgomery
Star Parris
RE: New Language for Constitutional Amendment
Ronald Paul
... Norman D Shumwey
11. Albe- Lee Smith
G.10 Sciomon
, Spence
716 8,5 Slump
Hos James H Quillen
Now that hearings in the Senate will be held in the
Hon Guy Vander Jag!
near future on the President's Constitutional amendment
NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD
inv Ra, allo..
on school prayer, several compromise language drafts are
d'ucator
being circulated to overcome certain objections to the
.), David Bruese
current Amendment and to gain the necessary two-thirds
resident
Christian Destiny. Inc
support for passage. I propose yet another. I believe
Rev Fletcher Biothers
this language overcomes the most serious objections
Family end Freedom Foundation
raised by opponents while still achieving the goal of
Rev Karl Cone. PhD
Minister
restoring prayer in the classroom. I am not a lawyer,
Leroy Corey
therefore, changes may be required and the input of ex-
10mg Conservative Union
perts far more knowlèdgeable than I to "fine tune" this
Colonel V Doner
Bus nassman
proposed language.
Rev David DuPiessis
Minister
Dens Enderie
The three basic problems and concerns I believe
Pro-Family Coantion
this language remedies are as follows:
Raymond Gauer Esq
Chizers For Decency Through Low
Man James E Johnson
1. The most serious and strongest argument against the
Furmer Under Secy of the Navy
President's amendment is that it would allow for class-
Rev Ron Mar
The Christian inquirer
room recitation of sectarian prayers and thus offend
Brigadier General H M Monroe
members of minority religions. Jewish parents, for ex-
US Army me:
ample, may wish to have their child recite a prayer but
#.
Mrs Shewe A Cusen
Public Relations
would be offended if the prayer was the Lord's Prayer or
Sandra Ostoy
concluded with "in Jesus' name Amen". I believe this
American Christian Cause
John Reinholf
problem can be solved if we state that only 'interfaith"
Businessmar
prayer is constitutional. The word "interfaith" could
L Phinip Sheldon
be supplanted with "nondenominational" or "nonsectarian"
Ex Dir MACPAC
Re. LOUIS P Sheldon
or any other word which best accomplishes the goal.
Minister
Rudy Valies
Entertainer
Re. Don Wildmor
National Federation 10. Decericy
Richard wright
Resiriessment
t Richard Zone
A isto
ATIVE DIRECTOR
permin
April 7, 1983
page two
I strongly believe that this change is absolutely neces-
sary. The Congress will never adopt a constitutional amendment
SO long as sectarian prayers are allowed. In addition, the
legislative history indicates that all constitutional amendments
voted on in the past have defined prayer as "nondenominational".
Unless this change is made, the President's amendment has no
hope of passage.
2. Many have also objected (including Rep. Bob Michel) that
this amendment would allow for States to draft prayers. I agree
with this objection. The most appropriate body to decide what
kind of prayer should be offered is the local school board. The
religious composition of students will vary widely from school
district to school district. A prayer drafted by a state legis-
lature ignores these important differences and also makes if far
more difficult for parents to change the prayer offered if there
is some problem.
The proposed change narrowly restricts only State legislatures
with respect to prayer in public schools. Others have recommended
language prohibiting the "state" from influencing the content of
prayer. However, this language could open a pandora's box. Since
the school teacher would be defined as an employee of the State,
he or she could be prevented from leading a prayer and, thus, no
prayer at all could be said in a classroom. This broad definition
could also be interpreted by the courts declaring as unconstitu-
tional prayers by chaplains in Congress and the military, Presi-
dential prayer proclamations and even prayers at any official
public event.
3. The last sentence is identical to the language proposed by
Steve Markman in his compromise amendment. This sentence is an
excellent addition which solves two problems:
First, this language corrects the "Lubbock case" problem
which Hatfield and Denton are trying to remedy through their res-
pective bills. However, the obvious advantage is that this lan-
guage provides the force of Constitutional law rather than a
statute which could be subject to judicial interpretation, in-
juding being declared unconstitutional.
Second, adding this language also overcomes a potentially
dangerous strategic problem. Whether intended or not, these
statute initiatives could easily undermine support for the Presi-
dent's constitutional amendment by providing an "alternative" for
liberals to vote for. I can virtually guarantee that many liber-
als and fence-si ters will enthusiastically support the statute
approach as a means of getting "off the hook" from supporting the
Constitutional Amendment. This way they can tell their constitu-
ents that they voted for prayer in schools while opposing the Amendment.
Meno
April
page the
I sincerely believe that Hatfleld'. real intention is to
use his statute as a means of subverting the President's
Amendment. The most obvious evidence of this is that Hatfield
offered his statute shortly after the President's Amendment
was introduced. Why didn't he introduce it before? Others
may be more sanguine about Hatfield's motives but I am not.
It is important to remember that Tom Railsback tried a
similar tactic in the court jurisdiction legislation battle.
The Senate adopted the Helms Amendment in April 1979 and Phil
Crane introduced a discharge petition on the bill in October.
Once the discharge petition obtained 150-160 signatures, Rails-
back introduced a resolution stating that nothing in the Consti-
tution should be interpreted as prohibiting prayer in schools.
As a resolution it was obviously meaningless. However, it had
its desired impact. Dozens of liberals immediately jumped on
the Railsback resolution as cosponsors. This provided them an
"escape hatch" from signing the Crane discharge petition. Many
uninformed constituents were led to believe their liberal Con-
gressman was pro-school prayer because of this resolution.
I firmly believe the Hatfield bill is actually part of a
clever strategy to undermine the constitutional Amendment. Un -
fortunately, the White House and many conservative Senators
blundered, in my opinion, when they endorsed this initiative.
The obvious solution is to preempt Hatfield's effort by incorpor-
ating language similar to his bill in the Constitutional Amendment.
In conclusion, it is extremely important that any alternative
amendments be thoroughly discussed and agreed upon now, rather than
at the last minute. Thurmond wants to move rapidly on this and
have a Constitutional Amendment reported out of committee by the
end of May. We should bring in the best legal minds to review
these alternatives and hammer out the most appropriate language.
And all of this must be done withing the next few weeks. Your
personal reaction/opinions to the above is urgently requested.
Please revert to me as soon as possible. Many thanks!
Nothin, i: this !! crued in probibit
individual or group interfaith prayer importede school: 01 other
public institutions. No person shall be required by the United
States or by any State to participate in prayer. Nor shall any
State legislature have the authority to draft or influence the
content of prayer in public schools. No public school, which
generally allows students to meet on a voluntary basis during
non-instructional periods, shall discriminate against any meeting
of students on the basis of the religious content of the speech
at the meeting.