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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Ronald Reagan Gubernatorial Campaign: Files,
1966
Folder Title: RR Speeches and Statements Book I
(1 of 5)
Box: C30
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digitized-textual-material
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/white-house-inventories
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/research-
support/citation-guide
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
RR compain 196
P1-13A A
Quelaucement caudiday of
C
A PLAN FOR ACTION
An Address By
Ronald Reagan
January 4, 1966
A Plan for Action
By Ronald Reagan
Ladies and gentlemen, for the last six months
I've been traveling up and down the state, meet-
ing as many of you as I could, answering questions
and asking a few. There isn't any secret as to
why I've been doing this; I have said I'll be a
candidate for Governor once I've found the an-
swers to a few questions myself-mainly about
my acceptability to you. Who'd like to be Gover-
nor isn't important; who the people would like
to have as Governor is very important.
This is a big state-it's been described as
more like a nation than a state. I've used plane,
train and automobile in these last six months.
I've been on a California street 8,000 feet above
sea level, and one a couple of hundred feet below
sea level. I've thrown a snowball and watched
water skiers all on the same day, and I haven't
begun to cover the state. Actually, I think you
could spend a lifetime just seeing and getting to
know California.
1
Someone has said California isn't a place-
count the jobs that don't exist because they didn't
it's a way of life. Well, that's true, and it's a
come here, but we can count very easily the 800
good way. People have been coming to this place
jobs that disappeared in Palo Alto when an air-
and to this way of life for 100 years. They've
craft plant moved to the East Coast. I'm holding
come from every part of America and from a
a catsup bottle-a pretty commonplace item. But,
lot of other countries. Today some of us are
when the Secretary of Labor and our own state
native-born Californians descended from tho
povernment finished their experiments in reform
earliest immigrants, and some of us have only
mong farm workers and cancelled out the Bra-
been Californians since this morning. Then a lot
cero program, there were 28 million fewer of
of us fall somewhere in between and even when
these manufactured in one plant in Oakland, and
we've been here 30 years, as I have, we still refer
that meant lay-offs for 200 employees. And be-
to ourselves as being from someplace. We're from
cause there is no assurance they will quit their
Illinois or Iowa, Kansas or New Jersey. But,
well-meant social tinkering before next harvest
we're here to stay and our children are native-
season-canning and packing companies are mak-
borr
d California's problems are our problems.
ing plans to move South across the border, and
Some of those problems have grown faster than
with them go jobs that will no longer be held by
Californians.
the population, and in that we're number one in
the nation. All of us are concerned that in our
From the Capitol in Sacramento one answer
growth we don't destroy the very things that
is proposed. Schools, public buildings and parks
brought us here in the first place. It won't matter
are canvassed to see how many additional workers
if the sky is bigger and bluer out here if you can't
could be used doing chores if money could be
see it for smog and all our elbow-room and open
made available. The total is set at 50,000 and
space won't mean much if the unsolved problems
our Chief Executive goes to Washington, hand-
are higher than the hills.
extended, asking for $250 million to solve our
Cracks have appeared in our economy. The
unemployment with this "make work" project.
unemployment rate is almost 40% higher than
Well, I don't think that's good enough for Cali-
the rest of the nation. And we lead the nation in
fornians. Jobs are wanted. Jobs are needed—
bankruptcies and business failures. We've dropped
productive jobs-jobs a man can be proud to
from 6th to 13th among the states with regard to
do, knowing he's contributing to growth and
new industries locating here. There is no way to
prosperity and that be has a chance to grow and
3
2
advance in his work. Such jobs come from private
the collection of corporation income tax one year
industry and can be made possible by an adminis-
and sales tax the next. Now they ask for the
tration in Sacramento that has faith in our free
worst gimmick of all-"Withholding" of per-
economy and will take steps to improve the
sonal income tax. This is actually a one-time
business climate so that California is once again
bundle of money for government at the time the
attractive to industry.
program is started, but from then on the experi-
Let me make one thing plain. I do not cha!
of those states where it is in force reveals
lenge the sincerity of that Administration, nor do
RS a free ticket for future tax increases. In the
I charge it with a lack of concern. I'm sure there
meantime, in violation of a promise to the people,
is an earnest desire on the part of those in office
tens of millions of dollars of tideland oil revenues
to provide for the people's welfare. But their
supposedly earmarked for building our water
approach to the solution of our problems reveals
project have been siphoned off to balance the
a basic disagreement in philosophy. They are
ever-growing budget deficits. This is extremely
dedicated to a belief in rule by administrative
short sighted because this oil money is not a
edict with more and more control and regulation
permanent. source of income, but only results
of the economy and of our lives.
from the sale of an exhaustible natural resource.
Just recently a report of the Commission
At the same time this is a betrayal particularly
on California State Government Organization &
of Californians in the Northern part of our state
Economics admitted there is no way to count the
who were told these oil revenues would offset
Boards, Commissions and Bureaus in the Execu-
dollar for dollar bonds which would be used to
tive Branch. The legislative analyst made a partial
create power and recreational facilities to give
COU and listed 276-53 appointed in the last
their area-the area furnishing the water for the
few ears. We are told every increase in govern-
rest of us-a chance to grow and prosper.
ment is because of the increase in population.
Now with a budget higher than any in the
But, government has increased four times as fast
history of our 50 states, we are told we need an
as population and total state expenditures are up
additional $200 million in taxes. There is un-
ten times as much.
certainty and unease in financial circles over
Budget deficits are not met by sound fiscal
the way we've stretched our credit and bonding
changes, but by one-time windfalls-sweeping the
capacity, but we are told we must borrow another
problem under the rug with gimmicks-advancing
$260 million for school construction. If you are
4
5
an average family of four-husband, wife, two
is much more we can do for children with hearing
children-your share of the state and local tax
problems. Facilities in special schools for the deaf
burden is $1,396 this year and your family's share
are so limited that many children are on waiting
of state debt is $1,320. The portion of that which
lists, unable to begin their education. In addition
goes for public welfare has doubled in these
to facilities, we need specially trained teachers.
eight years, and in spite of so-called prosperity,
the number of people receiving welfare has
California also leads in some things that
creased since the end of World War II from two
fortunately give us no sense of pride. The
out of every 100 citizens to more than 15 out
only thing that's gone up more than spending
of 100.
is crime. Our city streets are jungle paths after
dark with more crimes of violence than New
Don't get me wrong-no responsible person
York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts combined.
would suggest we abandon our concern for those
Narcotics arrests among youngsters under 18 are
fellow human beings who, unable to make pro-
up 40% over last year. These aren't delinquents
vision for themselves, must depend on us. Nor
-these are our children, inquisitive as puppies
do any of us think we can fulfill our responsibility
and filled with the spirit of adventure. They are
by grudgingly offering bare subsistence. Human
no match for that character leaning against a
compassion and simple brotherhood demand that
lamp post down the block from the school. They
where there is need we should do our utmost to
need more help than just our love and lectures,
provide some of the comforts that make life
and they can have such help if we'll untie the
thwhile. But this should be in response to
hands of our local law enforcement officers.
need, and where the need is temporary, the
Legislation is needed to permit local ordinances
help should be temporary, aimed at restoring
that will restore to the police the flexibility and
self-sufficiency. Working men and women should
power in making arrests they once had so they
not be asked to carry the additional burden of
can take on that character by the lamp post.
providing for a segment of society capable of
Such legislation has been proposed time after
caring for itself, but which prefers making wel-
time by our hard-working and dedicated legis-
fare a way of life, free-loading at the expense of
lators in Sacramento. A 12-point program was
more conscientious citizens. There is so much real
introduced in the last session. It was buried in
need, so many things still to be done, we cannot
committee, pigeon-holed, or vetoed in the execu-
afford extravagance. For example, right now there
tive office.
7
Back at the turn of the century, we embarked
cost estimates have had to be revised upward
bi-partisan effort above political rivalry and dif-
on a master plan of education. It was truly a
again and again.
ferences. Its principal architects were a Democrat
Now I know that in presenting these prob-
Assemblywoman and a Republican Assemblyman.
lems I've probably sounded overly critical, but
Believing in that plan, Californians taxed them-
Abraham Lincoln said, "A man may be loyal to
to selves build at a rate higher than any other America
his government and still be opposed to the pecu-
a great University. But it takes
r principles and practices of the administration
than dollars and stately buildings, or do we mo..
111 power."
self-discipline and respect for law and order.
longer think it necessary to teach self-respect, no
A big brother or paternalistic government can
solve many problems for the people, but I don't
to Will its we allow a great university to be brought
think we'll like the price it charges-ever-increas-
knees by a noisy, dissident minority? Will
ing power over us and ever-decreasing individual
we meet their neurotic vulgarities with vacillation
freedom. A great society must be a free society,
and weakness, or will we tell those entrusted
and to be truly great and really free, it must be
to with administering the University we expect them
a creative society calling on the genius and power
enforce a code based on decency, common
of its people. Legislation alone can't solve our
and the dedication to the high and noble purpose sense of
problems, nor will they disappear under a shower
University? That they will have the full
of tax dollars. The Gold of the Golden State is
but we'll settle for nothing less.
apport of all of us as long as they do this,
to be found in its people-the greatest pool of
technical skill, talent and ability in all the world.
Our great water project, given impetus in the
Look at us, can we possibly believe that anyone
administration of Earl Warren, and further
can manage our lives better than we can manage
fined and perfected during the administration re- of
them ourselves? We have the ability to prove we
Governor Knight, must be carried on more effi-
are first in more than sheer numbers of people.
ciently and economically than at present. The
There is more at stake than just good government
people are entitled to explanations of the 14
in California. We can demonstrate to our sis-
month delay in building power facilities at Oro-
ter states-to an entire nation-that government
finished, but then redone repeatedly until original
ville, as well as other delays, and work supposedly
should be of and by, as well as for the people.
That this way of ours is still the greatest adven-
ture, the newest experiment in man's relation to
8
9
man, and those who call it outmoded and old-
new-are fashioned-who offer what they say is something
requirements for establishing welfare eligibility?
concept of rule over the many by the few.
in reality taking us back to the age-old
Today a newcomer to the state is automatically
eligible for our many aid programs the moment
he crosses the border.
of ty and make the state an administrative district
There are those who'd give up state sovereign-
The time has come for us to strengthen both
tell the federal government. Over and over the
representative government and self-government.
aid us our problems are too big-that only federal
e two are not the same, but they go hand in
can provide an answer, but with federal aid
hand. The executive branch of our state govern-
in goes federal control, and as the administration
ment has grown dangerously top heavy, and it
Sacramento relinquishes state sovereignty
seeks more and more to bypass the legislature to
Washington, at the same time it takes to
give more and more power to bureaus and agen-
power from those who have been elected to more
cies who are not elected by the people, but are
our towns and cities. Control over local run
beholden to the man who appointed them. We
ever districts is tightened until we can see looming school
have a great many talented and knowledgeable
larger on the horizon the specter of
men representing us in the Assembly and Senate
ntrolled education, and eventually a national- state-
-some of them have become outstanding special-
school system. Welfare becomes needlessly
ists in particular phases of state problems. They
expensive as red tape regulations prevent adminis-
are handicapped, though, by an old-fashioned
tration at the county level from putting sensible
concept harking back to an earlier day when
procedures into practice.
representatives only served part-time. Well, it's
Certainly we have a rightful claim on federal
a full-time job now at part-time prices, and some
of these men make unbelievable sacrifices simply
is funds. It's our money in the first place. California
because they are dedicated to public service. They
one into of the so-called rich states which not only
deserve better and California deserves and needs
pays the kitty everything it takes out, but
a full-time legislature with compensation as nearly
puts in a share for other states. It's time we made
commensurate to the service rendered as we can
a greater protest about the strings attached to
make it.
our money before we are allowed to use it. How
welfare many of us realize that in order to get federal
As for self-government, I am not proposing
funds, our state had to cancel all residence
an aimless hit or miss approach with government
sitting back hopefully waiting for a volunteer to
10
11
recognize a problem and think of a solution. I
suggesting setting up a statewide program am
The time has come also to review our thinking
of ership and mobilizing the full creative abilities
systematic basis with government providing lead- on a
on the matter of property tax to see if we might
not be clinging to an archaic and outmoded idea
of the the people which, in my opinion, is the meaning
that never envisioned millions and millions of
With phrase "government of and by the people.'
homemakers saving to build or buy and then
the state government working to secure
finding themselves paying an increasingly high
maximum for return of our tax money to the
Cnt
to live in their own home.
local administration as a workable alternative sta
Years ago, the original concept of property
and to a massive federal bureaucracy imposing
tax was in reality a form of income tax because
more restrictions on local and state rule. Then more
land was the source of wealth. I'm sure no one
those a truly creative society stamps as acceptable only
could have anticipated a credit structure in which
do programs which help California, but which
most of these homes are mortgaged, and the
not increase our own bureaucracy, result in
owner in reality only owns a limited equity in
the more centralization or power, or greatly unbalance
his home-but he's taxed on the basis of actually
budget.
owning real estate to the full value of the
We can ask business, labor, the financial world
property. And what happens when we reach our
d the campus for the best brains available
non-earning years? When we retire on our pen-
modernize our government structure, eliminate to
sion, social security or savings-that fixed income
that can't keep pace with inflation? Do we just
proach waste and duplication. In the same way an
ignore the tragedy of elderly citizens discovering
tax can be made to "in depth" study of the ap-
they can no longer afford to live in the homes in
people pay taxes. There is no way to them
structure. It's time we recognize that only
which they've grown old? Study and tax reform
will take time and this problem requires an answer
the every dollar government spends must come from
on to some impersonal organization-eventually, pass
now. Tax forgiveness would unfairly burden other
home owners, but isn't it possible we could declare
pockets of each one of us, and we must have
a moratorium? Assess, but not collect the tax until
what we buy. It's just possible that in
a clearer understanding and a greater voice
such time as the home was no longer needed and
then collect the accumulated tax from sale of the
free government service.
afford everything that is presented to us as we another can't
estate.
A creative society mobilizing the business and
12
13
industrial community to pinpoint who is unem-
ployed, where and why, and then how to make
tion, but there is a limit to what can be accom-
a place for them in our productive free economy
plished by laws and regulations, and I seriously
can fight a war on poverty 1000 times more
question whether anything additional is needed
effectively than government. We can call upon
in that line. What is needed is for government
the best minds in our legal profession to work
to mobilize the decent people of goodwill from
out a plan to remove, once and for all, tb-
every group to come together in a search for
appointment of judges from the influence
man understanding to establish channels of
partisan politics.
communication and to make it plainly evident
that those few who choose to walk with prejudice
There is no problem we cannot solve by a
will walk alone. Never again should any parent
cooperative effort using government and the full
know the heartbreak of explaining to a child that
creative talent of our people. This is true above
he must be denied some of the good our country
all in the problem which is, or certainly should be,
has to offer because in some way he is different.
of greatest concern to every one of us. There must
before the law, no differing standards with re-
be no lack of equal opportunity, no inequality
Our problems are many, but our capacity for
solving them is limitless and the task of govern-
gards to constitutional rights for any American,
ment is to discover, and harness those latent
and we are all Americans. It's high time we
solutions by calling upon the people to participate
pped hyphenating ourselves into blocs, Irish-
actively in government.
nericans, Negro-Americans, Italian-Americans,
Now I'd like to mention one problem that
Mexican-Americans, Oriental-Americans, and on
goes beyond the scope of purely state issues and
and on. Those blocs were set up for political
one which, without doubt, crosses party lines.
expediency so cynical men could make cynical
Our two-party system is endangered more today
promises in a hunt for votes. If taxes are too
than at any time in our history, and it cannot
high, they are too high for all of us. If streets
survive a long-time continuation of the present
are unsafe after dark, everyone's family is men-
imbalance of power. Party competition keeps both
emptier. aced. If prices go up, all our pockets are a little
parties honest and respectful of the people's
wishes. Without that competition one-party rule
Certainly, there are problems in our differences
becomes one-man rule, and the subsequent loss of
and government must take the lead in their solu-
freedom will apply to Democrats and Republicans
alike.
14
15
I was a Democrat most of my life until I
found I could no longer follow the leadership
F.D.R. was elected. Look again at its promises
of that party as it turned from the traditional
which were so overwhelmingly approved by
precepts of Jefferson, Jackson and Cleveland. I
Americans of both parties. The promise to reduce
believed then, and still believe, that anything,
the cost of government by 25%-to restore those
whether it be management, labor or government,
rights and powers which even then it was claimed
which imposes unfairly on the freedom of th
had been unjustly seized from the state and the
individual, is tyranny and must be opposed. TX
is idual by the federal government and its
choice is not between left or right, but rather
promise of restoration of constitutional limits on
between up or down. The founding fathers knew
the power of that government. Ask yourselves
this and they set our course upward toward the
which party would be most at home with those
ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law
promises today.
and order. They had known the other choice and
I am not a politician in the sense of ever
kingdom, dictatorship, or the folly of Marxism,
turned from it because, whether we call it empire,
having held public office, but I think I can lay
it leads only downward to the ant heap of totali-
claim to being a "citizen politician." I have always
had an interest in politics and been an active
tarianism, and even those earnest humanitarians
o'd trade some measure of man's independence
participant. As a Democrat, I worked and cam-
paigned for that party, and now, believing as I do
for security or material welfare are embarked on
that downward course.
that the Republican party is the party of limited
government, individual freedom and adherence to
I believe there are millions of Democrats
the constitution, I have worked for that party as
today devoted to the cause of freedom, and torn
actively as I could in the campaigns of 1960, 1962
between loyalty to party and concern for their
and 1964. In those campaigns, I supported all the
own deeply held beliefs and principles. Well,
party nominees because the choice today is not
Winston Churchill, who made a change in his
one of men, but of basic and widely differing
own political affiliation said, "Some men change
philosophies.
for principle."
principle for party and some men change party
Now I have come to a decision that even a
short time ago I would have thought impossible
To those of you who are Democrats, may I
for me to make, and yet I make it with no linger-
suggest you take the 1932 platform upon which
ing doubts or hesitation. As of now, I am a
16
17
Governor. candidate seeking the Republican nomination for
background statistics on me. My education was
in Economics and Sociology. I never attended
In the months ahead, I will present a number
dramatic school, but most of you have found that
of specific proposals for solution to the problems
out. During World War II, I was called to active
I've discussed here tonight, and for others that
duty as a Lieutenant in the Cavalry Reserve and
weren't mentioned because of limited time. I'll
ended up a Captain and Adjutant of an Air Force
do my best to meet as many of you as poss
allation. As many of you know, that was an
and to explain clearly and completely my philoso-
acininistrative post. I believe I've had administra-
phy and beliefs. On those occasions I'll welcome
tive and executive experience possibly to a greater
your questions and do my best to answer them so
extent than many businessmen, and perhaps of a
you'll have no doubt of where I stand on the
type more akin to politics. For some 20 years, I
issues important to you.
served on the Board, and was six times President
in this business than the one I've been in. Modern
I've discovered already there is more gossip
of a working union, the Screen Actors Guild. This
involved negotiating the basic contracts covering
political dialogue isn't based on legitimate debate
minimum wages and working conditions for some
anymore, or disagreement on views. There's a
15,000 performers, dealing with the upper echelon
great deal of false image-making and an effort
of organized labor because of our affiliation with
made not to dispute the views you really hold,
the A.F.L and with governmental agencies and
but to invent some and hang them on you with
legislative committees. During the same period,
the hope the false image will appear real.
I was on the Board 10 years and twice President
of the Motion Picture Industry Council-a body
In my opinion, the issues are too important
for that kind of gameplaying. You are entitled
made up of some 30 odd unions and the manage-
to a discussion of those issues and to know where
ment and ownership groups in our industry. In
any candidate stands, to have a direct confronta-
this capacity, I had occasion to represent the
tion of the differing philosophies without name-
entire industry before legislative committees in
calling or personalities. If in the coming primary,
Washington, and on one occasion at a White
you choose someone else to be the party nominee,
House Presidential meeting.
he will have my wholehearted support.
In addition, I have served on charitable boards
In the meantime, you are entitled to some
and been a director of a business company and a
trustee of Eureka College,
18
19
Now I don't in any way suggest this exper-
ience is comparable to the enormity of California's
$4 billion dollar government, but on the other
hand, a California election is not like a banana
republic revolution. We don't start building a
government from scratch-it is a going concern
with a legislature, constitutional officers in
a
tion to Governor and prescribed duties for eatn.
No one man runs the State of California, and no
one man should try-but one thing a Governor
must do is use the power and prestige of his
office to see that men and women receive adminis-
trative appointments on the basis of integrity and
ability, not as political favors.
I have no commitments to anyone but you
and to my belief that the safety of our state and
If nation should be entrusted to the care of the
people. To all of you who have worked in my
behalf to make these past few months possible-
You have done me great honor and made me
very proud-yet even as I thank you, I must ask
for your continued help, and I do so with a prom-
ise to do my utmost to deserve it.
20
QUESTION: Do you consider the movie industry, or I should say,
the moving picture industry, adequate training for & governor of the
State of California?
C
ANSWER: Gee, and I never played a governor. (Applause)
Well, now, seriously, I can understand the reason for asking that
question. (Applause) I know, as I have told some of you perhaps, only
a generation ago the people of my profession couldn't be buried in the
church yard. The world has improved since then. I think what really
O
seriously, what the answer to this question is: this government was
created to be "of, by, and for the people." I subscribe to a belief
that we haven't been taking advantage enough of the "of" part.
In recent years, and I don!t think it was ever intended that any
group of citizens or any profession or industry should be automatically
P
outlawed or relegated to second class citizenship, by reason of their
occupation. (Applause) But if there's any course in such things
(Laughter) I'm sure a lot of people would be happy to take it. (Laughter)
I just figure that it's high time that a lot of people who have been
making their living out there under those rules and regulations, maybe
Y
should take a voice, at least for awhile, in government, to let some
of those fellows understand what it's like on the cold outside.
(Applause)
Comstock Club - August 2, 1965
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Announcement Day Press Conference,, Q&4
Boalt Hall
Statler Hilton, Janoh, 1966
Institute on Law & Politics
Pages 1 - 13
University of Cal. at Berkeley
Pages 125 - 153
San Bernardino Co, Elementary School
Detroit Economic Club Luncheon
Admin. Assn. Luncheon, Feb. 15, 1966
Creative Opportunities for
Casa Loma Hall -Relands Univer.
Government & Business
Pages 14-24
Pages 154 - 164
TV Speech
Orange County
Hilson Inn, San Diego, Feb. 25, 1966
March 30, 1966
Pages 25 -35
Pages 165 - 192
Advertising Clubs Speech (noon)
Speech at CRA Convention -San Jose
Oakland - San Francisco, March 1, 1966
San Jose City Auditorium
Goodman Hall - Jack London Square
April 2, 1966
Pages 36 - 45
Pages 193 - 202
C.N.R.A. Covention
Pacifica Junior Chamber of Commerce
Miramar Hotel, Santa Monica
Annual Meeting
March 5, 1966
Nick's Roackaway Restaurant
Pages 46- - 72
April 2, 1966 - 8 pam.
Pages 203 - 229
Occidental College
Budget Spe en Holly cod Palladium
Political Science Forum
Abril 20 1966
March 8, 1966
Pages 230 -2.3
Pages 73 - 97
Calif. Council For Adult Edutcation
Elk Gr 1 3 Sneech
International Hotel
May IV 19'5
March 12, 1966
Pases 21.1 21.0
Pages 98 - 124
2,
INDEX
CIVIL SERVICE 322, mussing, PL 10/86
COMMUNICATIONS 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 44, 45
COMUNISM 297, 299, 300, 303, 306, 350
CRIME 96, 232, 255, 303, 327, 339, 340, 350, 361, 362, 396, 397, 428,429,
435, 437, 470, 471,506, 507,
DEMONSTRATIONS 2, 153, 219, 417,
ECONOMY 4, 25, 28, 32, 34, 90, 105, 106, 109, 159, 160, 161, 162, 185, 190, 191,
194, 199, 207, 208, 213, 232, 233, 393, 431, 485,
EDUCATION 6, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 33, 64, 69, 99,
113, 174, 115, 116, 119, 141, 142, 167, 178, 179, 180, 195, 219, 220,
232, 241, 253, 254, 269, 270, 272, 279, 294, 295, 310, 311, 327, 328,
334, 340, 343, 344, 350, 353, 354, 371, 372, 388, 389, 390, 397, 398,
399, 400, 401, 416, 417, 424, 442, 443, 444, 445, 450, 451, 472,
478, 479, 480, 481, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 499, 500,
501, 502, 503, 504, 505
EMPLOYMENT 4, 5, 6, 18, 22, 26, 34, 43, 84, 87, 90, 156, 190, 191, 208, 209,
238, 244, 247, 336, 474, 421, 423, 429, 488, 514,
EXTREMISM 452, 453,
FINANCE 10, 16, 17, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 44, 136, 207, 213, 216,
234, 235, 238
FIREARMS 338, 464,
FREEWAYS 448, 522,
FUNDS 8, 69, 94, 240
3.
INDEX
GAMBLING 13
GOVERNMENT FEDERAL 16, 17, 19, 40, 41, 42, 47, 48, 69, 79, 80, 81, 83, 91,
94, 105, 106, 107, 109, 111, 112, 114, 136, 137, 138,
141, 147, 150, 151, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 163, 167,
168, 173, 189, 191, 204, 207, 209, 210, 214, 254, 292,
373, 393
GOVERNMENT - STATE
26, 34, 44, 80, 111, 163, 168, 169, 173, 185, 196, 213,
214, 215, 216, 257, 259, 292, 314, 316, 336, 385, 454,
455,
GRANTS - FEDERAL 189, 254
HEALTH 16, 23, 33, 135, 237, 254, 319
HOUSING 12, 60, 107, 134, 144, 157, 175, 271, 281, 332, 432, 440, 462, 476,
INDUSTRY 5, 110, 143, 168, 169, 197, 212, 384, 385, 392, 430, 465, 466, 485,
INFLATION 159
INSURANCE 208, 275, 324, 369, 392, 422, 487
ISSUES 206, 207, 250, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 317, 318, 319,
321, 322, 327, 328, 329, 330, 332, 472,
JOB TRAINING 91, 92, 420,
INDEX
JUDICIAL 218, 255, 256, 433, 472,
LAW ENFORCEMENT 12, 219, 255, 472, 473, 506,
LEADERSHIP 456, 457
LEGAL 138, 144, 217, 218, 300
LEGISLATURE 96, 208, 217, 262, 317, 350, 435, 465, 466,
LABOR 88, 90, 148, 149, 150, 183, 184, 003 197, 201, 224, 225, 244, 245, 246,
247, 260, 261, 262, 296, 315, 316, 329, 333, 347, 351, 352, 368, 376,
388, DD 395, 396, 421, 422, 423, 435, 446, 447, 458, 450, 463
MEDICARE 19, 29, 269, 274, 346
MORALITY IN GOV'T. 454, 455
MILITARY 19
NATURAL RESOURCES 427, 428, 438, 474, 475, 520, 521,
NEGRO
92, 117, 118, 253, 374, 413, 425,
OLD AGE 29, 302, 320, 346, 356, 386, 394, 519,
ORGANIZATIONS 198
PARTY AFFILIATION 11, 67, 123, 124
PARKS 263, 318, 474, 475, 520, 521,
5.
INDEX
PORNOGRAPHY 321, 395, 451,
PROPOSITION 1- - 322,
PROPOSITION 16- 321
PROPOSITION 14- 12, 60, 94, 144, 432, 440, 476, 509,
POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 94, 95, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104,
127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 137, 150, 165, 166, 170, 171,
192, 196, 197, 241, 242, 251, 257, 271, 284, 285, 286,
296, 297, 301, 325, 329, 330, 339, 341, 342, 347, 348,
349, 392, 401, 402, 418, 453, 473,
POVERTY 8, 122, 123, 163
RACIAL 56, 64, 113, 413, 433,
REAPPORTIONMENT 139
RECREATION 318, 330, 427, 521,
REDWOODS 474, 475, 520, 521,
REPUBLICAN PARTY 47, 48, 49, 67, 68, 86, 193, 230, 231, 240, 241, 242, 253,
258, 259, 268, 323, 370, 418, 419,
RIOTING
425, 479,
SENIOR CITIZENS 135, 355, 387, 393, 515, 516,
SMOG
317, 330, 340, 435,
SOCIAL SECURITY 8, 203, 269, 273, 320, 346, 355, 356, 366, 367, 375, 376, 386,
387, 393, 394, 517, 518,
6.
INDEX
STRIKES 303, 333, 353, 35L, 416,
SUPREME COURT 139
TAXES
16, 57, 58, 169, 199, 200, 212, 222, 223, 225, 226, 232, 234, 259,
270, 277, 304, 306, 314, 329, 349, 358, 359, 365, 393, 430, 431, 443,
456, 463, 469, 484, 503, 504, 505, 508, 509,
TERM
13, 121, 227, 266, 290, 291, 292
TPANSPORTATION 448, 449, 422, 429,
UNEMPLOYMENT 6, 57, 91, 92, 112, 114, 146, 156, 211, 232, 269, 275, 369, 392,
394, 456, 422, 429, 484, 487, 488,
UNIONS 66, 119, 120, 270, 271, 278, 282, 316, 333, 334, 341, 347, 351, 368, 388
463,
WAR (VIET NAM) 1, 2, 152, 153
WATER PLAN 220, 221, 222, 265, 266, 428, 439,
WATTS 5, 142, 143, 144, 169, 332, 373, 374, 375, 474, 425, 430,
WELFARE 8, 16, 29, 32, 82, 107, 108, 110, 134, 135, 145, 148, 156, 174, 191,
200, 209, 211, 213, 237, 239, 252, 254, 270, 276, 307, 309, 319, 320,
327, 339, 356, 357, 373, 374, 375, 388, 394, 429, 460,461, 510, 511,
512, 513, 514, 517, 518,
1-13b
DAY
PRESS
CONFERENCE
STATLER HILTON, PACIFIC BALLROOM. Jan. 4, 1966.
Q.
Mr. Reagan you mention in the film that a group of Californians asked you to run.
Can you identify that group and also the source of your campaign fiancing?
Ron: Well now it would be pretty hard to do the second. The first ah. many of the
names of the people who approached de and talked to me about running in the beginning
are to be found on the letterhead that has been used throughout this pre-campaign
period under the title of the Friends of Ronald Reagan.
As to the She financing which has only been to the extent of some mailings and to make
possible my getting around the State as I have that has been a rather
widespread. ₫ based not only including those people but other people who have
contributed as work has come into this this a group, Friends of Ronald Reagan.
Q.
Are members of the John Birch Society among the group. ?
Ron: Well not to my knowledge. I don't know that.
Q.
Xr. Rengan. You stated that the United States should declare war on N. Viet Nom..
for the purpose of defining the anti vietniase war demonstratire as traitors. Would
you care to elaborate on that statement?
Ron: Well I'd like not only to elaborate on it. I'd like to correct it. There ate
certain omissions there and thats probably the way it appeared. I ;don't mean to
correct you. I know that thats the way dt appeared in a question and answer period
where I was speaking in the northern part of the State ah, central part of the State.
I was discussing and answering a question with regard to the more recent custom in
the country of the President comitting troups to a large scale of military activities
without the constitutional formalities of going to congress for a declaration. In
connection with that I the right ;of the President to do that to
this East moving world but at the same time I Cil say that 0220 it has reached the
scale of large scale war fare such as in Vier Nam today and Korea ah..I questioned
whether we were not cubarking on a deagerous precedent or have and embacied on one in
not going before Congress in laying all the facts
I
had
P
2
that I could see advantages to a declaration of war providing there were factors that
would make that, ab that there weren/t factors that would make that inadvisable and
about which we had not been informed and I myself said at the time that I could
think of such factors that could make it inadviseable in the danger of escalation but I
cited some of the advantages in a formal declaration would be the making of ah supplies
being shipped into N. Viet Nam would then become, under the laws of war,
1111
become//dd counterband and many of the more violent demonstrations here such as
attempted to stop troop tusins and SO forth would then constitute lending aid and
comfort to the enemy.
Q.
Mr. Reagan would you tell us..do you expect support of the Los Angeles Times?
Non: You'd have to ask the Los Angeles Times.
Q.
Mr. Reagan do you think your nomination will bring unity to the Republican
party? Do you feel that all wings of the party would support you?
Roa: Wall if I did not feel that was a probable7 possibility or even a probability I
wouldn't have made the statement that I've just made. I've done cy best to get
around the State to Republicans who have in the past have had records of supporting.
CT lets say being members of varying factions and I have not found any strong factional
idea or group that would find me unacceptable. I certainly have done my best to suggest
unity when I have gone throughout the State.
You say in your statement that you have never sought Birch Society dupport nor do
you have any intention of doing SO. Should you become a cardidate for office now will
you actively reject this society if they do support you? Vill you their support?
DRon: Well, I think you're delhing about a hypothatical question ch, it is by
understanding and incidentially there are available =y complete statements on the
Dirch Society. 1: is by understanding that the 3.S. does not support either candidate
cr political artics and has stated shot 100 memburship 15 roughly eventy divided
between the two parties.
3
copiest from hand. written portion
ANSWER: Well, I think you're talking about a hypothetical question, It is my
0
understanding --and incidentally there are available my complete statements on the
Birch Society--that the Birch Society does not support either candidates or political parties
stated that its membership is roughly evenly divided between the two parties.
QUESTION: Do you believe this to be so?
ANSWER: I would have no way of knowing one way or the other. but I"ve also made my position
clear in this regard; that I don't believe in soliciting groups or block support because
I think a campaign is between individuals and the candidate and that you should state
as clearly as you can your philosophy and your beliefs. And those individuals who
elect to go with you must have bought your philosophy and you haven't bought theirs.
QUESTION: How would you describe your relations with Mr. John Rousello, the local
head of the Birch Society--friendly or unfriendly?
ANSWER: Well, I haven't seen him for quite some time. The last time really that I
was him was when he was a Republican congressman and it was friendly.
QUESTION: Have you ever had a discussion with John Birch Society officials as to
whether the Birch Society would or should support your candidacy?
ANSWER: Never.
QUESTIONL Do you know whether you are receiving any financial contributions from
members of the Birch Society?
ANSWER: I would have no way of knowing that.
QUESTION: Yesterday, George Christopher challenged you to a television debate. Now
that you are a candidate, do you accept that challenge?
ANSWER: I'm not in favor and I don't believe in Republican debating Republican in
public. I think we have had too much of that already. My contest is with the present
administration in Sacramento and I intend to keep it that way.
QUESTION: Would you debate Governor Brown?
ANSWER: Well, I'll tell you there is a long way until you get to that. There*s a
primary contest in between. Then I have a hunch that I'll be debating him quite
actively in the months ahead. But I don't know. Maybe Mr. Salinger would advise him
not to.
QUESTION: There is an old saying in politics that incumbents aren't defeated--they
defeat themselves. Taking into account your lack of experience in politics, how do you
propose to beat Governor Brown?
ANSWER: As I said before, I'm going to meet as many of the people as I can and tell
them what I believe and suggest specific proposals and solutions to some of the things
I think are problems in the months ahead. Then hope that ehough of the people will
agree with me.
4
QUESTION: You said that you would campaign by auto and train. Since the Second World
War, I don't think you have done any flying. Do you intend to do any flying during
this compaign?
ANSWER: I already have done some and you left out a word--I said that I have covered
the State of California by train, plane, and auto. I have, as well, had a few trips.
which I've found necessary to take away from the State of California. I love traveling
on the ground. I love driving best of all. I enjoy trains but I have found it necessary
for several months past to take to the air.
QUESTION: With reference to cracks which you have said appeared in California economy
less than an hour ago Governor Brown said every index of economic activity in California
is on the up-swing and 230,000 new jobs are predicted. for the coming year. Where did
you get your figure?
ANSWER: Well, it seems to me that Governor Brown and some of his departments have
used the old business of juggling a few statistics. The truth of the matter is, it takes
roughly 200,000 jobs or some plus a year just to keep pace with the increase in population
in California, without improving our economy. And every year in California is a record
breaking year simply on the basis of our growth. But one of my figures with regard to
unemployment was obtained from the A.F. of L.-C.I.O. weekly newsletter which states that
with 9 per cent of the population, we have 12 per cent of the unemployed--1 out of 8 of
all the people looking for jobs in the United States are looking for them here in Calif.
QUESTION: In reference to your catsup bottle incident in the film, it says here from
the Democratic Coordinating Committee that to reduce the carry-over inventory from
the record tomato growers of 1964, the tomato industry cut back production in 1965.
Was this taken into account on what you said on the film?
ANSWER: Not only wasn't it taken into account, but again I think I have statistics
and documentation that can answer that in the days ahead, because there has been a
great reduction in the canning and packing not only of tomatoes, but of other
vegetables. And there is already beginning to be signs of an increase in importation
from other countries of tomato paste.
QUESTION: Could you tell us what specifically to do with the Watts situation?
ANSWER: Well, I think one idea, pattern to be extended and followed is the very fine
example that has been set by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce which has already
enlisted the aid of more than 100 industries and expects to expend that as has already
found jobs for more than a thousand. I don't know the latest figure on it. And they
have some people also on the job training program in private industry and they hope
to expand it.
They probably have better figures and have a better knowledge than most public
agencies OZ the exact state of unemployment in that area, roughly about 25,000.
According to their figures, about 12,500 are employable or trainable in on the job
programs. Another 12,500 don meet that qualification end are a social problem that
must be met by society. All of us. But I think an expansion of this is what I
referred to in my statement, an expansion of that idea of improving the business
climate and seeking out what inducements you could think of, or incentives, to improve
the business climate, including the possibilities of tax incentives. Everything should
be done. Because I think basically great many of these problems, their solution
lies in more jobs for people.
with
QUESTION: Where do you place the blame for what happened?
ALLSWER: Well, actually, I think we again must come back to the McCone Report
with the idea that there were about two per cent and no more actually involved in
this riot. I think there were a number of factors but I think one which cannot be
overlooked was that in this two per cent, you have a number of people who were recently
irmigrants here from states in the Deep South, and they camehere like the grants
of a hundred years ago came from some of the European countries with an idea that the
streets were paved with goldiand I think also there were promises made in connection
with some of the poverty programs--promises that couldn't materialize for 3 long time
just because of the nature of bureaucracy and the period of time it takes to get such
programs under way. I think that there was frustration that was built up. You
connot discount that there were certain elements who had their own axe to grind
who moved in, and added to, and kept the riot going.
QUESTION: Are you blaming Governor Brown for part of that?
AISWER: Oh, I wouldn't Tike to specify an exact blame now as to who made promises.
I-1 would say that an entire philosophy of government is certainly shared in, by the
Covernor, state and national, with regard to turning only to these government
programs 32 an answer, must take some of the blame.
2
QUESTION: In efforts to (Inaudible) certain Negro communities.
ANSWER: I certainly do. I am opposed to, as I said, hyphenated Americans and I
believe the problems that have to be solved are of interest to every American, regariles.
if some people hyphenate them by putting a qualifying adjective in front of their name.
I am opposed to that, and I'm going to appeal to them because I think that the over-
whelming majority of all of our so-called minority and ethnic groups are as concerned
with the problems that need to be solved as any of us. And I am going to xy to
state my case because I don believe in riding anybody.
QUESTION: Could you give you one more solution: for unemployment besides aiding
business and tax
?
ANSWER: Well, I think you have to get into the area of education. And I think there,
very definively, we should lock to vocational training throughout the state and see
if we have not been lacking in many respects there.
QUESTION: Yr. Reagan, would you be in favor of lowering the amount and the length
of unemployment compensation in this state?
ANSWER: Well now, I think you're dealing in something that is a specific, along the
Lines C1 those I suggested the I would rather-- (QUESTION: There have been abuses
to this--) There are abuses in anything-- (QUESTION: --and that the length of time
that the money is paid to a non-working citizen has well been criticized. = was
wondering how you would approach this problem--)
Let me answer from this stand-
point, as I have states. I think anything in that line, and I mean in the area of
welfare, must keep in mind the answering of a need, and yet must stop short of creating
2 way of life that can actually induce people to accept that rather than to DULL their
share of the load and to work for 9. living. But, to get any more specific, I think is
I'll
also
in
QUESTION: About of year ago or last February at a banquet here in Inglewood, Barry
Goldwater said, "I art, urging you to be a cendidate.' He said that he would be glai
to come in and campaign for you in California. Have you been in touch with him and
do you expect to ask him to campaign?
ANSWER: No, I haven't been in touch and - don't expect him to, and I don't think he
would. = think what he we.s trying f say at that particular time was that he was
very kindly expressing some thanks for watever I might have been doing in that
campaign. But, I think this is between the people of California and the suggested.
candidates, and outsiders from outside our state would be carpet-bagging in $ sense.
QUESTION: Pursuant to that point, may I ask you one question. In your television
address, you told us why you travel in (Inaudible). Critics have labeled you a right-
wing Republican. Is this true and do you intend to act for California's
ANSWER: No, and I don't believe any more in hyphenating Republicrsthan I do in hyphen-
Andricans. = don't think the lobels nem anything anymore, and I think
2:
becole MITT listen to specific views in the months ahead on issues and :-1
stand, there won't be any need for such labels.
QUESTION: Because of the registration in California, it is necessary for a
substantial number of Democrats to vote for the Republican nominee, for him to
be elected. How will your campaign appeal to the Democrats who may vote Republican?
ANSWER: Well, again, I think the problems that face California cross party line. I-1
think that the solutions must cress party lines and I don't know of anyone who knows
any better about the Republican side of how Democrats think than I do. I was one for
most of my life, and I believe that there are millions of fine, patriotic, a nd sincere
Democrats who are as concerned is anyone about fiscal irresponsibilities, excessive
taxation, the growth of government and I expect to appeal to them.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) what governmental or political backround.
ANSWER: As I have stated, I am not a. politician in the sense of ever having held
public office. My administrative and executive experience has been what I outlined
briefly in my statement business experience. But I just happened to have 2.
deep-seated belief that it is high time that some of the people from the rank-and-
file citizenry should involve themselves in government so that it will be a govern-
ment of and by, as well as for, the people. And feeling that way, I think I can
qualify as a citizen-politican and I don't believe that the country was created by
men who were politicians.
QUESTION: Did you agree with the recent statements of Senator Dirkson, Congressrum
Morse, and Senator Goldwater that there is no place with the Republican Party for
member of the Birch Society?
ANSWER: well, I don't know that anyone made that statement. I think there were
statements with regard to the Birch Society as a society, but I don't recall anyone
saying maydong as individuals. As such, they would be perfectly correct in saying
there is no place for the Organization because it isn't a political organization.
We have plenty pf volunteer Republican groups who are formed within the Party to
further Republican programs and aims.
QUESTION: Do you believe there are members of the John Birch Society within the
Republican Party?
ANSWER: I have issued a statement. It is available here as to how I feel. I 3m.
not going to submit to a loyalty oath or test to anybody who decided he wants to
vote for me. I don't know how I could do it. If anybody decides he wants to vote
for me, he has bought my philosophy; I haven't bought his.
QUESTION: Do you believe there is a place in the Republican Party for John Birch
members?
ANSWER: I think there is 3 place in any political party for anyone who feels he
can conscientiously support the aims and the goals of that party.
QUESTION: What will the main theme of your campaign be? Will it be the break-
down or coming breakdown of the poverty of California? That was your lead-off
statement and I was wondering if this would be your main theme in your campain.
QUESTION: Well, I think, generally, it was in the statement there. Some of those
things were the results of what I think is wrong: the growth of government; the
bureaus that have grown in such numbers and in such size; the declining business
climate; and, I think, all of these will be issues. I think there will be other
specific issues as the days go on.
QUESTION: What was the precise calendar date that you decided to announce for the
candidacy?
ANSWER: Today
QUESTION: When did you make up your mind?
ANSWER: I think it has been within a matter of recent weeks.
QUESTION: When
did you complete the film?
ANSWER: Well, to get it through the lab, we had
to do that about a week ago.
QUESTION: It was said that if you were in the Senate at that time, you would have
followed the views of Goldwater and voted against the "bill of rights" Bill. Is
this still your decision?
ANSWER: At the end of a quite lengthy discussion on the entire issue of civil rights,
I did, to a group, make the statement to the answer to a question, after stating at
quite some length and discussing at quite some length my agreements with the aims
of the civil rights legislation and the fact that I spend a life time on that
side, because I believe in it and I believe anything less than complete equality
for everyone in America is morally wrong. I then said that I, like others, was
critical of some parts of the bill which I thought were badly written, ran the
risk of being unconstitutionsl. Since then, both proponents and opponents of the Bill
have bared this out. And I did say that on that basis I would have maybe voted
against the Bill.
I tell you the truth. I don't think really that that was a preper thing for me to
say because I don't think anyone really know how you would have really voted unless
he was really there and a part of the debate, because certainly people of similar
views in the legislature, both in the Senate and the House, basically on issuès,
still voted in opposite ways on that bill.
QUESTION: Who is your principal campaign contributor?
ANSWER: Actually, there hasn't been any large-scale, principal fund-raising. I've
written a lot of "Thank You" letters to people who have told me that they would like to help
in these months, making it possible for me to get arcund. But, I don't know of anyone that
is any more "principal" than anyone else.
QUESTION: You've only started today,
and you've already spent about $50,000. Where did the money come from?
ANSWER: Your know more about it than I do. I don't sit in on those meetings.
QUESTION: What is your present position on social security?
ANSWER: First of all, that's hardly a state issue. It's been what it always has been.
I think social security is a fact of life, and it's here to stay, and it's a good fact.
I think it not only is of great benefit to the recipients, but I think at the same time
it serves all of us to the extent that it probably tends to level off economic ups-and-
downs by keeping a purchasing power among the people.
However, I have reserved the right and have many occasions criticized flaws and faults
which I think endanger this program; and flaws which I think can only be termed as fiscal
administering
of
the
running
of
this
program.
I
still
PAGE 8
HOOVER
ISNI
ARCHIVES
QUESTION: What is your present position on social security?
ANSWER: First of all, that's hardly a state issue. It's been what it always has been.
I think social security is a fact of life, and it's here to stay, and it's a good fact.
I think it not only is of great benefit to the recipients, but I think at the same time
it serves all of us to the extent that it probably tends to level off economic ups-and-
down by keeping purchasing power among the people.
However, I have reserved the right and have on many occasions criticized the flaws and
faults which I think endanger this program; and flaws which I think can only be termed
as fiscal ????? * (irresponsibility?) in the administering of the running of this program.
And I still ???? *(stick?) with that.
* unclear in the original MST 1/11/83
QUESTION: What would you say is the one central issue of the campaign above all others?
ANSWER: To retire Pat Brown (Laughter)
QUESTION: (Inaudible)
ANSWER: Well, let me answer you there. Yes, I think there is a difference between the
Republican approach and the Democratic approach in the "Great Society." I again think
I voiced it in my statement that "I don't believe the pattern that has been. laid down
by the present "Great Society" can at the same time include a free society. And I
think what we must have in America is the opportunity for all, and all who are willing
to accept opportunity; and, at the same time, compassion and care for all those who,
through no fault of their own, are unable to accept it. But, I think--you know the
Jewish book, the Talmud, has several steps for helping people: (1) the least desirable,
the last resort, is the handout, the dole; the most desirable and the most effective is
to help people to help themselves and that, I think, probably typifies the Republican approach.
QUESTION: Medicare for the elderly is (Inaudible). If you were Governor, would you
implement the carrying out of this program or would you seek to take California out
of the
ANSWER: Well, I think Medicare has already been passed by the legislature, although I
understand it is being presented as one of the matters in the forth-coming special
session because now that they have to go back and find out just what they have created
here in the State of California because nobody here seems to know just what is going to
cost or whether we can handle it in its present form. And I have a hunch that that will
be a matter of weeks.
QUESTION: If you were elected Governor, would you support or oppose the principles of
Medicare?
ANSWER: Well, I support the principle of "medical care" for the aged. Not only that, I
have always supported the principle of medical care, regardless of age, for anyone in this
land who cannot provide medical care for themselves. But this, as differentiated from
a particular piece of legislation called Medicare which, I think, has a great many faults,
both in the national and state levels.
QUESTION: Well, will you oppose it as presently stated?
ANSWER: Well, it's 2 little late to oppose it. It is a fact of life. It's passed. It'shate.
You are talling about a national program, headquartered 3,000 miles away from Sacramento.
QUESTION: What happens in Washington so far as Medicare matters are concerned, has a
direct bearing in California; therefore, your attitude as Governor would be important.
What would be your attitude?
ANSWER: My attitude would be to wait to see what legislation is going to do with the
program right now.
QUESTION: Do you think candidates for constituticnal offices should make known their
financial holdings or their financial standings?
ANSWER: I certainly would have no quarrel with doing it. I haven't given it an
awful lot of thought. I THINK THAT this is a philosophical question also; that there
could be certainly two sides as to how far an individual must go in invading his privacy.
But, he certainly cust go up to the point of allowing the voters to know whether there
is possibly any conflict between his personal and private life and position, and his duties
as a constitutional officer. Now, how far beyond that we are entitled to go will take
an awful lot of thought.
QUESTION: (Inaudible)
ANSWER: Well, did one drop out? I thought there were three declared before me. Yes,
I wouldn't think that there would be any basic differences. A few weeks ago here in
Los Angeles at a volunteer group convention, some of us who have been suggested as
candidates made a presentation, each one of us, to an audience and answered questions.
I made the remark at the time that where there were people who probably would have
classified us with hyphens and labels, ranging the whole spectrum, There was very
little
difference in the views we expressed, and I thought we were all pretty much in the main
stream of Republican thinking.
QUESTION: Would you expect any support from Senator Kuchel?
ANSWER: Well, I don't know whether I would expect any support from anyone but I would
hope for all Republicans because I believe that it is high time that the Republicans
did unite and act as one party. I have been making this speech throughout the state,
urging that upon Republicans; and, I might say, I have been gratified at the response at
the grass-roots level. If there is anyone higher than that that the people of the
Party want to get together, they better find it out.
QUESTION: You indicated that you were not happy with the recent administration of the
University of California. What would you do to improve it?
ANSWER: Well now, a Governor couldn't replace the Board of Regents. The Board of
Regents are appointed for 16-year terms, staggered terms, so that the Governor would
appoint those to come along only during his term. The Governor is also a member of the Board
of Regents, so all you can answer is what would you as a member of the Board of Regents
suggest. And I would suggest: (1) that the Board of Regents make plain what a code of
conduct should be; what should be the code governing the University. I think that the
Faculty Senate Committeee should have no voice in administration, but should be limited
to academic questions and issues; and then I think those who are entrusted with the
administration of the University should be told to administer it, and if they didn't,
get someone who would.
QUESTION: Will you please explain your separation from the Democratic Party,
dealing specifically with Whether or not Roosevelt and Truman were just (assuming?)
Democrats and when you were disenchanted?
ANSWER: Well, my disenchantment was a growing thing. I wasn't as smart as Al Smith;
I didn't do it that early. I have often said that I think that there was as much the
Democratic Party leaving me, or the leadership of that party leaving me, as my leaving the
Party. And I, as I cited in here some statements from the Democratic Platform of 1932
to illustrate the difference. I think the party leadership had made changes before I
recognized them, and I have stated many times that I was amazed to discover how deeply
ingrained is party loyalty, how long you hang on hoping to, perhaps, be of help in,
let's say, reshaping or remolding the party or having some effect on it before you
actually leave. But finally, I had to conclude that all of the things which I believed
in and had once believed were the views of the Democratic Party, no longer fit the leader-
ship of that party and that actually the Republican Party was more at home with those
principles of individual freedom, of Constitutional limits of the power of the govern-
ment, fiscal responsibilities and so forth.
QUESTION: You have been traveling around the state for about eight months now. I wonder
if you have been running into any hostility by the press, and if there are any efforts by
the press to distort the news in your campaign.
ANSWER: Why no, I've enjoyed meeting all of you that I have met so far and I'm over-
whelmed and I'm very happy to see so many of you here today. I hope that you will all
join with us in the little social get-together and reception that will follow this
press conference.
QUESTION: What is your position on the death penalty or its repeal?
ANSWER: Well, I think this is hard of anyone raised in our Judio-Christian religion,
our ingrained belief of the sacredness of human life and the right only of God to have a
voice in it. Eut, at the same time, I think we all accept that we are entitled to
defend our life. We are granted life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness take
life if necessary in defense.
Now, I have answered the question for myself on this ground. If I could ever have it proven
to my satisfaction that the death penalty is not a deterrent; that, in other words, it is
only punishment, then I would be opposed. But, to date, the most knowledgeable men in law
enforcement, the most knowledgeable penologists, insist that it is a deterrent. In other
words, the death penalty does prevent the taking of life. It does hold down a numBer of
murders and as long as that is so, I say that we must keep the death penalty. And I
could add one thing that those people that uphold to it admit, that it must have a
deterrent factor because even they say that you must have a death penalty with regard t.)
a man already in prison for murder, committing another murder, because if you didn't
then anybody in prison would have a license to knock-off anybody he wanted to any day in
the week because there wasn't anything further you could do to hin.
QUESTION: (Inaudible)
ANSWER: I think the end of the two-party system can come as we saw it come in countries
like Russia and Nazi Germany through one party simply outlawing all others and taking
over; but I think it can also come by the simple withering away by a party that simply
gets to a minority status, that while it goes through the motions, it represents no
threats whatsoever, similar to the one-party system for many years that hopefully we are
correcting, that we have had in the South. From that standpoint, I would think that it
would be of concern to both Democrats and Republicans to redress the imbalance
and to get us back to where-- I think the only thing that keeps boty parties on us, is the
fear of getting licked so you've got to get it up to where each party goes into election
with the fear that it can be defeated.
QUESTION: Do you think that California needs a better housing law?
ANSWER: Well, I think this is a question right now that we're awaiting a verdict of
the Supreme Court and I just don't think it will be seemly to make an observation on
this while it is pending.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) would you vote yes or no on Proposition 14?
ANSWER: Well, to tell the truth, you have me in a position in which I took no position
on Proposition 14, and I took it because of my participation for a candidate who had
streesed very much that he did not want to, because of his belief in states' rights,
get involved in anything that had to do with a local or state issue. And so, I didn't
participate in any way.
QUESTION: (Inaudible)
ANSWER: I hope in the new legislature that will be elected--I hope that there
certainly will be a sense of resposibility on the part of any individuals there with
regard to this sudden giving over of power of the state to this limited area; but, of
course, heavy population in the South. I did not favor reapportionment. I believe
that there are differences; there are areas of sparse population out of necessity--
agricultural areas that have their own particular problems. I believed in the bi-
cameral system with one house designated on something other than population basis. So,
I'm very fearful because I don't think it is right for any one section of a state to be
able to run it. I very much fear that reapportionment throughout the nation is going
to gradually drift unless we have something similar to the Dickson amendment and I would
favor that. I have a fear that we are going to see more and more rule by big city machines.
QUESTION: In the area of law enforcement and local issues, how do you, or where do you,
stand in the area of police review boards civilian police review boards?
ANSWER: I'm opposed. I think this is an unnecessary interference. I think that where
those communities that have tried it have found that it has interfered with law enforce-
ment and has unnecessaryily restricted the police. I believe that we have a fine police
department here, one of the best-in the whole United States. And I think that whenever
evidence is presented, you have a civil control through your police commission, whenever
evidence is revealed that they are not living up to their duty and their sworn obligation.
Then, I think as a community you do something about it.
13
QUESTION: Do you feel that until the four-year term you could actually reduce- (inaudible)
ANSWER: Well, let me say that anyone would be naive as far as this is, to think that
suddenly you could wave a wand and make a great change. I think what has to happen is
you first dig in your heels and slow down the toboggan and hope you can bring it to a
stop and then you start trying to push it back up hill. I would think your aim would be,
and mine certainly would be, to start pushing it back up hill as fast as I could. But,
in the meantime, I'd first be trying to slow it down.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) concerning state lottery and gambling.
ANSWER: No, I think it is proper and I have always been opposed to a state lottery.
I think if a state like California, the number one in the nation, cannot legitimately
solve its financial problems without a lottery, there is something very wrong with all
of us,
QUESTION: (Inaudible)
ANSWER: Oh, certainly, that's his state and
that's his problem I foresee a very necessary area of cooperation between Nevada and
California; for example, with regard to cleaning up Lake Tahoe.
P14-24
CAMPAIGN 1966
Volume 1 page 14
SAN BERNADINO COUNTY
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADMIN. ASSN. LUNCHEON
CASA LOMA HALL - REDLANDS UNIVERSITY
February 15, 1966
Sometimes, I wonder if we ever pause to contemplate a strange paradox
that this nation, founded on individual freedom, should depart from
this principle to establish as we have a system of compulsory education.
Now, if and when we do, I think we recognize, as the founding fathers
did before us, we can only be free and in control of our own destiny
if we are a literate people. Nevertheless, there's a strange dichotomy
in our system of freedom, and in this departure from that, which,
even now, disturbs some tourists. But we've made this compromise work
by controlling it, the school system, at the local level.
Cumbersome as it is, this imperfect compromise has made the system work,
work precisely because all of us can meet face to face and argue and
come to some kind of a decision.
From literally the first moment that federal aid to education was
proposed, and it goes back at least a decade, a concern has been expressed
by educators and administrators that federal control will go hand in hand
with federal aid, and this has been vehemently denied by those who are
the loudest in their advocacy of the federal government being the
financial helping hand to local legislation.
To go back to 1957 when the first comprehensive aid to education
program was proposed and congressman Bardon, Chairman of the house
legislation and labor committee, frankly stated that "the purpose of
the Federal aid bill of 1957 is to centralize power over our school
system here in Washington where it's easier to apply concentrated pressure."
15
Page 2. Redlands University.
And most recently Congress has uncovered a book - and they uncovered it
by accident. It's being circulated, printed first by the Department of
Health, Education and Welfare and circulated among the personnel of that
office, and it outlines the plan for a National Educational Agency, and
yet in spite of all this - and in spite of their words to each other,
continually we are assured that we can turn to the federal helping hand
and it will not involve federal control of education.
When a congressman proposed that parents be granted tax deductions for
expenses of education, this was denied. When it was proposed that a
college student working his way through school should be allowed to earn
up to $1200.00 a year as long as he was going to school, using it for
that purpose, without having to file an income tax return, no, the
federal government denied that.
University presidents concerned with the threat to academic freedom went
to Washington with a well thought out plan for how we could meet the
problem of colleges privately endowed or supported, the independent type
college, and get away from the possibility of another new government
bureau or agency with federal control, get away from the controversies about
state separation of church and state. Very simply their plan was to allow
each citizen to complete his income tax and then take a sum which they
suggested as possibly a hundred dollars, but the federal government could
have the right to declare what the amount should be, and then they would,
instead of giving it to the government, present a certificate or a receipt
showing that they had contributed that money to a school or college of
their choice. They went to Washington and they argued for some time.
16
Page 3 Redlands University.
It was kind of significant, but before they went, they asked the president
of a large Eastern university if he wouldn't go with them, because he
had expressed his concern over the threat to academic freedom inherent
in the many programs, and this man told them that he believed with them.
He would like to go with them, but he said, "My own university is receiv-
ing so much money from the Federal government that I do not dare exercise
my right as a citizen and make my feelings known, and endanger this source
of revenue for the college." Well, this man has already lost acdemic
freedom. And then after they asked the government official with whom they
met over a period of days why their system wouldn't work, a kind of
Freudian slip occurred and Francis Keppel, United States director of
education blurted out "You don't understand, under the program you
suggested the federal government couldn't achieve its social objective."
I think there's some area, some right, in us questioning whether the
Federal Government has shown any talent for doing this job better than
it's been done at the local level. In one city for example, the povety
program has issued a grant and they have a budget there for training or
retaining some three thousand drop outs or potential drop outs to keep
them in school. And the budget for those three thousand in the federal
government amounts to half the entire school budget of that city system
for educating 25,000 legitimate students. The dropouts will be paid
because they've discovered the part of cause of dropouts is that they
need to earn money, to have funds. A dropout in this system will be
paid double what the legitimate student can earn who has a part time job.
Now, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that this is an inducement
for a student to become a drop out so he can get a raise in pay and
continue with education at the same time.
Page 4
Redlands University.
The N.Y. Journal American has just published a story that in the poverty
program in N.Y. City, that needy students have been given jobs in the
school system at a dollar and a quarter an hour. The news, however,
revealed that the federal government has ordered the file held of the
students now holding those jobs, because none of them, while they're
needy, as any records of juvenile delinquency -- and the jobs are to be
given to juvenile delinquents. Any parent could tell them that they're
just asking for somebody to go out and break a window in order to hang
on to the dollar and a quarter job.
The state of California seems bent on eliminating local control, so
that the federal government perhaps will only have to assume proprietorship
over a single state-wide system, and I think this is where the fight must
begin and the fight must be won in the field of education.
Unification skudies were made over a ten year period between 1948 and
1958. I don't know what houses the findings that were made during this
ten year period up there, but under the direction of Dr. Nutsall they
found for example the best, the most efficient and the most economic
school district in size was one of about ten and twelve thousand students.
They found that very little efficiency and economy was lost if you moved
ýp the next bracket to say a maximum of 22,000 students. But from there
on, the law of diminishing returns set in, and from there on the cost
per student went up and so did the class load per teacher.
215,000 new teachers will be needed in the next ten years in the state
of California just to keep pace with the growth and to make replacements,
and this doesn't provide at all for reducing for the approved size in
the ratio of classroom to teacher. You know that Einstein, in the later
years of his life, told a friend that all of his life he placed little
18
Page 5
Redlands University.
faith in religion. He said his entire life had been spent in the
academic atmosphere and he placed his faith in the scholar, in the
teacher -- and he said when Hitler's evil rose in Germany, he stood
there confidently waiting for the great universities, for the scholars of
Germany, for the teachers to stand up and thunder back in rage against
this evil demagoguery. And then he said to his heartbreak he saw the
schools in that nationalized school system of Germany accept the school
books presented by Hitler, burn the old school books, and make no protest
about teaching Hitler's new order. And the only thunder against the
evil came from those humble men he had ignored all his life, the clergy,
who stood in the pulpits answering back until they were led off to the
gas chambers and concentration camps.
In his sunset years Herbert Hoover said the greatest strides of human
progress have come from uncommon men and women. When we're sick we want
an uncommon doctor - when we're at war we want an uncommon general or
admiral - when we choose a president for a university we want an uncommon
educator. The imperitive need of this nation at all times is the leader-
ship of the uncommon men and women. We need men who cannot be intimadated,
who are not concerned with the applause meters, who will not sell tomorrow
for cheers today. And I think that we should not shirk our responsibilities
for training and educating every possible person to the limit of his
ability, and at the same time we should recognize we have an equally great
responsibility in the educational system to see that those leaders of
tomorrow, those that are exceptional and who will life mankind a little
closer to the stars, get every possible advantage that we in our school
system can bring them.
FeD.
14-24B
San Bernadino Co. Elementary School
Admin. Assn. Luncheon
Casa Lona Hall - Redlands Univ.
Well we've been brought together in this room because of an interest we
share in common as partlcipants in the greatest public school system in
all the world. Sometimes I wonder if we ever pause to contemplate a
strange paradox that this nation founded on individual freedom should
depart from this principle to establish as we have a system of compulsory
education. Now if and when we do, I think we recognize, 23 the founding
fathers did before us, we can only be free and in control of our own destiny
if we are a literate people. Nevertheless, there's a strange dicotomy
in our system of freedom and in this departure from that which even now
disturbs some tourists. But we've made this compromise work by controlling
it, the school system at the local level. Teachers with an understandable
claim to academic freedom spread at the close proximity of Little Willie's
mother and her challenge to the teacher's right to teach as the teacher
wents to teach, and there's an equally valid right demanded by the parent
forced to send their children to school and who claim a voice in how and
what those children will be taught. And I think its understandable that
both do have a just claim. Sonetimes when you think about this it reminds me
of when I was a boy there used to be a tongue twister we used to like to say.
And that was, "If the doctor gets sick and calls the doctor, does the doctor
doctor the doctorthe way the doctor wants the doctor to be doctored or does
the doctor doctor the doctor the way the doctor wants the doctor to be
doctored?" But little Willie's mother and little Willie's teacher meet
is
eyeball to eyeball and of course right here today I find myself facing the
people who 1 n those confrontations are most often in the middle. But
cumbersone as It is, this imperfect compromise has made the system work,
work precisely because all of us can meet face to face and argue and come
to some kind of a decision. Today however the threat of this cumbersome
but time tested system, as an increasingly powerful federal government
has dried up the sourses of local and state taxation financing education
has become a problem at the local level, and now the government has created
a problem to begin with offers as a solution federal grants and aids. And
from literally the first moment the federal aid to education was proposed
and it goes back at least a decade, a concern has been expressed by
educators and administrators like yourselves that federal control will
so hand in hand with federal aid, and this has been vehemently denied by
those who are the loudest in their advocacy of the federal government
being the financial helping hand to local legislation.
To go back to 1957 when the first comprehensive aid to legislation
program was proposed and congressman Bardon, Chairman of the house
legislation and labor connittee frankly stated that the purpose of the
Federal aid bill of 1957 is to centralize power over our school system
here in Washington where it's easier to apply concentrated pressure."
There's been an equally bold and frank statement made by an educator who
I believe advocates not only federal aid, but sees no here in this federal
control, and he has stated that 11 As the state has deaied first to the
family and than to the local community the right to make decisions on education
contrary to state defined policy, 30 the nation may be exposted to deny the
state the right to make decisions on educational policy not in accord with the
emerging national policy for education.
3.
And if we come up more to the present time, a mesiorandum was uncovered
a little loss than a year 230 in the office of Community Relations Service.
It was a part of the poverty program and there's a sentence in that memorandum
very disturbing. It says we should conduct a systematic effort to contact all
publishers and school boards to ancourage their publication and adoption
of text books conforming to established standards, And most recently Congress
has uncovered a book and they uncovered by accident. It's being circulated,
printed verse by the Department of Health, Education & Welfare and circulated
among the personal of that office, and It outlines the plan for 2 national
educational agency, and yet in spite of al 1 this and in spite of their
words to each other, continually we are assured thatve can turn to the
federal helping hand and it will not involve foderal control of education,
and yet at the sene time every time proposels are made leading toward the
solving of our financial problems at the local level, but with guarantees
against such control, the suggestions die aboint. For examples the first
proposals mode, that the federal government should adr-mark tax funds
and leave them at the state and local levels for this position as local author-
ities would see fit even when we get into the area of the needy student and
lending programs. When a congrassmen proposed that parents be granted
tax deductions for expenses of education, this was denied, When 1: T33
proposed that a college student orking his may through school should be
allowed to earn =2 to $1200.00 2 year as long 23 he WSS going to school,
using it for that purpose, without having to file an income tax return, no,
the federal government donied that, It made more Sen32 to then to tax then
and than turn around and give it back in 30.18 kind of a grunt or a scholership.
When university with the street to mardemic
to Washington with 1 will thought out plun for how 1: could must the problem
of colleges such as this one, privately endowed OZ supported, the independent
type college, and get away from the possibility of another new government
bureau or sgency with federal control, get away from the controversies
about state separation of church and state. Very simply their plan was to
allow each citizen to complete his income tax and then take a sum which they
suggested a3 possibly a hundred dollars, but the federal government could
have the right to declare what the amount should be, and then they would
in live of that amount of money, instead of giving it to the government,
they would present & certificate or a receipt showing that they had contributed
that money to a school or college of their choice. They went to Washington
and they argued for some time. It was kind of significant, but before they
went, they asked the president of a large eastern university 1f he wouldn't
go with them, because he had expressed his concernever the threat to academic
freedom inherent in the many programs, and this man told him that he believed
with them. He would like to go with them, but he said "My own university
is receiving so much money from the federal government that I do not dare
exercise my right 83 a citizen and make my feelings known, and endanger this
source of revenue for the college." Well this man has already lost academic
freedom. And then after they asked the government official with whom they
met over a period of days why their system wouldn't work. A kind of
Freudian slip occurred and Francis Keffel{?) United States director of
education blurted out you don't understand. "Under the program you suggested
the federal government couldn't achieve its social objective."
We were unable to get the original proposals for total federal participation.
The government took adventage of such logical areas as scientific research,
scholarships and student I've nuctioned at the college level, and
now there are 135 separate offices and agencies in the federal government
issuing grants of millions of dollars in higher education from an 824 page
catalogue of goodies. It moves into the area of high school aid with
regard to the dropout retraining program and now as you well know the
whole bowl of glass is up for grabs from kindergarten on.
Now evan 1f we have no concern with the threat of a nationalized school
system, I think there's some area, some right in us questioning whether
the federal government has shown any talent for doing this job better
than it's been done at the local level. In one city for example, the
peverty program has issued a grant and they have a budget there for training
or retraining some three thousand drop outs or potential drop outs to keep
them in school. And the budget for those three thousand in the federal
government amounts to half the entire school budget of that city system
for educating 25,000 legitimate students. The dropouts will be paid
because they discovered the part of cause of dropouts is that they
need to earn money, to have funds. A dropout in this system will be
paid double what the legitimate student can earn who has a part time job.
Now, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that this in an inducement for
a student to become a drop out 30 they can get a raise in pay and continue
with education at the same time, There is some strange perversion
taken place in the classic philosophy of the carrot and stick.
The N.Y. Journal American has just published a story that in the poverty
program in N.Y. city, the needy students have been given jobs in the
school system at a dollar and a quarter an hour. The news however revealed
that the Federal government has ordered that the file of the students now
holding those jobs, because none of them, while they re needy, has any records
of juvenile delinquency and the jobs are to be given to juvenile delinquents.
Any parent could tell them that they're just asking for somebody to go
out and break a window in order to hang on to the dollar and a quarter
job. Selective service director of the State of Arizona is protesting
to the federal government because the draft which is now reclassifying
college students rafuses to take dropouts. Again we have to ask if this
isn't a pretty good reason for somebody becoming a dropout as he draws
closer to military service. You are administrators in a county that's
bigger than a number of our states and even of many nations in the world,
and I think that you should be able to count on the power of the State of
California and the governmentito stand between you and the threatened
loss of local autonomy. Alas, as you could tell me probably better than
I can tell you, you're in kind of a position that's like that last reel
of the chiller mystery that appears on the Late Late Show when the heroine
sits back relaxed, safe at lasttin the company of her uncle, and you know
what happens. She turns and looks at his face and discovers he's the
murderer all the time. The state of California seems bent on eliminating
local control, so that the federal government perhaps will only have to
assume proprietorship over a single state-wide system, and I think this
is where the fight must begin and the fight must be won in the field of
education. Already elementary education is bound in by red tape and reg-
ulations mandated legislation requiring programs and educational approaches
usually without provisions for funding such programs and even when funding
does follow here and there, the money comes with new restrictions requiring
further compliance on the part of the local educational system, and pity
the poor administracón that can't get a ruling or a decision or interpret-
ation from his county council in time on the hundreds of pages of new
legislation coming out of Sacramento's legistative horn of plenty. Perhaps
we need a moratorium for about a year after each new bill is adopted, so:
that you've got time to find out what it says particularly in the fine print,
and incidentally perhaps to find out and make an assessment or evaluation
as to whether the idea will work that's put into practice. Two years ago
the people of this state successfully lobbied against assembly bill 46
and then went home from triumphant, and they'd hardly seen the gold dome
fade below the horizon before AB46 be ame assembly bill 45 and it was hastily
passed. And now you can vote on unification and if you vote wrong, your
allowance is cut. The Cascade Union school district voted itself into
a 22% penalty on the tax rate. Of course, if you vote the right way, there's
a promise of lower costs, but to date there's no indication of any school
district ever lowering their tax rate after unification in the elections
that have been held under AB Bill 145.
The goal as we well know is to reduce the 1500 odd districts in the state
of California to 300, but would you be terribly surprised, if occe having
achieved that, if the 300 became 587 And would you be surprised if the 58
wound up as just one gigantic state wide educational system? Strangely
enough the men who would bring this about know better. There have been a number
of studies made. Unification studies were made over a ten year period
between 1948 and 58. I don't know what houses the findings that were made
during this ten year period up there, but under the direction of Dr. Nutall
they found for example the best, the most efficient and the most economic
school district in size was one of about ten and twelve thousand students.
They found that very little efficiency and economy was lost if you moved up
the next bracket to say a maximum of 22,000 students. Sut from there on, the
law of diminishing returns set in, and from there on the cost per student went
up and so did the class load per teacher. New York City, and we don't
very often turn to New York City for any suggestions as to how to improve
our situation, but at least they learned and they're already heading in
the opposite direction with independent school districts, 21 of them with
independent school boards, under the direction of 21 assistant school
superintendents, and with pretty much Free autonomy with regard to construction
of school policy in those districts.
Unification is good when it is voluntarily determined by local districts,
but not forced on the districts in the state level. It just doesn't make
sense to have blanket rules - blanket rules that apply generally with no
regard to the variations and the differences in the naighborhoods in the
communities. And this isn't to be critical of the purpose or the goal. I'm
sure no one could quarrel with the goal that set a standard of 60% of the
schools budget must be used for teachers salaries, but it penalizes many
districts where there's rapid growth and you know very well that it forces
a certain amount of dishonest bookkeeping on your part when you try to run
your school system and yet stay within the limits of that particular rule.
They are incentives for reduced class size and penalties for non-compliance.
The Los Angeles school system has chosen voluntarily to accept the penalty
because they just can't locate the sufficient number of new teachers or
build the required class rooms they'd have to bui d to stay within the re-
quirements that have been forced upon them.
One wonders about the state-wide application of the second language program.
Again you can't quarrel with the motive or the purpose, but there are
districts participating particularly districts with large Spanish specking
neighborhoods where the bulk of the students start in school in their
9.
second language, and what they really need is augmented teaching and
training in English. And some day perhaps we should ask outloud really
what the state of California is doing in the text book business. But
before that happens, maybe we should have a review of the Fisher Bill, or
there won't be enough teachers to use all of the text books that are being
published in the State of California and we're pretty close to the point
of pushing the panic button on that one right now. 215,000 new teachers
will be needed in the next ten years in the state of California just to
keep pace with the growth and to make replacements, and this doesn't provide
at all for reducing for the approved size in the ratio of classroom to
teacher. Education is the bulk work of freedom, but there's an inescapable
truth, if you move it too far from the parents and from local control it
becomes a tool of tyranny, or shall we forget about Hitler's book burning,
and Stalin's rewriting of history. You know that Einstein in the later
years of his life, Einstein told a friend that all of his life he placed
little faith in religion. He said his entire life had been spent in the
academic atmosphere and he placed his faith in the scholar, in the teacher,
and he said when Hitler's evil rose in Germany, he stood there confidently
waiting for the great universities, for the scholars of Germany, for the
teachers to stand up and thunder back in rage against this evil demagoguery.
And then he said to his heartbreak he saw the schools in that nationalized
school system of Germany accept the school books presented by Hitler, burn
the old school books, and make no protest about teaching Hitler's new order.
And the only thunder against the evil came from those humble men he had
ignored all his life, the clergy, who stood in the pulpits answering back
until they were led off to the gas chambers and concentration camps.
No one quarrels with the humanitarian purpose here in our own state of the
special education programs for the handicapped, the mentally retarded,
provides $900 per pupil for schools that will voluntarily accept and
participate in such programs. Perhaps it's not even enough. I have
a feeling that in some areas of the handicapped perhaps we should do more.
But at the same time, isn't there something of an imbalance that shows
there's something wrong with the general philosophy that can arrange for
$900 for this kind of teaching for pupils but only provides $40.00 extra
for the teaching fo f the exceptionally gifted when it costs $40.00 just to
determine whether a youngster is exceptionally gifted and has the I.Q.
that would justify such edvanced training. Every move so far away from the
theory of individualism, and so close to the anti, have we forgotten our
istory that we know that no progress of any kind for man has ever resulted
from mass movements. Always it's the individual who dires and pioneers,
thrusting above the crowd and lifting the rest of us a little closer to the
stars. In his sunset years Herbert Hoover said the greatest strides of human
progress have come from uncommon men and omen. When we're sick we want an
uncommon doctor, when we're at war we want an uncommon general or admiral,
when we choose a president for a university we want an uncommon educator.
The imperitive need of this nation at all times is the leadership of the
uncommon vien and women. We- need men who cannot be intimidated, who are not
concerned with the applause meters, who will not sell tomorrow for cheers
today. And I would think that this at the same time that we do not
shirk our responsibilities for training and education every possible person
to the limit of their ability, that at the same time we would recognize
we have an equally great responsibility in the educational system to see
that those leaders of tomorrow, those that are exceptional and who will
lift mankind a little closer to the stars, get every possible advantage that
we in our school system can bring them.
Beokl
pas-350
EXCERPTS FROM RONALD REAGAN T.V. SPEECH FEB. 25, '66.
HILTON INN - SAN DIEGO
"The state is good, and the state has practiced economy." Now,
if that sounds familiar, that's because you heard it four years
ago when he opened his re-election campaign. The snow fell on the
Sierras that year January 24th. Now I don't challenge that they
have practiced economy, but you can't sell tickets to a rehearsal.
I'd like to see a performance. As a matter of fact, a finished
performance.
I've been trying to get it down to pocket size, because that's where
it is going to come from. I've used this before, but I'm going to
do it again. If I have here a four inch stack of thousand dollar bills
in my hand, I would be a millionaire. That's a million dollars - that
little handful. But if we had that budget piled up in front of us in
thousand dollar bills, the pile would be more than one thousand five
hundred feet high. Now let's try again. If you're an average family
in California of four, your share of the anti in that budget is a
little over a thousand dollars this year. Now I'm just foolish
enough to think that the average Californian has some interest in what
someone in Sacramento is going to do with his thousand dollars.
In the last eight years state employees have increased twice as fast
as the increase in population. But the budget has increased four times
as fast as the increase in population, and that average family of four
owes as its share in the California state debt some thirteen hundred
dollars and even with that the budget has increased more than the
debt. Your local property taxes increase twice as fast as your personal
Tage. 2. Budget speech excerpts.
income in the last eight years. Mr. and Mrs. average Californian,
this tax combined with the rest of the local and state taxes gives
you a tax burden as a family if you're that family of four, one
hundred dollars more than the national average.
This budget was made up by administrators with eight years of political
experience. If they don't know how now, we can hardly expect them to
become financial geniuses all at once in a ninth year, even in a tenth,
eleventh, or twelfth year. The budget is more than twice as costly
as it was eight years ago, and it's characterized by sloppiness,
incompetency, and a tendency to sell out the future - our future.
I've turned to the most competent authority I could find on this budget,
a man employed by the state to analyze the budget. He's been doing it
for fifteen years. His duty to be fair and objective is spelled out
by law. I refer to Mr. Alan A. Post, a legislative analyst.
I've taken a long hard look at this budget, but I couldn't possibly
match his comprehensive findings. I used the terms, harsh terms,
a moment ago, describing his budget as sloppy and incompetent. Jell,
on page A-49, listed under estimated unidentifiable savings, there is a
figure of four million dollars. But just as you move across the page,
by the time it reaches the total column by some magic the four million
has become six million. Now 166,000 state employees do their work by
these figures.
In the last ten years you and I have spent four million dollars on the
Office of Planning, and for that we're supposed to have had stage 1
of the comprehensive plan in 1963, :stage 2 in 64, and the completed
plan in this coming September. vell, Mr. Post says, "no plan has yet
Page 3. Budget speech excepts.
been produced, no recommendations, long range policy alternatives
have yet been made." They brought out a booklet this time with an
impressive title, "California Development Plan Program Progress
Report Summary Interpretation of Phase 1 Studies." wiell, Mr. Post
wasn't impressed. He said of the booklet, "it represented little
more than an apparently hurried and demonstrably unsuccessful effort
to meet a deadline already passed." Now the reason I bring this up
is because this present budget provides for another $500,000 this year
for that particular office to follow the four million down the same
rat hole.
I think that every working man and woman in this state is proud to be
able to help the less fortunate, the aged and the disabled, and those who
through no fault of their own haven't been able to take care of them
selves.
But this program won't be solved by a budget providing for 2 million
dollars for welfare programs that don't even exist. That's the figure
for administrative salaries for the Public Assistance Medical Care
program and Medical Assistance for the Aged program. Now before
someone screams that I'm against medical care for the needy and the
aged, hear me out.
Because of the new Medicare bill, these two agencies that I've just
mentioned go out of business next week, but Iir. Post says the budget
contains all the administrative costs for these programs for the year
1966 and 1937. They should not be budgeted since they will not exist.
But two million dollars would help a lot of people for a long time.
Page 4. Budget speech
"The governor's office has consistently added positions administratively
to its staff. In each case the office ended up with more positions than PETE
were originally proposed by the governor and subsequently approved by
the legislature. Now Mr. Post recognizes the difference in always
being able to judge the need in advance, but he does say, "It is
reasonable to expect the office to plan and budget its needs in a way
which is more consistent with the usual standards." Now here for the
first time I depart from Mr. Post. I think the governor has truly
budgeted in line with the usual standards and those usual standards
should be changed.
Now budgets have more than doubled as I told you in the last eight
years, and each time as they increase they were given a name. One of
them was "Stringent" and this followed by "Stern" and then came "Frugal"
and last year they broke the four billion dollar limit with "Bare Bones"
and we know who's bones are bare and now I didn't think they could
find another name but this one has been named "Lean and Hard"
That's what they are doing
Leaning hard
on us.
In the recent meeting in Palm Spring to discuss this budget, the presses
reported, and to date no one has refuted this, that they discussed
perhaps passing on to the future some 70 million dollars of this years
deficit by coming to the end of the fiscal year June 30th and post
dating the last employees check for this check to July first to put
70 million dollars of this years payroll on next years bill. And
now they come up with a better one they're joing to switch the bookkeeping
system to an accrual system and this will move a hundred million dollars
Page ; Budget speech excerpts.
of this deficit to next year. Now strangely enough we shouldn't have
much of a quarred with the advantages of the accrual bookkeeping system.
Many states have it and it's, I beleive in the minds of most accountants
and economists, a good bookkeeping system. But our complaint this time
is the timing, because this switch is being made to deceive the people,
postpone the day of reckoning to move that deficit up ahead again. And
even after they've done that, it will leave us with a hundred and forty
million dollars to make up if we're to have a balanced budget and this they
tell us we'll pick up without raising taxes, now that's a neat trick if you
can do it, and they can do it. They won't raise the taxes until after
the election. The gimmick here is they're going to cancel out your
personal deductions in computing your state income tax. They won't have
to raise the rate any, you just don't get any personal deductions, and
that won't come due until next year. Well that's a familiar song too.
It seems that we had a federal income tax deduction two years ago before
that election. Suddenly the pay checks were fatter for the several months
before the election and then came that cold morning after and we discovered
that we had cut the withholding more than we had cut the tax and everyone
had to anti-up and sit down and write a check once the votes were counted.
Well, I think there's a better answer than this.
Let me return for a minute to the subject of welfare. The cost has
doubled in California in the last five years. It's increased faster
than our spending on education. The average family of four again, its
share of the cost of welfare is now $240.00, and a good portion of this
is dead-end money. Yes, it supports some one if you pay the bills for
Page 6. Budget speech excerpts.
a day and then the money is gone. well this makes welfare addicts
out of millions of Californians. I think we shoudl begin investigating
how we can direct a greater proportion of that money into educational
channels, provide training for the handicapped and the presently
untrained so they can take their place in a productive society, making
money that returns to us as an investment.
The ancient Hebrew book of philosophy, the Talmud, says for a father to
fail to teach his son to earn a living is the same as teaching him to
steal, because that might be the eventual result. Instead of harrassing
business and industry with regressive taxes, let's adopt a creative approach
and ask how can we use government to further free the people to allow us
to reach our fullest potential. We have a leadership sap in Sacramento.
It abdicated their responsibility and they continue to seek the answer to
every California problem in Washington. The free Federal War on Poverty
Funds pay 90% of the bill for a while and then you read the fine print
and you discover very shortly now were supposed to pick up an increading
share of the task, but isn't that what I'm advocating: Californians taking
care of California's problems: Yes, except under this system, we're
going to be paying for programs we didn't plan. They were pre-fabricated
in ashington and the only priviledge and the only voice we had in regard
to their was the priviledge of paying for them. But what can we do about
this budget: Not an awful lot. I can almost predict what will be said
about my remarks. I'll be challenged as to which government program
I would be willing to forsake in order to get economy with the
connotation being that the people-would thus lose out and starve and die
Page 7. Budget speech excerpts.
an the street. Well maybe we don't cancel any necessary programs.
Maybe we just get people more for their dollar.
The governor said he was going to make some gains by getting increased
efficiency out of the state employees. Does he mean that they haven't
been performing efficiently these last eight years?
Our assemblymen and senators in the Republican causus in Sacramento last
year stood united and firm and they managed to get some millions of
dollars cut from last years budget even though they' re vastly out
numbered. Well you and I must be united in offering support, in giving
them the help they need if they're to be able to hold out against the
twist this year. But then let's remain united even through the exciting
primaries so that next fall more ranks can be augmented and we can make
meaningful cuts in the next budget. Let's make the blue pencil a symbol
of our Republicanism. Walk the precincts get out the votes so that
next year a responsible hand can slash that blue pencil through the
layers of budgetary fat.
Picture if you will an adminsitration in our state capitol with out any
printed charts listing the minimum campaign contributions that will be
acceptable from the state employees. Picture instead, an administration
that proclaims there will be no solicitation of campaign funds from
state employees in any campaign, an 0 administration not characterized
by political hacks or hangers on, but one that will seek men to match
our mountains. For the challenge the men and the women of this state
to give their time and talents in service to their state and to their
fellow citizens and be proud to do so - out of this great pool of
technical skill and talents that is the body politic of California, there
Page U. Budget speech excerpts.
isn't any problem that we can't solve if we will refer tit to the people
to find the answer. President Eisenhower said "Does political experience
automatically result in the creation of a statesman or does it just
provide a backlog men skilled in political give and take:" Well
politically experienced men drew up this budget with very little give
and a great deal of take. Now I'm not a politician and that's precisely
why I ask your support, precisely why I'm doing what I'm doing in this
point of time. I believe very deeply that the time has cpme for ordinary
citizens to bring honor and morality and the clean fresh air of common
sense to government.