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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 II
(2 of 6)
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/
REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION
RONALD REAGAN at SACRAMENTO
(Address, August 6, 1966)
Chairman Parkinson, and all the rest of the members of our team here,
delegates, fellow Califorians, I am sure you must realize without my saying
it what a thrilling moment this is. What an honor you have done not only
me but also all of these people here to make us the standard-bearers for the
cause we represent.
It's wonderfully thrilling to be back in Sacramento again although I
must confess that some of the changes were a little disappointing. Arriving
at the airport yesterday I was sorry that Mr. Cranston wasn't there to meet
me.
I will bet all of you saw the television in the last few days about
the Governor's fishing trip into the High Sierras. It was nonpartisan and
nonpolitical. There was, however, one brief mention of the fact that they
weren't biting and he said, "They must be Republicans." That isn't true.
They are just like all the rest of us in California. They have discovered
that everything that is offered to them has a hook in it.
You have met our team here and we've talked throughout this conference
about campaigning as a team but there's something that we haven't mentioned
enough that is vitally important and goes beyond the campaign and that is,
we'll serve as a team in administering the affairs of the state
From Frank Jordan, our voice of experience who unfortunately couldn't
be with us here tonight, to Ivy Baker Priest, who brings to us the prestige
of the job that she held as United States Treasurer
she is the first
woman nominee for a constitutional office, I believe, in the history of
California.
To Houston Flournoy, experienced as a legislator and familiar with some
of the most nagging problems that confront us in the state, particularly
that problem that has to do with inheritance tax appraisers. I think he
will put an end to maintaining a personal army of campaigners at public
-2-
expense and I think he will ask some very real and pertinent questions, such
as, "Will the real Alan Cranston stand up?".
Spencer Williams is the Attorney General nominee. It will no longer
be possible to have a quiet little $200 million tax scandal in California.
The Attorney General says oh, he had some suspicions about 10 years ago, but
he wasn't able to find anything. Two newspapermen from San Francisco could
find it and they didn't have an office directly across the hall from the
Assessor's office.
Spence will inform the people of the state more fully in the days ahead
while his opponent will pretend it didn't happen.
It is time that the people of California got their money's worth from
the salaries paid some of their top executives and with Bob Finch as Lieu-
tenant Governor, this state will get it.
Right now, we see the spectacle of the Governor and the Lieutenant
Governor who can't even agree on their future party chairman. I pledge to
you that Bob Finch and I will work as partners full-time. We are in com-
plete agreement that the Lieutenant Governor will play a major role in ad-
ministering this state and put an end CO silent salaried ghosts roaming the
halls of the State House.
While we are on the subject of the State House, let me also say in
answer to some of the things that might have been going around that the
fine public servants, that great staff of Lareer employees here in California,
will have nothing to fear from this state or this team.
For too long and in too many instances, they have been limited in their
service. Their experience and their professional skill were made virtually
useless In many instances by political hacks and cronies who have been
appointed to executive positions above chem in areas where they had no super-
-3-
ience, or no knowledge of the departments they were supposed to administer.
To the people of California and to these fine state employees, let's
make one thing plain: We do not seek office to simply take over the patron-
age and bureaucratic jungle created by the present administration. Where-
ever possible we will call upon the knowledgeable state employees and in
every case appointments will be based on merits and not blood relationships.
In short, we seek victory not for political expediencies or pride of
party but to restore morality and dignity to government.
But while we are here and jubilant in our mood, let's realize our task
isn't easy. Within reecnt days a meeting has been held in our state called
by some of the sultans of labor. Hopefully, they thought the meeting was
supposed to be kept quiet. But royalty can't travel incognito. So impor-
tant was this meeting that even the leader of the airline strike left that
battlefield to be present.
The plans were laid for raising an unprecedented $3 million for the
California campaign and much of this will not have to be reported as cam-
paign contributions. It will be classified as "educational" spending, but
will hardly be spent in a nonpartisan way. Nor will the rank and file of
labor be asked if its spending reflects their political thinking.
Already expensive paper brochures have appeared and labor papers are
front-paging propaganda--much of it based on inaccuracies and outright
falsehoods. Let's make one thing plain when we speak of labor, and all of
us should keep this in mind throughout the campaign. We must differen-
tiate between the hierarchy--those professional bosses of labor--and the
vast rank and file of the membership, because that membership is made up of
millions of honest, fair-minded, patriotic Americans.
We have something to offer them.
-4-
Their own leadership no longer believes in their capacity to run their
OWN affairs. One of the spokesmen, rather talented in creating whodunit
fiction for cheap programs--Mr. Pitts, explained It when he said, "Any unfon
member who doesn't vote as he is ordered to by union Leaders is 88 gullty
of being anti-labor as if he went through a picket line."
That is an insult to every working man and every woman and would sug-
gest that they are unable to exercise the sacred right to vote. And it re-
veals that Mr. Pitts has a strange idea indeed of what goes to make up this
American society of ours.
I happen to be part of that rank and file of labor. I was a member of
two unions
more than 20 years an office-holder, board member and six times
president of one. I think I speak of labor with some background of exper-
ience.
Some of those sultans that conducted this meeting to plan our downfall
were discussing the problems of labor when I held office.
I believe in collective bargaining.
The 20 years that I spent in those offices, I was in charge of collec-
tive bargaining for my own union.
I sat across the table from the men who run our industry and 1 know
from experience that, at any collective bargaining session, both parties ai
that table must sit at the table in recognition of the rights of the other,
and must recognize also that there is someone with rights not represented of
the table, dependent upon both sides of the table to recognize him and his
rights, and that's the buying customer who can't be there.
Now, whether it projects controversy or not, let me make my positio:
plain. It is my belief that the so-called right-to-work law is too big a
gun for the problems we seek to solve. In 1958 I opposed that particular
-5-
measure when it was advanced in California.
[ believe the unton and An Industry or business have A right to Hit
down and bargain and make a contract with each other. But, I also believe,
since we have agreed--or I have agreed--in the right for a worker to be com-
pelled to join the union in order to practice, work, or apply his trade, that
he has a right to be protected within that union.
Therefore, I will propose and do everything I can to get legislation
passed that will guarantee to every union member in California the right to
a secret ballot on policy matters in his union.
The first realistic legislation in the field of labor was passed in the
administration of a Republican, Herbert Hoover. It was proposed by Republicans.
For years there has been a no-man's land existing--an area of labor
disputes that the Federal Government won't touch, but won't let the states
have jurisdiction either. As a matter of fact, in 1957 the Supreme Court
passed a decision that the states could not legislate in this field; it had
been pre-empted by the Federal Government.
In 1959 a Republican, Dwight Eisenhower, asked that the states be given
jurisdiction in that no-man's land. This is the point where the Governor of
California lacked the foresight to see the problem area developing and lacked
the leadership to push for the legislation to cover that no-man's land. It
will be claimed that our Department of Industrial Relations, in its concilia-
tion service, performs that function, but actually there is no machinery for
carrying out the policy.
Now, if the old Governor had provided that machinery, such problems as
the Di Giorgio election and Delano disturbance couldn't have taken place.
The new Governor will ask for legislation to provide such machinery.
A state Labor and Management Resources Act could insure that both labor
-6-
and management would be protected from unfair practices so that the great
resources, especially the human resources of our state, could be developed
to the fullest.
After fumbling for eight years, the Governor now wants to carry the
ball for the next four, and he wants to carry it right to Washington where
he will ask Big Brother to intervene, when it should be a state matter since
it concerns the workers of California. We could go on in almost any direc-
tion and get the same story.
At one time we bought land and built parks out of the general funds in
our budget and the budget was less than half the size it is now. Under
this administration, we have taken out of the budget such spending
it is
funded by bonds. But still, 80 percent of the park land that we own as a
state is undeveloped because we don't have the money to develop it--even
though the budget has more than doubled. Now campaign oratory tells us, in
this election year, that great park and recreation plans are in the offing,
and that already our parks are great as a result of what they've done; but,
they will be utopian in the next four years
if "you-know-what" happens.
A few years ago we were told that we were going to make a human invest-
ment in the Aid to Dependent Children program. This was going to be aimed
at rehabilitation so that the need for that program would be eliminated
just disappear. Everyone would be saved and entirely made self-sufficient.
Five years later, more than two-and-a-half times as many children are being
cared for by the Aid to Dependent Children program in California as when
the Governor started.
Sometimes, when you look at past promises and present promises and
lack of achievement, it reminds me about the fellow who was walking down
the street and buttonholed a friend and said, "Say, did you hear about
Charley down in St. Louis? The one who sells pants? He had made $50,000."
-7-
And the friend says, "That's great. Just a couple of mistakes there though.
It WANN'T Charley, 11 WITH BILL. It WANN'T St. Louis, 11 WITH Chicago. It
wasn't pants he was selling, it was coats. And be didn't make $50,000, he
lost $50,000."
We laugh, but doesn't it hurt a little bit? This morning when we were
meeting over there in that magnificent historic Capitol building so repre-
sentative of the greatness of our state, I felt the enormous challenge that's
ours: To see that we restore, even in our campaigning and certainly in our
conduct in office--if we should be put there by the people of California--
some measure of dignity that has been lacking for such a long time.
No member of this team will ever be found scurrying around town to go
smearsheeting like a freshman at a fraternity initiation.
A few days ago, the Governor's office called Washington. A phone call
was put to Senator Williams by Mr. Dutton, who is managing the Governor's
campaign, and he suggested that it might the Governor would appreciate
it--if Senator Williams would come later on in the campaign to California
and campaign for the Governor.
Then it was pointed out that perhaps Senator Williams might be able
to have another agricultural subcommittee meeting at the same time and thus
he could write off the expenses of the trip against the Congress. Senator
Williams said he would be very happy to campaign in California and he would
pay his own expenses and his subject would be honest governmet.
You see, Mr. Dutton had made a slight mistake. He didn't have Demo-
cratic Senator Williams. He had Republican Senator Williams from Delaware,
the man who discovered the Bobby Baker case.
It doesn't always take outright graft and corruption to destroy honesty
in government. The luster can be dimmed by those in office who see no wrong
with the University of California regent serving, at the same time, as a cam-
-8-
paign manager for the state's chief executive while a second regent
approachen University of Callfornia professors and enllsts them in that
same campaign to help the Governor with campaign issues, or when the presi-
dent of that University sends out a statewide mailing, which, while it men-
tions no candidate by name, is nonetheless a thinly-disguised partisan
piece slanted toward the candidacy of the incumbent Governor.
Honesty is eroded just a little bit when administrative employees
receive cards reminding them of their salary and telling them of the mini-
mum donation to the campaign that will be acceptable and the maximum that
will be desirable and the Governor describes it as a wonderful manifesta-
tion of voluntary interest in good government.
State agencies are ordered to come up with campaign documents glorify-
ing this administration at the taxpayers' expense, preferably by department,
and appointments are made not on merit but to repay political favors.
The arrogance that comes from being in power too long is evidenced
when the Governor, who is elected to represent all of the people, says of
the majority of citizens he represents when they happen to oppose his will
that they are "shock troops of bigotry", echoes of Nazi Germany, echoes of
another hate binge that began more than 30 years ago In a Munich beer hall.
This is extreme phraseology.
I recently received a letter from William Warne. Mr. Warne was former-
1y associated with our foreign overseas giveaways. He is now Director of
the California Resources Program. The Governor probably thought he would
have less trouble keeping track of California water than he did of the
liquid assets.
Mr. Warne has praise for the single-handed triumph of pushing and per-
suading the California Legislature about the value of water. He refers to
all the blessings which will flow from Governor Brown's water project. One
-9-
has almost a fear that when the Governor leaves office he will take his
water with him.
The very least that we can expect is that when this great project is
completed the Governor will celebrate its completion by journeying across
the surface of each sparkling lake and down the surface of each canal on
foot.
Now, it may come as quite a shock to them, but believe it or not, I
do know the difference between the Eel and the Feather Rivers. I know that
most of us incorrectly use the term "Feather River Project" to describe the
California Water Plan of which the Feather River Project is only the first
unit, but I wonder if Mr. Warne knows that Governor Brown's water program
is-- in its entirety--printed over the signature of Governor Goodwin Knight
because it was produced entirely in his administration.
All this erosion of honesty, this abandonment of principle, this
arrogance, is the inevitable rule of an administration that has grown tired
and stale in office. It will need not happen again. As Governor, and I
believe I can say with confidence, with the full support of this team, I
will seek whatever legislation is necessary to henceforth limit any and all
Governors of California constitutionally to no more than two terms in office.
Now, since this seems too short a time for a man who likes to refer to
himself as not only a good Governor, but a great Governor, I think he should
remember that two terms by constitutional amendment is long enough for the
President of the United States. If a man can't do it in eight years, what
makes us think he can do it in 12?
But seriously, I believe that such legislation would testify to the
underlying belief and principle of our party: not that we just oppose some
particular individual as having too much power or being around too long,
but that we basically believe that power endangers the freedom of the people
-10-
when it is entrusted in the hands of anyone but the people and that no
individual or group, including ours, must be allowed to endanger that trust.
Now, the days ahead are going to be very hard for all of us. On
THursday last, Mr. Coate, the Democratic Chairman, issued an announcement
that in the coming week he will come forth with an exposure to the people
of California. It will be directed, I believe, according to his pre-game
announcement, to me. Now, I haven't seen what he is going to issue in this
coming week, but five will get you ten, I could have written it myself.
It will be an exercise in guilt by association. You wall learn, for
example, that speeches I have made back through the years have been reprinted
in the publications of organizations that advocate bigotry and prejudice.
They have been taped and those tapes have been played at the meetings
of such organizations. No question about it, this is true. It's true be-
cause anyone who expresses himself publically from a platform of this kind
must expect that his words can be used and repeated and reprinted by anyone
Once they are uttered, there can be no restriction on those who can repro-
duce them. Nor would we have it any other way. : retarct no statements of
mine that I have made in my past. My principles remain what they always
have been. I will stand behind all of the quotes if they are honestly and
completely quoted, which T seriously doubt will he the case by Mr. Coate.
the same time I stand behind all of the things T have said back through
the years about the need for constitutional limits on the power of govern-
ment and a deep-seated belief in the right of the peocle to control their
own destiny.
I repudiate bigotry and prejudice and recism and all thate who are
guided by it. But I will not join Mr. Coace or Mr. Cranston or any of the
hatchet men of the Brown machine in debating smears that are designed to
divert the people's attention from the failures of this administration.
-11-
They will stand before us. They don't dare campaign on their own record.
They have to campaign on personally smearing those who oppose them. We will
not answer back. It won't be necessary.
Then, late in October, they will stand before us, dripping mud from
their arms up to the elbows, and we will hear the words that we've heard
twice before, "This is the dirtiest campaign in my entire political history."
And they will be talking of themselves because we are not going to do
that.
Here in this state, even though we stand as a Republican Party, we're
not selling our party name to the people of California. We are not selling
any idea of changing party loyalty. The thing that has happened that they
seem to be so unaware of is that, all through this state, there are millions
of Californians, honest, patriotic citizens--Democrats, Independents and
Republicans--who are sick and tired of being treated as mentally incompetent
and unable to understand the issues sick and tired of having some bigot
appeal to them. They want someone to come before them who can appreciate
their intelligence and discuss the issues that concern all of us in the state.
And this is a campaign promise I know I can make on behalf of all who
sit up here on this team. We are going to campaign on those issues.
We are going to tell the people of California as well as we can
what our solution to those problems will be and when we have owne that, WC world
have to come around after the votes have been counted LAG apologize for what
we said during the campaign because we "really didn't mean it and just don't
know how it happened at the time." We will have campaigned the way 311
intended to campaign.
But we can make another campaign promise and that is that the THAT time
you and I and all of us gather here in Sacramento it rill he for the inaugu-
ration.
269
DUAID BEACHI THTS STREETED FROM CONNENT AND OTHERWISE DISEORTED
The
Brown DISTORTION
1. PUBLIC EDUCATION
From "The Rest of Ronnie Reagan", unlaballed piece of Brown literature, dated
7/13/65,
"It is a strange paradox, with our corplete credition of individual freedom,
parents being forced CO educase children, County Illustrated, May, 1966
-0-
2. SOCIAL SECURITY
From "Here's the REAL Rengan. Judge Him by His Own Words!", Californians for
Governor Edmind G. (Pat) Brown, no date:
"Social Security ought to be voluntary.
"-"Human
Events, November 1964
"A faceless 7120 waiting Eo: hundruss, "--Son Diago Union, May 30, 1965
-0-
3, MIDICARE
ibid #2
"You must understand that the doctors' fight against socialized madicine
(Medicare) is OUT fight. "--Address to Constock Club, Sternmento, August 3, 1965
-0-
4. UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
ibid + 1
"Is provides pre-paid vacations for a segmant of our scciety which has made
it a way of 11,5, "--Itesto Bee, April 23, 1955
ESVATE
schough no general statement on welfare as such is quoted in the Brown material,
the impression is given through misquotes on Social Security, Modicare, unemploy-
ment insurance etc. that RR is opposed =0 valiare of any kind,
-0-
6. INCOME TAX
From "Ronnie Faces the Facts: issued by the Committee to Re-Elect Governor
Pat Brown, 3576 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angales, no date:
"There can be no moral justification for the progressive income tax. " (San
Francisco, Nov, 17, 1963)
-0-
7. UNIONS
"I support Section 14-3 (cf the Tait-Hartley Act) permitting states to outlay
the undon shop." Los Angeles Times, February 1, 1965.
"Unions would be better off if their membership was voluntary." Los Angeles
Times, February 1, 1966
-0-
8. ACADEMIC FREEDOM
Although not included in Brown material in hand, EGB has publicly stated that
RR "Eavors political control of our universities,"
-0-
9. BUDGET CUTS
delared
10, CT/IL RIGHTS
$613 1
' I vas against the Coril Right: Add 55 1984." Los Ingales Times, July 27, 1933
OUT OF CONTEXT3333333
271
11. RIMFORD ACT
ibid # 1
"I'm m against both open occupancy and housing covenants. "--Detroit News,
March 29, 1966
-0-
12. FARM UNIONS
From "An Open Letter to Ronald Reagan From the Spanish Speaking Citizens of
California, Distributed at NAPA State Convention, June 25, 1966":
"We ask you, Mr. Reagan, WHY: You told the Pecific Telephone Co. employees
in Sacramento that you are opposed to the unionization of farm workers in
Dalano (as reported by the Associated Press)?"
-0-
13, JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY
ibid # 2
"Ronald Reagan says if he runs for office he will accept support from the
John Birch Society. "It has never been found to be subversive. ""--Chicago
American, March 22, 1965.
-0-
14. EXTREMISM
The major theme of the current Brown compaign is that PR is a right-wing
entremist.
-0-
15, GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY & 16, PHILOSOPHY ? COVERNMENT
As complementary themes, the Brown campaign asserts that PR $333 no responsibility
in government for welfare, and that PR is "afraid of government."
-0-
17,
governor
to
The REAL RESSAN 1.
272
PUBLIC EDUCATION
"This country was founded on individual freedom; yet, we have departed
from this fundamental princple = actoblish 1 system of compulsory
education. In fact, we have developed the grodgest public school system
in the world.
"The explanation behind this dichology is obvious: We recognize, as
the founding fathers did before us, that we 030 be free and in control of
our own destiny only if ve are a literite puople."
--Ronald Redgea, California Teachers
Association 4/25
"It is = strage paradox, with OUE complete 2 tradition of individual
(ii freedon, parents being forced to educate children. But, nak 23 long nd as
you kept centrol close to the parents and the local comunity, you could
overcome the problems that went clong with the compulatery features of
education. "--Ronald Reagan, Press Conference 3/30 quoted in Orange County
Illustraced, May 1936
"There can be no doubt that education is the bulvark of freedom.
But removed too far from parental influence, it can easily become the
tool of tyranny. Only with local control can Americans be assured that*
their children will receive the finest
education possible, with
safeguards against ideological or political this indootrination."
--Ronald Redgan position paper, April 4, 1966
ELC
2.
SOCIAL SECURITY
"As regards Social Security, not only to I accept it as a fact of life,
but as = good fact. I: is have to staye+ac least, it ought to be, in its
proper form. 0.3 course, Social Security benefits recipients; but another
important fact which is often overlecked is that it also serves all of us
to the extent that ic tends to level off sconomic 104 ups-and-downs by
keeping purchasing power among the people" Ronald Reagan, Senior 6/16 Diz Citizens
(date)
"I-have been critical of the manner in which Social Security has
practiced what I think is fiscal irresponsibility. I have never faulted
Social Security as such--as a matter of fact, I have stated and will state
again, its 2 fact of life and a 33 good fact, and Its certainly here to stay, "
Ronald Reagna, Press Conference, 6/3/35
"Social Security should be = genuine insurance program run on a sound
actuarial basis, Instead, Washington has allowed Social Security to fall
into
the
welfare
category.
It is this view of Social Security with which
I take exception. Social Security 533 conceived as an insurance program
against the hazards of advanced age. It should be returned to the original,
concept. " Ronald Reagon, Senior Citizens
(same as first quote).
6/16
3.
274
MEDICARE
"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 2 particular piece of legislation called à 'Medicare'
which, I think, has a great many a faults, both institute at the national and
state levels. Ronald Reagen, Press Conference 1/4/66
4.
UNEXPLOYMENT INSURANCE
"Let me make it plain that I have no intention of suggesting that
unemploymnt insurance should, in any way, be curtailed with regard to
protecting Culifornia's working man and women. They have a right to
depend on this 23 a legitimate insurance protecting them in the event of
lay-offs or unemployment not of thair own fault.
"In the lact Sav years, this administration has re-interpreted the
program and now defines it, not as insurance, but as welfare. The result
is that the program has been weakened to the point where there must be
concern for its fiscal soundess. And the eventual victims will be the
legitimate working men and women who are being sucrificed to provide
prepaid vacations for = segment of our society which has made this a way
of life. "--Ronald Reagin, Statement to the Press, 5/11/66
5.
WELFARE
"I strongly support walfare programs designed to provide the permanently
disabled, the aged and the infirm, with not only the necessities of life, but
also some of the conforts which can make life worth living
"We have, too often, strayed from velfare's original purpose. We
frequently perpetuate poverty by making welfare a way of life rather than
by using it to help people back to productive jobs.
"As Governor, I will propose a CC Ission to redefine welfare's goals
and recommend appropriate legislation, " Ronald Reagan, Position Paper, 3/31/66
6.
INCOME TAX
"I have stated I an in favor of the principle. I believe that a
combination of income and sales tax is probably the best method of taxation-
the most economic to collect. I have been critical of the complexities
(of the income tax collection system) . "--Ronald Reagan, Press Conference, 6/8/65
7.
UNIONS
"I served 500 20 years on the board of = working union--the Screen
Actors Guild. I was honored to serve six terms 35 SAG's president. I
remain a strong believer in the rights of unions as well as the rights of
the individual. I think we have the right 23 free men to join a union, and
the right to refuse to work over just griavances. The strike is an
inalienable weapon of any citizen, -Ronald Reagin, "Where Is the Rest of Me"
"As Governor, I will seek legislation that would submit to a secret
ballor all union policy matters, including strike votes. This would ensure
labor's rank-and-file the right to make decisions governing their futures
without coercion from either unions or management. --Ronald Reagan, Position
Paper4/30/65
'As regards a law banning the union shop, I believe that is too big
a gun to deal with the problem. Unfair advantage has been taken of
'right-to-work' laws by some employers in scates which have them."
-Ronald Reagan, KABC's Nite Line (date)
8.
ACADEMIC FREEDOM
"ho one has expressed more concern, down through the years, over the
danger of political control of education than I have. This is a point I
have made over and over again, especially with regard to Federal intervention
in education. " Ronald Reagen, KANC's Nice Line (date)
"But what in haven's name does lacadenic freedom' have to do with
rioting, anarchy and attempts to destroy the primary purpose of the University
of California which is to educate our young people?
"It is high time that an end WES put to this kind of nonsense. It is
high time the Governor of this state began exercising the leadership the
people have the right to expect. " Ronald Reajan, Cov Palace (date)
10
CIVIL RIGHTS
"I did have an experience in the Screen Actors Guild in which there
were many fine members who found themselves being discriminated against,
and we did a pretty successful job in that Guild, when I was president, of
taking care of that situation. That was one union where there was no dis-
crimination. "
Ronald Reagan, California Negro Republican
Assembly, 3.5.66
"I have said in public that I believe that government, when someone's
constitutional rights are being imposed upon by reason of race or religion--
that it is government's responsibility to enforce those rights at the point
of bayonet, if necessary. I have further said that I do not believe there
is any room in this country--ever- that any parent should have to know the
tragedy of trying to explain to a child that that child in some way is
different. "
Ronald Reagan, California Negro Republican
Assembly, 3.5.66
11.
RUMFORD ACT
this
The consideration Act (the Remford Act) I think should be based
on its invasion of what I believe is at guaranteed Constitutional right with
mg regard to the individual's use >his ONE property.
"I am not only opposed to the Runford Act from that standpoint, I an
also--as I have made very cleir--cpposed to recorictive covenants. I do not
believe that this particular right is une that can be submitted to majority
rule. You can't impose on the individual in this regard.
"I an == the same time wholehearcodly in favor of the goalsd of such
legislation in that I hope--and would do everything I could, and will continue
to do everything I can, as 2 matter of fact--to lessen and hopefully eliminate
bigetry or discrimination or prejudice of any kind. I'v always considered it
a sickness. 17 Ronald Redgan, Press Conference, 6/3/66
282
12.
FARM UNIONS
"I am in favor of collective barglining. I believe in it, but I do
not believe that this outside force ac Delano represents the bulk of the
people As an independent group, chey may sit down and bargain with the
growers and I am in favor of that--that is the way unions start. But Mr.
Chavez in particular is secking to impose industrial type unionization on
the farm economy and is wen't t work.
"There cannot be fair barghining 11 you've got at the bargaining
table one fellow who just sits back until the tomatoes start to get ripe
and then says: 'we're not packing.' What power does the employer have at
the bargaining table on that basis?'--Ronald Rengon, Pacifica JC, 4/26/66
283
13.
JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY
"I have never been and I an not a member of the John Birch Society,
nor do I have any intention of ever Vecoming 2 member. I have never sought
Birch Society support, nor do I have any intention of doing so,
"in c.y opinion, those who are members of the John Birch Society have
a decision to make consurning the restlate and imprudent statements of their
leader, Mr. Welch
"I wish at this time to reaffirm FJ cricicism of Mr. Welch and restate
that I an in great disagreement with much of what he says, In my opinion,
his charges against former President Eirachover are utterly reprehensible
"In my opinion, the Society has a responsibility to maintain vigilance
to see that the Society (is not used) for witch-hunting, anti-semitian or
any other un-American activity. " -Ronald Rengan, Statement of 9/24/65
14.
EXTREMISM
"If the liberal is characterized by the balief in the federalization
of our government processes (and I balieve that's a fair assumption), then
liberalism carrial to excremism would pass successively through the planning
and controls SE the Great Society to 3 medified Markism as we find in the
Scandinavian countries and in England. And from there to ultra-extremism--
the totalitarinism that 173 find in the Soviet.
"Now let's carry conservation to the point of extramism. Since the
conservative balieves in individual freedom, and the limited power of government
when carried to extremion would become increasingly laissas-faire, ultimately
there would be no law and order and thus entremism on that side IN would
become anarchy
reconnsibility = rule out of order those
people in his can are such puriots that they buld in truth saitle
for complete laisser-faire, dog-ett-do
il-take-the-hindrost,
and
sty
the e is no assur if the individual can't provile for himself. No one : ith
39203 or responsibility believes that. "
(?
Ronald Reagen
15.
85
GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY
"I favor taking care of everything we can within the framework of
the free enterprise system, but I recognize government does have a
responsibility.
"With regard to Federal aid, I have always stressed (the need for)
legislation which would make come of these Feleral funds available at the
state and local level before they ITS taken to Washington so that they
could be spent 10 the state's discresion without having to go along with
the red tape, the regulations and demands that are attached to those
Federal funds by Washington. "--Ronald Reagon, Press Conference, 6/8/66
286
16.
PHILOSOPHY 07 COVERNMENT
"I don't = think there is anything in my philosophy that doesn't cross
party lines. Actually, my philosophy--if I had to simply if--is nothing
more than a belief in the capacity of the people for self-government. I
believe that the great problems confronting California can beter be solved
by mobilizing and etilizing the edergies and abilicies and resources of the
people than they can by trying to create some little intellectual elite
in Sacramento that will make all the decisions in OUT behalf."
--Ronald Rangan, press conference, 6/8/66
17.
BACKGROUND
is being made to 305 4? a street = [2n for Gov. Brown to
knock over in November
is 30 actor with no other background
who walked off a movie bet one day,
Trissagent
and
told
him:
"Listen,
Baby! I want to try cut for the role of Governor. Uet-me an audition!"
The following information is for those the are interested in the facts
concerning the background of the Republican gubernatorial nominee:
Ronald Redgin", C ANE a shoe suleiman, worked his way through college
and received his degree in economics and sociology.
Following graduation, he worked as a radio announcer and sportscaster
in the midress. While on 2 spring training tour in California with the
Chicago Cubs, he book a Hollywood screen test and MII was offered a contract.
Very early in his career, the Screen Actors Cuild offered him a position
on their board, which he accepted.
Rengan was a reserve officer in the U.S. Army, and he was promptly
called to duty after Paarl Harbor. He served throughout World War II as
Adjutent--an administrative position--at an Air Food base, emerging 23 a
Captain having turned down a commission as Major because 77 poor eyesight
precluded coubat duty.
After the was, be returned = the board of S\G, and more than any other
single man, he was responsible for preventing an attampted Communist take-
over of the motion picture industry. He served 23 President of SAG
for six terms and CC the board for 20 years.
He served ten years on the board of the Motion Picture Council--a joint
labor
or
two years'as President. 11 In this
capacity, the before Congrado.
As a Burinessman, be has =: served on the boards of 10 inturance
2020
Stating
propery
"
1-
in
BACKGROUND 2222222
He operates 2 ranch Hours where he raises cattle and feed grains and
breads choroughbrad horses. He is a member of the California Thoroughbred
Breeders Association.
He has has long been an active participant in politics- first as a
liberal Demourat, than, beginning with his vote for Eisenhower in 1952,
increasingly on the Republican side. He actively campaigned for Republican
candidates in 1953, 1960 and in 1962 when he changed his party registration.
In 1964, he served 33 state Co-Chairman OF the Republican Presidential
campaign.
He has received numerous avards for his long public service from such
organizations as the American Legion, the National Conference of Christians
and Jois, the American National Red Cross, the National Safety Council and
the Freedoms Foundation, to = name a fay.
-0-
While the straw men is no doubt preferred by Gov, Brown as an opponent
over the fTesh-and-blood Republican nominee, is in fact a m2n
with an impressively broad background the was not only an actor with a long,
successful career but also a highly respected union leader, an effective anti-
Communist leader who helped frustrate a key Communist move (to turn Hollywood
into their propaganda medium), an inlugyry loader who represented the motion
picture industry before Congress, a businessnic with interests both inside
and cutside the entertainment field, a college beard member, a hospital board
member, an education cormittee board member, 3 nationally sought-after speaker
and lecturer, a rencher and an active participant in political campaigns.
Gov. Brown may hold to is tight little dogma that state government is
the privace preserve of professional, life-long politicians, and that anyone
that government still belongs =0 the people, and he bffers himself to the
: 0,0,0 of chair citizen politicion.
FROM REAGNSHIPPING 20 S/2, PAN AMERICAN BANK, LOS ANGELES
Would you clarliy remarks that you made that started this whole thing off
with Mr. Cranstone-vhon you first heard about thjat. You remarks were
attribuced to you in newspapers home saying that you wanted to see the
proof, and it vas interpreced by come observers that you were in defending
the JBS.
RR: Well, I know, and I feel that the 241 want to interpret it that way.
I,m not defending then in any vay and certainly I'm not defending anyone
who is guilty of racial OF religious prejudice, I have a I'm unalterably
opposed and I repudiate anyone the does follow these practices or these
beliefs and always have. Actually, what I tried to say was I tried to
to divorce myself from it, and I was the LOSE surprised Callow man in
the world to find FE how my ramarks were taken, I was approached and
asked about this thing that I hid not even soon; one of the news
III had told me should it, and I simply said--Vini the gist of my answer
was--to the effect, you know, why bring this to me? this is begween Mr.
Cranston and the Birch Society. And if he's got some evidence, I think
he should present it in the proper places, and that's still my viewpoint.
EXCERPT FROM JUNE 3. 1966 RR ?C AT AMDASSADOR
Q: Mr. Reagon, the Governor said this morning he thought you'd been, to quote
a full four
him, "a little bit coy", about whether you'd serve out/
years
if electer. Would you like to make a categorical statement on that?
RR: I think if you're elected, you've made 2 contract with the people, and
you keep the contracty
Previount
KCERPE FROM NEC'S TODAY". TAPED 6/16 FOR LATER RELEASE
RAY SCHERER: C2n you give the voters of California an iron-clad guarantee
that you will serve out your four years as Governor?
RR: Oh, haavens. This I never dreamed that anything like this would come
B
up, as it seems to have come up. As I told you, I never wanted to run
for office, and only was persuaded to on the basis that perhaps
I could be of some service without our particular California problems.
That's still my goal. I believe that there are some problems that I
could be helpful in solving in California, and that's what I want to
do.
SCHERER: Wall, do you give this guarantee?
RR:
y,
sure!
SCHERER: You will serve out the four years?
RR: Well, you kny, as far as anyone can control his fate. If I'm still
around for four years
SCHRERER" There seems to be some feeling among--porhaps Democrats- that
Republicans have bigger things in mind for you, and that's what
gives rise to the question.
RR: Well, no one's taken me into their confidence, It}s taken me all my
life to get up the nerve to do what I'm doing.
292
TONY WOLFE, RES.
In answer to statement that he is running for national office irs tead of state
office. RR says its "hit-picking." U21,6/17, Friday night, Seattle Airport
-0-
7/5 1,a. UPI
RR pledged today after 2 meating vich dep. govs. that with "God's goodness"
he would serve a full Soureyeer toom, if the voters elect him Calif. Gov.
in Nov, "If I am elected, I expect to work my head off for four years,"--RR
-0-
same as as authacbove
asked if he wld mlt flat scatement. "Well, I have," he said.
-0-
Covers lic talked alout-it, RR sed nig. Asked directly if he is prepared
or int. in taking on L3J in '63, he replied: "It's taken me all my life
to get up the nerve to to what I'm doing. There are some problems to be
NY Times news SVC.
cleaned up in Calif,, and that's 25 far as my dreams go." 6/17 Sac. Bee.
Ty say 22 avoided any pledge to stay out of presidential politix.
-0-
CENTER 33333
It is our hope that you will keep these statements made-by Mr, Reagan
on hand for easy reference as such times as mistepracentations are made (by
Cov. Brown and the Crown people in items, by callers on telephone
conversation shows, S members of the judience on television conversation
are condensations of statements
programs, acc. exc.), All statements enclosed INSTED made during the primary
\and
campaign/us at a press conference the day offer primary election day, with
the exception of the encarges from the decoments on the John Birch Society,
which was-relassed Sept. 24th, 1965.
If you ever have any question conserning Mr. Reagon's stand on these
or other issues, please Seal free to call us at
and
we will miles every affort to provide you with accual quotes rule withProre
made by Mr. Redgen.
L
22222
294
(TEAR-OUT FROM COLUMN OF ORANGE COUNTY ILLUSTRATED, BEGINING WITH:
"REAGAN: 'I HAVE A VERY DEFENITE STAND ON THIS 1 TO COMPULSORY
FEATURES 07 IDUNATION. PORTIONS INIDIATELY BEFORE AND AFTER DESIRED QUOTE
SHOULD BE ENCLUDED by PARTIALLY SHADED OUT TO HIGHLIGHT DESIRED QUOTE. ALSO,
TEAR-OUT OF ORANGE COUNTY IMMUSTRATED MASTHIAD TO ONE SIDE OF TEAR-OUT QUOTES.)
Mr. Reagon has made observations these lines many times in his
public appearables SO that the Brown people 111 the research for the
Governor's emprise material could not have been honestly misinformed on
Mr. Rengan's true position on the
For example, Mr. Reagna put it this way in an address at Redlands
University, Feb. 15, 1121 1966: "Sometimes I wonder if we ever pause to
contemplate = strange paradox that this nation founded on individual freedom
should depart from this principle to actablish as 3/8 have a system of
compulsory education. Now if and when we do, I think 72 recognize, as the
in
founding fathers did before us, we can only be free and, MI control of our
own destiny il we area a literate people."
Could any literate person honestly
alounderstand
from this
tiltupe
that
Mr. Reagan is in anyway opposed to compulsory public education?
The only intent of the Brown compaign material and certain statements
by the Brown people, is to put these into general circulation
for the purpose of deceiv the people. They that once they get these
misstatements into circulation, they will become common currency and will be
repeatedly innocently many times by persons who are undvare of the fraud,
Knowing that you are in a responsible position, and that as 2 professional
you of being used =0 circulate did-in the
circulation> mistepresentations calculated to decoive the voters, we have
shore
with
have have bean discorced the Drawn pubple 20 fir As the compaign
progressed,
1.12
allicions
:
this
collection
=
required
by
the
It has to accontion-the4 a number of misrepresentations are
being circulated concerning tive stand Republican gubernatorial nominee
Ronald Redgen his baken 01 the issues, must notably perhaps on Social
Security, Unapployment Insurance and Public Education.
Many of these misrepresentations 2312 included in speeches and remarks
made by Go% Brown. Others have been mouched by Brown people. Many
have been given extrancy in desplayn licerature circulated by Gov. Brown's
headquarters.
One such piece BE curpaign liberature, get picked up by I of
the Reagon personated# at Coy. Brown's hoalquarters a: 3576 Wilshire Blvd.,
Los Angales, bore no identifying label whatsoever as to when published and
circulated it. But it was available on a tuble, along with other Brown
linerabure, just inside the compaign headquitters--cpen to the public and-
the material the table for distribution the public, it =
assumption that this material-Gas also
One example from this unlabelled piace of = campaign material with
illustrates the need for clarifying Mr. Reagan's stands of the vericus
issues, so carefully distorted by the Brown material.
the
sunlabaled
Below is a reproduction picked up with other
similar material 31 Brown headquarters:
(Tear-out from Brown leaflet of entire "ON EDUCATION" portion but
highlighting quote: "It is = strange paradon, with our complete cradition
of individual freedom, parents being forced to education children." ORANGE
COUNTY ILLUSTRATED, MAY, 1966").
Below is the sotual R tear sheet from the publication the Brown
people quoted. We loave it to as to whether
purposes-to strip .:. Reaghn's quose from contant for the purpose
: Ir. Redgen's socual soind on public
5.18.47--Los Angeles Times--column by Hedda Hopper re RR
"Passionately interested in the working man, he recognizes faults in
labor as well as management.
"Ronnie is opposed to all forces that seek to curb or destroy
individual liberty. 'Our highest aim, 1 said he, 'should be the cultiva-
tion of freedom of the individual, for therein lies the highest dignity of
man. Tyranny is tyranny and whether it comes from the Right, Left or
Center, it is evil. I suspect the extreme Right and the extreme Left of
political ideologies, though seeming to branch off in opposite directions,
curve to a common meeting point.
" 'I believe the only logical way to save our country from both
extremists is to remove conditions that supply fuel for the totalitarian
fire.
11 'Right now the liberal movement in this country is taking the brunt
of the Communist attack. The Reds know that if we can make America a
decent living place for all our people, there cause is lost here. So they
seek to infiltrate liveral organizations just to smear and discredit them.
I have already pulled out of one organization that I joined in complete good
faith. 1 "
2
97
2.48 - Movieland Magazine - - "Citizen Reagan" by Robin Cooms
" 'I abhor the Communist philosophy while admitting that in a democracy
the Communist has a right to think as he pleases.
""I am afraid that what (those who favor Communism?) are seeking is
some form of magic cure-all to preserve democracy so we can all sit back
and relax. But we can never sit back and relax. Those who believe in
democracy must work as hard at preserving it as those others are working
at tearing it down. Eternal vigilance is still the price of safety. 1.11
2.26.48 - - Hollywood Citizen News - - column by Sidney Skolsky
"He reads every book he believes he should read and he reads most
of the political columns. He admits that they are a trifle bewildering. - "
1.22.51 - Fortnight "How Do You Fight Communism?" by RR
"The real fight with this new totalitarianism belongs properly to the
forces of liberal democracy, just as did the battle with Hitler's totali-
tarianism. There really is no difference except in the cast of characters.
On one hand is our belief that people can and will decide what is good for
all the rest. Unfortunately, most of us were touted away from the fight
when 'professional hate groups' masked their racial and religious bias be-
hind an 'anti-Communist' crusade, when anti-labor forces used 'red-baiting'
to fight unions, when individual politicians found it a handy way to
electioneer.
"Democracy does
guarantee the right of every man to think as he
pleases,
-
to speak freely and advocate his beliefs. Democracy
also provides defense against those who would deliver our nation into the
hands of a foreign despot. Call them pro-Russian and take away the screen,
If we must fight, make the enemy be properly uniformed."
-Daily Variety news item re a HUAC report and censorship
"Reagan also lashed Huac's condemnation in its annual report released
over weekend, of the industry for not 'cleaning out the Communists', asking
'How can we do such 2 thing when it's against certain laws? Only recently
the local courts awarded two persons fired by the studios $90,000
1
"Reagan asked for freadom from censorship for the pix industry,
asserting that he, as an individual, is willing to have his children see
all pix turned out by the industry, and if some are bad, to counteract the
evil by his personal life and actions within his own home. 'The freedom
and dignity of the individual is at stake, he declared."
RR Statement re
5.1.53--Los Angels Daily News
participation in Bowron
campaign
"I have taken on this job because of the threat to good government
posed by some of the sinister forces opposing the re-election of Mayor
Bowron. I believe strongly that now is the time for every advocate of
good government to join the fight against the special interests.
"Mayor Bowron has brought clean government to Los Angeles. He has
favored no privileged group, but believes in a 'fair shake' for everyone.
His honesty and efficiency have earned him the support of all decent
citizens. "
11.23.53 - - Los Angales Examiner - - news item
"Attorney General Edmund G. Brown who presented the plaque to Reagan
praised the actor for his 'many selfless actions of service to the commun-
ity' and for his 'examplary conduct which has endeared him to millions of
people throughout the nation. 111
/plaque was Award of Honor from California Home for the Aged in
Reseda/
303
12.10.53 - - Hollywood Reporter--news item re Sterling Hayden testimony
"Ronald Reagan, then president of SAG, was like a 'cne man battalion'
in defeating efforts of Communist members of the SAG to back the 1945-46
strike of the Conference of Studio Unions, Sterling Hayden, one-time
Communist, told a jury in Superior Judge George Dockweiler's court
yesterday. "