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Speechwriters - Applicants: Archibald, George H.
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1686815
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Speechwriters - Applicants: Archibald, George H.
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Gerald R. Ford Vice Presidential Papers
Paul Miltich's Subject Files
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The original documents are located in Box 162, folder "Speechwriters - Applicants:
Archibald, George H." of the Gerald R. Ford Vice Presidential Papers at the Gerald R.
Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the
United States of America her copyrights in all of her husband's unpublished writings in National
Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official
duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or
organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed
in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential
Library.
Some items in this folder were not digitized because it contains copyrighted
materials. Please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library for access to
these materials.
Pedetian
Post Office Box 212
Middleburg, Virginia 22117
January 7, 1974
Mr. Paul Miltich
Press Secretary for the Vice President
of the United States
Room 281
Old Executive Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20501
BERTIO, FORD (BRAB)
Dear Mr. Miltich,
Thanks so much for reviewing my resume and recent samples of some
writing I have done for Congressman Conlan. I am enclosing about
six speeches, several floor statements, and some weekly columns.
I can provide some bylined columns and editorials that I wrote
for The Arizona Republic if you would like to see them.
My office phone is 225-3361, or I can be reached in the late
evening at home at (703) 687-6089.
Cordially,
George
George H. Archibald
RESUME
RESUME OF: George Henry Archibald
EMPLOYMENT OBJECTIVES:
Employment as speechwriter or staff member for legislative office,
legislative committee, or political committee specializing in
writing, press relations, and research.
PHILOSOPHICAL/POLITICAL COMMITMENT:
Conservative/Republican
FORD LIBRARY & GERALD
EDUCATION:
Hillsbrow Preparatory School
(August 1952 to May 1956)
Redhill, Surrey
College preparatory
England
Loudoun County High School
(September 1957 to June 1962)
Leesburg, Virginia
Diploma, college preparatory
Randolph-Macon College
(September 1962 to June 1963)
Ashland, Virginia
30 semester hours towards
liberal arts degree
Chowan College
(September 1963 to June 1964)
Murfreesboro, N.C.
30 semester hours towards
liberal arts degree
Old Dominion University
(September 1964 to June 1967)
Norfolk, Virginia
85 semester hours towards
liberal arts degree; diploma,
bachelor of arts, with major
in political science and
minor in history
RESUME OF:
George Henry Archibald
Page Two
EDUCATION (cont'd) :
Air University
(February 1968 to August 1968)
Gunter AFB, Alabama
U.S. Air Force information
specialist extension course;
certificate of completion
Arizona State University
(June 1971 to August 1971)
Tempe, Arizona
6 semester hours towards
teaching certificate and
master's degree
WORK EXPERIENCE:
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
Congressman John B. Conlan
(January 1973 to present)
429 Cannon Building
press secretary
Washington, D.C. 20515
Liaison with news media; research and draft news releases;
write weekly column for 25 district newspapers; write speeches
and floor statements; writing and layout for constituent
newsletter; plan and execute radio and television exposure; daily
briefings on local, state, and national news; maintain comprehensive
issue files; specialized correspondence and messages.
The Arizona Republic
(March 1971 to December 1972)
120 E. Van Buren
editorial writer
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
Wrote two or more editorials daily; edited syndicated columns;
prepared makeup and layout, wrote headlines for editorial page;
edited letters to editor; wrote bylined column, occasional book
review, or news story. (Writing samples available upon request.)
U.S. Air Force
(November 1967 to June 1971)
3525th Pilot Training Wing (ATC)
information specialist
Williams AFB, Arizona
Noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of Public Information
Section: Collected, prepared, and distributed news and feature
material for military and civilian news media; wrote speeches for
wing commander. Editor, base newspaper. Member of wing
commander's NCO/Airman Advisory Council.
RESUME OF:
George Henry Archibald
Page Three
WORK EXPERIENCE (cont'd) :
Republican Party
(June 1967 to November 1967)
Norfolk, Virginia
campaign coordinator
Coordinated campaign media effort, wrote and distributed
news releases for seven candidates for the Virginia General
Assembly.
The Mace and Crown
(September 1965 to June 1967)
Old Dominion University
editor-in-chief
Norfolk, Virginia
Editor-in-chief of weekly student newspaper, an elected
position; managed staff of 25 writers and editors; wrote
editorials and news stories; edited all copy; makeup and
layout of 12 to 16 pages weekly; oversight of printing.
Hertz, Inc
(June 1965 to September 1965)
Washington, D.C.
rental agent; night bookkeeper
Chesapeake Petroleum and Supply, Inc
(June 1964 to September 1964)
Washington, D.C.
sales clerk; truck deliveries;
warehouseman
Fulton Lewis, Jr
(June to September, 1962 and 1963)
Washington, D.C.
research; newsletter subscription
clerk
CIVIC ACTIVITIES:
GERRID FORD LIBRARY
Basic Goals Commission for
(July 1972 to December 1972)
Social Studies
chairman; lay member
Twenty-seven member commission appointed by Arizona State
Board of Education to develop courses of study for the
teaching of social studies in Arizona public schools,
kindergarten through 12th grade.
RESUME OF:
George Henry Archibald
Page Four
CIVIC ACTIVITIES (cont'd) :
Westside Area Career Opportunities
(September 1971 to December 1972)
Project (WACOP)
lecturer
Phoenix, Arizona
State project in Phoenix public schools to bring professional
and career people into classrooms to talk about their jobs
and educational and cultural prerequisites for obtaining them.
Americans for Effective Law
(May 1972 to present)
Enforcement (AELE)
charter member; board of directors
Arizona Young Americans for
(February 1968 to present)
Freedom
member, state advisory board
POLITICAL ACTIVITIES:
Paradise Valley Young Republicans Club
member
Young Americans for Freedom
member
FORD if LIBRARY GERALD
MILITARY SERVICE:
Active duty completed with U.S. Air Force, Nov. 8, 1967, to June 4, 1971.
Honorably discharged at rank of E-5. Completed service in inactive
reserves on Nov. 7, 1973.
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS:
Reading (mostly nonfiction) ; writing; public speaking; music (classical
and popular) ; bicycling; hiking; sightseeing; films, plays, and musicals.
RESUME OF:
George Henry Archibald
Page Five
AWARDS AND HONORS:
Presented the American Legion Oratorical Award in 1962 by the late
General Douglas MacArthur for taking second place in statewide public
speaking contest in Virginia; winner of 16 debating awards in inter-
collegiate forensic competition; elected Best Speaker of the House at
the 1964 North Carolina State Student Legislature; best debater,
Chowan College, 1963-64; named among top 10 students at Old Dominion
University in 1967 by editors of Troubadour (student yearbook)
nominated as a White House Fellow in 1970; commended on floor of U.S.
Senate by Sen. Milward Simpson (R-Wyo), Sept. 2, 1965, for response to
Women Strike for Peace anti-Vietnam teach-in at American University
broadcast over WAMU-FM.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE:
French: read, fair; comprehend, poor; speak, poor
PERSONAL REFERENCES:
Edwin S. McDowell
Rep. G. William Whitehurst
Editorial Department
424 Cannon Building
The Wall Street Journal
Washington, D.C. 20515
22 Cortlandt Street
New York, New York 10006
Frederic S. Marquardt
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
The Arizona Republic
John R. Coyne, Jr
120 E. Van Buren
Assistant to the President
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
Old Executive Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20500
Rep. and Mrs. Jim Skelly
2221 E. Indianola
Rep. John B. Conlan
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
429 Cannon Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
John M. McGowan, II
Office of the Attorney General
Eugene C. Pulliam
State Capitol
The Arizona Republic and
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phoenix Gazette
120 E. Van Buren
Col. A.K. Koeck
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
2303 E. Loyola Drive
Tempe, Arizona 85282
RESUME OF:
George Henry Archibald
Page Six
PERSONAL DATA:
Date of birth: July 23, 1944
Birthplace: Newmarket, Suffolk, England
Marital Status: Single
Relatives: George W. Archibald (father)
Buckland Farm
Warrenton, Virginia
Angela G. Archibald (mother)
P.O. Box 212
Middleburg, Virginia
Valerie A. Embrey (sister)
Middleburg, Virginia
General Health: Excellent
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 130
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
Citizenship: U.S. (naturalized)
Current address: P.O. Box 212
Middleburg, Virginia 22117
(703) 687-6089
429 Cannon Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-3361
Congressional Record
United States
of America
PROCEEDINGS
AND
DEBATES
OF
THE
93ᵈ
CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
Vol. 119
WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1973
No. 1850RD
House of Representatives
LIBRARY
lowed consumption to outstrip both cur-
DON'T PANIC-AMERICA CAN SUR-
My urgent hope is that the American
rent production and expansion of capac-
VIVE THIS ENERGY CRUNCH
people persevere as they always have-
ity.
that they remain calm and do not panic
The natural gas industry-first to be
HON. JOHN B. CONLAN
because of the current energy squeeze.
hit really hard by supply problems last
Sloganeers and big government advo-
OF ARIZONA
year-is a classic case in point. Through
cates will call for unwise Government
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
most of the 1960's, the Federal Power
measures such as fuel rationing and so
Commission held a tight rein on the
Friday, November 30, 1973
forth to see us through this crisis. But
price of gas at the wellhead-so tight
we must avoid allowing ourselves to be
Mr. CONLAN. Mr. Speaker, now that
that producers found it unprofitable and
buffaloed by further attempts at bureau-
the full impact of our energy crunch is
gradually stopped exploring for new gas.
cratization.
becoming a painful reality, many people
They picked up their rigs and went
This energy crunch will be relieved by
understandably wonder why we have
abroad, where the chance of making a
restoring the time-tested free market
been caught with fuel shortages that
profit in that very risky business was bet-
demand and supply balance, thus allow-
threaten our standard of living.
ter than it was at home. The number of
ing fair competitive forces to establish
The most frequent question during my
new wells drilled dropped year by year,
realistic prices for natural gas at the
Thanksgiving visit with Arizonans was
and by 1968 the United States was using
wellhead and gasoline at the pump. It
why industry and Government in the
more gas each year than was being dis-
will not be permanently relieved by more
world's most consumer-oriented nation
covered. The problem of shortages, then,
Government edicts and regulations.
had failed to head off impending short-
resulted less from inadequate resources
We must also remember our own con-
ages with increased supplies to satisfy
than from ill-conceived regulation.
tribution as consumers to the critical
rising consumer demand.
Mr. Speaker, Congress has, likewise,
After all, we have not come close to
missed the boat by failing before now to
demand for energy. While we work to-
running out of fuel in the physical sense.
encourage development of so-called
ward long-range solutions on a national
There is plenty of tolerably clean fuel
exotic energy sources-atomic fusion,
level, as we now are in the Congress, we
still available in the world. Thus far, it
solar energy, coal gasification and lique-
must also eliminate squandering of en-
looks like the energy crisis is a self-in-
fication, geothermal energy, tidal and
ergy resources through inefficiency and
flicted wound-that Uncle Sam's short-
wind power, and magnetohydrodynamics.
extravagance.
sightedness is to blame, not Mother Na-
Until the new House Energy Subcom-
We must expect of industry an in-
ture.
mittee, of which I am a member, was
creased efficiency in such areas as energy
Frankly speaking, this energy crisis
organized this year, none of the six or SO
conversion, automotive design, and air-
that has caused some talk in terms of
committees and subcommittees con-
line management.
possible wholesale fuel rationing and
cerned with energy had constructively
We must expect of ourselves modera-
other unwise Government measures that
set out toward a long-term program to
tion in such areas as heating and air-
fail to get at the root issue of increasing
develop these new energy sources to carry
conditioning our homes and buildings,
fuel supplies, was caused by Government
us forward in the event of fossil fuel
and driving our cars and other motor ve-
mismanagement in the first place.
shortages or depletion.
hicles.
Government officials were glad to ob-
Even though our Energy Subcommit-
Individual prudence in the use of en-
lige oil companies that several decades
tee is now moving full steam ahead to
ergy at home, at work, and at play can
ago asked for special privileges, such as
pursue solar energy and the other ex-
make a great contribution in moderating
otics, because this was not started a
the energy demand curve.
oil import quotas, price fixing, and oil
decade ago, we have been caught without
We all have ample reason to trust the
prorationing. This gave the bureaucracy
alternative energy sources during the im-
ability of American commonsense and
a chance to regulate and control yet an-
mediate fuel shortage problem.
technology to solve the long-term energy
other area of our economy.
This has been aggravated by the Mid-
crisis. We must each trust the other to
But it was this sort of imprudent Gov-
east oil cutoff and the fact that oil from
exercise that restraint necessary to ease
ernment meddling in the development
Alaska is still 4 years away. As a re-
the burden of the short-term energy
and marketing of fuel that initially threw
sult, we are in for some discomfort and
crunch.
our energy industry out of joint and al-
belt-tightening for the next several
years.
REMARKS OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN B. CONLAN TO THE PRESS FOLLOWING HIS
ELECTION AS 93RD CLUB PRESIDENT ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1973.
WHERE WE STAND
GERALO , FORD LIBRARY
CONGRESSIONAL REFORM AND CONTINUED FUNDING OF U.S. MILITARY
OPERATIONS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA HAVE DOMINATED WASHINGTON DISCUSSION
SINCE THE 93RD CONGRESS CONVENED LAST WEEK.
THESE VITAL ISSUES ARE OF GREAT CONCERN TO US ALL. AND THEY
ARE OF SPECIAL CONCERN TO THOSE OF US AMONG THE 53-MEMBER FRESHMAN
CLASS OF REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN.
BUT UNLIKE SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE,
WHEN WE REPUBLICANS THINK OF CONGRESSIONAL REFORM WE ARE NOT THINKING
OF THE USUAL STRAW MEN SET UP TO DIMINISH CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY AND
PRESTIGE.
SUCH ISSUES AS THE CONGRESSIONAL SENIORITY SYSTEM, CLOSED CAUCUS
MEETINGS, FILIBUSTER RULES, AND so FORTH ARE TOPICS ON WHICH REASONABLE
MEN HOLD DIFFERING OPINIONS. BUT THEY ARE NOT CRUCIAL TO A TRUE REFORM
OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
WE FRESHMEN REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE 93RD CONGRESS THINK OF
REFORM IN TERMS OF THE COMPLETELY UNREALISTIC WAY THAT CONGRESS NOW
COLLECTS TAXES AND SPENDS REVENUE, WITH LITTLE MIND TO THE ELEMENTARY
BUSINESS PROPOSITION OF RELATING EXPENDITURES TO INCOME.
WE THINK ABOUT THE HYPOCRISY OF THOSE WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT EXECUTIVE
POWER, BUT WHO AT EVERY TURN VOTE FOR CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION THAT
INCREASES SUCH POWER.
2-2-2-2-2
AND WE THINK OF THE BUCK-PASSERS AMONG US -- THOSE WHO DECRY INFLATION,
HIGH TAXES, AND ADMINISTRATION FISCAL POLICIES, BUT WHO PROMOTE AND
VOTE FOR EXORBITANT FEDERAL EXPENDITURES WHILE CONTRIVING TO BLAME THE
MAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE FOR TAX INCREASES AND A DETERIORATING ECONOMY.
CONGRESSIONAL REFORM IS DESPERATELY NEEDED, DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME.
BUT IT IS NOT THE TYPE OF REFORM GENERALLY CONSIDERED.
IT IS REFORM LIKE THAT PROPOSED BY TENNESSEE'S REPUBLICAN SENATOR
BILL BROCK, WHICH WOULD ESTABLISH A MECHANISM WITHIN CONGRESS TO
COORDINATE AND CONTROL CONGRESSIONAL TAXING AND SPENDING. CONGRESS HAS
FOR TOO LONG TAXED WITH ITS LEFT HAND AND SPENT WITH ITS RIGHT, WHILE
NEITHER HAND EVER HAS A NOTION WHAT THE OTHER HAND IS DOING.
WE NEED A SMALL JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE WITHIN THE CONGRESS, WITH
A LARGE ENOUGH PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO KEEP A TIGHT REIN ON THE ENTIRE
TAXING-SPENDING PICTURE. SUCH A COMMITTEE, WHILE COORDINATING TAXING
AND SPENDING, WOULD FREQUENTLY RE-EVALUATE EVERY FEDERAL EXPENDITURE
AND PROGRAM.
THE TIME HAS COME TO STOP SIMPLY TALKING ABOUT THIS SCANDALOUS
BUDGET SITUATION. CONGRESS, THIS YEAR, MUST DO SOMETHING CONCRETE
ABOUT IT. FRESHMAN REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN CAN BE COUNTED ON TO SUPPORT
THAT EFFORT.
3-3-3-3-3
ON THE SUBJECT OF VIETNAM AND THE PRESIDENT'S CURRENT POLICIES,
I KNOW THAT I SPEAK FOR ALL NEW REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WHEN I SAY THAT WE SUPPORT PRESIDENT NIXON'S EFFORTS TOWARD AN HONORABLE
SETTLEMENT OF THAT CONFLICT AND AN END TO U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN SOUTHEAST
ASIA. THOSE EFFORTS ARE NEARING A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION.
FORD
THE KEY TO ANY CONGRESSIONAL ACTION MUST BE TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING
U.S. TREATY COMMITMENTS -- SPECIFICALLY THE SOUTHEAST ASIA COLLECTIVE
LIBRARY
DEFENSE TREATY AND PROTOCOL, SIGNED FOR THE UNITED STATES IN SEPTEMBER
1954 BY SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN FOSTER DULLES, MONTANA SENATOR MIKE
MANSFIELD, AND NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN H. ALEXANDER SMITH, AND OVERWHELMINGLY
RATIFIED BY THE U.S. SENATE IN FEBRUARY 1955.
ANY ACTION BY CONGRESS TO MODIFY OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DEFEND SOUTH
VIETNAM FROM COMMUNIST AGGRESSION AND POSSIBLE TAKEOVER, AS AN ALTERNATIVE
TO THE COURSE CHARTED BY THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION, RUNS COUNTER TO THAT
TREATY'S REQUIREMENT THAT THE U.S. GIVE A FULL YEAR'S NOTICE TO RENOUNCE
ITS FORMER PLEDGE TO SOUTHEAST ASIAN ALLIES.
ANY ACTION BY CONGRESS TO CUT OFF APPROPRIATIONS NECESSARY TO
CONTINUE U.S. ACTIVITIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA WILL PREJUDICE THE PEACE
NEGOTIATIONS AND WILL BE A REPREHENSIBLE BLIGHT UPON OUR NATION'S HONOR
AND TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF FREE NATIONS.
FRESHMAN REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN ARE COMMITTED TO UPHOLD OUR NATION'S
HONOR AND TO SUPPORT PRESIDENT NIXON'S POLICIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, AND
WILL DO so UNTIL THIS TRAGIC CONFLICT IS BROUGHT TO AN HONORABLE
CONCLUSION.
####
REMARKS OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN B. CONLAN TO THE CAMELBACK KIWANIS CLUB AT
THE BEEFEATERS RESTAURANT IN PHOENIX ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1973.
THE BATTLE OF THE BUDGET
GERALD
LIBRARY
I APPRECIATE THE CONCERN OF MANY OF YOU THIS TIME OF YEAR ABOUT
CRIME IN WASHINGTON.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE MUCH-PUBLICIZED INCIDENCE OF VIOLENT
CRIME IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE INSIDIOUS CRIME
OF THEFT FROM HARD-WORKING TAXPAYERS, PERPETRATED IN CONGRESS IN THE
NAME OF HUMANITARIAN CONCERN FOR THE OPPRESSED AND UNDERPRIVILEGED.
THERE IS A LIMIT TO THE AMOUNT OF TAX MONEY THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONFISCATE FROM INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS.
PATRICK HENRY ONCE COMPLAINED ABOUT TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
HE WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO EXPERIENCE TAXATION
WITH REPRESENTATION.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD ACTUALLY TAKE A LESSON FROM THE
TYPICAL WASHINGTON PICKPOCKET. AT LEAST WHEN THE PICKPOCKET STEALS YOUR
WALLET, HE DOESN'T WASTE YOUR VALUABLE TIME BY REQUIRING YOU TO COMPLETE
SEVERAL DOZEN COMPLEX FORMS FOR HIM BEFORE HE RELIEVES YOU OF YOUR
HARD-EARNED CASH.
INCOME TAX TIME IS THE SEASON OF THE YEAR WHEN WE DISCOVER THAT
WE OWE MOST OF OUR SUCCESS TO UNCLE SAM. I FIND MYSELF IN AGREEMENT
WITH THE CYNIC WHO OBSERVED THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR THE MEEK TO
INHERIT THE EARTH, TAXES WILL BE so HIGH THAT THEY WON'T EVEN WANT IT.
2-2-2-2-2
BUT PRESIDENT NIXON AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
HAVE DECIDED TO PUT A STOP TO THIS SEEMING INSISTENCE OF BIG SPENDING
POLITICIANS TO SEND ALL HARD-WORKING CITIZENS TO THE POORHOUSE.
FOR OUR PART -- THOSE OF US IN CONGRESS WHO HAVE DECIDED THAT THE
TIME HAS COME TO REDUCE THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY AND RETURN POWER AND
MONEY TO PEOPLE AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL -- WE WILL FIGHT FOR
ONGRESSIONAL BUDGET REFORM AND RESPONSIBILITY.
IF WE FAIL -- IF DEMOCRAT BIG SPENDERS OUT-VOTE US AND CONTINUE
SPENDING MONEY NEEDLESSLY ON PORK BARREL LEGISLATION THEY EXPECT YOU TO
PAY FOR -- PRESIDENT NIXON WILL VETO THEIR DECISION. WE WILL VOTE TO
SUSTAIN SUCH VETOES, AND THE PRESIDENT HAS COURAGEOUSLY ANNOUNCED HIS
INTENTION TO IMPOUND CERTAIN APPROPRIATED FUNDS -- TO REFUSE TO CONTRIBUTE
TO INFLATION AND FORCE THE INEVITABILITY OF HIGHER TAXES.
NO ONE CAN DENY THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT -- ITS ROLE IN OUR
EVERYDAY LIVES -- HAS GROWN WAY OUT OF PROPORTION. THE TIME HAS COME TO
UPHOLD THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE TO CONDUCT THEIR OWN AFFAIRS AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL. AND THAT MEANS A VAST REDUCTION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS MUST BE THE
FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS DURING THIS SESSION OF CONGRESS.
FEDERAL POWER HAS ONLY GROWN TO ITS CURRENT AND UNWIELDY AND DANGEROUS
LEVEL SINCE 1960. PRIOR TO 1930, THERE WERE ONLY 10 FEDERAL GRANT-IN-AID
PROGRAMS -- MOSTLY CONCERNED WITH LAND GRANT COLLEGES, HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION,
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, AND STATE EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS AND EXTENSION
SERVICES.
3-3-3-3-3
ONLY 20 NEW FEDERAL PROGRAMS FOR AIRPORT AND HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION,
URBAN RENEWAL, AID TO IMPACT-AREA SCHOOLS, SEWAGE TREATMENT, AND LIBRARY
SERVICES WERE STARTED IN THE POST-WORLD WAR II PERIOD THROUGH 1959.
BUT DURING THE 1960s -- THE YEARS OF THE NEW FRONTIER AND THE GREAT
SOCIETY -- A BURST OF FEDERAL LARGESSE AND A BYPASSING OF STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS IN DISPENSING IT CAME INTO EXISTENCE WITHOUT PARALLEL.
THE NUMBER OF SEPARATE FEDERAL GRANT-IN-AID PROGRAMS JUMPED FROM
44 TO 430 -- ALMOST TEN-FOLD -- FROM THE YEAR OF THE LAST EISENHOWER
BUDGET TO THE DAY PRESIDENT NIXON TOOK OFFICE IN 1969. THE FEDERAL OUTLAY
FOR THESE PROGRAMS JUMPED FROM $6 BILLION IN 1960 TO $27 BILLION FOUR
YEARS AGO -- AN INCREASE OF 450 PER CENT IN JUST EIGHT YEARS.
PRACTICALLY ALL OF THE NEW KENNEDY-JOHNSON PROGRAMS OF THE 1960s
WERE FUNCTIONALLY ORIENTED, WITH POWER, MONEY, AND DECISIONS FLOWING
FROM PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS IN WASHINGTON TO PROGRAM SPECIALISTS IN
REGIONAL OFFICES TO FUNCTIONAL DEPARTMENT HEADS IN STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT.
THIS LEFT CABINET OFFICERS, GOVERNORS, COUNTY OFFICIALS, AND MAYORS
LESS AND LESS INFORMED AS TO WHAT WAS ACTUALLY TAKING PLACE AND MADE
EFFECTIVE HORIZONTAL POLICY CONTROL AND COORDINATION INCREASINGLY
DIFFICULT AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
4-4-4-4-4
WELL, MY FRIENDS, ALL THAT HAS GOT TO CHANGE. MILLIONS OF
HA
FORD if LIBRARY 9ERALD
HARD-WORKING CITIZENS LIKE THOSE OF YOU HERE TODAY ARE JUST SICK AND
TIRED OF SEEING THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY CONFISCATED FOR QUESTIONABLE
PROGRAMS BY WASHINGTON. THEY BELIEVE, AS I DO, THAT THE MONEY WILL BE
USED WITH MORE CARE, AND PROGRAMS OPERATED MORE EFFICIENTLY AND LESS
WASTEFULLY, BY OFFICIALS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
PRESIDENT NIXON'S BUDGET MESSAGE LAST MONTH PROPOSED MAJOR CUTS
IN SOCIAL PROGRAMS THAT HAVE PROVED INEFFECTIVE OR CAN SERVE NO FURTHER
USEFUL PURPOSE. IF ADOPTED BY CONGRESS, HIS PROPOSED CUTBACKS IN SOCIAL,
URBAN, AND FARM PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL REVENUE SHARING PROGRAMS FOR THE
CITIES AND EDUCATION WILL SAVE TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE NEXT
FIVE YEARS.
BUT THE PORK BARREL SPENDERS IN CONGRESS HAVE ALREADY SERVED NOTICE
THAT THEY WILL FIGHT TO CONTINUE THEIR FAVORITE LIBERAL SOCIAL AND URBAN
PROGRAMS. NOT SATISFIED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S RECORD OF FAILURE
IN JOB TRAINING AND HOUSING, AND RELUCTANT TO END EXPENSIVE PROGRAMS
THAT ARE NO LONGER NEEDED, THEY HAVE PROMISED TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND SUCH
PROGRAMS, REGARDLESS OF COST OR CONSEQUENCES TO THE ECONOMY.
PRESIDENT NIXON HAS A CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE TO CONCERN HIMSELF
WITH THOSE ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS AND THE EFFECT OF CONGRESSIONAL
PROFLIGACY ON YOUR TAX BURDEN AND THE PRICES YOU PAY FOR GOODS AND
SERVICES.
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IF CONGRESS IS IRRESPONSIBLE IN THE CONDUCT OF ITS BUSINESS,
COMMITTING THE NATION TO EXPENDITURE OF MORE FEDERAL FUNDS THAN ARE
AVAILABLE WITHOUT INCREASED TAXES OR INFLATION, HE HAS AN OBLIGATION
TO VETO SUCH EXPENDITURES OR IMPOUND FUNDS FOR LOW PRIORITY PROGRAMS.
THERE IS NO CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S RIGHT TO VETO LAWS
HE DEEMS INAPPROPRIATE. BUT A CONSIDERABLE HUE AND CRY HAS BEEN RAISED
BY HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS OVER THE PRESIDENT'S RECENT IMPOUNDMENT OF
APPROPRIATED MONEY AS A WAY TO HOLD DOWN FEDERAL SPENDING.
CRITICS OF IMPOUNDMENT SAY THAT THE PRESIDENT IS ASSUMING POWER
NOT DELEGATED TO HIM BY THE CONSTITUTION. THEY SAY THAT HE IS REQUIRED
TO SPEND MONEY APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS.
THE PRESIDENT'S SUPPORTERS, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARGUE WITH EQUAL
VEHEMENCE THAT, AS GUARDIAN OF THE NATION'S ECONOMIC HEALTH, HE HAS A
RESPONSIBILITY NOT TO SPEND MONEY FOR PROGRAMS APPROVED BY CONGRESS
IF SUCH SPENDING WILL SPUR INFLATION OR FORCE DAMAGING AND UNPOPULAR
TAX INCREASES.
THE WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE PRESIDENT'S IMPOUNDMENT OF
FUNDS.
THE CONSTITUTION CLEARLY GIVES THE PRESIDENT THE RIGHT TO CONDUCT
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.
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WHEN FUNDS ARE PUT AT HIS DISPOSAL FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES, IT
HAS ALWAYS BEEN ASSUMED THAT HE WOULD SPEND THEM AS DIRECTED. BUT WITH
A FEDERAL BUDGET OF HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, THE ONLY TEST OF
WHETHER THE MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT MUST BE THE EFFECT OF SUCH SPENDING
ON THE GOVERNMENT'S ENTIRE FINANCIAL POSITION AND THE STABILITY OF
THE NATION'S CURRENCY, WHICH WE HAVE AGAIN THIS WEEK HAD TO REVALUE.
THE PRESIDENT HAS A CLEAR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE STRENGTH
OF THE DOLLAR AND TO SEE THAT INFLATION IS NOT ENCOURAGED. WHEN
CONGRESS OVERSPENDS, IT IS THE PRESIDENT'S DUTY TO RECTIFY THAT MISTAKE
UNTIL THE PEOPLE CAN REPLACE IRRESPONSIBLE REPRESENTATIVES.
I SHOULD POINT OUT TO YOU THAT, EVEN THOUGH THE NATION OVERWHELMINGLY
RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT NIXON LAST NOVEMBER ALONG WITH AN ENTIRELY NEW
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND A THIRD OF THE SENATE, THE PRESIDENT AND
CONGRESS TODAY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER MORE THAN 70 PER CENT OF
THE FEDERAL BUDGET.
SUCH THINGS AS INTEREST ON THE NATIONAL DEBT, UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE, SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, AND MANY SOCIAL PROGRAMS CANNOT BE
AFFECTED BY LAWS WE WILL PASS. WE WERE COMMITTED TO THEM IN YEARS PAST.
AND AS I HAVE SAID, ALMOST THREE-FOURTHS OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET -- AT
LEAST $202 BILLION -- IS AN UNCONTROLLABLE OUTLAY.
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WE CANNOT REPEAL LEGISLATION THAT COMMITTED US TO SUCH PROGRAMS.
TO DO so WOULD BE TO BREAK FAITH WITH PEOPLE WHO RELY ON THEM. BUT WE
CAN REFUSE TO EXTEND OR EXPAND PROGRAMS THAT HAVE EXPIRED OR ARE WASTEFUL.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD DO.
CONGRESS HAS GOT TO ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FEDERAL SPENDING.
BIG-SPENDING POLITICIANS IN CONGRESS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE
VOTING FOR INCREASED FEDERAL EXPENDITURES THAT THE NATION CANNOT AFFORD,
FORCING THE PRESIDENT TO ASSUME THE POLITICAL LIABILITY OF VETOING SUCH
LEGISLATION OR IMPOUNDING THE APPROPRIATIONS.
I PROPOSED WHEN I WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE INCOMING GROUP OF
43 REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN THAT CONGRESS HAD TO REFORM ITS BUDGET
PROCEDURES. MANY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE HORRIFIED BY THE CURRENT
HODGE-PODGE SYSTEM OF RAISING AND SPENDING MONEY, WHERE THE LEFT HAND
THAT COLLECTS MONEY HAS NO IDEA WHAT THE RIGHT HAND THAT SPENDS IT IS
DOING.
IT IS AN IDEAL SYSTEM FOR THE BIG SPENDER WHO WANTS TO SUPPORT
HIS OWN PET, PORK BARREL PROGRAMS WITHOUT BEING PUBLICLY ACCOUNTABLE
FOR THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES.
IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THAT THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET HAS
JUST ISSUED ITS INITIAL REPORT PROPOSING JUST SUCH A REPLACEMENT OF
THE PIECEMEAL BUDGETING PROCESS THAT NOW OBTAINS IN DOZENS OF OTHER
UNCONNECTED CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.
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THE COMMITTEE HAS PROPOSED CONSIDERATION OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET
AS A WHOLE THROUGH A SINGLE, GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL, AND A
CONGRESSIONAL VOTE EARLY IN EACH SESSION TO FIX A TIGHT CEILING ON
TOTAL SPENDING.
TO BE SURE, SUCH REFORMS ARE LONG OVERDUE. AND THOSE MEASURES
WOULD ALLOW YOU, THE TAXPAYER, TO FIND OUT WHO AMONG YOUR ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES ARE THE CULPRITS FOR YOUR ENORMOUS FEDERAL TAX BURDEN
AND INFLATION THAT IMPERILS THE ENTIRE NATIONAL ECONOMY.
####
REMARKS OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN B. CONLAN (R-ARIZ) AT THE PINAL COUNTY
REPUBLICANS LINCOLN DAY DINNER IN CASA GRANDE, ON MONDAY, FEB. 12, 1973
RETURNING POWER TO THE PEOPLE
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
When I speak on occasions such as this attended by scores of
loyal Republicans, I am reminded of the old man who kept going regularly
to church long after all his money was gone and his hearing had
deteriorated.
He could neither contribute to the offertory nor derive anything
from the experience.
His friends finally inquired of him one day why he continued going
to church. He replied that he just wanted to show everyone which side
he was on.
That's what we're all doing here this evening. We're proud to
show which side we're on.
And so long as loyal Republicans like those of you here continue
to reaffirm their devotion to the pro-American principles of the
Republican Party, we will continue to win the kind of victory we received
in the voting last November.
Since I have been in Washington, I have learned to respect the
tremendous insight of that great Oklahoman, Will Rogers. There are
some mighty peculiar legislative proposals being sponsored by Democrat
members of Congress. And since for the time being Democrats outnumber
us Republicans on the Hill, those proposals are likely to get more than
passing notice.
Will Rogers once observed, "There is still a lot of monkey in us.
Throw anything you want into our cage and we will give it serious
consideration." I think the Democrats are committed to, demonstrating
the truth of that statement.
But President Nixon and the Republican leadership of the Congress
are equally committed to responsible, limited government. And those
of us in the Congress who share the Republican belief in individual
responsibility, fiscal integrity, and local autonomy are committed to
his sensible program to return power to the people and to decrease the
scope and cost of federal programs.
Abraham Lincoln summed up the principle underlying this Republican
effort when he said:
"The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of
people whatever they need to have done, but cannot do at all, or cannot
so well do for themselves, in their separate and individual capacities.
In all that the people can individually do as well for themselves,
government ought not to interfere."
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And offering a lesson for today's creative Republicanism,
Lincoln also said:
"The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy
present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty and we must rise
with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act
anew. We must disenthrall ourselves."
In his Second Inaugural address and budget message to Congress,
President Nixon has urged us to disenthrall ourselves of ideas and
concepts of government that have been tried in the breach and failed --
the idea that throwing countless tax dollars at any problem will make
it go away; that a massive, overlapping federal establishment can
deliver the goods to those who need help; that for every wound, large
or small, real or imagined, there should be a federal bandage to bind
it.
In his Inaugural Address, the President reached back to that
early Republican philosophy, and describing the guidelines of his second
term challenged us all to get with it, to do more -- not for government,
but for ourselves.
And in his budget message, the President said that his own personal
philosophy of government was summed up in the words of the last article
of the Bill of Rights -- the Tenth Amendment -- which says:
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution,
nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respec-
tively, or to the people."
No one can deny that the scope of federal involvement in our
everyday affairs has grown way out of proportion and that we must act
decisively to return authority and revenue to state and local governments.
Federal power has only grown to its current unwieldly and dangerous
level since 1960. A small number of federal land grants constituted
the extent of federal aid throughout most of the 19th century. Cash
grants to the states and localities -- a source of much of today's
friction and frustration in intergovernmental relations -- began only
after the federal government started taxing income in 1913.
It is difficult for some people to remember that the income tax
has only existed for 60 years and that for more than two-thirds of
our nation's history the federal government had to finance its programs
on only one-fourth the amount of revenue that that tax provides.
Prior to 1930, there had been only 10 federal grant-in-aid programs.
The programs had evolved slowly from the 1880s on. They covered land
grant colleges, state experiment stations and extension services, highway
construction, forestry cooperation, and vocational education and
rehabilitation.
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During F-D-R's New Deal, 14 additional programs were initiated
covering public welfare assistance, employment security, public and
child health services, fish and wildlife, public housing, and school
lunches.
During the post-World War II period running through 1959, 20 new
programs were established. Of these, five were extensions of already
existing programs. And the federal government started new programs for
airport and hospital construction, mental health facilities, urban
renewal, aid to federally-impacted school districts, sewage treatment
plants, and library services.
These 44 federal aid programs in existence in 1960 -- remember,
they've grown from 1880 through 1960, and they now total 44 -- cost
$6 billion. Of that $6 billion, $5 billion was for highways and welfare.
Now, my friends, get set for the deluge.
The 1960s -- the years of the New Frontier and the Great Society --
were the years when a burst of federal largesse and a bypassing of state
and local governments in dispensing it came into existence without
parallel.
By 1969, the year President Nixon came into office, the number of
separate federal grant-in-aid programs had proliferated from 44 to at
least 430. Approximately 25 programs were legislated during a single
session of Congress in 1965, and many that had been enacted earlier were
expanded and broadened.
Did this cost more money? Well, I'll say it did.
The federal outlay for grant-in-aid programs jumped from $6 billion
in 1960 -- the year of the last Eisenhower budget -- to $27 billion for
the last Johnson budget in 1969. That is an increase of 450 per cent
in just eight years.
Practically all of the new grant programs of the 1960s were
functionally oriented, with power, money, and decisions flowing from
program administrators in Washington to program specialists in regional
offices to functional department heads in state and local governments.
This left cabinet officers, governors, county commissioners, and
mayors less and less informed as to what was actually taking place and
made effective horizontal policy control and coordination increasingly
difficult at all levels of government.
Well, all this has got to change. We now know that it doesn't
take any imagination to dream up ways of spending and wasting the
people's tax money. For a generation before 1968, that was the standard
"solution" for every problem -- pour money on it, and maybe it will go
away.
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That solution didn't work. In fact, it made many problems a
great deal worse.
But in 1968 and again in 1972, the people told the big-spending
politicians still living in the past that they wanted a change -- a
big change.
The administration attempted a big step with its 1972 general
revenue sharing legislation toward reversing the flow of political
power. This session, the administration proposes to convert another
$6.8 billion now available to states and localities in the form of
narrow categorical grants into broader purpose revenue sharing grants
that would allow state and local governments to decide what projects
the money is to be used for.
The money would be returned to the people for education, transpor-
tation, urban and rural community development, manpower training, and
law enforcement. And under the President's proposal, there would be no
requirement of state and local matching funds as is now the case.
This proposal that the federal government release some of its
superior resources and at the same time transfer more decision-making
power to state and local governments -- governments which are on the
scene of action -- faces tough opposition from the empire-builders in
Congress. But I assure you that the death notices -- or perhaps they're
death wishes -- that you read and hear daily are exceedingly premature.
The program has great merit and polls show that the great majority
of people all over the country support it in principle.
And so the lines are drawn.
On the one hand are the big spenders in Congress -- the disciples
of the "Big-Government-Knows-Best" philosophy used to justify the New
Frontier and Great Society paternalism.
These Big Government advocates don't think private citizens should
be messing around with their federal empire.
They don't think you and I have any right to know what's going on
there.
They are suspicious of their fellow citizens who want to save the
taxpayers' money instead of spending it.
They cannot conceive of how an efficient government could still
be a government responsive to the people's wishes.
On the other hand are the millions of hard-working taxpayers who
are just sick and tired of seeing their hard-earned money, along with
the right to decide how it should be spent, confiscated by Washington.
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These are the people who have built America -- with their hearts
and minds and hands.
They are the backbone of the nation they love -- working people
earning between $5,000 and $20,000 a year, supporting families with no
handouts from Uncle Sam.
They have had to fight and scrimp to make ends meet.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
Many of them moonlight at second jobs or have other members of
the family working to supplement the family income.
Their real wages didn't go up one thin dime during the second half
of the '60s, thanks to higher taxes and inflation, the legacy of their
free-wheeling, patronizing Democrat political leaders.
These Forgotten Americans -- young and old, professional people
and workers, farmers and city folks, white and black, red and brown --
have watched with trepidation and anger as the federal bureaucracy grew.
And as it expanded, they saw it overwhelm and obliterate much of the
power historically exercised by our towns and counties and states.
But far too few of us were troubled enough to arouse America
against the inexorable flow of power away from the people to the federal
professionals in Washington.
To be sure, we did sense the danger, though we failed to react
soon enough to come to grips with it.
Thirteen years ago, the Gallup Poll asked Americans throughout the
country to choose among Big Government, Big Labor, and Big Business as
the greatest threat to the nation in the future. At that time, only
20 per cent picked Big Government.
The same question was asked again three years ago -- after a decade
of an expanding federal presence in our society, and, after a decade of
Congress increasingly dominated by radical-liberals who welcomed its
growth.
More than half 55 per cent -- of those responding named Big
Government as the greatest single potential threat to the country.
I can understand their frustration. They know how the arrogance
of power operates. Like me, and many of you, they have seen it in
meetings where men assert that it would be somehow dangerous to allow
state and local officials to run their own programs.
They have seen it in cavalier acts and judgments on the part of
men who live thousands of miles from those of us in Arizona whose lives
are directly affected by their decisions and pronouncements.
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They have seen it in the haughty demeanor of some bureaucrats,
many of whom are vested with immense power, yet never face the test of
the ballot box.
I know at least some of you have experienced this yourselves.
For example, have you, as businessmen or farmers, ever tried to appeal
a bureaucratic decision that deeply affected your company or farm?
Have you, as a senior citizen, ever tried to obtain legitimate
benefits designed to help you in your need?
And have you, as a plainordinary guy, ever received a cold,
bureaucratic rejection of a request for information -- or just no answer
at all?
My friends, the time is now to reverse this flow of power to
Washington. It is time to channel some of this excessive power back
to the people.
A handful of anarchists have tried their best to take over and
debauch the very good and proper meaning of the phrase, "power to the
people." But it has too profound and important a significance to allow
this to happen.
"Power to the People" was the fundamental principle that guided
our founding fathers as they crafted the most perfect political document
ever created by man.
Government, they believed, should serve the people. A free people
should not serve the government.
Every phrase, every paragraph of the Constitution of the United
States reflects in some degree that root thought.
One great issue of the 1972 campaign was which philosophy of
government the nation would follow in the last quarter of this century.
Our opponents had an approach that began with government. We Republicans
pledged an administration that would begin with people.
And we have begun.
But for this "Power to the People" philosophy of the Republican
Party to succeed, it must have the enthusiastic support of all creative
Republicans. We must build a working coalition that will turn back
the tide of centralization and bureaucratic stagnation.
To return power to the people, elected officials must make this
philosophy a part of their everyday lives.
"Power to the People" means that representatives remain responsive
to the voters of their state.
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It means not becoming indebted to Eastern radical-liberal slush
funds, foundations, and other such vested interests.
It means that your representatives must speak for, must support,
must vote for legislative measures which will further decentralize
the federal bureaucracy.
It means fighting for innovative, basic reorientations of the
federal system -- measures like reform of manpower training, welfare,
and taxation.
"Power to the People" means that your congressman and senators
must vote to eliminate -- that's right, cut out, not cut back -- any
program that is no longer needed or that could be run better in the
private sector.
It does not mean ignoring the administration's economy proposals.
"Power to the People" means having representatives who respect the
skill and the knowledge of every working man and women in America, who
understand how hard working people have to work for what they get --
representatives, therefore, determined to keep working people's taxes
down.
It does not mean contempt for the working people of America as
"unthinking masses" and spending their tax dollars as if they were
federal property to be dispensed as federal largesse.
Finally, it means a senator or a congressman or a governor who
practices the principles he preaches -- a man who makes you proud when
you tell your children you voted for him.
Power to the People also depends on the healthy respect of every
man, woman, and child in this great land of ours for the laws that
protect and guide us all. A constitutional republic is only safe so
long as it has a robust and strong civil social order premised on the
rule of law.
Let us all, then, resolve to stand by and uphold the fairest system
of law that the world has ever known. And in our resolve, let us call
to mind the words of Abraham Lincoln, who said:
"Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well-wisher
to his posterity, swear by the blood of the revolution, never to violate
in the least particular the laws of the country and never to tolerate
their violation by others
"Let reverence of the laws be breathed by every American mother
to the lisping babe that prattles on her lap. Let it be taught in the
schools, in seminaries, and in colleges. Let it be written in primers,
spelling books, and in almanacs. Let it be preached from the pulpit,
proclaimed in the legislative halls, and enforced in courts of justice.
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"And in short, let it become the political religion of the nation.
And let the old and the young, the grave and the gay, of all sexes and
tongues and colors and conditions sacrifice unceasingly upon its altars."
You have been a patient audience. Don't rest on the laurels of
last November. We have a message to spread and a tradition to uphold.
And as our President has entreated us:
"Let us go forward from here confident in hope, strong in our
faith in one another, sustained by our faith in God who created us, and
striving always to serve His purposes."
######
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
REMARKS OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN B. CONLAN AT FLAG DAY CEREMONIES
SUN DEVIL STADIUM, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, TEMPE, ARIZONA,
ON SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1973.
FORD is LIBRANY GERALD
THE GREATEST SYMBOL OF FREEDOM
AS I LOOK OUT ON THIS FIELD AT THE IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY OF
OUR NATION'S FLAGS, ALL THE FAMILIAR TRIBUTES TO THE SYMBOL OF
THE WORLD'S GREATEST EXPERIMENT IN FREEDOM COME TO MIND.
ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE IS THAT OF PRESIDENT WOODROW
WILSON, WHO SAID:
"THE FLAG WHICH WE HONOR, AND UNDER WHICH WE SERVE, IS THE
EMBLEM OF OUR UNITY
OUR POWER
OUR THOUGHT
AND OUR
PURPOSE AS A NATION. IT HAS NO OTHER CHARACTER THAN THAT WE GIVE
IT FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION
AND YET THOUGH SILENT, IT
SPEAKS TO US -- SPEAKS TO US OF THE PAST, OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO
WENT BEFORE US, AND OF THE RECORDS THEY WROTE UPON IT.
"WE CELEBRATE THE DAY OF ITS BIRTH. AND FROM ITS BIRTH UNTIL
NOW, IT HAS WITNESSED A GREAT HISTORY, HAS FLOATED ON HIGH, THE
SYMBOL OF GREAT EVENTS, OF A GREAT PLAN OF LIFE, WORKED OUT BY A
GREAT PEOPLE.
"TRADITIONALLY A SYMBOL OF LIBERTY, THE AMERICAN FLAG HAS
CARRIED THE MESSAGE OF FREEDOM TO MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD."
HENRY WARD BEECHER SAID IT MORE SUCCINCTLY WHEN HE WROTE:
"A THOUGHTFUL MIND, WHEN IT SEES THE FLAG, SEES NOT THE FLAG
BUT THE NATION ITSELF.
2
"AND WHATEVER MAY BE ITS SYMBOLS, ITS INSIGNIA, HE READS CHIEFLY
IN THE FLAG THE GOVERNMENT, THE PRINCIPLES, THE TRUTHS, THE HISTORY
THAT BELONG TO THE NATION THAT SETS IT FORTH.
"THE AMERICAN FLAG HAS BEEN A SYMBOL OF LIBERTY AND MEN REJOICED
IN IT."
OF ALL THE SYMBOLS OF AMERICAN BELIEF, UNITY, AND SACRIFICE,
THE FLAG IS EASILY THE MOST COMPELLING. AND I KNOW THAT I NEED
NOT REMIND THIS AUDIENCE THAT WE OWE OUR LOYALTY TO THE ENDURING
IDEALS OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND LIMITED, RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT
THAT THE FLAG REPRESENTS.
LET US CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT WHAT THIS COUNTRY STANDS FOR.
IT STANDS FOR FREEDOM. IT STANDS FOR EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY
AND FOR JUSTICE.
I REALIZE THAT THESE CONCEPTS IN THE FULLEST REALIZATION WILL
ALWAYS BE IDEALS
GOALS.
I REALIZE THAT THEY DO NOT EXIST IN PERFECTION HERE, OR
ANYPLACE ELSE.
OUR PRINCIPAL MINORITIES STILL SUFFER FROM INEQUALITY OF
OPPORTUNITY. BUT WE HAVE IMPROVED GREATLY IN THE PAST TWO DECADES,
AND WITH THE HELP OF ALL FAIR-MINDED CITIZENS WE SHALL CONQUER THIS
DEFECT.
THE BEAUTY OF OUR SYSTEM IS THAT IT DRAMATIZES FLAWS RATHER
THAN CONCEALS THEM.
AND DESPITE WHAT AMERICA'S DETRACTORS WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE,
THIS COUNTRY, REPRESENTED BY THIS FLAG, IS PERHAPS THE GREATEST
EXAMPLE THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN OF THE SUCCESS THAT FREEDOM BRINGS.
3
BUT THE MEN WHO FOUNDED OUR COUNTRY DID NOT FIND A READY
MODEL FOR THEIR CONCEPTS OF FREE GOVERNMENT. BECAUSE FREEDOM AT
THAT TIME WAS LANGUISHING.
THERE WAS A KING IN ENGLAND. THERE WAS A KING, LATER A DICTATOR,
IN FRANCE. THERE WAS AN EMPRESS IN RUSSIA AND AN EMPEROR IN CHINA.
SELF-GOVERNMENT DID NOT EXIST IN ANY MAJOR COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
AT THE END OF THE 18th CENTURY.
THE MEN WHO FOUNDED THIS NATION THEREFORE DREW THEIR CONCEPT
OF FREEDOM IN LARGE PART FROM THEIR READING OF ANCIENT LITERATURE,
OR FROM READING AUTHORS WHO WERE THEMSELVES INFLUENCED BY READING
THE ANCIENTS. THE EXAMPLE OF A GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE DID NOT
EXIST FOR THEM IN THEIR CONTEMPORARY WORLD, BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN
EXTINGUISHED WITH THE FOUNDING OF THE ROMAN PRINCIPATE 1,800
YEARS BEFORE.
so WE SEE WHAT A RARE THING FREEDOM REALLY IS
...
HOW FEW
NATIONS AND HOW FEW PEOPLE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO ENJOY IT.
EVEN TODAY, A GREAT PORTION OF THE WORLD IS NOT FREE. THE VAST
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE SLAVES UNDER TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENTS THAT
DO NOT ALLOW THEIR PEOPLE TO MOVE AND TRAVEL FREELY, TO MAKE THEIR
OWN DAILY DECISIONS, TO BUY AND READ WHATEVER THEY LIKE, TO WORK
AT TRADES OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING. THESE PEOPLE ARE SUPPRESSED BY
REGIMES THAT HAVE EXTINGUISHED INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND HAVE ENFORCED
A SYSTEM OF UNIFORM POVERTY ON THE POPULACE.
4
STATISTICS INDICATE ONLY THE BONES OF THE SOCIAL BODY, BUT
THEY DO NOT INDICATE ITS STRENGTH.
IF WE WERE TO COMPARE THE PROPORTIONS IN EACH THOUSAND OF OUR
POPULATION WITH THOSE OF THE MOST ADVANCED NATIONS OF THE WORLD,
WE WOULD FIND SOME REASSURING EVIDENCES OF OUR STRENGTH.
WE HAVE, FOR INSTANCE, A THIRD MORE OF OUR CHILDREN A LONGER
TIME IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS THAN CHILDREN IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY,
AND JAPAN. WE HAVE PROPORTIONALLY THREE TIMES AS MANY IN SECONDARY
SCHOOLS AND SIX TIMES AS MANY IN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
WE HAVE A FAR WIDER DIFFUSION AMONG THE PEOPLE OF BOOKS,
MAGAZINES, AND NEWSPAPERS THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY.
IN PROPORTION TO OUR NUMBERS, WE HAVE DEVELOPED 10 TIMES AS MANY
LABORATORIES OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND INVENTION. OUR APPLICATION
OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY HAS GROWN AT A PACE FAR BEYOND THAT OF ANY
OTHER NATION. WHILE IT HAS INCREASED OUR PROBLEMS, YET WITH THE
INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY FROM IT HAS COME THE ENLARGEMENT OF LEISURE
AND THE EXTENSION OF CONSTRUCTIVE RECREATION.
WE HAVE COME INTO A FULLER LIFE FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE, HAVE
GIVEN INCREASING SCOPE TO CREATIVE POWER AND THE EXPANSION OF EVERY
MAN'S MIND.
MORE THAN ANY OTHER LEADING COUNTRY, WE HAVE ADVANCED THE
REALITIES OF HUMAN JUSTICE -- NOT ALONE IN EDUCATION BUT IN A VAST
SERIES OF PROTECTIONS TO CHILDREN, TO PUBLIC HEALTH, TO CONDITIONS OF
LABOR, MAKING FIRM THE OPEN DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY.
5
AND OUR SYSTEM OF LIBERTY -- THROUGH ITS STIMULATION OF
COMPETITIVE INDIVIDUAL EFFORT, ITS CREATION OF ENTERPRISE, ITS
DEVELOPMENT OF SKILL, AND ITS DISCOVERIES IN SCIENCE AND INVENTION
WHICH COME FROM INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM -- HAS PROVED THE VERY
MOTHER OF PLENTY.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
THIS IS WHY I AM PROUD OF THAT FLAG. IT IS A FLAG TO CHERISH,
NOT TO DISDAIN. THE ENDURING IDEALS FOR WHICH IT STANDS --
INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND LIMITED, RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT -- ARE IDEALS
THAT MEN HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED FOR, AND WHICH, GOD HELP US, THEY
WILL ALWAYS BE WILLING TO FIGHT AND DIE FOR.
AND so WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF OUR NATION'S FLAG, LET US
ALSO CELEBRATE OUR NATION'S UNPRECEDENTED ACHIEVEMENTS. LET US
UNDERSTAND THAT AMERICA WENT FORWARD BECAUSE AMERICA LOOKED
OUTWARD ... THAT HER PEOPLE PUT PURPOSE -- A LIFE OF HIGH ADVENTURE
AND INDIVIDUAL EXCELLENCE -- ABOVE PROSPERITY AS A LIFE FORCE.
IN CLOSING, I LEAVE WITH YOU THE MEMORABLE WORDS OF PRESIDENT
BENJAMIN HARRISON:
"GOD PITY THE AMERICAN CITIZEN WHO DOES NOT LOVE THE FLAG
...
WHO DOES NOT SEE IN IT THE STORY OF OUR GREAT FREE INSTITUTIONS,
AND THE HOPE OF THE HOME, AS WELL AS THE NATION."
###
REMARKS OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN B. CONLAN AT THE PINAL COUNTY
FOSTER GRANDPARENT RECOGNITION LUNCHEON, CENTRAL ARIZONA
COLLEGE, COOLIDGE, ARIZONA, 12 NOON, JUNE 16, 1973.
GROWING YOUNG TOGETHER
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
THERE IS AN OLD STORY ABOUT A MAN WHO WENT TO HIS DOCTOR
ONE DAY AND ASKED WHAT HE SHOULD DO so THAT HE COULD LIVE
TO BE 100.
THE DOCTOR'S RESPONSE WAS THAT THE MAN SHOULD GIVE UP
EVERYTHING. HE SHOULD GIVE UP HIS WORK, GIVE UP HIS PLAY,
AND GIVE UP HIS FRIENDS. AND HE SHOULD DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
THAT WOULD CAUSE HIM TO EXERT HIMSELF.
THEN THE MAN ASKED, "AND THEN YOU CAN PROMISE ME I WILL
LIVE TO BE 100?"
"NO," SAID THE DOCTOR. "BUT IT SURE WILL SEEM LIKE IT."
WELL, YOU KNOW, THE DOCTOR HAD A POINT. FOR NOTHING
AGES A PERSON FASTER THAN THE FEELING THAT HE IS UNNEEDED,
HE IS UNWANTED, AND HE IS UNPRODUCTIVE.
SENATOR CARL HAYDEN ONCE PUT IT THIS WAY: "MOST PEOPLE,"
HE SAID, "SAY THAT AS YOU GET OLD YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP THINGS.
I THINK YOU GET OLD BECAUSE YOU GIVE UP THINGS."
I THINK MOST OF YOU WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. BUT WHAT I
WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS THE FREQUENT FAILURE OF OUR
SOCIETY TO PUT THIS WISDOM INTO PRACTICE
...
TO INVOLVE
OLDER PEOPLE IN THE LIFE OF OUR AMERICAN SOCIETY
TO COPY
THE EXAMPLE YOU ARE SETTING IN PINAL COUNTY, WHERE YOUNG
PEOPLE AND SENIOR CITIZENS GROW YOUNG TOGETHER.
2
THIS IS A GREAT TRAGEDY. IT MEANS THAT OLD AGE, WHICH
SHOULD BE A TIME OF PRIDE AND FULFILLMENT -- PRIDE AND
FULFILLMENT LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING FORWARD -- IS TOO OFTEN
A TIME OF ISOLATION AND WITHDRAWAL. RATHER THAN BEING A TIME
OF DIGNITY, IT IS OFTEN A TIME OF DISAPPOINTMENT.
AND THE GROWING SEPARATION OF OLDER AMERICANS ALSO MEANS
THAT WE ARE NOT TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF A TREMENDOUS RESERVOIR
OF SKILL AND WISDOM AND MORAL STRENGTH THAT OUR NATION
DESPERATELY NEEDS AT THIS MOMENT IN ITS HISTORY.
THERE IS ONE THING I KNOW ABOUT THE OLDER GENERATION IN
AMERICA. THEY BELIEVE IN THIS COUNTRY.
THEY HAVE FAITH IN THIS COUNTRY.
THEY HAVE THE MORAL STRENGTH AND CHARACTER THAT WE
NEED
THAT ALL AMERICANS NEED.
THERE HAS BEEN MUCH TALK IN RECENT YEARS ABOUT THE
GENERATION GAP. BUT WHILE THIS GENERATION GAP BETWEEN THE
YOUNG AND THEIR PARENTS HAS CAPTURED OUR ATTENTION, AS IT
SHOULD, THE GENERATION GAP BETWEEN OLDER AMERICANS AND THE
REST OF OUR PEOPLE HAS OFTEN JUST BEEN IGNORED. IT HAS BEEN
SLIGHTED.
THE TIME HAS COME FOR A NEW ATTITUDE TOWARD OLD AGE IN
AMERICA.
THE TIME HAS COME TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN OUR OLDER
CITIZENS AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT YET OLD.
3
THE WAY TO DO THIS, I BELIEVE, IS AS YOU ARE DOING IT:
IT IS TO STOP REGARDING OLDER AMERICANS AS A BURDEN AND TO
START REGARDING THEM AS A GREAT RESOURCE FOR AMERICA.
THIS MEANS THAT THE ATTITUDE YOU EXPRESS THROUGH THIS
FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM IN PINAL COUNTY MUST BE BUILT UP
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY
A NEW ATTITUDE TOWARD OLD AGE
WHICH INSISTS THAT THERE CAN BE NO RETIREMENT FROM LIVING,
NO RETIREMENT FROM RESPONSIBILITY, NO RETIREMENT FROM
CITIZENSHIP.
THERE ARE COUNTLESS WAYS IN WHICH THE EXPERIENCE AND
THE ENERGY OF RETIRED PERSONS CAN CONTINUE TO BE TAPPED.
THIS PROGRAM IS FAR AND AWAY ONE OF THE BEST I KNOW OF.
THERE IS NO GREATER SATISFACTION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS,
I AM SURE, THAN THE TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE AND THRILL OF
HELPING MENTALLY RETARDED OR OTHERWISE HANDICAPPED OR
UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN. AND SENIOR CITIZENS LIKE YOU WHO
PARTICIPATE IN A PROGRAM SUCH AS THIS BRING TO IT SOMETHING
THAT MONEY JUST CANNOT BUY: COMMITMENT AND CARING.
WHERE OLDER PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO DO THAT, WHERE THEY
WANT TO DO THAT, WE HAVE GOT TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE. THE
COUNTRY NEEDS THEM. THEIR SERVICE NOT ONLY MAKES A
TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTION TO THE LIVES OF OTHERS, BUT ALSO
GIVES A NEW PRIDE AND PURPOSE TO THEIR OWN EXISTENCE.
4
OUR NATION HAS A HIGH OBLIGATION TO A GENERATION WHICH
HAS GIVEN so MUCH TO ITS SERVICE. THE NATION'S COMMITMENT
TO ITS OLDER CITIZENS, HOWEVER, ALSO GROWS OUT OF A MORE
SELFISH CONSIDERATION, AND THAT IS THIS: WE NEED YOU.
WE NEED YOUR EXPERIENCE. WE NEED YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
AND, ABOVE ALL, WE NEED YOUR SENSE OF VALUE.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS CAN BE A STRONG NATION ECONOMICALLY.
IT IS -- WE ARE THE RICHEST NATION IN THE WORLD.
IT CAN BE A STRONG NATION MILITARILY -- IT IS THE
STRONGEST IN THE WORLD.
AND IT CAN BE AN EMPTY SHELL IF WE FORGET THAT THOSE
MORAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUES, TO WHICH YOUR GENERATION IS so
DEEPLY COMMITTED, ARE ALSO THERE.
I HAVE ALWAYS FELT RATHER FORTUNATE -- PARTICULARLY
FORTUNATE, I SHOULD SAY -- THAT MY OWN PARENTS HAVE LIVED
RELATIVELY LONG LIVES. THEY SHARED A LOT WITH ME WHEN I WAS
YOUNG, AND STILL SHARE MUCH WITH ME NOW THAT I AM OLDER AND
REPRESENTING MY FELLOW CITIZENS IN THE CONGRESS.
MY FATHER, WHO WAS A NATIONALLY-KNOWN MAJOR LEAGUE
BASEBALL PLAYER AND UMPIRE, USED TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH
ME AS A BOY. HE LIKES TO TELL THE STORY ABOUT MY SAND-LOT
BASEBALL GAMES, WHICH HE WOULD RUSH TO SEE AFTER CALLING
SEVERAL MAJOR LEAGUE GAMES OF HIS OWN.
I WASN'T A GREAT HITTER. IN FACT, I RARELY MADE IT TO
FIRST BASE. AND AFTER A PARTICULARLY DISAPPOINTING GAME,
MY DAD CAME UP TO ME, PUT HIS ARM AROUND MY SHOULDER AND
GAVE ME HIS TREMENDOUS "DAD KNOWS BEST" LOOK.
5
"SON," HE SAID, "YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO MAKE IT IN BASEBALL.
DO YOURSELF A BIG FAVOR, AND STICK TO THE BOOKS."
I ACTED ON THAT ADVICE AND DAD ENCOURAGED ME IN EVERY WAY
TO PURSUE MY STUDIES. THANKS TO THAT ENCOURAGEMENT, I WENT
TO NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, FROM THERE TO HARVARD LAW SCHOOL,
ON TO THE HAGUE ACADEMY OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, INTO THE U.S.
ARMY, AND BACK TO ARIZONA FOR EIGHT YEARS IN THE STATE SENATE,
AND ON TO WASHINGTON TO SERVE YOU IN THE CONGRESS.
THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE GOING GOT ROUGH, AND BUT FOR
MY PARENTS' ENCOURAGEMENT AND LOVE I MIGHT HAVE STOPPED SHORT
OF COLLEGE DURING MY YOUNGER YEARS BEFORE I HAD THE WISDOM
TO SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT EDUCATION AND WORLD TRAVEL.
BUT THAT SHOWS WHAT THE OLDER GENERATION CAN DO TO
YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN THROUGH AS MUCH, WHO MIGHT
GIVE UP. YOU CAN SEE WHY WE NEED YOU, WHY YOUNGER PEOPLE
NEED YOU, YOUR ADVICE, YOUR WISDOM, YOUR STRENGTH, YOUR
PERSPECTIVE, AND ESPECIALLY YOUR LOVE.
IF WE ALLOW OUR SOCIETY TO BECOME FRAGMENTED, so THAT
YOUNGER AMERICANS ARE CUT OFF FROM OLDER AMERICANS, THEN
EACH MEMBER OF OUR SOCIETY WILL ALSO BECOME FRAGMENTED, WITH
YOUNG PEOPLE CUT OFF FROM THEIR PAST AND OLDER PEOPLE FROM
THE FUTURE.
I HAVE MET MANY WISE MEN AND WOMEN -- SOME OF THEM
WORLD LEADERS -- IN MY TRAVELS TO MORE THAN 80 COUNTRIES IN
THE WORLD. I DID NOT AGREE WITH ALL OF THEM, BUT I LEARNED
FROM ALL OF THEM, YOUNG AND OLD.
6
I REMEMBER THAT SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL, AFTER WORLD WAR
II WHEN HE HAD BEEN REPUDIATED BY THE BRITISH PEOPLE AND
THEN CALLED BACK TO SERVE THEM AS THEIR PRIME MINISTER, HAD
SAID IN HIS REMINISCENCES ABOUT HIS PUBLIC LIFE SOMETHING
ABOUT HIS FAVORITE QUOTATION FROM SOPHOCLES, THE GREEK POET.
HE SAID, "ONE MUST WAIT UNTIL THE EVENING TO SEE HOW
SPLENDID THE DAY HAS BEEN." "
I WANT ALL OF YOU IN THIS AUDIENCE TO KNOW THAT WE WANT
THE EVENING OF YOUR LIVES AND THE EVENING OF ALL LIVES OF
OLDER AMERICANS TO BE GOOD EVENINGS, FINE EVENINGS.
WE WANT YOU IN THE EVENING OF YOUR LIVES TO BE ABLE TO
LOOK BACK AND SAY, "HOW SPLENDED THE DAY HAS BEEN."
AND WE WANT THE CHILDREN WHO COUNT ON YOU so MUCH DURING
THE DAY WHILE THEIR PARENTS WORK TO BE ABLE TO SAY AS THE
RESULT OF THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH YOU AND THEIR LIVES AT
HOME, "HOW SPLENDED THE DAY IS."
###
FORD LIBRARY is GERALD
REMARKS OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN B. CONLAN AT THE VOICE OF
AMERICANISM DINNER, HERITAGE HOUSE, GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA,
ON FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1973.
FORD + LIBRARY GERALD
COMING TO GRIPS WITH OUR WELFARE SCANDAL
I KNEW BEFORE I WENT TO WASHINGTON THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST
SCANDALS FACING THIS COUNTRY IS THE WELFARE MESS.
BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL I DELVED SERIOUSLY INTO THE VARIOUS
STUDIES OF FEDERAL WELFARE PROGRAMS THAT THE ASTONISHING
MAGNITUDE OF THIS MESS BEGAN TO TAKE SHAPE.
THE WEARY TAXPAYER READS ABOUT SUCH THINGS AS FOOD STAMPS,
JOB TRAINING, PUBLIC HOUSING, RENT SUPPLEMENTS, MODEL CITIES,
COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECTS, LEGAL SERVICES, NEIGHBORHOOD
HEALTH CENTERS, MEDICAID, AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT
CHILDREN MANPOWER TRAINING, AND ON AND ON.
WE KNOW THAT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ARE COSTING
TAXPAYERS MORE THAN $16 BILLION OF FEDERAL MONEY EACH YEAR,
WHICH AMOUNT IS DOUBLED WHEN STATE AND LOCAL MONEY IS ADDED
TO THE TOTAL.
WE KNOW THAT MORE THAN 15 MILLION AMERICANS -- MANY OF
THEM ABLE-BODIED AND CAPABLE OF WORK -- ARE RECEIVING MONEY
UNDER ONE OR MORE WELFARE PROGRAMS.
AND WE KNOW FROM SURVEYS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN THAT AT
LEAST A FOURTH OF ALL PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASES INVOLVE FRAUD
THAT HARD-WORKING TAXPAYERS ARE BEING BILKED HAND-OVER-
FIST OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BY UNSCRUPULOUS WELFARE CHISELERS
WHO CRIMINALLY SUBSIST OFF THE PUBLIC TROUGH.
2
IT WAS ONLY A FEW YEARS AGO THAT CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCHERS
PUT TOGETHER A COMPILED TOTAL OF WELFARE FUNDS A FAMILY COULD
RECEIVE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IF THAT FAMILY TOOK NORMAL
ADVANTAGE OF ALL AVAILABLE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
THIS IS A HYPOTHETICAL FAMILY OF FIVE -- A MOTHER AND four
CHILDREN
...
ONE A PRE-SCHOOLER, ONE IN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL, ONE IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND ONE IN COLLEGE.
THIS FAMILY COULD COLLECT $2,800 FROM PUBLIC ASSISTANCE;
$618 FROM MEDICAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE OF AID FOR DEPENDENT
CHILDREN; $336 IN CASH VALUE FOR FOOD STAMPS; AND ABOUT $200
FROM OEO FOR LEGAL SERVICES AND HEALTH CARE.
THE FAMILY WOULD ALSO BE ENTITLED TO PUBLIC HOUSING OR
RENT SUPPLEMENTS RANGING IN VALUE FROM $406 to $636.
THE PRE-SCHOOL CHILD WOULD BE ENTITLED TO ENTER HEADSTART,
THE AVERAGE COST BEING $1,050 FOR EACH YOUNGSTER.
THE CHILD IN HIGH SCHOOL WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR $1,440
WORTH OF SERVICES FROM UPWARD BOUND, AND THE YOUNGSTER IN
COLLEGE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY GRANT
WORTH ANYWHERE FROM $500 to $1,000.
THE COLLEGE STUDENT WOULD ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A NATIONAL
DEFENSE EDUCATION LOAN, WHICH HAS A SO-CALLED FORGIVENESS
FEATURE IF YOU STUDY IN CERTAIN FIELDS THAT AMOUNTS TO AN
OUTRIGHT GRANT OF $520.
HE WOULD ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A WORK-STUDY PROGRAM COSTING
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $475. IF THE MOTHER WANTED TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE JOB OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM, THIS WOULD BE WORTH $3,000.
3
so THIS AVERAGE WELFARE FAMILY -- A MOTHER WITH FOUR
CHILDREN, INCLUDING TWO THAT ARE EMPLOYABLE -- WOULD BE ABLE
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GRANTS AND SERVICES WORTH ALMOST $12,000
FOR THE YEAR.
A MOTHER WITH EIGHT CHILDREN -- EVEN IF FIVE OF THEM ARE
EMPLOYABLE COULD TOTAL AN ANNUAL WELFARE INCOME OF MORE
THAN $21,000.
I SHOULD REITERATE AT THIS POINT THAT ONLY DIRECT PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE AND JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS
$16 BILLION ANNUAL FEDERAL WELFARE PACKAGE THAT I HAVE JUST
DISCUSSED.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 168 PROGRAMS GEARED IN WHOLE OR IN
PART TO COMBATTING POVERTY, ACCORDING TO FEDERAL BUREAUCRATS.
THE TOTAL FEDERAL SOCIAL WELFARE EXPENDITURE EACH YEAR IS
$92 BILLION, OR MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF THE TOTAL FEDERAL BUDGET.
WITH THIS TREMENDOUS COMMITMENT OF TAX REVENUE TO WELFARE
PROGRAMS, IT IS PAST TIME TO BE TALKING ONLY IN TERMS' OF
"WELFARE REFORM."
IT IS TIME FOR COURAGEOUS POLITICAL LEADERS TO ASK IN
BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER WHO FOOTS THE BILL FOR THESE
PROGRAMS WHETHER THE PRINCIPLE BEHIND THESE PROGRAMS IS VALID,
AND IF IN FACT THE PROGRAMS ARE HELPING LOW-INCOME PEOPLE
BREAK AWAY FROM THE POVERTY CYCLE.
THE REASON I SAY IT IS PAST TIME TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER
FORTHRIGHTLY IS BECAUSE AT THIS TIME THERE IS NOT ONE, SINGLE
PIECE OF LEGISLATION BEFORE CONGRESS TO REFORM THE WELFARE
SYSTEM.
4
WE KNOW THAT TAXPAYERS ARE BEING ROBBED IN ONE OUT OF
FOUR WELFARE PAYMENTS. BUT WHAT IS BEING DONE TO STOP IT?
WE KNOW THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SPENT MORE THAN
$42 BILLION FOR JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY,
YET WE STILL HAVE AROUND THE SAME UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. HOW
MANY OF THOSE SO-CALLED "TRAINED" PEOPLE ARE STILL WORKING?
HOW HAVE THESE PROGRAMS HELPED THEIR EARNING SKILLS?
WE KNOW THAT UNEMPLOYMENT IS HIGH AMONG LOW-INCOME PEOPLE.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SKILLED AND
UNSKILLED POSITIONS REMAIN UNFILLED IN THE JOB MARKET AT THIS
VERY MOMENT. WHY AREN'T THE INDIGENT UNEMPLOYED TAKING THESE
POSITIONS?
HAVE WELFARE PAYMENTS FROM VARIOUS WELFARE PROGRAMS
BECOME so LUCRATIVE THAT THESE PROGRAMS ACTUALLY NOW DISCOURAGE
WORK? HAS OUR PENCHANT TO BE GOOD CHRISTIANS -- TO BE OUR
BROTHER'S KEEPER -- .MADE US EASY TARGETS FOR SOCIAL ENGINEERS
WHOSE SOCIALIST IMPULSES OPPOSE THE WORK ETHIC AND MILITATE
AGAINST OUR CAPITALIST SYSTEM?
ARE WE, IN EFFECT, DESTROYING OURSELVES
DIGGING THE
GRAVE OF OUR ECONOMIC SYSTEM THAT HAS PROVIDED MORE FREEDOM AND
CREATURE COMFORTS FOR OUR CITIZENS THAN ANY OTHER DEVISED BY MAN?
THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT WE MUST DO, AND WE MUST DO NOW,
TO STOP THIS TREND TOWARD NATIONAL BANKRUPTCY EMBODIED IN THE
WELFARE STATE PHILOSOPHY OF THOSE WHO AUTHORED GREAT SOCIETY
AND WAR ON POVERTY PROGRAMS.
5
FIRST, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MUST CATEGORICALLY AFFIRM THAT
WELFARE IS NOT AN AUTOMATIC RIGHT. IN MILTON FRIEDMAN'S
PHRASE, WE MUST NOT BE ASHAMED TO SAY, "THERE IS NO SUCH
THING AS A FREE LUNCH."
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
THERE ARE ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO NEED TAX-
SUPPORTED ASSISTANCE: THE DISABLED AND HANDICAPPED, ESPECIALLY
VETERANS, DEPENDENT CHILDREN, AND A FEW OTHER CATEGORIES OF
CHARITY CASES.
EVERY OTHER CLASS OF WELFARE RECIPIENT
...
THOSE WHO ARE
ABLE-BODIED INDIGENTS RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
MUST
WORK AT GOVERNMENT PROJECTS TO RECEIVE PAYMENTS, MUST ACCEPT
JOB TRAINING, AND MUST ACCEPT JOBS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE.
THIS WORK REQUIREMENT MUST BE WRITTEN INTO LAW AND BECOME
A CONDITION FOR ALL WELFARE ASSISTANCE AT BOTH THE FEDERAL
AND STATE LEVEL. LET'S GET AWAY FROM THE DOLE-ITIS THAT HAS
AFFLICTED US FOR so LONG. YOU AND I HAVE TO EARN OUR WAY IN
LIFE. WHY MUST THAT CONDITION BE WAIVED FOR ABLE-BODIED MEN
AND WOMEN WITH THEIR HANDS EXTENDED FOR TAX-SUPPORTED CHARITY?
ONCE WE HAVE ACCEPTED THAT AS A PREMISE FOR OUR PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, WE CAN THEN SERIOUSLY UNDERTAKE THE
HERCULEAN TASK OF CLEANING UP THE ADMINISTRATION OF WELFARE
AT BOTH THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL.
6
FOR THAT TASK, THE NATION CAN TAKE SEVERAL PAGES FROM
THE WELFARE CASEBOOK OF YOUR OWN GREAT STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
WHICH, UNDER THE ABLE GUIDANCE OF GOVERNOR RONALD REAGAN, HAS
ESTABLISHED AN ENVIABLE RECORD IN DRAMATICALLY TURNING AROUND
A STAGGERING WELFARE CRISES.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE OFFICIAL
WHO WILL TAKE ON THIS JOB IN WASHINGTON IS CALIFORNIA'S OWN
ROBERT CARLESON, FORMERLY GOVERNOR REAGAN'S STATE DIRECTOR
OF WELFARE, AND NOW COMMISSIONER OF WELFARE AT HEW.
CARLESON'S WELFARE REFORMS IN CALIFORNIA RESULTED IN A
SHARP CRACKDOWN ON WELFARE CHEATERS, REDUCED INTERFERENCE
FROM HEW, SLASHED PAYMENTS TO THOSE ENRICHING THEMSELVES ON
WELFARE, AND VASTLY REDUCED CONTROL OVER WELFARE PROGRAMS
PREVIOUSLY HELD BY PROFESSIONAL WELFARE DOLE ADVOCATES.
THERE ARE NOW A QUARTER MILLION LESS WELFARE RECIPIENTS
IN CALIFORNIA THAN:THERE WERE THIS TIME A YEAR AGO.
THIS REDUCTION IN CALIFORNIA'S WELFARE PROGRAMS, WHICH
HAS RESULTED IN SLASHES IN FOOD STAMPS, MEDI-CAL, AND OTHER
SOCIAL SERVICES, HAS ALLOWED 42 OF THE STATE'S 58 COUNTIES TO
REDUCE THEIR PROPERTY TAXES. SIMILAR REFORMS ON A NATIONWIDE
LEVEL COULD CUT THE COST OF WELFARE BETWEEN 30 AND 50 PER CENT.
WEST VIRGINIA IS ANOTHER STATE THAT HAS FOLLOWED
CALIFORNIA'S LEAD ON THE WELFARE FRONT.
GOVERNOR ARCH MOORE HAS FULFILLED HIS PLEDGE TO REDUCE
WELFARE COSTS, TAKE PEOPLE OFF WELFARE AND PUT THEM INTO
PRODUCTIVE WORK, AND IMPROVE SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO REALLY NEED
THEM.
7
SINCE MOORE TOOK OFFICE FOUR YEARS AGO, THE NUMBER OF
UNEMPLOYED FATHERS RECEIVING WELFARE HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM
OVER 5,000 TO JUST OVER 1,000.
HEW FIGURES FOR THE 22-MONTH PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 1970
TO SEPTEMBER 1972 SHOW THAT WEST VIRGINIA LED THE NATION FOR
19 MONTHS IN REDUCING ITS ASSISTANCE CASELOAD.
THE STATE PIONEERED A PROGRAM REQUIRING WOMEN ON WELFARE
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
TO WORK. AND THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS, 93,000 PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF WELFARE ROLLS IN A STATE THAT HAS ONLY
1.8 MILLION PEOPLE.
THE KEY TO THESE SUCCESSES IN CALIFORNIA AND WEST VIRGINIA
HAS BEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WELFARE PHILOSOPHY AIMED AT
SPECIFIC PROGRAM OBJECTIVES -- SOMETHING THAT JUST DOES NOT
EXIST IN REALITY UNDER THE "DOLE" CONCEPT IN MOST GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES.
THE MAINSTAY QF THE REFORMS HAS BEEN THE REVOLUTIONARY
NOTION THAT I DISCUSSED BEFORE -- THAT WELFARE IS NOT'AN
AUTOMATIC RIGHT, THAT IT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE ONLY TO THE REALLY
"DOWN AND OUT," AND THAT IT SHOULD BE KEYED TO PREVENT PERMANENT
DEPENDENCY.
TAXPAYERS HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPECT SIMILAR REFORMS ON A
NATIONAL SCALE.
PEOPLE WHO PAY THE BILLS FOR OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT DESERVE
NO LESS THAN RESOLUTE ACTION TO END THE "BREAD AND CIRCUSES"
PHILOSOPHY THAT HAS GREASED THE BUREAUCRATIC WASHINGTON WELFARE
MONSTER FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.
8
ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS MUST COME TO GRIPS WITH
THIS WELFARISM GONE WILD.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, ALL OF US MUST REASSERT THE NOTION
OF SELF-RELIANCE
THAT TO GIVE ACCOUNTABILITY BEFORE GOD,
BEFORE ONE'S FAMILY AND BEFORE ONE'S COUNTRYMEN, ONE IS
OBLIGED TO WORK HARD AND LONG.
THAT PRINCIPLE, SINCE THE DAWN OF WELFARISM, HAS BEEN
SUBSTANTIALLY ERODED. IT IS UP TO THOSE OF US WHO STILL LIVE
BY IT TO CHAMPION IT.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS PRACTICE THE WORK ETHIC
IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES. THEY BELIEVE IN IT. NOW THEY MUST
CHAMPION IT AS THE BASIS OF OUR SUCCESS AS A NATION.
BUT HAVING REKINDLED THE WORK ETHIC AS THE MOVING FORCE
OF OUR LIVES, WE MUST THEN UPHOLD THE EQUALLY VITAL PRINCIPLE
THAT ENJOYING THE FRUITS OF ONE'S OWN LABO IS THE FOUNDATION
OF OUR PRECIOUS INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM.
WITHOUT THE REWARD OF OUR LABOR, THERE IS NO INCENTIVE
TO CARRY ON. WE REST OUR MATERIAL SUCCESS AS A NATION AND
PEOPLE ON THE FOUNDATION STONE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.
WE ARE ALL NOW WELL AWARE THAT IT IS INCREASINGLY THE
ATTITUDE OF SOME PEOPLE WHO RUN GOVERNMENT THAT AMERICANS ARE
IN ALL ECONOMIC MATTERS WARDS OF THE STATE.
I DON'T THINK IT HAS EVER OCCURRED TO SENATOR MC GOVERN
THAT IT IS AN ALMOST EVIL PRESUMPTION FOR THE STATE TO REACH
INTO THE LIFE OF THE AVERAGE CITIZEN IN THE WAY GENERALLY
SANCTIONED BY SOCIALIST AND COMMUNIST COUNTRIES.
9
THE AVERAGE AMERICAN SPENDS 40 HOURS A WEEK WORKING.
DURING THAT TIME HE EARNS HIS PITTANCE, OR HIS THOUSANDS.
SOME OF IT NEEDS TO BE TAXED TO RUN CORPORATE ENTERPRISES
THAT ONLY THE STATE CAN FEASIBLY ADMINISTER.
BUT THE ARGUMENTS GENERALLY ACCEPTED NOWADAYS DO NOT
ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESUMPTION AGAINST TAKING MONEY FROM PEOPLE
FOR PURPOSES WILDLY UNRELATED TO THE SURVIVAL OF SOCIETY.
SOME POLITICIANS TALK ABOUT PEOPLE'S EARNINGS AS THOUGH THE
EARNINGS WERE THEIR'S AT THEIR SUFFERANCE.
ALL THAT MUST CHANGE.
WE MUST CONTINUE THE NOBLE TRADITIONS OF SPIRITUAL
DEDICATION, THE CENTRAL PLACE OF THE INDIVIDUAL, THE WORK
ETHIC, AND PRIVATE PROPERTY.
PROPERTY IN A FREE SOCIETY IS EARNED, NOT STOLEN. AND
THIS NATION'S WELFARE SYSTEM, AS A HALLMARK OF OUR NATIONAL
MALAISE, HAS BECOME A CAREFULLY CALCULATED SYSTEM OF LEGALIZED
PLUNDER THAT IS NOT APPRECIABLY IMPROVING THE LOT OF THE
UNDERPRIVILEGED, BUT WHICH IS FAST MAKING YOU AND I SLAVES
OF A VAST BUREAUCRATIC ARMY IN WASHINGTON AND STATE CAPITALS
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
I HAVE NO INTENTION OF SITTING BY WHILE ALMOST 200 YEARS
OF THE WORLD'S MOST PERFECT EXPERIMENT IN FREEDOM IS DESTROYED
BY THESE UNELECTED SOCIAL ENGINEERS. BUT LIKE OTHERS IN THIS
FIGHT WITH ME IN THE CONGRESS, WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE. WE NEED
YOUR HELP.
10
COMMIT YOURSELVES. EDUCATE YOURSELVES. FOLLOW YOUR
LEADERS. AND LET'S TURN THIS COUNTRY AROUND AND RETURN TO
THE FREE SOCIETY THAT WE ALL LOVE so WELL.
THAT GREAT AMERICAN POET EDWARD EVERETT HALE SAID IT
FOR US WHEN HE WROTE:
"I AM ONLY ONE, BUT I AM ONE,
I CANNOT DO EVERYTHING, BUT I CAN DO SOMETHING,
AND WHAT I CAN DO, THAT I OUGHT TO DO,
AND WHAT I OUGHT TO DO,
BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I SHALL DO!"
###
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
E 5962
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Extensions of Remarks September 20, 1973
I do not know how we can balance off
DO NOT STOP LEARNING
BE HONEST
some of our recent history. But I do
This is commencement-the time of com-
With yourself and with others at all times.
know that we can do the correct and
mencing-the time to add to your fund of
Integrity is an absolute necessity for anyone
moral thing now. Let us hurl the Arab
knowledge. Most of you want to change the
in the pursuit of excellence.
threats back into the teeth of those who
American system for the better. Good. But,
ALWAYS, REMEMBER WHERE YOU CAME FROM
utter them. Let us prevent the Jackson-
no one is qualified to alter a system he does
not understand.
Remember those who helped you grow and
Vanik amendments from being weak-
Be curious.
develop, and achieve from early life. Remem-
ened. We can do no less.
Discover all you can about yourself, your
ber the university that helped you acquire
job, and this world. Learn not only from
the fund of knowledge which has brought
text books and teachers, but also from
you thus far on your way.
friends, enemies, and above all, remember
Don't forget where you learned to think-
DREAM GREAT DREAMS
that every life experience has something to
in an orderly and disciplined fashion
As
offer. Be especially curious about our eco-
you progress, remember where you came
HON. ROBERT P. HANRAHAN
nomic and political systems.
from. And never fail to reach back and help
others as you have been helped.
They control and run our country. and I
OF ILLINOIS
am thorougly convinced that these avenues
HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
present the best, and perhaps the only strat-
Be a person of worth, and know it.
egies to fulfill our aspirations for freedom
HAVE FAITH IN GOD, AND IN THE GOODNESS
Thursday, September 20, 1973
and liberation.
OF LIFE
BE READY
Mr. HANRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, recent-
Members of the gratest fraternity in the
ly the Perspective magazine of the Chi-
Take advantage of all opportunities-not
world, composed of good men and women of
cago Tribune reprinted excerpts from a
only when opportunity knocks at your door-
all generations, past and present, and of all
but be ready to knock on opportunity's door.
speech given by George Johnson to the
races, who have given their lives in the quest
DO NOT HATE
graduating class of Xavier University in
for truth and in the service of humanity,
Hate is unproductive. It creates nothing
have known that both life and power come
New Orleans.
of value, and has a much more corrosive
from a supreme being.
Mr. Johnson is president of Johnson
effect on the hater than the hated. Love is
The eternal law of justice and love governs
Products Co. In 1954 he borrowed $250
the only antidote to hate.
the universe. Whoever breaks this law suc-
to start his business. This year he expects
ceeds only in breaking himself. Once we lose
HARBOR NO ENVY
his company's sales to reach $25 million.
reverence for God, we lose reverence for man
Envy, like hate, is self-destructive. It is
The speech is directed to the young
and nature.
wise to emulate those who are successful.
black American but the thoughts that
Strive to be like your models. But, never
Mr. Johnson puts forth as his credo for
FORD
covet your model's possessions.
success are ones we would all do well to
FREE PRESS IMPERILER BY
NEVER BE VINDICTIVE
observe.
JOURNALISTS THEMSELVES
Do not hold a grudge. A grudge is inside
I would like to share this article with
one's self where it distorts the beauty of the
my colleagues as I feel it represents ideas
spirit.
HON. JOHN B. CONLAN
and ideals which can be of benefit to all
BE PROUD
OF ARIZONA
our young people.
Never be arrogant. No matter how great
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The article follows:
your success or your achievements, always
treat others with the dignity due them by
Thursday, September 20, 1973
"DREAM GREAT DREAMS"-BLACK BUSINESS-
reason that they are human beings so en-
MAN'S CREDO FOR SUCCESS
dowed by the creator regardless of life sta-
Mr. CONLAN. Mr. Speaker, many of
(By George Johnson)
tion. All achievers are proud people.
us in the Congress have become all too
I fully understand the impatience of young
familiar with the growing active involve-
DREAM GREAT DREAMS
black Americans. It is abundantly clear why
ment of the news media in the actual af-
Then plan and work to fulfill them. There
so many young people have attempted to
fairs of government.
are those who belittle dreamers. I don't. For,
accelerate, thru new and innovative efforts,
I know he who never dreamed, never had a
Many members of the fourth estate,
affirmative change within the establishment.
dream come true.
committed to a particular ideological po-
Our job ahead is to produce more and
MAKE NO SMALL PLANS
sition, have earnestly sought to become
more and more black Americans who are
more than news reporters and commen-
ready, willing and able to do their jobs in
Continue to develop your mentality of
success. Establish the highest goals for your-
tators. They have become intimately in-
an excellent way.
Our objective must be to produce more
selves and strive to achieve them. May I
volved as protagonists in public events,
who have planned and prepared to go into
suggest to you that we never exceed our
promoting them, shaping them, and then
the world and conquer it-while realizing
goals. We at times-temporarily fall short of
reporting them as they see fit.
full well that the real world is not the world
the high goals. But, over the long haul, we
This trend became apparent during the
never do better than we set out to do.
we wish.
early days of the civil rights movement
It just happens to be the only world we
BE DETERMINED TO SUCCEED
almost 20 years ago. But it has reached
have. It is the arena in which we must
Do your job-every bit of it-exquisitely.
almost limitless proportions during the
compete.
Even do well the parts of the job you don't
unfolding events of Watergate, in which
I kid you not, that arena is complicated,
like. Some of the immature among us, speak
correspondents and reporters are as
complex, and frequently deceptive. It is
of "doing their thing" which I have dis-
much participants and actors in the
fraught with many pitfalls, not the least of
covered is doing only that part of their life's
drama as most key figures themselves.
which are the twin evils of segregation and
work they enjoy.
As a result, many Americans now seri-
discrimination. In order to beat the odds
Do your thing-and do it well, but be
black graduates must wear the mark of ex-
mindful that the unemployment offices are
ously question the objectivity and accu-
cellence at all times.
filled with those who only did "their thing."
racy of news coverage and reporting,
Today, 1973, we, as a racial group, are half
both in newspapers and on radio and
BE DISCIPLINED
way to democracy. For instance, we have
television. Rightly or wrongly, the Amer-
half as many young people in college as we
Plan, prepare, establish, and meet targets.
ican press is now viewed by many as a
should have, we earn a little more than half
Be punctual and make regularity an invio-
growing threat to our free institutions
of the earnings of our white brothers and
late habit. Keep in mind the important
things in life are the things we do all the
by becoming a social engineer or change
have three times as many in jail as we should
time-not the "sometime" activity.
agent seeking to remake American soci-
have.
ety according to the ideological biases
That we survived and have fought and
WORK FOR INTEGRATION, BUT UNDERSTAND
of some journalists and correspondents.
struggled to this half-way point, in just
IT WELL
The editors of the Tucson Daily Citi-
four generations, is no matter of shame. It
The simplistic but misleading definition
is a record of the magnificence of a people
zen have stated their concern about this
indicates personal relationships, usually of
about whom we can all be justly proud.
blacks moving to mingle with whites. My
trend in their profession. They see advo-
You are children of destiny. Therefore, we
definition denotes integrating with oppor-
cacy and participatory journalism, where
have to expect the very best from you in
tunity. I advise all to go to opportunity
newsmen are protagonists in news events,
order that those who follow will have a bet-
wherever it is, and don't care who else is
as a serious and fundamental threat to
ter chance. All this is in your hands:
near it.
freedom of the press itself. And they have
Par
1969
September 20, 1973 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD of Remarks
5963
concluded that responsible members of
treatment of the President than anti-Nixon
"We have reviewed this (mishandling) with
the news profession themselves must
newspapers would be.
our staff to make certain there is no repeti-
end this abusive trend and return Amer-
Recognizing all of that, we nevertheless
tion."
ican journalism to standards of balance,
are persuaded that the abuses that have re-
The explanation of how AP "booted it"
sulted because members of the press have
came more clearly into focus when we re-
fairness, and responsibility that origi-
become participants in the Watergate drama
ceived a special article from our Newsday
nally were its proud hallmarks.
must be pointed out.
service on the subject of Watergate news
Mr. Speaker, I would like to include in
Not only that, these abuses must be de-
reporting.
the RECORD at this point an excellent
nounced and attacked until they are halted.
The Newsday article, which is published
editorial from the Tucson Daily Citizen
Otherwise, the free press of America will
today on the Perspective page opposite this
and an equally poignant column written
come to be known as an unfair press-and
page, stands as a credit to "the press" in
by Paul McKalip, the Citizen's editor,
with the serious consequence of jeopardizing
the full sense of that term. The article
its own freedom.
exposes clearly the way in which those who
characterizing the danger of these abuses
are "the press" in Washington have taken
to the news profession.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: "PRESS" ON THE
unto themselves a "proprietary interest" in
With them, I would also like to include
PROWL
Watergate.
an article by Thomas Collins, of Newsday
(By Paul McKalip)
In so conducting themselves, professional
News Service, that succinctly details the
journalists have breached their trust as
I do not claim that the Tucson Daily Citi-
extent of unethical press involvement in
members of the separate and independent
zen is "the press" any more than I accept the
Fourth Estate. Newsday analyst Thomas
the Watergate inquiry.
misconception that the Washington Post and
Collins goes so far as to compose this in-
This commentary appeared in the
the New York Times are "the press."
dictment:
Citizen on August 29, and deserves the
Nevertheless, I concede that the Post-
"Besides being a physical presence on the
most serious attention of all public offi-
Times axis comes close to being "the press"
scene, the press is playing an active role in
cials and citizens, as well as members of
on the Washington scene where their report-
the proceedings and may shape the outcome
ers are in full cry in a fox-and-hounds chase
the journalism community:
in ways that have not yet been measured."
with President Nixon as their quarry.
That kind of involvement, whether born
[From the Tucson (Ariz.) Daily Citizen,
There is another force on the Washington
of bloodlust for a hounded Nixon or spurred
Sept. 29, 1973]
news front, however, a force that should be
by individual dreams of journalistic glory,
ANOTHER WATERGATE ABUSE: REPORTERS AS
providing a balanced report of the news. It is
is not just unbecoming of those who repre-
PROTAGONISTS
made up of the professional journalists who
sent newspapers and their readers all over
The press, which through the efforts of
comprise the capital staffs of the two na-
the country. It is downright unacceptable
some of its members achieved one of its finest
tional wire services, Associated Press and
conduct in the eyes of many of us who also
hours in the uncovering of the Watergate
United Press International.
claim a share of being "the press."
scandal, now is seeing itself become tarnished
Every segment of "the press," virtually all
We in Tucson, together with many others
by ensuing events.
of the daily newspapers in all the 50 states,
in newspapers elsewhere, will hope that our
Both the "Letter From The Editor" on this
relies on either or both AP and UPI for com-
wire service forces in Washington will re-
page and the principal story on the adjoining
plete on-the-scene news coverage. The Citi-
turn to the Watergate story, when the hear-
Perspective page reveal the extent to which
zen, desiring to have the fullest possible na-
ings resume, with a regained sense of bal-
some members of the press have become in-
tional reporting, takes both AP and UPI
ance, fairness and responsibility.
volved as actors in the Watergate affair.
services. The double cost is reflected in added
It is axiomatic that when a newsman be-
value for Citizen readers.
ETHICS OF JOURNALISM VIOLATED: PRESS EN-
comes a protagonist in a news event, objective
Regretfully to say, both AP and UPI have
JOYING "FREE-FOR-ALL" WITH WATERGATE
coverage of that event flies out the window.
seemed on occasion to forget their larger re-
STORY
That is why one of the first lessons a
sponsibility for full and fair coverage. I re-
(By Thomas Collins)
budding journalist must learn, in school or
fer, as you might surmise, to Watergate news
The Watergate press corps has been dug in
on the job, is to avoid personal involvement.
coverage.
on Capitol Hill for the past few months like
Such involvement by those who report the
One glaring error of omission on the part
of both wire services has been explored thor-
an army holding a strategically vital position.
news is always to be shunned-and most
It holds the high ground, so to speak, in the
newspapers strive to keep it that way.
oughly by us in recent weeks.
On June 14, Sen. Carl Curtis, R-Neb., in a
Battle of Watergate, and its presence sym-
The ideal is not always attained. There are
bolizes the fact that the press has a proprie-
occasional slips by individual reporters and
speech in the Senate, made a strong indict-
tary interest in this story as it seldom has
various members of the media. Newspaper
ment of Democratic majorities on Senate in-
had before.
people are human, too.
vestigating committees. He was speaking
So entangled has the press become in
But what has been going on in the coverage
from personal experience earlier as a member
of the Senate Committee on Rules and Ad-
Watergate that it sometimes breaches its
of the Watergate saga appears to be mass
ministration when it investigated the Bobby
own doctrine of the separation of powers.
dereliction of the duty to remain objective.
Notes passed from newsmen to Senate com-
The intended justification for departing from
Baker scandal during the Johnson adminis-
mittee aides not infrequently result in ques-
the role of observer-reporter and becoming
tration.
tions put by the senators to witnesses in the
a participant is that it is being done in order
That committee was charged with probing
television-lit caucus room. Senators solicit
to bring out the whole truth.
the machinations of Bobby Baker's rise from
the superior information the press has about
In other words, it's the old-and always
fair-haired page boy to multimillionaire
many of the details and nuances of Water-
faulty-story of the end justifies the means.
while operating under the Capitol dome (and
gate.
It is no secret that the "end" of bringing
under Johnson's patronage)
The two sides sometimes trade informa-
down President Nixon would satisfy many
Sen. Curtis declared in his June speech
tion, and the press, unhappy about a line of
persons who have the privilege of reporting
that every effort to tear the lid off the Baker
case had been blocked "by a straight (Demo-
questioning, will try to initiate an area of
the news to the American people. In this
inquiry through the stories it writes or by a
case, the target is so toothsome for them that
cratic) party vote."
they are willing accomplices.
For anyone interested in honesty in poli-
word dropped to a committee staff member.
Members of the Watergate press corps are
Not only have reporters fallen into this
tics and government, which is what the cur-
distingished by their stamina, and by the
trap, but so have various newspapers and
rent Watergate committee investigation is
television outlets-an even greater blow to
supposed to be about, Sen. Curtis' speech
fact that many of them have been covering
the story for more than a year and the Sen-
the credibility of the nation's news media.
was timely and pertinent.
The Citizen and hundreds of other news-
ate hearings since they began.
Therefore, it was not without regret that
the Tucson Daily Citizen decided to publish
papers did not carry a word about the Curtis
They can remember the date of the McCord
the Perspective page analysis, written by
speech-because they did not receive the
letter and can probably recite the names of
Thomas Collins of Newsday, of the role
stories they should have received from either
all seven Watergate defendants. They can
of their responsible Washington news sources,
recall pretty accurately who contradicted
played by the press thus far in the Watergate
AP or UPI.
whom, what Ehrlichman said, what Mitchell
events.
We learned about the speech much later
said. Some of them, as a wire service editor
Although the Citizen strongly supported
and indirectly. Finally, the Citizen devel-
said, are walking repositiories of the thou-
Richard Nixon in the last two presidential
oped its own complete story and published
sands of pages of testimony and documents
campaigns, that did not keep this newspaper
it July 20.
that are so much a part of Watergate
from editorially denouncing the Nixon Ad-
Then we wrote stern letters to top execu-
FATIGUE AND PANIC
ministration for this tawdry chapter in
tives in New York of both AP and UPI.
They are also wrist-weary from taking
presidential affairs.
H. L. Stevenson, editor of UPI, responded
notes for six or seven hours a day and
Still, it is the Citizen's hope that President
with a renewed pledge of "dedication to the
panicky about getting caught in Washington
Nixon will survive the Watergate catastrophe
fairness doctrine."
traffic at deadline. Some of the newsmen and
and continue to govern the nation effectively.
Conrad Fink, assistant general manager of
women sitting in the Caucus Room have
Because of that hope, the Citizen un-
AP, gave us a two-page report and admitted:
made the White House "enemies list." They
doubtedly is more sensitive to unfair news
"Simply stated, we booted 1t." He added:
work 12 to 18 hours a day, neglect their fami-
E 5964
CONGRESSIONAL
Extensions
of
Remarks
September
20,
1973
lies and tend to lie around the house on
consistently injected into the story by the
Washington Post. They approached Post Ex-
weekends. They go to sleep with Watergate
committee, by the witnesses and by its own
ecutive Editor Benjamin Bradlee to discuss
voices in their ears and Sam Ervin's eyebrows
efforts to get at the facts.
it.
dancing in their heads.
The administration plants stories to dis-
"They wanted to play a little 'show and
At lunch time they can be found at the
credit former presidential counsel John W.
tell,' Bradlee said. 'We'll tell you and you
Carroll Arms restaurant around the corner
Dean III and tries to use the press to smear
tell us,' I told them to buzz off." The Post
from the Old Senate Office Building or typing
George McGovern and the peace demonstra-
is still pursuing Watergate with five investi-
up their notes in the Senate press room with-
tors of 1972. The Senate Watergate Commit-
gative reporters, including Bob Woodward
in the sound of the tourist lines.
tee seeks out the press for information and
and Carl Bernstein, who dug up most of the
Mary McGrory, the syndicated columnist
trades it for leaks, and the newsmen leap over
original revelations about Watergate. The
for the Washington Star-News, who has been
the traditional barriers that divide partici-
Post's court reporter is covering the hear-
audited twice by the Internal Revenue Serv-
pants from spectators.
ings.
ice, carries a sandwich to a nearby park and
The result is a media free-for-all.
Opinions vary among newsmen about the
lets the greenery blow Watergate from her
CBS newsman Daniel Schorr has even been
propriety of suggesting questions and trad-
mind. "It's reviving," she says.
approached by Senate aides soliciting ques-
ing information. Bradlee says flatly that
LIBRARY
There is no composite picture of the Wa-
tions to feed to their bosses, but he has
the practice is bad. "True journalists be2
tergate reporter that would not be unjust to
turned them down. "I stay away from the
long in the audience, not on the stage, with
some, but in general they are an anti-
senators," he says, "I have a great fear of tele-
all their independence intact," he said.
Nixon crowd who, at the same time, pride
vision influencing the event, of staging
"That's a cardinal ethic."
themselves in attempting to report the story
things."
James Squires of the Chicago Tribune, who
accurately and fairly.
CHAFING AT GAPS
is covering the hearings, said he found it dif-
They generally regard the proceedings in
During the hearings it was perhaps inevita-
ficult to condemn the practice of trading in-
the Caucus Room as show business or "good
ble that newsmen-interrogators them-
formation because of the intense pressure in
theater" and have developed a cynical toler-
selves-found themselves chafing at gaps in
the pursuit of the Watergate story.
ance for the "star" value of Ervin & Co.,
the questioning of witnesses and tried to fill
"If you step back, you may see some good
which has resulted in the blossoming of
the gaps wherever they could. One way they
purpose in bringing out the truth. I don't see
"Uncle Sam" sweatshirts, presidential
found to do it was to get their questions to
any danger in trying to get the story out. If
drums for Sen. Howard Baker and boxes of
the committee and hence to the witness in a
you were suppressing a story, that would be
cigars for Sen. Herman Talmadge.
sort of circuitous news conference.
a danger and would raise a serious question
Most Watergate-hearing reporters knew
Schorr, for instance, when Haldeman was
of ethics."
the Senate committee members before they
on the stand, expressed dissatisfaction to
BETTER INFORMED
became TV personalities and are as irrever-
Samuel Dash, the majority counsel, with the
ent toward them as they are toward Nixon.
Mary McGrory points out that "reporters
questioning of Haldeman about the White
Physically, the newsmen and women are
have been covering the story for so long they
House tapes. He ticked off a number of ques-
are more familiar with it than the senators,
tired, but not unhappy, Watergate is the
tions that he said were unanswered.
and there are such gaps of information. The
benchmark of their journalistic lives as well
Later, he said it was "just about the first
as a way of life itself. It seems to go on and
reporters can't get at it, and they hope the
time I have ever done that, and it was done
senators can get it for them."
on.
out of frustration and more to find out if
"I think I'll be involved in it for the rest
One method the press uses to get questions
Dash had answers to my questions, I'm look-
asked is to mention the unanswered ques-
of my life," says Ben Bradlee, the executive
ing for information; I'm not trying to inspire
tions in the articles they write, enabling the
editor of the Washington Post. "We won't
questions."
committee to pick them up. That method is
see the likes of it again."
Other reporters covering the hearings pass
favored by James Naughton of the New York
STORIES NEGLECTED
notes through the committee attorneys or
Times, who questions the propriety of pass-
Like most reporters and editors in Wash-
senators' press aides. Not all the reporters
ing notes and said he was unaware of the
ington, Bradlee worries about the stories
do it, and the exact number doing so is im-
practice.
that are being neglected because of the re-
possible to determine, but if the White
"I have qualms about doing it surrepti-
sources being used on Watergate. If govern-
House tried to plant questions with re-
tiously," he said, "because it might create the
ment work is slowed down because of the
porters at a news conference, the press would
appearance of collusion between the press
scandal, some of the work it is doing is get-
be the first to object.
and the committee, that they were out to get
ting short shrift from the press.
Most of the questions get asked, accord-
somebody. It's better to do it in print."
One government agency official complains
ing to Dick Magowan, press aide to Sen.
NO VENDETTA
that he cannot get the coverage for his pro-
Lowell P. Weicker, R-Conn. Magowan reg-
ularly receives the questions and channels
The press insists that it does not want to
grams that he did in the past. "I've been
told there are no camera crews available or
them to Weicker.
get anybody; and to its credit it has been
any photographers. Watergate is taking up
An aide to Sen. Howard Baker, R-Tenn.,
playing both sides against the middle: It
said he got "two or three" such notes a week
takes leaks wherever it can get them.
all the manpower."
In size and numbers the media have
and passed them on. While he was standing
"The story boils down to two things,"
in the committee room, he took one out of
Squires says. "Nixon's guilt or Nixon's inno-
thrown almost as many troops into the story.
his jacket pocket. It was unsigned.
cence. If you pursue stories about Nixon's
as into the Vietnam War. It would be safe
innocence as much as you do stories about
to say that at least a third of the entire
"I haven't had a chance to pass this on
his guilt, you have nothing to worry about.
Washington press corps is on the story, either
yet," he said. The question was for former
I don't know of a single guy who woudn't go
through the hearings or its related strands.
Central Intelligence Agency Director Richard
after a pro-Nixon story as quickly as he
PARTNER, NOT WITNESS
Helms, who was testifying that day. "Has
would an anti-Nixon story."
United Press International uses up to half
the CIA perfected the psychiatric profile
One aspect of the press' attitude was per-
into a useful domestic tool?" it read.
of its Washington staff of 70 each day on
haps summed up by a wire service reporter
Watergate and related stories, turning out
"THEIR BABY"
who said he did not care whether Nixon was
about 25,000 words a day, including the
An attorney for the majority staff also
guilty or not, just that Watergate was one
transcript of testimony and texts of docu-
confirmed that the practice existed. "They
heck of a story.
ments. Most newspapers are so preoccupied
pass notes up here all the time," he said.
His only interest in the possibility of im-
with Watergate that many Washington
"Whether they're used depends on how good
peachment was, "I've never covered an im-
stories are being left to the wire services.
they are. They (reporters) are bright guys,
peachment before."
In all there are about 285 accredited cor-
and they want to be useful. After all, they
respondents covering the hearing and about
broke the story, we didn't. This is their
150 radio and television technicians, at least
baby."
half of whom are usually present in and
One reporter found an old news article
A TRIBUTE
around the Caucus Room.
that she thought contained information im-
But besides being a physical presence on
portant to the committee. "Get this to In-
the scene, the press is playing an active role
ouye (Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii) right
HON. CLEM ROGERS McSPADDEN
in the proceedings and may shape the out-
away," she said. "He should know about
OF OKLAHOMA
come in ways that have not yet been meas-
that," asked whether she thought the press
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ured. It is more than a silent witness and
should have that kind of relationship with
recorder of Watergate; it is a full-fledged
the committee, she said, "Well, it goes on
Thursday, September 20, 1973
partner in the event.
all the time. Don't print that, or you'll get
During the hearings newspaper articles
me in trouble."
Mr. McSPADDEN. Mr. Speaker, the
contribution of television station KTUL-
have been offered into evidence and studied
Trading information developed early as
for information. Cameras relentlessly record-
both the committee and the press were dig-
TV in Tulsa, Okla., which serves not only
ed the proceedings. The press kept the story
ging for the story. In one example of the
Tulsa, but much of Oklahoma's Second
going when it appeared from time to time
quest for information, two senators on the
District, to the impressive Jerry Lewis
that it would die, and the press has been
committee tried to make a deal with the
Labor Day Telethon on the behalf of the
U.S. Congressman
John B. Conlan
Reports
FOR USE DURING THE WEEK OF
NOV. 18-24, 1973, OR THEREAFTER
A TIME FOR GIVING THANKS
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
WASHINGTON -- These are disturbed and contentious times, at
home and throughout the world. Troubling issues confront us, and
there is plenty of bad news to fill any newspaper, radio, or
television report.
But do we Americans ever truly reflect upon our many blessings?
Do we really understand how fortunate we are? Are we so obsessed
with news of badness that we sometimes forget about the goodness
in our land?
Thanksgiving Day 1973 is a good time to draw a long breath and
give grateful thanks.
After all, where else would we be better off? If we could have
chosen a time and place to be born, who would not have chosen the
20th century in the United States of America?
I do not speak only in terms of material things, although we
have them in abundance. It is difficult to minimize the fact that
our country is among few places left where anyone who wants can
launch any lawful occupation or business, and, if he or she is
willing to work hard enough, can succeed.
Or that we have the highest paid jobs in the world; that we
take care of our sick and poor, orphans and elderly, better than
almost any other nation on earth; and that we have more and better
labor-saving devices than workers anywhere else, and as a result
live longer and better and stay younger and healthier.
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Or that we have so much free education, open elections,
and unlimited opportunities.
But when I say that few of us would rather have been born
somewhere other than the U.S., at some other time, I have more in
mind than these abundant material blessings. There are the things
of the spirit that count for so much more.
Behind the bickering over political campaign abuses and the
current tug-of-war between branches of government over Watergate
matters, for example, is our system of free elections and
constitutional government.
Behind the quarrel over media accuracy, fairness, and charges
of sensationalism as it relates to issues involving public and
private individuals lies the abiding concept of equal and impartial
justice for all under law.
People denounce and defend the President; it is the exercise
of free speech. At home, we are secure against a midnight
pounding at the door common in totalitarian societies. Small-town
and large-town churches representing a multitude of different
faiths abound; we are free to worship God as we please.
It is easy to accent the negative
to constantly
criticize ourselves for less than adequate housing for the poor,
other inequities, and our failure to harness all our energy and
inventiveness and ambition to erase the nation's lingering
problems. But good Americans must never allow that criticism to
overshadow what we have done materially and spiritually to provide
millions with lives so rich in quality.
A single Thanksgiving Day is not enough to adequately show
our gratitude for all our many blessings. But this time of year
is a good time to reflect on where we are, where we are going,
and whether the immigrant Pilgrims who started it all almost four
centuries ago would be proud of us now.
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As former Senate chaplain Frederick Brown Harris once
observed, the stairway might just as well have been our national
emblem -- a stairway kept open from top to bottom, up which any
individual could climb who was ready to pay the cost in effort.
My gratitude this Thanksgiving week will go in part to the
countless millions of good Americans climbing this stairway by
living within their incomes, obeying the law, working and studying
to improve themselves, their communities, and their nation.
Such good people don't often make the news in these
troublesome times. But the fact that they exist and keep going
despite the odds is what will keep this country free and great.
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GERALD LIBRATY R. FORD
U.S. Congressman
John B.Conlan
Reports
FOR USE DURING THE WEEK OF
NOV.25-DEC. 1, 1973, OR THEREAFTER
UNITY AGAINST A DO-NOTHING SPIRIT
BERRILO FORD LIBRARY
WASHINGTON -- There is little doubt about the outcome of next
week's expected vote on the confirmation of Gerald Ford as the
nation's 40th vice president.
Ford has done an outstanding job in the Congress. His voting
record is entirely consistent with the national election mandate of
1972. And hearings on his nomination have shown him to be an
exceptionally well-suited person for the office of vice president.
The Michigan congressman will be confirmed with ease, losing
only the votes of those traditionally highly partisan members of
Congress who line up against a recommendation of the President
almost the minute it is made.
Gerald Ford is a man of considerable talent, experience, and
personal charm. He was an outstanding student and athlete at the
University of Michigan, and later earned his law degree at Yale. His
four years as a naval aviation operations officer, two of them on a
carrier in the Pacific, tested and matured him in the area of
military and foreign affairs.
During his 25 years in the House of Representatives, Ford has
shown himself to be a responsible, hard-working, non-doctrinaire
conservative, thoroughly grounded in national defense matters and
domestic problems.
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In the last 11 years, he has voted 90 per cent of the time,
and has earned a 75.5 per cent average rating from the conservative
Americans for Constitutional Action and a 9.5 per cent average
rating from the liberal Americans for Democratic Action.
Confirmation of Jerry Ford as vice president will clear the
way for election of Arizona's own John Rhodes as House Republican
leader. Rhodes will almost certainly be the unanimous choice of
the 192 Republican members of Congress to replace Ford.
Congressman Rhodes is also an exceptionally talented and
experienced lawmaker. He is one of the best-liked and most-admired
men in the U.S. Congress. He is expected to use the Republican
leader's office, and the Republican congressmen as a team, to
generate forward-looking legislative proposals -- beyond just
"carrying the mail" for the White House and the Executive Branch.
Once these changes are final, and Vice President Ford and
House Republican Leader Rhodes are formally installed in their new
leadership roles, many members of Congress are optimistic that we
can get the nation's legislative program off dead center.
Congress has not yet tackled the important problem of budget
reform, which was the big issue of the day when the 93rd Congress
convened last January.
Most of the administration's seven-step energy program, first
proposed in the President's comprehensive energy message two years
ago and repeated last April, has been ignored by the Democrat
leadership.
Pension reform and trade legislation is only just making its
way to the floor for action by the entire Congress.
The urban revenue sharing program to replace existing
categorical grant programs and important community development
proposals are still in committee.
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There is little doubt that many members of Congress have been
too engrossed in getting political mileage for themselves,
spending entirely too little time on vital issues and problems
that should have received our attention months ago.
We still have a lot of unfinished work to complete before
adjournment. With the leadership of John Rhodes, fresh unity among
serious-minded legislators, and pressure from voters throughout
the country to complete our work, I am confidant that we can
overcome the do-nothing spirit that has infected many members of
Congress since just before our summer recess.
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GERALD LIBRARY FORD
U.S.Congressman
John B. Conlan
Reports
FOR USE DURING THE WEEK OF
DEC. 9-15, 1973, OR THEREAFTER
REGAINING THE POWER OF THE PURSE
GERALD FORD JONARY
WASHINGTON -- Someone once said that government is like a
baby -- it has an alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end,
and no sense of responsibility at the other.
That observation clearly describes the taxing-spending system
Congress has been using for almost two centuries. Taxation has
reached the point where many people now wonder if the federal
government's appetite has any limit. And spending has been clearly
out of control for several decades.
Two events in Congress last week, however, gave the big
spenders in Washington some badly needed fiscal toilet training.
Sen. James Allen, in a filibuster against legislation to raise
the national debt ceiling to $475.7 billion, forced the Senate into
its first Sunday session since before the Civil War when the current
$465 billion ceiling expired, leaving the federal government with no
cash on hand to pay its salaries and outstanding bills.
Allen opposes the big spending habits of many of his fellow
Democrats, and effectively demonstrated by holding up the debt limit
bill for three days that the nation faces bankruptcy unless Congress
curbs its irresponsible spending spree and starts balancing the
budget.
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The House of Representatives then considered vital budget
reform legislation, and passed long overdue measures proposed by
54 freshman Congressmen from both parties in special debate I led
in the House chamber last spring.
Key provisions of the budget reform package include:
* A requirement for Congress to set a firm ceiling on federal
spending each year.
*
Formation of special budget committees in both houses to
coordinate taxing-spending measures of Ways and Means and
Appropriations Committees, and to control programs requiring
federal funds within other committees.
* A change in the term of the current July 1-June 30 fiscal
year to Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, allowing Congress more time to consider
major policy choices and reducing the likelihood of continuing
resolutions caused by failure to complete action on appropriations
bills before the start of the fiscal year.
This budget reform package still does not immediately solve
the problems of federal deficit spending. But it is nonetheless
a good start towards controlling federal taxing and spending and
creating a constant review of all federal programs.
Most importantly, the new budget procedures will enable
Congress to control so-called "uncentrollable" spending --
expenditure items enacted in previous legislative sessions -- and
backdoor spending, such as contract and loan authority of federal
agencies and open-ended federal commitments based on formulas
affected by population and the cost of goods and services.
"Uncontrollables" now constitute almost three-fourths of the
federal budget. They include interest on the national debt,
farm-price supports, public assistance grants, certain veterans
benefits, Social Security, unemployment benefits, Medicaid and
Medicare costs, railroad and civil service retirement, and nearly
1,000 independent trust funds operated by the federal government.
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While "backdoor spending" in the form of contract authority
has the advantage of supplying necessary lead time for construction
and other activities stretching over a number of years, it
hopelessly fragments the appropriations process. So does loan
authority generally used for commercial-type activities and
revolving funds where it is expected the money will be repaid to
the Treasury, and open-ended entitlements that ensure beneficiaries
of assistance as the law guarantees.
So long as more than half of all federal spending is outside
the regular appropriations process, and three-fourths of the total
federal budget is uncontrollable, Congress has no hope of bringing
revenue and spending decisions together.
Budget control measures approved by the House of
Representatives last week will hopefully eliminate these several
dozen wild cards in the federal government's $300 billion game of
poker. If all goes well, Congress may regain the one Constitutional
power that stands above all others -- the power of the purse.
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FORD LIBRARY is
U.S. Congressman
John B.Conlan
Reports
FOR USE DURING THE WEEK OF
DEC. 23-29, 1973, OR THEREAFTER
FOREIGN AID ABETS WORLD HUNGER AND TERRORISM
QERALD FORD LIBRARY
WASHINGTON -- George Bernard Shaw once remarked that a
government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the
support of Paul. Shaw might have thought differently had he lived
during the heyday of U.S. foreign aid.
American taxpayers have spent more than $220 billion on foreign
aid since World War II, including interest on what we have borrowed
to give away.
During 1972 alone, when we spent almost $6 billion on about
4,400 foreign assistance projects, some portion of the U.S. foreign
assistance program was operating in about 100 foreign nations, with
almost 55,000 individuals on the payroll. These included U.S. and
foreign personnel and participants.
Far from being cut, as many Americans would like to see in this
time of belt-tightening at home, foreign aid is increasing apace.
The many different U.S. foreign aid programs planned for the coming
year will total many billions.
In addition to the $5.5 billion authorized by the Senate last
week, there is almost $25 billion of unspent or unobligated money in
the so-called foreign aid pipeline -- money appropriated. in past
years that is still sitting around in government accounts or world
development banks.
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I shall vote against the current foreign aid appropriation
proposal when it comes before Congress for a final vote. My "no"
vote will be based on two indisputable facts: Despite our past
generosity, people in recipient nations are no better off, and
often worse off, than before we helped them. And governments of
recipient nations are generally hostile to the U.S. and support
hostile acts against us and our people.
U.S. foreign aid has failed, because it has worked against
material progress of many recipient nations. It has enabled them
to pursue any number of unwise economic and political policies
that discourage capital formation within their own borders and
from foreign investors.
U.S.-backed development grants and loans have allowed foreign
nations to avoid seeking commercial loans that, instead of being
wasted on such national monuments of vanity as steel mills,
unprofitable state airlines, and heavy construction projects, would
have been geared more closely to agriculture and regional and
national market conditions.
Our foreign aid has allowed foreign governments to perpetuate
their collectivist economic folly, which has resulted in massive
unemployment and hunger throughout the world. It has discouraged
private enterprise, hard work, and attitudes of thrift and savings
necessary for a sound money economy.
More importantly to our own national interests, foreign aid
has won us enemies, not friends. We can't even count the times
that less-developed nations receiving billions of U.S. taxpayer
dollars over the years have kicked us in the teeth in the U.N. or
through their support of our enemies.
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Five countries receiving our foreign aid have given outright
cash assistance and asylum to members of Black September, the
Palestinian guerrilla organization responsible for more than 15
international incidents of murder and sabotage, including last
week's horrible bombing of a Pan American jet at Rome that killed
29 people.
Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Libya have given cash subsidies and
have made training bases available to these Arab guerrillas. U.S.
taxpayers provided these countries with $21 million in foreign aid
last year alone.
Syria and Lebanon have often provided sanctuary to Black
September following their raids and kidnappings around the world.
These countries received $37.3 million in U.S. foreign aid in 1972.
On the basis of this record, I can see no reason to vote more
billions in foreign aid giveaways. It just doesn't make sense to
subsidize bankrupt economic policies and world terrorism. The
money can certainly be put to better use at home.
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GERALD FORD LIBRARY
John B.
Conlan
U.S. CONGRESS
NEWS RELEASE
SUMMARY OF REMARKS BY CONGRESSMAN JOHN B. CONLAN, PRESIDENT OF THE
93RD CLUB (REPUBLICAN), AT A NEWS CONFERENCE ON TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1973.
FRESHMAN CONGRESSMEN PUSH BUDGET REFORM
GERALD, LIBRARY
There has been a quaint and ancient custom, we are told, that
freshman congressmen are to be seen and not heard.
Although we have great respect for our elders, nevertheless we
freshmen Republican congressmen are unafraid to break the stale crust
of custom.
As president of the 43-member Republican freshman class, I am
here to state that freshman Republican congressmen are going to the
floor of the House of Representatives to make an unprecedented plea
to Congress for a ceiling on federal spending, for reform of archaic
congressional budget procedures, for an advance to fiscal
responsibility.
We believe we have reached the point where we must call an
immediate halt to reckless spending policies that have driven this
country towards a half trillion dollar national debt.
We believe this Congress must now reverse that trend, unless
it is prepared to force a substantially heavier tax burden on
hard-working citizens who must pay the bills for our profligacy.
The fight for fiscal sanity is at its heart not between the
Congress and the President. The struggle is between the bureaucracy
and the working people of America. Both the President and the
Congress need to be united and well-equipped to take control of the
bureaucracy before it devours America as it has France and other
countries.
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While there are varying approaches to reform that Congress can
adopt, we strongly support the interim work of the Joint Study
Committee on the Budget, which is this very week holding hearings
on its interim report.
We are united in our support of its recommended ceiling on
expenditures and budget authority.
Congress must find a way for its members to cast statesmanlike
votes on expenditures that will have a direct relation to estimated
federal revenues.
At the present time, each congressman is pressured by special
interests to vote "yes" on each of numerous spending bills, only to
wake up at the end of the year finding that Congress has plunged
the country further into debt and fueled the merciless fires of
inflation.
This scatterbrained system has got to change. No business
corporation could succeed using the antiquated procedures and tools
with which the Congress is fumbling.
Congress is facing a challenge that will directly reflect on its
ability to effectively continue its legislative function for the
nation.
I want my colleagues in Congress to know that the new Republican
congressmen are up to that challenge. We urge senior members of
Congress to set the example by acting now to control federal spending
and reform Congress' own budget process. It is our Constitutional
duty, and we can do no less.
And we cordially invite the freshman Democrats, if they are
truly as interested in reform as we young Republicans, to join us in
a bipartisan effort toward responsible congressional reform.
GERALD FORD MORARY
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LIBRARY
Profile by ASU professor
FORD
&
ERALD
The tribune of Mid-America'
By GEORGE H. ARCHIBALD
cisive analysis of liberal me-
Pentagon Papers, and several
THE IMPUDENT SNOBS:
dia bias and dishonesty di-
malicious stories filed by
Agnew vs. the Intellectual Es-
rected against Vice President
newsmen accompanying Agar,
tablishment, by John R.
Agnew and the Nixon admin-
new as he travelled before
THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC
Spotlight
Phoenix, Sunday, Mar. 12, 1972
N-7