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    "ocrText": "The original documents are located in Box 172, folder \"Senior Citizens\" of the Gerald R.\nFord Vice Presidential Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nCopyright Notice\nThe copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of\nphotocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the\nUnited States of America her copyrights in all of her husband's unpublished writings in National\nArchives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official\nduties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or\norganizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed\nin the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential\nLibrary.\nNEWS\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR\nOFFICE OF INFORMATION, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20210\nSenior Citizens (newfile (women)\nUSDL--11-206\nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nEleanor Coakley\nTuesday, May 5, 1970\n961-2188\nFORD & LIBRARY GERALD\nThe concerns of the Senate Special Committee on Aging are\nespecially important for women, Mrs. Elizabeth Duncan Koontz, Director of\nthe Women's Eureau, U.S. Department of Labor, told the Committee today\nat hearings on \"Economics of Aging: Toward a Full Share in Abundance.\"\nShe pointed out that the life expectancy of women is increasing\nmore than that of men. Men born in 1920 could expect to live 53.6 years\nand women 54.6 years--a difference of only one year. In 1967 the life\nexpectancy of women was 74.6 years and that of men 66.6 years, a\ndifference of 7 years.\nMrs. Koontz said the disparity between the earnings of women and men\nresults in lower Social Security benefits for women. The median earnings\nof full-time, year-round women workers in 1968 were $4,457 compared with\n$7,664 for men. In 1967, the average retired male worker received $92.50\nper month in Social Security benefits, but for women workers the average\nallotment was $71.90\nSome 10,501,000 women aged 55 or older are \"women on their own\"--\nwidowed, divorced, separated or single, she said.\n#####\nText of her testimony is attached.\nStatement of\nElizabeth Duncan Koontz\nDirector, Women's Bureau\nU.S. Department of Labor\nBefore the\nSpecial Committee on Aging\nUnited States Senate; final hearings on\n\"Economics of Aging: Toward a Full Share in Abundance\"\nMay 5, 1970\nMr. Chairman and Members of the Committee:\nFORD is LIBRARY GERALD\nAs Director the Women's Bureau of the Department of Labor I am\npleased to have the opportunity to appear before this important Senate\nCommittee on Aging.\nIn the Women's Bureau we receive numerous letters every year from\nmiddle-aged and older women seeking help to enter or reenter the labor\nforce. Many are in dire economic circumstances--some recently widowed,\nothers finding the monthly social security payment totally inadequate\nto meet bare necessities at a time of spiraling costs for food, shelter,\ntransportation and medical care. Many have, unfortunately, already been\nvictimized by fraudulent advertisements inviting them to earn money by\naddressing envelopes at home. They do not know where to turn to\nsupplement their meager incomes.\nWe have read with great interest the Working Papers prepared for\nthis Committee. We note, however, that the data presented is largely\nrelated to \"males\" only. For that reason, we especially welcome the\nopportunity afforded by your invitation, to supplement the record with\nrespect to women. We will also avail ourselves of your offer to submit\nmore extensive information within the month before the record is closed.\n-2-\nThis statement will therefore be briefer than the scope of the problem\nwarrants and will be purely factual.\nOne reason the concerns of this Committee are especially\nimportant for women is that the life expectancy of women is increasing\nmore than that of men. The life expectancy of men born in 1920 was\n53.6 years and for women, 54.6 years--only one year difference. However,\nby 1967, whereas the life expectancy of men had increased by 13 years\nthat of women had increased by 20 years.\nAnother important difference between men and women in relation to\ntheir relative capacity to attain \"a full share of abundance\" is the\nearnings gap in our economy between men and women workers. The median\nearnings of full-time, year-round women workers in 1968 were $4,457\ncompared with $7,664 for men. Women earned only 58 percent as much as\nmen. This earning gap is, in fact, widening. Back in 1955 women earned\n64 percent as much as men.\nThis disparity between the earnings of women and men results in\nlower Social Security benefits for women. When this fact is combined\nwith a longer post-retirement life for women, we understand why so many\nwomen face a long period of life with economic resources inadequate, in\nmany cases, to provide a livelihood above the poverty level. In 1967, the\naverage retired male worker received $92.50 per month in Social Security\nbenefits, but for women workers the average allotment was only $71.90.\nMore than half of all retirees with benefit payments of less than\n$70.00 per month in 1967 were women. On the average the retirement\nbenefit of women workers was 76 percent of the average amount for men.\n-3-\nI want to call attention also to the special problems of widows\nin our society. I have already indicated the greater longevity of women\nwhich inevitably means a steadily increasing number of widows. The\nnumber of widows aged 55-64 in March 1969, was almost 2 million\nGERALD FORD (TBRAR)\n(1,994,000). There were over 6 million (6,078,000) aged 65 and over--\naltogether just over 8 million (8,072,000) women aged 55 and over who were\nwidows in 1969. If you add to that figure, the number of older single\nwomen, plus women who are divorced or separated, the total of \"women on\ntheir own\" who are aged 55 or older comes to 101/2 million (10,501,000)\npersons--no insignificant number. The average benefit payment in 1967\nunder Social Security for widows labelled \"aged\" was $75.20. It is no\nwonder that the Women's Bureau receives so many requests for help in\nfinding jobs--requests from mature women who \"can no longer hold body and\nsoul together,\" as several correspondents have put it.\nThe Women's Bureau noted with great interest the conclusions of\nyour Task Force Report concerning needed changes in the Social Security\nSystem. We are not in a position at this time to comment on these\nrecommendations. However, I would like to call your attention to the\nReport of a Task Force on Social Insurance and Taxes adopted by the\nCitizens' Advisory Council on the Status of Women--a Council appointed by\nthe President. I submit it for the record.*\nUnlike men, many of the women aged 45 and over who are seeking to\nimprove their economic status by securing a job have little or no recent\nwork experience. They need training and retraining for today's labor\n*Additional statistical data relative to women will be found on pages 55-71.\n-4-\nmarket. They also need special projects designed to utilize their special\nskills in community service occupations at regular part-time or full-time\nwork. The Labor Department through its Operation Mainstream, Manpower\nDevelopment and Training programs and other such projects has been\nstriving to provide job training and employment opportunities for all our\npeople. The number of women aged 45 and over who are benefitting from\nthese programs is, however, small.\nIn response to the expressed need of middle-aged and older women\nseeking to return to the labor force without adequate \"know-how,\" the\nWomen's Fureau published a pamphlet \"Jobfinding Techniques for Mature\nWomen\" in February 1970. In 1969, we prepared a bulletin entitled \"How\nYou Can Help Reduce Barriers to the Employment of Mature Women.\" The\nresponse to both these punlications has exceeded expectations. Copies\nare presented herewith for the Committee's use, but are not being\npresented as a part of the official record.\nWe trust the above data will be helpful to the Committee in its\noverall study of \"Economics of Aging: Toward a Full Share in Abundance.\"\n#####\nRepublican\nSenir\nNational\nCommittee.\nCitizens\nApril 1, 1970\ntile\nThe Honorable\nGerald R. Ford, Jr.\nHouse of Representatives\nWashington, D. C.\nDear Mr. Ford:\nThank you very much for sending a representative to our recent\nCongressional Seminars on Senior Citizens. The participation by\nthose in attendance during the question and answer period was most\nhelpful to us and I hope produced some ideas that may prove useful\nduring the coming campaign.\nI am enclosing our latest brochure entitled, \"The Margin of\nVictory\", which is designed as an aid to Party workers at the county\nand precinct levels. If you like the brochure and wish to order a\nquantity, they may be obtained from the printer under conditions\ndescribed on the last page.\nWe do hope that your schedule will permit you to hold a Senior\nCitizens forum sometime in May, which is Senior Citizens month, and\nwe are enclosing a copy of a format that has been used successfully\nby many Congressmen.\nPlease do not hesitate to let us know what we can do to assist\nyou in your campaign plans among Senior Citizens.\nWith all good wishes,\nFORD\nSincerely,\nBernard S. Sans Renssitars\nBernard S. Van Rensselaer\nDirector\nSenior Citizens Division\nEnclosures:\n1. Brochure\n2. Format\nNational Headquarters: 1625 Eye Street NW Washington DC 20006 (202) NA 8-6800.\nTHE MARGIN\nOF VICTORY.\nA guidebook on\nhow to reach the\n20,000,000 potential\nvoters over\nthe age of 65.\nNo candidate who wants to win would ever know-\ningly insult a voter.\nNo candidate who wants to win would knowingly\noverlook a valuable source of volunteer manpower\nor ignore the problems of constituents.\nAnd yet, in every recent election, too many Repub-\nlican candidates have ignored that large and grow-\ning body of Americans who have reached the retire-\nment age. To ignore them is to insult them-which\ncosts votes. And to ignore them is to overlook a\nvaluable source of voluntary manpower-which\ncould deny us more potential votes.\nThis booklet has been prepared to point out to\nevery Republican candidate and worker the sig-\nnificance of the older Americans and their votes-to\nindicate why their votes should be sought-to indi-\ncate how their votes should be sought-to indicate\nwhere their votes should be sought-and to en-\ncourage every candidate and worker to reach out\nto America's older citizens.\nIn no campaign is there enough time to do every-\nthing. Each project must be measured against every\nother to establish priorities. You will find that few\nwill yield better results than careful attention to the\nneeds, the interests, and the votes of America's\nolder citizens.\nHow many are there?\nThe size of the senior citizen population varies\nsubstantially from State to State. In Florida, one voter\nout of four is over 65. In Alaska, only one out of\ntwenty-five is over 65.\nBut, with the exception of Hawaii and Alaska, in\nevery State-and in practically every election district\nof every State-between ten and twenty percent of\nthe potential voters are 65 years old or older.\nOlder people are more likely to vote than younger\npeople. They tend to be more interested than\nyounger people, perhaps because they have more\ntime on their hands. When they are sought out, they\nrespond.\nMuch has been made of a \"population explosion\"\nwhich has steadily lowered the median age in the\nUnited States. But the fact is that persons over 65\ncast more than twice as many votes as those under\ntwenty-five. If a candidate for office organizes the\nyoung but forgets the old he is making a serious mis-\ntake.\nGOP Percentage\nof Elderly Vote\n1952\n61%\n1956\n61%\n1960\n55%\n1962\n51%\n1964\n41%\n1966\n49%\n1968\n47%\nWhere do you find them?\nAmerica's older citizens have rapidly become one\nof the most organized elements of our society. In\nthe last decade, literally thousands of Senior Citizens\nClubs have sprung up across the country-in\nHow do they vote?\nchurches and temples, in YMCA's and YWCA's, in\nunions and in corporations, in the form of service\nThe elderly voting population used to be a Repub-\nand community clubs. There are four national Senior\nlican stronghold. In 1952, and again in 1956, 61%\nCitizens organizations with an aggregate of 5,000,000\nmembers.\nof the voters over 65 supported the Republican\nParty. That figure has been steadily decreasing.\nEven though many of these groups have become\naffiliated in an informal sense with the Democratic\nThe Republican Party today cannot be expected\nto get more than half of the older citizens' votes\nParty (and many in fact have been formed through\nunless we make a special effort. We need this im-\nefforts inspired by the Democratic Party), they will\nportant vote.\nrespond positively to any political candidate who\nwishes to reach them. There is no difficulty in con-\nAmerica's older citizens are registered to vote in\ntacting this voter group in an organized fashion-if\nlarge numbers-84% of all persons over 65 are\nthe will to do so is there.\nregistered whereas only 48% of those between 21\nand 30 are registered to vote. Furthermore, registra-\nThe initial steps may be the most important:\ntion figures show proportionately more Republicans\n1. Every campaign should have a Senior Citizen\namong older Americans than in the population over-\nChairman-respected in the community and par-\nall. But for the Republican Party to regain its com-\nticularly respected among the older citizens of your\nmanding majority of the votes among voters over 65,\ncommunity.\na lot of work must be done-and it must be done at\n2. Under his direction, a group of Senior Citizen\nthe local and State levels, as well as at the national\nvolunteers can put together a comprehensive mail-\nlevel.\ning list of the relevant organizations-and even a\nPerhaps once the Republican Party and its candi-\nlist of the voters within the group. This is most im-\ndates could take the votes of older people for\nportant.\ngranted-and get away with it. It wasn't wise poli-\n3. Your Senior Citizen Chairman and initial group\ntics, but in many cases it may have worked. But that\nof volunteers can easily identify those opinion lead-\nis certainly no longer the case. This year to win sup-\ners within the community's older citizens-and to-\nport among older Americans, Republican candidates\ngether with you can help to persuade them to join\nmust work for it-they must seek out the older\nin the effort of your campaign in reaching the older\npeople and convince them that the Republican Party\nvoting group.\nwants them and that they should want the Repub-\nlican Party.\nThere is no difficulty in identifying where the\nsenior citizens are. The next step is tougher.\n2\nThe\nDON'T\npatronize\nbe phony\nover-simplify\nuse technical\nterms like\n'inflation\"\nmake promises\nyou can't keep\ndown-grade\nAmerica\nHow do you reach them?\nFunctions\nAs with all politics, the candidate can go to the\npeople or the people can be brought to the candi-\ndate.\nThrough a systematic series of requests to old age\ngroups of every kind, a candidate can get the oppor-\ntunity to speak to almost all of the politically con-\ncerned older people of his election district-or in\nthe case of a major office, he can at least talk with\na representative group of the older population.\nBut it is important as well to indicate to this or\nany group of voters that you are interested in more\nthan simply attending a function in the well-known\nHow do you reach them?\nstyle of every political campaigner. It would be wise\nand beneficial to establish a series of meetings of\nAdvertising\nyour own to which they are invited as your guests to\ndiscuss their problems with you. If they make you\nThe elderly are among the easiest voting groups\nfeel welcome in their meeting place, it is rewarding.\nto reach with effective and relatively inexpensive ad-\nIf you make them feel welcome in your meeting\nvertising.\nplace, it will be even more rewarding.\nBecause they have time on their hands, they listen\nThis again takes organization:\nto more radio, watch more television, and read their\n1. A volunteer committee of senior citizens to\nnewspapers more thoroughly than any other voting\nschedule, organize and run a series of coffee\ngroup.\nklatches, senior citizen forums, or similar meetings\nNewspaper advertising is particularly effective,\nfor the candidate-or in large campaigns represent-\nconsidering its cost, because older citizens tend to\natives of the candidate-to meet with groups of\nread every word on every page. Detailed position\nsenior citizens no larger than 50 in number. Personal\npapers might be reproduced in this fashion.\ncontact is important-it is the key to their feeling of\nRadio advertising is effective, particularly in the\nrespect for you and your respect for them.\n9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. non-commuter traffic hours when\n2. Groups of senior citizen volunteers to help you\ncosts are low. Surveys show that advertising in con-\nto thank all those who attend such meetings through\nnection with non-controversial conversation format\npersonal letters expressing your gratitude.\nprograms is the best buy.\n3. The maintenance of a specific calendar of\nSimilarly, to reach this audience, TV spot advertis-\nevents of Senior Citizens groups so that either you\ning should be concentrated in the low-cost day-time\nas the candidate-or at the very least a representa-\nhours-particularly in connection with non-contro-\ntive of your campaign-is always present at an event\nversial conversation or serial programs.\nwhich is of significance to the older citizen. If you do\nHere is one area where a few advertising dollars\nnot care enough to care about what they care about,\nwill go a long way.\nthey may not care enough about you to vote for you.\nDO\nremember they've\nseen more of life\nthan you\nuse meaningful words\nlike \"cost of living\"\nbe sincere\nAddress\npromise \"to try\"\nmailings\nbuild up America\nStuff, seal, and\nask for their volunteer\nstamp\nhelp\nTelephone\ncanvas\nPoll watching\nCoffee Klatches\nVoters' lists\nBaby sitting\nIssues research\nSpeech writing\nClerical work\nOrganization\nlists\nNewspaper\nHow do you\nclipping\nreach them?\nWords\nThis, for many candidates, seems to be the tough\nWhat can they do?\none.\nThe most important thing to understand is that\nThey can vote-and in large numbers.\nthese are proud-fiercely proud people. They are\nBut if you are satisfied with only that, you have\nproud of their independence-and resent the need\noverlooked one of the most valuable and available\nto rely on others.\nassets that exists in any campaign for any office.\nThey are proud of their country-and resent those\nThese men and women for the most part are retired.\nwho try to tear it down.\nTheir children are off and married. They have time\non their hands. They want to do something.\nThey are proud of their accomplishments-and re-\nsent those who patronize them as if they can no\nThey'll stuff and seal envelopes by the car load.\nlonger contribute.\nThey'll type letters. They'll baby sit. They'll do re-\nBut it would be a bad mistake to assume that the\nsearch. They'll write speeches.\nolder voters are preoccupied only with the problems\nEveryone of the older citizens volunteers in your\nthat uniquely effect them. They are concerned about\ncampaign has spent a lifetime doing something.\nall issues that effect the future of our country.\nThey are very experienced people. Their experience\nAnd it would be a tragic mistake to believe that a\ncan be an asset.\nfew well-concocted words-or even technically cor-\nIn particular, it makes good sense to use Senior\nrect answers on issues which concern them-are of\nCitizen volunteers in the very project being set up\nparamount importance. Detailed knowledge of tech-\nto reach out for contact with more Senior Citizen\nnical problems is less important than the concern\nvoters. Let them run it. They know whom they are\nyou have and the concern you show. It is more im-\ntalking to. They know the best way to get through.\nportant that you as a candidate want to solve their\nAnd in the end, you will have won their votes—\nproblems than it is that you as a candidate know\nand thousands more of their friends'. They will ap-\nhow to solve them.\npreciate the chance to participate-and in giving\nIf you wish to get on the wave-length of the older\nthem the chance to participate you will be giving\nvoter, you better care a lot about what the older\nyourself the chance to win.\nvoter cares a lot about.\nAdditional copies may be obtained from:\nFONTANA LITHOGRAPHERS\n1937 47th Avenue, N.E.\nWashington 27, D.C.\nPrices: 50 copies $15.00;\n100 copies $25.00;\n500 copies $45.00;\n1000 copies $75.00.\nCheck must accompany order\nRogers C.B. Morton, Chairman\nRepublican National Committee 1625 Eye St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006\nSUGGESTED FORMAT FOR SENIOR CITIZENS FORUMS\nTO BE HELD BY REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN\nThe meeting might be held in a Federal courtroom, school auditorium, church parish\nhall or any other suitable place.\nIt would be desirable to hold the forum sometime between the hours of 10:00 a.m.\nand 4:00 p.m. The entire program should not exceed 2/2 to 3 hours.\nThe forum should be announced in the press and by radio, if possible, as an oppor-\ntunity for the Congressman and his older constituents to get to know each other\nbetter and to exchange views.\nIf it is possible to obtain a list of older people, and a serious effort should be\nmade to build such a list, personal invitations should be sent to them.\nNotices or invitations should also be sent to all retirement homes, senior citizen\ncenters, chapters of the American Association of Retired Persons, National Retired\nTeachers Association, National Association of Retired Civil Employees, National\nCouncil of Senior Citizens, churches (many of which have senior citizens groups),\nsenior citizen clubs and any other organizations or individuals interested in the\nproblems of aging.\nInvitations should be issued to representatives of the nearest HEW, Social Security,\nMedicare and Housing offices who can answer questions relating to the operation of\ntheir respective programs.\nThe Congressman should preside, introducing himself, explaining the reasons for the\nmeeting and expressing his desire to identify himself with matters affecting older\npeople. He should also make whatever references to his voting record on Social\nSecurity and other old age programs as he may deem desirable. If he wishes to dis-\nclose his future positions on Social Security, Medicare, housing, inflation, local\ntaxes, retention of earnings without losing Social Security benefits, or anything\nelse that seems relevant, he should do SO.\nThe Congressman should then indicate the presence of the specialists and invite\nquestions from his audience in their areas of knowledge.\nAt the end of the question and answer period there should be a social hour with\ncoffee and doughnuts, or something similar, during which the Congressman should\ncirculate and greet as many people as possible. It has been found useful at these\nforums to have the local Women's Federation assume the responsibility for providing\nthe refreshments and acting as ushers.\nNeedless to say, the forums should receive as much advance publicity as can be ob-\ntained and photographs, radio and television should be involved at the meetings if\nthese can be arranged. Experience shows that where the planning is well done a great\ndeal of favorable public exposure for the candidate and the Party can be achieved.\nBSVR - 1/13/70\nFORD & LIBRARY GERALD\nFrom the Office of\nFORD ClBRARY\n131-68\nCONGRESSMAN TOM RAILSBACK\n19th District, Illinois\n1122 House Office Building, Washington, D. C.\n(202) 225-5906\nContact: Bob Clark\nMay 23, 1968\nFOR RELEASE: Wednesday, May 29, 1968\nCONGRESSMAN TOM RAILSBACK REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON:\nThe President has proclaimed the month of May as \"Senior Citizens\nMonth.\" This month has been set aside for us to show our respect for\nour older fellow Americans and to recognize the fact that our generation\nowes all that we have to those who have borne responsibility in the past\nfor the benefit of our country, state, and ourselves. We do not, nor do\nwe always remember, to take the time to recognize the debt that we owe\nto them. During this month is the time to pay special tribute to our\nsenior citizens.\nOne out of every 11 persons in the United States is aged 65 or over,\nand three out of every ten persons in this age category live in the four\nmost populous states Illinois, New York, California, and Pennsylvania.\nEach of these states has more than one million persons over age 65 living\nin it. By November 1968, there will be more than 19 million persons aged\n65 and over in the United States. This will be just a little less than\n10% of our entire population. During the next twenty years, the older\npopulation of the United States is expected to increase almost 40%.\nCurrently, there are approximately 50,000 senior citizens living in the\n19th Congressional District of Illinois, and they make up about 12% of\nthe total population.\nMost of these persons are retired and are living on fixed incomes.\nSome of them are fortunate and have been able to save enough during their\nworking years so that they can continue to live the lives to which they\nhave been accustomed without any assistance. However, the vast majority\nof our senior citizens, approximately 90%, rely on social security payments\neach month for the essentials of living. Although almost 19 million\npersons in this country actually receive social security benefits monthly,\nwhen you include their dependents, the total number of persons in the\nUnited States who rely on the social security program to pay the rent,\nbuy the food, and pay the bills for the other necessities of life, is now\nalmost 24 million persons or over 10% of the total pupulation of this\ncountry.\nThis percentage continues to increase. In Rock Island County alone,\nthe number of local people receiving benefits now is more than 20% greater\nPAGE 2-2-2-2-\nCONGRESSMAN RAILSBACK REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON\nthan it was four years ago. Since the Social Security Administration\nDistrict Office in Sterling opened in 1962, the number of persons served\nby that office receiving social security benefits has increased by\napproximately 33-1/3%.\nCongress is aware of this situation and the problems facing our\nsenior citizens who are living on fixed incomes, namely the problem of\ninflation. Last year, Congress passed a 13% increase in social security\nbenefits. In 1965, Congress approved the Medicare program, under which\nmore than 19 million Americans are now covered. Also, the Federal\nGovernment has committed a total of over $3 billion in special housing\nprograms for our older citizens. In addition, 650 individual local\nprojects to reach older people in their home communities have been started\nthroughout the country to increase educational, recreational, and health\nservices. I think we have come a long way towards helping our senior\ncitizens live a life of comfort in their waning years. However, I also\nfeel that we have a long way to go to help make it easier for them, and\nto show them our respect for them and give them the recognition they\ndeserve.\nLIBRARY\nAnother area in which we must do more for our senior citizens is to\nmake use of their talents and experience. Today older Americans are\nserving with great distinction in the VISTA, Peace Corps, Foster Grand-\nparent Program, and other voluntary agencies. Many of our senior citizens\nliving in Whiteside County, for instance, are now working in the Foster\nGrandparents Program. These persons work with mentally retarded children\nat the Dixon State School.\nWe must continue to develop and implement more programs such as these\nto help our senior citizens continue to lead full lives.\nI am proud to join with others throughout this country in paying\nspecial tribute to our fellow older Americans during the month of May, and\nwill do everything possible to help them live a fuller life.\n- 30 -\nFORD & LIBRARY GERALD\n\"ISSUE OF THE DAY\"\nSENIOR CITIZENS\nJACK R. ANDERSON\nLeged\nEDITOR\nNATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE\n312 CONGRESSIONAL HOTEL\nWASHINGTON 3, D.C.\nLINCOLN 4-3010\nSUBJECT: Senior Citizens Month\nMay 15, 1968\nMay is officially Senior Citizens month. Bernard S. Van Rensselaer,\ndirector of the Senior Citizens Division of the Republican National Committee,\nreminds that it is a good time to take stock of the problems facing many of America\nolder citizens, and to point out Republican efforts to help solve these problems.\nThe Republican Coordinating Committee in April issued a pamphlet,\n\"Our Older Citizens: A National Responsibility, \" in which it points out that LBJ ha\nplayed politics with legislation affecting the elderly, and has needlessly delayed\nmaking recommendations to the Congress.\nThe Republican program is, says Van Rensselaer, to \"offer policies the\nwill protect the elderly, who through no fault of their own, are in real and dire need\nof positive assistance against circumstances that would destroy independence, dig-\nnity and a sense of purpose. 11 There are 20 million persons over 65 and another\n8 million between 60 and 65 in the Nation today. Of the 20 million, one-third have\nincomes of less than $2, 500 annually, two-thirds have less than $5,000 and 71\npercent of those single among the aged have incomes less than $2, 000.\nOne main concern of Republicans is inflation. This unseen tax strikes\nat the buying power of already meager income for many of the aged. Republicans\nhave sought to stop deficit spending by the Federal Government which triggers\ninflation.\nRepublicans have sought to turn Federal attention toward establishing\npriorities so that Federal funds can go into programs that will benefit the aged.\nRepublicans have sought to tie Social Security benefit payments automatically to\nincreases in the cost of living. A Republican proposal would have made payments\nretroactive to January 1967--but the Democrats wouldn't put this provision in the\nbill. It could have been done, Van Rensselaer notes, without an increase in per-\ncentage of payroll deductions.\nRepublicans supported the 13 percent Social Security benefits increase\nthat is now in effect. Emphasizing the self-help aspects of the GOP program,\nRepublicans attempted to raise the $1, 500 limitation on earnings by retirees to at\nleast $2, 100. Democrats finally approved a $180 increase, which Van Rensselaer\npoints out is about enough to buy a loaf of bread and a quart of milk a day.\nThe Democrats in Congress blocked a Republican attempt to increase\nwidows' benefits to 100 percent of the cash benefits of the late husband from the\npresent 82 percent.\n(more)\n-2-\nRepublicans have urged that a comprehensive study of the entire\nSocial Security system be made. The present patchwork program, amended and\nchanged every few years, is developing strains, Democrats have resisted probes\nof Social Security financing.\nOne of the Nation's major problems is at the State level where old-age\nassistance often falls far short of a decent standard of living. Many States are\nnot even meeting minimum standards they themselves have set for subsistence\nlevels. Van Rensselaer points out that two million people over 65 now receive\nfrom all sources less money than is needed for a decent, dignified existence.\nRepublicans have tried to help this situation by beefing up State\nGovernment participation through tax-sharing. Most of the States have difficulty\nin raising their share of assistance money. A definite, regular return of Federal\ntax money would allow the States to commit these funds to meeting the assistance\nneeds of its older citizens.\nRepublicans supported the 1967 additions to medical care programs for\nthe aged--including simplification of benefit claim procedures, payment of\npathologist and radiologist costs in full.\nRepublicans have fought the Democrats' attempt to revise the tax system\nto create more tax burden on the retired. They have opposed the proposal to elimi-\nnate the double exemption now allowed taxpayers at age 65. They have opposed\nelimination of direct retirement tax credit and the President's plan to tax Social\nSecurity income on a par with ordinary income. This, says Van Rensselaer, is\ndouble taxation.\nIn the field of housing, Republicans have sought reappraisal of Federal\nhousing programs intended to serve the elderly to see if they are providing the\nnecessary housing. Overlapping Federal programs have cut effectiveness of\ngovernment efforts to provide housing.\nRepublicans back Public Law 90-202 which prohibits job discrimination\nbecause of age for people in the 45-65 bracket. Republicans, however, believe\nthat a specialized placement service for older workers is needed to help utilize\ntheir badly-needed skills and abilities.\nThe Republican Coordinating Committee's Task Force on Problems\nof the Aging summarizes GOP policies as: 1. Protecting older Americans on\nfixed incomes from inflation; 2. Rewarding, not penalizing, self-help efforts;\n3. Strengthening the financial structure of the Social Security system; 4. Enacting\npolicies to protect the independence of the aged without mortgaging the future\nof the Nation's youth.\nThe Nation's Senior Citizens have a big stake in the next Republican\nAdministration--their whole financial future.\n###\nNo. 69\nREPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE\n1625 EYE STREET NORTHWEST\nWASHINGTON, D. C. 20006\nNAtional 8-6800\nBERNARD S. VAN RENSSELAER\nRAY\nC.\nBLISS\nDirector\nSenior Citizens Division\nSpach May Material 3, 1968 ferior Citizens CHAIRMAN\nThe Honorable\nPaul-mfo\nGerald R. Ford, Jr.\nHouse of Representatives\nWashington, D. C.\nDear Congressman Ford:\nWithin the past two or three weeks I have received requests from\nseveral Congressmen for an outline of appropriate material that\nmight be used in addressing Senior Citizen groups. It so happens\nthat Ted Sawyer, the Senior Citizens' chairman of the Massachusetts\nState Central Committee, has prepared such an outline for his own\nuse and I am enclosing a copy in the hope that, if you are invited\nto speak to Senior Citizen groups in your district within the next\nfew months, you may find something in this outline that you can use.\nPersonally, I like the approach used by Mr. Sawyer because it not\nonly stresses the Republican position on many problems affecting\nSenior Citizens but emphasizes the need for their active participa-\ntion in political action. This is most important because Senior\nCitizens constitute a tremendous reservoir of volunteer workers\nwho can prove to be of the greatest value in the months to come.\nWith all good wishes,\nSincerely yours,\nBernard S. San Resisselver\nFORD & LIBRARY GERALD\nBernard S. Van Rensselaer\nEnclosure:\nCopy of outline.\nMATERIAL FOR TALK TO\nSENIOR CITIZENS GROUPS\nGERALD FORD JOHAND\nTHERE ARE TWO RELATED SUBJECTS I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT\nTODAY. THE FIRST DEALS WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY\nFOR SENIOR CITIZENS. SECONDLY, IF YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT SENIOR\nCITIZENS SHOULD BECOME INVOLVED POLITICALLY, IT THEN FOLLOWS THAT\nYOU SHOULD BE KNOWLEDGEABLE OF WHAT THE PARTIES HAVE DONE AND ARE\nPROPOSING ESPECIALLY IN THE FIELD IN WHICH YOU ARE MOST INTERESTED:\nTHAT DEALING WITH THE PROBLEMS OF THE ELDERLY. I WILL CONFINE THE\nSECOND PART OF MY TALK TO REPUBLICAN PARTY INVOLVEMENT IN THIS\nIMPORTANT AREA. AT A LATER DATE YOU MAY WANT TO ASK SOMEONE TO\nEXPLAIN THE DEMOCRATIC POSITION WHICH I DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT\nKNOWLEDGE TO DO AT THIS TIME.\nA. THE IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.\nTHE STRENGTH OF DEMOCRACY IN THIS COUNTRY IS BASED ON THE\nPARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT OF ALL OUR CITIZENS. IT IS ONLY\nTHROUGH THE ACTIVE SUPPORT OF ALL OUR PEOPLE, NOT JUST THOSE WHO\nMAY BE YOUNG AND HAVE LONG HAIR, THAT OUR COUNTRY WILL BE STRONG.\nDEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS MAKING KNOWN THEIR\nVIEWS.\nSENIOR CITIZENS ESPECIALLY CAN HELP MAKE OUR DEMOCRACY WORK\nIN MANY WAYS, PARTICULARLY IN THIS ELECTION YEAR. THEY CAN WORK\nFOR CANDIDATES; THEY CAN WORK FOR PARTY ORGANIZATIONS. THERE ARE\nMANY JOBS THEY CAN DO; FOR EXAMPLE:\n2\n1. POLL WATCHING\n2. PRECINCT WORK\n3. CLERICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE WORK\n4. RESEARCH\n5. SPEECH WRITING\nFORD & LIBRARY GERALD\n6. LETTER TO NEWSPAPERS\n7. ADDRESSING MEETINGS\nIT IS NOT so MUCH WHAT THEY DO AS THAT THEY DO SOMETHING.\nWE CAN ALL GIVE SOMETHING. MANY SENIOR CITIZENS HAVE ONE OF THE\nMOST PRECIOUS GIFTS OF ALL--TIME! THUS, YOU CAN HELP MAKE\nDEMOCRACY WORK IN AMERICA BY GIVING OF YOUR TIME TO HEL P IN THE\nWAYS SUGGESTED ABOVE.\nSENIOR CITIZENS ALSO HELP THEMSELVES IN TAKING AN INTEREST IN\nPOLITICS. IN A DEMOCRACY, THOSE NEEDS ARE MET WHICH CANDIDATES\nAND PARTIES FIND ARE MOST IMPORTANT AS THEY TALK TO PEOPLE IN THEIR\nCAMPAIGNS AND AS THEY SERVE IN OFFICE. THUS, IF YOU ARE CONCERNED\nABOUT PROBLEMS OF INFLATION, TAXES, SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICAL CARE,\nAND THE AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING AND SERVICES, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT\nYOU COMMUNICATE YOUR OPINIONS. IN MASSACHUSETTS, FOR EXAMPLE,\nAPPROXIMATELY 20% OF THOSE VOTING ARE OVER 60; THUS, YOU AS A\nGROUP ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VOTING POPULATION. YOU COUNT:!\nMAKE SURE YOUR VIEWS ARE KNOWN--REMEMBER, THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS\nTHE GREASE:\nFOR THE SAKE OF DEMOCRACY, AND FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE ISSUES\nWHICH CONCERN YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS, HELP WITH SOME POLITICAL\nACTIVITY THIS YEAR.\n3\nNOW MAY I EXPLAIN THE POSITION OF ONE OF THE PARTIES, THE\nREPUBLICAN, WITH RESPECT TO OUR ELDERLY AND THEIR NEEDS.\nTHE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S my GENERAL PHILOSOPHY.IS Igovt THAT THE PROPER\nFUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT IS TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE ONLY THOSE THINGS\nTHAT NEED TO BE DONE, BUT CANNOT BE DONE BY INDIVIDUALS FOR\nTHEMSELVES. POLICIES THAT WILL\nTHUS, Therefore THEY HAVE & SOUGHT support TO OFFER\nFORD & LIBRARY GERALD\nPROTECT THE ELDERLY, WHO THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, ARE IN\nREAL AND DIRE NEED OF POSITIVE ASSISTANCE, AGAINST CIRCUMSTANCES\nTHAT WOULD DESTROY INDEPENDENCE, DIGNITY, AND A SENSE OF PURPOSE.\nTHE ELDERLY ARE NOW A NUMEROUS GROUP IN THIS COUNTRY: ALMOST\n20 MILLION ARE OVER 65 AND ANOTHER 8 MILLION BETWEEN 60 AND 65.\nINCOME IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. OF THE 20 MILLION\nelsealy June with\nPAMPLING\nHAVE LESS THAN $2500 ANNUALLY TO LIVE ON AND 2/3 HAVE LESS\nTHAN $5000. WITH SINGLE PERSONS THE SITUATION IS EVEN WORSE WITH\n71% HAVING INCOMES OF UNDER $2000.\nNOW, WHAT ARE THE REPUBLICANS DOING TO ALLEVIATE THIS SITUATION?\nNATIONALLY: THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE SET UP A TASK\nFORCE ON THE PROBLEMS OF AGING AND IS DOING SOMETHING POSITIVELY\nTO HELP. THIS TASK FORCE HAS AS CHAIRMAN JOHN MARTIN, FORMER\nCHAIRMAN MICHIGAN STATE COMMITTEE ON AGING, VICE-CHAIRMAN GARSON\nMEYER, PRESIDENT NCOA, AN AUTHORITY IN THE FIELD OF GERONTOLOGY.\nFROM THIS TASK FORCE, HAS COME A SERIES OF LEGISLATIVE GOALS.\nLEGISLATIVE GOALS: PROBLEM OF INFLATION--INFLATION HURTS\nEVERYONE, YOUNG AND OLD, BUT MOST ESPECIALLY THOSE ELDERLY AMERICANS\nLIVING ON PENSIONS OR OTHER FIXED INCOME. INFLATION COMES WHEN\nTHE\nMAJORITY Sh CONGRESS VOTES TO SPEND BILLIONS MORE THAN OUR FEDERAL\nGOVERNMENT TAKES IN YEAR AFTER YEAR. THIS CAUSES AN INCREASE IN\nQUANTITY OF MONEY BEYOND PRODUCTION LEVEL. REPUBLICAN POLICY IS TO\n4\nSTOP THIS DEFICIT SPENDING. IN THE REPUBLICAN OPINION, IT IS FAR\nBETTER TO STOP INFLATION THROUGH CURTAILMENT OF LEAST ESSENTIAL\nPROGRAMS THAN TO ALLOW INFLATION TO CONTINUE AND THEN END UP BY\nHAVING TO INCREASE BENEFITS TO THOSE DEPENDENT ON FIXED INCOMES.\nBERALD FORD DIBRAGE\nSOCIAL SECURITY: 1. PROPOSED BENEFIT PAYMENTS BE TIED\nAUTOMATICALLY TO INCREASES IN THE COST OF LIVING AND BE RETROACTIVE\nTO JANUARY 1967. TURNED DOWN BY DEMOCRATS IN NEW SOCIAL SECURITY\nBILL ALTHOUGH ALREADY GRANTED TO FED. EMPLOYERS AND MILITARY. THIS\nWOULD CAUSE NO INCREASE IN COSTS AS A LEVEL PERCENTAGE OF PAYROLL.\n2. INCREASE IN BENEFITS TO HELP OFFSET\nDIMINISHING PURCHASING POWER OF THE DOLLAR. NOW ENACTED. UP 13%\n3. INCREASE EARNINGS LIMITATION- WANTED TO\nRAISE THE $1500 LIMIT 40% TO AT LEAST $2100, BUT COULD ONLY GET $180\n(12%) FROM PARTY IN POWER. ABOUT ENOUGH TO BUY ONE LOAF OF BREAD AND\nA QUART OF MILK A DAY.\n4. WIDOWS BENEFITS SOUGHT TO INCREASE THESE\nFROM 82½ TO 100% OF THE CASH BENEFITS OF THE LATE HUSBAND. NOT ALLOWED--\nREPUBLICANS DID NOT HAVE THE VOTES.\n5. STUDY OF SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM--IN THEORY\nAS WELL AS IN PRACTICE. CONTINUED PATCHING, INCREASES AND EXTENSION\nOF BENEFITS MAY EVENTUALLY IMPOSE MORE OF A BURDEN THAN SYSTEM CAN BEAR.\n6. OLD AGE ASSISTANCE: MANY OLDER PERSONS\nRECEIVING MINIMUM OR NO BENEFITS UNDER SOC. SEC. ARE FORCED TO RELY\nHEAVILY ON STATE OLD AGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. YET many HOST/STATES ARE\nFAILING TO MEET MINIMUM SUBSISTANCE STANDARDS THAT THEY HAVE SET UP.\nEST. 2 MILLION OVER 65 RECEIVE FROM ALL SOURCES LESS MONEY THAN ANY\nMINIMUM DECENCY BUDGET WOULD REQUIRE. PLIGHT OF STATE GOVTS. AND LACK\nOF FEDERAL GRANT-IN-AID PROGRAMS/ REPUBLIC AN PARTY URGES CONGRESS\nTO ADOPT A PLAN TO SHARE PART OF THE INCOME TAXES WITH THE STATES, BUT\nFEEL ADMINISTRATION CAN BEST BE HANDLED BY THE STATES.\n7. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE: VALUABLE NEW BENEFITS\n5\nADDED TO MEDICARE IN 1967. BOTH TO HOSPITAL INSURANCE & MEDICAL\nINSURANCE RECEIVED SOLID SUPPORT OF REPUBLICAN PARTY.\na. 60 DAYS LIFETIME RESERVE\nb. PATHOLOGIST AND RADIOLOGIST PAID-IN-FULL.\nC. EASIER TO CLAIM BENEFITS.\n8. TAXATION: REPUBLICANS TOTALLY OPPOSED TO\nADMINISTRATIONS TAX PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE TAX BURDEN ON A SIZABLE\nPROPORTION OF ELDERLY CITIZENS. SUCH AS:\na. ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE EXEMPTION NOW ALLOWED AT 65.\nb. ELIMINATION OF DIRECT RETIREMENT TAX CREDIT.\nc. ESPECIALLY OPPOSE TAXING SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME ON A PAR\nWITH ORDINARY INCOME (DOUBLE TAXATION)\n9. HOUSING: RECOMMEND REAPPRAISAL OF GOVT.\nHOUSING PROGRAMS FOR THE ELDERLY TO ASSURE THAT THEY ARE SERVING THOSE\nTHEY INTENDED TO SERVE AND DOING WHAT THEY WERE INTENDED TO ACCOMPLISH.\nTROUBLE DUE TO OVERLAPPING OF GOVT. HOUSING PROGRAMS.\n10. AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT: BACKED\nNEW LAW 90-202 THAT PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF AGE. APPLIES\nFROM 45-65. HELPS PEOPLE BE BETTER PREPARED FOR RETIREMENT. REPUBLICANS\nDO NOT THINK THIS GOES FAR ENOUGH. PROPOSE SPECIALIZED PLACEMENT SERVICES\nFOR OLDER WORKERS THROUGH STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY OFFICES.\nSTATE WIDE REPUBLICAN POLICY\nA. STATE REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE HAS SET UP A SENIOR CITIZENS DIVISION\nAND APPOINTED A STEERING COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF INDIVIDUALS KNOWLEDGEABLE\nIN THE PROBLEMS OF THE AGING.\nB. AT REPUBLICAN PLATFORM CONVENTION IN WORCESTER LAST NOVEMBER,\nA VERY COMPREHENSIVE SECTION COVERING THE ELDERLY WAS VOTED.\n1. INCORPORATED NATIONAL PLATFORM THAT I\nHAVE JUST COVERED.\n2. IN ADDITION MANY ARTICLES DEAL WITH IMPROVING\nSTATE OPERATIONS IN SERVING THE ELDERLY.\n6\n3. 28 SEPARATE PROPOSALS IN ALL: ACCEPTED WITHOUT\nDEBATE.\nC. SENIOR CITIZEN DIVISION DIRECTING ATTENTION TO IMPLEMENTATION\nOF PLATFORM:\n1. RECOMMENDS NEW LEGISLATION AS IT APPEARS\nDESIREABLE.\n2. SUPPORTS DESIREABLE SOCIAL LEGISLATION:\nHEARING, ETC., SENIOR SERVICE CORPS., HEARING.\n3. MOST IMPORTANT: ESTABLISHING BETTER\nCOMMUNICATION WITH THE ELDERLY so AS TO BE AWARE OF THEIR PROBLEMS.\nI COULD GO INTO CONSIDERABLE MORE DETAIL ON THE MANY POINTS I HAVE\nTOUCHED, BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT DOING so WOULD MAKE MY POINT ANY\nCLEARER. NAMELY THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS DONE AND IS DOING A\nGREAT DEAL IN THE FIELD IN WHICH YOU ARE ALL VITALLY INTERESTED.\nBUT ABOVE ALL, I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH THE REALIZATION THAT THE\nREPUBLICAN PARTY IS CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS, HAS COMPASSION$ AND\nWANTS TO SEE ALL OF YOU FUNCTION IN THE MAINSTREAM OF LIFE AND NOT BE\nSET APART AS A SEPARATE GROUP.\nWE BELIEVE IN THE DIGNITY OF THE OLDER CITIZENS, IN CLEAR WORDS,\nAS INDIVIDUALS. THE DIVISION I HEAD IS MOST INTERESTED IN HEARING\nDIRECTLY FROM YOU ON ANY PROBLEM NO MATTER HOW SMALL IT MAY SEEM.\nALL YOU NEED DO IS PHONE ME AT 523 - 7535 OR WRITE TO ME AT\n146 BOWDOIN STREET, BOSTON 02108. ANY HELP YOU CARE TO GIVE WILL\nALSO BE MOST APPRECIATED.\no00\nCOLDER AMERICANS are honored this month by Presidential proclamation\ndesignating May as Senior Citizen's Month. A Republican Task Force on Ag-\nFoing has made recommendations (and several GOP Members have introduced\nis\nbills) that as a built-in protection against inflation and its effect upon\nGERALD\nthe purchasing nower of the retirement dollar, Social Security benefits\nshould be automatically increased to conform to increases in the cost of\nliving index. Another recommendation for which legislation is pending\nwould restore to persons over 65 the right to claim tax deductions for med-\nical expenses and the cost of drugs. This privilege existed prior to the\nadvent of Medicare and its removal has proven to be a hardship to many el-\nderly whose out-of-hospital drug costs are an expensive item.\n000\nRadio\nREPRESENTATIVE JOHN J. DUNCAN\nRepresentative John J. Duncan (R-Tenn.) commented today on what he believes.\nis the major problem facing the nation's elderly citizens.\n\"It is my belief that inflation is the number one economic threat to the\naging. Extravagance, waste and deficit spending feed the fires of inflation\nmore than anything else a government can do.\nFORD\n\"The government has a special responsibility to our senior citizens. Our\n&\nGERALD\ngoal in government should cover protecting older citizens on fixed incomes from\ninflation, rewarding -- not penalizing -- self-help efforts and enacting policies\nto protect the independence of the aged without mortgaging the future of the\nnation's youth.\"\nMEDICARE'S HIDDEN TAX\nSenior Citizens\nMany a per-son past the age of 65 learned with a start while figuring his income\ntax this year that Medicare is not all the bonanza it was hailed as being. The 1967\nFORD\nincome tax returns revealed for the first time the effect of one part of the Medicare\nLD,\nprogram. Before January 1, 1967, persons over 65 were allowed to deduct all medical\nexpense. But the Social Security Amendments of 1965 eliminated this provision and\nstated that such persons could deduct only medical expenses which amounted to more\nthan three percent of their income. Therefore, if someone spent six percent of his in-\ncome on medical expenses, he could deduct only three percent of that on his income tax\nreturns. The 1965 amendments also changed the deduction for money spent on drugs--\nallowing only that amount which exceeds one percent of the individual's income.\nEarly in the 90th Congress I introduced a bill (H.R. 8270) to restore the pro-\nvision permitting full deductions of such expenses. I am hopeful that the Ways and\nMeans Committee will give this bill favorable consideration before another tax year\npasses. The revenue loss to the government would not be great, but the few dollars\nwhich the retired persons would save on income tax would mean a great deal to them."
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