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1976/08/06 - Filming with the President
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1976/08/06 - Filming with the President
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The original documents are located in Box 60, folder "1976/08/06 - Filming with the
President" of the James M. Cannon Files 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 Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
Digitized from Box 60 of the James M. Cannon Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FILMING WITH THE PRESIDENT
Friday, August 6, 1976
9:30 a.m.
Oval Office
SOCIAL SECURITY
Q.
Mr. President, there appears to be little chance that
the Congress will act on your Social Security proposals
this year.
A.
(Talking Points)
1.
That is unconscionable. We must act to preserve
the integrity of the Social Security System.
2.
I understand that Congress does not like to raise
taxes in an election year, but we can't have a
sound Social Security System without paying for it.
3.
What I proposed last January was a full cost of
living increase in Social Security benefits and a
tax increase that would cost a working person less
than $1 a week.
4.
That's a small price to pay to protect the 32 million
men and women on Social Security today -- and SO
that future recipients can be sure they will receive
the benefits they are now earning.
5.
Let's go back to the Congressmen responsible for
Social Security. I won't give up in this fight
to get Congress to act to preserve the integrity
of the Social Security System.
CRIME
Q.
Mr. President, the latest FBI crime reports indicate
there have been reductions in violent crimes and crime
against property.
A.
(Talking Points)
1.
It is better, and these reductions reflect the
vigorous effort at all levels of government -
local, state and Federal ---- to reduce crime.
2.
But more must be done, and that's why I sent
anti-crime legislation to Congress in June 1975,
and additional legislation to curb drug abuse
last April.
3.
If Congress would act on this legislation, we
could do more to make people safe on the streets
and safe in their homes.
4.
Congress should pass the mandatory minimum sentence
law which would make imprisonment certain for
persons convicted of Federal offense with a dan-
gerous weapon and those convicted of kidnapping,
highjacking, and trafficking in heroin and other
hard drugs.
ALMOST
5.
More than half of all crime today is related to
drugs.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
6.
The habitual drug felon should be denied bail
if he is arrested for selling heroin or other
hard drugs. If he is convicted, he should
receive a mandatory prison sentence that will
keep him out of the hard drug business.
CRIME INDEX TRENDS
20
Crime Index, Total
18
A Marked Decline
in the Growth of
15
Crime
Percent Change
10
9
5
4
0
Violent Crime
15
A Notable Decrease
11
in Violent Crime
10
5
Percent Change
5
0
-5
-7
-10
20
Property Crime
17
A Marked Decline
in Crimes Against
15
Property
Percent Change
10
9
5
5
0
1974
1975
1976
Annual
Annual
1st Quarter
*
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
*Compared to 1st quarter of 1975.
FORD i LIBRAR 038470
OLYMPICS
Q.
Mr. President, how do you want to proceed on your
proposal on the Olympics?
A.
(Talking Points)
1.
The American Olympic athletes who came to the
White House yesterday were fine examples of young
Americans who demonstrated the ability and deter-
mination to succeed.
2.
Our objective has to be to make it possible for
all young Americans who have the desire and
capability to develop their athletic skills.
3.
A healthy America is a better America.
4.
We don't want the "muscle factories" some countries
have set up.
5.
But we can find a better way -- a way to make sure
that American athletes have the coaching, the
sports facilities, and the opportunity for training
that they need to develop fully their capabilities.
6.
We can give more American athletes the chance to
be number one. Let's do it.
Curbing Drug Abuse
"For nearly a year," the President said this April,
"I have been devoting increasing attention to a problem
which strikes at the very heart of our national well-being,
drug abuse. I have initiated and then endorsed a major stud
of this issue. I have met with foreign heads of state,
Members of Congress and members of my Cabinet to express
my deep concern and the need for action, and I have publicly
spoken about this as one of the most serious and tragic
problems our country faces.
in Today I am sending to the Congress a special Message
on. Drug Abuse which outlines, in very frank terms, the
severity of this problem and which proposes definitive
steps which must be taken to meet the challenge posed by
the worsening drug situation.
I am requesting the Congress to enact specific
legislation to improve our ability to put the traffickers
who sell drugs into prison. I am also calling for a
renewed commitment to a program that balances the law
enforcement effort with the provisions of humane and
effective treatment for drug abusers.
"Finally, since our ability to control the supply of
illegal drugs in this country depends to a very large
degree on the interest and the capability of foreign
governments in controlling drugs which originate in or
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
move through their territory, I renew this government's
commitment to providing support for foreign allies in
this fight. =
The comprehensive drug program announced by the
President calls for action on many different fronts. It
would:
--- Require minimum mandatory prison sentences for
persons convicted of high-level trafficking in heroin
and similar narcotic drugs.
- Enable judges to deny bail in the absence of
compelling circumstances if a defendant arrested for
tràfficking heroin or dangerous drugs is found (1) to
have previously been convicted of a drug felony; (2) to
be presently free on parole; (3) to be a non-resident alien;
(4) to have been arrested in possession of a false passport;
or (5) to be a fugitive or previously convicted of being a
fugitive.
-- Require masters of ships -- including pleasure
vessels -- arriving in the United States to report immediate
to Customs upon arrival, rather than within 24 hours as is
now required.
-- Expand Customs' authority to search for cash and
other monetary instruments being smuggled out of the
country.
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
The President during the first two years also
acted to improve the management of drug programs and to
enhance international cooperation by:
-- Establishing two new Cabinet committees to provide
direction for, and coordination of, Federal drug programs
and activities.
-- Directing the Secretary of HEW and the Attorney
General to develop plans to improve coordination between
the treatment and criminal justice system, so drug users
in the criminal justice system are identified and provided
with treatment and rehabilitation services.
-- Directing one of the new Cabinet Committees to
give high priority to identifying specific ways to improve
job opportunities for former addicts.
---- Directing the Secretary of the Treasury and the
Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, in consulta-
tion with the Attorney General and the Administrator of
the Drug Enforcement Administration, to develop a tax
enforcement program aimed at major drug traffickers.
Intensifying diplomatic efforts at all levels in
order to encourage the greatest possible commitment from
other governments and continuing to provide technical and
equipment assistance, formal training of foreign enforce-
ment officials, and assistance through cooperative enforce-
ment efforts of U.S. agents stationed abroad.
FORD i GERALD LIBRARY
- 4 -
- Urging the Congress to expedite approval of the
1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, an international
treaty which would provide a system for the control of
synthetic drugs similar to that which exists for narcotic
drugs.
- Has called for the expansion of Federal treatment
capacity to ensure that those who are addicted have an
alternative to crime.
GERALD R. FORD
CRIME & DRUGS
DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY
When President Ford came into office in 1974, crime was
increasing at the rate of 18% a year. By the end of 1975,
the rate had dropped to 9% and the latest figures -- covering
the first quarter of 1976 ---- show only a 4% increase.
No one claims that those improvements are a direct result
of actions undertaken by the President, but they do reflect
the vigorous effort taken at all levels of government -- local,
State, and Federal -- to combat the most recent crime wave.
The President's most notable statements on crime were
contained in a speech he gave at Yale University in 1975 in
which he urged a nationwide effort to "restore domestic
tranquility" and in a special crime message that he sent
to Congress on June 19, 1975.
In that message, Mr. Ford identified three important
areas of responsibility for the Federal Government:
-- To provide leadership through improvements in Federal
laws and the Federal justice system;
-- To enact and vigorously enforce laws covering criminal
conduct that cannot be adequately regulated at the State and
local level; and
-- To provide financial and technical assistance to
State and local law enforcement authorities.
The President's crime message specifically called for:
-- Enactment of a comprehensive criminal code to replace
the highly complex and confusing set of laws now on the books;
-- Enactment of a mandatory minimum sentence law which
would make imprisonment a certainty for persons convicted of
a Federal offense involving the use of a dangerous weapon and
those convicted of extraordinarily serious offenses such as
hijacking, kidnapping and trafficking in hard drugs. The man-
datory minimum sentence would also apply to repeat offenders
who are convicted of crimes that could cause personal injury
to others.
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
In that same crime message, the President also set
forth a number of proposals to improve the criminal justice
system at the Federal level. Among his proposals:
-- Establishment of "career criminal" programs designed
to assure quick identification and prosecution of persons who
repeatedly commit serious offenses.
- Continuation and expansion of programs designed to
divert certain first offenders into rehabilitation prior to
trial.
--- Creation by the Congress of additional Federal Distric
Court judgeships and expansion of the criminal jurisdiction of
United States Magistrates.
-- Upgrading of prison facilities, including the replace-
ment of large, outdated prisons with smaller, more modern ones.
- Directing that the Attorney General, as Chairman of
the Cabinet Committee on Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation,
ensure that the Federal Government is making the best possible
use of its resources in the area of offender rehabilitation.
-- Enactment by the Congress of legislation to provide
limited compensation to victims of Federal crimes who suffer
personal injury.
As for Federal financial aid for State and local law
enforcement, the President in 1976 proposed that the Congress
continue the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration through
1981 at a higher authorized funding level. The President's
bill, now making its way through Congress will authorize $6.8
billion for the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
through the next five years. The bill places additional em-
phasis on improving State and local court systems and on
funding "High Impact" crime-prevention projects in crime-ridden
urban areas.
FORD & GERALD LIBRARY
BUSING
I fully recognize that it is incumbent on the courts
and the Executive Branch to insure that the constitutional
rights of all Americans are protected, including the right
to equal educational opportunity. But I believe that some
courts have gone too far in ordering massive busing of
school children. Some courts have literally taken over
the responsibility of the local school board to run the
school system. I think this is wrong.
This is why I have recommended to Congress legislation
to limit the power of Federal courts to require busing.
The courts must be allowed to protect the rights of
individuals, but I think they ought to leave the
responsibility for running the school in the hands of
people whose children attend them.
Returning Power To State and Local Governments
It is my view that during the 1960's we suffered from the
tremendous growth of too many new Federal programs -- each
with its own bureaucracy and set of complex rules. Liter-
ally hundreds of new programs were created during that
period. Virtually all of these tended to centralize power
at the Federal level at the expense of state and local
governments. On them, we placed an impossible burden of
administering conflicting and complicated rules.
I thought this was wrong then and I believe it is wrong
today. I have sought to reverse this trend and return
decision-making power to state and local elected officials
where it belongs.
My effort has taken several forms --
(1) Strong support for the General Revenue Sharing
program against some very strong Congressional
opposition. We finally won that one and have
a 5 year 9 month program which will give nearly
$40 billion to hard-pressed state and local
governments.
(2) I have sent four major pieces of legislation to
the Congress which would consolidate 59 cate-
gorical programs in health, education, child
nutrition, and social services into four block
grants. We haven't done too well with them but
we will continue the fight.
(3) I have pushed the Community Development Block
Grant program which consolidated seven programs
requiring 1400 pages of applications into a
single program with a 25 page application.
There have been a variety of related initiatives that all
support the theme of returning decision-making power closer
to the people. I am committed to it because it is right,
and we will keep pushing until we get results.
1.
To preserve the family farm and small business,
the President proposed to defer Federal estate
taxes for 5 years and to allow the heirs 20
years to pay the taxes at 4 percent interest.
2.
This reform would insure survival of family
farms and small business for future generations.
3.
This would apply up to the first $300,000 of
liability.
FOOD STAMPS
Q.
Mr. President, your Food Stamp reforms have been
blocked by the Federal court, and Congress seems
unable to put through any legislative reforms on
Food Stamps.
A.
(Talking Points)
1.
The Food Stamp Program is a mess.
2.
It provides assistance to many who don't deserve
it and denies enough assistance to those who
need it most.
3.
It is also cumbersome, bureaucratic and expensive
to administer.
4.
Everyone knows of abuses of the Food Stamp Program.
5.
The Administrative changes I proposed make sense.
They would provide higher benefits to those
Americans who are poor, and no benefits to those
who are able to help themselves.
6.
I want this case appealed.
7.
If Congress won't act, we have got to act ourselves.
Food Stamps
Our Food Stamp program is a mess. It provides assistance to
people who don't deserve it, and denies adequate assistance
to those with greatest need. It is also an extremely complex
and expensive system to administer.
Earlier this year I proposed changes in the Food Stamp
program that would better focus scarce resources on those
with greatest need. Higher benefits would go to the poorest
Americans, and no benefits would go to those able to help
themselves. Administrative reforms would make the program
more comprehensible, more efficient, and cheaper to operate.
These changes are currently hung up in the courts -- but I am
sure that we will ultimately prevail because this is the right
course of action.