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Ford Press Releases, June - December 1970
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Ford Press Releases, June - December 1970
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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U.S. House of Representatives. 3/4/1789-
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Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994
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The original documents are located in Box D4, folder "Ford Press Releases, June -
December 1970" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File 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. The Council 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
Distribution Full
Galleries 11:30a.m.
maffice Copy
6/4/70
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., prepared for delivery on the floor of
the U.S. House of Representatives, Thursday, June 4, 1970.
FOR RELEASE ON RECEIPT
Mr. Speaker: I was most pleased to see the President make an interim
report to the American people last night on the results of the Cambodian operation.
I was personally impressed by that report and I feel certain that most
other Americans were also. It seemed to me that President Nixon's presentation
could not help but reassure the Nation regarding the Cambodian Operation.
The President's report was a dramatic outline of the facts surrounding
events in Cambodia. I agree with the President that the Cambodian Operation must
be described as the most successful military mission we have ever undertaken in
the Vietnam War.
I was glad the President reviewed the reasons for our attack on the
Communist sanctuaries in Cambodia. Americans now recognize the necessity for the
Cambodian Operation since, as the President explained last night, the Communists
were making the entire 600-mile Cambodian-South Vietnamese border a launching area
for attacks on American and allied forces in Vietnam.
There is no question but that we have achieved the basic objectives of the
Cambodian Operation. And those Americans concerned about a widening of the war
should be reassured by the President's promise that the only U.S. activity in
Cambodia after July 1 will be air missions to interdict the movement of enemy
troops and materiel. They should also be reassured by the President's statement
that the door to a negotiated peace is "wide open."
Mr. Speaker, the President deserves the broadest possible public support
for his continuing efforts to win a just peace in Vietnam. I believe his report
to the Nation last night will earn him support except from those persons and groups
who would be satisfied with nothing less than immediate withdrawal from Vietnam,
regardless of the consequences.
President Nixon has kept his word to the American people. He has
demonstrated himself to be a strong leader, a man the people can look to for strong
decision-making, a man they can trust, a man in whom they can believe. The
American people should give peace a chance by giving the President a chance.
###
Digitized from Box D4 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
well Fifth District media
mailed 4:30p.m.
office Capy
6/5/70
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE ON RECEIPT-
Sex doesn't make much difference at Ottawa Hills High School-when it comes
to views on leading issues of the day.
That sums up the results of a recent "His" and "Hers" poll at the school,
with about 1,200 students casting votes on questions posed in Congressman Gerald R.
Ford's 1970 congressional questionnaire. Whether it was a boy or a girl who was
balloting, there was surprisingly little difference in the answers.
The girls split 50-50 on putting the Post Office Department on a pay-as-you-
go basis; the boys favored it 51 to 49.
Both boys and girls felt the United States could not rely on agreements
reached with the Soviet Union but should gradually expand its diplomatic and trade
relations with Red China.
Students of both sexes overwhelmingly endorsed President Nixon's $10 billion
program of Federal, state and local expenditures to fight water pollution.
With the girls more heavily on the side of law enforcement authorities, the
students favored allowing federal officers with a warrant to enter private premises
without knocking in search of illegal drugs and permitting a judge to hold a
criminal defendant in jail if his record indicated he might commit serious crimes
while released on bond.
By identical scores of 86 to 14 the boys and girls opposed busing school
children out of their neighborhood school areas to achieve better racial balance
in classrooms.
Very heavily and by nearly identical showings, the boys and girls favored
continued draft deferments for college students and giving special priority to
balancing the budget while inflation remains a problem.
On the question of what is the single most important problem in the country
today, the boys rated air and water pollution first (50 per cent), as did the girls
(33 per cent); the Vietnam War second (boys and girls, both 31); the boys crime and
violence third (10 per cent) while the firls picked inflation (23) ; the boys
inflation fourth (9), and the girls, crime and violence (13).
The boys and girls also parted company on farm legislation, with 70 per cent
of the girls for continuing the farm program as is, and only 40 per cent of the
boys favoring this course. In other results, 34 per cent of the boys favored
reducing farm subsidies, with 10 per cent of the girls for this; 26 per cent of the
boys wanted to phase out the farm program, and 20 per cent of the girls wanted this.
###
Distribution Full
mailed
6/5/70
Gallenes
Office
Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE IN WEDNESDAY PM's
June 10, 1970
Congressman Gerald R. Ford today proposed a program of $25,000 cash awards
from the Federal Government as an incentive to individual Americans to develop
solutions to critical national problems.
Ford said: "I have long felt that someone should create an atmosphere of
incentive for Americans at the grass roots level to come up with answers to some of
our most pressing problems--like maybe a fellow in his home garage devising an
effective but inexpensive device for controlling air pollution. I would like to
enlist all of our citizens in a campaign to lick our national problems. And so I
have introduced a bill which I think will provide the incentive."
The Ford bill would have the Federal Government offer as many as four prizes
of $25,000 each to be awarded, possibly annually, to Americans who make outstanding
contributions toward solving any of our national problems. No prize would be
awarded in years when no such contribution had been made.
"My point," Ford said, "is that it is in the national interest to create
this atmosphere of promoting individual solutions to our national problems by
recognizing and rewarding citizens who deserve such awards."
Ford calls his bill the Distinguished Citizen Awards Act. He said it is
patterned after the annual awarding of Nobel Prizes except that it would be
presented only to U.S. citizens and only for contributions to the solution of the
problems of this country.
"While the individual who wins one of these awards would truly be a
distinguished citizen, he would also be representative of Middle America," Ford
said. "What I want to do is bring the man on the street--the farmer, the factory
worker, the small businessman--into the solution of our national problems."
Ford said his proposal does not overlap the cash awards offered to employes
by various U.S. Government departments because the scope of it goes far beyond
such programs.
Ford said: "I believe a program of the kind I am proposing would accelerate
our progress in solving national problems and would enhance the wellbeing and the
happiness of our people. I therefore feel we should establish a system of
Distinguished Citizen Awards as a matter of national policy."
Ford's bill would create a Presidential commission of five members who would
meet annually to consider whether any American citizen had so contributed to the
solution of a national problem as to be deserving of a $25,000 Distinguished Citizen
Award. The commission could decide to award no prizes or as many as four. The group
would meet in April of each year in Washington, D.C., or at some other location of
the commission's choosing. A three-man majority would have to agree on the awards.
To be chosen for the award a citizen would have to have achieved "an
established, working solution to a national problem," Ford said. The "solution"
could not simply be an idea or suggestion.
###
Distribution Balleriss
4:00p.m.
6/17/70
m Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
June 17, 1970
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., on the floor of the U.S. House of
Representatives, Wednesday, June 17, 1970.
Mr. Speaker: President Nixon has laid it on the line in the battle against
inflation. He has--to the benefit of the Nation--told the American people just what
the situation is and what he will do to deal with it and, just as importantly, what
he will not do. This is the kind of guidance the country needs at what I consider
to be a most crucial juncture in our fight against inflation.
I am pleased that the President will appoint a National Commission on
Productivity and that he has directed the Council of Economic Advisers to prepare a
periodic Inflation Alert. This now becomes the key to achieving price stability.
It focuses attention on the area which is central to progress toward price stability--
improvements in productivity. We cannot lick inflation of the cost-push variety
without gains in productivity. So this problem is paramount at this time.
The President has also laid it on the line in urging the Congress not to grant
him powers he has said he will not use but to move ahead quickly to pass constructive,
meaningful legislation sorely needed in this time of economic transition.
Congress should act with purposeful determination to give the President the
program he has requested--stronger unemployment insurance, the Manpower Training
Act, a $50 million supplemental appropriation to provide summer jobs for students,
insurance to protect small investors against brokerage house failures, a cost-of-
living tie with Social Security, the Emergency Home Finance Act, the means to
stimulate loans to small businesses at lower interest rates, and emergency assistance
to financially-distressed railroads.
As the President so plainly and pertinently said, this is no time to play
politics with the economy of this country. It is a time that demands the utmost
display of responsibility on the part of business, labor and government. Above all,
it is a time for affirmative action--action of the kind described by the President,
action that will move this country toward a genuine prosperity based on a peacetime
economy and the price stability that keeps more dollars in the pockets of the
American working man.
I commend the President for his most timely statement and urge that the
Congress join with him in successfully moving this country from a wartime to a
peacetime economy. The problems are big enough for all of us to have a piece of
the action.
###
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
June 17, 1970
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., on the floor of the U.S. House of
Representatives, Wednesday, June 17, 1970.
Mr. Speaker: President Nixon has laid it on the line in the battle against
inflation. He has--to the benefit of the Nation--told the American people just what
the situation is and what he will do to deal with it and, just as importantly, what
he will not do. This is the kind of guidance the country needs at what I consider
to be a most crucial juncture in our fight against inflation.
I am pleased that the President will appoint a National Commission on
Productivity and that he has directed the Council of Economic Advisers to prepare a
periodic Inflation Alert. This now becomes the key to achieving price stability.
It focuses attention on the area which is central to progress toward price stability--
improvements in productivity. We cannot lick inflation of the cost-push variety
without gains in productivity. So this problem is paramount at this time.
The President has also laid it on the line in urging the Congress not to grant
him powers he has said he will not use but to move ahead quickly to pass constructive,
meaningful legislation sorely needed in this time of economic transition.
Congress should act with purposeful determination to give the President the
program he has requested--stronger unemployment insurance, the Manpower Training
Act, a $50 million supplemental appropriation to provide summer jobs for students,
insurance to protect small investors against brokerage house failures, a cost-of-
living tie with Social Security, the Emergency Home Finance Act, the means to
stimulate loans to small businesses at lower interest rates, and emergency assistance
to financially-distressed railroads.
As the President so plainly and pertinently said, this is no time to play
politics with the economy of this country. It is a time that demands the utmost
display of responsibility on the part of business, labor and government. Above all,
it is a time for affirmative action-action of the kind described by the President,
action that will move this country toward a genuine prosperity based on a peacetime
economy and the price stability that keeps more dollars in the pockets of the
American working man.
I commend the President for his most timely statement and urge that the
Congress join with him in successfully moving this country from a wartime to a
peacetime economy. The problems are big enough for all of us to have a piece of
the action.
###
Distribution: Fifth District media news
m office Copy
6/19/70 4:30pm. mail
For Release at 12 noon Wednesday, June 24, 1970
Kent and Ionia County residents view crime and violence as our nation's
greatest problem, the response to Congressman Gerald R. Ford's 1970 questionnaire
indicates.
Asked to single out what they considered to be the most important among four
major problems facing the country today, 45.5 per cent of Fifth Congressional
District residents responding picked crime and violence.
Of the rest, 24.7 per cent chose the Vietnam War; 12.8 per cent picked
inflation; and 9.4 per cent singled out air and water pollution.
Ford sent out 156,040 copies of his questionnaire, blanketing the entire
district. He received 34,577 responses--an impressive 22 per cent.
"I am terribly pleased by the number of responses to my questionnaire,"
Ford said. "This tells me that the people of my congressional district are very
much interested in public affairs and very much concerned about the issues."
Ford learned that 52.4 per cent of those responding are opposed to draft
deferments for undergraduate college students, while 43 per cent favor continued
deferments and 4.6 per cent are undecided.
President Nixon has asked Congress to end college deferments. Ford has
reserved judgment on the question until all the facts have been presented to the
Congress.
Strong feelings in the Fifth District about crime and violence apparently
were reflected in balloting on two other questions. Nearly 80 per cent of those
voting (79.2) favored allowing Federal officers armed with a Federal warrant to
enter private premises without knocking if drugs and other evidence of illegal
narcotics traffic might otherwise be destroyed. Slightly more than 90 per cent
favored allowing a judge to keep a criminal defendant in "preventive detention" if
his record indicated he might commit a serious crime if freed on bond while awaiting
trial.
At a time when the Congress is acting on postal reform, 73 per cent of
district residents responding said they favor putting the Post Office Department
on a pay-as-you-go basis. Legislation now before the Congress calls for this to
be done in stages by 1978. The House of Representatives, with Congressman Ford's
strong support, approved a postal reform bill last Thursday.
(more)
-2-
Congress currently is also working on general farm legislation. On this
subject, 70.2 per cent of district residents responding want the farm program
phased out within five years; 8.9 per cent want it continued as is; and 8.9 per
cent favor making it permanent but with subsidies reduced.
Evidencing their concern about inflation, 81.7 per cent of those answering
the poll would emphasize balancing the Federal budget rather than spend more on
government programs in a time of inflationary pressures.
There is no question where Fifth District residents stand on busing school
children out of their neighborhood school areas to achieve better racial balance
in classrooms. Of those balloting, 91.2 per cent opposed busing while 7 per cent
favored it and 1.8 per cent ventured no opinion.
District residents made clear their deep concern about water pollution.
Of those voting, 80 per cent said they favor President Nixon's $10 billion
Federal-state-local program aimed at water pollution control. Only 15.1 per cent
opposed it, and 4.9 per cent registered no opinion.
District residents do not trust the Soviet Union but two out of five would
gradually expand our relations with Red China.
Asked if we could rely on agreements reached with the Soviet Union, 75 per
cent said "no;" 20.2 per cent said "yes;" and 4.8 per cent said "don't know."
On the question of expanding our diplomatic and trade relations with Red
China, 50.6 per cent were opposed. Of the rest, 40.7 per cent were in favor and
8.7 per cent had no opinion.
Ford said he will place the results of his poll in the Congressional Record
and also will send them to President Nixon.
The poll results were processed by a computer firm, at no expense to the
taxpayer, Ford noted.
# # #
For Release at 12 noon Wednesday, June 24, 1970
Kent and Ionia County residents view crime and violence as our nation's
greatest problem, the response to Congressman Gerald R. Ford's 1970 questionnaire
indicates.
Asked to single out what they considered to be the most important among four
major problems facing the country today, 45.5 per cent of Fifth Congressional
District residents responding picked crime and violence.
Of the rest, 24.7 per cent chose the Vietnam War; 12.8 per cent picked
inflation; and 9.4 per cent singled out air and water pollution.
Ford sent out 156,040 copies of his questionnaire, blanketing the entire
district. He received 34,577 responses--an impressive 22 per cent.
"I am terribly pleased by the number of responses to my questionnaire,"
Ford said. "This tells me that the people of my congressional district are very
much interested in public affairs and very much concerned about the issues."
Ford learned that 52.4 per cent of those responding are opposed to draft
deferments for undergraduate college students, while 43 per cent favor continued
deferments and 4.6 per cent are undecided.
President Nixon has asked Congress to end college deferments. Ford has
reserved judgment on the question until all the facts have been presented to the
Congress.
Strong feelings in the Fifth District about crime and violence apparently
were reflected in balloting on two other questions. Nearly 80 per cent of those
voting (79.2) favored allowing Federal officers armed with a Federal warrant to
enter private premises without knocking if drugs and other evidence of illegal
narcotics traffic might otherwise be destroyed. Slightly more than 90 per cent
favored allowing a judge to keep a criminal defendant in "preventive detention" if
his record indicated he might commit a serious crime if freed on bond while awaiting
trial.
At a time when the Congress is acting on postal reform, 73 per cent of
district residents responding said they favor putting the Post Office Department
on a pay-as-you-go basis. Legislation now before the Congress calls for this to
be done in stages by 1978. The House of Representatives, with Congressman Ford's
strong support, approved a postal reform bill last Thursday.
(more)
-2-
Congress currently is also working on general farm legislation. On this
subject, 70.2 per cent of district residents responding want the farm program
phased out within five years; 8.9 per cent want it continued as is; and 8.9 per
cent favor making it permanent but with subsidies reduced.
Evidencing their concern about inflation, 81.7 per cent of those answering
the poll would emphasize balancing the Federal budget rather than spend more on
government programs in a time of inflationary pressures.
There is no question where Fifth District residents stand on busing school
children out of their neighborhood school areas to achieve better racial balance
in classrooms. Of those balloting, 91.2 per cent opposed busing while 7 per cent
favored it and 1.8 per cent ventured no opinion.
District residents made clear their deep concern about water pollution.
Of those voting, 80 per cent said they favor President Nixon's $10 billion
Federal-state-local program aimed at water pollution control. Only 15.1 per cent
opposed it, and 4.9 per cent registered no opinion.
District residents do not trust the Soviet Union but two out of five would
gradually expand our relations with Red China.
Asked if we could rely on agreements reached with the Soviet Union, 75 per
cent said "no;" 20.2 per cent said "yes;" and 4.8 per cent said "don't know."
On the question of expanding our diplomatic and trade relations with Red
China, 50.6 per cent were opposed. Of the rest, 40.7 per cent were in favor and
8.7 per cent had no opinion.
Ford said he will place the results of his poll in the Congressional Record
and also will send them to President Nixon.
The poll results were processed by a computer firm, at no expense to the
taxpayer, Ford noted.
# # #
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE ON RECEIPT--
Tabulation of his 1970 questionnaire results has begun but there is still
time for Kent and Ionia County residents to turn in their cards, Congressman
Gerald R. Ford announced today.
Ford said: "We have begun the processing of our questionnaire returns,
which have flooded in by the thousands. We have to establish a cutoff point
somewhere, so I am expecting at this time to finish turning the returns over to
the tabulators on Saturday, June 6. This will mean I have allowed roughly a
month for all of the questionnaires to be returned."
Ford already has one set of results from the questionnaire--the outcome
of balloting by the 54 seniors in instructor Jack E. Butterworth's government
class at Saranac High School. He is wondering whether voting by the general
public will parallel the opinions registered by the Saranac seniors.
Singling out the one most important problem in the country today,
60 per cent of the Saranac seniors picked the Vietnam War; 20 per cent, air
and water pollution; 13 per cent, inflation; and 7 per cent, crime and violence.
On the question of busing school children out of their neighborhoods to
achieve better racial balance, 78 per cent opposed such busing while 22 per cent
approved it.
On the draft, 78 per cent of the seniors favored temporary deferments
for college undergraduates, with 22 per cent opposed.
Although 76 per cent favored "preventive detention" for criminal defendants
who might commit serious crimes if freed on bond, only 57 per cent favored allowing
Federal officers with a search warrant to enter private premises without knocking
on the basis that illegal drugs might otherwise be disposed of.
In other results of the questionnaire balloting, the Saranac seniors
opposed placing the Post Office Department on pay-as-you-go (57 per cent to 43) ;
said the U.S. can rely on agreements reached with the Soviet Union (65 to 35) ;
opposed gradual expansion of U.S. trade and diplomatic relations with Red China
(65 to 35) ; favored President Nixon's $10 billion program to fight water pollution
(96 to 4) favored giving greater priority to budget-balancing during the fight
against inflation (69 to 31) ; favored continuing the Federal farm program as it
presently exists (77 per cent).
On the farm program question, 17 per cent favored a reduction in subsidies
and only 6 per cent were for phasing the program out.
# # #
Your Washington Review
KENT
5
IONIA
Congressman
JERRY FORD
June 29, 1970
I am deeply grateful to the 34,500 folks in Kent and Ionia Counties who
answered my annual questionnaire which was sent to all postal patrons in both counties.
The response was significantly above the average on similar questionnaires distrib-
uted by other Congressmen. This indicates the deep concern our citizens have for
current issues. These responses are extremely helpful to me in analyzing and voting
on legislation. I'm sure you will be interested in the results which follow:
Yes
No
Unanswered
1. Should the Post Office Department be placed on a
pay-as-you-go basis?
73%
16%
11%
2. Do you believe the U. S. can rely on agreements
reached with the Soviet Union?
20
75
5
3. Should the U. S. gradually expand its diplomatic
and trade relations with Red China?
41
50
9
4. Do you favor President Nixon's multi-billion-
dollar program to fight water pollution?
80
15
5
5. President Nixon has recommended strong anti-crime
legislation. Do you favor:
a. Allowing federal officers with a warrant issued
by a federal court to enter private premises
without knocking if drugs and other evidence of
illegal narcotics traffic might otherwise be
destroyed?
79
19
2
b. Keeping a criminal defendant in "preventive detention"
if his record indicates he might commit a serious
crime if freed on bond while awaiting trial?
90
8
2
6. Do you favor busing school children out of their neigh-
borhood school areas to achieve better racial balance in
classrooms?
7
91
2
7. Should balancing the federal budget to curb inflation
be given priority over greater spending on government
programs?
82
12
6
8. Should undergraduate college students be given temporary
draft deferments?
43
52
5
9. Federal farm controls and subsidies should be:
a. Phased out within five years, or
70%
b. Continued as is, or
9
C. Made permanent, with the subsidies reduced
9
d. Others
12
10. What is the single most important problem in the country
today? Pick one.
a. Air and water pollution
9
b. Crime and violence
45
C. The Vietnam War
25
d. Inflation (rise in the cost of living)
13
e. Others
8
GOLDEN EAGLE PASSPORT: The Golden Eagle passport is an annual permit which
admits tourists to all national recreational areas. Instituted five years ago, the
program expired on March 31. Last Monday the House approved a bill to extend the pro-
gram until Dec. 31, 1971 and authorize the Secretary of the Interior to increase the
cost of the permit from $7 to $10 per year. The permit allows the purchaser and any-
one in his automobile to enter federal recreational areas without additional fees.
The program although strongly endorsed by many has not been as popular as antic-
ipated. It was hoped that about 36 million annual permits would be issued. But
sales leveled off at between 600,000 and 700,000 per year. Revenue is exclusively
used to expand the nation's outdoor recreational opportunities; this earmarked money
is needed to improve our national parks. During the extended life of the program, it
is to be completely reviewed and revamped to see how it can be made more popular.
RESOURCES RECOVERY ACT OF 1970: This is a good title given to a constructive
bill on trash disposal. I was an original sponsor of a similar proposal. Each year
this nation is generating about 360 million tons of solid waste (trash). We spend
$4.5 billion annually to have it collected and hauled to where it can be dumped or
burned. Most of the time these dumps are among the worst blights in our environment.
Practically every community is experiencing difficulties in disposing of its
trash and garbage. The bill approved by the House last Tuesday provides funds to
assist in the construction of solid waste disposal facilities and to carry on research
to improve the means for such disposal. One technology which holds the greatest
promise is the generating of electric power from solid wastes.
A recent analysis of city dumps showed that paper products, food wastes, and
glass and metal products in that order are the most common items among our solid
wastes. Rubber and leather goods were the least common items.
PUBLIC WORKS AND ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION APPROPRIATION: Also approved last
week was a $5.2 billion public works and AEC appropriation bill for 1971. The amount
is $467 million above this year's spending. Included in the bill is $1 billion for
the construction of waste treatment facilities. With $440 million left over from
this year, there will be available for local water pollution control in fiscal 1971
about $1.44 billion. Since the inception of this program 13 years ago, more than
10,000 grants have been made to local communities serving about 78 million persons.
The total federal cost has been $1.6 billion with state and local investments totaling
over $5.5 billion.
AT HOME: On Saturday, July 4, I plan to participate in the Hollyhock Lane and
American Legion parades in Grand Rapids. Later in the day I will be in Portland to
take part in the celebration there. Last Tuesday afternoon I met with the Kent County
Farm Bureau at Fallasburg Park and addressed the Michigan Sheriffs Association in
Grand Rapids in the evening.
INDEPENDENCE DAY RECESS - No newsletter next week.
Congress of the United States
house of Representatives
May, 1970
The attached questionnaire is designed so that both hus-
Dear Friend:
band and wife can express an opinion. Please place your
answers in the appropriate boxes, detach the question-
The Decade of the Seventies will be a Decade of
naire at the fold, and return it to me as soon as possible.
Decision
If you want to make some special comment, please write
Many of those decisions will be made in Congress by me
me at the following address:
and others as representatives of the people.
You are the people. I can best represent you if I know
what you are thinking. Please take a few minutes to
Rep. Gerald R. Ford
answer the questions below. Results of this poll will be
Room H-229
reported to you, to the Congress, and to the President.
U.S. Capitol Building
Sincerely,
Washington, D. C. 20515
Juny YOUR CONGRESSMAN Ford
If you want direct help with a problem, please contact my
personal representative at my district office: 425 Cherry
S.E., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49502. Tel. 456-9747.
(This card not printed at Government Expense.)
10
JERRY FORD 1970 QUESTIONNAIRE
HIS
HERS
HIS
HERS
1. Should the Post Office Department be placed on a pay-
Yes No
Yes No
6. Do you favor busing school children out of their neigh-
Yes No
Yes No
as-you-go basis?
borhood school areas to achieve better racial balance in
classrooms?
2. Do you believe the U.S. can rely on agreements
reached with the Soviet Union?
7. Should balancing the Federal budget to curb inflation
be given priority over greater spending on government
3. Should the U.S. gradually expand its diplomatic and
programs?
trade relations with Red China?
8. Should undergraduate college students be given tem-
4. Do you favor President Nixon's multi-billion-dollar
porary draft deferments?
program to fight water pollution?
5. President Nixon has recommended strong anti-crime
9. Federal farm controls and subsidies should be:
legislation. Do you favor:
a. Phased out within five years, or
b. Continued as is, or
a. Allowing Federal officers with a warrant issued by a
C. Made permanent, with the subsidies reduced
Federal court to enter private premises without knocking
if drugs and other evidence of illegal narcotics traffic
10. What is the single most important problem in the
might otherwise be destroyed?
country today? Pick one.
a. Air and water pollution
b. Keeping a criminal defendant in "preventive deten-
b. Crime and violence
tion" if his record indicates he might commit a serious
c. The Vietnam War
crime if freed on bond while awaiting trial?
d. Inflation (rise in the cost of living)
SIMPLY DETACH THIS HALF OF CARD, AFFIX STAMP ON OTHER SIDE AND MAIL BACK
CONGRESSMAN JERRY FORD WANTS YOUR THINKING
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20515
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ROOM H-229
CONGRESSMAN GERALD R. FORD
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STAMP HERE
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House of Representatives, U.S.
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20515
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Distribution Full
Galleries 2:15pm. 6/30/70
office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
June 30, 1970
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives.
The time has come to launch a new effort to get the Paris peace talks
moving toward a negotiated settlement of the Vietnam War.
Our present top negotiator, Philip C. Habib, has been doing an excellent
job under most difficult circumstances. It seems wise at this point to broaden
the U.S. negotiating team by the appointment of high level advisers to those who
have carried the burden in Paris. The top level adviser group should come from
among the most highly respected and knowledgeable negotiators in the country.
This, I believe, would be the logical follow-through for President Nixon
after his impressive report to the Nation on our Cambodia Operation.
As the President said, the Vietnam War has reached another crossroad.
This is a juncture at which the Communists should opt for a negotiated settlement
and an early peace rather than a protracted struggle.
I strongly believe, along with the President, that the Cambodian Operation
was necessary and that it has proved a solid success. There are those who persist
in calling the Cambodian Operation a failure because they favor immediate
withdrawal from Indochina and want our military operations there to fail. It is
impossible for me to understand how anyone could call our Cambodian Operation an
invasion of Cambodia when the North Vietnamese were already there and we simply
crossed the border to attack them.
One of the most encouraging results of the Cambodian Operation is that it
showed the South Vietnamese to be increasingly able to handle the North Vietnamese
and Viet Cong in sustained combat.
This is a big plus and one which indicates to me that withdrawal of U.S.
troops from South Vietnam can be speeded up.
###
Galleries 10:00 a.m. 7/2/70 Office Copy
Full
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
July 2, 1970
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives.
There is real hope for some movement in the Paris peace talks.
The North Vietnamese negotiators at Paris have complained for months that
the U.S. downgraded the talks by leaving the post of permanent chief negotiator in
the U.S. delegation vacant.
Now that President Nixon has named Ambassador K. E. Bruce to the position
of U.S. delegation chief, the North Vietnamese should reciprocate with some
gesture on their part which might break the long impasse.
Certainly the President has made a fresh move in the direction of peace by
the appointment of Ambassador Bruce and his offer to remove all U.S. troops from
South Vietnam within a year "if the enemy will negotiate with our new ambassador. "
The demand by the Senate doves for equal time to reply to the President is
ridiculous on the face of it. If the television networks are to respond to such
demands every time the President makes a TV appearance we soon will have government
by equal time -- a constant squaring off of the President and certain members of
the Senate. That does not make sense to me. It is simply divisive. The President
has every right to make periodic reports to the American people without being
subjected to political sniping immediately afterward.
###
Destribution Full
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4:00 p.m.
7/2/70
office
Copy
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE IN FRIDAY PM's--
July 3, 1970
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
I have sent President Nixon a telegram urging him to call spokesmen for
Chicago area truck drivers and trucking firm operators to the White House in an
effort to head off another general wage increase throughout the trucking industry.
Wage increases at the 12 per cent level agreed to by some Chicago truck
operators pose a sharp and immediate threat to the nationwide fight against
inflation. If truck operators throughout the Chicago area accede to this wage
demand, the pressure will be tremendous on the International Brotherhood of
Teamsters to discard the master contract they have negotiated and to seek a new
contract patterned after the Chicago increase.
Not only would we then experience the impact of higher trucking costs
throughout the economy, but the high wage increase in the trucking industry would
encourage the United Auto Workers and other unions with upcoming contract talks
to hold out for huge pay boosts.
Former Labor Secretary George Shultz and Secretary James Hodgson have
worked hard to bring about a reasonable settlement of the Chicago trucking dispute
but the situation has become so critical as to require the President's personal
intervention.
Accordingly I have sent the President the following telegram:
Gerald R. Ford, M.C.
July 2, 1970
President Richard M. Nixon
San Clemente, California
Chicago area truck strike has had extremely serious repercussions on the economy
of the Middle West. Labor-management negotiations in Chicago now have reached
crucial point, with ramifications going far beyond impact on Middle West economy.
Unfortunately Congress has not enacted legislation recommended by you which would
have been very helpful in seeking a fair and constructive solution. In view of the
regrettable lack of legislation, I urge personal White House involvement to bring
labor and management to a solution which will be in the best interest of the Nation.
Sincerely,
Gerald R. Ford, M.C.
###
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE IN FRIDAY PM's-
July 3, 1970
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
I have sent President Nixon a telegram urging him to call spokesmen for
Chicago area truck drivers and trucking firm operators to the White House in an
effort to head off another general wage increase throughout the trucking industry.
Wage increases at the 12 per cent level agreed to by some Chicago truck
operators pose a sharp and immediate threat to the nationwide fight against
inflation. If truck operators throughout the Chicago area accede to this wage
demand, the pressure will be tremendous on the International Brotherhood of
Teamsters to discard the master contract they have negotiated and to seek a new
contract patterned after the Chicago increase.
Not only would we then experience the impact of higher trucking costs
throughout the economy, but the high wage increase in the trucking industry would
encourage the United Auto Workers and other unions with upcoming contract talks
to hold out for huge pay boosts.
Former Labor Secretary George Shultz and Secretary James Hodgson have
worked hard to bring about a reasonable settlement of the Chicago trucking dispute
but the situation has become SO critical as to require the President's personal
intervention.
Accordingly I have sent the President the following telegram:
Gerald R. Ford, M.C.
July 2, 1970
President Richard M. Nixon
San Clemente, California
Chicago area truck strike has had extremely serious repercussions on the economy
of the Middle West. Labor-management negotiations in Chicago now have reached
crucial point, with ramifications going far beyond impact on Middle West economy.
Unfortunately Congress has not enacted legislation recommended by you which would
have been very helpful in seeking a fair and constructive solution. In view of the
regrettable lack of legislation, I urge personal White House involvement to bring
labor and management to a solution which will be in the best interest of the Nation.
Sincerely,
Gerald R. Ford, M.C.
###
Distribution Full
Galleries 12:15p.m.7/7/70
m office Copy
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
July 7, 1970
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
Leaders of the Democratic Party would have the American people believe that
we have "a sick economy, a very sick economy," to use the words employed on
television last night by Democratic National Chairman Lawrence F. O'Brien.
This is sick talk. This is playing politics with the people's pocketbook.
This is the big lie technique, aimed at scaring the American people for political
gain. It is simply not borne out by the facts.
The facts are that the economy is not only sound but growing. The facts
are that we can expect real economic growth at an annual rate of 3 per cent to
develop over the next six months. The facts are that the economy has turned the
corner from Democrat wartime inflation toward Republican price stability and
peacetime prosperity.
Sen. Edmund Muskie, D-Me., last night suggested we should now impose wage
and price controls to halt inflation. Yet the overwhelming majority of economists
in this country, without regard for political affiliation, have repeatedly stated
that wage and price controls simply do not work. You do not solve the problem
of inflation simply by decreeing that prices be frozen for a time. During
World War II we had strict price controls, with an enormous bureaucracy to enforce
them, and the Consumer Price Index still rose an average of 3.5 per cent.
As I said earlier, we have turned the corner toward price stability and a
new period of healthy economic growth. The Nixon Administration, by judiciously
and firmly applying appropriate monetary and fiscal policies, has managed to avoid
both a deep recession and a new inflationary surge.
Inflation has been slowing, particularly in wholesale prices where it has
dwindled to a 1.4 per cent rate during the second quarter. Inflation ran to more
than 5 per cent in 1969 as a result of four Democratic years when inflation was
allowed to gather speed unchecked. The pace rose to about 6 per cent in the first
quarter of 1970 but it now is falling back to an annual rate of 4.5 per cent or
less. Most importantly, productivity has finally begun to increase and this is
a most hopeful sign in the fight against inflation. So my prediction is that
inflation will slow to 4 per cent or less this year.
We are on the right economic path. We can look to the future with
confidence -- a future that promises high employment, diminishing unemployment,
stabilization of prices, and prosperity without war.
###
Distribution Full
Galleries 12:30p.m. 7/8/70
m Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives,
on the floor of the House, Wednesday, July 8, 1970.
Congressional inaction on President Nixon's Emergency Public Interest
Protection Act of 1970 is absolutely incomprehensible.
We have had a sudden strike against the nation's railroads. The President
has aborted the strike by employing his authority under the Railway Labor Act to
order the men back to work for 60 days while an Emergency Board studies the
situation and recommends a settlement. Now Northwest Airlines has also been
struck.
These actions point up the absurdity of the position in which the Nation
finds itself.
The country is without adequate means to deal with national emergency labor
disputes in transportation and yet hearings have not even been scheduled in
either the House or the Senate on the President's proposed Emergency Public
Interest Protection Act.
It was last Fabruary 27 that the President sent Congress a Message
detailing his proposal covering emergency disputes in the transportation industries.
Why has no action been taken? Why should such disputes reach the point where
Congress has to legislate a special solution which in most cases amounts to
compulsory arbitration? I think these questions demand an answer. I think the
American people will insist upon an answer.
As President Nixon has pointed out, the Railway Labor Act has a very bad
record. It discourages genuine collective bargaining.
The President's Emergency Public Interest Protection Act is designed to
promote collective bargaining -- to promote a solution short of special
congressional action in a crisis atmosphere. This makes sense to me, and it should
make sense to every other member of Congress.
I urge that the Congress move immediately to consider the Emergency Public
Interest Protection Act.
###
Distribution Full
Galleries 3:45 p.m. 7/9/70 office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
July 9, 1970
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
I am delighted that the House of Representatives had sense enough not to
try to tie the hands of the President of the United States in the conduct of our
foreign policy.
The House is to be congratulated for having the wisdom to reject the
unwarranted attempt by the United States Senate to infringe upon the powers of
the President as commander-in-chief of our armed forces.
I now hope that the position of the House prevails in conference and that
the Cooper-Church Amendment is removed entirely from the Military Sales Act. The
Cooper-Church language would interfere with the power of the President to protect
the lives of American troops. Such interference is short-sighted and unwise.
###
Galleries 12 moon 7/15/70 office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
July 15, 1970
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives,
on the floor of the House, Wednesday, July 15, 1970.
Mr. Speaker:
President Nixon assumed office pledging a relentless struggle against crime
in the District of Columbia.
Eleven days after his inauguration, he outlined a comprehensive program of
crime control designed to restore a decent measure of security to residents and
visitors in the Nation's capital.
The President's program envisioned a partnership with Congress. Many of his
recommendations required Congressional action.
Specifically, the President proposed a massive reorganization and expansion
of the local courts, featuring added manpower and modern court administration to
reduce the scandalous backlogs and delays that have characterized the present
system.
He supported an enlargement of the D. C. bail agency to improve surveillance
of defendants before trial.
He advocated a full-fledged public defender service to assist indigent
defendants in criminal proceedings.
He called for sweeping reforms in the operation of the juvenile court and in
the juvenile code.
And he asked for changes in the Bail Reform Act to correct manifest
deficiencies which had become apparent through experience.
In subsequent weeks and months, other suggestions to improve the District's
criminal justice system were forthcoming -- from the Department of Justice, from
members of the House and Senate, and from the public at large.
In time, each chamber produced and passed a bill.
Last Monday, after more than three months of spirited debate, after
24 sessions of conference and compromise, the best in these disparate measures was
at last brought together in a single omnibus crime bill for the District of Columbia.
We should send this first major crime legislation of the 91st Congress to
the President's desk for signature without further delay.
(more)
The legislative process has taken a long time -- too much time for any of us
to be proud or satisfied. Almost eighteen months have passed since the President's
crime message. These long months have been a tragic loss when we consider the
urgency and magnitude of the present crisis.
But a bill has emerged -- a sound, constitutional bill of great depth and
dimension that will make history as one of the most progressive crime control
measures ever enacted by the Congress.
The members of the Conference Committee who hammered out this compromise
legislation deserve our thanks. Special tribute should be paid to Congressmen
John McMillan, Tom Abernethy, John Dowdy, Earle Cabell, Ancher Nelsen, Bill Harsha,
Joel Broyhill, and Larry Hogan, who faithfully represented the interests of the
House.
The D. C. Crime Bill is long overdue -- not months overdue but years overdue --
in a city where crime has increased more than 600 per cent during the past decade.
The bill is not a panacea for every problem in this crime-beleaguered capital.
But it is a reasoned response to rampant lawlessness -- an immediate response to
immediate problems. It is needed now. It is needed for the future.
The House of Representatives was not satisfied with just a court reorganization
bill because a comprehensive crime bill was the medicine needed.
This bill is sound, progressive, bipartisan legislation. The provision
authorizing pretrial detention is designed to meet the problem of dangerous felony
defendants whose past and present record of behavior demonstrates that they cannot
be trusted to refrain from additional criminal conduct during the period between
arrest and a speedy trial. Crime on bail is an undeniably serious problem in the
District of Columbia, and it will not disappear through wishful thinking.
The no-knock provision in the bill codifies the law of the land as set out
by the Supreme Court in Ker V. California. Exaggerated concern about police barging
into private homes is completely unfounded in the accumulated experience of 29 states.
Authority to enter a premises in exigent circumstances without first knocking is
often essential to the life and safety of an officer or the preservation of critical
evidence.
The wiretapping provision in the bill implements the authority granted to
local jurisdictions by the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. There
is no truth whatever to charges that the provision exceeds the careful standards
set out in 1968.
Idle talk about repression contributes nothing to the sober resolution of
serious problems.
The D. C. Crime Bill will contribute significantly to peace, liberty, and order
in the capital city of our nation. It merits the support of the Congress. #
#
#
Distribution: all Fifth District news Media
air mail 7/21/70
m office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE AT 12 NOON FRIDAY--
July 24, 1970
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
I am and have been opposed to secrecy regarding a congressman's position on
major issues of the day.
I firmly believe that a congressman's votes both in committee and on the
Floor of the House should be a matter of public record.
For that reason I am supporting moves currently being made to place on
public record the votes cast by a member in committee and during teller votes on
the Floor of the House.
I also favor making all committee meetings open to the public except in
cases involving the national security or the markup of bills. Closing committee
meetings where the national security is involved requires no explanation. Meetings
at which bills are marked up must be closed because to open them would be to bring
lobbyists into such meetings. This would interfere with the proper conduct of
markup sessions.
Where committee meetings are closed, this action should be taken by majority
vote of the committee and only to protect the national security or to facilitate
proper conduct of the business of the committee.
I would add that I strongly favor opening committee meetings to radio,
television and news photographers.
I have long favored reform and modernization of the procedures of the House
of Representatives. Legislation to that end currently is being considered by the
House. I am supporting all constructive amendments.
###
Distribution all Fifth District news media
7/23/70
only moffice Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE AT 12 NOON WEDNESDAY--
July 29, 1970
Congressman Gerald R. Ford of Grand Rapids today urged the House Judiciary
Committee to approve two bills aimed at halting terrorist bombings in this country.
Ford filed a strong statement with the committee in support of the
legislation. The committee is to open formal hearings Thursday on the bills. One
of them would make it a federal crime to bomb a federal building or a business
affecting interstate commerce or to telephone a bomb threat or a bomb scare. The
other would limit interstate traffic in explosives to licensees and official
permittees and would prohibit the sale of explosives to minors, felons, fugitives
from justice, drug addicts and mental defectives.
Ford has co-sponsored both of the bills being considered by the Judiciary
Committee.
"The rash of bombings which has swept across the country in recent months
is a development which must be stopped," Ford told the committee.
He added that these senseless bombings have spread fear throughout America,
have taken the lives of 43 people, and have destroyed $22.6 million worth of
property.
Said Ford: "These horrible events were recorded during the period from
Jan. 1, 1969, to April 15, 1970, when there were 4,330 bombings, 1,475 attempted
bombings and 35,129 bomb scares."
Ford said he was "deeply concerned" about the bombing menace. He declared
it is "mandatory" that interstate traffic in explosives be regulated by the Federal
Government and that explosives be kept out of the hands of minors, felons, fugitives
from justice, drug addicts and mental defectives.
Ford asserted: "I urge the enactment of these bills restricting the sale of
explosives and I hope that every state will follow up by adopting strong licensing
laws governing business in explosives within its borders. These bombings must be
stopped."
Ford added: "It is obvious that many of these bombings are the work of
anarchists and political fanatics. The only way to deal with these potential
murderers is to bring the full power of Federal, state and local law enforcement
to bear on the situation. We in the Congress must further regulate the sale of
explosives and do everything we reasonably can to help state and local authorities
deal with these acts of terrorism."
# # #
Distribution Full
House galleries 4:45p.m. 8/4/70
office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
August 4, 1970
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives,
on the floor of the House Tuesday, August 4, 1970, regarding H.R. 18546, the
Omnibus Farm Bill.
During the twenty-one years that it has been my privilege to serve as a
member of this great body, I have seen many farm bills battled and battered on
this Floor.
I have seen proposals to literally enchain American agriculture, and I have
fought those proposals.
I have seen some real fiscal follies designed and developed through the
years and seldom have I seen the Committee on Agriculture in substantial agreement
on anything.
I have seen many instances where the Administration -- be it a Republican
or a Democratic Administration -- has been in a hammerlock with the Congress over
farm legislation -- be it a Republican or a Democratic Congress.
Yes, Mr. Chairman, the rhetoric during the past two decades on farm bills
was usually shrill, generally emotional, and yes, inevitably partisan.
This year, for a change, we have a different legislative atmosphere as we
consider H.R. 18546.
This year we have a bill which has the support of the Chairman of the
Agriculture Committee, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poage), and the ranking
minority member of that committee, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Belcher).
This year the Administration and the committee are working together to pass
a farm bill.
This year the Committee on Agriculture, with only six dissenting votes --
three Republicans and three Democrats -- has agreed on a farm bill.
Yes, Mr. Chairman, the situation is different this year because the leader-
ship of both parties agrees that it is in the national interest to have a new farm
bill to replace the expiring Food and Agriculture Act of 1965.
This year there has been more light than heat in the farm bill dialogue,
so let us continue to use reason, not rancor, and analysis, not emotion, as we
continue our deliberations over this important legislation.
(more)
-2-
Now when I said that this year's farm bill was different, I didn't mean it
was so different that there isn't any controversy about it.
This farm bill is not ready for the Consent Calendar, believe me.
There are some features in it which I personally do not think are sound,
and I'm sure other members of the House feel the same way. This is not the farm
bill that I would write, nor is it the kind of farm bill the Administration would
write if it had the power to do SO. It is a compromise bill which has the thoughts
and writings of many. But, by and large, I'm convinced that this bill represents
the best bill possible at this time
even if it isn't the best possible bill.
When I say this bill is the best bill possible, I mean that it is preferable,
both to the farmer and the taxpayer, than either a straight continuation of the 1965
Act or a reversion to the old laws in effect prior to 1965. Either of these
alternatives represents, in my opinion, a reversion to the antique notions of past
farm programs which have done so much to hamstring the farmer and deplete the public
treasury
programs which I, for one, have consistently opposed.
I think we all have to recognize that while in many ways this bill is similar
to the legislation of the past, it at least contains some movement and direction
toward the free market. It suspends quotas and controls on wheat and cotton, and it
establishes a set-aside system that should help provide farmers with greater
flexibility in the management of their own farms.
At the same time, this bill promises that the financial rug will not be
pulled from under the American farmer for the next three years. It contains a
commitment for the Administration to continue to expend about the same amount of
money on the three big commodity programs as is the case now.
As just one member of this House I realize that our national prosperity is
directly interlinked with our farm prosperity. Without a sound agricultural economy
we are not going to have a sound total economy.
I therefore accept the fact that this bill is a form of subsidy to American
agriculture.
I have not observed a developed nation in this world which did not subsidize
its agriculture one way or another, and our great country is no exception. The
assistance we provide in this bill will, in the long run, be repaid many times over
to American taxpayers and consumers.
That is why I am supporting H.R. 18546.
(more)
-3-
I do not intend to try to substitute my judgment for what a good farm bill
is for that of the 27 Members of Congress who serve on the Committee on Agriculture
and who brought this bill to the Floor after 38 days of public hearings,
92 executive sessions, 27 night meetings, and a year and a half of negotiating
nearly every sentence and word of this 57-page bill.
This bill is supported by the Secretary of Agriculture, by the Administration,
by the Democratic leadership of the House and by me as the Republican leader.
I support it, and I urge all members of the House to do likewise.
###
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
August 4, 1970
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives,
on the floor of the House Tuesday, August 4, 1970, regarding H.R. 18546, the
Omnibus Farm Bill.
During the twenty-one years that it has been my privilege to serve as a
member of this great body, I have seen many farm bills battled and battered on
this Floor.
I have seen proposals to literally enchain American agriculture, and I have
fought those proposals.
I have seen some real fiscal follies designed and developed through the
years and seldom have I seen the Committee on Agriculture in substantial agreement
on anything.
I have seen many instances where the Administration -- be it a Republican
or a Democratic Administration -- has been in a hammerlock with the Congress over
farm legislation -- be it a Republican or a Democratic Congress.
Yes, Mr. Chairman, the rhetoric during the past two decades on farm bills
was usually shrill, generally emotional, and yes, inevitably partisan.
This year, for a change, we have a different legislative atmosphere as we
consider H.R. 18546.
This year we have a bill which has the support of the Chairman of the
Agriculture Committee, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poage), and the ranking
minority member of that committee, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Belcher).
This year the Administration and the committee are working together to pass
a farm bill.
This year the Committee on Agriculture, with only six dissenting votes --
three Republicans and three Democrats -- has agreed on a farm bill.
Yes, Mr. Chairman, the situation is different this year because the leader-
ship of both parties agrees that it is in the national interest to have a new farm
bill to replace the expiring Food and Agriculture Act of 1965.
This year there has been more light than heat in the farm bill dialogue,
so let us continue to use reason, not rancor, and analysis, not emotion, as we
continue our deliberations over this important legislation.
(more)
-2-
Now when I said that this year's farm bill was different, I didn't mean it
was so different that there isn't any controversy about it.
This farm bill is not ready for the Consent Calendar, believe me.
There are some features in it which I personally do not think are sound,
and I'm sure other members of the House feel the same way. This is not the farm
bill that I would write, nor is it the kind of farm bill the Administration would
write if it had the power to do SO. It is a compromise bill which has the thoughts
and writings of many. But, by and large, I'm convinced that this bill represents
the best bill possible at this time even if it isn't the best possible bill.
When I say this bill is the best bill possible, I mean that it is preferable,
both to the farmer and the taxpayer, than either a straight continuation of the 1965
Act or a reversion to the old laws in effect prior to 1965. Either of these
alternatives represents, in my opinion, a reversion to the antique notions of past
farm programs which have done so much to hamstring the farmer and deplete the public
treasury
programs which I, for one, have consistently opposed.
I think we all have to recognize that while in many ways this bill is similar
to the legislation of the past, it at least contains some movement and direction
toward the free market. It suspends quotas and controls on wheat and cotton, and it
establishes a set-aside system that should help provide farmers with greater
flexibility in the management of their own farms.
At the same time, this bill promises that the financial rug will not be
pulled from under the American farmer for the next three years. It contains a
commitment for the Administration to continue to expend about the same amount of
money on the three big commodity programs as is the case now.
As just one member of this House I realize that our national prosperity is
directly interlinked with our farm prosperity. Without a sound agricultural economy
we are not going to have a sound total economy.
I therefore accept the fact that this bill is a form of subsidy to American
agriculture.
I have not observed a developed nation in this world which did not subsidize
its agriculture one way or another, and our great country is no exception. The
assistance we provide in this bill will, in the long run, be repaid many times over
to American taxpayers and consumers.
That is why I am supporting H.R. 18546.
(more)
-3-
I do not intend to try to substitute my judgment for what a good farm bill
is for that of the 27 Members of Congress who serve on the Committee on Agriculture
and who brought this bill to the Floor after 38 days of public hearings,
92 executive sessions, 27 night meetings, and a year and a half of negotiating
nearly every sentence and word of this 57-page bill.
This bill is supported by the Secretary of Agriculture, by the Administration,
by the Democratic leadership of the House and by me as the Republican leader.
I support it, and I urge all members of the House to do likewise.
###
Distribution : Full
House Halleries 12:30pm 8/6/70 moffice Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
August 6, 1970
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives,
on the floor of the House, Thursday, August 6, 1970, in support of the
Conference Report on H.R. 17070.
MR. SPEAKER: I support this conference report and urge its prompt adoption.
I also wish to commend the Chairman and the Members of the Committee on
Post Office and Civil Service for what I consider to be one of the truly great
accomplishments of this Congress. The postal reform bill, which we send to the
President today, will stand as a landmark in the history of the United States
postal service.
This legislation is the product of sincere, dedicated, bipartisan effort.
Those efforts began with general studies in the last administration and moved ahead
with President Nixon's specific legislative proposals of May 1969 and April 16, 1970.
Today we reach the end of a journey of tremendous legislative accomplishment by
sending the postal reform bill to the President for his signature.
While the final conference agreement before the House represents a fine
compromise between the work of the House and the work of the Senate, it basically
embodies all the recommendations of President Nixon resulting from the unprecedented
negotiations between the Administration and the postal unions after the end of the
March postal work stoppage. This includes, of course, the 8 per cent additional
pay raise for all Post Office Department employees.
Shortly after he was inaugurated, President Nixon pledged that his
Administration would move to abolish the political patronage system which has
plagued the Post Office Department for nearly two centuries. That was accomplished
by administrative action of the Postmaster General early last year. Under the
provisions of this legislation there will be a permanent barrier against any
resurgence of partisan politics in the postal service.
The Post Office Department is to be reorganized as an independent establish-
ment in the Executive Branch and is purposely insulated from direct control by the
President, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Congress.
The new postal system is intended to be self-supporting. It will have
continuity of top management, with all the management tools and flexibility needed
(more)
-2-
to properly manage. It will have appropriate controls over its expenses and its
revenues. It will have a workable means of raising the necessary funds for
facilities and capital improvements.
The new postal service will herald a new era of dignity and respect for
postal employees who will be able to sit down at the bargaining table with
management and bargain collectively over pay, fringe benefits, and the conditions
of their employment.
The end result of this massive reorganization of the antiquated Post Office
Department can only be as the President anticipated -- "a truly superior mail
service."
I am proud to have been a co-sponsor of this legislation.
Again, Mr. Speaker, I emphasize that this legislation which comes to us
today for final approval after many, many months of long, tedious efforts by the
Committee will stand as a monumental legislative achievement of the 91st Congress.
# # #
Distribution: House Halleries only
4:20pm 8/7/70
m Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
August 7, 1970
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives.
I am most encouraged by the news of the cease-fire in the Mideast.
This is, of course, only a first step -- but it is a step leading away from the
dreadful abyss of a full-scale Mideast war and a possible confrontation between
the super-powers. I hope and pray the cease-fire will lead to a settlement of
the Mideast conflict and to a complete and permanent peace in that troubled area
of the world.
###
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--HOLD FOR RELEASE IN SUNDAY AM's--
August 0, 1970
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich. Republican Leader, U.S. House of Reps.
I am gratified that Chairman Celler of the Committee on the Judiciary has
agreed publicly to open hearings on the impeachment of Associate Justice William
O. Douglas, with witnesses examined under oath, as I have asked from the outset.
The Chairman's commitment is conditioned, however, as to time and cir-
cumstances. Public hearings will be in order, he stated in an August 5 news
release, "when the special subcommittee is satisfied that the facts indicate
that an impeachable offense may have been committed." The definition of "an
impeachable offense" thus becomes crucial to the conduct of free and full pub-
lic hearings.
The Constitution clearly entrusts the determination of this question to
the conscience of the whole llouse of Representatives, which has the "sole power
of impeachment." In response to an earlier request from Chairman Celler, as
detailed in my attached letter to him, I have provided members of the Committee
on the Judiciary with an independent and comprehensive legal memorandum on
this question which was prepared by the Detroit, Michigan law firm of Dykema,
Gossett, Spencer, Goodnow & Trigg.
My own personal views on this legal question were stated in my April 15
speech on the floor of the House, a copy of which is also attached.
###
Distribution Full
House Galleries 2:30p.m M.Office Copy
Fifth District 12:30pm. 8/7/70
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE AT 12 NOON MONDAY--
August 10, 1970
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., on the resolution proposing a Women's
Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Mr. Speaker: Men are not generally speaking anti-women; it simply appears
to work out that way.
I, for one, do not plead guilty to the charge. In my own defense, I would
note that I am very happy to confer all rights -- and responsibilities -- on my
wife. In addition, I would point out that I had something to do with the fact
that 15 of the last 16 House members to sign the petition discharging the House
Judiciary Committee from jurisdiction over H. J. Res. 264, the Women's Equal Rights
Amendment, were Republicans.
In all seriousness, I am delighted to have had a hand in bringing to the
House floor the proposed Women's Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
The purpose of the amendment is most laudable: To provide constitutional
protection against laws and official practices that treat men and women differently.
The proposed amendment would provide that: "Equality of rights under the
law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account
of sex."
This amendment would insure equal rights under the law for men and women
and would secure the right of all persons to equal treatment under the laws and
official practices without differentiation based on sex.
Adoption of the amendment would, of course, require a two-thirds vote of
both Houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the States. I hope
the Congress will recognize the justice of this amendment and the clear and present
need for it. I call upon this House to render its two-thirds approval.
We like to believe that we live in an enlightened age. How can any age
and any nation be termed enlightened if it continues discrimination against women?
And we do, of course, still have discrimination against women simply because they
are women.
This amendment has been pending before the House Judiciary Committee for
47 years -- since 1923. You would almost think there had been a conspiracy. Under
the circumstances it is almost silly to say it is time we did something about it.
It is long past time.
(more)
-2-
The great French writer Victor Hugo said: "Greater than the tread of
mighty armies is an idea whose time has come. "
There is no question that the Women's Equal Rights Amendment is just such an
idea. Its time has come just as surely as did the 19th Amendment to the
Constitution 50 years ago, giving women the right to vote.
I think it is fitting that today, when the Women's Equal Rights Movement
may well be crowned with success, the initiative to implement full equal rights
for women comes in the House. After all, the House has remained quiescent or
adamant on this score -- take your choice -- for 47 years while the Senate has
twice passed a Women's Equal Rights Amendment, in 1950 and 1953. And we are passing
the amendment free and clear of anything like the Senate's Hayden rider, which
threw in a qualifier unacceptable to women.
It is also most fitting that the House should be the first to act today
because the prime mover of this amendment in the Congress is my dear colleague from
Michigan, Rep. Martha Griffiths. Passage of this amendment would be a monument
to Martha.
Mr. Speaker, this amendment should really be unnecessary. But it clearly
is mandatory because women today do not have equal rights. This amendment will
give them those most valued of rights -- the rights to a job, to a promotion, to a
pension, to equal social security benefits, to all the fringe benefits of any job.
There is no denying that these rights are different for women than for men.
It is, of course, easy to jest about this matter. For instance, I am sure
our G.I.'s will not complain if women are drafted into the Armed Forces in the same
numbers as men. And I'm sure there are men who will welcome the awarding of
alimony to husbands in divorce actions.
In any case, I know that men will still look upon women as the fairer sex
and will want to continue opening doors for them. This is not inequality, just
"woomanship."
Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Griffiths and others have made an excellent case for
adoption of the Women's Equal Rights Amendment. I urge overwhelming House approval
of H. J. Res. 264.
###
NOTE TO FIFTH DISTRICT NEWS MEDIA
On Monday, August 10, the House of Representatives will consider
House Joint Resolution 264, the Women's Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution, and is expected to approve it by more than the two-thirds
majority required. The resolution had been locked up in the House Judiciary
Committee and reaches the House floor only by virtue of the fact that 218
House members, a majority, signed what is known as a "discharge petition."
A discharge petition, if it receives enough signatures, takes a bill away
from a committee which is sitting on it. This particular discharge petition
was introduced by Rep. Martha Griffiths, D-Mich. Lacking enough signatures,
she appealed to Ford. Since Ford is Republican leader of the House, he used
his "powers of persuasion" and the net result was that 15 of the last 16
signature needed to bring the number of petition signers to 218 came from
Republicans. That is the background for the five-minute speech Ford is
scheduled to make on the House floor Monday. A copy of that speech is attached.
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE AT 12 NOON MONDAY--
August 10, 1970
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., on the resolution proposing a Women's
Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Mr. Speaker: Men are not generally speaking anti-women; it simply appears
to work out that way.
I, for one, do not plead guilty to the charge. In my own defense, I would
note that I am very happy to confer all rights -- and responsibilities -- on my
wife. In addition, I would point out that I had something to do with the fact
that 15 of the last 16 House members to sign the petition discharging the House
Judiciary Committee from jurisdiction over H. J. Res. 264, the Women's Equal Rights
Amendment, were Republicans.
In all seriousness, I am delighted to have had a hand in bringing to the
House floor the proposed Women's Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
The purpose of the amendment is most laudable: To provide constitutional
protection against laws and official practices that treat men and women differently.
The proposed amendment would provide that: "Equality of rights under the
law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States OF by any State on account
of sex."
This amendment would insure equal rights under the law for men and women
and would secure the right of all persons to equal treatment under the laws and
official practices without differentiation based on sex.
Adoption of the amendment would, of course, require a two-thirds vote of
both Houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the States. I hope
the Congress will recognize the justice of this amendment and the clear and present
need for it. I call upon this House to render its two-thirds approval.
We like to believe that we live in an enlightened age. How can any age
and any nation be termed enlightened if it continues discrimination against women?
And we do, of course, still have discrimination against women simply because they
are women.
This amendment has been pending before the House Judiciary Committee for
47 years -- since 1923. You would almost think there had been a conspiracy. Under
the circumstances it is almost silly to say it is time we did something about it.
It is long past time.
(more)
-2-
The great French writer Victor Hugo said: "Greater than the tread of
mighty armies is an idea whose time has come."
There is no question that the Women's Equal Rights Amendment is just such an
idea. Its time has come just as surely as did the 19th Amendment to the
Constitution 50 years ago, giving women the right to vote.
I think it is fitting that today, when the Women's Equal Rights Movement
may well be crowned with success, the initiative to implement full equal rights
for women comes in the House. After all, the House has remained quiescent or
adamant on this score -- take your choice -- for 47 years while the Senate has
twice passed a Women's Equal Rights Amendment, in 1950 and 1953. And we are passing
the amendment free and clear of anything like the Senate's Hayden rider, which
threw in a qualifier unacceptable to women.
It is also most fitting that the House should be the first to act today
because the prime mover of this amendment in the Congress is my dear colleague from
Michigan, Rep. Martha Griffiths. Passage of this amendment would be a monument
to Martha.
Mr. Speaker, this amendment should really be unnecessary. But it clearly
is mandatory because women today do not have equal rights. This amendment will
give them those most valued of rights -- the rights to a job, to a promotion, to a
pension, to equal social security benefits, to all the fringe benefits of any job.
There is no denying that these rights are different for women than for men.
It is, of course, easy to jest about this matter. For instance, I am sure
our G.I. 's will not complain if women are drafted into the Armed Forces in the same
numbers as men. And I'm sure there are men who will welcome the awarding of
alimony to husbands in divorce actions.
In any case, I know that men will still look upon women as the fairer sex
and will want to continue opening doors for them. This is not inequality, just
"woomanship."
Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Griffiths and others have made an excellent case for
adoption of the Women's Equal Rights Amendment. I urge overwhelming House approval
of H. J. Res. 264.
###
office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
August 10, 1970
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
I am today joining with Representative Frank Bow (R-Ohio), the ranking
Republican Member of the Committee on Appropriations, the entire House Republi-
can Leadership and other Minority Members of the Appropriations Committee in spon-
soring the "Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1970" which would prevent budget-busting
by the Congress as well as by a President.
For years Presidents and Congresses have sought to blame each other for
big spending and budget deficits. No matter who wins this political argument, the
American taxpayer loses.
This bill would apply a $205,600,000,000 limitation on federal spending for
fiscal year 1971 in a way that would permit Congress to control the results of its
own actions on individual appropriation bills from the point of view of the total
Federal budget. In order to accomplish this it would provide a means of modifying
actions on individual appropriation bills if these actions collectively would ex-
ceed the limitation proposed in this bill.
Specifically:
(1) It would provide that Congressional increases over the budget on in-
dividual appropriation bills that would have the effect of increasing total expendi-
tures above the bill's ceiling would then be subject to automatic reduction
according to a formula and by an amount necessary for the budget to remain within
the ceiling.
(2) It would make possible the application of this formula in those manda-
tory spending programs when appropriate and necessary to comply with the limitation
and exempt the government from liability for any differences between the amount
appropriated and the amount made available.
(3) It would only exempt from the ceiling those increases or decreases that
result from the so-called uncontrollables -- social security trust fund payments,
veterans' pension funds, etc. (as shown on P. 44 of the Budget -- House Document
No. 240).
(4) It would repeal the previous expenditure limitation and substitute
this one for it.
We will press for prompt consideration of this "Fiscal Responsibility
Act of 1970" so that every Member of this Congress will have an opportunity to vote
the same way he talks on the subject of big spending.
###
m Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
[1970]
For Use August 12-13 and Thereafter--
A bill sponsored by Congre ssman Gerald R. Ford of Grand Rapids to prohibit
the mailing or interstate transport of advertisements which appeal to prurient
interests has been overwhelmingly (322 to 4) approved by the U.S. House of
Representatives.
Ford said his anti-smut advertising bill is an important and necessary
followup to another of his anti-smut bills which passed the House of Representatives
in April.
"That bill, which passed the House April 28, is designed to protect young
people from the flood of obscene, perverse and depraved literature which pours
unsolicited into thousands of family homes each day via the mailbox," Ford explained.
"My latest bill to be approved is aimed at prohibiting the mailing or
interstate transport of prurient advertisements, which are often as obscene as the
product they pander," Ford stated.
The Ford bill carries a penglty of $50,000 fine or five years in prison or
both for a first offense.
"I am pleased by the progress to date of this comprehensive legislative
program to keep unsolicited obscene materials out of American homes, but I will not
be satisfied until all the necessary legislation to accomplish this objective is
enacted," Ford declared.
#####
Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE ON RECEIPT
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford
August 13, 1970
I voted to save the taxpayers nearly a billion dollars. That is the
significance of my vote to sustain the presidential vetoes of the Office of
Education and Housing and Urban Development-Independent Offices appropriations
bills. The two vetoed bills provided $994 million more than requested by the
President, although the President's budget provided funding for education and
housing at a level generously above that of the previous Administration.
The question was not whether education and housing would be adequately
funded. These needs were amply met in the President's budget. The question was
whether the Congress would appropriate far in excess of funding which is adequate
for the times -appropriate excessive funds at a time which is critical in the
fight against inflation.
This is a time when not only American families but the Federal Government
should live within a sensible budget. If the Federal Government does not live
within its means, how can the President ask the American people to do so? If the
Congress does not cooperate with the President in holding to a sensible Federal
Budget, how can the Congress expect the American people to act responsibly in the
battle against inflation?
The issue in these veto override moves by the Democratic leadership in the
Congress was just this: Fiscal responsibility. I am terribly disappointed that
the House of Representatives has failed to fully measure up to the challenge.
Office Copy
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE UPON RECEIPT--
Issued August 14, 1970
A local chapter of the Michigan Prisoner of War Committee has been established
in Grand Rapids. I would like to urge that the people in our area respond to the
fullest extent possible to the local POW chapter's request that they write letters to
Hanoi asking humane treatment and complete information on American POWs in North
Vietnam and our men missing in action.
What is needed is full and continuing public demands that Hanoi live up to the
terms of the Geneva Convention regarding prisoners of war. Letters from the Grand
Rapids area can help. Every letter counts.
I personally have written to the ambassadors of four countries--France, Sweden,
India and Poland--asking that their governments urge Hanoi to provide humane treat-
ment for the POWs and "to inform our government of their condition so that their
families may be given a report on their health and welfare." These letters were
written just recently. All of the countries involved except Poland have responded
affirmatively.
Something which is not generally known is that the prisoner of war issue has
been put forward as a central topic by the United States at the peace talks in Paris.
I fully endorse this approach and I hope and pray it produces beneficial results.
Our chief negotiator at Paris, Ambassador David K.E.Bruce, declared in his first
statement at Paris recently: "As a result of the discussion thus far, we know what
the central issues are to which we must now turn our attention with renewed vigor.
These issues are the withdrawal of troops, a political settlement and prisoners of
war."
The Congress also has been focusing attention on the prisoner of war issue and
turning the heat on Hanoi. I co-sponsored a prisoner of war resolution which was
adopted by the House of Representatives Dec. 15, 1969, and approved by the Senate
Feb. 18, 1970. I also joined with other House members in speaking out on the issue of
our prisoners of war and men missing in action. The resolution calls on President
Nixon, the Departments of State and Defense, the United Nations, and the citizens of
the world to appeal to the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong for humane treatment of
American prisoners. Technically, it asks the Communists to accept the tenets of the
Geneva Convention concerning prisoners of war and to take steps to obtain the humane
treatment and prompt release of all members of the Armed Forces of the United States
now held as prisoners of war.
The wives and families of the U.S. servicemen who are prisoners of war or are
missing in action know the problem. They deserve the respect, support and admiration
of all our citizens.
Distribution Full
Galleries 11:00a.m. 8/22/70
8/24/70
Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
August 22, 1970
The cost of living figures for July, released yesterday, indicate that
inflation is definitely easing and that the Nixon Administration was right in
sticking to its policies of fiscal and monetary restraint.
The Nixon "game plan" is producing a victory over inflation. That is the
significance of the July figures--the fact that the rise in the cost of living in
July was 0.3 of one per cent on a seasonally adjusted basis, only about half of
the rate of increase recorded last winter.
The fact that the increase in cost of living is easing is also reflected
in an increase in the average worker's spendable earnings--up 80 cents a week in
July for a worker with three dependents. The average purchasing power of the
American worker is increasing under the Nixon Administration.
I think every American should be encouraged by the slowdown in inflation.
This easing in inflation has become more pronounced in June and July. We now can
look forward to a continued improvement in our overall economic situation, both
from the standpoint of cost of living and the general strength of the economy.
###
Distribution 5th Dest. news Media 8/27/70
Galleries mail List 9/3/70
moffice Copy
For Release on Monday, Sept. 7, or earlier
A Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford
On Labor Day we pay tribute to the people who are the backbone of our
Nation-the working men and women of America. They are 70 million strong. Their
work is often tough and demands manual skill. These are the Americans who turn
the wheels of industry and perform the services that are essential to our daily
living.
This is the 76th year that America has observed Labor Day. We set aside
this special day to honor our working men and women because it is so easy to
forget the contribution they make to American life. And so we tell them today how
very important they are to America.
In his first annual message to Congress on Dec. 3, 1861, President Abraham
Lincoln said of the Nation's workers: "Labor is prior to, and independent of,
capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor
had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much higher
consideration."
I believe as Lincoln did that America should honor her workers not just
one day of the year but all the year through. The Nation should honor her workers
by making their lives more satisfying and more secure.
We must eliminate work hazards to every extent practicable, and we must
raise health standards.
We must continue to provide workers with better protection from the
adversities of temporary unemployment.
We must strengthen the framework of free collective bargaining. We must
provide more channels for the healthy settlement of labor-management disputes
without a resort to crippling strikes.
We must continue to make progress toward elimination of the joblessness
that flows from lack of skills or education.
We must make changes in our economy and in working conditions that will
tend to elevate the quality of life for working men and women throughout America.
This is the best way to pay tribute to our workers and to thank them for
their many contributions to the well-being of America. This is the only worthy
way to do them honor on this Labor Day 1970.
# # #
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
September 9, 1970
Congressman Gerald R. Ford today announced two openings at the service academies
for interested young men from the Fifth Congressional District. One with the U. S.
Military Academy at West Point and the other with the U. S. Air Force Academy at
Colorado Springs are being offered to high school seniors who are U. S. citizens,
under 22 years of age, never married, and able to pass the physical and scholastic
requirements of the respective academies.
Applications for these positions can be obtained from Jerry Ford's office at
425 Cherry Street, S.E. in Grand Rapids (telephone 456-9747) and from his Washington,
D.C. office. The deadline for filing the applications is September 25.
Ford suggested that boys interested in the Naval Academy also fill out appli-
cations in the event openings develop.
Out of six openings which developed at the Military, Naval, and Air Force Acad-
emies, nine candidates from Kent and Ionia Counties entered Academy classes this year.
The three additional candidates obtained appointments as a result of national selec-
tion among qualified alternates.
Appointments are also available to the Merchant Marine and Coast Guard Acad-
emies, but the selection to those institutions is not limited to a Congressional
district. Michigan Congressmen may nominate up to ten candidates for the Merchant
Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York to compete state-wide for 12 available
scholarships. The Coast Guard makes its own selection of cadets to attend the
Academy at New London, Connecticut from a nation-wide competition.
Selection of Fifth District candidates is based on the results of an open,
competitive Civil Service Examination. This examination will be given on Saturday,
October 3 in Grand Rapids and other cities throughout the nation. Make-up tests for
those candidates unable to attend the October 3 examination will be given on Tuesday,
November 3. Such applications will be accepted as late as October 30.
These all-expense college scholarships at the Academies lead to a bachelor's
degree in science and a commission in one of the Services. "These appointments offer
a wonderful educational opportunity and an honorable career in the service of our
country," Ford said. "At the present time we have at the academies thirteen young
men from Grand Rapids, three from Ionia, two each from Cedar Springs and Wyoming, and
one each from Ada, Comstock Park, Dutton, and Grandville."
########
distribution Full.
Galleries 10:45a.m. 9/9/70
M Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
September 9, 1970
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., to be delivered on the floor of the U.S.
House of Representatives Wednesday noon, Sept. 9, 1970.
Mr. Speaker: The airplane hijacking situation has reached international
crisis proportions. The world community must act--and act quickly--not only to
obtain the release of the hijack victims now being held hostage by Arab commandoes
in Jordan but to prevent or at least deter future hijackings.
It would seem that agreement could be reached by the nations involved, not
only on the matter of punishment for hijackers taken into custody but also on
security measures which could be adopted to nip incipient hijackings in the bud.
To that end I urge that the countries which figure in airplane hijackings--
actual or attempted--agree on a number of preventive measures which some have already
adopted at least in part.
I suggest the placing of armed plain clothes security guards on all
international commercial flights, searching baggage and the persons of passengers in
some cases, and instituting an airlines personnel security program.
It is my information that U.S. airlines are employing a passenger profile or
screening system which eliminates hijacking suspects among airline passengers down
to approximately one-half of one per cent. The rest of the passengers then go
through a magnetometer check to see if they are carrying any weapons or bombs.
Now the Federal Aviation Agency and the airlines are talking about an actual
physical search of suspected hijackers on certain risk flights. I urge that such
action be taken.
Another proposal with considerable merit is a boycott by the International
Pilots Association of any country harboring hijackers. A boycott of this kind
could not very well be instituted by a government without offending the other
government involved, but it might well be carried out by an organization like the
IPA.
Mr. Speaker, there is no question that action must be taken to put a stop
to international airplane hijackings. This is a matter of the greatest urgency
and one that calls for the highest degree of international cooperation.
###
Distribution : all Fifth District news media
9/11/70 a.m.
Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE ON RECEIPT--
Special to all Kent and Ionia County News Media
Charles A. Roberts of Kent City, a volunteer weather observer for the
Weather Bureau since 1939, is one of 25 such volunteers being honored nationwide
by the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) of the U.S. Department
of Commerce, Congressman Gerald R. Ford reported today.
Ford said Roberts will receive a John Campanius Holm Award, so named
for a Lutheran minister who took systematic weather observations in the American
colonies in 1644 and 1645 and was the first person known to have done SO. Roberts
is being recognized for outstanding service in providing accurate precipitation
reports from Kent City, Ford said.
In addition to his duties as a rainfall observer, Roberts has consulted
with the Kent County Road Commission concerning excessive amounts of precipitation
to help determine local drainage needs.
The U.S. Weather Bureau has more than 12,000 volunteer observers throughout
the country who make and record daily weather observations. The information they
gather is processed and published by the Environmental Data Service, an arm of
ESSA, and is invaluable in recording the climate of the Nation. Many of these
observers, like Roberts, serve without pay.
###
Distribution all Fifth District
m Office Copy
news media only
9/15/70 1:00p.m.
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR USE ON RECEIPT
SPECIAL TO ALL KENT AND IONIA COUNTY NEWS MEDIA
The American Veterans of World War II, Korea and Viet Nam (AMVETS) have
chosen Rep. Gerald R. Ford of Grand Rapids to receive their Silver Helmet Award,
AMVETS highest award. Ford will receive the award next April in Washington, D.C.
Ford will be given what is known as "the Congressional Award." The AMVETS' Peace
Award will go to Pope Paul VI and their Humanitarian Award to comedian Danny Thomas.
###
Distribution Full
Halleries . 12 mon 9/15/70
office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
September 15, 1970
A Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
Time is running out on the second session of the 91st Congress, and yet
the record of this Congress in the past 8 1/2 months can be described as little
better than a mixed bag.
I recently remarked that passage of the Postal Reform Act of 1970 would go
down as one of the 91st Congress' finest achievements. I meant every word of that
observation. Today I must sadly add that postal reform will stand as the single
outstanding achievement of the 91st Congress' second session unless the Congress
responds immediately to the President's Sept. 11 call for action.
The time is ripe for reform. We have fulfilled that promise to a degree
but much of the field remains unplowed. The soil is fertile and the President has
supplied the seed ideas. Let us in the Congress get about the business of
producing a crop of reforms which will make government truly effective in America.
Apart from basic reforms listed by the President, much legislative
business lies ahead of the 91st Congress. Let us accept and act quickly on the
President's challenge to strengthen our anti-crime laws, clean up the environment,
consolidate our manpower training programs and control drug abuse.
An election is coming up. But let every member of Congress remember that
the best politics is to legislate in the best interests of the American people.
Obstructionism has never paid off at the polls--and the people know who the
obstructionists are. Let us join hands to move America forward. So little time
remains in this session.
###
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
September 15, 1970
A Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
Time is running out on the second session of the 91st Congress, and yet
the record of this Congress in the past 8 1/2 months can be described as little
better than a mixed bag.
I recently remarked that passage of the Postal Reform Act of 1970 would go
down as one of the 91st Congress' finest achievements. I meant every word of that
observation. Today I must sadly add that postal reform will stand as the single
outstanding achievement of the 91st Congress' second session unless the Congress
responds immediately to the President's Sept. 11 call for action.
The time is ripe for reform. We have fulfilled that promise to a degree
but much of the field remains unplowed. The soil is fertile and the President has
supplied the seed ideas. Let us in the Congress get about the business of
producing a crop of reforms which will make government truly effective in America.
Apart from basic reforms listed by the President, much legislative
business lies ahead of the 91st Congress. Let us accept and act quickly on the
President's challenge to strengthen our anti-crime laws, clean up the environment,
consolidate our manpower training programs and control drug abuse.
An election is coming up. But let every member of Congress remember that
the best politics is to legislate in the best interests of the American people.
Obstructionism has never paid off at the polls--and the people know who the
obstructionists are. Let us join hands to move America forward. So little time
remains in this session.
###
Distribution Full
Galleries 12:30p.m. 9/23/70
m Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
September 23, 1970
A Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., Republican Leader, U.S. House of Reps.
There is good news today for the workers and housewives of America.
The news is that the increase in the cost of living has slowed to the lowest
pace in nearly two years.
This is conclusive evidence that the Nixon Administration policies of fiscal
and monetary restraint are working in the fight against inflation. This is solid
evidence that all of the scare talk about the need for wage and price controls was
exactly that-wild talk Which flowed from a desire to reap political advantage.
We have now not just turned the corner on inflation. We are on the road to
relative price stability.
I have predicted that the Administration's policies will slow inflation down
to a 3 per cent rate. I renew that prediction today. As I see it, the annual rate
of consumer price advance will fall from the present level of 6 per cent to about
3 1/2 per cent by the end of this year and to 3 per cent by the summer or fall of
1971.
I firmly believe that the Administration's policies of fiscal and monetary
restraint are producing a victory over inflation. This has been the Administration's
game plan all along. It is a game plan which is going to push the ball over the
goal line.
And now that we have started down the road to relative price stability, it
is all the more important that Congress refrain from mandatory overspending--
refrain from jeopardizing the economic gains we have made in our transition from
a wartime to a peacetime economy.
###
Distribution: all Fifth District media
10/7/70 p.m.
m Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE ON RECEIPT--
Issued October 7, 1970
Rep. Gerald R. Ford of Grand Rapids has declared his outright opposition
to Proposal "C" on the Nov. 3 Michigan ballot.
Ford said that in response to inquiries he was making public his position
as expressed in letters sent last Sept. 29 to Ivan Zylstra, administrator of
government relations, National Union of Christian Schools, and Msgr. H. H. Zerfas,
superintendent of the Grand Rapids diocesan schools.
Ford wrote Msgr. Zerfas and Mr. Zylstra as follows:
"I agree that Proposal C should not be made a part of our State
Constitution. There are too many unanswered questions relating to its provision
to have it written into our basic law. Although this is a state issue and not
one before the Congress, I, as a citizen of Michigan, will vote 'no' on Proposal
C on November 3."
# # #
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE ON RECEIPT
Issued October 7, 1970
Rep. Gerald R. Ford of Grand Rapids has declared his outright opposition
to Proposal "C" on the Nov. 3 Michigan ballot.
Ford said that in response to inquiries he was making public his position
as expressed in letters sent last Sept. 29 to Ivan Zylstra, administrator of
government relations, National Union of Christian Schools, and Msgr. H. H. Zerfas,
superintendent of the Grand Rapids diocesan schools.
Ford wrote Msgr. Zerfas and Mr. Zylstra as follows:
"I agree that Proposal C should not be made a part of our State
Constitution. There are too many unanswered questions relating to its provision
to have it written into our basic law. Although this is a state issue and not
one before the Congress, I, as a citizen of Michigan, will vote 'no' on Proposal
C on November 3."
###
Distribution 10/7/70 all Fifth 2:00p District news medroffice Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE ON RECEIPT--
Issued October 7, 1970
The oceans cannot hold out much longer against the flood of contaminants
that is being dumped into them.
We must halt the dumping of wastes into the ocean. Such action would
complement my bill, introduced Jan. 3, 1969, which would prohibit such dumping
in the Great Lakes.
The situation is far more serious than most Americans realize. We must act
before it is too late. We are in a race with time. If we do not act the oceans
will become far more contaminated with raw sewage and other wastes than at present.
I would go farther than the President. I believe we must legislate a flat
ban on the dumping of all harmful materials in either the oceans or the Great
Lakes. Such dumping should not be sanctioned even by official permit, as is now
done by the Army Corps of Engineers regarding the Great Lakes.
I am pleased that the Administration acted last May 20 to deal with oil
spills and proposed creation of an Environmental Protection Agency and a National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) last July 9.
However, I view the matter of halting ocean dumping with greater urgency
than that expressed by the Council on Environmental Quality. I repeat. There
should be a flat ban on the dumping of harmful materials into the oceans and the
Great Lakes, not a system of dumping by permit.
# # #
Distribution Full
Galleries 10:15a.m. 10/8/70
a.m.
Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
October 8, 1970
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, prepared for delivery on the Floor of the U.S. House
of Representatives Thursday, Oct. 8, 1970.
Mr. Speaker: President Nixon has advanced a dramatic new bid for peace in
all of Indochina. The President's five proposals for peace place the onus for a
continuing war in Indochina squarely on the North Vietnamese and the Vietcong.
Despite the initial negative reaction of the North Vietnamese and Vietcong
at Paris, Mr. Speaker, I do believe the President's peace proposals may ultimately
produce a breakthrough that could lead to any one or all of his objectives--a
silencing of all guns in Indochina, an Indochina peace conference, a mutual
withdrawal of all forces, release of prisoners of war, and a political settlement
of the conflict.
Mr. Nixon's offer to negotiate a supervised standstill cease-fire and a
firm time-table for withdrawal of all U.S. forces is most significant. This could
be the trigger for meaningful talks in Paris.
I am pleased that the President has called for a supervised cease-fire
rather than one like the 14 holiday cease fires we have agreed to in the past.
The previous cease fires have been used by the North Vietnamese and Vietcong as a
pause that refreshes.
With his five proposals for peace, the President has now laid on the
negotiating table the basis for both a military and political settlement of the
war in Indochina. The door to negotiation is wide open.
###
Distribution Full Galliras 3-4pm 10/13/70
mail p.m. M.
affice Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
October 13, 1970
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives,
at a press conference, Oct. 13, 1970.
The Republican Leadership has considered the tentative resolution proposed
by the Republican Task Force on Seniority and strongly endorses the proposal. It
is the intention of the Leadership to submit the resolution to the Republican
Conference and to urge its adoption at the organizing meeting of the Party for
the 92nd Congress. Any action on it before that time would be only formality
because a Conference of one Congress cannot bind a Conference for a following
Congress.
I think the Task Force has developed an effective recommendation for
improving our system of selecting Republican chairmen or ranking members of
Committees. It is a compromise designed to include some of the better features
of various alternative proposals and to avoid their disadvantages. This plan
does not eliminate seniority as a criterion, but will provide a means for
considering other factors as well. I am sure that experience will remain an
important consideration in any of the decisions on committee leadership.
The recommendation of the Task Force includes the important principle of
selection. The Republican Committee on Committees will select the member it
believes should be the chairman or ranking member of each committee, and each
name will be submitted separately to the Republican Conference. There a secret
vote will be taken on the nomination. If a nominee is rejected by the Conference,
the Committee on Committees will be charged with submitting another name to the
Conference.
This plan appears to have broad support among the members of the Republican
Party in the House of Representatives. Speaking for the Leadership, I believe
the proposal is a positive and forward step which should be adopted.
###
file
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
not released
10/22/70
The September increase in the cost of living should
be viewed as a temporary flucuation. It does not alter the
basic trend, which is for a slowing of inflation. Proof
of that trend is the fact that the cost of living rose at
a 4.2% annual rate during the 3rd quarter of this year, which
includes September, as compared to 5.8% in the 2nd quarter and
6.3% in the first quarter.
The September cost of living rise is a hangover
from the inflationary binge the Democrats plunged us into
beginning in 1965.
Now the Democrats are blaming the Republicans
because they haven't stopped Democrat inflation overnight.
We are licking inflation, and the September
reading simply shows that it takes time.
####
Distribution: all Fifth District only
10/23/70 am
M Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE ON RECEIPT--
Issued Friday, October 23, 1970
The Federal Government will provide Kent County colleges with $205,500 for
the period Jan. 1 through June 30, 1971, for continuation of a work-study program
benefiting 543 students, Congressman Gerald R. Ford reported today.
Ford noted that these Federal funds cover 80 per cent of student payrolls,
with the college or an off-campus agency putting up the remaining 20 per cent.
Nationwide the work-study program grants for the six-month period involved total
$85,755,491. An estimated 268,158 students will benefit.
Kent County schools and their participation in the program: Calvin College,
$62,000 in Federal funds, 194 students benefiting; Grand Valley State College,
$53,000, 166 students; Grand Rapids Junior College, $45,000, 141 students; Aquinas
College, $25,000, 78 students; Davenport College of Business, $17,000, 53 students;
and Grand Rapids Baptist College and Seminary, $3,500, 11 students.
###
Distribution : all Fifth District only
10/23/70 am
m Office Copy
10/23/70
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE ON RECEIPT--
Rep. Gerald R. Ford has received a "Watchdog of the Treasury" Award from the
National Associated Businessmen, Inc., in recognition of his record of
responsibility in handling the taxpayer's dollars.
In presenting Ford with the award, the NAB declared: "Your outstanding
economy voting record indicates to your constituents and to our membership that
you have a keen realization of the problems of fiscal responsibility. We know it
takes a lot of courage to stand up against the pressure groups who advocate
unnecessary Federal spending. As you know so well, inflation affects the cost of
living which affects us all. Your votes against inflationary spending merit your
constituents' appreciation."
The NAB is a nonpartisan organization with headquarters in Washington. It
is made up primarily of small business firms. Its goals include fiscal
responsibility in government and the elimination of Federal Government competition
with private business.
# # #
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AT 7:30 P.M.
FRI., OCTOBER 23, 1970
The American people are committed to racial equality and Blacks in America
are making substantial progress, Representative Gerald R. Ford declared tonight.
Ford cited evidence of progress by Blacks in a speech at the 14th annual fund
raising dinner of the True Light Baptist Church. Ford said," Gains in real
income, education, and standard of living have been proportionately greater
for blacks than for whites in recent years, that the proportion of blacks
earning middle incomes has more than doubled since 1950, and that the propor-
tion of black students in American colleges has increased more than 50% in the
last two decades."
Pointing to the black progress under the Nixon Administration, Ford listed
black appointments within the Administration, inauguration of the Philadelphia
plan of minority group hiring, proposed changes in welfare and manpower training,
the Nixon proposal for health insurance for poor families, advances in school
desegregation, and increased budgetory support for the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission.
Ford said President Nixon has named 64% more non-whites to top executive positions
than the previous Administration. He also noted that although Federal employment
has been declining, the number of minority group members in Federal jobs rose
by about 4,600 from November, 1967 to November, 1969.
MORE
On the subject of school desegregation, Ford declared: "This has been
a very significant year. The volume of school desegregation this year
has been greater than for any other year since the Supreme Court ordered
the end of the dual school system in 1954.'
Ford reported that 336 school districts were desegregated in 14 states
this year, as compared with only 55 districts during the previous school
year. He added that in 1967, not quite 14% of the black students in these
states attended majority white schools, but that this year the estimate
is 33% to 40%.
Turning to black progress on the local scene, Ford cited Federal grants of
$638,430 for the Sheldon Complex, $640,781 for the West Side Complex,
$2,384,000 for the Model Cities Program and $72,893 for anti-poverty
program planning and youth development in low-income neighborhoods.
Ford said the Federal anti-poverty grants, school aid allocations, public
housing and parkland grants to Kent County for 1968-1970 -- grants
which in large measure benefitted black citizens of Grand Rapids---
added up to more than $12 million .
maffice Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE AT 7:30 P.M. FRIDAY--
Oct. 23, 1970
From the Office of Rep. Gerald R. Ford
The American people are committed to r acial equality and blacks in America are
making substantial progress, Rep. Gerald R. Ford declared tonight.
Ford cited evidence of progress by blacks in a speech at the 14th annual
fund-raising dinner of the True Light Baptist Church.
Ford said gains in real income, education and standard of living have been
proportionately greater for blacks than for whites in recent years, that the
proportion of blacks earning middle incomes has more than doubled since 1950,
and that the proportion of blacks students in American colleges has increased more
than 50 per cent in the last two decades.
Pointing to black progress under the Nixon Administration, Ford listed black
appointments within the Administration, inauguration of the Philadelphia Plan
of minority group hiring, proposed changes in welfare and manpower training,
the
advances in
Nixon proposal for health insurance for poor families, State school desegregation,
increased budget
andAsupport for the Egual Employment Opportunity Commission.
top
Ford said President Nixon has named 64 per cent more non-whites to executive
positions than the previous Administration. He also noted that although Federal
employment has been declining, the number of minority group members in Federal jobs
rose
by about 4,600 from November 1967 to November 1969.
On the subject of school desegregation, Ford declared: "This has been a very
significant year. The volume of school desegregation this year has been greater than
for any other year since the Supreme Court ordered the end of dual school sys tems in
1954."
Ford reported that 336 school districts were desegregated in 14 states this year,
as compared with only 55 during the pregious school year. He added that in 1967 not
quite 14 per cent of the b lack students in those states attended majority white
schools but that this year the estimate is 33 to 40 per cent.
Turning to black progress on the local scene, Ford cited Federal grants of
$638,430 for the Sheldon Complex, $640,781 for the West Side Complex, $2,384,000
for the Model Cities program, and $72,893 for anti-poverty program planning and
youth development in low-income neighborhoods.
Ford said the Federal anti-poverty grants, school aid allocations, public housing
and parkland grants to Kent County for 1968 through 1970--grants which in large measure
benefited black citizens of Grand Rapids--add up to more than $12 million.#####
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
Tuesday, Oct. 27 ,1970
The Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Administration has approved a $27,246
grant to help finance a 12-month study of the Kent County
Juvenile
Court, Rep. Gerald R. Ford announced today.
Ford said the grant will fund a management systems analysis of the Kent County
Juvenile Court, with the enalysis concentrated primarily on the administration of the court.
The study will be conducted by the Center for Children's Court Services and
the Department of Management of Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo.
It is antieipated, Ford said, that industrial-managerial
systems and procedures will be applicable to the judicial juvenile organization.
He said the KentCounty study willing be conducted in five steps. First, employe meetings
will be held at which workers will be asked to keep detailed logs of their activities
for a month. Second, these logs will be analyzed regarding work She flow, work
activities, and job interrelationships. Third, organizational and work flow charts
as well as job descriptions will be prepared. Fourth, a procedure manual
will be developed. Finally, recommendations will be made to and evaluated by the
Center.
Ford said
the Kent County Juvenike Court was selected for the tudy
because "it is a most progressive court."
Extent to which in dustrial managerial
The study will indicate the
systems procedures are applicable to the
operation of a gavenile Court.
GERALO FORD LIBRARY
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE AT 12 NOON WEDNESDAY--
October 28, 1970
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford before the South Kent Exchange Club
Legislation which puts together an organized assault against organized crime
and bombings in this country has become Federal law.
This legislation, S. 30, is one of the greatest achievements of the 91st
Congress and a major accomplishment of the Nixon Administration. There is credit
enough for everybody, and credit is due. My only criticism is that the legislation
should have been passed months earlier.
Apart from giving authorities new tools to fight organized crime, the new
Organized Crime Control Act also zeroes in on bombings, arson and other criminal
acts which threaten to turn our citadels of learning into citadels of violence.
I sponsored the anti-bombing provisions which were written into the Organized
Crine Control Act of 1970, in addition to sponsoring other anti-crime measures which
became part of the omnibus crime control bill. I am most pleased that my
legislation has been enacted into law.
Let me impress upon you how critical the campus violence situation has become.
FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover has informed me that the Students for A Democratic
Society, during the last academic year, alone was directly involved in 247 arson
cases, 462 personal injury incidents and more than 300 other episodes of destruction.
Such acts--the most recent at the University of Wisconsin where a student
died in a bomb blast--cannot be allowed to continue. Those responsible must be
tracked down. And the law enforcement agency best suited to that job is the Federal
Bureau of Investigation. I was therefore glad to give my support to the President's
request for 1,000 more FBI agents to investigate campus bombings and arson as well
as to help combat airplane hijackings.
As you know, the FBI now will investigate bombings and arson at all colleges
receiving any form of Federal aid, and that includes virtually all of them.
Under the Organized Crime Control Act just enacted into law, Federal lawmen
will be able to move swiftly and forcefully against terrorist bombers and other
segments of the criminal world.
Not only does the anti-bombing provision cover government buildings and nearly
all college campuses, it also applies to police stations where the City is receiving
(more)
funds under the Law Enforcement Assistance Act as is the case in Grand Rapids.
The new Organized Crime Control Act is of course primarily designed to combat
organized crime.
Basically, it provides for new perjury and contempt procedures calculated to
induce reluctant witnesses to testify and it provides stiffer jail terms for
habitual criminals.
The first five titles of the Act are designed to accomplish one purpose: To
get the facts needed to obtain indictments and convictions.
The new law establishes special grand juries which may exercise more
independence in fulfilling their duties and may sit for up to 36 months. The grand
jury may compel witnesses to talk by guaranteeing their testimony will not be used
against them. If they refuse to talk, they may be held in contempt. If they talk
but lie, they may be tried for perjury. And if the witness puts his life in jeopardy
by talking the Government will protect him and even try to relocate him.
Titles VI and VII of the new law facilitate the actual trial of organized
criminals.
Title VI allows the Government to take a deposition of a Government witness
and use it at the trial if the witness for certain reasons will not be available to
testify in person. This not only protects the Government's case but the witness as
well.
Title VII rules out litigation involving claims of illegal electronic
surveillance by the Government--surveillance which could not have possibly produced
evidence for the prosecution.
Title VIII makes a Federal crime of large-scale gambling operations which are
in violation of State law.
Title IX makes it unlawful to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity as
a means of acquiring, maintaining or conducting a business.
Title X establishes a pre-sentencing procedure for determining whether a
convicted defendant is an habitual, professional, or organized criminal--and provides
an extended sentence for such an offender.
Title XI is the anti-bombing part of the new crime control law.
I do not claim that the new Organized Crime Control Act is a panacea for our
criminal ills. I do not claim we will solve all of our crime problems simply by
having enacted this legislation. But I do believe it will enable local, State and
Federal law enforcement officials and our court system to deal more effectively with
the problem of organized crime.
I have been most anxious to give law enforcement officials the tools to get
the job done. This I believe the Congress has accomplished by enacting the
Organized Crime Control Act of 1970.
###
Distribution Fifth District only
10/23/70 p.m.
m Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
For Release Wednesday, Oct. 28, and Thereafter
A heavy majority of Kent and Ionia County residents responding to a special
questionnaire favor expulsion or suspension of disorderly students from colleges
and strict law enforcement with whatever force is necessary to quell college riots.
Those are among the most significant findings in a current poll conducted
by Rep. Gerald R. Ford in the Fifth Congressional District. Ford posed questions
about campus riot situations, Vietnam policy, Social Security, and air and water
pollution control.
Of those replying, 63 per cent favored expelling or suspending disorderly
students and employing such force as necessary to halt student riots.
More than half--56 per cent--called for firmer controls by college
administrators and 52 per cent favored banning outside agitators from campus.
Of the remaining choices, there were 37 per cent in favor of cutting off
Federal funds to rioting colleges, 15 per cent for strict law enforcement but no
use of deadly force, and 13 per cent for more self-government by students.
Balloting on campus disorders adds up to more than 100 per cent because
those queried were permitted to check more than one possible course of action.
Respondents overwhelmingly favored Ford bills providing for high air and
water quality standards and strict enforcement of them.
On Vietnam, 65 per cent of those responding endorsed President Nixon's policy
of gradually withdrawing U.S. forces while turning the war over to the South
Vietnamese. Of those feeling otherwise, 19 per cent favored immediate withdrawal
of U.S. forces from Vietnam, and 16 per cent wanted increased military action in an
effort to end the war.
Balloting on Social Security, 97 per cent favored Ford's bill to raise Social
Security benefits automatically whenever the cost of living goes up by at least
3 per cent.
###
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
October 30, 1970
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
I am appalled by the indignities inflicted upon the President of the United
States by a vicious mob in San Jose, California, last evening. I am frightened
by the danger to which not only our President, but our whole orderly system of
self-government, was exposed by such a shameful incident.
California is not Caracas and hopefully the United States is not yet ready
to let mindless mobs influence its political decisions or deny freedom of speech
and assembly to its elected President and his law-abiding audiences. But the
silent majority of decent Americans -- Democrats and Republicans and Independents --
must make their responsible voices heard loud and clear next Tuesday.
I call upon all candidates in this election forthrightly to repudiate such
savage physical attacks upon our President or any public official and to denounce
the sinister efforts of all radical extremists to interrupt our free electoral
process.
####
GEEALO FORD LIBRARY
2-minute opening statement for WZZM debate
-1-
[NOV. 19707]
THESE ARE TIMES WHEN BIG DECISIONS MUST BE MADE.. DECISIONS TODAY
WHICH WILL DETERMINE THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES TOMORROW.
IT IS A TIME FOR POSITIVE ACTION, FOR LEADERSHIP, AND FOR BOLDNESS.
I LAY MY RECORD ON THE LINE FOR YOU TO SEE...AND TO JUDGE WHETHER
I HAVE GIVEN YOU LEADERSHIP AND POSITIVE ACTION.
OUR CHIEF GOALS TODAY ARE PEACE IN THE WORLD AND PROGRESS AT HOME.
WE ARE BRINGING OUR BOYS HOME FROM A TERRIBLE WAR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.
WE HAVE ACHIEVED A CEASE-FIRE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND WE ARE BUILDING
TOWARD PEACE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.
WE HAVE ENGAGED IN TALKS WITH RUSSIANS TO LIMIT NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS AT HOME.
WE ARE ACTING TO STOP THE POISONING OF OUR ENVIRONMENT...TO CLEAN UP
OUR AIR AND WATER AND TO GIVE OURSELVES MORE PARKLANDS. IN THE LAST TWO YEARS
I HAVE HAD A HAND IN BRINGING KENT AND IONIA COUNTIES NEARLY $1.5 MILLION FOR
COMMUNITY SEWER AND WATER IMPROVEMENTS AND MORE THAN $3 MILLION FOR MORE
LOCAL PARKS.
MY NINE BILLS ARE A COMPREHENSIVE ATTACK ON THE PROBLEMS OF OUR
LD
ENVIRONMENT. THEY INCLUDE A FOUR-YEAR, 10-BILLION DOLLAR FEDERAL-STATE-LOCAL
-2-
CLEAN WATER PROGRAM. ONE WOULD ESTABLISH AN ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCING
AUTHORITY TO MAKE SURE THAT MUNICIPALITIES NEEDING WASTE TREATMENT PLANTS
WOULD BE ABLE TO FINANCE LOCAL COSTS.
OTHER BADLY NEEDED REFORMS ARE MY BILLS TO PROHIBIT THE DUMPING OF
DREDGING MATERIAL INTO THE GREAT LAKES...AND TO EXTEND TO ALL STATES THE
PROVISIONS OF MICHIGAN'S NEW LAW, WHICH PERMITS PRIVATE LEGAL ACTION TO BE
TAKEN AGAINST POLLUTERS OF OUR AIR AND WATER.
WE ARE HITTING CRIME VERY HARD, WITH MY BILLS FOR CONTROL OF
ORGANIZED CRIME AND A DOUBLING OF FEDERAL AID TO LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
WE HAVE PUT THE F.B.I. TO WORK TRACKING DOWN COLLEGE CAMPUS
BOMBERS AND ARSONISTS, AND I PUSHED THAT LEGISLATION.
WE ARE GETTING STARTED ON THE MOST FAR-REACHING DRUG ABUSE CONTROL
PROGRAM EVER ATTEMPTED IN THE UNITED STATES...UNDER A BILL I STRONGLY
SUPPORTED.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS WE ARE PUTTING MORE FEDERAL MONEY
INTO HUMAN NEEDS THAN INTO NATIONAL DEFENSE.
IN WRITING THIS RECORD OF PROGRESS AND REFORM, REPUBLICANS HAVE
KEPT THEIR HEADS ABOUT FEDERAL SPENDING AND HAVE USED GOOD COMMON SENSE IN
TRYING TO SAVE YOUR TAX DOLLARS.
GERALD
-3-
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS OF THE SIXTIES LEFT US WITH A 60-BILLION
DOLLAR LEGACY OF DEFICIT SPENDING. THIS STRUGGLE AGAINST BIG SPENDERS IS
CONTINUOUS.
YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN YOUR POCKETBOOK, AND YOU EXPECT US TO DO
THE SAME IN WASHINGTON. WE CAN BUILD AMERICA WITHOUT BANKRUPTING HER, AND
WE ARE CONVERTING FROM A WARTIME TO A PEACETIME ECONOMY.
THIS IS MY RECORD. YOU BE THE JUDGE.
1-minute closing statement for WZZM debate
-1-
THE ISSUES ARE VERY CLEAR...AND I AM HAPPY TO HAVE YOU CHOOSE
BETWEEN ME AND MY OPPONENT ON THOSE ISSUES.
YOU CAN JUDGE ME BY MY RECORD. MY OPPONENT HAS NO RECORD so YOU
MUST JUDGE HER ENTIRELY BY HER STATEMENTS IN THIS CAMPAIGN.
I STAND FOR PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH AND NEGOTIATION. MY OPPONENT
URGES PEACE AT ANY PRICE.
I STAND FOR PROGRESS THROUGH RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMON SENSE. MY
OPPONENT PROPOSES...AND THESE ARE HER WORDS..." A DOMESTIC MARSHALL PLAN
COSTING WHATEVER IT COSTS", WHICH OBVIOUSLY WILL INCREASE YOUR TAXES.
I REJECT MY OPPONENT'S PROPOSAL TO LET VIETNAM FALL INTO COMMUNIST
HANDS. I REJECT HER PROPOSAL THAT THE UNITED STATES USE AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS
TO REBUILD A COMMUNIST VIETNAM. I REJECT HER PROPOSAL OF OPEN-ENDED SPENDING
ON DOMESTIC PROBLEMS.
YOU KNOW THE ISSUES. YOU WILL BE SUPPLYING THE ANSWERS AT THE
POLLING PLACE. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE ON NOVEMBER 3.
Distribution: all Fifth District midia
mailed a.m. 12/70
m Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, AND THEREAFTER
Congressman Gerald Ford announced today that he has for distribution in
Kent and Ionia Counties about 700 pictorial 1971 calendars and about 100
two-year (1971-72) wall calendars. Requests made to Ford's Grand Rapids office
at 425 Cherry Street, S.E. (telephone: 456-9747) or to him at the House of
Representatives, Washington, D.C., will be honored as long as the supply lasts.
The pictorial calendar entitled "We, the People," contains thirteen full
colored pictures of scenes in the national capital. The two-year calendar is the
more traditional type with one picture of the capitol building.
###
Distribution Full
Galleries 11:00 a.m. 12/4/70
M Office Copy
mail
a.m 12/4/70
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
December 4, 1970
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
I am disappointed but not surprised by the action of the Democratic Majority
of the Special Subcommittee of the House Committee on the Judiciary.
It has been evident from the outset that its so-called investigation into
the conduct of Associate Justice Douglas would not be vigorously pursued or
objectively evaluated.
It makes a mockery of the constitutional duty of Congress to attempt to end
a matter of such importance to the American people and to the integrity of the
Supreme Court of the United States without one public hearing or a single word of
sworn testimony.
I have not seen the final report of the Subcommittee which I understand
contains additional evidence of impropriety and misbehavior on the part of Justice
Douglas, which the Majority of the Subcommittee chose to gloss over. For the
present I can only say that this matter is far from finished and that the sentiment
of House Members, both Democrats and Republicans, is not accurately reflected in
the Subcommittee's vote.
###
intribution Fifth District
a.m. 12/4/70
moffice Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE DEC. 9, 1970, OR THEREAFTER
To All Fifth District News Media
The American Academy of Achievement has chosen Rep. Gerald R. Ford of Grand
Rapids to receive its "Golden Plate Award," it was announced today.
Ford is one of 50 "giants of accomplishment" who will be honored by the
Academy during its 10th annual Salute to Excellence June 24-27, 1971, at
Philadelphia.
The Academy is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization which is dedicated to
the inspiration of youth through an annual salute to approximately 50 "captains of
achievement from America's great walks of life." The Academy also honors several
hundred outstanding high school students from across the nation at its annual
banquet.
"Giants of accomplishment" previously honored by the Academy include
Drs. Michael DeBakey and Denton Cooley, Prof. Harold Urey, Dr. Edward Teller,
Bob Hope, Astronaut James Lovell Jr., attorney Louis Nizer, author Allen Drury,
Dr. Joyce Brothers, Shirley Temple Black, John Wayne, Mickey Mantle, Bobby Orr,
Alan King, columnist Marquis Childs, and U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye Jr. of
Hawaii.
Ford has been Republican leader of the U.S. House of Representatives since
January 1965. Ile has served in the House since January 1949. In 1961 he received
the American Political Science Association's "Distinguished Congressional Service
Award" and in 1966 he received the American Good Government Society's "George
Washington Award."
###
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
HOLD FOR RELEASE
WED. AMs, DEC. 16, 1970
STATEMENT OF REP. GERALD R. FORD (R-Mich.)
While a partisan majority of the Special Subcommittee whitewashes
Justice Douglas in its conclusions, the contents of its 924-page report condemn
his conduct and cry for more searching inquiry.
Aside from legalistic arguments, over the past decade Justice Douglas'
extensive extra-judicial earnings and activities have impaired his usefulness
and clouded his contribution to the United States Supreme Court. I am of the
opinion that he did practice law in the course of these non-judicial pursuits,
did intervene improperly in affairs outside the scope of the judicial branch of
the government, and did show poor judgment in his personal financial transactions,
to say the least.
Mr. Hutchinson's cogent Minority Views should have been unanimously
subscribed to by the Special Subcommittee. Not all the evidence is in nor has
it been tested in the normal way. Only an excess of personal or partisan loyalty
or a failure fully to study the documents can emplain an attempt to close the
case at this point.
I return to the guideline of a great Associate Justice of the Supreme
Court, the late Benjamin Cardozo, with which I closed my April 15 speech to the
House.
"Not honesty alone, but the punctilio of an
honor the most sensitive, is then the standard
of behaviour."
If one uses the Cardozo standard rather than the Rifkind standard, Justice
Douglas clearly fails the test of good behaviour.
#
#
#
#
#
Distribution Full
Hallires 10:30a.m. 12/17/20
pm. 12/17/70
office Copy
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
December 17, 1970
I strongly support President Nixon's veto of the Employment and Manpower
Training Act of 1970 because the measure adopted by the Congress goes off in the
wrong directions instead of following the path of reform laid down in the President's
original proposals.
The House-approved bill came fairly close to carrying out all of the
President's manpower and employment objectives, and so I supported that legislation.
The task of the Congress now is to rewrite the Employment and Manpower Act
of 1970 in a form that adheres fairly closely to the House bill and the provisions
sought by the Administration.
Our general objectives should be a single, broadly defined manpower program
and a public service jobs program which is a stepping stone to good jobs in the
private sector for the workers involved. Because of changes made by the Senate,
these objectives were lost sight of in the bill sent to the President.
###
Distribution ; Limited (Halleries)
Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE REIEASE--
Dec. 23, 1970
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
I congratulate President Nixon on his decision to crack down on industrial
pollution by invoking the Refuse Act of 1899.
In so doing the President has circumvented the refusal of the Democratic-
controlled Congress to enact the enforcement provisions of the water pollution
control legislation introduced last Feb. 18.
It is nothing short of disgraceful that the Congress has failed even to hold
hearings on the President's water pollution control package, including new authority
to develop comprehensive water quality programs and to enforce pollution control
measures.
The President, then, has perforce acted on his own under authority of a 71-year-old
law. This does not lessen the blame which must be placedeupon Congress for failing
to live up to its own responsibilities. Nor does it le ssen the need for the
Administration's entire water pollution control program.
The President can take only certain actions in the absence of a congressional
mandate. His current crackdown on water pollution stands in sharp contrast with the
record of the eight years preceding the advent of the Nixon Administration--and the
American people should recognize the facts for what they are. The eight years prior
to the present Administration saw destruction of our environment go largely
unchallenged. That is not a partisan statement. The facts speak for themselves.
Saving the environment should not be a partisan issue. It nowremains for
the majority party in Congress to join hands with the Nixon Administration in an
anti-pollution crusade. We must restore America the Beautiful.
GERALD LIBRARY
#####
distribution Full
Galleries 11:00a.m. 12/28/70
p.m. 12/28/70
maffice Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 28, 1970
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
The Nation has suffered a great loss in the death of Rep. L. Mendel Rivers.
Nobody loved his country more. He was a patriot.
As chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, he was more than just a
friend to every man who ever served in the military. He was a pillar of strength
in the defense of his country. Whatever the criticism of the position he took on
behalf of a strong America, he never flinched. He never gave ground.
The Congress has been lessened by the death of Mendel Rivers, and the Nation
has lost a courageous leader in the front line of its defenses.
###
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE AT 12 NOON-
December 31, 1970
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives,
on the floor of the House on December 31, 1970.
Mr. Speaker: All Americans are rejoicing today over the commutation by the
Soviet Supreme Court of the death sentences handed down by a lower court to two
of 11 Jews accused of planning to hijack a Soviet airliner.
Our elation should be tempered, however, by the circumstances which gave
rise to the entire incident the probable entrapment by Soviet officials, the
and
mockery of a trial, the stunningly heavy sentences.
now
$
After all, the reason the incident occurred is that the Soviet Union
virtually bans the emigration of Russian Jews to Israel.
The fact that the Soviet Union is holding Jews in that country against their
will is unconscionable. While it is true that the Soviets, in effect, are keeping
all of their citizens prisoner, the situation is particularly heinous as regards
the Russian Jews. The Jews have somewhere to go, and if they wish to emigrate to
Israel they should be freely permitted to do SO.
###
distribution Full
Halleries 22mm 12/31/70
12/31/70 a.m.
Office Copy
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE AT 12 NOON--
December 31, 1970
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U.S. House of Representatives,
on the floor of the House on December 31, 1970.
Mr. Speaker: All Americans are rejoicing today over the commutation by the
Soviet Supreme Court of the death sentences handed down by a lower court to two
of 11 Jews accused of planning to hijack a Soviet airliner.
Our elation should be tempered, however, by the circumstances which gave
rise to the entire incident--the probable entrapment by Soviet officials, the
mockery of a trial, the stunningly heavy sentences, and now the reduction in
sentences. After all, the reason the incident occurred is that the Soviet Union
virtually bans the emigration of Russian Jews to Israel.
The fact that the Soviet Union is holding Jews in that country against their
will is unconscionable. While it is true that the Soviets, in effect, are keeping
all of their citizens prisoner, the situation is particularly heinous as regards
the Russian Jews. The Jews have somewhere to go, and if they wish to emigrate to
Israel they should be freely permitted to do SO.
###
vistribution: Full
Balleries 5:00 p.m. 12/31/70
6:00pm.m.12/31/70
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
December 31, 1970
On the basis of its second session performance, the 91st Congress has to be
rated as having done half of its job, with most of the failures due to Senate
inaction.
It is true there have been some pluses--notably postal reform, draft reform,
the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Unemployment Compensation Amendments
of 1970, the Organized Crime Control Act, and the Comprehensive Drug Control Act.
These were major legislative accomplishments and in some instances landmark
legislation.
But this Congress should have written a thoroughgoing record of reform, and
in this respect it fell short.
This Congress should have enacted welfare reform and failed to do SO.
This Congress should have enacted revenue sharing legislation and failed to
do SO.
This Congress should have enacted a Manpower Training Act which would have
carried out the President's objective of a broadly-based single program and
instead darted off in false directions.
This Congress should have enacted legislation to improve the handling of
national emergency disputes in transportation and failed to do SO.
This Congress should have enacted legislation laying down a clear-cut basis
for Federal-State-and-local cooperation in licking the problem of water pollution
and failed to do SO.
This Congress should have approved a constitutional amendment changing the
method of selecting our President and failed to do SO.
This Congress should have approved a constitutional amendment giving
18-year-olds the right to vote in state and local as well as national elections
but failed to do SO.
This Congress should have approved a Social Security increase and Social
Security reform and failed to do SO.
This Congress has too many failures written next to its name to be able to
point to its legislative record with pride.
Most strikingly, we found ourselves in a situation where the Senate of the
United States became little more than a debating society and a number of its
members were too busy launching their presidential candidacies to properly transact
the Nation's business.
###
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
December 31, 1970
On the basis of its second session performance, the 91st Congress has to be
rated as having done half of its job, with most of the failures due to Senate
inaction.
It is true there have been some pluses--notably postal reform, draft reform,
the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Unemployment Compensation Amendments
of 1970, the Organized Crime Control Act, and the Comprehensive Drug Control Act.
These were major legislative accomplishments and in some instances landmark
legislation.
But this Congress should have written a thoroughgoing record of reform, and
in this respect it fell short.
This Congress should have enacted welfare reform and failed to do SO.
This Congress should have enacted revenue sharing legislation and failed to
do SO.
This Congress should have enacted a Manpower Training Act which would have
carried out the President's objective of a broadly-based single program and
instead darted off in false directions.
This Congress should have enacted legislation to improve the handling of
national emergency disputes in transportation and failed to do SO.
This Congress should have enacted legislation laying down a clear-cut basis
for Federal-State-and-local cooperation in licking the problem of water pollution
and failed to do SO.
This Congress should have approved a constitutional amendment changing the
method of selecting our President and failed to do SO.
This Congress should have approved a constitutional amendment giving
18-year-olds the right to vote in state and local as well as national elections
but failed to do SO.
This Congress should have approved a Social Security increase and Social
Security reform and failed to do SO.
This Congress has too many failures written next to its name to be able to
point to its legislative record with pride.
Most strikingly, we found ourselves in a situation where the Senate of the
United States became little more than a debating society and a number of its
members were too busy launching their presidential candidacies to properly transact
the Nation's business.
###