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    "title": "Ford Newsletter, Oct.-Dec. 1952",
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    "ocrText": "This document scanned from Box D1 of the Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nFOR RELEASE OCT. 2\nYOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW\nBY GERALD R. FORD, JR.\nWould you believe it! 0 f seven free nations\nwhich held recent national elections, comparative figures\nshow that in all but one, over 70 per cent of the eligible\nvoters actually voted. In Australia, 96 percent of the to-\ntal electorate turned out for the elections; 83 percent went\nto the polls for the '51 election in Great Britain; Sweden\nand Western Germany boast a turn out of 80 and 75 percent re-\nspectively. Our neighbor, Canada, saw 74 percent of its to-\ntal electorate go to the polls in '49, while Israel got out\n72 per cent of the voters in 1951. And what about the United\nStates in '48? Only 51 percent of the 97.5 million potential\nvoters voted in the 1948 presidential election.\nKent and Ottawa counties showed a similar ratio.\nOf 187,078 eligible voters in Kent County, only 98,776 turned\nout in 1948. Ottawa made a showing of only 25,288 out of 44,\n733 eligible voters. What's wrong? I can't answer the ques-\ntion. That question must be answered in the heart of each and\nevery citizen. The moral obligation to vote belongs to each\nof us by virtue of our American citizenship. Noone forces us\nto vote. Here in America, it is our way of showing our inter-\nest in and our appreciation for our America. It is one of our\nmost serious duties as American citizens\n*\n#\nMy sincerest thanks to all of you who wired, wrote\nand phoned your sentiments in behalf of our vice-presidential\ncandidate, Dick Nixon. Our office, I am happy to say, was\nswamped with your messages supporting Ike's running mate and\nurging that he continue in his fight for America's security.\nLet me assure you that your confidence in Dick Nixon,\nin his integrity and courage, is very well placed. I know\nDick and I feel that your approval of his candidacy is evidence\nthat you, too, recognize in him the qualities of leadership\nwhich this country so desperately needs\n*\nCERALD\nThe second page of this document was not found in this folder.\n-3-\nWith the announcement that our pilotless planes are\nmaking successful attacks on the Chinese Reds in Korea, I\nfound myself fancying a future war in which all the battles\nwere fought from a single control room. Whole cities might\nbe obliterated with one turn of a knob. Like one huge, inter-\nnational checker game, moves and counter-moves would be made\nby robot control. None of this, however, makes war appear any\nless fearful or terrible. War, no matter how its machines may\nbe technically perfected, is, nevertheless, a scourge to the\nwhole world. There is no such thing as a perfect war as we\nmight speak of a perfect game. War comes of greed and pride,\nand the fruits of these vices can be nothing but more evil and\ndistress.\nI do not advocate the use of archaic weapons, for\nmodern warfare has long outgrown the effectiveness of the bow\nand arrow, but I do look forward to the day when our technical\ninstruments will function solely for the benefit of mankind,\nnot for his death and destruction.\n*\n*\n*\n\"The Big Red Book\" which has caused so much comment\nof late, has proved to be just about my best argument for a cut\nin the Federal Budget. Far more than a mere \"conversation\npiece\", my red-bound copy of the Federal Budget, weighing some\n15 pounds, which I carry with me to almost every meeting, is\ngraphic evidence of the \"spend-spend-spend\" policy of the present\nAdministration.\nI know of no better way to point out to those of you\nwho may have a bit of difficulty in comprehending federal ex-\npenditures in terms of millions and billions, than by showing\nyou the actual budget in black and white - and red.\n*\n*\n*\nIt's a red-letter day for me when I get a chance\nfor a trip to the rural areas of our District. There's nothing\nlike it for a renewed faith in human nature and confidence in\nthe future of America.\nI'm looking forward to more trips throughout both\ncounties to hear what all of you have to say concerning the na-\ntional issues. Your opinions, remember, will carry a good deal\nof weight with my decisions on future legislation should your\nvote elect me to the 83rd Congress.\nFOR RELEASE OCT. 16\nYOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW\nBy GERALD R. FORD, JR,\nIf anyone deserves a lot of credit and commendation,\nthere's noone more worthy than my good friend and collegue,\nCharlie Potter. I know only too well what the strain of cam-\npaigning is, and Charlie, despite his physical handicaps is\nshowing himself to be a real trouper. Knowing Charlie as I do\nfrom our years spent working together in the House of Repre-\nsentatives, I have the utmost respect for his ability as a\nCongressman and sincere confidence that in Charlie, Michigan\nwill have a Senator who will not put personal benefit before\nhis duty as a representative of the people of Michigan. Char-\nlie Potter is completely capable of fulfilling the trust\nwhich the people of Michigan place in their Senator.\nI wish all of you could know Charlie Potter as I\nknow him. He's an outstanding citizen, a true friend, a ca-\npable legislator and will make an energetic and trustworthy\nSenator.\n*\n*\n*\nWith all the talk about robot guided missiles and the\nlike, a trip to the moon doesn't seem to be in the too-distant\nfuture. And, in case your interested, we've learned that the\n$260,000,000,000 of our national debt in $1 bills would pave\na strip 20 feet wide all along the whole 256,471 miles to the\nmoon. Believe me, those are real astronomical figures, with\na capital A.\nI don't know who spends his time figuring out these\nthings, but it sure helps folks like you and me get some notion\nof the enormity of the debt resting on the shoulders of the\nAmerican citizens.\nThe present Adminsitration has put the Federal govern-\nment in big business at the expense of its citizens. Your\nvote in November will tell whether or not you approve of this\nuncomfortable situation in which you have been placed.\n*\n*\n*\nGERALD FORD LIBRARY\n-2-\nAs much as I should like to be in my office at the\nFederal Building at all times to talk to each one of you, indi-\nvidually, who stop for a visit, I need not tell you that there\nare many duties which make it impossible. I've found that having\na competant staff is the next best thing. In my absence, there-\nfore, I ask you to feel free to discuss your problems with the\nmembers of my staff. We work as a team with emphasis on service\nto constituents who have troubles with the many agencies of the\nFederal government.\nJohn Milanowski, my Administrative assistant, is my\nright hand man. You can trust John to have accurate information\non almost every phase of our Federal government.\nMy secretary, Adaline Brewer, is a whiz at keeping\nmy appointments straight, to say nothing of the hundred and one\nother duties of a Congressional secretary. The appointments in\nthemselves, are a mighty large order when you consider that an\nordinary day consists of several conferences, speaking engage-\nments and meetings in addition to the regular correspondence\nwhich must be mailed out each day.\nSally Obermeyer, who helps me personally with leg-\nislative research, speech material, radio and T.V. programs and\nother publicity, is available to handle anything along that line.\nShe can also make arrangements with you for the many films which\nwe have on hand to loan to you.\nIf your thinking that I'm left without anything to do,\nmy columns ought to convince you that there are many things which\na Congressman must do himself. Legislative matters are his dir-\nect responsibility and no amount of juggling can alter that fact.\nHaving a competant staff makes it a whole lot easier to do a\ngood job for you.\nSo, having introduced my staff to my readers, I'll\nrepeat my invitation to you all to stop in our office for a\nvisit. John, Adaline, Sally and myself are looking forward to\nmeeting and talking to you.\n#\nFOR RELEASE OCT. 23\nYOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW\nBY GERALD R. FORD, JR.\nThe Americans for Democratic Action, better\nknown as the A.D.A., has produced its \"scorecard\" on members\nof Congress. A few Sonators and Representatives had a good\nbatting average with this organization but most did not.\nHere's why. The A.D.L. is an ultra left-wing organization\nwhich openly advocates a \"planned economy\" with all the\nhorrors of extreme government regimentation and unlimited\nred tape. It's members deny it is a \"communist front\". Ap-\nparently this is true. However, the A.D.A. has a \"soft\" at-\ntitude toward the communist menace. For example, the 1952\nplatform of the A.D.A. declares its opposition to the Smith\nAct which law makes it a criminal offense to teach or advocate\nthe overthrow of our government by force of violence, The\nSmith Act was the basis of the Federal government's drive\nagainst all communist leaders who were convicted in New York\nafter prolonged trial. A dozen other communist leaders are\nawaiting trial under this law in lifornia. The A.D.A also\nattacked the FBI in connection with the Judy Coplon espionage\ncase. A.D.A. believes in socialized medecine and the Brannan\nplan.\nInterestingly enough, the Democratic Party can-\ndidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan (Moody) had a 93 per\ncent batting average in the A.D.A. scorecard. Moody voted\nonly once against the wishes of the A.D.A. In other words,\nthere is a definite similarity of views between the A.D.A. and\nMoody. In contrast, Congressman Charles Potter is not the\ncandidate of this extreme left wing group. I can assure you\nCongressman Charlie Potter has a topnotch record of supporting\ngood legislation for the benefit of America as a whole.\n*\n*\nSo you never had it so good. At least that's\nwhat our political opponents are trying to say - and in the\nsame breath they're trying to deceive honest citizens into\nFORD\nGERALD\nLIBRARY\n-2-\nbelieving that Republicans are bent solely upon \"taking it\naway\"\nNothing is farther from the truth.\nAll the Republican candidates have stated time\nand time again that it is their intention, and, they feel,\ntheir obligation in view of the poor job done by the present\nAdministration, to give to the citizens of the United States\na high standard of living based on a firm foundation of sound\neconomy. The Democrats claim to have provided us with a high\nstandard of living. But what good is it? What good is a big,\nshiny, beautiful apple whose inside is rotten and wormy? What\ngood is a grand and imposing home built on an unstable founda-\ntion? This is the high standard of living we have today.\nAmericans have a right to a high standard of liv-\ning. There's not a one of us who would deny that. But they al-\nso have a right to a stable economy and the security it brings.\nThe Democrats have ignored this side of the issue entirely.\nGeneral Eisenhower has left no doubt as to his\nfirst move toward a stable economy, should he be elected to\nfill the highest office in the land. More than once he has\nstated that he intends to eliminate the waste and extravagances\nwhich have sent the Federal expenditures sky-rocketing. Cutting\noff a little excess fat never harmed a good piece of meat and\nit won't hurt the national economy either.\nAnd what about prices? You get more money but it\nbuys less.\nAnd\ntaxes\nalmost one-third the price of an\nautomobile is taxes; one hundred taxes on a single egg; the\nprice of a package of cigarettes is nearly doubled because of\ntaxes. We never had it so good? I wonder how much better we\ncould have it if we didn't have the graft, corruption, waste\nand unnecessary extravagance.\n*\n1030\nFOR RELEASE OCT. 30\nYOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW\nBY GERALD R. FORD, JR.\nHalf-truths, if told often enough, soon appear to be\nwhole-truths. It is difficult to understand why the Demo-\ncratic candidate for the U.S. Senate tells only one-sixth\nof the story when he \"spouts\" about Congressman Charlie Potter's\nattendance record. Misrepresentation of the record in this\ncase is an unfair smear. Let's set the record straight.\nCharlie Potter has been a United States Representative\nfor six years. In 1947-1948, he had an attendance record of\n97 per cent. For the 1949 session of the Congress, Potter's\nattendance record was 85 per cent and in 1950, 76 per cent.\nIn 1951 Congressman Potter had an 85 per cent \"batting aver-\nage\". The 1952 record was 46 per cent.\nWhy after a topnotch five year record did Charlie slip\nto a lower attendance average? The answer is simple and should\nbe told. Congressman Potter has been a member of the Committee\non Un-American Activities for the past term. That committee\nheld important hearings in Los Angeles and Detroit where com-\nmunist party infiltration was exposed in the motion picture\nand vital defense industries. The Un-American Activities Com-\nmittee hearings were not held in Washington and as a result,\ncommittee members had to be away from the Nation's Capital.\nIn other words, Congressman Potter, as a member of this impor-\ntant committee had to be away from Washington if he was to do\nhis part in exposing communist infiltration in defense indus-\ntries right here in Michigan as well as elsewhere throughout\nthe country. In my opinion, it was most important for Charlie\nPotter to be on the job with this committee and it is obvious\none person can't be in Washington and California at the same\ntime.\nOn legislative matters affecting farmers, Potter and\nMoody disagree considerably. The Farmer's Union on its 1952\nscorecard rates Moody ace high. On 15 votes, Moody voted 12\ntimes the way the Farmer's Union recommended. Congressman\nPotter, in contrast, voted against all of the proposals recom-\nGEBALD FORD VIBRAR\n-2-\nmended by this organization. In other words, it is fair to\nsay that Potter and the Farmer's Union are not in agreement\non what is good for American agriculture while Moody and the\nFarmer's Union are in accord. The record also shows that the\nAmerican Farm Bureau and the Grange disagree with the Farmer's\nUnion on most issues. As one Kent County farmer said to me:\n\"In one corner of the ring you have the Farm Bureau, the Grange\nand Potter while in the other the Farmer's Union and Moody.\"\n*\n*\nDon't forget to be stationed at your radios and TV sets\nFriday, October 31 from 7 to 10 p.m. John B. Martin, Jr. can-\ndidate for State Auditor General and myself will be holding fort\nfor three hours on WOOD-TV to answer the questions you phone in.\nHere's your chance to ask lots of questions about both candidates\nand policies. So-stand by Friday night! John and I will be\nwaiting to hear from you. Watch your local papers for further\nannouncements.\n*\n*\nI'd like to take this opportunity to remind my readers\nnot to forget their contributions to the Grand Rapids War Mem-\norial Drive and the Community Chest Drive. It might make you\nfeel good to take time from the political whirl of these last\nfew days before the national election to remember our local re-\nsponsibilities. The Community Chest Campaign which this year\nincludes FOUR major drives in ONE has been extended six days to\nenable the citizens of Grand Rapids to send in their contribu-\ntions.\nA S I write this, over $200,000 are still needed to reach\nthe goal set for the 1953 drive. I myself, have spent some time\nsoliciting contributions for the Community Chest, the Red Cross\nand other, and have found it a most rewarding endeavor. You\nthe citizens of Western Michigan have been so generous in your\nresponse that it has made our work a pleasure. But we can't\nafford to relax our efforts at this time. Further more, it sure\ngives a lift to the morale to help in a worthy cause such as this.\nSo don't forget to send your donation right away to both\nthe War Memorial \"und Drive and the Red Cross-Red Feather Cam-\npaign. Better still, don't wait for the solicitor to call on you.\nCall or write the Chest office nearest you and pledge your do-\nnation to the Community Chest drive, today.\nFOR RELEASE NOV. 6\nYOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW\nBY GERALD R. FORD, JR.\nOpen letter to \"REVIEW\" readers-\nResponse to our Friday night TV program was ex-\nceedingly great - so great, in fact, that John Martin and I\nwere both pleased and overwhelmed.\nHowever, as might be expected in a project this\nlarge, there were those who benefited from this type of program\nand there were those who had their complaints. Complaints fell\ninto three general categories: technical complaints, complaints\nabout handling of questions, and personal complaints.\nThe background noises of our telephone operators\nanswering phones was absolutely unavoidable as was fully ex-\nplained over the air. We are sincerely sorry if this was a\nsource of annoyance to anyone.\nThe handling of the questions seemed to evoke the\ngreatest amount of criticism. I can only assure you that we\ndid the best that was humanly and physically possible under the\ncircumstances. Over 600 questions came over our ten telephone\nwires in the space of three hours time. Naturally, they could\nnot all be answered at that time. But for your information, we\nintend to answer personally each and every question sent in.\nWe attempted to answer those questions which were concerned with\nmajor issues and those which were, apparently, real problems to\nyou listeners.\nFurthermore, and I speak both for John Martin and\nmyself, we answered each question as it came to us as best we\ncould with the factual data at our command. I might add, in-\ncidentally, that John and I felt as though we were up against a\nfiring line. How would you like to get up there in front of all\nthose cameras and lights and answer questions sent in from all\nover - as far as the television signal can reach? Believe me,\nwe were under a good deal of pressure.\nI have always welcomed criticism, both favorable\nand adverse - and that goes for the TV program, too, I thank\nGERALD GERALD R. FORD\n-2-\neach and every one of you who expressed your interest by phon-\ning in Friday night; whether you agreed with our views or not.\nThanks, too, to all who were so generous with contributions.\nIn general, I sincerely hope the majority of you\nwent away from our broadcast with some better knowledge of the\nissues at stake. If you did not, it was only our lack of skill\nwhich was responsible.\nAnyway, thank you one and all.\n*\n*\n*\nAs I write this column for you, my readers, the votes\nhave not yet been counted. The only thing of which American\nvoters can be positively certain is that Mr. Truman will no long-\ner be in the White House after January 3, 1953. After that date\nthe reign of \"Boss Harry\" will belong to history.\nHarry has made his future plans quite clear. It's back\nto the farm in Missouri for the Truman clan. Yes, back to the\nfarm\nbut it won't be the same farm Bess and Margaret knew be-\nfore they left, many years ago. Mr. Truman has been laying aside\nsome pin money during the past few years with which he intends\nto \"fix up the old place\".\nThere'll be a large library for all of Harry's books\na special corner for his favorites\nseven tremendous volumes\nof the Federal budget, accumulated during his seven years as\nPresident of our United States. No doubt, too, there'll be room\nfor a scrap book of \"before and after\" pictures of the redecor-\nated White House. It seems Harry has acquired a penchant for\nre-decorating.\nHarry the Haberdasher has made his name and fortune and\nnow will retire to the position of the country gentlemen. But\nthere's something about ex-Presidents of the United States. They\ncan never really \"fade away\". In the future, historians will de-\ncide whether the Truman Administration was good or bad for America.\nAt this point, we can only be certain that Mr. Truman was the\n\"name-callingest\" President of all time.\nBut as we close that book and open another on a new\nAdministration we hope and trust America can take a new lease on\nlife.\nFOR RELEASE NOV. 13\nYOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW\nBY GERALD R. FORD, JR.\nIt's all over\nincluding the shouting! The\nvoters have had their day and they've made the decisions which\nwill effect the future of the Nation for the next four years.\nThere's no question about it, Adlai Stevenson was\na remarkable candidate. I feel very strongly that Tuesday's vote\nwas directed not so much against Stevenson as against Truman and\nhis Administration.\nThroughout the campaign, Stevenson showed him-\nself to be a man of nobility and character. Would that he had\nhad other affiliations! It is indeed unfortunate that a man of\nStevenson's qualities had to be sacrificed on the altar of HST's\narrogance.\nThose of us who know Mr. Stevenson only through\nhis campaign speeches cannot help but respect him. He was as\nadmirable in defeet was he was in the throes of the campaign.\nBut Eisenhower is the man\nthe best man\nchosen\nto guide out nation through the coming four years\na critical\nfour years. Ike knows, from the overwhelming vote which put\nhim into office, that he has the support of the people of America.\nIke is assured, too, of the energetic support of all the Repub-\nlican workers\nthe same energetic support which was manifested\nthroughout the campaign. In other words, Ike knows a great trust\nand responsiblity has been placed in him and he knows as well\nthat he can count on his people to stand behind him, to help him\nto\nbear\nthe\nburden. It is this cooperation between citizens and\nAdministration\nso long lacking from America's political scene\nwhich will revitalize America and put it back on solid footing.\nTuesday, November 4th was not merely a great day for\nRepublicans. It was a great day for America. The figures\nthe\nlargest vote in the Nation's history\nprove that Democrats, In-\ndependents as well as Republicans wanted Eisenhower for President.\nFORD\nThe boundaries of political affiliations were broken down that days\nas the citizens elected Dwight D. Eisenhower to the highest office\nGERALD\nLIBRARY\nin the land\nPresident of the United States.\n-2-\nI owe a great debt of gratitude to all of you who\ngave me such 2 tremendous vote of confidence in Tuesday's election.\nI am very proud of the response, and deeply appreciative.\nFurthermore, I renew my nledge to you to continue\ngiving my best efforts in your behalf. At the same time I urge\nyou to keep me informed of your opinions and needs. Only with your\nhelp will I be able to do the kind of job you expect from your\nRepresentative to Congress.\nMany thanks for your cooperation in the past. Now\nwe're all starting off with a clean slate, determined to do the\nbest job possible.\nThere are a lot of thanks to be bestowed, now that\nthe rigors of the campaign are over. Everyone from newspaper ed-\nitors and radio station managers to campaign workers and contrib-\nutors deserve heartiest congratulations for their excellent co-\noperation. I should like to thank personally each and every in-\ndividual who took time to phone my office to give words of en-\ncouragement during the campaign. I sincerely appreciate your\nthoughtfulness.\nI can say without fear of contradiction that not\na single Republican was confident of victory until the votes were\ncounted Tuesday evening. For this very reason, we owe a great\ndebt of gratitude to those of you whose intense efforts as well\nas your constant reassurance really won the victory for us.\nMy only remark now is - let's keep up the good\nwork! We've seen what concentrated efforts and down-to-earth\nhard work can accomplish, Let's profit from our experiences\nduring the campaign. It's hard work that's going to put the Nation\nback on its feet.\nFor release November 20, 1952\nYOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW\nBY GERALD R. FORD, JR.\nBy this time many of you who wrote me during the campaign are be-\nginning to receive the long-overdue answers to your letters. Now that I'm finally\ngetting time to wade into the mountain of correspondence, I find the number of\ncomplaints from individuals having difficulty with the Bureau of Internal Revenue\nis really staggering. You will be interested to learn that every single letter is\nbeing forwarded to the Regional Office in Detroit. I am in hopes that the deluge\nof mail will light a fire under a few of the officials down there so that we can\nlook forward to a more efficient handling of tax returns in the very near future.\n*\n*\nWe all spend lots of time complaining about the international situa-\ntion as well as the diplomats who are forming national and international policies.\nBut do we ever stop to think that these very diplomats are not machines with brief-\ncases for hearts?\nHave you ever imagined what it might be like making decisions affect-\ning the citizens of an entire nation-the whole world? And how would you like to\nhave that as your everyday job even as you now go off to the office or factory each\nday? For myself, I have often pondered the terrific responsibility facing these\nmen and wondered why more of them didn't crack up under the strain.\nTry, sometime, to put yourself in the position of a high government\nofficial. Place yourself at a long table with officials of foreign-speaking nations,\neach with many difficult problems to solve. For atmosphere, add bright lights,\ncameras, newsmen, secretaries, clerks and a general buzz of activity. In the midst\nof all this, our diplomats must discuss, argue, bargain and decide.\nIn the light of all these facts, I'd suggest that the diplomats bur-\ndened with the weight of many, many problems be given a certain amount of mercy and\na great deal of prayer. They are all human, prone to the same weaknesses even as\nyou and I.\n*\n*\n*\nVeterans certainly have their share of problems these days. As\nevidence I submit the score of letters on allotment checks, GI loans, GI education,\netc., received at my office almost daily. Many of these proglems are unavoidable\nbut some might be escaped if just plain old caution were used.\nFor example, when it comes to buying something as expensive as a house,\nnearly all of us have to borrow money to swing the deal. That involves regular\npayments every month. Now, sometimes, in spite of everything that can be done, a\nfew fall behind on their payments--and of course, that holds true for some veterans\nFORD\nwho have bought homes with GI loans. So here's a warning. Watch out for \"sharpers.\nLIBRARY\nYour Washington Review - Page 2\nThe bait used by these tricksters is a promise to help you wipe out\nyour accumulated debt and bring you up to date. But to do this you have to sign\nthe sharper's paper. Too late, you learn that what you really signed was a deed\nto your property. That makes you pay plenty to get your own house back. If you\ncan't raise the money, he takes you to court. He produces the deed signed by you\nand puts you out of your own house. And that's only one of the tricks they use.\nA faker may offer you a small sum of money for your equity in the\nhouse. As bait, he offers you the opportunity to buy a less expensive house--in\na cheaper location. It looks plausible. You think that you're swapping a place\nyou can't afford for a place you can afford--and paying the sharper for helping you.\nBut here's the catch! Later on you are informed that there are \"no listings\navailable\" in the lower cost neighborhood. You are then legally out of the House\nyou signed over to the swindler for a lot less than your equity in it.\nNow it may happen that you'll never run into a financial jam-or\nrun into one of these slick operators. But it'll pay you to be on the alert.\nRemember this common sense rule. Don't ever sign anything unless you thoroughly\nunderstand it. So, if you own a GI home, and you have trouble meeting your payments,\nthe bank and\ncheck first with the VA. Remember this too: If you need information or help on\nany other benefits provided for you, get in touch with the one place that has all\nthe dope--your nearest Veterans Administration office,\nFOR RELEASE NOV. 27\nYOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW\nBY GERALD R. FORD, JR.\nDespite the many precedents and singular events\nwhich marked this presidential election as one of the most un-\nusual in history, when January 3 rolls \"round traditional pro-\ncedures will usher in the new 83rd Congress and install the\nnew administration.\nBefore Congress convenes on January 3, House\nmembers-elect, both Democratic and Republican will meet in their\nrespective party conferences to select candidates for House of-\nfices. A Speaker and Clerk of the House, Sergeant at Arms,\nChaplain, Doorkeeper, and Postmaster of the House will have to\nbe elected by the members of the 83rd Congress, In addition,\nthe groups also select their party officials. These are the\nfloor leader, party whip, assistant whips and committee on com-\nmittees.\nThe first roll will be called by Ralph Roberts,\nClerk of the 82nd Congress. Nominations will be made by a\nmember from each party and the entire body will then proceed\nto a vote. Republicans having the slight edge on the Democrats\nin the new Congress, the Republican nominee for Speaker (prob-\nably Joseph Martin of Mass.) will, no doubt, take the election\nand senior Republican, Rep. Daniel A. Reed of N.Y. will admin-\nister the oath of office. The newly-installed Speaker will\nthen administer the oath of office to the entire body of mem-\nbers-elect.\nVarious organizational resolutions will be brought\nup and voted upon during the first day or two, although commit-\ntee membership may take considerably longer because of the change\nin party control.\nIn the Senate, much the same system prevails with\nthe exception of the election of a President pro-tempore, who\npresides in the absence of the Vice-President. Official appoint-\nments may be delayed in the higher body until after January 20\nwhen Sen. Richard Nixon is sworn into office.\nGERALD FORD (18848)\n2\nThis year, the first business of the joint Con-\ngress will be the counting of electoral votes which, according\nto Federal law takes place on January 6.\nAll in all, the Congressional organization ought\nto be ship-shape in time for the inauguration, or at least well\nunder way. Meanwhile, I understand that at the Capitol in Wash-\nington, preparations were begun long ago for the Inauguration\nDay ceremonies. Even now, two months before the big day, hotel\naccomodations in our Nation's Capital are already at a premium.\nIt promises to be a most exciting time indeed for Republicans,\nWashingtonians and all citizens who will be fortunate enough to\nattend the Inauguration ceremonies.\n*\n*\n*\nTwo congratulatory letters found themselves side-\nby-side in my mail the other morning: one was from the presi-\ndent-elect himself, Dwight D. Eisenhower; the other bore the\nletter head of Senator Estes Kefauver. Both ironically stated\nthat they looked forward to our working together in the new Con-\ngress. For my part, I sincerely hope it will be possible for\nthe safety and well-being of the Nation, for all branches of\nour Federal government to work together with world peace and\nnational security and stability as our goal.\n*\n*\n*\nWith the traditional Thanksgiving dinner sending\nall sorts of heavenly aromas through the house, and friends\ngathering to spend a happy and peaceful day together - it's\nnot hard to remember that we all have much to be thankful for.\nFor those to whom the year has brought misfortune this day of\ndays may be marked by a distinct gloom. To those I express my\ndeepest sympathy as also my hope that the future will bring\nblessings merited by their suffering.\nBut to all\nBetty, Mike, Jack and I, as well as\nmy staff, send our best wishes for a Happy Happy Thanksgiving Day.\nFOR RELEASE\n4\nYOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW\nBY GERALD R. FORD, JR.\nSome interesting statistics concerning the new\n83rd Congress have just been released to the public:\nAlthough elected to serve in the House of Rep-\nresentatives for the 83rd Congress, Garrett L. Withers (D-Ky.)\nwill retain his title of Senator since previous service in\nthe Senate permits him to use that title for life.\nAnother interesting sidelight is the fact that\nthere will be twelve Congresswomen ( a new record) seated in\nthe 83rd Congress, including Margaret Chase Smith, who is still\nthe solitary woman in the upper house.\nOf particular note is the election of Oliver P.\nBolton to his first term as Representative of Ohio's 11th Dis-\ntrict. Oliver Bolton is the son of Mrs. Frances P. Bolton,\nRepresentative of the 22nd District of Ohio who has served\nsince February of 1940 when she was elected to fill the vacan-\ncy created by the death of her husband.\nOnly two of the distaff representation in Congress\nhave not had previous service in either the House or the Sen-\nate\nand seven of the twelve are widows of former Congressmen.\nWomen members of Congress, I might add at this\npoint, take no back seat as far as fulfilling their official\nresponsibilities are concerned. Their competance has earned\nfor them the high esteem of every other member of Congress.\nThose of us who may be old-fashioned enough to think that a\nwoman's place is in the home are forced to do some reconsider-\ning when we see the \"gals\" debating like troopers on the floor\nof the Congress. When issues demand, the feminine voice can\nresound throughout the chamber as powerfully as any man's. How\nwell we know just how persuasive, forceful and capable Congress\nwomen can be!\nAt least, brother Congressmen, we still haven't\nbeen outnumbered.\nGERALD FORD FIBRARY\n-2-\nThe McCarran Immigration Bill has received some\nmighty rough treatment at the hands of would-be interpreters,\nincluding Federal attorneys who are \"agin\" the law under any\ncircumstance. The result has been wholesale confusion and mis-\nunderstanding on the part of well-meaning citizens.\nAt the outset let it be know that United States\ncitizens arriving from either Hawaii or Alaska are not subject\nto exclusion of any kind when entering the continental United\nStates. The provisions concerning screening of persons enter-\nin the country from Alaska refer solely to aliens regardless of\nany other interpretation which may have been offered to the pub-\nlic from uninformed sources.\nBecause this matter was brought to my attention, I\nwrote directly to the H_use Committee on the Judiciary for clar-\nification of these provisions. Their reply, in addition to the\nabove information, stated that the Immigration and Nationality\nAct was intended primarily to remove inconsistencies in existing\nlaw. and not to discriminate against citizens of the United\nS ates. For this reason, I urge you to check wi th reliable\nsources before becoming unnecessarily concerned over friends or\nrelative who are affected by these provisions.\n*\n*\n*\nMy first Christmas gift of 1952 turned up last week\na remembrance from Congressman Thurmond Chatham of North Caro -\nlina. Finding no \"Do not open until Christmas\" tag on the pack-\nage, I tore off the wrappings and found inside this note together\nwith a quart jar of delectable honey:\n\"The bees in the Fifth District of North Carolina\nwill always be good Democrats and, like good Democrats, will be\nambitious, industrious, frugal and successful. I want you to\nhave the benefit of this honey produced in the foothills of the\nBlue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.\nMerry Christmas and Happy New Year!\"\nNow, a joke's a joke, but I just won't be able to\nsleep nights 'til I think of something equally as clever to coun-\nteract my collegue's subtle humor. I had thought of something,\nbut upon reconsidering I decided that informing him that it was\nthe Democrats who got stung this year would be a bit too brutal\nespecially after his thoughtfulness in sending the honey. But\nrest assured, I'll think of something.\nfor release Dec. 11\nYOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW\nBY GERALD R. FORD, JR.\nIt's not often that I have an opportunity to give whole-\nhearted approval and commendation to a military group so that\nwhen the occasion arises I'm more than anxious to do SO. Last\nweek a letter was brought to my attention from a certain Lt.\nRobert L. Gant of the 6th Armored Division, Fort Leonard Wood,\nMissouri. Lt. Gant has, in my estimation, initiated one of the\nfinest public relations projects which it has ever been my for-\ntune to encounter. Here's how it works:\nWhen a boy arrives at Ft. Leonard Wood for training, Lt.\nGant sends his parents a letter telling them of their boy's\nassignment and outlining his schedule during his training. A-\nmong other things the parents are given the boy's correct ad-\ndress, informed of recreational facilities available to the\nmen and even notified of guest facilities should relatives de-\nsire to visit him.\nThe parents are especially admonished to help to dispel\ninevitable homesickness by sending lots of cheery letters.\nI am certain that every parent who received one of these\nletters feels far more secure and confident that his boy is in\ngood hands. In my judgement, I have yet to learn of a more pos-\nitive effort toward better understanding and cooperation between\nofficers, men and their families. It gives me great pleasure\nto send my heartiest congratulations to Lt. Gant for a most\npractical service to his country.\n*\n*\n*\n*\nLast week I was favored with a personal interview with\nthe Australian Ambassador to the U.S. and I was also privileged\nto hear him speak before the Economic Club of Detroit. The\nAmbassador, who is also the top Australian representative in\nthe United States spoke frankly about the problems of Pacific\nSecurity and how his country and ours must stand shoulder to\nshoulder against the aetheistic dictators in the Kremlin. It\nwas most encouraging to hear this rugged little fighter from the\nland \"down under\" praise, with sincerity, our Nation, its people,\nGERAÇO FORD LIBRARY\ncon't.\nGeneral MacArthur and the principles for which we all fought\nin World War II.\n*\nRep. Joseph Martin of Massachusetts who is most likely\nto become Speaker of the House of Representatives this coming\nJanuary indicated he will let the various House Committees de-\ncide whether their hearings may be televised or photographed\nfor newsreels. During the last session of the Congress, Joe\nMartin disagreed with Speaker Rayburn's TV ban of House Com-\nmittee hearings.\nThe arbitrary decision to bar cameras from the House\nCommittee hearings was an unquestionalbe injustice to the Am-\nerican people since the restriction came at a time when the is-\nsues were of public concern. If you recall, Rayburn's procla-\nmation came at the eleventh hour before the televising of the\nUn-American Activities Committee hearings in Detroit in Febru-\nary of 1952. There were a good many vehement charges and coun-\ntercharges made at the time on both sides, As a matter of fact,\nI am reasonably certain the controversy was heated enough that\nwe can all look for a fair and sensible approach to the problem\nin the 83rd Congress.\nIt is understandable that in some instances, for security\nreasons, a temporary restriction on news stories is necessary.\nHowever, it is certainly unfair to the American public to use\ncensorship for political reasons.\n*\n*\n*\nLike all the rest of you we are still up to our ears in\nChristmas shopping\nand in the midst of it all trying to get\nready to move back to Washington. We're getting to feel almost\nlike gypsies having to pack up every few months to go back and\nforth from Washington to Grand Rapids, This year we'll all be\nspending our Christmas in Washington so as to be ready bright\nand early on January 3 when Congress re-convenes. There's lots\nof work to be done this year and there'll be no room for slackers.\nSo even though we might prefer to be in Grand Rapids for the hol-\nFORD\nidays we'll have to extend our greetings from 650 miles away.\nYOUR WASHINGTON REVIEW\nRelease December 18\nBy GERALD R. FORD, JR.\nUndeubtedly the Nation is relieved to know that Ike is back frem Korea.\nHe had stated from the outset that his trip would not produce any miraculeus\nsolution to the Korean conflict, wither while he was in Korea nor immediately\nafter his return. His trip, we must remember, WES intended primarily that he\nmight see for himself and thereby make more effective plans with regard to\nthe Korean situation. As a recognized military expert Eisenhower was well\nequipped to observe with a keen and critical eye the military situation in\nKorea. As a capable and resourceful administrator he will be qualified to make\njudgments and formulate plans which, we all trust, will bring a decided\nimprovement in the Korean conflict.\nThe very fact that Ike would not be satisfied with second-hand reports on\nthe Korean affair and insisted upon a personal review of our status in Korea is\nin itself sufficient evidence that Ike will be a therough and efficient Chief\nExecutive. He will not be content to sit idly by watching casualty lists the uni\nas armchair strategists at truce conferences engage in endless bickering. Our\nnext president will be both a man of thought and a man of action. We have\nLeng been in need of both.\nFurthermore President-tz-be Ike wants the aid and advice of all as evi-\ndenced in his conference with General MacArthur. It is unbelievable that Mac--\nArthur with all his knowledge of the Far East has never been consulted by Mr.\nTruman.\n############ #..##:####\nShortly after Ike's election he set up a committee of distinguished citi\naens tr, make recommendations on government reorganization. It was aimed at the\nsame problems which the Heaver Commission tackled several years ago. About\nsixty percent of the Hoover Commission proposals are now in operation but some\nof the most controversial suggested changes are still gathering dust on the\nburcaucratic shalves. The Eisenhower reorganization committee may force further\nstreamlining in the numerous bureaus and agencies which will mean eventual\nsavings in taxes.\nHere are some of the spote where reorganizations might be recommended.\nCabinet rank for the administrator of the Federal Security Agency. With Oscar\nEwing to be replaced by Mrs. Oveta Culp Hobby in this job the Congress might\napprove such a change.\nIt is rumoured that the committee might como up with a suggestion to\nFORD\ntransfer the flood contrel and river and harber responsibilities of the ACENU\nEngineers to the Department of Interier's Bureau of Reclamation. Presidents\nHoover and Truman in the past tried to make such a shift but without success.\nCengressional opposition mainly stemmed from the doubt that the Bureau of Re-\nclamation would do the job effectively and without partisanship. Recently\nthe idea has popped up that maybe it would be sensible to combine all public\nworks functions in a new and separate agency. Maybe the Eisenhower committee\nwill agree.\nThe Committee is also wrestling with the proposal for the creation of a\nsingle government medical and hospital service as an independent agency or as\npart of the Federal Security Agency. The Veterans Administration would cer-\ntainly object with or without justification.\nOther possible changes include the transfer of the Forest Service from\nthe Department of Agriculture to Interior; Bureau of Land Management from\nInterior to Agriculture and the consolidation of the Department of Agriculture's\nvarious farm credit agencies into a single bureau.\nIt can be expected that opposition to any changes will appear just as\nthe various Hoover Commission proposals were denounced by some. The new Con-\ngress, Ike and the Public generally must however, seek and approve recrgari-\nzation where the facts justify revision. The Hoover Commission stated 5 billion\ndollars could be saved each year by streamlining the government with no loss\nin services to the public. That would be a nice way to cut expenses and to\nhelp to reduce taxes, The Eisenhower committee can do a great public service\nby coming up with some darn good suggestions on reorganization.\nOnce again we have come to that season when postmasters take aspirin\ninstead of their morning coffee and letter carriers have horrible nightmares.\nMillions of Americans annually express their Christmas cheer by card or by\ngift. It's tough on the posteffice department but good for the rest of us to\nlet our relatives, friends and neighbors know of our good will. Without further\nado the Fords (Mike, Jack, Betty, and Jerry) most emphatically wish to extend\nto each ef you our sincere wishes for a Happy and Holy Christmas Season.\nFORD LIBRAS)"
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