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Ford Press Releases - Cities, American, 1965-1966
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Ford Press Releases - Cities, American, 1965-1966
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The original documents are located in Box D6, folder "Ford Press Releases - Cities, American, 1965-1966" 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 The Council donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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. Digitized from Box D6 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library From the office of Rep. Gerald R. Ford Statement on the President's Message on Cities March 2, 1965 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The goals in the President's message on cities are both lofty and humanitarian. He has painted a verbal dramatic picture of community problems that do exist in many parts of the Nation. However, the message to Congress emphasizes the Administration's strong desire to create far more federal centralization of power, which is already in too many instances throttling metropolitan initiative and local responsibility. The federal government has no business telling cities how to think and plan, as the President would have a new Department of Housing and Urban Development do under his recommendations. In the message there are many dangerous indications that the President is urging the establishment of more encompassing bureaucratic control of cities. The Republican housing proposal, which was outlined several weeks ago, will help cities to help themselves without putting the lives of citizens in the hands of federal planners. In addition, the Republicans suggested a new program for veterans under FHA which would include sound benefits to those who served in war and peacetime. While the President would create another federal agency, the Republican legislative proposal calls for combining the Urban Renewal Administration and the Public Housing Administration to eliminate duplication. The Republican proposal, which is a constructive alternative to the Administration bill, calls for a humanized housing program that would have a positive impact on the problems of urban America without clutching cities in the grip of federal centralized power. From the office of Rep. Gerald R. Ford Statement on the President's Message on Cities March 2, 1965 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The goals in the President's message on cities are both lofty and humanitarian. He has painted a verbal dramatic picture of community problems that do exist in many parts of the Nation. However, the message to Congress emphasizes the Administration's strong desire to create far more federal centralization of power, which is already in too many instances throttling metropolitan initiative and local responsibility. The federal government has no business telling cities how to think and plan, as the President would have a new Department of Housing and Urban Development do under his recommendations. In the message there are many dangerous indivations that the President is urging the establishment of more encompassing bureaucratic control of cities. The Republican housing proposal, which was outlined several weeks ago, will help cities to help themselves without putting the lives of citizens in the hands of federal planners. In addition, the Republicans suggested a new program for veterans under FHA which would include sound benefits to those who served in war and peacetime. While the President would create another federal agency, the Republican legislative proposal calls for combining the Urban Renewal Adménistration and the Public Housing Administration to eliminate duplication. The Republican proposal, which is a constructive alternative to the Administration bill, calls for a humanized housing program that would have a positive impact on the problems of urban America without clutching cities in the grip of federal centralized power. ****** FOR THE SENATE: THE JOINT SENATE-HOUSE FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Everett M. Dirksen, Leader Thomas H. Kuchel, Whip REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP Gerald R. Ford, Jr., Bourke B. Hickenlooper, Chr. Leader of the Policy Committee Press Release Leslie C. Arends, Whip Leverett Saltonstall, Chr. Melvin R. Laird, of the Conference Chr. of the Conference Thruston B. Morton, John J. Rhodes, Chr. Chr. Republican Senatorial Committee of the Policy Committee Issued following a Clarence J. Brown, PRESIDING OFFICER: Leadership Meeting Ranking Member The Republican Rules Committee National Chairman March 18, 1965 Bob Wilson, Dean Burch Chr. Republican Congressional Committee IMMEDIATE RELEASE STATEMENT BY REP. FORD: In a series of messagesto Congress that are almost encyclopedic in the listing of problems purportedly to be solved by the Federal government, President Johnson proposes enactment of laws and the appropriation of funds that will place the Federal foot in the door of every important function now reserved to the states and local communities. The formula is ingenious. The future needs of every local com- munity for the next 10 to 20 years are fed, computer-like, into the Federal maw to arrive at a gigantic nationwide figure calculated to stagger the imagination and reduce the citizen to a feeling of utter helplessness. The heroic answer is of course the one now being set forth almost daily by the Johnson Administration: Only the Federal government can handle the problem. Had our founding fathers examined the problems confronting them on the same basis, this country probably would have remained a British colony with the Crown handling everything. The fact that the states and local communities have been meeting these problems in their relatively simple locales for nearly two centuries of unequaled proj gress 1s ignored. Federalized schools, text books, and teachers, Federalized zoning building codes, health centers, and transportation, Federalized libraries, laboratories, auditoriums and theaters all these and much more are now in prospect for our states and local communities. In time our state and local governments can only be reduced to resident agents for the huge central authority in Washington. Perhaps the American people want to abandon a proven system that has worked as no other on earth. We do not believe it. The Johnson program has been so disguised by platitudes and Madison Avenue adjec- tives that its real aim has not been recognized. We are told we are approaching the "Great Society." We deem it our obligation to provide our citizens with full knowledge of the direction in which their Federal administration is heading our nation. The end of this road is complete Federal control. (Dirksen statement pg. 2) Room S-124 U.S. Capitol-CApitol 4-3121 - Ex 3700 STAFF CONSULTANT: Robert Humphreys STATEMENT BY SENATOR DIRKSEN - 2 - March 18, 1965 The unveiling of President Johnson's "Great Society" makes it starkly clear that the Federal government has only begun to grow in size, power and cost. The central thesis of the Great Society" is that bigger and big- ger government means better and better health, better and better education, better and better transportation and better and better environment. It resembles political "perpetual motion." How big is big government today? The answer is: It's enormous. Here are some samples of the combined impact of Federal, state and local governments: Taxes and other government levies now consume 35 percent of total national income. One out of every six workers in the United States is a government employee. One out of every five dollars spent in the United States for goods and services is spent by government. One dollar out of every four dollars and a half of personal income in the United States is accounted for by direct govern- ment payments. The impact of the Federal government alone 1s startling: Federal aid to State and local governments has risen from $3.8 billion in 1956 to $13.6 billion for 1966 an increase of nearly 260 percent. Federal funds now amount to 14 percent of total state-local revenue. These figures give some 1dea of the size of government today. Right now the Federal government has more civilian employees in 30 of the 50 states than do state governments themselves, including the five biggest in the Union -- California, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Ohio. To all this we are now going to add President Johnson's "Great Society. There is no conceivable way to estimate its future cost. The sky's the limit. The Fresident has already told us that ealancing the budget "too quickly" can be "self-defeating." Thus the Congress and the nation have been put on notice that the "Great Society" will be financed by ever-increasing Federal deficits and, although not predicted by the President, these deficits could break all records, wartime or peacetime, if the "Great Society expands as projected. It is time all Americans took a look at the hard facts. FOR THE SENATE: THE JOINT SENATE-HOUSE FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Everett M. Dirksen, Leader Thomas H. Kuchel, Whip REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP Gerald R. Ford, Jr., Bourke B. Hickenlooper, Chr. Leader of the Policy Committee Press Release Leslie C. Arends, Whip Leverett Saltonstall, Chr. Melvin R. Laird, of the Conference Chr. of the Conference Thruston B. Morton, John J. Rhodes, Chr. Chr. Republican of the Policy Committee Senatorial Committee Issued following a Clarence J. Brown, PRESIDING OFFICER: Leadership Meeting Ranking Member The Republican Rules Committee National Chairman March 18, 1965 Bob Wilson, Dean Burch Chr. Republican Congressional Committee IMMEDIATE RELEASE STATEMENT BY REP. FORD: In a series of messagesto Congress that are almost encyclopedic in the listing of problems purportedly to be solved by the Federal government, President Johnson proposes enactment of laws and the appropriation of funds that will place the Federal foot in the door of every important function now reserved to the states and local communities. The formula is ingenious. The future needs of every local com- munity for the next 10 to 20 years are fed, computer-like, into the Federal maw to arrive at a gigantic nationwide figure calculated to stagger the imagination a nd reduce the citizen to a feeling of utter helplessness. The heroic answer of course the one now being set forth almost daily by the Johnson Administration: Only the Federal government can handle the problem. Had our founding fathers examined the problems confronting them on the same basis, this country probably would have remained a British colony with the Crown handling everything. The fact that the states and local communities have been meeting these problems in their relatively simple locales for nearly two centuries of unequaled proj gress 1s ignored. Federalized schools, text books, and teachers, Federalized zoning building codes, health centers, and transportation, Federalized libraries, laboratories, auditoriums and theaters -- all these and much more are now in prospect for our states and local communities. In time our state and local governments can only be reduced to resident agents for the huge central authority in Washington. Perhaps the American people want to abandon a proven system that has worked as no other on earth. do not believe it. The Johnson program has been so disguised by platitudes and Madison Avenue adjec- tives that its real aim has not been recognized. We are told we are approaching the "Great Society.' We deem it our obligation to provide our citizens with full knowledge of the direction in which their Federal administration is heading our nation. The end of this road is complete Federal control. (Dirksen statement pg. 2) Room S-124 U.S. Capitol-CApitol 4-3121 - Ex 3700 STAFF CONSULTANT: Robert Humphreys STATEMENT BY SENATOR DIRKSEN - 2 - March 18, 1965 The unveiling of President Johnson's "Great Society" makes it starkly clear that the Federal government has only begun to grow in size, power and cost. The central thesis of the "Great Society" is that bigger and big- ger government means better and better health, better and better education, better and better transportation and better and better environment. It resembles political "perpetual motion.' How big is big government today? The answer is: It's enormous. Here are some samples of the combined impact of Federal, state and local governments: Taxes and other government levies now consume 35 percent of total national income. One out of every six workers 1r. the United States is a government employee. One out of every five dollars spent in the United States for goods and services is spent by government. One dollar out of every four dollars and a half of personal income in the United States is accounted for by direct govern- ment payments. The impact of the Federal government alone is startling: Federal aid to State and local governments has risen from $3.8 billion in 1956 to $13.6 billion for 1966 -- an increase of nearly 260 percent. Federal funds now amount to 14 percent of total state-local revenue. These figures give some 1dea of the size of government today. Right now the Federal government has more civilian employees in 30 of the 50 states than do state governments themselves, including the five biggest in the Union California, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Ohio. To all this we are now going to add President Johnson's "Great Society. There is no conceivable way to estimate its future cost. The sky's the limit. The Fresident has already told us that balancing the budget "too quickly" can be "self-defeating." Thus the Congress and the nation have been put on notice that the "Great Society' will be financed by ever-increasing Federal deficits and, although not predicted by the President, these deficits could break all records, wartime or peacetime, if the "Great Society expands as projected. It is time all Americans took a look at the hard facts. FOR THE SENATE: THE JOINT SENATE-HOUSE FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Everett M. Dirksen, Leader Thomas H. Kuchel, Whip REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP Gerald R. Ford, Bourke B. Hickenlooper, Chr. Leader of the Policy Committee Leslie Arends, Whip Leverett Saltonstall, Chr. Melvin R. Laird, of the Conference Press Release Chr. of the Conference Thruston B. Morton, John J, Rhodes, Chr. Chr. Republican Issued following di of the Policy Committee Senatorial Committee Leadership Meeting Clarence J. Brown, PRESIDING OFFICER: "Loog Ranking Member The Republican August 5, 1965 Rules Committee National Chairman Bob Wilson, Ray C. Bliss Chr. Republican Congressional Committee STATEMENT BY SENATOR DIRKSEN: IMMEDIATE RELEASE The most recent figures on the cost of living convey disheartening news. For the third month in a row a substantial increase in living costs was registered. The increase to date in 1965 has been four times the increase during the same period of 1964. The month of June showed the biggest increase in 23 months. Food prices alone rose 2%. The meat, poultry, and fish group was up 10% from a year ago. Food store prices in the Washington area bring these statistics to life. For instance, in one chain store since June 1964 the cost of smoked ham has risen from 43 cents per pound to 59 cents per pound. At another chain store, the past thirteen months have seen a rise in the cost of rib steaks of 22 cents per pound, while bone- less chuck roast has zoomed from 49 cents per pound to 85 cents per pound. Pork chops at another chain store have nearly doubled in price, from 69 cents per pound in June of 1964 to today's price of $1.19 per pound. The same store in the same period has seen bacon more than double in price, from 49 cents to $1.05 per pound. There are signs of continued pressures affecting not only the price of food but also a broad range of commodities and services. Wholesale prices, following a six-year period of stability, have risen 2 per cent in the past year. On top of this, the Labor Department reports that in the first six months of this year the increases granted in wage settlements have averaged 4 per cent well above the Administration's guidepost of 3.2 per cent. And that will tend to push prices up even more. Loon In spite of these disquieting signs, the press reports that "Administration spokesmen said they were not worried by the recent surge in consumer prices." These sentiments are not shared by the American housewife, the wage earner with a family to feed, the poor, the retired, and others who live on fixed incomes. Per- haps the President should be reminded of that portion of his State of the Union Message in which he said, "Our continued prosperity demands continued price sta- bility." The inflationary trend offsets the billions being expended in the highly pub- licized war on poverty. (Ford statement -- page 2) Room S-124 U.S. Capitol-CApitol 4-3121 Ex 3700 STAFF CONSULTANT: Robert Humphreys - 2 - STATEMENT BY REP. GERALD R. FORD August 5, 1965 It is now more than four years since the Council of Economic Advisers set an unemployment level of 4 per cent as the "interim goal" of the Administration. It is now more than three years since Hubert Humphrey declared, "I predict that by the end of the coming calendar year -- by December 31, 1962, the problem of unem- ployment in the United States will be a page in the history book The year Jaco no Jasser than 1962 is long gone. It has been a long interim, and the achievement of the goal is BBV at B WOT S at draom butdt not yet in sight. The unemployment rate has been stuck around the 5 per cent level since early in 1964. to boling In the four years since 1960 employment in agriculture has declined by one enole To distrom million jobs, or 17 per cent. This is more than double the rate of decrease in base farm jobs under the previous Administration. of DooT In spite of the economic upsurge which the nation has experienced, unemploy- neelt and mad to ment remains an unsolved problem. Unlike past periods of upswing in economic 03 Ed activity, the current prosperity has not brought with it an automatic reduction of elkdw SS to dir to 8 addada the ranks of the jobless to tolerable levels. bemoos and aloudo The problem of unemployment is particularly a problem of the young. The rate Bravoq Beldwob sved 38 of joblessness among teenagers hovered between 15 and 17 per cent before schools edd eal to of to at closed for the summer a rate more than three times as high as that for the admes at e.Iduch nedt gooad and holreg total working force. Boot to soing vino Jon astwased beuntimes 20 angta ere steff Employment of youth promises to be a more difficult problem within the next brie to 8 oals few years because of substantial increases in the number entering the labor To no nt to B force. In 1964, 2,700,000 Americans reached their 18th birthday. This year odd TSSY to xia at teds Todal edd salds 3,700,000 will reach the age of 18, and on through the 1970's approximately svad seasement 4,000,000 will attain this age each year. secting .Jass S.E to deogeblug Speiding programs by the score have been offered as panaceas for unemployment. nove They have not attained the Administration's stated goal. 10 edige aI We see here a reptition of lessons which should have been learned decades ago. A Niagara of Federal spending a host of Federal programs has never provided stit of vilmat a real solution to the problem of unemployment. tedd to Behalmer b.[uoria aged The Administration stands indicted by its obvious failure in dealing with egroasM this critical problem. ".ytilld -dug edd at behasqxe galed anotfild orit adestio based edT ---000000-- as "LOW Benieff (S sgaq Instruction brow) FOOD PRICES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. CHAIN STORES June 1964 July 1965 CHAIN STORE A Fryers, legs (per pound) $ .37 $ .55 Fryers, breasts (per pound) .43 .59 Smoked hams, fully cooked (per pound) .43 .59 Medium fresh shrimp .69 .89 2 dozen large eggs .91 .95 CHAIN STORE B Chuck roast, boneless (per pound) .49 .85 Fryers, whole (per pound) .25 .39 Fryers, cut .29 .43 Rib steaks, 7 inch cut (per pound) .57 .79 CHAIN STORE C Pork Chops (per pound) .69 1.19 Bacon (per pound) .49 1.05 CHAIN STORE D Porterhouse steak, USDA choice .95 1.49 (per pound) .79 1.35 Round steak (per pound) FOR THE SENATE: THE JOINT SENATE-HOUSE FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Everett M. Dirksen, Leader Thomas H. Kuchel, Whip REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP Gerald R. Ford, Bourke B. Hickenlooper, Chr. Leader of the Policy Committee Leslie C. Arends, Whip Leverett Saltonstall, Chr. Melvin R. Laird, of the Conference Press Release Chr. of the Conference Thruston B. Morton, John J. Rhodes, Chr. Chr. Republican Issued following a of the Policy Committee Senatorial Committee Leadership Meeting Clarence J. Brown, PRESIDING OFFICER Ranking Member The Republican August 5, 1965 Rules Committee National Chairman Bob Wilson, Ray C. Bliss Chr. Republican Congressional Committee STATEMENT BY SENATOR DIRKSEN: IMMEDIATE RELEASE The most recent figures on the cost of living convey disheartening news. For the third month in a row a substantial increase in living costs was registered. The increase to date in 1965 has been four times the increase during the same period of 1964. 0301 The month of June showed the biggest increase in 23 months. Food prices alone rose 2% The meat, poultry, and fish group was up 10% from a year ago. Food store prices in the Washington area bring these statistics to life. For instance, in one chain store since June 1964 the cost of smoked ham has risen from 43 cents per pound to 59 cents per pound. At another chain store, the past thirteen to months have seen a rise in the cost of Fib steaks of 22 cents per pound, while bone- less chuck roast has zoomed from 49 cents per pound to 85 cents per pound. Pork chops at another chain store have nearly doubled in price, from 69 cents per pound in June of 1964 to today's price of $1.19 per pound. The same store in the same sents period has seen bacon more than double in price, from 49 cents to $1.05 per pound. There are signs of continued pressures affecting not only the price of food but also a broad range of commodities and services. Wholesale prices, following a six-year period of stability, have risen 2 per cent in the past year. On top of this, the Labor Department reports that in the first six months of this year the increases granted in wage settlements have averaged 4 per cent well above the Administration's guidepost of 3.2 per cent. And that will tend to push prices up even more. In spite of these disquieting signs, the press reports that "Administration spokesmen said they were not worried by the recent surge in consumer prices." These sentiments are not shared by the American housewife, the wage earner with a family to feed, the poor, the retired, and others who live on fixed incomes. Per- haps the President should be reminded of that portion of his State of the Union Message in which he said, "Our continued prosperity demands continued price sta- bility." The inflationary trend offsets the billions being expended in the highly pub- licized war on poverty. (Ford statement -- page 2) Room S-124 U.S. Capitol-CApitol 4-3121 Ex 3700 LIBRARY STAFF CONSULTANT: Robert Humphreys КЕБОВГІСУИ . 2 - STATEMENT BY REP. GERALD R. FORD August 5, 1965 It is now more than four years since the Council of Economic Advisers set an unemployment level of 4 per cent as the "interim goal" of the Administration. It is now more than three years since Hubert Humphrey declared, "I predict that by the end of the coming calendar year -- by December 31, 1962, the problem of unem- ployment in the United States will be a page in the history book The year from 1962 is long gone. It has been a long interim, and the achievement of the goal is a not yet in sight. The unemployment rate has been stuck around the 5 per cent level since early in 1964. to In the four years since 1960 employment in agriculture has declined by one million jobs, or 17 per cent. This is more than double the rate of decrease in farm jobs under the previous Administration. 03 In spite of the economic upsurge which the nation has experienced, unemploy- to ment remains an unsolved problem. Unlike past periods of upswing in economic activity, the current prosperity has not brought with it an automatic reduction of the ranks of the jobless to tolerable levels. and The problem of unemployment is particularly a problem of the young. The rate baung to of joblessness among teenagers hovered between 15 and 17 per cent before schools to closed for the summer a rate more than three times as high as that for the sad bolleg total working force. 20 Employment of youth promises to be a more difficult problem within the next to few years because of substantial increases in the number entering the labor 20 at to S force. In 1964, 2,700,000 Americans reached their 18th birthday. This year 10 3,700,000 will reach the age of 18, and on through the 1970's approximately 4,000,000 will attain this age each year. S.E to Speiding programs by the score have been offered as panaceas for unemployment. They have not attained the Administration's stated goal, to at We see here a reptition of lessons which should have been learned decades ago, A Niagara of Federal spending a host of Federal programs has never provided aredito 5as VILUST a real solution to the problem of unemployment. to bluoda The Administration stands indicted by its obvious failure in dealing with this critical problem. at behneque smotfild edd adestio basit edT ---0000000-- no TSV bestotf (s Insurance DIOT) FOOD PRICES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. CHAIN STORES June 1964 July 1965 CHAIN STORE A Fryers, legs (per pound) $ .37 $ .55 Fryers, breasts (per pound) .43 .59 Smoked hams, fully cooked (per pound) .43 .59 Medium fresh shrimp .69 .89 2 dozen large eggs .91 .95 CHAIN STORE B Chuck roast, boneless (per pound) .49 .85 Fryers, whole (per pound) .25 .39 Fryers, cut .29 .43 Rib steaks, 7 inch cut (per pound) .57 .79 CHAIN STORE C Pork Chops (per pound) .69 1.19 Bacon (per pound) .49 1.05 CHAIN STORE D Porterhouse steak, USDA choice .95 1.49 (per pound) .79 1.35 Round steak (per pound) CONGRESSMAN NEWS GERALD R. FORD HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER RELEASE Statement on President Johnson's For immediate release message on American cities January 26, 1966 Although the idea of a "rebirth" for American cities has merit, the President's approach to creating such a miracle has all the earmarks of generating even more strangling Federal control and domination, The federal government should work in partnership with cities and States in some areas of activity, but the White House proposal is riddled with strong signs of total Potomac political paternalism. The President claims his programs "are well within our resources." This is a statement to be questioned when he, as the Commander-in-Chief, is in charge of a war in Viet Nam which is being fought at such a staggering cost to the Nation. # # #