Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
4525578
label
Ford Press Releases - State of the Union, 1966-1969
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
4525578
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Ford Press Releases - State of the Union, 1966-1969
citationUrl
collections
Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Press Releases Subject Files
subjects
State of the union messages
iiifBase
thumbnailUrl
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
4525578
coverageEndDate
logicalDate
1969-04-30
month
4
year
1969
coverageStartDate
logicalDate
1966-01-01
month
1
year
1966
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
url
mediaId
7ab4f5655e76472a
ocrText
The original documents are located in Box D9, folder "Ford Press Releases - State of the
Union, 1966-1969" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 D9 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, Dec. 20
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., House Minority Leader --
The thinking of some of the best brains in the country on the knottiest
problems of the day will be reflected in the Republican State of the Union Message
to be delivered in mid-January.
That will be the follow-through in connection with four seminars -- just con-
cluded -- at which experts in various fields have shared their ideas on the major
issues facing this Nation with the House Republican Leadership.
The last of these seminars, one dealing with economic matters, took place Mon-
day afternoon. The others involved crime and law enforcement, defense, and federal-
state relations.
House Republicans will demonstrate in the months ahead that theirs is a party
of ideas, a party dedicated to problem-solving and the good of the Nation. The
views of experts, sifted over by the House Republican Leadership, will be employed
as an idea bank from which withdrawals will be made from time to time.
In the economic sphere, the experts we have consulted agree with me that an
income tax increase at this time might trigger a recession. At the same time, they
are alarmed by gigantic deficits which may result this fiscal year and next from
the Johnson Administration's failure to cut back on federal domestic spending in
January, 1966, and to propose a tax increase at that time. The feeling of the ex-
perts was that the economy then could have adjusted to a tax increase as a counter
to inflation but that it might now go down with the punch.
Suggestions in the area of crime and law enforcement were broad and far-rang-
ing. They included such proposals as a state-oriented National Academy of Justice
aimed at improving the quality of local police forces and achieving better coordina-
tion among all law enforcement agencies, attempts to strengthen the ability of
police to cope with organized crime and other criminal elements, and a nationwide
program for the rehabilitation of criminal "repeaters."
Experts on military matters discussed with the House GOP Leadership such ques-
tions as the rate of development of a U.S. anti-ballistic missile system in the
light of Soviet deployment of ABM's, the ramifications of the U.S.-Soviet agreement
banning the deployment of missile systems in outer space, the level of effort in the
entire military research and development field, and the quality of Defense Depart-
ment management as related to the combat-readiness of U.S. forces and their ability
to meet various contingencies.
The Federal-State Relations seminar was devoted chiefly to proposed sharing of
federal tax revenue with states and cities.
#H
The State of
The Union-
A Republican
Appraisal
REPUBLICAN
* *
FOREWORD
On Monday night, January 17, 1966, the Re-
publican Minority Leaders in the U. S. Senate
and House of Representatives - Senator Everett
Dirksen of Illinois and Congressman Gerald Ford
of Michigan - delivered a Republican message
on the State of the Union.
The message, entitled "The State of the Union
- A Republican Appraisal," was delivered at
the U. S. capitol in the historic chamber formerly
occupied by the Supreme Court before Republi-
can members of Congress and their wives and
other Party leaders.
International Affairs
The program, televised and broadcast nation-
ally, was the first of its kind by the leaders of a
By Senator Everett M. Dirksen
minority party. It was sponsored jointly by the
Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, Re-
Fellow Citizens:
publican Congressional Campaign Committee, and
the Republican National Committee.
I am Senator Dirksen of Illinois, Republican
Floor Leader in the United States Senate. With
The remarks of Senator Dirksen on inter-
me on this program will be Congressman Ford
national affairs and by Congressman Ford on
of Michigan, Republican Floor Leader in the
domestic policies are published in this pamphlet.
United States House of Representatives. Each of
us will have about 14 minutes to discuss the State
of The Union. That is a short time for a gigantic
task.
The President has a mandate under the Consti-
tution to give to the Congress information of the
We hoped that if we supplied the tools, other
State of the Union, together with his recommen-
nations would supply the men on Freedom's fron-
dations.
tier. We fulfilled our pledges. They did so only
We have no such mandate. We do believe
in part and too often with ill grace.
we have a duty as elected Representatives
Where needed, we supplied manpower also.
to present our views. Time will permit only
The first feeble cries of "Yanki, go home"
a few basic highlights.
have become a chorus. Our prestige on the
We are the legatees of a great, strong land. We
world thermometer of good will has
received it from those who were here before us.
dropped fast and far. Our billions have
gained little respect, and even less appre-
ciation. Every continent has its fevers and
Reason and Realism
turmoil.
T he state of our land is too often measured in
Two things are needed. The first is a care-
material terms - jobs, income, gross product,
ful, precise audit to see where our fleeting
services and goods. Actually it embraces much
dollars went and what they really accom-
more. It includes the national mood, our capacity
plished. The second is a sustained and
to live together, and our prestige. It includes our
expert scrutiny of every estimate for for-
leadership of the Free World, our relations with
eign aid to determine how the aid requested
other lands, our respect for law, our devotion to
will be used and whether there will be divi-
peace, and our willingness to sacrifice even as
dends in the form of good will and real
others have done before us. It includes reason and
devotion to peace and freedom. To accept
realism in a world of tumult and confusion.
less would be an injustice to the charity
and sacrificial spirit of the American
We are not only in this world but of it, and
people.
we shall be for ages to come.
The Horsemen of Despair
Our Relations With Other Countries
Consider now the horsemen of despair who ride
Consider then our ties and relations with other
over the world - the population explosion, hun-
lands. Twenty-one years ago, we pioneered the
ger, and poverty. They constitute a crisis already
United Nations. Since then, we have developed
on our doorstep. We pay farmers to produce less.
regional groups throughout the world for specific
Industry forever seeks ways to produce more at
purposes. We believed it would aid the cause of
less cost. Meanwhile, births continue to grow and
peace and tranquility and freedom.
hunger stalks many areas of the world. Each year,
the world gains 65 million persons. The number
In pursuit of these high purposes, we spent more
will grow. So will hunger. Can peace and hunger
co-exist?
than $120 billion of your money on foreign aid.
Ages ago, Isaiah wrote, "And it shall come
Millions Spent To Aid French
to pass, that when they shall be hungry,
Our country did not sign that accord. But we
they shall fret themselves, and curse their
had an interest. Hundreds of millions of your
King and their God." American agriculture
money was spent to aid the French. But it also
is geared to high production. Better to pay
involved our defense perimeter and our security.
for abundance than for scarcity.
We pledged ourselves to aid Vietnam in preserv-
In a few years, Red China will have 800 million
ing her integrity and independence.
people. Leaders can survive only when the urgent
Accordingly we were permitted to keep
needs of the people are met.
military advisers there. At first it was but
The ugly heads of aggression and conquest
a few hundred. Gradually the number grew
vanish when there is no need for new do-
into thousands. Today it approaches
mains. Surely, within the genius of Amer-
200,000. It has become a grim, bloody, and
ican enterprise, the way can be found for
costly business.
the produce of our fruited plains to reach
the empty bellies of the world.
It is a war but not of our making. Young men
with gay hearts go forth to Vietnam and lifeless
The signs of trouble are already written in the
young men in wooden boxes return. They fought,
firmament and there is no time to lose. This too
bled, and died in the heat and mud of the jungles.
with its vast potential impact on our future in-
All this is 12,000 miles from home. For a long
volves the State of the Union.
time it seemed remote. But no longer. We became
grimly aware that we are fighting a war to help
a small land, so many of whose people can neither
read nor write.
Vietnam Is Not Our War
Consider now the grim struggle in which we are
Joint Resolution
involved in Asia. Let us be crystal clear. Vietnam
is not our war. But we pledged ourselves to help
Eighteen months ago, Congress enacted a Joint
a small nation. Our word was given. We are there
Resolution, giving support and approval to the
President as Commander In Chief to take all
to keep our word.
necessary steps including the use of force to repel
For more than 90 years, Cambodia, Laos and
attack on our forces and prevent further aggres-
Indo-China were under French tutelage. The Viet
sion. That resolution is still in effect. In both
Minh - the north half-rebelled. It was a long,
Houses of Congress the vote was 504 to 2. Every
bloody struggle. The French were defeated. The
Republican present voted for it.
conflict ended with an accord signed at Geneva.
Laos and Cambodia achieved their independence.
B
ut as complications develop and the choice
Indo-China was divided in half with a non-
becomes guns or butter or both, groups and indi-
military zone between.
viduals become increasingly vocal. Let's get out.
We must stay in. We must bomb Hanoi. We must
not bomb. We must step up. We must hold back.
We must negotiate. We must not negotiate.
To retreat and get out would be deemed a
confession that we are a paper tiger. What
a propaganda weapon that would be in
Asia, Africa and elsewhere.
To forsake our pledges would shatter confi-
dence in us and further diminish our
prestige.
To negotiate from weakness would mean
defeat before we ever reached the negotia-
tion table.
So what? Is there then a rational course to
follow? I believe so. Let the peace efforts con-
tinue. Who can object to any honorable effort to
secure peace where young blood is involved?
Let the military effort continue. It demonstrates
our determination to keep our word. Let it be in-
tensified if necessary as sound military judgment
dictates. There is, after all, no substitute for vic-
tory. Let the objective be kept crystal clear at
Domestic Issues
all times, and that is guaranteed freedom and
By Cong. Gerald R. Ford
independence for the Vietnamese.
How else could we keep faith with the
We are assembled tonight in an historic cham-
young dead?
ber - a chamber that has echoed the thunderous
How else do we redeem our word?
debate and vigorous dissent of some of our coun-
How else do we regain our prestige?
try's greatest leaders.
How else do we maintain our leadership in
Daniel Webster here proclaimed the immortal
the Free World?
words, "Liberty and union, now and forever, one
and inseparable."
All this is part of the State of the Union.
The Torch of Dissent
As a minority party, it is our task to carry the
torch of dissent responsibly and constructively.
Curricula must be enriched.
Tonight we look forward, not backward.
People already working should be given the
Our people are restless and impatient with
chance to retrain and upgrade their skills and
problems too long unsolved and too often
earning power.
compounded by bad laws and bureaucratic
failings.
Vocational Rehabilitation for the handicapped
must be expanded.
The Congress turns in 1966, as in the past, to
its part in the always unfinished task of making
This cannot, and should not, be done by
America united, strong, and free.
the Federal government alone. But there is
much that the national government can do
T hese goals in their present setting point
to promote this effort without the heavy
hand of federal control.
particularly to three types of problems in
domestic policy: how to increase jobs and
For example, the Congress should ease the fi-
output without inflation; how to move ahead
nancial burden of going to college.
toward equality for all citizens; and how to
The door of education must be opened wide.
improve government and its services.
Therefore, we propose a federal income
tax credit for college students and their
Education
parents.
While there are courses of action that strike at
each of these problems, there is a common remedy
Compassion With Competence
that effects all three: Education.
The problem of unemployment is particu-
We must liberate the War on Poverty from
larly the problem of the young, inexpe-
waste, controversy, and the bad odor of political
rienced, unskilled person of inadequate
bossism.
schooling. More and better schooling will
We must combine compassion with com-
reduce racial tensions and speed the Ne-
petence. This nation can afford what is
gro's economic and social progress.
necessary to help the less fortunate among
Improved education will help to solve the
us to help themselves. The children of the
problems of government by enlightening
poor must have the highest priority. How
both the electors and the elected.
many of the poor have actually received
any of the twenty-three hundred million
We believe every youth must be encouraged to
taxpayer's dollars from the present War on
pursue his education as far as his talents will take
Poverty? Tragically, very few.
him.
The poor themselves must have an important
Drop-outs must be encouraged to go back to
role in policy decisions at the community level.
school for. an education or training to fit their
The States should be partners in this War on
ability.
Poverty. It is time that the poverty fighters
stopped fighting each other.
health. In the ten years since the second
Republicans will offer specific proposals
Hoover Commission made its report, dur-
to redirect this program to achieve its
ing five Democratic-controlled Congresses,
goals without waste, scandal and bureau-
employees on the Federal payroll have in-
cratic infighting. Without such changes,
creased 175,000 and Federal expenditures
the good will fall with the bad under the
have increased by $57 billion.
fiscal pressures created by Vietnam and
the massive new domestic spending pro-
The Executive branch has become a bureaucratic
grams.
jungle. The time has come to explore its wild
America has long waged the most effective War
growth and cut it back.
on Poverty in history through the genius of private
We urge a new independent bipartisan
enterprise cooperating with government.
Commission, patterned after the two dis-
We urge the enactment of the Republican
tinguished Hoover Commissions, to recom-
proposed Human Investment Act to bring
mend substantial reforms in the Executive
private enterprise more effectively to bear
branch of our government.
on the problem of creating productive jobs
for the poor. Through a 7% tax credit, this
Cost of Living
measure will encourage business and labor
to employ and train people with limited
To achieve a healthy and steady economic growth
skills and education.
there must be price stability. Today this national
goal is seriously endangered by the threat of in-
Executive Reform
flation. The Eisenhower dollar is now worth 90
cents.
The Executive Branch of the Federal government
needs reform - not Presidential repatching or
The cost of living is 2 percent higher than
piecemeal creation of new departments.
it was a year ago. At the current level of
The proliferation of Federal programs, com-
consumer spending, the price rise is the
pounded by the mass production of laws in the
equivalent of a secret sales tax that silently
last session of Congress, demands the attention of
steals some $8 billion annually from the
our people.
pockets of the American people.
There are now 42 separate Federal agencies
involved in education programs alone.
Inflationary policies of the President have a
There are at least 252 welfare programs
major impact on the cost of living. This Admin-
today, including 52 separate Federal eco-
istration uses a double standard. With one hand
nomic aid programs, 57 job training pro-
it creates upward pressure on prices and with the
grams and 65 Federal programs to improve
other bludgeons workers and businessmen for re-
sponding to that pressure. The real villain in this
piece is the Administration which will increase
$3½ billion? The President now advocates addi-
the cost of the Federal government by $26 billion
tional tax burdens to finance added costs both at
in a two-year period.
home and abroad.
The most direct and effective weapon the
National Government has to halt inflation is
With prudent restraint on spending, we
believe no new taxes are now needed.
to curb Federal spending. This requires the
President and the Congress to set priorities.
It is imperative that the President in his
Agriculture
budget classify his spending proposals ac-
cording to necessity and urgency. If he fails
T he farm parity ratio in 1965 was below the level
to do so, we call upon the Democrats in Con-
of five years ago. At home, we seek a free and
gress to join us in eliminating, reducing or
prosperous agriculture by encouraging the opera-
deferring low priority items.
tion of a healthy market economy. We will con-
We learn now that expenditures in this fiscal
tinue to resist Administration efforts to artificially
year will be at least 8 billion dollars more than
depress the market prices of farm commodities
we were told a year ago. Congress and the people
and to control the American farmers.
have not been given a straight-forward and real-
World population increases are adding a
istic assessment of our Federal budget problems.
new dimension to the problems of Ameri-
Republicans intend to give the President's budget
can agriculture and demand new thinking.
a searching examination.
For our overseas programs, we urge the
Whatever is needed - really needed - for
extension of Public Law 480, the Eisen-
national security must be provided. Urgent
hower Food for Peace program, and we
domestic programs that truly help the
urge the enactment of legislation, already
needy, that contribute to real economic
introduced by 65 Republicans in the House,
growth, that significantly advance the cause
to establish a bi-partisan "U.S. - World
of equal opportunity, need not be sacri-
Food Study and Coordinating Commis-
ficed. Applying these tests, Republicans
sion," in order to begin immediately the
believe the $55 billion which the President
task of closing the growing "food gap" on
will propose for non-military spending can
our planet.
be and must be reduced.
Political Reforms
Taxes
We were surprised and pleased that the Presi-
H OW many Americans know that the laws passed
dent touched on the subject of reform of political
last year, supposedly reducing taxes, actually im-
campaigns and elections. His recommendations
pose a net increase in Federal taxes for 1966 of
do not go far enough.
Ways must be found to eliminate vote
the load of local taxation, spur solution of
fraud, curb the cost of political campaigns,
and expand the franchise. Republicans will
vexing problems, and revitalize programs
in education, health, and welfare at the
propose:
local level.
to guard against abuses in the raising
and use of political funds;
to raise the ceiling on political expendi-
Unemployment Compensation
tures to realistic levels;
Changes in the system of unemployment com-
to bar effectively political contributions
pensation are needed, particularly to provide
from corporations and unions;
standby protection against the contingency of a
to require meaningful reporting of po-
substantial rise in the number of workers without
litical contributions and expenditures.
jobs. We support the constructive suggestions
worked out by the State Unemployment Compen-
States of the Union
sation administrators to meet this problem. We
oppose the Administration's bill that would substi-
O
tute Federal judgment for State determination in
ur nation has thrived on the diversity and
matters such as standards and benefits in this pro-
distribution of powers so wisely embedded in the
Constitution. The Administration believes in cen-
gram.
tralized authority, ignoring and bypassing and
undermining State responsibilities in almost every
Civil Rights
law that is passed. As a result, our constitutional
structure is today in dangerous disrepair. The
M
aking real for all Americans the equality to
States of the Union form a vital cornerstone of
which this nation is committed remains an urgent
our Federal system, and the headlong plunge
toward centralization of power in Washington
national concern. Recent progress is encourag-
must be halted.
ing, but not enough. No citizen should be satis-
fied merely with the expectation of a better to-
All of us here tonight salute the gallant fight
morrow. It is only right to expect that the Consti-
of Senator Dirksen against the repeal of Section
tution of the United States be put in force every-
14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act and for the Re-
where now.
apportionment Amendment.
The Congress has enacted four civil rights
We urge Congress to enact a system of tax
acts since 1957. There now is need to review
sharing, long advocated by Republicans, to
these laws, and especially tighten those designed
return to the States a fixed percentage of
to prevent violence and intimidation of citizens
personal income tax without Federal con-
who exercise their constitutional rights.
trols. Funds from this source will lighten
Hesitant administration of existing laws
has made them less effective than they
sand Americans in Vietnam.
should be. The President has even failed to
And what of the sacrifices of their families at
make the Community Relations Service the
home, who share inequally in the promises of the
effective instrument which Congress in-
tended it to be. Leaderless for half of
Great Society? We urge more adequate housing
and benefits for our fighting men and their fam-
last year, shunted off to an ambiguous
ilies. We urge a new GI bill of rights of veterans.
position in the wrong Federal agency, this
potentially valuable Service has suffered
We will not sacrifice their future.
from neglect.
Nor will we sacrifice the future of millions
Let us make it clear to all - there cannot be
of Americans whose lifetime savings and mod-
two kinds of justice, one for whites, another for
est pensions are being nibbled away by infla-
tion.
Negroes.
Nor can there be tolerance of riots, looting,
We are outnumbered two to one in this Con-
violence, and disorder. These impede the prog-
gress.
ress sought by the overwhelming majority of
But we will continue to speak out for the
Americans.
things in which we believe. We will not
sacrifice the ideals that make us Republi-
cans.
The President's Challenge
We will never sacrifice the sacred right, and the
Last week the President chided Americans who
sacred value to our country, of loyal dissent.
believe, as I do, that we cannot fight a war ten
This is our duty to all Americans.
thousand miles away without setting priorities at
home.
He asked: Whom will they sacrifice?
the
poor?
Our answer is a resounding "NO!"
We will not sacrifice poor people.
We will sacrifice poor programs, poorly
conceived and poorly carried out.
We will sacrifice poor administrators.
We will sacrifice poor arithmetic in public
accounting.
Any sacrifices we call for cannot be com-
pared with those being made by 190 thou-
Prepared under the direction of the Republican
National Committee, 1625 Eye Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C.
For additional copies, contact Editors Press,
6041 33rd Avenue, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782.
(Check or Money Order must accompany order-
Prices include handling and postage)
Single copies: 20¢ each; 100 copies: $10.00; 250
copies: $20.00; 500 copies: $35.00; 1,000 copies:
$60.00.
6
Fanday
Texts of the Addresses
Comp.
The State of the Union —
ICAN 312 CONGRE. CONG Securd Service SSIONAL HOTEL
A Republican Appraisal
Republican Congressional Leaders last Monday delivered, for the first time, their
own State of the Union messages, in reply to the President's address of several days
YEART
earlier. Some 200 Republican Members of Congress and their wives gathered in a
1866
historic Capitol chamber, which once housed the Senate and the Supreme Court, to
hear Senate GOP Leader Everett M. Dirksen and House Republican Leader Gerald R. Ford
discuss the foreign and domestic scenes. The speeches were televised nationally by
the three networks.
By Sen. Everett M. Dirksen
and freedom. To accept less would be an injustice
to the charity and sacrificial spirit of the Ameri-
WE ARE THE LEGATEES of a great, strong land.
can people.
We received it from those who were here before
Horsemen of Despair
US.
The state of our land is too often measured in
CONSIDER NOW THE horsemen of despair who
material terms-jobs, income, gross product, serv-
ride over the world—the population explósion,
ices and goods. Actually it embraces much more.
hunger, and poverty. They constitute a crisis al-
It includes the national mood, our capacity to live
ready on our doorstep. We pay farmers to pro-
together, and our prestige. It includes our leader-
ship of the Free World, our relations with other
lands, our respect for law, our devotion to peace,
and our willingness to sacrifice even as others
have done before US. It includes reason and realism
in a world of tumult and confusion.
We are not only in this world but of it, and we
shall be for ages to come.
Consider then our ties and relations with other
lands. Twenty-one years ago, we pioneered the
United Nations. Since then, we have developed
Dirksen: Our word
Ford: Forward
regional groups throughout the world for specific
purposes. We believed it would aid the cause of
duce less. Industry forever seeks ways to produce
more at less cost. Meanwhile, births continue to
peace and tranquillity and freedom.
grow and hunger stalks many areas of the world.
Our Pledges Fulfilled
Each year, the world gains 65 million persons.
The number will grow. So will hunger. Can peace
In pursuit of these high purposes, we spent more
and hunger co-exist?
than $120 billion of your money on foreign aid.
Ages ago, Isaish wrote, "And it shall come to
We hoped that if we supplied the tools, other na-
pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall
tions would supply the men on Freedom's frontier.
fret themselves, and curse their King and their
We fulfilled our pledges. They did so only in part
God." American agriculture is geared to high pro-
and too often with ill grace.
duction. Better to pay for abundance than for
Where needed, we supplied manpower also.
scarcity.
The first feeble cries of "Yanki, go home" have
In a few years, Red China will have 800 million
become a chorus. Our prestige on the world ther-
people. Leaders can survive only when the urgent
mometer of goodwill has dropped fast and far.
creature needs of the people are met. The ugly
Our billions have gained little respect, and even
heads of aggression and conquest vanish when
less appreciation. Every continent has its fevers
there is no need for new domains. Surely, within
and turmoil.
the genius of American enterprise, the way can be
Two things are needed. The first is a careful,
found for the produce of our fruited plains to reach
precise audit to see where our fleeting dollars went
the empty bellies of the world. The signs of trouble
and what they really accomplished. The second is
are already written in the firmament and there is
a sustained and expert scrutiny of every estimate
no time to lose. This too with its vast potential im-
for foreign aid to determine how the aid requested
pact on our future involves the State of the Union.
will be used and whether there will be dividends
Consider now the grim struggle in which we are
in the form of goodwill and real devotion to peace
(Continued on third page following)
'We Will Not Sacrifice the Ideals That Make Us Republicans'
By Rep. Gerald R. Ford
dent touched on the subject of reform of political
campaigns and elections. His recommendations do
As A MINORITY PARTY, it is our task to carry
not go far enough.
the torch of dissent responsibly and constructively.
Ways must be found to eliminate vote fraud,
We look forward, not backward. Our people are
curb the cost of political campaigns, and expand
restless and impatient with problems too long
the franchise. Republicans will propose: to guard
unsolved and too often compounded by bad laws
against abuses in the raising and use of political
and bureaucratic failings.
funds; to raise the ceiling on political expenditures
The Congress turns in 1966, as in the past, to
to realistic levels; to bar effectively political con-
its part in the always unfinished task of making
tributions from corporations and unions; to require
America united, strong, and free.
meaningful reporting of political contributions and
These goals in their present setting point par-
expenditures.
ticularly to three types of problems of domestic
Newsletter Photo by Mickey Senko
Congressman Ford, speaking in Old Supreme Court Chamber last Monday evening.
policy: how to increase jobs and output without
States of the Union
inflation; how to move ahead toward equality
last session of Congress, demands the attention
the Congress to set priorities. It is imperative that
for all citizens; and how to improve government
of our people.
the President in his budget classify his spending
UR NATION HAS thrived on the diversity and
and its services.
There are now 42 separate Federal agencies
proposals according to necessity and urgency. If
distribution of powers so wisely embedded in the
While there are courses of action that strike
involved in education programs alone. There
Constitution. The Administration believes in cen-
he fails to do so, we call upon the Democrats in
at each of these problems, there is a common
are at least 252 welfare programs today, including
Congress to join US in eliminating, reducing or de-
tralized authority, ignoring and bypassing and
remedy that affects all three: Education.
52 separate Federal economic aid programs, 57
ferring low priority items.
undermining State responsibilities in almost every
This cannot, and should not, be done by the
job training programs and 65 Federal programs
We learn now that expenditures in this fiscal
law that is passed. As a result, our constitutional
Federal Government alone. But, there is much
to improve health. In the 10 years since the sec-
year will be at least $8 billion more than we were
structure is today in dangerous disrepair. The
that the national government can do to promote
ond Hoover Commission made its report, during
States of the Union form a vital cornerstone of our
told a year ago. Congress and the people have
this effort without the heavy hand of Federal
five Democratic-controlled Congresses, employees
not been given a straight-forward and realistic
Federal system, and the headlong plunge toward
control.
on the Federal payroll have increased 175,000
assessment of our Federal budget problems. Re-
centralization of power in Washington must be
Compassion With Competence
and Federal expenditures have increased by $57
halted.
publicans intend to give the President's budget a
billion.
searching examination.
We salute the gallant fight of Senator Dirksen
We must liberate the War on Poverty from
The Executive branch has become a bureau-
against the repeal of Section 14(b) of the Taft-
waste, controversy, and the bad odor of political
cratic jungle. The time has come to explore its
Taxes
Hartley Act and for the Reapportionment Amend-
bossism. We must combine compassion with com-
wild growth and cut it back. We urge a new
How many Americans know that the laws passed
ment.
petence. This Nation can afford what is necessary
independent bipartisan commission, patterned
last year, supposedly reducing taxes, actually im-
We urge Congress to enact a system of tax shar-
to help the less fortunate among US to help them-
after the two distinguished Hoover Commissions,
pose a net increase in Federal taxes for 1966 of
ing, long advocated by Republicans, to return to
selves. The children of the poor must have the
to recommend substantial reforms in the Executive
$3 1/2 billion? The President now advocates addi-
the States a fixed percentage of the personal in-
highest priority. How many of the poor have
branch of our government.
tional tax burdens to finance added costs both at
come tax without Federal controls. Funds from this
actually received any of the twenty-three hundred
home and abroad. With prudent restraint on
source will lighten the load of local taxation, spur
million taxpayers' dollars from the present War
Cost of Living
spending, we believe no new taxes are now
solution of vexing urban problems, and revitalize
on Poverty? Tragically, very few.
To achieve a healthy and steady economic
needed.
programs in education, health, and welfare at the
The poor themselves must have an important
growth there must be price stability. Today this
local level.
role in policy decisions at the community level.
national goal is seriously endangered by the
Agriculture
The States should be partners in this War on Pov-
threat of inflation. The Eisenhower dollar is now
Civil Rights
erty. It is time that the poverty fighters stopped
worth 90 cents.
T HE FARM PARITY ratio in 1965 was below the
Making real for all Americans the equality to
fighting each other.
The cost of living is two per cent higher than
level of five years ago. At home, we seek a free
which this nation is committed remains an urgent
America has long waged the most effective War
it was a year ago. At the current level of con-
and prosperous agriculture by encouraging the
national concern. Recent progress is encouraging,
on Poverty in history through the genius of pri-
sumer spending, this price rise is the equivalent
operation of a healthy market economy. We will
but not enough. No citizen should be satisfied
vate enterprise cooperating with government. We
of a secret sales tax that silently steals some $8
continue to resist Administration efforts to arti-
merely with the expectation of a better tomorrow.
urge the enactment of the Republican-proposed
million annually from the pockets of the American
ficially depress the market prices of farm com-
It is only right to expect that the Constitution of the
Human Investment Act to bring private enterprise
people.
modities and to control the American farmers.
United States be put in force everywhere now.
more effectively to bear on the problem of cre-
Inflationary policies of the President have a
World population increases are adding a new
The Congress has enacted four civil rights acts
ating productive jobs for the poor. Through a
major impact on the cost of living. This Administra-
dimension to the problems of American agriculture
since 1957. There now is need to review these
seven per cent tax credit, this measure will en-
tion uses a double standard. With one hand it
and demand new thinking. For our overseas pro-
laws, and especially tighten those designed to pre-
courage business and labor to employ and train
creates upward pressure on prices and with the
grams, we urge the extension of Public Law 480,
vent violence and intimidation of citizens who
people with limited skills and education.
other bludgeons workers and businessmen for re-
the Eisenhower Food for Peace program, and we
exercise their constitutional rights.
sponding to these pressures. The real villain in this
urge the enactment of legislation, already intro-
Hesitant administration of existing laws has
Executive Reform
piece is the Administration which will increase the
duced by 65 Republicans in the House, to estab-
made them less effective than they should be. The
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH of the Federal Gov-
cost of the Federal Government by $26 billion in a
lish a bi-partisan "U. S.-World Food Study and
President has even failed to make the Community
ernment needs reform-not Presidential repatch-
two-year period.
Coordinating Commission," in order to begin im-
Relations Service the effective instrument which
ing or piecemeal creation of new departments.
The most direct and effective weapon the Na-
mediately the vital task of closing the growing
Congress intended it to be. Leaderless for half of
The proliferation of Federal programs, com-
tional Government has to halt inflation is to curb
"food gap" on our planet.
last year, shunted off to an ambiguous position in
pounded by the mass production of laws in the
Federal spending. This requires the President and
We were surprised and pleased that the Presi-
(Continued on Next Page)
Dirksen: There Is No Substitute for Victory
(Continued from Page One)
Who can object to any honorable effort to secure
involved in Asia. Let US be crystal clear. Vietnam
peace where young blood is involved? Let the mili-
is not our war. But we pledged ourselves to help
tary effort continue. It demonstrates our determi-
a small nation. Our word was given. We are there
nation to keep our word. Let it be intensified if
to keep our word.
necessary as sound military judgment dictates.
FOR MORE THAN 90 years, Cambodia, Laos and
There is, after all, no substitute for victory.
Let the objective be kept crystal clear at all
Indo-China were under French tutelage. The Viet
times, and that is guaranteed freedom and inde-
Minh-the north half-rebelled. It was a long,
pendence for the Vietnamese. How else could we
bloody struggle. The French were defeated. The
keep faith with the young dead? How else do we
conflict ended with an accord signed at Geneva.
redeem our word? How else do we regain our
Laos and Cambodia achieved their independence.
prestige? How else do we maintain our leadership
Indo-China was divided in half with a non-military
in the Free World? All this is part of the State of
zone between.
the Union.
Our country did not sign that accord. But we
had an interest. Hundreds of millions of your
money was spent to aid the French. But it also
Ford: No Sacrifice Compares
involved our defense perimeter and our security.
We pledged ourselves to aid Vietnam in preserv-
To Those Being Made in Vietnam
ing her integrity and independence.
(Continued from Previous Page)
A Grim, Costly Battle
Accordingly we were permitted to keep military
the wrong Federal agency, this potentially valu-
advisers there. At first it was but a few hundred.
able Service has suffered from neglect.
Gradually the number grew into thousands. Today
Let US make it clear to all-there cannot be two
it approaches 200,000. It has become a grim,
kinds of justice, one for whites, another for Ne-
bloody, and costly business.
groes. Nor can there be tolerance of riots, looting,
It is a war but not of our making. Young men
violence, and disorder. These impede the progress
with gay hearts go forth to Vietnam and lifeless
sought by the overwhelming majority of Ameri-
young men in wooden boxes return. They fought,
cans.
bled, died in the heat and mud of the jungles. All
this is 12,000 miles from home. For a long time it
The President's Challenge
seemed remote. But no longer. We become grimly
Last week the President chided Americans who
aware that we are fighting a war to help a small
believe, as I do, that we cannot fight a war 10,000
land, so many of whose people can neither read
miles away without setting priorities at home.
nor write.
He asked: Whom will they sacrifice?
the
Eighteen months ago, Congress enacted a Joint
poor? Our answer is a resounding "NO!"
Resolution, giving support and approval to the
We will not sacrifice poor people. We will sac-
President as Commander In Chief to take all neces-
rifice poor programs, poorly conceived and poorly
sary steps including the use of force to repel attack
carried out. We will sacrifice poor administrators.
on our forces and prevent further aggression.
We will sacrifice poor arithmetic in public account-
That resolution is still in effect. In both Houses of
ing.
Congress the vote was 504 to 2. Every Republican
Any sacrifices we call for, cannot be compared
present voted for it.
with those being made by 190,000 Americans in
But as complications develop and the choice be-
Vietnam.
comes guns or butter or both, groups and individ-
And what of the sacrifices of their families at
uals become increasingly vocal. Let's get out. We
home, who share inequally in the promises of the
must stay in. We must bomb Hanoi. We must not
Great Society? We urge more adequate housing
bomb. We must step up. We must hold back. We
for our fighting men and their families. We urge a
must negotiate. We must not negotiate.
new GI bill of rights of veterans. We will not sacri-
To retreat and get out would be deemed a con-
fice their future. Nor will we sacrifice the future of
fession that we are a paper tiger. What a propa-
millions of Americans whose lifetime savings and
ganda weapon that would be in Asia, Africa and
modest pensions are being nibbled away by in-
elsewhere.
flation.
To forsake our pledges would shatter confidence
We are outnumbered two to one in this Con-
in US and further diminish our prestige.
gress. But we will continue to speak out for the
To negotiate from weakness would mean defeat
things in which we believe. We will not sacrifice
before we ever reached the negotiation table.
the ideals that make US Republicans.
We will never sacrifice the sacred right, and
So WHAT? Is there then a rational course to
the sacred value to our country, of loyal dissent.
follow? I believe so. Let the peace efforts continue.
This is our duty to all Americans.
The State of
the Union-
A Republican
Appraisal
1967
REPUBLICAN
*
*
INTERNAL COMMITTEE
FORD
FOREWORD
On Thursday night, January 19, 1967, the
Republican Minority Leaders in the U.S. Senate
and House of Representatives - Senator Everett
Dirksen of Illinois and Congressman Gerald Ford
of Michigan - delivered a Republican message
on the State of the Union.
The message, entitled "The State of the Union
- A Republican Appraisal," was delivered at
the U. S.Capitol in the historic chamber formerly
occupied by the Supreme Court before Repub-
Domestic Issues
lican members of Congress and their wives and
other Party leaders.
By Representative Gerald R. Ford
The remarks of Senator Dirksen on inter-
A
gain we gather in this historic chamber,
national affairs and of Congressman Ford on
conscious of the invisible presence of great
domestic policies are published in this pamphlet.
leaders of the past. This year we are rein-
forced by the visible presence of new lead-
ers of the future. We welcome enthusias-
tically the 64 new Republican Senators and
Representatives of the 90th Congress.
Senator Dirksen and I are here to give a Repub-
lican Appraisal of the State of the Union.
1
November 8, the citizens of America voted on
the State of the Union.
F or the past two years, positive and practical
Republican programs have been largely ignored.
Honesty and Candor
Things will be different in the next two years!
We won the first round in the House of Repre-
Their message came through loud and clear -
sentatives, 364 to 64, with three-quarters of the
a ringing vote for vigorous two-party government.
Democrats following our unanimous Republican
It was a blunt demand for honesty and candor in
lead.
public affairs. The Credibility Gap must go!
We will win more - many more!
We
rejoice in the mandate-a New Direction
for America.
New Direction, Not Coalition
No era in our history began with higher
hopes than the 1960's. We had bound up
Cynics may call every Republican victory in
the Nation's wounds. We were blessed with
this Congress a coalition. Let's meet that issue
eight years of strength, peace and progress
head-on, right now.
under President Eisenhower.
The Democratic Party controls the Senate by
As the decade dawned, all Americans were
almost 2 to 1, and the House by 3 to 2.
stirred by the words, "Ask not what your country
can do for you; ask what you can do for your
By definition, coalition requires advance consul-
country."
tation and ultimate compromise of conviction to
win a legislative victory.
The years have slipped by and now Americans
in 1967 see the decade that dawned in hope fading
Republicans will make no such deals.
into frustration and failure, bafflement and bore-
dom.
R
epublicans will give leadership to the dynamic
The
and Constructive Center in Congress.
President said that the election returns
did not mean that people want progress to stop.
We welcome every Democratic vote for posi-
tive Republican programs that will give New
We agree.
Direction to our Nation.
They want progress to START-now!
We will press for creative Republican ac-
tion. When New Direction demands it, we
For every problem of the Sixties, this Adminis-
will say "No" to the old Democratic fail-
tration has revived tired theories of the Thirties.
ures.
2
3
Our "No" will be particularly emphatic if we
Congress should immediately repeal the Par-
are asked to slow down progress toward the
ticipation Sales Act, which conceals and distorts
equality that is the right of every American.
the true budgetary situation.
N
ever forget, the Republican Party came into
When we know how much is needed for
being to make real the belief that all men are
national security, the Congress can then
created equal and endowed by their Creator with
make certain that essential domestic pro-
inalienable rights. It is disheartening to see evi-
grams are adequately funded. Low priority
dence that the Administration is lowering the pri-
programs, desirable as they may be, must
ority given to these matters in the 90th Congress.
be postponed. We assure the President to-
night that Republicans will move to cut
non-essential spending-even if he doesn't.
Sensible Solutions for the Seventies
In addition, billions of dollars approved by Con-
As we look to the years ahead, Republicans
gress in the past remain unspent. This Congress
must take a hard look at those funds. We propose
see a program of Sensible Solutions for the
a Rescission Bill, withdrawing the President's
Seventies.
authority to obligate and spend such funds that
That program must begin in 1967.
cannot meet the test of economy in the new
Congress.
First priority - the growth and prosperity of
our economy.
The President belatedly promised to cut $3
billion from expenditures by the end of June. He
T here are ominous signs of an eco-
should spell out for the American people where
these reductions have been made - if they have
nomic slowdown this year. Unless our
been made.
course is redirected decisively, we may well
face the paradox of a recession with both
With such uncertainties, the President has
increased inflation and increased taxation.
not made a convincing case for his tax in-
The Investment Tax Credit must be restored
crease.
immediately.
Tax Sharing
An honest federal budget is imperative. If the
Congress is to assess the needs of our economy
One of the most significant results of the 1966
intelligently, the Administration must not repeat
elections was the people's choice of 23 new Re-
its tragic error of presenting a budget of evasion,
publican governors, and more than 700 new State
manipulation and gimmickry. This budget under-
legislators.
estimated expenditures by at least $14 billion,
over $4 billion of which was non-military.
This reflects not only confidence in our party
4
5
suburbs. This exodus leaves less revenue to meet
and its fine candidates but also faith in State
government itself.
more problems.
Tax sharing would restore the needed vitality
Republicans have faith in the constitutional
and diversity to our Federal system. Revenue
concept of Federalism, which requires
sharing could also be accomplished with tax
strong and vigorous State as well as na-
credits.
tional action on a variety of problems. Yet,
seen through the Democrats' rear-view
mirror of the Thirties, everything can be
M
any effective measures to improve agricul-
cured by Federal dictation and Federal
ture originated with the National Commission on
funds, doled out through grants-in-aid
Rural Life, established by President Theodore
which keep Washington as the manipulator
Roosevelt. Republicans propose a National Com-
of all strings.
mittee on Urban Living be created without delay.
There are now over 400 Federal aid appropria-
An exaggerated example of urban prob-
tions for 170 separate aid programs, administered
lems is our own national capital. Yet a
by a total of 21 Federal Departments and agen-
swarm of Federal experts is telling the
cies, 150 Washington bureaus and 400 regional
cities how to cure their ills while the only
offices, each with its own way of passing out Fed-
Federal city in our Nation is a disgrace.
eral tax dollars.
Republicans believe Washington, D. C., should
F ederal aid to States and municipalities through
be made a "model city" for demonstration proj-
ects and new initiatives in urban progress.
this tangled thicket increased from $1 billion in
1946 to about $15 billion this year.
Education
Republicans reiterate their support for a
system of tax sharing to return to the States
Higher education and vocational education
and local governments a fixed percentage
acts bear strong Republican imprints.
of personal income taxes without Federal
control. This system would promote a
swift improvement in education, law en-
We
will continue our efforts to provide assist-
forcement, community development, mass
ance to those who bear the rising cost of higher
transit, and other essentially local prob-
education through tax credits.
lems.
The Elementary and Secondary Act, however,
Smog is replacing the weather as the No. 1
at minimum requires substantial revision to sim-
topic of conversation, but no two cities have
plify forms, reduce excessive paperwork and elim-
identical problems. Cities are far more diversified
inate the heavy-handed Federal intrusions. All
than States. They have one common denominator
pre-school and early-school problems should be
-their problems multiply as people move to the
7
6
consolidated in the Office of Education. Republi-
benefits must be brought into line with
cans trust local school boards to formulate policy
today's inflated living costs. Those still
and set priorities far more than we trust bureau-
uncovered should, as soon as possible, be
crats in Washington.
blanketed into the Social Security system
Congress should take the Federal hand-
at least by age 72.
cuffs off our local educators. The best way
to do this is by tax sharing and tax credits.
Our older citizens must be protected from the
If the Democrats, who control Congress,
extortions of Great Society inflation. They can't
refuse to consider tax sharing legislation,
wait while we debate.
Republicans will seek to substitute block
education grants, without Federal ear-
marking or controls.
Congress should enact, retroactive to
January 1, an 8 percent increase in Social
We will propose new approaches to reinforce
Security benefits. These increased benefits
the vitality and diversity that is the genius of
can be achieved without any tax increase.
our educational system. It is in the school that
the doors of opportunity open to all American
children. We shall not deny them the best that
About 1/3 of the nation's poor are elderly citi-
can be given.
zens. Their situation is tragic and desperate. The
Poverty War has passed them by.
Social Security
In the past two years of Democratic control,
T he President proposed Social Security changes
basic Social Security benefits have fallen 7 per-
centage points behind the consumer price index.
that, it is estimated, would cost the equivalent of
a 1.6 percent Social Security payroll tax increase.
Republicans propose Social Security bene-
fits rise automatically with rising prices.
At the present tax base, this would ultimately
It is time we took Social Security out of
raise the total Social Security payroll tax to more
than 12 percent. The Social Security trust fund
election-year politics.
must be kept sound. Greater benefits normally
involve greater taxes, particularly burdensome to
our younger citizens.
Veterans
As in the past, Republicans now favor an
R
epublicans believe those called upon to sacri-
increase in permitted earnings by Social
fice in Southeast Asia should be treated equally
Security recipients. Present earning limi-
with other veterans. All veterans, war widows and
tations reflect the depression mentality of
the Thirties and make no sense for the
their dependents should be protected from sky-
Seventies. Widows' benefits and minimum
rocketing inflation by increased benefits.
9
8
Poverty
ommended a new Hoover-type commission a year
ago. The President's only specific proposal for
The greatest poverty in this country today is
reorganization-to combine the Departments of
the poverty of realistic ideas among Poverty War
Labor and Commerce-merely scratches the sur-
generals and sergeants. Sensible Republican pro-
face.
posals have been rejected arbitrarily.
We
believe the Post Office Department
Republicans will continue to press for total
should be taken out of politics from top
revamping and redirection of the Poverty
to bottom. Republicans favor selecting all
War. We want an Opportunity Crusade
Postmasters on merit alone.
that will enlist private enterprise and the
States as effective partners of the Federal
What irony-we will probably deliver a man to
Government in this fight. We would give
the Moon before we can properly deliver the
the children of poverty the very highest
United States Mail to its correct address on Earth.
priority they deserve. As Republicans have
urged for two years, Head Start requires
The colossal Department of Agriculture is
follow-through in the early grades.
another executive agency that needs re-
form. Republicans will continue to sup-
We propose a new Industry Youth Corps to
port the concept of fair farm prices in the
provide private, productive employment and
market place, without price-depressing
training on the job.
manipulation by bureaucrats. The mass
and maze of federal farm laws, rules, regu-
We
lations and forms must be simplified.
propose the Republican Human Invest-
Every farmer knows there's enough to do
ment Act to induce employers to expand job op-
in every 24-hour day on the farm without
portunities for the unskilled.
a load of federal paperwork.
We propose to enlarge the opportunities
We applaud efforts to create more parks and
of low-income Americans for private home
seashores and will give special emphasis to the
ownership.
preservation of jobs and community stability.
All Americans demand a thorough airing of
poverty administration, poverty publicity and
Labor-Management Laws
poverty politics.
A year ago the President promised Congress he
would soon propose new ways to handle national
Government Reorganization
emergency strikes. Even though 1967 looms as a
year of labor-management strife, the President has
The need for streamlining the national govern-
not yet delivered. Incredibly, he never mentioned
ment has become even more urgent since we rec-
it in his latest State of the Union message.
10
11
Without waiting further, Congress should
abuses in campaign finance. Legislation
choose a balanced commission of experts to make
also is needed to encourage an increased
recommendations in this complex and sensitive
flow of small contributions. Republicans
are proud that 69 percent of our contri-
area.
butions in the last Presidential campaign
Our unswerving purpose should be to
were in sums of less than $100.
strengthen free collective bargaining be-
tween equals, without unnecessary govern-
Last year the Congress unwisely rushed through
ment meddling. Congress should under-
a bill which would provide as much as 60 million
take, without delay, a full review of labor-
taxpayers' dollars to political parties for the 1968
management laws and the operations of
campaign. This serious mistake should be re-
the National Labor Relations Board.
versed without delay.
It is unfair to both labor and management for
Instead, the Congress would be wise to permit
Congress to legislate blindly in an atmosphere
contributors an income tax deduction for political
of crisis.
contributions up to $100.
Election Reforms
Our antiquated Electoral College system
of choosing the President should be
To do our job better, Congress should act
changed to make sure the people's will
promptly on the bipartisan recommendations for
prevails.
congressional reorganization endorsed last session
by our House Republican Policy Committee, but
pigeon-holed by the Democratic majority.
We
call for a strong House Ethics Commit-
tee and an investigating committee under
the control of the minority.
T he biggest single campaign expense for any
Such reforms would restore the people's con-
national candidate today is television time. Tele-
fidence in Congress and their Goverment.
vision brings the national debate into every Amer-
ican home. Yet no really thorough study has been
Congress must also move ahead on the Presi-
made of the public's interest in television as a
dent's year-old pledge for a Clean Elections Law.
political medium. Television channels, of neces-
Such a law must be on the books before 1968.
sity limited in number, really belong to all the
people.
This Clean Elections Law should guarantee
full and accurate reporting of political
They should not be at the service of the highest
contributions and expenditures in support
bidder or the party in power. They cannot be
of national candidates and put an end to
regulated solely by the conscience or convictions
12
13
of network executives and their most popular
men not only in future campaigns, but
television faces.
also for the presentation of divergent polit-
ical views throughout the periods between
An illogical federal law now operates to prevent
formal campaigning.
television and radio stations from granting time
without charge to major party candidates with-
out making equal time available to a host of minor
Law Enforcement
party candidates. We unequivocally favor nation-
ally televised debates between future Presidential
Crime and violence, disregard of law and dis-
contenders.
respect for authority, immorality and irresponsi-
sibility are on the rise. We welcome the Presi-
We propose legislation requiring television
dent's recent recognition of this enlarging crisis.
and radio to provide free and equal treat-
ment to major parties and their spokes-
Republicans in the last Congress authored leg-
14
15
islation which created a National Commission for
M
the Revision and Reform of Criminal Laws, a
ost Americans will resist any trend toward the
establishment of a national police force or the
major step forward.
unwarranted intrusion of Federal power into
local law enforcement. Yet, there is a proper place
The House also adopted last year, although
for Federal assistance and leadership.
it died in the Senate, a proposal which
Republicans will renew this session in a
Within the Federal correctional system, the
"Citizens Rights Act of 1967." The Act
Work Release Program and other enlightened
would make it a crime to travel from one
prisoner rehabilitation projects must be designed
state to another with an intent to incite
and expanded to reduce the number of second-
riots. It would also protect individuals in
time offenders.
the exercise of their constitutional rights.
The primary responsibility for law en-
Wiretapping and electronic eavesdropping
forcement must remain with the States and
worry all Americans who prize their privacy.
local authorities. In the last analysis, pub-
Properly used, these are essential weapons to
lic safety depends upon the courage and
those who guard our Nation's security and wage
character of the policeman patrolling his
ceaseless war against organized crime.
beat. The Federal Government can prop-
erly help in making law enforcement a
T he Congress, the President and the Courts
more attractive and professional career.
must properly spell out the permissible limits of
A National Law Enforcement Institute, similar
their use.
to the successful National Institutes of Health,
should be established for research and training
At all levels of government a massive ef-
and for the dissemination of the latest techniques
fort should be made to reduce crime by
in police science.
attacking some of its basic causes: poverty,
slums, inadequate education and dis-
crimination. However, our laws and ac-
tions should never be based on the theory
National Security
that a criminal is solely the product of his
N
environment.
ot as Republicans but as Americans we are
gravely worried about the Nation's security. This
Fear of punishment remains an important de-
is not a partisan issue. The conflict is primarily
between the Administration and the Congress.
terrent to crime.
We call upon the independent Judicial Branch
The short-range military policies and the long-
of our Government to uphold the rights of the
range defense posture of this country urgently de-
law-abiding citizen with the same fervor as it
mand searching re-examination and New Direc-
tion. Nothing in the President's State of the
upholds the rights of the accused.
17
16
Union Message lessened our deep concern in this
our global commitments.
all-important area.
The Administration has finally admitted
Our strategic thinking of the 1970's and be-
to the American people that the Soviet
yond, the timely planning and production of ad-
Union has increased its Intercontinental
vanced weapons systems, and the prudent man-
Ballistic Missile capability and is deploying
agement of our total national defense capabilities
an Anti-Ballistic Missile Defense System.
have become stalled on a dead-end street.
In anticipation of a life-and-death decision
on just such a development, Congress has
Republicans renew, with even greater urg-
voted millions of dollars which the Ad-
ency, our call for Congress to name a Blue
ministration did not seek and apparently
Ribbon Commission of the most able and
has not used.
independent Americans to get on with
this job.
The Congress did its duty and gave the Presi-
dent a clear expression of its will and the means
W
to carry it out.
ithin its Constitutional responsibility, Con-
gress can do more.
Before more precious time is lost, Congress and
the American people are now entitled to a clear
We must take prompt action to modernize our
explanation from the President of the perils and
Navy, increase our superiority in nuclear propul-
problems facing the United States in the new
sion, and counter the growing threat of missile-
global balance of strategic power.
carrying enemy submarines.
We must take prompt steps to rebuild the
We, too, seek to avoid a costly new round in
American Merchant Marine, already
the nuclear arms race. But the least the Nation
shrunken to one-fifth its former size, and
must do now is to speed up its readiness to deploy
regain our lost lead over the Soviet Un-
Anti-Ballistics Missiles in a hurry if our survival
ion in modern shipbuilding. Shockingly,
requires it.
the U.S. is no longer a major maritime
power. The Maritime Administration must
Americans are properly devoted to the
be upgraded as an independent agency.
concept of civilian control in defense mat-
ters. This civilian control never before has
We must proceed at top speed with the devel-
meant consistent civilian disregard for pro-
opment of long-delayed Advanced Manned Stra-
fessional military judgment, intimidation
tegic Bombers and Improved Manned Intercep-
of dissenters and substitution of soulless
tors.
computers for human experience.
We
The first place to close the Credibility Gap is
must strengthen our Reserve and National
at the Pentagon.
Guard forces and eliminate inequities in the
Draft. Our defense posture should be tailored to
All Americans join in the President's earnest
18
19
hopes for an honorable peace and foolproof dis-
armament. But they are deeply concerned that the
Communists even now are intensifying both the
hot and cold wars. We must prevail in this world-
wide test of willpower and weaponry.
N othing has higher priority, in our judgment,
than the safety, strength and survival of the
United States of America, our people and our
posterity.
There will be no Sensible Solutions for the
Seventies, no Republicans or Democrats, if we
fail in this supreme test of a nation.
To our President, we of the Loyal Opposition
say-in the words of another anguished com-
mander-in-chief:*
"With firmness in the right, as God gives us to
see the right, let us strive on to finish the work
we are in."
* Abraham Lincoln, 2nd Inaugural Address
International Affairs
By Senator Everett M. Dirksen
My Fellow-Americans:
T he State of the Union - that is, the
condition of our country - what is it as
we stand on the threshold of another
year and another Congress? Last week the
President, as the Constitution requires,
presented his view of the State of the Un-
ion. It was an hour-and-ten-minute address.
20
21
Tonight, we have but 27 minutes for a
comparable appraisal. Time, therefore,
his comment in this regard last week. He empha-
permits but the briefest review of the mat-
sized the probability of "more cost, more loss,
ter. Mr. Ford has, very effectively, assessed
more agony."
the domestic State of the Union. Hence I
shall speak only of our external relations
The General commanding our forces in
with the world.
Vietnam seeks more troops. That would
also mean more supplies, more weapons,
Perhaps Shakespeare said it all with the words
more planes, and more of everything be-
he placed in the mouth of Macbeth. I paraphrase
fore the aggressor withdraws or the offer
them slightly:
of negotiations is accepted. None of these
seem probable at the moment and the grim
"We are in blood, stepp'd in so deep,
Four Horsemen continue to stalk the land.
That should we wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go oe'r."
Is there an answer to this vexing problem other
Our operations in Southeast Asia have pro-
than the classical one of enough troops, enough
voked entreaties, demands, and demonstrations
weapons, enough firepower to render the aggressor
to draw back, to retreat, to leave our commitments
unable to continue his nefarious intent and design?
unfulfilled. That would be an unthinkable course.
I wonder.
We Mean Business'
500,000 Americans Involved
Have self-inspired fears of Soviet or Red China
We promised to heed the Macedonian
intervention dissuaded us from a more vigorous
cry of a small weak nation against the
effort on land, sea and in the air to bring this
Red aggressors and their threats to her
conflict to an end, including stern measures to
freedom and independence. That cry for
stop the inflow of supplies, food and weapons
help came. We responded. At first our re-
from supposedly neutral nations? Let us make
sponse was of a token nature. But it has
plain to the world that we mean business! We are
grown to become a vast, full-scale military
in this war to carry out our commitments. To do
and pacification operation. One way or
less would be to break our pledge. In this grim
another, about 500,000 Americans are en-
undertaking, a teaspoonful of gospel is not enough.
gaged. The cost in blood and treasure has
We must do all that is necessary until the freedom
been enormous. Vietnam has become our
and independence of Vietnam are assured.
third largest war.
I
The President was both realistic and candid in
hope that in the weeks and months ahead
the dilemma of Vietnam will stimulate the most
22
thoughtful discussion possible among our people
23
of all political faiths. As we search together for
and no line of defense would any longer exist
a solution to Vietnam let us demonstrate to the
from Saigon to Singapore if such a peacetable
world our unity of purpose in full, free and or-
surrender should occur. Foresight is the essence of
derly discussion of the best ways and means to
leadership. We stand in need of it as never before.
achieve it.
But Vietnam is not our only migraine. Else-
War spawns many evils: swollen budgets,
where in the world, American foreign policy and
the dislocation of young manpower, infla-
its conduct are coming, increasingly, into serious
tion, surly attitudes of other nations, re-
question. In Latin America, the Alliance for Pro-
strictions on investment abroad, a perish-
gress causes us now to wonder: Where is the
able prosperity, and the brooding danger
Alliance? Where is the Progress? The failures of
that our economy may be forced into the
economic and social reform required, under Alli-
straightjacket of wage-and-price controls
ance agreement, of those Latin American nations
and perhaps higher taxes. And the evils
receiving our financial aid are all too visible.
rising from the crucible of conflict will
multiply. Small wonder that the spirit of
the nation is vexed and troubled!
In Africa, there is scarcely a country which has
accepted our largess and is eager to accept more
that has not become embroiled in internal or
unneighborly conflicts that have resulted in a
Must End Conflict
steady retreat from democracy and toward dicta-
torship or Red-tinted rule.
We in the loyal opposition, with a primary ac-
cent on "loyal," while supporting to the fullest
In Europe, the Common Market holds
our fighting forces in Vietnam, ask - in fact,
neither hope nor promise for us. NATO is
demand - that this Administration not only rein-
withering on the vine. Supreme Head-
force its determination to bring this conflict to an
quarters of the Allied Forces has been or-
end in the shortest possible time but that it also
dered out of France and has had to find
look beyond the bombing and other violence of
refuge in Belgium. Britain, because of
the conflict to where we shall stand and with whom
pressure on the pound sterling, has fore-
we shall sit when the conflict ceases. What thought
shortened her lines of defense, diminished
has been given thus far, not only to the exercise
her troop strength and leaned even more
of far stronger military and diplomatic muscles
heavily upon us. West Germany is eying
as the war goes on, but to the making of an
the Communist markets in eastern Europe
eventual peace? What policy will we be asked
but does wish to retain our troops - at
then to support? Do we sit down at the confer-
our expense. What strange bedfellows
ence table and bargain with elements other than
have developed in Europe - after we
representatives of the duly constituted govern-
have taxed our people to keep them afloat!
ment in Hanoi? To do so might mean that any
agreements reached would disintegrate overnight
To all this one can add the explosiveness of
24
25
the Middle East, the discouragement of American
export agricultural commodities as a substitute
capital investment in India - unless Hindus or
for a truly reciprocal trade agreement program.
the Indian Government hold the controlling
When to these alarms there is added the
stock, the unpredictable attitudes of Laos, Cam-
critical problem of our endangered gold
bodia, Indonesia, the constant, and unrelenting
supply and the doubt now being expressed
attacks by Soviet leaders upon our alleged im-
so often abroad as to the fiscal and mone-
perialism.
tary stability of the United States - never,
for decades, hitherto questioned! - a
There is virtue in the ancient admonition
clear, thorough and courageous evaluation
to "Be not weary in well-doing" but it is
of our foreign policy, our trade policies,
an aggravating experience to have the
and our international fiscal and monetary
recipients of our aid and assistance bite
policies is clearly required. We call upon
the hand that seeks to help them.
this Administration to agree to a bipartisan
scrutiny and study - to begin now - con-
ducted jointly with participants from in-
V
ery pertinent now, because it will expire in
dustry, finance and agriculture.
June, is the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, in-
tended, as its name suggests, to enlarge our trade
As a point and base of beginning for such a
abroad. It threatens, however, to do exactly the
study, let me now propose, specifically, that a
opposite. Well aware of the delicacy of our inter-
detailed examination be made of the possibility
national economic position, finance ministers and
of forming what I choose to call the Western
trade negotiators of countless nations abroad have,
Economic Union - a Common Market of the
for some months now, been horse-trading us out
nations of the Western Hemisphere - a structure
of the protection our industry and agriculture must
for trade and mutual aid designed to stimulate the
have and have been enticing us down what be-
production and exchange of industrial products
gins to look like a rutted one-way street, espe-
and those of agriculture in which protective bar-
cially as regards our farm products. It will be for
riers will not take the form of prohibitive self-
the Congress, before June, to take a hard look at
defeating tariff walls but of economic policies of
these proceedings, in the interest of American
insurance against depression and want and despair
enterprise, the preservation of American jobs, and
from Attu to Patagonia.
the continuation of the European markets for our
farm products.
As
regards the Middle East, let me also add
The current Trade Negotiations in Geneva are
the proposal that the United States take the initia-
very important to all segments of our economy.
tive in reconvening the conference of the Tri-
Farmers should not be sold down the river in
partite Guarantee Powers, and that these Powers
these Trade Negotiations. We will look with dis-
- the United States, the United Kingdom, and
favor on any agricultural commodity agreement
France - use this new conference to reaffirm their
or arrangement that would limit our ability to
"unalterable opposition to the use of force or
26
27
threat of force" in the Arab-Israel area and revive
comes ever more meaningful. As we Repub-
their pledge to preserve the frontiers and armis-
licans assess the present State of the Union
tice lines in the Middle East.
and appraise the progress that we know
can be ours, we refuse, despite the heat
Of the President's plea and proposals for the
and burden which world affairs impose,
"building of bridges" to the East, it can be fairly
to be dismayed or to despair. We refuse,
asked whether it is truly intended that this East-
indeed, as we look to the Seventies, to be
West trade bridge be a double-decker, capable of
weary in "welldoing", but we are deter-
moving traffic in each direction or whether it will,
mined that our well-doing shall, to a great-
as has been so true in the past, become a structure
er degree, be directed toward the well-
for the conveying of our bounty and treasure to
being of the American family and the
the unfriendly and uncooperative nations without
American nation. We realize full well that
any value whatsoever received in return.
we are not only in this world but of it. For
the beneficences we have showered on this
What justification can be cited for the Ad-
world we deserve something more than the
ministration's persistent effort to liberalize
ungrateful cry of "Yanqui, go home".
and extend terms tantamount to aid to the
Soviet Union and Communist governments
To this necessary end - with positive proposals
of Eastern Europe, while these nations
we shall offer the nation - and to this high pur-
are supplying most of the guns and missiles
pose the Republican Leadership and the Repub-
that are killing American soldiers and
lican Party now commit themselves with a whole
shooting down American planes in South-
heart.
east Asia?
The answer to all of this is a clear one: more
attention to the conservation of our own strength
and resources and less to those nations of the
world who regard us as an amiable, vulnerable,
jolly Santa Claus who can be slurred at will and
cuffed with impunity. The international bank of
good-will shows a mounting deficit where our
external relations are concerned.
H
ow truly "Hope deferred maketh the
heart sick." As our problems multiply
and our worries increase, the responsibility
of the Executive Leadership becomes ever
the greater. So, too, the responsibility of
the Republicans in loyal opposition be-
29
28
Prepared under the direction of the Republican
National Committee, 1625 Eye Street, N.W.,
Washington, D. C. 20006
Ray C. Bliss, Chairman
For additional copies in bulk, contact Doyle Printing & Offset Co., Inc.,
1219 Eye Street, N. W., Washington, D.C. 20005. Prices: Single copy 25c;
10 copies $2.25; 100 copies $20.
21
The State of
The Union-
A Republican
Appraisal
AMERICAL * REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE WITH * FORD
FOREWORD
On Monday night, January 17, 1966, the Re-
publican Minority Leaders in the U. S. Senate
and House of Representatives - Senator Everett
Dirksen of Illinois and Congressman Gerald Ford
of Michigan - delivered a Republican message
on the State of the Union.
The message, entitled "The State of the Union
- A Republican Appraisal," was delivered at
the U. S. capitol in the historic chamber formerly
occupied by the Supreme Court before Republi-
can members of Congress and their wives and
other Party leaders.
International Affairs
The program, televised and broadcast nation-
ally, was the first of its kind by the leaders of a
By Senator Everett M. Dirksen
minority party. It was sponsored jointly by the
Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, Re-
Fellow Citizens:
publican Congressional Campaign Committee, and
I am Senator Dirksen of Illinois, Republican
the Republican National Committee.
Floor Leader in the United States Senate. With
The remarks of Senator Dirksen on inter-
me on this program will be Congressman Ford
national affairs and by Congressman Ford on
of Michigan, Republican Floor Leader in the
domestic policies are published in this pamphlet.
United States House of Representatives. Each of
us will have about 14 minutes to discuss the State
of The Union. That is a short time for a gigantic
task.
The President has a mandate under the Consti-
tution to give to the Congress information of the
We hoped that if we supplied the tools, other
State of the Union, together with his recommen-
nations would supply the men on Freedom's fron-
dations.
tier. We fulfilled our pledges. They did so only
We have no such mandate. We do believe
in part and too often with ill grace.
we have a duty as elected Representatives
Where needed, we supplied manpower also.
to present our views. Time will permit only
The first feeble cries of "Yanki, go home"
a few basic highlights.
have become a chorus. Our prestige on the
We are the legatees of a great, strong land. We
world thermometer of good will has
received it from those who were here before us.
dropped fast and far. Our billions have
gained little respect, and even less appre-
ciation. Every continent has its fevers and
Reason and Realism
turmoil.
T he state of our land is too often measured in
Two things are needed. The first is a care-
material terms - jobs, income, gross product,
ful, precise audit to see where our fleeting
services and goods. Actually it embraces much
dollars went and what they really accom-
more. It includes the national mood, our capacity
plished. The second is a sustained and
to live together, and our prestige. It includes our
expert scrutiny of every estimate for for-
leadership of the Free World, our relations with
eign aid to determine how the aid requested
other lands, our respect for law, our devotion to
will be used and whether there will be divi-
peace, and our willingness to sacrifice even as
dends in the form of good will and real
others have done before us. It includes reason and
devotion to peace and freedom. To accept
realism in a world of tumult and confusion.
less would be an injustice to the charity
and sacrificial spirit of the American
We are not only in this world but of it, and
people.
we shall be for ages to come.
The Horsemen of Despair
Our Relations With Other Countries
Consider now the horsemen of despair who ride
Consider then our ties and relations with other
over the world - the population explosion, hun-
lands. Twenty-one years ago, we pioneered the
ger, and poverty. They constitute a crisis already
United Nations. Since then, we have developed
on our doorstep. We pay farmers to produce less.
regional groups throughout the world for specific
Industry forever seeks ways to produce more at
purposes. We believed it would aid the cause of
less cost. Meanwhile, births continue to grow and
peace and tranquility and freedom.
hunger stalks many areas of the world. Each year,
the world gains 65 million persons. The number
In pursuit of these high purposes, we spent more
will grow. So will hunger. Can peace and hunger
co-exist?
than $120 billion of your money on foreign aid.
Ages ago, Isaiah wrote, "And it shall come
Millions Spent To Aid French
to pass, that when they shall be hungry,
Our country did not sign that accord. But we
they shall fret themselves, and curse their
had an interest. Hundreds of millions of your
King and their God." American agriculture
money was spent to aid the French. But it also
is geared to high production. Better to pay
involved our defense perimeter and our security.
for abundance than for scarcity.
We pledged ourselves to aid Vietnam in preserv-
In a few years, Red China will have 800 million
ing her integrity and independence.
people. Leaders can survive only when the urgent
Accordingly we were permitted to keep
needs of the people are met.
military advisers there. At first it was but
The ugly heads of aggression and conquest
a few hundred. Gradually the number grew
vanish when there is no need for new do-
into thousands. Today it approaches
mains. Surely, within the genius of Amer-
200,000. It has become a grim, bloody, and
ican enterprise, the way can be found for
costly business.
the produce of our fruited plains to reach
It is a war but not of our making. Young men
the empty bellies of the world.
with gay hearts go forth to Vietnam and lifeless
The signs of trouble are already written in the
young men in wooden boxes return. They fought,
firmament and there is no time to lose. This too
bled, and died in the heat and mud of the jungles.
with its vast potential impact on our future in-
All this is 12,000 miles from home. For a long
volves the State of the Union.
time it seemed remote. But no longer. We became
grimly aware that we are fighting a war to help
a small land, so many of whose people can neither
read nor write.
Vietnam Is Not Our War
Consider now the grim struggle in which we are
Joint Resolution
involved in Asia. Let us be crystal clear. Vietnam
Eighteen months ago, Congress enacted a Joint
is not our war. But we pledged ourselves to help
Resolution, giving support and approval to the
a small nation. Our word was given. We are there
President as Commander In Chief to take all
to keep our word.
necessary steps including the use of force to repel
For more than 90 years, Cambodia, Laos and
attack on our forces and prevent further aggres-
Indo-China were under French tutelage. The Viet
sion. That resolution is still in effect. In both
Minh - the north half-rebelled. It was a long,
Houses of Congress the vote was 504 to 2. Every
bloody struggle. The French were defeated. The
Republican present voted for it.
conflict ended with an accord signed at Geneva.
Laos and Cambodia achieved their independence.
B
ut as complications develop and the choice
Indo-China was divided in half with a non-
becomes guns or butter or both, groups and indi-
military zone between.
viduals become increasingly vocal. Let's get out.
We must stay in. We must bomb Hanoi. We must
not bomb. We must step up. We must hold back.
We must negotiate. We must not negotiate.
To retreat and get out would be deemed a
confession that we are a paper tiger. What
a propaganda weapon that would be in
Asia, Africa and elsewhere.
To forsake our pledges would shatter confi-
dence in us and further diminish our
prestige.
To negotiate from weakness would mean
defeat before we ever reached the negotia-
tion table.
So what? Is there then a rational course to
follow? I believe so. Let the peace efforts con-
tinue. Who can object to any honorable effort to
secure peace where young blood is involved?
Let the military effort continue. It demonstrates
our determination to keep our word. Let it be in-
tensified if necessary as sound military judgment
dictates. There is, after all, no substitute for vic-
tory. Let the objective be kept crystal clear at
Domestic Issues
all times, and that is guaranteed freedom and
independence for the Vietnamese.
By Cong. Gerald R. Ford
How else could we keep faith with the
young dead?
We are assembled tonight in an historic cham-
ber - a chamber that has echoed the thunderous
How else do we redeem our word?
debate and vigorous dissent of some of our coun-
How else do we regain our prestige?
try's greatest leaders.
How else do we maintain our leadership in
Daniel Webster here proclaimed the immortal
the Free World?
words, "Liberty and union, now and forever, one
All this is part of the State of the Union.
and inseparable."
The Torch of Dissent
As a minority party, it is our task to carry the
torch of dissent responsibly and constructively.
Curricula must be enriched.
Tonight we look forward, not backward.
People already working should be given the
Our people are restless and impatient with
chance to retrain and upgrade their skills and
problems too long unsolved and too often
earning power.
compounded by bad laws and bureaucratic
failings.
Vocational Rehabilitation for the handicapped
must be expanded.
The Congress turns in 1966, as in the past, to
its part in the always unfinished task of making
This cannot, and should not, be done by
America united, strong, and free.
the Federal government alone. But there is
much that the national government can do
T hese goals in their present setting point
to promote this effort without the heavy
particularly to three types of problems in
hand of federal control.
domestic policy: how to increase jobs and
For example, the Congress should ease the fi-
output without inflation; how to move ahead
nancial burden of going to college.
toward equality for all citizens; and how to
The door of education must be opened wide.
improve government and its services.
Therefore, we propose a federal income
tax credit for college students and their
Education
parents.
While there are courses of action that strike at
each of these problems, there is a common remedy
that effects all three: Education.
Compassion With Competence
The problem of unemployment is particu-
We must liberate the War on Poverty from
larly the problem of the young, inexpe-
waste, controversy, and the bad odor of political
rienced, unskilled person of inadequate
bossism.
schooling. More and better schooling will
We must combine compassion with com-
reduce racial tensions and speed the Ne-
petence. This nation can afford what is
gro's economic and social progress.
necessary to help the less fortunate among
Improved education will help to solve the
us to help themselves. The children of the
problems of government by enlightening
poor must have the highest priority. How
both the electors and the elected.
many of the poor have actually received
any of the twenty-three hundred million
We believe every youth must be encouraged to
taxpayer's dollars from the present War on
pursue his education as far as his talents will take
Poverty? Tragically, very few.
him.
The poor themselves must have an important
Drop-outs must be encouraged to go back to
role in policy decisions at the community level.
school for. an education or training to fit their
The States should be partners in this War on
ability.
Poverty. It is time that the poverty fighters
stopped fighting each other.
health. In the ten years since the second
Republicans will offer specific proposals
Hoover Commission made its report, dur-
to redirect this program to achieve its
ing five Democratic-controlled Congresses,
goals without waste, scandal and bureau-
employees on the Federal payroll have in-
cratic infighting. Without such changes,
creased 175,000 and Federal expenditures
the good will fall with the bad under the
have increased by $57 billion.
fiscal pressures created by Vietnam and
the massive new domestic spending pro-
The Executive branch has become a bureaucratic
grams.
jungle. The time has come to explore its wild
America has long waged the most effective War
growth and cut it back.
on Poverty in history through the genius of private
We urge a new independent bipartisan
enterprise cooperating with government.
Commission, patterned after the two dis-
tinguished Hoover Commissions, to recom-
We urge the enactment of the Republican
mend substantial reforms in the Executive
proposed Human Investment Act to bring
private enterprise more effectively to bear
branch of our government.
on the problem of creating productive jobs
for the poor. Through a 7% tax credit, this
Cost of Living
measure will encourage business and labor
to employ and train people with limited
To achieve a healthy and steady economic growth
skills and education.
there must be price stability. Today this national
goal is seriously endangered by the threat of in-
flation. The Eisenhower dollar is now worth 90
Executive Reform
cents.
The Executive Branch of the Federal government
needs reform - not Presidential repatching or
The, cost of living is 2 percent higher than
piecemeal creation of new departments.
it was a year ago. At the current level of
consumer spending, the price rise is the
The proliferation of Federal programs, com-
equivalent of a secret sales tax that silently
pounded by the mass production of laws in the
steals some $8 billion annually from the
last session of Congress, demands the attention of
pockets of the American people.
our people.
There are now 42 separate Federal agencies
Inflationary policies of the President have a
involved in education programs alone.
major impact on the cost of living. This Admin-
There are at least 252 welfare programs
istration uses a double standard. With one hand
today, including 52 separate Federal eco-
it creates upward pressure on prices and with the
nomic aid programs, 57 job training pro-
other bludgeons workers and businessmen for re-
grams and 65 Federal programs to improve
sponding to that pressure. The real villain in this
piece is the Administration which will increase
the cost of the Federal government by $26 billion
$31/2 billion? The President now advocates addi-
tional tax burdens to finance added costs both at
in a two-year period.
home and abroad.
The most direct and effective weapon the
National Government has to halt inflation is
With prudent restraint on spending, we
to curb Federal spending. This requires the
believe no new taxes are now needed.
President and the Congress to set priorities.
It is imperative that the President in his
budget classify his spending proposals ac-
Agriculture
cording to necessity and urgency. If he fails
to do so, we call upon the Democrats in Con-
The farm parity ratio in 1965 was below the level
gress to join us in eliminating, reducing or
of five years ago. At home, we seek a free and
deferring low priority items.
prosperous agriculture by encouraging the opera-
tion of a healthy market economy. We will con-
We learn now that expenditures in this fiscal
tinue to resist Administration efforts to artificially
year will be at least 8 billion dollars more than
depress the market prices of farm commodities
we were told a year ago. Congress and the people
and to control the American farmers.
have not been given a straight-forward and real-
istic assessment of our Federal budget problems.
World population increases are adding a
Republicans intend to give the President's budget
new dimension to the problems of Ameri-
a searching examination.
can agriculture and demand new thinking.
For our overseas programs, we urge the
Whatever is needed - really needed - for
extension of Public Law 480, the Eisen-
national security must be provided. Urgent
hower Food for Peace program, and we
domestic programs that truly help the
urge the enactment of legislation, already
needy, that contribute to real economic
introduced by 65 Republicans in the House,
growth, that significantly advance the cause
to establish a bi-partisan "U.S. - World
of equal opportunity, need not be sacri-
Food Study and Coordinating Commis-
ficed. Applying these tests, Republicans
sion," in order to begin immediately the
believe the $55 billion which the President
task of closing the growing "food gap" on
will propose for non-military spending can
our planet.
be and must be reduced.
Political Reforms
Taxes
We were surprised and pleased that the Presi-
H OW many Americans know that the laws passed
dent touched on the subject of reform of political
last year, supposedly reducing taxes, actually im-
campaigns and elections. His recommendations
pose a net increase in Federal taxes for 1966 of
do not go far enough.
Ways must be found to eliminate vote
the load of local taxation, spur solution of
fraud, curb the cost of political campaigns,
vexing problems, and revitalize programs
and expand the franchise. Republicans will
in education, health, and welfare at the
propose:
local level.
to guard against abuses in the raising
and use of political funds;
to raise the ceiling on political expendi-
Unemployment Compensation
tures to realistic levels;
hanges in the system of unemployment com-
to bar effectively political contributions
pensation are needed, particularly to provide
from corporations and unions;
standby protection against the contingency of a
to require meaningful reporting of po-
substantial rise in the number of workers without
litical contributions and expenditures.
jobs. We support the constructive suggestions
worked out by the State Unemployment Compen-
States of the Union
sation administrators to meet this problem. We
oppose the Administration's bill that would substi-
O
tute Federal judgment for State determination in
ur nation has thrived on the diversity and
matters such as standards and benefits in this pro-
distribution of powers so wisely embedded in the
gram.
Constitution. The Administration believes in cen-
tralized authority, ignoring and bypassing and
undermining State responsibilities in almost every
Civil Rights
law that is passed. As a result, our constitutional
structure is today in dangerous disrepair. The
M
aking real for all Americans the equality to
States of the Union form a vital cornerstone of
which this nation is committed remains an urgent
our Federal system, and the headlong plunge
national concern. Recent progress is encourag-
toward centralization of power in Washington
must be halted.
ing, but not enough. No citizen should be satis-
fied merely with the expectation of a better to-
All of us here tonight salute the gallant fight
morrow. It is only right to expect that the Consti-
of Senator Dirksen against the repeal of Section
tution of the United States be put in force every-
14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act and for the Re-
where now.
apportionment Amendment.
The Congress has enacted four civil rights
We urge Congress to enact a system of tax
acts since 1957. There now is need to review
sharing, long advocated by Republicans, to
these laws, and especially tighten those designed
return to the States a fixed percentage of
to prevent violence and intimidation of citizens
personal income tax without Federal con-
who exercise their constitutional rights.
trols. Funds from this source will lighten
Hesitant administration of existing laws
has made them less effective than they
sand Americans in Vietnam.
should be. The President has even failed to
And what of the sacrifices of their families at
make the Community Relations Service the
home, who share inequally in the promises of the
effective instrument which Congress in-
tended it to be. Leaderless for half of
Great Society? We urge more adequate housing
and benefits for our fighting men and their fam-
last year, shunted off to an ambiguous
ilies. We urge a new GI bill of rights of veterans.
position in the wrong Federal agency, this
potentially valuable Service has suffered
We will not sacrifice their future.
from neglect.
Nor will we sacrifice the future of millions
Let us make it clear to all - there cannot be
of Americans whose lifetime savings and mod-
two kinds of justice, one for whites, another for
est pensions are being nibbled away by infla-
tion.
Negroes.
Nor can there be tolerance of riots, looting,
We are outnumbered two to one in this Con-
violence, and disorder. These impede the prog-
gress.
ress sought by the overwhelming majority of
But we will continue to speak out for the
Americans.
things in which we believe. We will not
sacrifice the ideals that make us Republi-
cans.
The President's Challenge
We will never sacrifice the sacred right, and the
Last week the President chided Americans who
sacred value to our country, of loyal dissent.
believe, as I do, that we cannot fight a war ten
This is our duty to all Americans.
thousand miles away without setting priorities at
home.
He asked: Whom will they sacrifice?
the
poor?
Our answer is a resounding "NO!"
We will not sacrifice poor people.
We will sacrifice poor programs, poorly
conceived and poorly carried out.
We will sacrifice poor administrators.
We will sacrifice poor arithmetic in public
accounting.
Any sacrifices we call for cannot be com-
pared with those being made by 190 thou-
Prepared under the direction of the Republican
National Committee, 1625 Eye Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C.
For additional copies, contact Editors Press,
6041 33rd Avenue, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782.
(Check or Money Order must accompany order-
Prices include handling and postage)
Single copies: 20¢ each; 100 copies: $10.00; 250
copies: $20.00; 500 copies: $35.00; 1,000 copies:
$60.00.
6
January 12, 1965
FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY, EXPECTED
ABOUT 9:00 P.M. (EST), WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1966
TO ALL NEWSPAPERS, RADIO AND TV STATIONS
CAUTION: There should be no premature release of this Message to the
Congress, nor should its contents be paraphrased, alluded to or hinted at
in earlier stories. There is a total embargo on this message until released,
which includes any and all references to any material in this message.
Bill D. Moyers
THE WHITE HOUSE
STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE
OF
PRESIDENT LYNDCN B. JOHNSON
TO BE DELIVERED TO A JOINT SESSION OF
THE CONGRESS
JANUARY 12, 1966
I come before you to report on the State of the Union for the third time.
I come to thank you, and to add my tribute, once more, to the nation's
gratitude. For this Congress has already reserved for itself an honored
chapter in the history of America.
Our nation is now engaged in a brutal and bitter conflict in Vietnam. Later
tonight 1 want to discuss that struggle with you. It must be at the center
of our concerns.
But we will not permit those who fire on us in Vietnam to win a victory over
the desires and intentions of the American people. This nation is mighty
enough its society healthy enough -- its people strong enough -- to pursue
our goals in the rest of the world while building a Great Society at home.
That is what I have come to ask of you.
1. To provide the resources to carry forward, with full vigor,
the great health and education programs enacted last year.
2. To provide the funds to prosecute with vigor and determination our war on
poverty.
3. To give a new and daring direction to our foreign aid program,
designed to make a maximum attack on hunger, disease and ignorance in those
countries determined to help themselves -- and to help those nations trying to
control population growth.
4. To make it possible to pand trade between the United States
and Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.
5. To rebuild completely -- on a scale never before attempted -- entire
central and slum areas of several of our cities.
6. To attack the wasteful and degrading poisoning of our rivers,
--
and, as the cornerstone of this effort, clean completely entire large river
basins.
MORE
QERALD FORD VIBRARY
-2-
7. To meet the growing menace of crime in the streets - by building up local
law enforcement and by revitalizing the entire federal system from prevention
to probation.
8. To take additional steps to ensure equal justice to all our people by
effectively enforcing non-discrimination in federal and state jury selection --
by making it a serious federal crime to obstruct public and private efforts to
secure civil rights and by outlawing discrimination in the sale and rental of
housing.
9. To help me modernize and streamline the Federal Government by creating a
new Cabinet level Departme nt of Transportation and reorganizing several existing
agencies. In turn, I will restructure our Civil Service System in the top grades
so that men and women can be easily assigned to jobs where they are most needed,
and ability will be both required and rewarded.
10. To make it possible for members of the House of Representatives to work
more effectively in the service of the nation through a Constitutional Amendment
extending the term of a Congressman to four years, concurrent with that of the
President.
Because of Vietnam we cannot do all we should, or all we would like to do.
We will ruthlessly attack waste and inefficiency. We will ma ke sure every dollar
is spent with the thrift and common sense which recognizes how hard the taxpayer
worked to earn it.
And we will continue to meet needs of our people.
Last year alone the wealth we produced increased 47 billion dollars; and it will
soar again this year to a total over 720 billion dollars.
Because our economic policies have produced rising revenues -- if you approve
every program I recommend -- our total deficit will be one of the lowest in many
years only 1.8 billion dollars. Total spending will be 112. 8 billion dollars.
Revenues will be 111 billion dollars.
On a cash basis which is the way you and I keep our family budget the federal
budget will show a surplus this year. That is to say, if we include all the money
your government will take in and spend, your government will collectone half billion
dollars more than it will spend in Fiscal Year 1967.
I do not come here tonight to ask for pleasant luxuries and idle pleasures. I am
here to recommendthat you the representatives of the richest nation on earth --
the elected servants of a people who live in abundance unmatched on this globe --
bring the most urgent decencies of life to all Americans.
There are men who cry out: We must sacrifice. Let us rather ask them: whom
will they sacrifice? Will they sacrifice the children who seek learning the
sick who need care the families who dwell in squalor now brightened by the hope
of home? Will they sacrifice opportunity for the distressed -- the beauty of our
land -- the hope of our poor.
Time may require further sacrifices. If so, we will make them.
But we will not heed those who wring it from the hopes of the unfortunate in a land
of plenty.
I believe we can continue the Great Society while we fight in Vietnam. But if some
do not believe this then, in the name of justice, let them call for the contribution
of those who live in the fullness of our blessing, rather than strip it from the
hands of those in need.
(More)
-3-
And let no one think the unfortunate and oppressed of this land sit stifled and
alone in their hope. Hundreds of their servants and protectors sit before me
now in this great chamber.
Three roads converge on the Great Society:
-- growth in the economic health and abundance of our country.
-- justice, to permit all our people to share the freedom and opportunity
of America.
liberation of our genius and abundance to enrich the quality of our lives.
First is growth the national prosperity, which supports the well-being of our
people and provides the tools of progress.
I can report to you what you have seen for yourselves in almost every city and
countryside. This Nation is flourishing.
Workers are making more money than ever -- with after-tax income in the past
five years up 33 percent and in the last year alone up 8 percent.
More people are working than ever -- an increase last year of 2-1/2 million jobs.
Corporations have greater after-tax earnings than ever -- up 65 percent and
more over the past five years and last year alone a rise of 20 percent.
And average farm income is higher than ever -- up 40 percent over the past
five years and last year up 22 percent.
I was informed this afternoon by the Secretary of the Treasury that his prelim-
inary estimate indicates our balance of payments deficit has been reduced from
2. 8 billion dollars in 1964 to 1.3 billion dollars, or less in 1965. This achieve-
ment has been made possible by the patriotic and voluntary cooperation of
businessmen and bankers working with your government.
We must now work together with increased urgency to wipe out the balance of
payments deficit altogether.
As our economy surges toward new heights we must increase our vigilance against
the inflation which raises the cost of living and lowers the savings of every
family. To prevent inflation it is essential that both labor and business exercise
price and wage restraint.
I believe it desirable, because of increased military expenditures, that you
temporarily restore the automobile and certain telephone excise tax reductions
made effective only twelve days ago. Without raising taxes -- or even increasing
the total tax bill paid we should
improve our withholding system so that Americans can more
realistically pay-as-they-go;
-- speed up the collection of corporate taxes;
We should also make other simplifications of the tax structure.
I hope these measures will be adequate. But if the necessities of Vietnam
require it, I will not hesitate to return to the Congress for additional
appropriations and additional revenues,
MORE
- 4 -
The second road is justice. Simply defined, justice means a man's hope should
not be limited by the color of his skin.
I propose:
-- legislation to establish unavoidable requirements for non-
discriminatory jury selection in federal and state courts and to give the
Attorney General the power necessary to enforce those requirements.
-- legislation to strengthen authority of federal courts to try those
who murder, attack, or intimidate either civil rights workers or others
exercising their constitutional rights -- and to increase penalties to a level
equal to the nature of the crime.
-- legislation, resting on the fullest Constitutional authority of the
Federal government, to prohibit racial discrimination in the sale or rental
of housing.
For that othernation within a nation ---the poor -- whose distress has now
captured the conscience of America, I will ask the Congress not only to
continue, but to speed up the War on Poverty.
For those who live on farms and in rural America, we must plan for the future
through the establishment of several new Community Development Districts,
improved education through the use of Teacher Corps teams, and better
health measures, physical examinations, and adequate and available medical
resources.
For those who labor, I propose to improve unemployment insurance, to expand
minimum wage benefits, and by the repeal of Section 14(b) of the Taft-
Hartley Act to make the labor laws in all our states equal to the laws of
the 31 states which do not have right-to-work measures.
And I also intend to ask the Congress to consider measures which, without
improperly invading state and local authority, will enable us effectively to
deal with strikes which threaten irreparable damage to the national interest.
The third path is the path of liberation. It is to use our success for the
fulfillment of our lives. A great nation is one which breeds a great people.
A great people flower not from wealth and power, but from a society which
spurs them to the fullness of their genius. That alone is a Great Society.
Yet, slowly, painfully - on the edge of victory has come the knowledge
that shared prosperity is not enough. In the midst of abundance modern man
walks oppressed by forces which menace and confine the quality of his life,
and which individual abundance alone will not overcome.
We can subdue and master these forces bring increasing meaning to our
lives if all of us governments and citizens -- are bold enough to change
old ways, daring enough to assault new dangers, and if the dream is dear
enough to call forth the limitless capacities of this great people.
This year we must continue to improve the quality of American life.
Let us fulfill and improve the great health and education programs of last
year, extending special opportunities to those who risk their lives in our
armed forces.
I urge the House of Representatives to complete action on three programs
already passed by the Senate -- the Teacher Corps, rent assistance, and
Home Rule for the District of c olumbia.
MORE
In some of our urban areas, we must help rebuild entire sections and neighbor-
hoods containing, in some cases, as many as 100, 000 people. Working together,
private enterprise and government must press forward with the task of providing
homes and shops, parks and hospitals, and all the other necessary parts of a
flourishing community where our people can come to live the good life.
I will offer other proposals to stimulate and reward planning for the growth
of entire metropolitan areas.
Of all the reckless devastations of our natural heritage, none is more shameful
than the continued poisoning of our rivers and air.
We must undertake a cooperative effort to end pollution in several entire river
basins making additional federal funds available to help draw the plans and
construct the plants necessary to make the waters of entire river systems clean
-- and a source of pleasure and beauty for our people.
To attack and overcome growing crime and lawlessness we must have a stepped-
up program to help modernize and strengthen local police forces.
Our people have a right to feel secure in their homes and on their streets.
That right must be secured.
Nor can we fail to arrest the destruction of life and property on our highways.
I will propose the Highway Safety Act of 1966 to seek an end to the destruction
on our highways which already kills 135 Americans every day cripples and
injures three million each year and which threatens to destroy 80-90 billion
dollars in property over the next ten years.
We must also act to prevent the deception of the American consumer
requiring all packages to state clearly and truthfully their contents all interest
and credit charges to be fully revealed and keeping harmful drugs and
cosmetics away from our stores.
It is the genius of our Constitution that under its shelter of enduring institutions
and rooted principles there is ample room for the rich fertility of American
political invention.
We must change to master change.
I propose we take steps to modernize and streamline the Executive Branch
and to modernize the relations between city, state and nation.
A new Department of Transportation is needed to bring together our
transportation activities. The present structure 35 government agencies,
spending 5 billion dollars yearly makes it impossible to serve either the
growing demands of the nation the needs of the industry or the right of
the taxpayer to full efficiency and frugality.
I will propose a program to construct and flight test a new supersonic transport
airplane that will fly three times the speed of sound in excess of 2, 000 miles
per hour.
To examine our federal system -- the relation between city, state, nation and
citizens we need a commission of the most distinguished scholars and men
of public affairs. I will ask them to move on to develop a creative federalism
to best use the wonderful diversity of our institutions and people to solve the
problems, fulfill the dreams of the American people.
As the process of election becomes more complex and costly, we must make it
- 6 -
possible for those without personal wealth to enter public life without being
obligated to a few large contributors.
I will submit legislation to revise the present unrealistic restrictions on
contributions -- to prohibit the endless proliferation of committees, bringing
local and state committees under the act to attach strong teeth and severe
penalties to the requirement of full disclosure of contributions -- and to
broaden the participation of the people, through tax incentives, to stimulate
small contributions to the party and candidate of their choice.
To strengthen the work of Congress I strongly urge an amendment to provide
a four-year term for Members of the House of Representatives which should
not begin before 1972.
The present two-year term requires most Members of Congress to divert
enormous energies to an almost constant process of campaigning - depriving
the nation of the fullest measure of their skill and wisdom. Today, too, the
work of government is far more complex than in our early years, requiring
more time to learn and master the technical tasks of legislation. And a longer
term will serve to attract more men of the highest quality to political life.
The nation, the principle of democracy, and each Congressional district, will
be better served by a four-year term. And I urge your swift action.
(This is the end of the first section.)
The Cup of Peril
Tonight the cup of peril is full in Vietnam.
That conflict is not an isolated episode, but another great event in the policy
we have followed with strong consistency since World War II.
The touchstone of that policy is the interest of the United States -- the welfare
and freedom of its people. But nations sink when they see that interest through
a narrow glass.
In a world grown small and dangerous, pursuit of narrow aims could bring
decay and even disaster.
An America mighty beyond description -- yet living in a hostile or despairing
world -- would be neither safe, nor free to build a civilization to liberate the
spirit of man.
In this pursuit we helped rebuild Western Europe -- gave aid to Greece and
Turkey and defended the freedom of Berlin.
In this pursuit we have helped new nations toward independence, extended the
helping hand of the Peace Corps and carried forward the largest program of
economic assistance in the world.
In this pursuit we work to build a hemisphere of democracy and social justice.
In this pursuit we have defended against communist aggression -- in Korea
under President Truman in the F ormosa Straits under President
Eisenhower in Cuba under President Kennedy -- and again in Vietnam.
Tonight Vietnam must hold the center of our attention, but across the world
problems and opportunities crowd in on the American nation. I will discuss
them fully in the months to come, and I will follow the five continuing lines
of policy that America has followed under four Presidents.
Lines of Policy
The first principle is strength.
Tonight we are strong enough to keep all our commitments. We will need
expenditures of 58. 3 billion dollars for the next fiscal year to maintain this
necessary might.
While special Vietnam expenditures for the next fiscal year are estimated to
increase by 5.8 billion dollars, all the other expenditures in the entire federal
budget will rise by only 6 billion dollars. This is true because of the
stringent cost-conscious economies inaugurated in the Defense Department
and throughout the government.
A second principle of policy is the effort to control, and reduce -- and
ultimately eliminate modern engines of destruction.
We will vigorously pursue existing proposals -- and seek new ones -- to
control arms -- and stop the spread of nuclear weapons.
A third major principle of our foreign policy is to help build those associations
of nations which reflect the opportunities and necessities of the modern world.
MORE
By strengthening the common defense, by stimulating world commerce, by
meeting new hopes, these associations serve the cause of a flourishing world.
We will take new steps this year to help strengthen the Alliance for Progress
-- the unity of Europe -- the community of the Atlantic -- the regional
organizations of developing continents, and that supreme association -- the
United Nations.
We will work to strengthen economic cooperation to reduce barriers to
trade and to improve international finance.
A fourth enduring strand of policy has been to help improve the life of man.
From the Marshall Plan, to this moment; that policy has rested on the claims
of compassion -- and the certain knowledge that only a people advancing in
expectation will build secure and peaceful lands.
This year I propose major new directions in our program of foreign assistance
to help those countries who help themselves.
We will:
-- conduct a world-wide attack on the problems of hunger, disease,
and ignorance.
-- place the matchless skill and resources of America -- in farming and
in fertilizers at the service of those countries committed to developing a
modern agriculture.
-- aid those who educate the young in other lands, and give children
in other continents the same head start we are trying to give our own. To
advance these ends I will propose the International Education Act of 1966.
I will also propose the International Health Act of 1966:
-- to strike at disease by a new effort to bring modern skills and
knowledge to the uncared-for suffering of the world and by wiping out
smallpox, malaria, and controlling yellow fever over most of the world in
this decade.
-- to help countries trying to control population growth, by increasing
our research and by earmarking funds to help their efforts.
-- in the next year we propose to dedicate one billion dollars to these
efforts -- and we call on all who have the means to join this work.
The Insistent Urge
The fifth, and most important principle of our foreign policy is support of
national independence -- the right of each people to govern themselves -- and
shape their own institutions.
For a peaceful world order will be possible only when each country walks the
way it has chosen for itself.
We follow this principle by encouraging the end of colonial rule.
We follow this principle, abroad as well as at home, by continued hostility to
the rule of the many by the few -- or the oppression of one race by another.
MORE
9 -
We follow this principle by building bridges to Eastern Europe. I will ask
the Congress for authority to remove the special tariff restrictions which
are is barrier to increasing trade between East and West.
The insistent urge toward national independence is the strongest force of
today's world.
In Africa and Asia and Latin America it is shattering the designs of those
who would subdue others to their ideas or will.
It is eroding the unity of what was once a Stalinist empire.
In recent months a number of nations have cast out those who would subject
them to the ambitions of mainland China.
History is on the side of freedom. It is on the side of societies shaped from
the genius of each people. History does not favor a single system or belief --
unless force is used to make it so.
That is why it has been necessary for us to defend this basic principle of our
policy - in Berlin, in Korea, in Cuba -- and now in Vietnam.
MORE
- 10 -
A Distant Land
For tonight, is S so many nights before, young Americans struggle and die
in a distant land.
Tonight, as so many nights before, the American nation is asked to sacrifice
the blood of its children and the fruits of its labor for the love of freedom.
How many times in my lifetime and in yours, have the American people
gathered :- as they do now :- to hear their President tell them of conflict
and danger.
Each time they have answered with all the effort that the security and the free-
dom of the nation required.
They do again tonight in Vietnam.
Not too many years ago Vietnam was a peaceful, if troubled, land. In the
North was an independent communist government. In the South a people
struggled to build a nation, with the friendly help of the United States.
There were some in South Vietnam who wished to force communist rule on
their own people. But their progress was slight. Their hope of success was
dim. Then, little more than six years ago, North Vietnam decided on conquest.
From that day to this, soldiers and supplies have moved from North to South
in a swelling stream swallowing the remnants of revolution in aggression.
As the assault mounted, our choice gradually became clear. We could leave,
abandoning South Vietnam to its attackers and to certain conquest :- or we could
stay and fight beside the people of South Vietnam.
We stayed..
And we will stay until aggression has stopped.
We will stay because a just nation cannot leave to the cruelties of its enemies
a people who have staked their lives and independence on our solemn pledge --
a pledge which has grown through the commitments of three American
Presidents.
We will stay because in Asia -- and around the world are countries whose
course of independence rests, in large measure, on confidence in American
protection. To yield to force in Vietnam would weaken that confidence,
undermine the independence of many lands, and what the appetite of the
aggressor. We would have to fight in one land, and then another :- or abandon
much of Asia to the domination of communists.
And we do not intend to abandon Asia to conquest.
The Changing Nature of War
Last year the nature of the war in Vietnam changed again. Swiftly increasing
numbers of armed men from the North crossed the border to join forces
already in the South. Attack and terror increased, spurred and encouraged
by the belief the United States lacked the will to continue and that victory was
near.
Despite our desire to limit conflict, it was necessary to act: to hold back
the mounting aggression to give courage to the people of the South --
and to make our firmness clear to the North. Thus we began limited air
action against military targets in North Vietnam and increased our
fighting force to its present strength of 190,000 men.
MORE
- 11 -
These moves have not ended the aggression but they have prevented its
success. The aims of the enemy have been put out of reach by the skill
and bravery of Americans and their allies -- and by the enduring courage
of the South Vietnamese who have lost eight men last year for every one of
ours.
The enemy is no longer close to victory. Time is no longer on his side.
There is no cause to .oubt the American commitment.
Our decision to stand firm has been matched by our desire for peace.
The Search for Peace
In 1965 we had 300 private talks for peace in Vietnam with friends and
adversaries, throughout the world.
Since Christmas your government has labored again with imagination and
endurance to remove any barrier to peaceful settlement. For 20 days
now we and our Vietnamese allies have dropped no bombs in North Viotnam.
Able and experienced spokesmen have visited forty countries. We have talked
to more than a hundred governments. We have informed the United Nations,
and called upon its members to help toward peace.
In public statements and private communications -- to adversaries and to
friends, in Rome and Warsaw, in Paris and Tokyo, in Africa and throughout
this hemisphere -- we have made our position clear.
We seek neither territory nor bases, economic domination or military alliance
in Vietnang? We fight for the principle of self-determination that the people
of South Vietnam should be able to choose their own course, in free elections,
without violence, terror and fear. We believe the people of all Vietnam should
make a free decision on the great question of reunification.
This is all we want for South Vietnam. It is all the people of South Vietnam
want. And if there is a single nation on this earth that desires less than this
for its people, let its voice be heard.
We have also made it clear from Hanoi to New York there are no arbitrary
limits to our search for peace. We stand by the Geneva Agreements of 1954 and
1962. We will meet at any Conference table, discuss any proposals -- four points
or fourteen or forty - and consider the views of any group. We will work for a
cease-fire now or once discussions have begun. We will respond if others
reduce their use of force; and we will withdraw our soldiers once South Vietnam
is securely guaranteed the right to shape its own future.
We have said all this, and we have asked and hoped and waited for a
response.
So far we have received no response to prove either success or failure.
We have carried our quest for peace to many nations and peoples because we
share this planet with others whose future, in large measure, is tied to our
action, and whose counsel is necessary to our own hopes.
We have found understanding and support. And we know they wait with us
tonight for a response that can lead to peace.
MORE
12 -
The Days Ahead
I wish tonight I could give you a blueprint for the course of this conflict over
the coming months, but we cannot know what the future may require. We
may have to face long, hard combat or a long, hard conference, or even both
at once.
Until peace comes, or if it does not come, our course is clear. We will act
as we must to help protect the independence of the valiant people of South
Vietnam. We will strive to limit conflict, for we wish neither increased
destruction nor increased danger.
But we will give our fighting men what they must have: every gun, every dollar,
and every decision whatever the cost and whatever the challenge.
And we will continue to help the people of South Vietnam care for those
ravaged by battle, create progress in the villages, and carry forward the
healing hopes of peace as best they can amidst the uncertain terrors of war.
Let me be absolutely clear: The days may become months, and the months
may become years, but we will stay as.long as aggression commands us to
battle.
There may be some who do not want peace -- whose ambitions stretch so far
that war in Vietnam is but a welcome and convenient episode in an immense
design to subdue history to their will. But for others it must now be clear
the choice is not between peace and victory. It lies between peace and the ravages
of a conflict from which they can only lose.
The people of Victnam, North and South, seek the same things: the shared needs
of man, the needs for food and shelter and education the chance to build and
work and till the soil free from the arbitrary horrors of battle and the desire
to walk in the dignity of those who master their own destiny. For many painful
years, in war and revolution and infrequent peace, they have struggled to fulfill
those needs.
Crime Against Mankind
It is a crime against mankind that so much courage, and 80 much will, and 80
many dreams, must be flung on the fires of war and death.
To all those caught up in this conflict, we therefore say again: Let us choose
peace, and with it the wondrous works of peace, and beyond that, the time
when hope reaches unchained toward consummation, and life is the servant
of life.
In this work, we will discharge our duty to the people whom we serve.
The State of the Union
This is the State of the Union.
But over it all wealth, promise, and expectation lies our troubling
awareness of American men at war.
How many men who listen to me tonight have served their nation in other
wars. How many, how very many, are not here to listen.
MORE
- 13 -
The war in Vietnam is not like these other wars. Yet, finally, war is always
the same. It is young men dying in the fullness of their promise. It is trying
to kill a man you do not even know well enough to hate.
Therefore, to know war is to know there is still madness in the world.
Many ofyou share the burden of this knowledge with me. But there is a
difference. For finally I must order our guns to fire, against all the most
inward pulls of my desire. For we have children to teach and sick to be
cured and men to be freed. There are poor to be lifted up and cities to be
built and a world to be helped.
Yet we do what we must.
I am hopeful, and I will try, to end this battle and return our sons to their
desires.
Yet as long as others will challenge our security and test the dearness of our
beliefs with fire and steel, then we must stand or see the promise of two
centuries tremble. I believe you do not want me to try that risk. And from
that belief your President summons his strength for the trials ahead.
The work must be our work now. Scarred by the weaknesses of man, with
whatever guidance God may offer us, we must nevertheless and alone with
our mortality, strive to ennoble the life of man on earth.
# # #
GERALD 4898917 TORD
The State of
the Union-
A Republican
Appraisal
1967
INTERNAL * REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE * BRD
"
FOREWORD
On Thursday night, January 19, 1967, the
Republican Minority Leaders in the U. S. Senate
and House of Representatives - Senator Everett
Dirksen of Illinois and Congressman Gerald Ford
of Michigan - delivered a Republican message
on the State of the Union.
The message, entitled "The State of the Union
- A Republican Appraisal," was delivered at
the U. Capitol in the historic chamber formerly
occupied by the Supreme Court before Repub-
Domestic Issues
lican members of Congress and their wives and
other Party leaders.
By Representative Gerald R. Ford
The remarks of Senator Dirksen on inter-
A
gain we gather in this historic chamber,
national affairs and of Congressman Ford on
conscious of the invisible presence of great
domestic policies are published in this pamphlet.
leaders of the past. This year we are rein-
forced by the visible presence of new lead-
ers of the future. We welcome enthusias-
tically the 64 new Republican Senators and
Representatives of the 90th Congress.
Senator Dirksen and I are here to give a Repub-
lican Appraisal of the State of the Union.
1
November 8, the citizens of America voted on
the State of the Union.
F or the past two years, positive and practical
Republican programs have been largely ignored.
Honesty and Candor
Things will be different in the next two years!
We won the first round in the House of Repre-
Their message came through loud and clear -
sentatives, 364 to 64, with three-quarters of the
a ringing vote for vigorous two-party government.
Democrats following our unanimous Republican
It was a blunt demand for honesty and candor in
lead.
public affairs. The Credibility Gap must go!
We will win more - many more!
We
rejoice in the mandate-a New Direction
for America.
New Direction, Not Coalition
No era in our history began with higher
hopes than the 1960's. We had bound up
Cynics may call every Republican victory in
the Nation's wounds. We were blessed with
this Congress a coalition. Let's meet that issue
eight years of strength, peace and progress
head-on, right now.
under President Eisenhower.
The Democratic Party controls the Senate by
As the decade dawned, all Americans were
almost 2 to 1, and the House by 3 to 2.
stirred by the words, "Ask not what your country
can do for you; ask what you can do for your
By definition, coalition requires advance consul-
country."
tation and ultimate compromise of conviction to
win a legislative victory.
The years have slipped by and now Americans
in 1967 see the decade that dawned in hope fading
Republicans will make no such deals.
into frustration and failure, bafflement and bore-
dom.
R
epublicans will give leadership to the dynamic
The President said that the election returns
and Constructive Center in Congress.
did not mean that people want progress to stop.
We welcome every Democratic vote for posi-
tive Republican programs that will give New
We agree.
Direction to our Nation.
They want progress to START-now!
We will press for creative Republican ac-
tion. When New Direction demands it, we
For every problem of the Sixties, this Adminis-
will say "No" to the old Democratic fail-
tration has revived tired theories of the Thirties.
ures.
2
3
Our "No" will be particularly emphatic if we
Congress should immediately repeal the Par-
are asked to slow down progress toward the
ticipation Sales Act, which conceals and distorts
equality that is the right of every American.
the true budgetary situation.
N
ever forget, the Republican Party came into
When we know how much is needed for
being to make real the belief that all men are
created equal and endowed by their Creator with
national security, the Congress can then
inalienable rights. It is disheartening to see evi-
make certain that essential domestic pro-
dence that the Administration is lowering the pri-
grams are adequately funded. Low priority
ority given to these matters in the 90th Congress.
programs, desirable as they may be, must
be postponed. We assure the President to-
night that Republicans will move to cut
non-essential spending-even if he doesn't.
Sensible Solutions for the Seventies
In addition, billions of dollars approved by Con-
As we look to the years ahead, Republicans
gress in the past remain unspent. This Congress
see a program of Sensible Solutions for the
must take a hard look at those funds. We propose
Seventies.
a Rescission Bill, withdrawing the President's
authority to obligate and spend such funds that
That program must begin in 1967.
cannot meet the test of economy in the new
Congress.
First priority - the growth and prosperity of
our economy.
The President belatedly promised to cut $3
billion from expenditures by the end of June. He
T here are ominous signs of an eco-
should spell out for the American people where
nomic slowdown this year. Unless our
these reductions have been made - if they have
course is redirected decisively, we may well
been made.
face the paradox of a recession with both
increased inflation and increased taxation.
With such uncertainties, the President has
not made a convincing case for his tax in-
The Investment Tax Credit must be restored
crease.
immediately.
Tax Sharing
An honest federal budget is imperative. If the
Congress is to assess the needs of our economy
One of the most significant results of the 1966
intelligently, the Administration must not repeat
elections was the people's choice of 23 new Re-
its tragic error of presenting a budget of evasion,
publican governors, and more than 700 new State
manipulation and gimmickry. This budget under-
legislators.
estimated expenditures by at least $14 billion,
over $4 billion of which was non-military.
This reflects not only confidence in our party
4
5
suburbs. This exodus leaves less revenue to meet
and its fine candidates but also faith in State
more problems.
government itself.
Tax sharing would restore the needed vitality
Republicans have faith in the constitutional
and diversity to our Federal system. Revenue
concept of Federalism, which requires
sharing could also be accomplished with tax
strong and vigorous State as well as na-
credits.
tional action on a variety of problems. Yet,
seen through the Democrats' rear-view
mirror of the Thirties, everything can be
M
any effective measures to improve agricul-
cured by Federal dictation and Federal
ture originated with the National Commission on
funds, doled out through grants-in-aid
Rural Life, established by President Theodore
which keep Washington as the manipulator
Roosevelt. Republicans propose a National Com-
of all strings.
mittee on Urban Living be created without delay.
There are now over 400 Federal aid appropria-
An exaggerated example of urban prob-
lems is our own national capital. Yet a
tions for 170 separate aid programs, administered
swarm of Federal experts is telling the
by a total of 21 Federal Departments and agen-
cities how to cure their ills while the only
cies, 150 Washington bureaus and 400 regional
offices, each with its own way of passing out Fed-
Federal city in our Nation is a disgrace.
eral tax dollars.
Republicans believe Washington, D. C., should
be made a "model city" for demonstration proj-
F
ederal aid to States and municipalities through
ects and new initiatives in urban progress.
this tangled thicket increased from $1 billion in
1946 to about $15 billion this year.
Education
Republicans reiterate their support for a
system of tax sharing to return to the States
Higher education and vocational education
and local governments a fixed percentage
acts bear strong Republican imprints.
of personal income taxes without Federal
control. This system would promote a
swift improvement in education, law en-
We
will continue our efforts to provide assist-
forcement, community development, mass
ance to those who bear the rising cost of higher
transit, and other essentially local prob-
education through tax credits.
lems.
The Elementary and Secondary Act, however,
Smog is replacing the weather as the No. 1
at minimum requires substantial revision to sim-
topic of conversation, but no two cities have
plify forms, reduce excessive paperwork and elim-
identical problems. Cities are far more diversified
inate the heavy-handed Federal intrusions. All
than States. They have one common denominator
pre-school and early-school problems should be
-their problems multiply as people move to the
7
6
consolidated in the Office of Education. Republi-
benefits must be brought into line with
cans trust local school boards to formulate policy
today's inflated living costs. Those still
and set priorities far more than we trust bureau-
uncovered should, as soon as possible, be
crats in Washington.
blanketed into the Social Security system
Congress should take the Federal hand-
at least by age 72.
cuffs off our local educators. The best way
to do this is by tax sharing and tax credits.
Our older citizens must be protected from the
If the Democrats, who control Congress,
extortions of Great Society inflation. They can't
refuse to consider tax sharing legislation,
wait while we debate.
Republicans will seek to substitute block
education grants, without Federal ear-
marking or controls.
Congress should enact, retroactive to
January 1, an 8 percent increase in Social
We will propose new approaches to reinforce
Security benefits. These increased benefits
the vitality and diversity that is the genius of
can be achieved without any tax increase.
our educational system. It is in the school that
the doors of opportunity open to all American
children. We shall not deny them the best that
About 1/3 of the nation's poor are elderly citi-
can be given.
zens. Their situation is tragic and desperate. The
Poverty War has passed them by.
Social Security
In the past two years of Democratic control,
The President proposed Social Security changes
basic Social Security benefits have fallen 7 per-
centage points behind the consumer price index.
that, it is estimated, would cost the equivalent of
a 1.6 percent Social Security payroll tax increase.
Republicans propose Social Security bene-
fits rise automatically with rising prices.
At the present tax base, this would ultimately
It is time we took Social Security out of
raise the total Social Security payroll tax to more
than 12 percent. The Social Security trust fund
election-year politics.
must be kept sound. Greater benefits normally
involve greater taxes, particularly burdensome to
our younger citizens.
Veterans
As in the past, Republicans now favor an
R
epublicans believe those called upon to sacri-
increase in permitted earnings by Social
fice in Southeast Asia should be treated equally
Security recipients. Present earning limi-
with other veterans. All veterans, war widows and
tations reflect the depression mentality of
the Thirties and make no sense for the
their dependents should be protected from sky-
Seventies. Widows' benefits and minimum
rocketing inflation by increased benefits.
9
8
Poverty
ommended a new Hoover-type commission a year
ago. The President's only specific proposal for
The greatest poverty in this country today is
reorganization-to combine the Departments of
the poverty of realistic ideas among Poverty War
Labor and Commerce-merely scratches the sur-
generals and sergeants. Sensible Republican pro-
face.
posals have been rejected arbitrarily.
We
believe the Post Office Department
Republicans will continue to press for total
should be taken out of politics from top
revamping and redirection of the Poverty
to bottom. Republicans favor selecting all
War. We want an Opportunity Crusade
Postmasters on merit alone.
that will enlist private enterprise and the
States as effective partners of the Federal
What irony-we will probably deliver a man to
Government in this fight. We would give
the Moon before we can properly deliver the
the children of poverty the very highest
United States Mail to its correct address on Earth.
priority they deserve. As Republicans have
urged for two years, Head Start requires
The colossal Department of Agriculture is
follow-through in the early grades.
another executive agency that needs re-
form. Republicans will continue to sup-
We propose a new Industry Youth Corps to
port the concept of fair farm prices in the
provide private, productive employment and
market place, without price-depressing
training on the job.
manipulation by bureaucrats. The mass
and maze of federal farm laws, rules, regu-
We
lations and forms must be simplified.
propose the Republican Human Invest-
Every farmer knows there's enough to do
ment Act to induce employers to expand job op-
in every 24-hour day on the farm without
portunities for the unskilled.
a load of federal paperwork.
We propose to enlarge the opportunities
We applaud efforts to create more parks and
of low-income Americans for private home
seashores and will give special emphasis to the
ownership.
preservation of jobs and community stability.
All Americans demand a thorough airing of
poverty administration, poverty publicity and
Labor-Management Laws
poverty politics.
A year ago the President promised Congress he
would soon propose new ways to handle national
Government Reorganization
emergency strikes. Even though 1967 looms as a
year of labor-management strife, the President has
The need for streamlining the national govern-
not yet delivered. Incredibly, he never mentioned
ment has become even more urgent since we rec-
it in his latest State of the Union message.
10
11
Without waiting further, Congress should
abuses in campaign finance. Legislation
also is needed to encourage an increased
choose a balanced commission of experts to make
flow of small contributions. Republicans
recommendations in this complex and sensitive
are proud that 69 percent of our contri-
area.
butions in the last Presidential campaign
were in sums of less than $100.
Our unswerving purpose should be to
strengthen free collective bargaining be-
tween equals, without unnecessary govern-
Last year the Congress unwisely rushed through
ment meddling. Congress should under-
a bill which would provide as much as 60 million
take, without delay, a full review of labor-
taxpayers' dollars to political parties for the 1968
management laws and the operations of
campaign. This serious mistake should be re-
the National Labor Relations Board.
versed without delay.
It is unfair to both labor and management for
Instead, the Congress would be wise to permit
Congress to legislate blindly in an atmosphere
contributors an income tax deduction for political
of crisis.
contributions up to $100.
Election Reforms
Our antiquated Electoral College system
of choosing the President should be
To do our job better, Congress should act
changed to make sure the people's will
promptly on the bipartisan recommendations for
prevails.
congressional reorganization endorsed last session
by our House Republican Policy Committee, but
pigeon-holed by the Democratic majority.
We
e call for a strong House Ethics Commit-
tee and an investigating committee under
the control of the minority.
T he biggest single campaign expense for any
Such reforms would restore the people's con-
national candidate today is television time. Tele-
fidence in Congress and their Goverment.
vision brings the national debate into every Amer-
ican home. Yet no really thorough study has been
Congress must also move ahead on the Presi-
made of the public's interest in television as a
dent's year-old pledge for a Clean Elections Law.
political medium. Television channels, of neces-
Such a law must be on the books before 1968.
sity limited in number, really belong to all the
people.
This Clean Elections Law should guarantee
full and accurate reporting of political
They should not be at the service of the highest
contributions and expenditures in support
bidder or the party in power. They cannot be
of national candidates and put an end to
regulated solely by the conscience or convictions
12
13
of network executives and their most popular
men not only in future campaigns, but
television faces.
also for the presentation of divergent polit-
ical views throughout the periods between
An illogical federal law now operates to prevent
formal campaigning.
television and radio stations from granting time
without charge to major party candidates with-
out making equal time available to a host of minor
Law Enforcement
party candidates. We unequivocally favor nation-
ally televised debates between future Presidential
Crime and violence, disregard of law and dis-
contenders.
respect for authority, immorality and irresponsi-
sibility are on the rise. We welcome the Presi-
We propose legislation requiring television
dent's recent recognition of this enlarging crisis.
and radio to provide free and equal treat-
ment to major parties and their spokes-
Republicans in the last Congress authored leg-
14
15
islation which created a National Commission for
M
the Revision and Reform of Criminal Laws, a
ost Americans will resist any trend toward the
major step forward.
establishment of a national police force or the
unwarranted intrusion of Federal power into
The House also adopted last year, although
local law enforcement. Yet, there is a proper place
it died in the Senate, a proposal which
for Federal assistance and leadership.
Republicans will renew this session in a
"Citizens Rights Act of 1967." The Act
Within the Federal correctional system, the
would make it a crime to travel from one
Work Release Program and other enlightened
state to another with an intent to incite
prisoner rehabilitation projects must be designed
riots. It would also protect individuals in
and expanded to reduce the number of second-
the exercise of their constitutional rights.
time offenders.
The primary responsibility for law en-
Wiretapping and electronic eavesdropping
forcement must remain with the States and
worry all Americans who prize their privacy.
local authorities. In the last analysis, pub-
Properly used, these are essential weapons to
lic safety depends upon the courage and
those who guard our Nation's security and wage
character of the policeman patrolling his
ceaseless war against organized crime.
beat. The Federal Government can prop-
erly help in making law enforcement a
T he Congress, the President and the Courts
more attractive and professional career.
must properly spell out the permissible limits of
A National Law Enforcement Institute, similar
their use.
to the successful National Institutes of Health,
should be established for research and training
At all levels of government a massive ef-
fort should be made to reduce crime by
and for the dissemination of the latest techniques
in police science.
attacking some of its basic causes: poverty,
slums, inadequate education and dis-
crimination. However, our laws and ac-
tions should never be based on the theory
National Security
that a criminal is solely the product of his
N
environment.
ot as Republicans but as Americans we are
gravely worried about the Nation's security. This
Fear of punishment remains an important de-
is not a partisan issue. The conflict is primarily
terrent to crime.
between the Administration and the Congress.
We call upon the independent Judicial Branch
The short-range military policies and the long-
of our Government to uphold the rights of the
range defense posture of this country urgently de-
law-abiding citizen with the same fervor as it
mand searching re-examination and New Direc-
upholds the rights of the accused.
tion. Nothing in the President's State of the
17
16
Union Message lessened our deep concern in this
our global commitments.
all-important area.
The Administration has finally admitted
Our strategic thinking of the 1970's and be-
to the American people that the Soviet
yond, the timely planning and production of ad-
Union has increased its Intercontinental
vanced weapons systems, and the prudent man-
Ballistic Missile capability and is deploying
agement of our total national defense capabilities
an Anti-Ballistic Missile Defense System.
have become stalled on a dead-end street.
In anticipation of a life-and-death decision
on just such a development, Congress has
Republicans renew, with even greater urg-
voted millions of dollars which the Ad-
ency, our call for Congress to name a Blue
ministration did not seek and apparently
Ribbon Commission of the most able and
has not used.
independent Americans to get on with
this job.
The Congress did its duty and gave the Presi-
dent a clear expression of its will and the means
W;
to carry it out.
ithin its Constitutional responsibility, Con-
gress can do more.
Before more precious time is lost, Congress and
the American people are now entitled to a clear
We must take prompt action to modernize our
explanation from the President of the perils and
Navy, increase our superiority in nuclear propul-
problems facing the United States in the new
sion, and counter the growing threat of missile-
global balance of strategic power.
carrying enemy submarines.
We must take prompt steps to rebuild the
We,
too, seek to avoid a costly new round in
American Merchant Marine, already
the nuclear arms race. But the least the Nation
shrunken to one-fifth its former size, and
must do now is to speed up its readiness to deploy
regain our lost lead over the Soviet Un-
Anti-Ballistics Missiles in a hurry if our survival
ion in modern shipbuilding. Shockingly,
requires it.
the U.S. is no longer a major maritime
power. The Maritime Administration must
Americans are properly devoted to the
be upgraded as an independent agency.
concept of civilian control in defense mat-
ters. This civilian control never before has
We must proceed at top speed with the devel-
meant consistent civilian disregard for pro-
opment of long-delayed Advanced Manned Stra-
fessional military judgment, intimidation
tegic Bombers and Improved Manned Intercep-
of dissenters and substitution of soulless
tors.
computers for human experience.
We
The first place to close the Credibility Gap is
must strengthen our Reserve and National
at the Pentagon.
Guard forces and eliminate inequities in the
Draft. Our defense posture should be tailored to
All Americans join in the President's earnest
18
19
hopes for an honorable peace and foolproof dis-
armament. But they are deeply concerned that the
Communists even now are intensifying both the
hot and cold wars. We must prevail in this world-
wide test of willpower and weaponry.
N othing has higher priority, in our judgment,
than the safety, strength and survival of the
United States of America, our people and our
posterity.
There will be no Sensible Solutions for the
Seventies, no Republicans or Democrats, if we
fail in this supreme test of a nation.
To our President, we of the Loyal Opposition
say-in the words of another anguished com-
mander-in-chief:*
"With firmness in the right, as God gives us to
see the right, let us strive on to finish the work
we are in."
* Abraham Lincoln, 2nd Inaugural Address
International Affairs
By Senator Everett M. Dirksen
My Fellow-Americans:
T he State of the Union - that is, the
condition of our country - what is it as
we stand on the threshold of another
year and another Congress? Last week the
President, as the Constitution requires,
presented his view of the State of the Un-
ion. It was an hour-and-ten-minute address.
20
21
Tonight, we have but 27 minutes for a
comparable appraisal. Time, therefore,
his comment in this regard last week. He empha-
permits but the briefest review of the mat-
sized the probability of "more cost, more loss,
ter. Mr. Ford has, very effectively, assessed
more agony."
the domestic State of the Union. Hence I
shall speak only of our external relations
The General commanding our forces in
with the world.
Vietnam seeks more troops. That would
also mean more supplies, more weapons,
Perhaps Shakespeare said it all with the words
more planes, and more of everything be-
he placed in the mouth of Macbeth. I paraphrase
fore the aggressor withdraws or the offer
them slightly:
of negotiations is accepted. None of these
seem probable at the moment and the grim
"We are in blood, stepp'd in so deep,
Four Horsemen continue to stalk the land.
That should we wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go oe'r."
Is there an answer to this vexing problem other
than the classical one of enough troops, enough
Our operations in Southeast Asia have pro-
voked entreaties, demands, and demonstrations
weapons, enough firepower to render the aggressor
to draw back, to retreat, to leave our commitments
unable to continue his nefarious intent and design?
unfulfilled. That would be an unthinkable course.
I wonder.
'We Mean Business'
500,000 Americans Involved
Have self-inspired fears of Soviet or Red China
We promised to heed the Macedonian
intervention dissuaded us from a more vigorous
cry of a small weak nation against the
effort on land, sea and in the air to bring this
Red aggressors and their threats to her
conflict to an end, including stern measures to
freedom and independence. That cry for
stop the inflow of supplies, food and weapons
help came. We responded. At first our re-
from supposedly neutral nations? Let us make
sponse was of a token nature. But it has
plain to the world that we mean business! We are
grown to become a vast, full-scale military
in this war to carry out our commitments. To do
and pacification operation. One way or
less would be to break our pledge. In this grim
another, about 500,000 Americans are en-
undertaking, a teaspoonful of gospel is not enough.
gaged. The cost in blood and treasure has
We must do all that is necessary until the freedom
been enormous. Vietnam has become our
and independence of Vietnam are assured.
third largest war.
I
The
hope that in the weeks and months ahead
President was both realistic and candid in
the dilemma of Vietnam will stimulate the most
thoughtful discussion possible among our people
22
23
and no line of defense would any longer exist
of all political faiths. As we search together for
a solution to Vietnam let us demonstrate to the
from Saigon to Singapore if such a peacetable
surrender should occur. Foresight is the essence of
world our unity of purpose in full, free and or-
leadership. We stand in need of it as never before.
derly discussion of the best ways and means to
achieve it.
But Vietnam is not our only migraine. Else-
where in the world, American foreign policy and
War spawns many evils: swollen budgets,
its conduct are coming, increasingly, into serious
the dislocation of young manpower, infla-
question. In Latin America, the Alliance for Pro-
tion, surly attitudes of other nations, re-
gress causes us now to wonder: Where is the
strictions on investment abroad, a perish-
Alliance? Where is the Progress? The failures of
able prosperity, and the brooding danger
economic and social reform required, under Alli-
that our economy may be forced into the
ance agreement, of those Latin American nations
straightjacket of wage-and-price controls
receiving our financial aid are all too visible.
and perhaps higher taxes. And the evils
rising from the crucible of conflict will
multiply. Small wonder that the spirit of
In Africa, there is scarcely a country which has
the nation is vexed and troubled!
accepted our largess and is eager to accept more
that has not become embroiled in internal or
unneighborly conflicts that have resulted in a
Must End Conflict
steady retreat from democracy and toward dicta-
torship or Red-tinted rule.
We in the loyal opposition, with a primary ac-
In Europe, the Common Market holds
cent on "loyal," while supporting to the fullest
our fighting forces in Vietnam, ask - in fact,
neither hope nor promise for us. NATO is
withering on the vine. Supreme Head-
demand - that this Administration not only rein-
quarters of the Allied Forces has been or-
force its determination to bring this conflict to an
dered out of France and has had to find
end in the shortest possible time but that it also
look beyond the bombing and other violence of
refuge in Belgium. Britain, because of
the conflict to where we shall stand and with whom
pressure on the pound sterling, has fore-
shortened her lines of defense, diminished
we shall sit when the conflict ceases. What thought
her troop strength and leaned even more
has been given thus far, not only to the exercise
heavily upon us. West Germany is eying
of far stronger military and diplomatic muscles
the Communist markets in eastern Europe
as the war goes on, but to the making of an
but does wish to retain our troops - at
eventual peace? What policy will we be asked
our expense. What strange bedfellows
then to support? Do we sit down at the confer-
have developed in Europe - after we
ence table and bargain with elements other than
have taxed our people to keep them afloat!
representatives of the duly constituted govern-
ment in Hanoi? To do so might mean that any
To all this one can add the explosiveness of
agreements reached would disintegrate overnight
25
24
the Middle East, the discouragement of American
export agricultural commodities as a substitute
capital investment in India - unless Hindus or
for a truly reciprocal trade agreement program.
the Indian Government hold the controlling
When to these alarms there is added the
stock, the unpredictable attitudes of Laos, Cam-
critical problem of our endangered gold
bodia, Indonesia, the constant, and unrelenting
supply and the doubt now being expressed
attacks by Soviet leaders upon our alleged im-
so often abroad as to the fiscal and mone-
perialism.
tary stability of the United States - never,
for decades, hitherto questioned! - a
There is virtue in the ancient admonition
clear, thorough and courageous evaluation
to "Be not weary in well-doing" but it is
of our foreign policy, our trade policies,
an aggravating experience to have the
and our international fiscal and monetary
recipients of our aid and assistance bite
policies is clearly required. We call upon
the hand that seeks to help them.
this Administration to agree to a bipartisan
scrutiny and study - to begin now - con-
ducted jointly with participants from in-
V
ery pertinent now, because it will expire in
dustry, finance and agriculture.
June, is the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, in-
tended, as its name suggests, to enlarge our trade
As a point and base of beginning for such a
abroad. It threatens, however, to do exactly the
study, let me now propose, specifically, that a
opposite. Well aware of the delicacy of our inter-
detailed examination be made of the possibility
national economic position, finance ministers and
of forming what I choose to call the Western
trade negotiators of countless nations abroad have,
Economic Union - a Common Market of the
for some months now, been horse-trading us out
nations of the Western Hemisphere - a structure
of the protection our industry and agriculture must
for trade and mutual aid designed to stimulate the
have and have been enticing us down what be-
production and exchange of industrial products
gins to look like a rutted one-way street, espe-
and those of agriculture in which protective bar-
cially as regards our farm products. It will be for
riers will not take the form of prohibitive self-
the Congress, before June, to take a hard look at
defeating tariff walls but of economic policies of
these proceedings, in the interest of American
insurance against depression and want and despair
enterprise, the preservation of American jobs, and
from Attu to Patagonia.
the continuation of the European markets for our
farm products.
As
regards the Middle East, let me also add
The current Trade Negotiations in Geneva are
the proposal that the United States take the initia-
very important to all segments of our economy.
tive in reconvening the conference of the Tri-
Farmers should not be sold down the river in
partite Guarantee Powers, and that these Powers
these Trade Negotiations. We will look with dis-
- the United States, the United Kingdom, and
favor on any agricultural commodity agreement
France - use this new conference to reaffirm their
or arrangement that would limit our ability to
"unalterable opposition to the use of force or
26
27
threat of force" in the Arab-Israel area and revive
comes ever more meaningful. As we Repub-
their pledge to preserve the frontiers and armis-
licans assess the present State of the Union
tice lines in the Middle East.
and appraise the progress that we know
can be ours, we refuse, despite the heat
Of the President's plea and proposals for the
and burden which world affairs impose,
"building of bridges" to the East, it can be fairly
to be dismayed or to despair. We refuse,
asked whether it is truly intended that this East-
indeed, as we look to the Seventies, to be
West trade bridge be a double-decker, capable of
weary in "welldoing", but we are deter-
moving traffic in each direction or whether it will,
mined that our well-doing shall, to a great-
as has been so true in the past, become a structure
er degree, be directed toward the well-
for the conveying of our bounty and treasure to
being of the American family and the
the unfriendly and uncooperative nations without
American nation. We realize full well that
any value whatsoever received in return.
we are not only in this world but of it. For
the beneficences we have showered on this
What justification can be cited for the Ad-
world we deserve something more than the
ministration's persistent effort to liberalize
ungrateful cry of "Yanqui, go home".
and extend terms tantamount to aid to the
Soviet Union and Communist governments
To this necessary end - with positive proposals
of Eastern Europe, while these nations
we shall offer the nation - and to this high pur-
are supplying most of the guns and missiles
pose the Republican Leadership and the Repub-
that are killing American soldiers and
lican Party now commit themselves with a whole
shooting down American planes in South-
heart.
east Asia?
The answer to all of this is a clear one: more
attention to the conservation of our own strength
and resources and less to those nations of the
world who regard us as an amiable, vulnerable,
jolly Santa Claus who can be slurred at will and
cuffed with impunity. The international bank of
good-will shows a mounting deficit where our
external relations are concerned.
H
ow truly "Hope deferred maketh the
heart sick." As our problems multiply
and our worries increase, the responsibility
of the Executive Leadership becomes ever
the greater. So, too, the responsibility of
the Republicans in loyal opposition be-
29
28
Prepared under the direction of the Republican
National Committee, 1625 Eye Street, N.W.,
Washington, D. C. 20006
Ray C. Bliss, Chairman
For additional copies in bulk, contact Doyle Printing & Offset Co., Inc.,
1219 Eye Street, N. W., Washington, D.C. 20005. Prices: Single copy 25c;
10 copies $2.25; 100 copies $20.
21
THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
OF THE CONGRESS
FOR THE SENATE:
FOR THE HOUSE
Everett M. Dirksen
OF REPRESENTATIVES:
of Illinois
Gerald R. Ford
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
of Michigan
Consultant to the
Leadership
PRESIDING:
JAN. 17, 1967
John B. Fisher
The National Chairman
Ray C. Bliss
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP OF THE CONGRESS:
The following is the text of a telegram just sent to the presidents of the
American Broadcasting Company, the Columbia Broadcasting System, and the
National Broadcasting Company:
"The Republican Leadership of the Congress CB decided, as you were
advised on January 9th, that on the evening of Thursday, January 19th,
at 9:30 p.m., it will present to the nation the Republican appraisal
of the State of the Union.
The site of this occasion will be the Old Supreme Court Chamber
in the United States Capitol.
Representatives of all news and communications media are most
cordially invited to attend.
Last week all national television networks gave live and simul-
taneous coverage to the President's one-hour-and-ten-minute State of
the Union Message. Our presentation will take about thirty minutes.
In view of present indications that the television networks
plan only to video-tape our presentation for later, indefinite replay,
we request and expect--in a spirit of complete fairness--that this
plan will be amended to make possible live television coverage of
the event for the full advantage and benefit of the American people."
###
Room S-124 U.S. Capitol-(202) 225-3700
THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
OF THE CONGRESS
FOR THE SENATE:
FOR THE HOUSE
Everett M. Dirksen
OF REPRESENTATIVES:
of Illinois
Gerald R. Ford
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
of Michigan
Consultant to the
Leadership
PRESIDING:
JAN. 17, 1967
John B. Fisher
The National Chairman
Ray C. Bliss
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP OF THE CONGRESS:
The following is the text of a telegram just sent to the presidents of the
American Broadcasting Company, the Columbia Broadcasting System, and the
National Broadcasting Company:
"The Republican Leadership of the Congress has decided, as you were
advised on January 9th, that on the evening of Thursday, January 19th,
at 9:30 p.m., it will present to the nation the Republican appraisal
of the State of the Union.
The site of this occasion will be the Old Supreme Court Chamber
in the United States Capitol.
Representatives of all news and communications media are most
cordially invited to attend.
Last week all national television networks gave live and simul-
taneous coverage to the President's one-hour-and-ten-minute State of
the Union Message. Our presentation will take about thirty minutes.
In view of present indications that the television networks
plan only. to video-tape our presentation for later, indefinite replay,
we request and expect--in a spirit of complete fairness--that this
plan will be amended to make possible live television coverage of
the event for the full advantage and benefit of the American people."
###
Room S-124 U.S. Capitol-(202) 225-3700
FOR THE SENATE:
FOR THE HOUSE
Everett M. Dirksen
THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
OF REPRESENTATIVES:
of Illinois
Gerald R. Ford
OF THE CONGRESS
of Michigan
Thomas H. Kuchel
of California
Leslie C. Arends
of Illinois
Bourke B. Hickenlooper
of Iowa
Press Release
Melvin R. Laird
of Wisconsin
Margaret Chase Smith
of Maine
John J. Rhodes
of Arizona
George Murphy
H. Allen Smith
of California
of California
Bob Wilson
PRESIDING:
FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY, EXPECTED
of California
The National Chairman
ABOUT 9:30 P.M. (EST), THURSDAY, JAN. 19, 1967
Charles E. Goodell
Ray C. Bliss
TO ALL NEWSPAPERS, RADIO, AND TV STATIONS
of New York
CAUTION: There should be no premature release of this Message by the
Republican Leaders of the Congress, nor should its contents be paraphrased,
alluded to or hinted at in earlier stories. There is a total embargo on
this Message until released, which includes any and all reference to any
material in this message.
THE STATE OF THE UNION A REPUBLICAN APPRAISAL
Address of Rep. Gerald R. Ford (R-Mich.)
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
Again we gather in this historic chamber, conscious of the invisible
presence of great leaders of the past. This year we are reinforced by the
visible presence of new leaders of the future. We welcome enthusiastically the
64 new Republican Senators and Representatives of the 90th Congress.
(NEW MEMBERS RISE)
Senator Dirksen and I are here to give a Republican Appraisal of the
State of the Union.
November 8, the citizens of America voted on the State of the Union.
Their message came through loud and clear--a ringing vote for vigorous
two-party government. It was a blunt demand for honesty and candor in public
affairs. The Credibility Gap must go!
We rejoice in the mandate-- a New Direction for America.
No era in our history began with higher hopes than the 1960's. We had
bound up the Nation's wounds. We were blessed with eight years of strength,
peace and progress under President Eisenhower.
As the decade dawned, all Americans were stirred by the words, "Ask not
what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
The years have slipped by and now Americans in 1967 see the decade that
dawned in hope fading into frustration and failure, bafflement and boredom.
The President said that the election returns did not mean that people
want progress to stop.
We agree.
They want progress to START--now!
Room S-124 U.S. Capitol-(202) 225-3700
Consultant to the Leadership-John B. Fisher
For every problem of the Sixties, this Administration has revived tired
theories of the Thirties.
For the past two years, positive and practical Republican programs have
been largely ignored.
Things will be different in the next two years!
We won the first round in the House of Representatives, 364 to 64, with
three-quarters of the Democrats following our unanimous Republican lead.
We will win more--many more!
NEW DIRECTION, NOT COALITION
Cynics may call every Republican victory in this Congress a coalition.
Let's meet that issue head-on, right now.
By definition, coalition requires advance consultation and ultimate
compromise of conviction to win a legislative victory.
Republicans will make no such deals.
Republicans will give leadership to the dynamic and Constructive Center
in Congress.
We welcome every Democratic vote for positive Republican programs that will
give New Direction to our Nation.
We will press for creative Republican action. When New Direction demands
it, we will say "No" to the old Democratic failures.
Our "No" will be particularly emphatic if we are asked to slow down
progress toward the equality that is the right of every American.
Never forget, the Republican Party came into being to make real the belief
that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with inalienable
rights. It is disheartening to see evidence that the Administration is lowering
the priority given to these matters in the 90th Conress.
SENSIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE SEVENTIES
As we look to the years ahead, Republicans see a program of Sensible
Solutions for the Seventies.
That program must begin in 1967.
First priority--the growth and prosperity of our economy.
There are ominous signs of an economic slowdown this year. Unless our
course is redirected decisively, we may well face the paradox of a recession
with both increased inflation and increased taxation.
The Investment Tax Credit must be restored immediately.
(MORE)
-3--
An honest federal budget is imperative. If the Congress is to assess the
needs of our economy intelligently, the Administration must not repeat its tragic
error of presenting a budget of evasion, manipulation and gimmickry. This budget
underestimated expenditures by at least $14 billion, over $4 billion of which was
non-military.
Congress should immediately repeal the Participation Sales Act, which
conceals and distorts the true budgetary situation.
When we know how much is needed for national security, the Congress can
then make certain that essential domestic programs are adequately funded. Low-
priority programs, desirable as they may be, must be postponed. We assure the
President tonight that Republicans will move to cut non-essential spending--even
if he doesn't.
In addition, billions of dollars approved by Congress in the past remain
unspent. This Congress must take a hard look at those funds. We propose a
Rescission Bill, withdrawing the President's authority to obligate and spend
such funds that cannot meet the test of prudence of the new Congress.
The President belatedly promised to cut $3 billion from expenditures by
the end of June. He should spell out for the American people where these
reductions have been made--if they have been made.
With such uncertainties, the President has not made a convincing case
for his tax increase.
STATE AND LOCAL RESPONSIBILITIES -- TAX SHARING
One of the most significant results of the 1966 elections was the people's
choice of 23 new Republican governors, and more than 700 new state legislators.
This reflects not only confidence in our party and its fine candidates
but also faith in state government itself.
Republicans have faith in the constitutional concept of Federalism, which
requires strong and vigorous state as well as national action on a variety of
problems. Yet, seen through the Democrats' rear-view mirror of the Thirties,
everything can be cured by Federal dictation and Federal funds, doled out through
grants-in-aid which keep Washington as the manipulator of all strings.
There are now over 400 Federal aid appropriations for 170 separate aid
programs, administered by a total of 21 Federal Departments and agencies, 150
Washington bureaus and 400 regional offices, each with its own way of passing
out Federal tax dollars.
Federal aid to states and municipalities through this tangled thicket
increased from $1 billion in 1946 to about $15 billion this year.
(MORE)
-5-
SOCIAL SECURITY
President Johnson proposed Social Security changes that it is estimated
would cost the equivalent of a 1.6 percent Social Security payroll tax increase.
At the present tax base, this would ultimately raise the total Social
Security payroll tax to 12.15 percent. The Social Security trust fund must be kept
sound. Greater benefits normally involve greater taxes, particularly burdensome
to our younger citizens.
As in the past, Republicans now favor an increase in permitted earnings
by Social Security recipients. Present earning limitations reflect the
depression mentality of the Thirties and make no sense for the Seventies.
Widows benefits and minimum benefits must be brought into line with today's
inflated living costs. Those still uncovered should, as soon as possible, be
blanketed into the Social Security system at least by age 72.
Our older citizens must be protected from the extortions of Great Society
inflation. They can't wait while we debate.
Congress should enact, retroactive to January 1, an 8 percent increase
in Social Security benefits. These increased benefits can be achieved without
any tax increase.
About 1/3 of the nation's poor are elderly citizens. Their situation is
tragic and desperate. The Poverty War has passed them by.
In the past two years of Democratic control, basic Social Security
benefits have fallen 7 percentage points behind the consumer price index.
Republicans propose Social Security benefits rise automatically with
rising prices. It is time we took Social Security out of election-year politics.
VETERANS
Republicans believe those called upon to sacrifice in Southeast Asia
should be treated equally with other veterans. All veterans, war widows and their
dependents should be protected from skyrocketing inflation by increased benefits.
POVERTY
The greatest poverty in this country today is the poverty of realistic
ideas among Poverty War generals--and sergeants. Sensible Republican proposals
have been rejected arbitrarily.
Republicans will continue to press for total revamping and redirection
of the Poverty War. We want an Opportunity Crusade that will enlist private
enterprise and the states as effective partners of the Federal Government in
this fight. We would give the children of poverty the very highest priority they
(MORE)
-6-
deserve. As Republicans have urged for two years, Head Start requires follow-
through in the early grades.
We propose a new Industry Youth Corps to provide private, productive
employment and training on the job.
We propose the Republican Human Investment Act to induce employers to
expand job opportunities for the unskilled.
We propose to enlarge the opportunities of low-income Americans for
private home ownership.
All Americans demand a thorough airing of poverty administration, poverty
publicity and poverty politics.
GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION
The need for streamlining the national government has become even more
urgent since we recommended a new Hoover-type commission a year ago. The
President's only specific proposal for reorganization--to combine the Departments
of Labor and Commerce--merely scratches the surface.
We believe the Post Office Department should be taken out of politics
from top to bottom. Republicans favor selecting all Postmasters on merit alone.
What irony--we will probably deliver a man to the Moon before we can
consistently deliver the United States Mail to its correct address on Earth.
The colossal Department of Agriculture is another executive agency that
needs reform. Republicans will continue to support the concept of fair farm
prices in the market place, without price-depressing manipulation by bureaucrats.
The mass and maze of federal farm laws, rules, regulations and forms must be
simplified. Every farmer knows there's enough to do in every 24-hour day on the
farm without a load of federal paperwork. We applaud efforts to create more parks
and seashores and will give special emphasis to the preservation of jobs and
community stability.
LABOR-MANAGEMENT LAWS
A year ago President Johnson promised Congress he would soon propose new
ways to handle national emergency strikes. In the interval he has made no
proposals whatsoever. Incredibly, he never mentioned it in his latest State of
the Union Message.
Without waiting further, Congress should choose a balanced commission of
experts to make recommendations in this complex and sensitive area.
Our unswerving purpose should be to strengthen free collective bargaining
between equals, without unnecessary government meddling. Congress should under-
take, without delay, a full review of labor-management laws and the operations
of the National Labor Relations Board.
(MORE)
-7-
It is unfair to both labor and management for Congress to legislate
blindly in an atmosphere of crisis.
CONGRESSIONAL, CAMPAIGN, AND ELECTION REFORMS
To do our job better, Congress should act promptly on the bipartisan
recommendations for congressional reorganization endorsed last session by our
House Republican Policy Committee, but pigeon-holed by the Democratic majority.
We call for a strong House Ethics Committee and an investigating committee
under the control of the minority.
Such reforms would restore the people's confidence in Congress and their
Government.
Congress must also move ahead on the President's year-old pledge for a
Clean Elections Law. Such a law must be in force before 1968.
This Clean Elections Law should guarantee full and accurate reporting of
political contributions and expenditures in support of national candidates and
put an end to abuses in campaign finance. Legislation also is needed to
encourage an increased flow of small contributions. Republicans are proud that
69 percent of our contributions in the last Presidential campaign were in sums
of less than $100.
Last year the Congress unwisely rushed through a bill which would provide
as much as 60 million taxpayers' dollars to political parties for the 1968
campaign. This serious mistake should be reversed without delay.
Instead, the Congress would be wise to permit contributors an income tax
deduction for political contributions up to $100.
Our antiquated Electoral College system of choosing the President should
be changed to make sure the people's will prevails.
In planning for the 1968 Presidential campaign and elections, the
Congress must come to grips with the foremost factor in political competition
today--a factor unknown when present laws were written--television.
The biggest single campaign expense for any national candidate today is
television time. Television brings the national political debate into every
American home. Yet no really thorough study has been made of the public's
interest in television as a political medium. Television channels, of
necessity limited in number, really belong to all the people.
They should not be at the service of the highest bidder or the party
in power. They cannot be regulated solely by the conscience or convictions of
network executives and their most popular television faces.
An illogical federal law now operates to prevent television and radio
(MORE)
-8-
stations from granting time without charge to major party candidates without
making equal time available to a host of minor party candidates. We
unequivocally favor nationally televised debates between future Presidential
contenders.
We propose legislation requiring television and radio to provide
free and equal treatment to major parties and their spokesmen not only in
future campaigns, but also for the presentation of divergent political
views throughout the periods between formal campaigning.
CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Crime and violence, disregard of law and disrespect for authority,
immorality and irresponsibility are on the rise. We welcome the President's
recent recognition of this enlarging crisis.
Republicans in the last Congress authored legislation which created a
National Commission for the Revision and Reform of Criminal Laws, a major step
forward.
The House also adopted last year, although it died in the Senate, a
proposal which Republicans will renew this session in a "Citizens Rights Act of
1967.' The Act would make it a crime to travel from one state to another with
an intent to incite riots. It would also protect individuals in the exercise
of their constitutional rights.
Wiretapping and electronic eavesdropping worry all Americans who prize
their privacy. Properly used, these are essential weapons to those who guard
our Nation's security and wage ceaseless war against organized crime.
The Congress, the President and the Courts must promptly spell out the
permissible limits of their use.
At all levels of government a massive effort should be made to reduce
crime by attacking some of its basic causes: poverty, slums, inadequate educa-
tion and discrimination. However, our laws and actions should never be based
on the theory that a criminal is solely the product of his environment.
Fear of punishment remains an important deterrent to crime.
We call upon the independent Judicial Branch of our Government to uphold
the rights of the law-abiding citizen with the same fervor as it upholds the
rights of the accused.
Most Americans will resist any trend toward the establishment of a
national police force or the unwarranted intrusion of Federal power into local
law enforcement. Yet, there is a proper place for Federal assistance and
leadership.
(MORE)
-9-
Within the Federal correctional system, the Work Release Program and other
enlightened prisoner rehabilitation projects must be designed and expanded to
reduce the number of second-time offenders.
The primary responsibility for law enforcement must remain with the states
and local authorities. In the last analysis, public safety depends upon the
courage and character of the policeman patrolling his beat. The Federal Govern-
ment can properly help in making law enforcement a more attractive and
professional career.
A National Law Enforcement Institute, similar to the successful National
Institutes of Health, should be established for research and training and for
the dissemination of the latest techniques in police science.
NATIONAL SECURITY
Not as Republicans but as Americans we are gravely worried about the
Nation's security. This is not a partisan issue. The conflict is primarily
between the Administration and the Congress.
The short-range military policies and the long-range defense posture of
this country urgently demand searching re-examination and New Direction.
Nothing in the President's State of the Union Message lessened our deep concern
in this all-important area.
Our strategic thinking of the 1970's and beyond, the timely planning and
production of advanced weapons systems, and the prudent management of our total
national defense capabilities have become stalled on a dead-end street.
Republicans renew, with even greater urgency, our call for a Blue Ribbon
Commission of the most able and independent Americans Congress can choose to
get on with this job.
Within its Constitutional responsibility, Congress can do more.
We must take prompt action to modernize our Navy, increase our superiority
in nuclear propulsion, and counter the growing threat of missile-carrying
enemy submarines.
We must take prompt steps to rebuild the American Merchant Marine, already
shrunken to one-fifth its former size, and regain our lost lead over the Soviet
Union in modern shipbuilding. Shockingly, the U.S. is no longer a major maritime
power. The Maritime Administration must be upgraded as an independent agency.
We must proceed at top speed with the development of long-delayed Advanced
Manned Strategic Bombers and Improved Manned Interceptors.
We must strengthen our Reserve and National Guard forces and eliminate
(MORE)
-10-
inequities in the Draft. Our defense posture should be tailored to our global
commitments.
The Administration has finally admitted to the American people that the
Soviet Union has increased its Intercontinental Ballistic Missile capability and
is deploying an Anti-Ballistic Missile Defense System. In anticipation of a
life-and-death decision on just such a development, Congress has voted millions
of dollars which the Administration did not seek and apparently has not used.
The Congress did its duty and gave the President a clear expression of
its will and the means to carry it out.
Before more precious time is lost, Congress and the American people are
now entitled to a clear explanation from the President of the perils and problems
facing the United States in the new global balance of strategic power.
We, too, seek to avoid a costly new round in the nuclear arms race. But
the least the Nation must do now is speed up its readiness to deploy Anti-
Ballistic Missiles in a hurry if our survival requires it.
Americans are properly devoted to the concept of civilian control in
defense matters. This civilian control never before has meant consistent civilian
disregard for professional military judgment, intimidation of dissenters and
substitution of soulless computers for human experience.
The first place to close the Credibility Gap is at the Pentagon.
All Americans join in the President's earnest hopes for an honorable peace
and foolproof disarmament. But they are deeply concerned that the Communists
even now are intensifying both the hot and the cold wars. We must prevail in
this worldwide test of willpower and weaponry.
Nothing has higher priority, in our judgment, than the safety, strength
and survival of the United States of America, our people and our posterity.
There will be no Sensible Solutions for the Seventies, no Republicans or
Democrats, if we fail in this supreme test of a nation.
To our President, we of the Loyal Oppostion say--in the words of another
anguished commander-in-chief. *
"With firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us
strive on to finish the work we are in."
# # #
*
Abraham Lincoln, 2nd Inaugural Address
FOR THE SENATE:
FOR THE HOUSE
Everett M. Dirksen
THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
OF REPRESENTATIVES:
of Illinois
Gerald R. Ford
OF THE CONGRESS
of Michigan
Thomas H. Kuchel
of California
Leslie C. Arends
of Illinois
Bourke B. Hickenlooper
Press Release
Melvin R. Laird
of Iowa
of Wisconsin
Margaret Chase Smith
John J. Rhodes
of Maine
of Arizona
George Murphy
H. Allen Smith
of California
of California
Bob Wilson
PRESIDING:
FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY, EXPECTED
of California
ABOUT 9:30 P.M. (EST), THURSDAY, JAN. 19, 1967
The National Chairman
Charles E. Goodell
Ray C. Bliss
TO ALL NEWSPAPERS, RADIO, AND TV STATIONS
of New York
CAUTION: There should be no premature release of this Message by the
Republican Leaders of the Congress, nor should its contents be paraphrased,
alluded to or hinted at in earlier stories. There is a total embargo on
this Message until released, which includes any and all reference to any
material in this message.
THE STATE OF THE UNION -- A REPUBLICAN APPRAISAL
Address of Rep. Gerald R. Ford (R-Mich.)
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
Again we gather in this historic chamber, conscious of the invisible
presence of great leaders of the past. This year we are reinforced by the
visible presence of new leaders of the future. We welcome enthusiastically the
64 new Republican Senators and Representatives of the 90th Congress.
(NEW MEMBERS RISE)
Senator Dirksen and I are here to give a Republican Appraisal of the
State of the Union.
November 8, the citizens of America voted on the State of the Union
Their message came through loud and clear--a ringing vote for vigorous
two-party government. It was a blunt demand for honesty and candor in public
affairs. The Credibility Gap must go!
We rejoice in the mandate-- a New Direction for America.
No era in our history began with higher hopes than the 1960's. We had
bound up the Nation's wounds. We were blessed with eight years of strength,
peace and progress under President Eisenhower.
As the decade dawned, all Americans were stirred by the words, "Ask not
what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
The years have slipped by and now Americans in 1967 see the decade that
dawned in hope fading into frustration and failure, bafflement and boredom.
The President said that the election returns did not mean that people
want progress to stop.
We agree.
They want progress to START--now!
Room S-124 U.S. Capitol-(202) 225-3700
Consultant to the Leadership-John B. Fisher
For every problem of the Sixties, this Administration has revived tired
theories of the Thirties.
For the past two years, positive and practical Republican programs have
been largely ignored.
Things will be different in the next two years!
We won the first round in the House of Representatives, 364 to 64, with
three-quarters of the Democrats following our unanimous Republican lead.
We will win more--many more!
NEW DIRECTION, NOT COALITION
Cynics may call every Republican victory in this Congress a coalition.
Let's meet that issue head-on, right now.
By definition, coalition requires advance consultation and ultimate
compromise of conviction to win a legislative victory.
Republicans will make no such deals.
Republicans will give leadership to the dynamic and Constructive Center
in Congress.
We welcome every Democratic vote for positive Republican programs that will
give New Direction to our Nation.
We will press for creative Republican action. When New Direction demands
it, we will say "No" to the old Democratic failures.
Our "No" will be particularly emphatic if we are asked to slow down
progress toward the equality that is the right of every American.
Never forget, the Republican Party came into being to make real the belief
that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with inalienable
rights. It is disheartening to see evidence that the Administration is lowering
the priority given to these matters in the 90th Conress.
SENSIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE SEVENTIES
As we look to the years ahead, Republicans see a program of Sensible
Solutions for the Seventies.
That program must begin in 1967.
First priority--the growth and prosperity of our economy.
There are ominous signs of an economic slowdown this year. Unless our
course is redirected decisively, we may well face the paradox of a recession
with both increased inflation and increased taxation.
The Investment Tax Credit must be restored immediately.
(MORE)
-3-
An honest federal budget is imperative. If the Congress is to assess the
needs of our economy intelligently, the Administration must not repeat its tragic
error of presenting a budget of evasion, manipulation and gimmickry. This budget
underestimated expenditures by at least $14 billion, over $4 billion of which was
non-military.
Congress should immediately repeal the Participation Sales Act, which
conceals and distorts the true budgetary situation.
When we know how much is needed for national security, the Congress can
then make certain that essential domestic programs are adequately funded. Low-
priority programs, desirable as they may be, must be postponed. We assure the
President tonight that Republicans will move to cut non-essential spending--even
if he doesn't.
In addition, billions of dollars approved by Congress in the past remain
unspent. This Congress must take a hard look at those funds. We propose a
Rescission Bill, withdrawing the President's authority to obligate and spend
such funds that cannot meet the test of prudence of the new Congress.
The President belatedly promised to cut $3 billion from expenditures by
the end of June. He should spell out for the American people where these
reductions have been made--if they have been made.
With such uncertainties, the President has not made a convincing case
for his tax increase.
STATE AND LOCAL RESPONSIBILITIES -- TAX SHARING
One of the most significant results of the 1966 elections was the people's
choice of 23 new Republican governors, and more than 700 new state legislators.
This reflects not only confidence in our party and its fine candidates
but also faith in state government itself.
Republicans have faith in the constitutional concept of Federalism, which
requires strong and vigorous state as well as national action on a variety of
problems. Yet, seen through the Democrats' rear-view mirror of the Thirties,
everything can be cured by Federal dictation and Federal funds, doled out through
grants-in-aid which keep Washington as the manipulator of all strings.
There are now over 400 Federal aid appropriations for 170 separate aid
programs, administered by a total of 21 Federal Departments and agencies, 150
Washington bureaus and 400 regional offices, each with its own way of passing
out Federal tax dollars.
Federal aid to states and municipalities through this tangled thicket
increased from $1 billion in 1946 to about $15 billion this year.
(MORE)
-4-
Republicans reiterate their support for a system of tax sharing to return
to the states and local governments a fixed percentage of personal income taxes
without Federal control. This system would promote a swift improvement in
education, law enforcement, community development, mass transit, and other
essentially local problems.
Smog is replacing the weather as the No. 1 topic of conversation, but
no two cities have identical problems. Cities are far more diversified than
states. They have one common denominator--their problems multiply as people
move to the suburbs. This exodus leaves less revenue to meet more problems.
Tax sharing would restore the needed vitality and diversity to our Federal
system. Revenue sharing could also be accomplished with tax credits
Many effective measures to improve agriculture originated with the National
Commission on Rural Life, established by President Theodore Roosevelt.
Republicans propose a National Committee on Urban Living be created without delay.
An exaggerated example of urban problems is our own national capital. Yet
a swarm of Federal experts is telling the cities how to cure their ills while the
only Federal city in our Nation is a disgrace.
Republicans believe Washington, D. C., should be made a "model city" for
demonstration projects and new initiatives in urban progress.
EDUCATION
Higher education and vocational education acts bear strong Republican
imprints.
We will continue our efforts to provide assistance to those who bear
the rising cost of higher education through tax credits.
The Elementary and Secondary Act, however, at minimum requires substantial
revision to simplify forms, reduce excessive paperwork and eliminate the heavy-
handed Federal intrusions. All pre-school and early-school problems should be
consolidated in the Office of Education. Republicans trust local school boards
to formulate policy and set priorities far more than we trust bureaucrats in
Washington.
Congress should take the Federal handcuffs off our local educators. The
best way to do this is by tax sharing and tax credits. If the Democrats, who
control Congress, refuse to consider tax sharing legislation, Republicans will
seek to substitute block education grants, without Federal earmarking or controls.
We will propose new approaches to reinforce the vitality and diversity
that is the genius of our educational system. It is in the school that the
doors of opportunity open to all American children. We shall not deny them the
best that can be given.
(MORE)
-5-
SOCIAL SECURITY
President Johnson proposed Social Security changes that it is estimated
would cost the equivalent of a 1.6 percent Social Security payroll tax increase.
At the present tax base, this would ultimately raise the total Social
Security payroll tax to 12.15 percent. The Social Security trust fund must be kept
sound. Greater benefits normally involve greater taxes, particularly burdensome
to our younger citizens.
As in the past, Republicans now favor an increase in permitted earnings
by Social Security recipients. Present earning limitations reflect the
depression mentality of the Thirties and make no sense for the Seventies.
Widows benefits and minimum benefits must be brought into line with today's
inflated living costs. Those still uncovered should, as soon as possible, be
blanketed into the Social Security system at least by age 72.
Our older citizens must be protected from the extortions of Great Society
inflation. They can't wait while we debate.
Congress should enact, retroactive to January 1, an 8 percent increase
in Social Security benefits. These increased benefits can be achieved without
any tax increase.
About 1/3 of the nation's poor are elderly citizens. Their situation is
tragic and desperate. The Poverty War has passed them by.
In the past two years of Democratic control, basic Social Security
benefits have fallen 7 percentage points behind the consumer price index.
Republicans propose Social Security benefits rise automatically with
rising prices. It is time we took Social Security out of election-year politics.
VETERANS
Republicans believe those called upon to sacrifice in Southeast Asia
should be treated equally with other veterans. All veterans, war widows and their
dependents should be protected from skyrocketing inflation by increased benefits.
POVERTY
The greatest poverty in this country today is the poverty of realistic
ideas among Poverty War generals--and sergeants. Sensible Republican proposals
have been rejected arbitrarily.
Republicans will continue to press for total revamping and redirection
of the Poverty War. We want an Opportunity Crusade that will enlist private
enterprise and the states as effective partners of the Federal Government in
this fight. We would give the children of poverty the very highest priority they
(MORE)
-6-
deserve. As Republicans have urged for two years, Head Start requires follow-
through in the early grades.
We propose a new Industry Youth Corps to provide private, productive
employment and training on the job.
We propose the Republican Human Investment Act to induce employers to
expand job opportunities for the unskilled.
We propose to enlarge the opportunities of low-income Americans for
private home ownership.
All Americans demand a thorough airing of poverty administration, poverty
publicity and poverty politics.
GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION
The need for streamlining the national government has become even more
urgent since we recommended a new Hoover-type commission a year ago. The
President's only specific proposal for reorganization--to combine the Departments
of Labor and Commerce--merely scratches the surface.
We believe the Post Office Department should be taken out of politics
from top to bottom. Republicans favor selecting all Postmasters on merit alone.
What irony--we will probably deliver a man to the Moon before we can
consistently deliver the United States Mail to its correct address on Earth.
The colossal Department of Agriculture is another executive agency that
needs reform. Republicans will continue to support the concept of fair farm
prices in the market place, without price-depressing manipulation by bureaucrats.
The mass and maze of federal farm laws, rules, regulations and forms must be
simplified. Every farmer knows there's enough to do in every 24-hour day on the
farm without a load of federal paperwork. We applaud efforts to create more parks
and seashores and will give special emphasis to the preservation of jobs and
community stability.
LABOR-MANAGEMENT LAWS
A year ago President Johnson promised Congress he would soon propose new
ways to handle national emergency strikes. In the interval he has made no
proposals whatsoever. Incredibly, he never mentioned it in his latest State of
the Union Message.
Without waiting further, Congress should choose a balanced commission of
experts to make recommendations in this complex and sensitive area.
Our unswerving purpose should be to strengthen free collective bargaining
between equals, without unnecessary government meddling. Congress should under-
take, without delay, a full review of labor-management laws and the operations
of the National Labor Relations Board.
(MORE)
-7-
It is unfair to both labor and management for Congress to legislate
blindly in an atmosphere of crisis.
CONGRESSIONAL, CAMPAIGN, AND ELECTION REFORMS
To do our job better, Congress should act promptly on the bipartisan
recommendations for congressional reorganization endorsed last session by our
House Republican Policy Committee, but pigeon-holed by the Democratic majority.
We call for a strong House Ethics Committee and an investigating committee
under the control of the minority.
Such reforms would restore the people's confidence in Congress and their
Government.
Congress must also move ahead on the President's year-old pledge for a
Clean Elections Law. Such a law must be in force before 1968.
This Clean Elections Law should guarantee full and accurate reporting of
political contributions and expenditures in support of national candidates and
put an end to abuses in campaign finance. Legislation also is needed to
encourage an increased flow of small contributions. Republicans are proud that
69 percent of our contributions in the last Presidential campaign were in sums
of less than $100.
Last year the Congress unwisely rushed through a bill which would provide
as much as 60 million taxpayers' dollars to political parties for the 1968
campaign. This serious mistake should be reversed without delay.
Instead, the Congress would be wise to permit contributors an income tax
deduction for political contributions up to $100.
Our antiquated Electoral College system of choosing the President should
be changed to make sure the people's will prevails.
In planning for the 1968 Presidential campaign and elections, the
Congress must come to grips with the foremost factor in political competition
today--a factor unknown when present laws were written--television.
The biggest single campaign expense for any national candidate today is
television time. Television brings the national political debate into every
American home. Yet no really thorough study has been made of the public's
interest in television as a political medium. Television channels, of
necessity limited in number, really belong to all the people.
They should not be at the service of the highest bidder or the party
in power. They cannot be regulated solely by the conscience or convictions of
network executives and their most popular television faces.
An illogical federal law now operates to prevent television and radio
(MORE)
-8-
stations from granting time without charge to major party candidates without
making equal time available to a host of minor party candidates. We
unequivocally favor nationally televised debates between future Presidential
contenders.
We propose legislation requiring television and radio to provide
free and equal treatment to major parties and their spokesmen not only in
future campaigns, but also for the presentation of divergent political
views throughout the periods between formal campaigning.
CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Crime and violence, disregard of law and disrespect for authority,
immorality and irresponsibility are on the rise. We welcome the President's
recent recognition of this enlarging crisis.
Republicans in the last Congress authored legislation which created a
National Commission for the Revision and Reform of Criminal Laws, a major step
forward.
The House also adopted last year, although it died in the Senate, a
proposal which Republicans will renew this session in a "Citizens Rights Act of
1967.' The Act would make it a crime to travel from one state to another with
an intent to incite riots. It would also protect individuals in the exercise
of their constitutional rights.
Wiretapping and electronic eavesdropping worry all Americans who prize
their privacy. Properly used, these are essential weapons to those who guard
our Nation's security and wage ceaseless war against organized crime.
The Congress, the President and the Courts must promptly spell out the
permissible limits of their use,
At all levels of government a massive effort should be made to reduce
crime by attacking some of its basic causes: poverty, slums, inadequate educa-
tion and discrimination. However, our laws and actions should never be based
on the theory that a criminal is solely the product of his environment.
Fear of punishment remains an important deterrent to crime.
We call upon the independent Judicial Branch of our Government to uphold
the rights of the law-abiding citizen with the same fervor as it upholds the
rights of the accused.
Most Americans will resist any trend toward the establishment of a
national police force or the unwarranted intrusion of Federal power into local
law enforcement. Yet, there is a proper place for Federal assistance and
leadership.
(MORE)
-9-
Within the Federal correctional system, the Work Release Program and other
enlightened prisoner rehabilitation projects must be designed and expanded to
reduce the number of second-time offenders.
The primary responsibility for law enforcement must remain with the states
and local authorities. In the last analysis, public safety depends upon the
courage and character of the policeman patrolling his beat. The Federal Govern-
ment can properly help in making law enforcement a more attractive and
professional career.
A National Law Enforcement Institute, similar to the successful National
Institutes of Health, should be established for research and training and for
the dissemination of the latest techniques in police science.
NATIONAL SECURITY
Not as Republicans but as Americans we are gravely worried about the
Nation's security. This is not a partisan issue. The conflict is primarily
between the Administration and the Congress.
The short-range military policies and the long-range defense posture of
this country urgently demand searching re-examination and New Direction.
Nothing in the President's State of the Union Message lessened our deep concern
in this all-important area.
Our strategic thinking of the 1970's and beyond, the timely planning and
production of advanced weapons systems, and the prudent management of our total
national defense capabilities have become stalled on a dead-end street.
Republicans renew, with even greater urgency, our call for a Blue Ribbon
Commission of the most able and independent Americans Congress can choose to
get on with this job.
Within its Constitutional responsibility, Congress can do more.
We must take prompt action to modernize our Navy, increase our superiority
in nuclear propulsion, and counter the growing threat of missile-carrying
enemy submarines.
We must take prompt steps to rebuild the American Merchant Marine, already
shrunken to one-fifth its former size, and regain our lost lead over the Soviet
Union in modern shipbuilding. Shockingly, the U.S. is no longer a major maritime
power. The Maritime Administration must be upgraded as an independent agency.
We must proceed at top speed with the development of long-delayed Advanced
Manned Strategic Bombers and Improved Manned Interceptors.
We must strengthen our Reserve and National Guard forces and eliminate
(MORE)
-10-
inequities in the Draft. Our defense posture should be tailored to our global
commi tments.
The Administration has finally admitted to the American people that the
Soviet Union has increased its Intercontinental Ballistic Missile capability and
is deploying an Anti-Ballistic Missile Defense System. In anticipation of a
life-and-death decision on just such a development, Congress has voted millions
of dollars which the Administration did not seek and apparently has not used.
The Congress did its duty and gave the President a clear expression of
its will and the means to carry it out.
Before more precious time is lost, Congress and the American people are
now entitled to a clear explanation from the President of the perils and problems
facing the United States in the new global balance of strategic power.
We, too, seek to avoid a costly new round in the nuclear arms race. But
the least the Nation must do now is speed up its readiness to deploy Anti-
Ballistic Missiles in a hurry if our survival requires it.
Americans are properly devoted to the concept of civilian control in
defense matters. This civilian control never before has meant consistent civilian
disregard for professional military judgment, intimidation of dissenters and
substitution of soulless computers for human experience.
The first place to close the Credibility Gap is at the Pentagon.
All Americans join in the President's earnest hopes for an honorable peace
and foolproof disarmament. But they are deeply concerned that the Communists
even now are intensifying both the hot and the cold wars. We must prevail in
this worldwide test of willpower and weaponry.
Nothing has higher priority, in our judgment, than the safety, strength
and survival of the United States of America, our people and our posterity.
There will be no Sensible Solutions for the Seventies, no Republicans or
Democrats, if we fail in this supreme test of a nation.
To our President, we of the Loyal Oppostion say--in the words of another
anguished commander-in-chief. *
"With firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us
strive on to finish the work we are in."
# # #
*
Abraham Lincoln, 2nd Inaugural Address
FROM THE OFFICE OF
January 19, 1967
THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OF THE CONGRESS
Millions of fair-minded and independent Americans will be
disappointed, as we were, at the half-a-loaf response of the commercial
television networks to our request for fair and equal television
treatment of our 28-minute Republican appraisal of the State of the
Union tonight.
Misinterpretation of the name and nature of
our presentation requires clarification. This never was intended to
be and will not be a "reply" or "rebuttal" to the Constitutional
message of the President on the State of the Union. It will be a
constructive but different report, by Republican Leaders of the new
Congress on the State of that same Union. We believe all the American
people are entitled to hear both views and want to hear both views,
now and in the future.
We commend the national radio networks and the educational
stations which are meeting their responsibilities squarely, and we are
confident that this will also be true of the nation's newspapers, maga-
zines and other media. Our specific comments on the political
character of network television will be made in our State of the
Union presentation. What is basically at issue is not fairness to
Republicans, but fairness to the American audience.
FROM THE OFFICE OF
January 19, 1967
THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OF THE CONGRESS
Millions of fair-minded and independent Americans will be
disappointed, as we were, at the half-a-loaf response of the commercial
television networks to our request for fair and equal television
treatment of our 28-minute Republican appraisal of the State of the
Union tonight.
Misinterpretation of the name and nature of
our presentation requires clarification. This never was intended to
be and will not be a "reply" or "rebuttal" to the Constitutional
message of the President on the State of the Union. It will be a
constructive but different report, by Republican Leaders of the new
Congress on the State of that same Union. We believe all the American
people are entitled to hear both views and want to hear both views,
now and in the future.
We commend the national radio networks and the educational
stations which are meeting their responsibilities squarely, and we are
confident that this will also be true of the nation's newspapers, maga-
zines and other media. Our specific comments on the political
character of network television will be made in our State of the
Union presentation. What is basically at issue is not fairness to
Republicans, but fairness to the American audience.
GERALD ANVUSIT
Page 1160 of Cong Rec. 2/8/67
REPUBLICAN BILLS INTRODUCED 90TH CONGRESS
1. Tax Sharing (HR 784-Laird; HR 4070-Goodell)
2. National Commission on Urban Living (HR 3155-Quie)
3. Tax Credits for Higher Education Costs (HR 781-Laird)
4. Increase Earnings Limit for Social Security Recipients (HR 297-Bolton)
5. Eight Percent Increase in Benefits Retroactive to Jan. 1)
)
(HR 31-Byrnes)
6. Increase Social Security Benefits with Living Costs
)
7. Increase Benefits for Veterans and Widows (HR 1307-Saylor)
8. Human Investment Act (HR 4574-Curtis)
9. Hoover-Type Commission (HR 69-Mathias-M.D.)
10. Merit System for Postmasters (HR 425-Cunningham)
11. Fair Farm Prices in Market Place (H. Con. Res. 96-Dole)
12. House Ethics Committee (H. Con. Rea 42-Reid, N.Y.; H. Res. 71-May)
13. Minority-Controlled Investigating Committee (H. Res. 52-Dwyer; HR 873-Michel)
14. Clean Elections Law (HR 806-Lipscomb, HR/631-Goodell)
15. Repeal Long Amendment (HR 465-Davis)
16. Citizens Right Act (HR 421-Cramer)
17. Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense (H. J. Res. 2-Lipscomb)
18. Independent Mari time Agency (HR 841-Maillard)
19. Congressional Reorgamization (HR 2925-Curtis)
20. Tax Credit for State Local Taxes (HR 1047-Poff)
21. Strengthen Reserves and National Guard, Draft Revisions (HR 422-Curtis)
22. Electoral College Reform (H. J. Res. 40-Davis)
23. Block Grants for Education (HR 308-Brock)
24. Opportunity Crusade (Goodell)
25. Repeal Participation Sales (Goodell)
26. Restore Investment Tax Credit (Goodell)
(NOTE: This list is far from complete. In many instances, identical or similar
bills have been introduced by numerous other Republican members. The somewhat
arbitrary selection is intended only to show the general subject areas which have
been implemented by Republican-sponsored bills.)
###
GERALD
REPUBLICAN BILLS INTRODUCED 90TH CONGRESS
1. Tax Sharing (HR 784-Laird; HR 4070-Goodell)
2. National Commission on Urban Living (HR 3155-Quie)
3. Tax Credits for Higher Education Costs (HR 781-Laird)
4. Increase Earnings Limit for Social Security Recipients (HR 297-Bolton)
5. Eight Percent Increase in Benefits Retroactive to Jan. 1)
)
(HR 31-Byrnes)
6. Increase Social Security Benefits with Living Costs
)
7. Increase Benefits for Veterans and Widows (HR 1307-Saylor)
8. Human Investment Act (HR 4574-Curtis)
9. Hoover-Type Commission (HR 69-Mathias-M.D.)
CB
10. Merit System for Postmasters (HR 425-Cunningham)
11. Fair Farm Prices in Market Place (H. Con. Res. 96-Dole)
12. House Ethics Committee (H. Con. Res. 42-Reid, N.Y.; H. Res. 71-May)
13. Minority-Controlled Investigating Committee (H. Res. 52-Dwyer; HR 873-Michel)
14. Clean Elections Law (HR 806-Lipscomb; HR 631-Goodell)
15. Repeal Long Amendment (HR 465-Davis)
16. Citizens' Rights Act (HR 421-Cramer)
17. Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense (H. J. Res. 2-Lipscomb)
18. Independent Maritime Agency (HR 841-Maillard)
19. Congressional Reorganization (HR 2925-Curtis)
20. Tax Credit for State-Local Taxes (HR 1047-Poff)
21. Strengthen Reserves and National Guard, Draft Revisions (HR 422-Curtis)
22. Electoral College Reform (H. J. Res. 40-Davis)
23. Block Grants for Education (HR 308-Brock)
24. Opportunity Crusade (Goodell)
25. Repeal Participation Sales (Goodell)
26. Restore Investment Tax Credit (Goodell)
(NOTE: This list is far from complete. In many instances, identical or similar
bills have been introduced by numerous other Republican members. The somewhat
arbitrary selection is intended only to show the general subject areas which have
been implemented by Republican-sponsored bills.)
###
GERALD FORD
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE AT 11 A.M.
WED., FEB. 8, 1967
STATEMENT BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICH.
Three weeks have passed since Senator Dirksen and I gave our Republican Appraisal
of the State of the Union. We have been very gratified by the news coverage and
thoughtful editorial treatment it has received, and by the interest in a positive
Republican program which our mail reflects.
In many of the comments I read the idea was expressed that our Republican
proposals had much merit IF they were actually incorporated into legislation. Now,
as 187 Republicans in the House are about to go home to their districts and around
the country for Lincoln Day meetings, people will surely ask us: Well, what have you
done about all those good ideas you proposed in your State of the Union program?
Our researchers tell us there were 39 points in our domestic State of the Union
appraisal which require specific legislative action. They also report that two-thirds
of these positive, constructive Republican goals already have been reflected in bills
introduced in the first month of this 90th Congress.
Republican bills listed in the background memo attached cover these 26 subject
areas, but the list is by no means exhaustive since in many cases numerous other
Republicans have introduced identical or similar bills. I have introduced some of
them myself.
I think starting the legislative ball rolling on two-thirds of our positive
Republican proposals within the first month of the Congress is a pretty good record
to take back to the people who elected us last November. During the 18 years I have
been a Member of the House, I can't remember a harder-working or more businesslike
group of Republicans; and if we get any kind of cooperation from the Democratic
majority, we are going to write many of these proposals into law.
The big difference between this Congress and the last one is that the normal
legislative process has been restored. This will mean better government for all
Americans. Last year laws were passed without full hearings and with only scant floor
debate--the people sensed this and stopped that steamroller cold.
By giving you this run-down of Republican bills implementing two-thirds of our
domestic State of the Union proposals--26 out of 39 legislative goals--I don't mean to
say they all have the 100% endorsement of all House Republicans or of the Republican
leadership. The details will be ironed out in the normal process. The House Republi-
can Policy Committee, however, has acted on two of the most urgent items--an Election
Reform Law and a House Ethics Committee.
REPUBLICAN BILLS INTRODUCED - 90TH CONGRESS
1. Tax Sharing (HR 784-Laird; HR 4070-Goodell)
2. National Commission on Urban Living (HR 3155-Quie)
3. Tax Credits for Higher Education Costs (HR 781-Laird)
4. Increase Earnings Limit for Social Security Recipients (HR 297-Bolton)
5. Eight Percent Increase in Benefits Retroactive to Jan. 1)
) (HR 31-Byrnes)
6. Increase Social Security Benefits with Living Costs
)
7. Increase Benefits for Veterans and Widows (HR 1307-Saylor)
8. Human Investment Act (HR 4574-Curtis)
9. Hoover-Type Commission (HR 69-Mathias-M.D.)
10. Merit System for Postmasters (HR 425-Cunningham)
11. Fair Farm Prices in Market Place (H. Con. Res. 96-Dole)
12. House Ethics Committee (H. Con. Res. 42-Reid, N.Y.; H. Res. 71-May)
13. Minority-Controlled Investigating Committee (H. Res. 52-Dwyer; HR 873-Michel)
14. Clean Elections Law (HR 806-Lipscomb; HR 631-Goodell)
15. Repeal Long Amendment (HR 465-Davis)
16. Citizens' Rights Act (HR 421-Cramer)
17. Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense (H. J. Res. 2-Lipscomb)
18. Independent Maritime Agency (HR 841-Maillard)
19. Congressional Reorganization (HR 2925-Curtis)
20. Tax Credit for State-Local Taxes (HR 1047-Poff)
21. Strengthen Reserves and National Guard, Draft Revisions (HR 422-Curtis)
22. Electoral College Reform (H. J. Res. 40-Davis)
23. Block Grants for Education (HR 308-Brock)
24. Opportunity Crusade (Goodell)
25. Repeal Participation Sales (Goodell)
26. Restore Investment Tax Credit (Goodell)
(NOTE: This list is far from complete. In many instances, identical or similar
bills have been introduced by numerous other Republican members. The somewhat
arbitrary selection is intended only to show the general subject areas which have
been implemented by Republican-sponsored bills.)
###
FOR THE SENATE:
FOR THE HOUSE
Everett M: Dirksen
THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
OF REPRESENTATIVES:
of
Gerald R. Ford
Thomas H. Kuchel
OF THE CONGRESS
of Michigan
of California
Leslie C. Arends
Bourke B. Hickenlooper
of Illinois
of Iowa
Press Release
Melvin R. Laird
Margaret Chase Smith
of Wisconsin
of Maine
John J. Rhodes
George Murphy
of Arizona
of California
Issued following a
H. Allen Smith
Milton R. Young
of California
of North Dakota
Leadership Meeting
Bob Wilson
Hugh Scott
of California
of Pennsylvania
May 25, 1967
Charles E. Goodell
of New York
PRESIDING:
Richard H. Poff
of Virginia
The National Chairman
Ray. C. Bliss
William C. Cramer
of Florida
STATEMENT BY REPRESENTATIVE FORD:
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Russian guns, Russian bullets, Russian surface-to-air missiles,
Russian MIGS, Communist machine guns and Communist mortars continue
to kill and maim American fighting men and innocent civilians by
the thousands in Viet Nam. Nevertheless, the Johnson-Humphrey
Administration continues to urge that we trade with the enemy by
"building bridges" between us and these Communist dealers in death.
There may be some who find it wholly consistent that Americans
should fight for freedom and survival against Communist aggression on
the one hand, while trading and dealing for Communist enrichment on
the other. We do not. We will/costinue to oppose economic aid to
an enemy whose global goal is the extinction of freedom.
Trade can be an instrument for world peace but only when applied
in the hard-nosed tradition of the Yankee trader, not with the soft-
headed hope that it will somehow sway dedicated Communist governments
from their stated international goals. The extension of most-
favored-nation tariff treatment to Communist East Europe in existing
circumstances is unwarranted and unwise.
The reduction of export controls on East-West trade in so-called
"non-strategic items" is dangerous, and Congress should carefully
review this whole subject. It may well be that present controls
should be tightened and certainly they should be more clearly defined
by the elected representatives of the people.
Guaranteeing commercial credits to Communist governments is a
form of economic foreign aid heretofore reserved for our friends.
Room S-124 U.S. Capitol-(202) 225-3700
(more)
Consultant to the Leadership-John B. Fisher
GERALD,
LIBRARY
Rep. Ford
May 25,1967
Such a policy compels our own people, against their will, to encourage
and strengthen Communism. It is illogical to do this while committing
American lives to a Communist-supported war in Viet Nam.
The May Day order of the day issued by the Soviet Defense Min-
ister, Marshall Andrei Grechko, accused the United States of "hatching
sinister plots to spread aggression"in other parts of the world
beyond Viet Nam. Anyone who has studied Soviet tactics knows that
Moscow always accuses its adversary of doing what the Kremlin itself
is plotting to do.
Since last May 1, violence and trouble clearly instigated by
Communists have erupted almost on signal in widely scattered parts of
the world -- in the Sea of Japan, along the 38th parallel in Korea,
in Hongkong, and the Middle East. The open threat of intervention by
the Soviet Union to support Nasser's reckless gamble in the Gulf of
Aqaba gravely threatens world peace and gives little evidence of any
Russian desire for "building bridges" to the Free World.
In my judgment the Soviet bloc has embarked on a bold and con-
certed effort to divert the attention of the United States and Western
Europe from the grim struggle in Southeast Asia at a time when the
NATO shield is softer than at any time since it was raised by former
Presidents Truman and Eisenhower.
Surely it is no time to WOO the Communist world with trade con-
cessions. Let the Soviet Union and Eastern European Communist govern-
ments first convince us that they truly seek peace in Viet Nam, the
Middle East and elsewhere. Until then we should refuse to be party
to any mercenary deals in which the main advantage is with our avowed
enemies.
We will support mutually-beneficial, really reciprocal political
and economic agreements with Communist governments only when they
prove beyond question, as they easily can, that their policies and
actions are aimed at lasting peace, honorable settlement of the
war in Viet Nam and the crisis in the Middle East, and abandonment
of their support for so-called "wars of national liberation" against
free and independent peoples.
STATEMENT BY SENATOR DIRKSEN
Have you heard of a single Russian, who was reported as a
casualty in Viet Nam? You haven't and you won't. What you see
reported are American and South Vietnamese casulties. On May 25th,
the U. S. Command reported that total American casulties were in
excess of 70,000. This included 10,253 dead. South Vietnamese troop
deaths exceed 46,000.
Here is the dreadful, current tabulation of our losses:
U.S. DEATHS
U.S. WOUNDED
6,235 Army
37,327 Army
307 Navy
1,645 Navy
3,370 Marine
21,283 Marine
341 Air Force
1,170 Air Force
10,253 TOTAL
61,425 TOTAL
Non-combatant
2,058
SOUTH VIET NAM DEATHS
46,626
How were they killed? For the most part by Red Russian weapons
and Red Chinese weapons in the hands of the Red Viet Cong. It's
that simple. And there are more weapons to come.
Our airmen have shot down 71 Russian-built MIGS. It is esti-
mated that another 350 MIGS are available for replacements. Our
military reports that 2,450 Russian-built missiles have been fired
at our planes. Tens of thousands of Russian-built and Chinese-built
rifles and mortars have been found by our troops in the jungles,
fields, and Viet Cong supply dumps. The weapons come from the
Russians and their wretched Red allies. The victims of these
weapons are young Americans and South Vietnamese. The instruments
of death are Red-built. The dead, the amputees, the armless, the
legless are Americans and South Vietnamese.
These are the people with whom we are asked to set up a partner-
ship to "build bridges". These are the people to whom we are asked
to turn the cheek of compassion and embark on a policy of East-West
(more)
Sen. Dirksen
- 2 -
trade. Is trade so sweet and profits so desirable as to be purchased
at the price we now pay in death and agony? The volume of trade
which might be developed would be a pittance compared with our gross
national product. And how durable would such a bridge be when the
trade and traffic which flows over it carries the taint of blood?
Whenever the ghastly business in Viet Nam comes to an end and
the Reds are prepared to become reliable partners in peace, there
will be time enough to talk about "building bridges".
How strange that the Reds are so interested in the American
buck that they are ready to venture into the bridge-building
business even with Yankee imperialists! We doubt however that the
American people are so interested in a few rubles that they are
willing to "build bridges" with American credit, American loans,
American machine tools when the death cries from Viet Nam ring
daily in their ears.
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
January 17, 1968
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich.
The American people have the will and the strength to meet their every
crisis at home and abroad. Where Republicans differ with the President is on the
means and the method.
President Johnson obviously still believes that the solution to all of
America's problems lies with the federal bureaucracy.
The goals the President outlined are admirable. But the American people
will not follow the route he has mapped for achieving those objectives--the road
of irresponsibly large federal outlays in a time when the dollar is under attack
both at home and overseas.
The President's approach is to spend more and tax more.
This Congress will insist that federal spending be held to reasonable
levels--because this is the best way to fight inflation, halt the rise in interest
rates and let Americans make real wage gains.
The President cited the urgency of a nationwide attack on crime. The
Administration should have moved with utmost speed to launch a war on crime last
year.
The President never once spoke of building a Great Society. I am not
surprised. In recent months we have been plagued by riots, near-anarchy, and
rampant crime in the streets.
The President said nothing about fulfilling his 1966 State of the Union
pledge to send Congress a proposal for improved handling of national emergency
strikes.
It is strange, too, that the President did not urge a Clean Elections Law.
The President's statement outlining a cautious approach to Vietnam peace
talks was the most realistic comment in his entire message. We must remember that
more than 20,000 Americans were killed in battle in Korea while talks went on at
Panmunjom. This should be a sobering thought for us all.
# # #
FOR THE HOUSE
FOR THE SENATE:
OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Everett M. Dirksen
THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
Gerald R. Ford
of Illinois
OF THE CONGRESS
of Michigan
Thomas H. Kuchel
Leslie C. Arends
of California
of Illinois
Bourke B. Hickenlooper
Melvin R. Laird
of Iowa
of Wisconsin
Margaret Chase Smith
of Maine
Press Release
John J. Rhodes
of Arizona
George Murphy
H. Allen Smith
of California
of California
Milton R. Young
Bob Wilson
of North Dakota
of California
Hugh Scott
Charles E. Goodell
of Pennsylvania
of New York
Richard H. Poff
PRESIDING:
of Virginia
The National Chairman
William C. Cramer
Ray C. Bliss
of Florida
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
""THE STATE OF THE UNION THE REPUBLICAN APPRAISAL
will be presented, live, over the C B S Television Network, from
10 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday, January 23rd.
The program will include a presentation of positive Republican
proposals and programs for the nation, together with critical comment
on Administration policies and performance in recent months and years.
Participating in this hour-long program will be the following
Republican Members of Congress:
Senator Howard Baker of Tenn.
Congressman George Bush of Texas 1608
Senator Peter Dominick of Colo.
Congressman Gerald Ford of Mich.
Senator Robert Griffin of Mich.
Congressman Melvin Laird of Wisc.
Senator Thomas Kuchel of Calif.
Congressman Robert Mathias of Calif.
Senator George Murphy of Calif.
Congresswoman Catherine May of Wash.-
Senator Charles Percy of Ill.
Congressman Richard Poff of Va.
Senator Hugh Scott of Pa.
Congressman Albert Quie of Minn.
Senator John Tower of Texas
Congresswoman Charlotte Reid of IIL
Congressman William Steiger of Wisc.
Because of the unique nature of this program and the limitations
of time present, a complete documentation and text of "The State
of the Union -- The Republican Appraisal" will be issued later in the
:eek.
Planning and preparation for this telecast is under the
lirection of Senator George Murphy of California and Congressman
Charles E. Goodell of New York.
Room S-124 U.S. Capitol-(202) 225-3700
Consultant to the Leadership-John B. Fisher
GERALD LIBRARY
1
H548
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD- HOUSE
January 30, 1968
PERCENT APPROVING OF L B. J. PERFORMANCE
tion of the estuary whether it is or is not to
THE STATE OF THE UNION: A REPUBLICAN
lin percent]
be a source of water. Many of the costs in-
APPRAISAL
volved will be incurred, in any case. While the
(OPENING REMARKS BY GENERAL OF THE ARMY
January
October
Point
great supply in the estuary can never be
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, FORMER PRESIDENT OF
change
made potable without treatment, of course,
THE UNITED STATES)
no other water available can be put into city
National
48
+10
mains untreated. The estuary is a marvelous
You and I-all of us-enjoy a precious
38
fresh water storage resource-24 miles long
privilege, that of living under the greatest
Region:
East
53
43
+10
before it reaches salt water. Here are more
self-governing society known to history.
Midwest
46
36
+10
To establish and sustain that society which
South
44
33
+11
than 100 billion gallons of water in natural
West
52
38
+14
storage.
guarantees to every citizen equal rights be-
Sex:
Fosdick thinks the discharge of the Poto-
fore the law, our Founding Fathers and inter-
Men
49
39
+10
mac which now supplies the city will be ade-
vening generations have fought hard in office.
Women
48
37
+11
We are the beneficiaries of their work and
Politics:
quate for many years to come except for a
Republicans
28
22
+6
few summer months, and the deficiency can
sacrifies. A solemn obligation rests upon us
Democrats
65
53
+12
be made up by pumping from the estuary.
today to do no less in our time. Not merely for
Independents
28
30
+%
ourselves but for our children and for the
The pumping stations required for this
Education:
College
44
37
would cost far less than the elaborate sys-
cause of human liberty on the earth. Under
+7
High school
49
38
+11
tem of dams and reservoirs proposed by the
our two-party method of Government, it is
Grade school
51
37
+14
Army Engineers. Moreover, it would not dis-
essential that members of the Party not in
Age:
45
turb the ecology of the Potomac Basin as
power become convinced that new measures
21 to 29 years
40
+5
49
39
+10
dams would.
and directions are required to preserve and
30 to 49 years
50 and over
50
34
+16
The essential difference between the parks
strengthen our free system. The reasons for
Religion:
expert and the War Department engineers
their convictions should be made known to
Protestant
45
34
+11
Cathelic
53
48
5
springs from differing views on the feasibility
their fellow citizens. Tonight some of your
of recovery of potable water from the estuary.
elected Representatives in the Congress are
Surely this must be an ascertainable matter.
presenting to you their views. We of the Re-
The Secretary of the Interior is required
publican Party welcome your thoughtful at-
(Mr. CONTE (at the request of Mr.
by the Clean Water Restoration Act of 1966
tention as these views are laid before you. We
VANDER JAGT) was granted permission
to report on the Potomac by November 1,
know that these are critical times for our be-
to extend his remarks at this point in
1969. He has indicated that his study may be
loved country-as critical as any I have
the RECORD and to include extraneous
available sooner. It should be hurried up if
known in my lifetime. The thought, the hard
possible for it will have an important bear-
work, the dedication of every citizen are now
matter.)
ing on further feasibility studies.
required if we are to hold true to the ideals
[Mr. CONTE'S remarks will appear
The quality and volume of the Potomac
of human dignity and liberty that have
hereafter in the Extensions of Remarks.]
above Little Falls no doubt could be helped
meant so much to America and to the world.
by better soil practices in the watershed, by
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
small tributary reservoirs and other conser-
(By Senator GEORGE MURPHY OF CALIFORNIA)
(Mr. CONTE at the request of Mr.
vation methods. But the Girst thing that we
Six nights ago we listened to a dreary dis-
VANDER JAGT) was granted permission
need to establish is the usability of the est-
course on the Nation's problems-some of
uary.
to extend his remarks at this point in
which have been with us for the last several
the RECORD and to include extraneous
years. There were no new or practical solu-
matter.)
REPUBLICAN APPRAISAL OF THE
tions other than-spend money-collect
STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE
more taxes-and hope for the best.
[Mr. CONTE'S remarks will appear
Tonight my colleagues will present some
hereafter in the Extensions of Remarks.]
(Mr. GERALD R. FORD (at the re-
Republican proposals-which we believe will
quest of Mr. VANDER JAGT) was granted
be positive-progressive-and productive-
permission to extend his remarks at this
so that the next time we hear a State of the
ESTUARY OF THE POTOMAC RIVER
point in the RECORD and to include ex-
Union Speech-there will be more to cheer
AS SOURCE OF WATER
about-less to worry about.
traneous matter.)
Our speakers tonight are expressing the
(Mr. GUDE (at the request of Mr.
Mr. GERALD R. FORD. Mr. Speaker,
thoughts of the American people-that was
VANDER JAGT) was granted permission to
on January 23 a representative group of
proved in 1966. The year 1966 was a very good
extend his remarks at this point in the
members of my party in the Congress
year for Republicans. We won 47 more seats
RECORD and to include extraneous mat-
presented our annual Republican ap-
in the House, 4 seats in the Senate, 8 more
ter.)
praisal of the state of the Union. At the
Governors toward today's total of 26. It's a
fact. In a majority of the United States we're
Mr. GUDE. Mr. Speaker, I should like
suggestion of the distinguished minority
the Majority party already. Why is this? It's
to call to the attention of my colleagues
leader of the Senate, Senator DIRKSEN,
because we are truly the party of the people.
an editorial appearing in the January 28
who, unfortunately, was unable to par-
There is no question that comes closer to
issue of the Washington Post. The edi-
ticipate because of illness, our presenta-
home than taxes. As a matter of fact, you
torial deals with a proposal by Ellery R.
tion of previous years was broadened to
probably just got your income tax forms last
Fosdick, consulting engineer for the Na-
include nine members of this and eight
week. In my lifetime, I have watched our
tional Parks Association, to use the est-
members of the other body. Former Pres-
federal system of taxation expand from a
uary of the Potomac River as a source of
ident Eisenhower sent an inspiring per-
very gentle beginning, a puny penetration,
into an all consuming monster which, If not
water to help meet the needs of the
sonal message from California for the oc-
restrained, may completely destroy the rich-
Washington area. I feel that Mr. Fos-
casion. The joint Republican leadership
est, the most productive society in all of
dick's report should receive careful con-
of the Congress appointed the distin-
history.
sideration as we study the development
guished Senator from California, Senator
Possibly the most important citizen of all,
of the Potomac River basin and the
MURPHY, and our distinguished colleague
the man who provides our food and fibre, is
future water requirements of the growing
from New York [Mr. GOODELL] to coor-
the American Farmer. He has been restrict-
Washington metropolitan area on either
dinate the presentation. They labored
ed, regimented, and regulated, scrutinized,
side of the Potomac.
long and selflessly on behalf of all Re-
analyzed, and subsidized. No one has been
treated more unjustly. The American farmer
The article follows:
publicans in the Congress to better in-
can out-plant-out harvest-out produce-
WATER FROM THE ESTUARY
form the American people of our prin-
and out perform any competitor-anywhere
Ellery R. Fosdick, consulting engineer for
ciples, policies, and programs. Under pre-
in the world-and yet we find him at the
the National Parks Association, has submit-
vious order of the House I am inserting
very bottom of the economic ladder.
ted a report on Washington's future water
herewith in the RECORD the full presenta-
The preservation of our federal system by
resources which makes a strong case for rely-
tion including last-minute changes and
elected Representatives is of vital importance
ing on the estuary instead of on upstream
portions deleted due to time limitations
to us all. This, we Republicans can handle
dams and reservoirs.
He is much more optimistic about recovery
of television. I am most grateful to every-
more gracefully than the opposition-be-
of water from the estuary than the Army
one who took part and assisted in this
cause we are trying to preserve what the
Founding Fathers gave us.
Engineers who have favored upstream re-
presentation and to the Columbia Broad-
To gather all the tax money and all the
servoirs. His case has been strengthened by
casting System which carried it to the
power into Washington-we Republicans feel
the obvious necessity of diminishing pollu-
Nation on an hour of live evening time.
is neither safe nor prudent.
2.
January 30, 1968
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD HOUSE
H549
This transition has already gone too far
We must pioneer in government as we
And the President could only tell us he
and must be reversed, before it's too late.
have pioneered in technology. America's
detects "a questioning" and "a certain rest-
We in Congress are just as determined as
creative talent can and must provide a gov-
lessness" among his countrymen.
our great Governors are to restore the right-
ernment equal to our challenges and worthy
We can speak far plainer than that!
ful share of revenue and responsibility to all
of our dreams.
Riots, murder and robbery-is that just
50 States.
We must view tomorrow's promises through
"restlessness?"
The right of every citizen of our land to
yesterday's performance. And yesterday's
Deepening disbelief in our nation's poli-
equal rights under the law and to equal op-
performance is not enough.
cles, doubts about our most sacred insti-
portunity has always been a basic principle
LET'S RESTORE AMERICA'S WORLD LEADERSHIP
tutions and traditions, concern over the
of the Republican Party-the Party of Abra-
(By Senator THOMAS H. KUCHEL, of Califor-
credibility of our of our government's word-
ham Lincoln. We had hoped that another of
our new Senators-Ed Brooke of Massa-
nia, representing the Senate Republican
the worth of our government's dollar-do
Leader, Senator EVERETT M. DIRKSEN, of
you call that "questioning?"
chusetts-could be with us to speak from his
heart on this subject-but unfortunately he
Illinois)
The President's only explanation was,
"When a great ship cuts through the sea,
was unable to return from a long-planned
A new attitude, new vigor, new direction,
the waters are always stirred and troubled."
tour of Africa to be present tonight.
new confidence, are not required if this na-
Apparently the President has been stand-
The most tortured and tormented subject
tion is to stem its headlong descent from a
ing on the stern-looking backward at the
of our time is the question of the war in
role of leadership held so long in the world.
wake-wondering which of his officers to
Vietnam-never have "the irresponsibles" run
In this 20th Century free peoples have
dump overboard next!
so rampant-never have so many unfounded
looked to America in their struggle for hu-
His ship is wallowing in a storm-tossed
distortions been wildly circulated and emo-
man liberty. Dwight Eisenhower brought like-
sea, drifting toward the rocks of domestic
tionally recited in order to weaken our na-
minded nations together for collective secu-
disaster, beaten by the waves of a world-
tional determination. And never has our na-
rity. It remains the world's best hope for just
wide fiscal crisis.
tional policy been so inadequately stated by
and enduring peace. But now our govern-
The Captain should return to the bridge.
our leaders.
ment clearly lacks the ability to rally our
We need a Captain who will seize the
I believe most Americans also feel that
allies.
helm-call up full power-break out new
those who travel about the world preaching
In Western Europe, despite a remarkable
the violent destruction of America should be
economic rebirth, there is growing distrust.
charts-hold our course steadfast and bring
prosecuted under existing sedition laws-and
The British pound shrinks, the shadows of
us through the storm.
the British Empire fade, and Britain herself
We need a Captain who inspires his crew
if the law is inadequate-let's write some
to heroic endeavor.
that will fit the conditions.
is shut out from the Common Market by
We need a Captain with courage to clear
We hear a lot these days of the Hawks
France, her one-time ally.
the deck-jettison the deadweight-a
and the Doves-one desiring war-and the
The integrity of the American dollar, con-
Captain who learned his seamanship beyond
other demanding some sort of instant peace.
tinues under foreign assault. We must put
the Potomac and the Pedernales.
I don't know anyone who desires war or vio-
our house in order. What has happened to
It is no time to Abandon Ship.
lence-and I am aware of only a small, mis-
the British pound must not happen to the
It's time for all hands to man their action
guided group-publicized way out of pro-
American dollar.
stations.
portion to their size-who wish to relive the
In the Middle East, the Soviet Union has
mistake of the Munich and the mockery of
moved into the Mediterranean, and threatens
Let's not give up the ship!
Panmunjom.
to open a new front in the cold war-play-
America has weathered many a terrible
INTEGRITY IN GOVERNMENT
ing off America's friendship to Israel against
storm, rescued many a weaker vessel-and
we'll do it again. Let's start with the USS
(By Congressman WILLIAM A. STEIGER of
the vengence of Arab extremists.
In Latin America, the high promise of the
Pueblo. We want our Ship of State going
Wisconsin)
Alliance For Progress remains unfulfilled.
full speed ahead.
It is an honor to appear on this program
Even the historic concept of freedom of the
We offer responsible and responsive lead-
with former President Eisenhower. The re-
seas has been allowed to become a mockery
ership that looks to the worth and will of
turn of the integrity he brought to public
off the Pacific Coast of Latin America.
all our people, that turns from the tired
service and the conduct of national affairs is
History may yet record the Vietnam con-
theories and proven failures of the past to
our goal.
flict as the most tragic and costly within
the realities of the present and presses for-
Last week President Johnson tried to tell
memory. The Administration has failed to
ward on better ways to a brighter future.
us we're really troubled because of too rapid
make clear our goals to friend and foe alike.
MORE HOMES FOR AMERICANS
progress.
It has not been candid with the American
(By Senator CHARLES H. PERCY of Illinois)
I disagree. The reasons are deeper. There is
people in facing up to the complex and diffi-
more than surface unrest. The cause is not
Tonight most of us will go to bed in a de-
cult road which lies ahead.
progress but years of over-promise and un-
cent home. For some Americans, though, a
The nation searches for principles to guide
der-performance.
decent home of their own remains only a
us:
In 1966 I was one of 47 new Republican
dream.
We must face the realities and accept them.
Congressmen who came here because Ameri-
Our cities are beset with harsh living con-
We must not be wed to past mistakes.
cans wanted a change and wanted new ways
ditions, ranging from traffic congestion to
We must not debase our diplomacy with
of solving old problems. While still'a minor-
air pollution. But the most critical urban
pledges we cannot keep.
ity in Congress, we have tried to carry out
crisis is housing.
We must never throw away what our men
your mandate for change.
The public housing record is not good.
have fought to win.
We began by pressing for a permanent
Urban renewal has demolished more houses
We must rekindle the spirit of mutual
ethics committee in the House of Representa-
than public housing has constructed, Too
trust among free peoples-mindful that
tives. We were successful and intend to push
often, public housing has only served to
America must not go it alone.
for the high standards of conduct that you
crowd thousands of poor- families together
The American people yearn for a change.
demand.
in high rise ghettos. These have become the
Our party intends to give it to them.
We came to Congress committed to make
vertical slums of our cities.
our government more responsive and more
BETTER WAYS TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE
To help all Americans to own their own
responsible. We have reinforced our Republi-
(By Congressman GERALD R. FORD of Michi-
home, we support a National Home Owner-
can Leadership in fighting to reform the leg-
gan, the House Republican Leader)
ship Opportunity Act. This Act would allow
islative branch of government. Congress
1968 is no ordinary year.
a new home owner to work on his own house,
must be modernized to serve you better. And
The State of the Union is serious business.
and have his labor contribute to his down
that legislation is now awaiting House elec-
President Johnson came before Congress.
payment.
tion.
The Nation was anxious and waiting for
The Act would combine the resources of
We need a Clean Elections Law that will
his words.
government and private industry by drawing
guarantee that you'll know what's been go-
Never were Americans hoping harder for
upon private expertise to assist low income
ing on behind the scenes before you vote. And
someone to call them to action.
families in building or rehabilitating homes.
that law must be on the books for the 1968
People all across this nation are deeply
It would also allow the government to n-
elections.
disturbed, concerned about what's going on,
nancially assist low income families who can-
These and other measures can help restore
right here at home. I'm moved by the
not pay commercial interest rates.
the faith of the American people in their gov-
simple eloquence of their letters-their un-
There is a great opportunity here for gov-
ernment.
ashamed love for America.
ernment and private industry to work to-
Americans are impatient with mediocrity.
Doesn't the President listen to any of these
gether in the good of the country. As the
So am I. Americans are not content to sit
people?
Homestead Act opened the West, this could
back and watch morality become a joke or
They've seen raging violence, destruction
be the 20th Century Homestead Act, helping
responsibility become a plaything for politi-
and death right on their own doorsteps—
to remake the face of our cities.
clans. Nor are we willing to watch politi-
their homes and stores ablaze and looted-
Low income families deserve our help while
cians build a so-called great society of big
tanks and paratroopers-not on faraway
striving to own their home. This nation re-
government and little people. Our purpose
battlefields but rolling through once quiet
quires a realistic housing program, not more
is a great people.
neighborhoods.
false promises. We must regin to offer to the
3,
H550
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - HOUSE
January 30, 1968
slum dweller the hope that he as an individ-
LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS
us about the protection we need most of all-
ual can succeed.
(By Senator ROBERT P. GRIFFIN of Michigan)
effective protection from rising prices.
MORE JOBS FOR AMERICANS
If a single thread runs through Republi-
Now if there is anyone who knows just how
(By Congressman ALBERT H. QUIE
can thinking, it is an abiding faith in the
fast prices are rising, it is those of us who
of Minnesota)
individual.
work in the kitchen and shop in the grocery
The cities are boiling with frustration.
Over the years, Republicans have stood
store, and when the people running our gov-
up-not only for the public interest and for
ernment tell us that a little rise in prices
Frustration can be a man without a good
the right of workers to join unions-but also
is a good thing, we say: Maybe so, but you're
job. We need an immediate program to pro-
to make sure that the individual union mem-
carrying a good thing too far!
vide hundreds of thousands of jobs in pri-
vate enterprise. That's the only way we can
ber is not relegated to second-class citizen-
With skyrocketing prices and increasing
provide jobs fast enough to cool the seeth-
ship.
taxes, it is little wonder American workers
Today, American workers are deeply con-
want more take-home pay to keep pace with
ing cities.
Yet the Johnson Administration has op-
cerned as they see the collective bargaining
their cost-of-living. And now we even see
posed every Republican effort to involve pri-
process breaking down
as
they
see
strike
the threat of wage controls.
vate enterprise in the poverty program.
losses increasing by 96% under the Johnson
This must stop. The American family has
They've been long on promises-short on
Administration.
to balance its budget and the President can
They're not satisfied with an NLRB that
do more to get things back in balance in his
performance. Now, at long last, the Presi-
distorts the law. And they believe their union
budget.
dent is beginning to talk about jobs for the
dues ought to be used strictly for union busi-
You don't have to be an economist or a big
poor in private enterprise. He'll be talking
more about private industry doing the job
ness-not for politics.
government planner to know that rising
his poverty war just has not done.
Back in 1966, President Johnson pledged
prices, the biggest threat to every family.
that he would propose and press the Demo-
stem from unsound government policies.
To the President who has been opposing
our approach for four long years, and now
cratic-controlled Congress for certain re-
I think I speak for American women-and
forms, pointing particularly to the need for
men too-when I call upon the President to
says he will do it our way, we have this chal-
better legal machinery to help in settling
stop wasting our money and make it worth
lenge.
We challenge you to support our Human
strikes.
something again.
Investment Act, that would encourage busi-
Needless to say, 1966 has passed. 1967 has
THE FARMER'S HIGH HURDLES
ness and industry to train under-employed
come and gone. And America listened care-
(By Congressman BOB MATHIAS of
men and women. We challenge you to sup-
fully to the State of the Union message last
California)
port an Industry Youth Corps, not just gov-
week. But, although paralyzing strike after
I have faced some high hurdles in my time.
ernment youth corps. Support our call for
strike has emphasized the problem, President
But, you know, they're nothing compared to
voluntary boards of businessmen in every
Johnson still has not delivered on that 1966
the hurdles facing the American farmer to-
city across the country to mobilize the com-
pledge.
day. I know this because I represent a farm
munity to help the poor get off welfare rolls.
In this troubled area, our Nation desper-
area and I hear from them every day. The
Do not pour more money into old pro-
ately needs leadership-new leadership with
Johnson Administration, by deliberate poli-
grams that don't work. Do provide training
vision and courage to stand up for the public
cies such as the dumping of grain reserves,
for jobs that are waiting to be filled. Use
interest and the rights of the individual
has pushed fam income down. This has left
poverty dollars wisely to involve the poor
worker.
the farmer with an ever-declining share of
in helping themselves, not to feed bureauc-
After winning that Senate race in Michi-
America's food dollar.
racy or city hall patronage.
gan not so long ago, I'm more convinced
Government trade policies have destroyed
Many of the prisoners of poverty can learn
than ever that millions of American
historic markets and encouraged imports.
to earn. These Americans need their hopes
workers-who refuse to take political march-
In spite of misdirected and self-defeating
fulfilled. This country must launch a new
ing-orders from anyone-are eager to sup-
Federal programs, the energy and ingenuity
crusade for human renewal.
port that new leadership next November.
of the American farmer have outpaced the
Words and more words are not enough, Mr.
THE ECONOMY IN CRISIS
tremendous growth of our population.
President.
(By Congressman GEORGE BUSH of Texas)
They've fed millions of hungry people
CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
We hear a great deal today about a tax
around the world. Our farmers must have
(By Congressman RICHARD H. POFF
increase
a tax increase to halt inflation,
the opportunity to run their own farms with
of Virginia)
a tax increase to check the outflow of gold,
minimum government interference and to
The first duty of government is to main-
a tax increase to restore confidence in the
join together to negotiate for better farm
tain law and order. The peace and tran-
dollar. Republicans respond that before we
prices. The most productive people in our
quility guaranteed by the Constitution must
consider a tax increase, we must cut spend-
economy, the American farmers, took a pay
be restored.
ing.
cut of a billion and a half dollars in 1967,
No nation in history has been able to sur-
The nation faces this year-as It did last—
and the situation is getting worse. Farm
vive the collapse of its moral structure and
a tremendous deficit in the federal budget,
prices stood at 74% of parity last year, the
the anarchy and lawlessness that follow.
but in the President's message, there was no
lowest level since 1933.
Look at the situation confronting us to-
sense of sacrifice of the part of the govern-
In the face of these shocking failures, the
day.
ment, no assignment of priorities, no hint of
Administration and the Secretary of Agricul-
Murder is epidemic. Rape is common-
the need to put first things first.
ture are determined to make their controls
place-Burgiary happens 80 often it is no
This reckless policy has imposed the cruel
a permanent part of the farm scene. Their
longer news. Pornography, filth and dope are
tax of rising prices on the people, pushed
programs are geared to the tired theories of
peddled on nearly every street corner. Crime
interest rates to their highest levels in 100
the 30's, not to the challenge of the 70's.
has grown six times as fast as the popula-
years, sharply reduced the rate of real eco-
Every time the Johnson Administration
tion.
nomic growth and saddled every man and
comes up with a new farm program, the
Despite the urgent warnings of F.B.I. D1-
woman and child in this country with the
farmers pay more and get less. We think it's
rector Hoover and law enforcement officers
largest tax burden in our history.
time for a change
and so does the
everywhere the Johnson Administration has
And what does the President say? He says
American farmer.
failed to take effective action. The Attorney
we must still pay more taxes and he pro-
RESTORING FEDERALISM AND FREEDOM
General has banned the use of modern in-
poses drastic reductions on the rights of
Americans to invest and travel abroad.
(By Congressman MELVIN R. LAIRD of
vestigative techniques. The soaring increase
in crime has been called just "a little bit" of
If the President wants to control inflation,
Wisconsin)
an increase.
he's got to cut back on federal spending. The
Republicans believe there are better ways
The recent statements of President John-
best way to stop the gold drain is to live
for Americans to do things than the way of
son that reflect a new awareness, some hard-
within our means in this country.
the great planned society. President John-
ening of purpose, are welcome.
We Republicans pledge ourselves to find
son's solution is to pile program upon pro-
State and local law enforcement officers
solutions to America's most urgent problems
gram, regulated, administered, and directed
must have help, but without Federal domina-
in health, housing, education, jobs and se-
from Washington.
tion and control. Our Law Enforcement and
curity but we shall never sacrifice the Ameri-
Republicans would establish revenue shar-
Criminal Justice Act that passed the House
can people to & cynical policy of wasteful
ing with our states and localities to return
last year provides such assistance.
spending and higher taxes.
a percentage of Federal income taxes with
THE BIGGEST THREAT TO EVERY FAMILY
no strings attached. We would consolidate
We must escalate the War against Crime
so that all citizens, regardless of color, will be
(By Congresswoman CATHERINE MAY of the
the hundreds of existing programs into block
grants that would be both more flexible and
safe in their home, at their places of business
State of Washington)
and on the streets.
more effective in getting the job done. And
The President said a lot about protecting
we would provide tax credits both for state
The American people want the "enforce-
the consumer in his State of the Union Mes-
and local taxes paid and for such special
ment" put back into law enforcement.
sage the other night. But he did fail to tell
purposes as education and job training.
Junuary 30, 1968
CCNGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE
H551
Our problems can only be solved if all
Last year, the Soviets goaded the Arab
We stand for firm resistance to naked
levels of our society-governmental and pri-
states into a military showdown with Israel.
Communist aggression in Vietnam as we did
vate-pull together in a true partnership.
While the United States stood aloof, the
in Greece, Berlin, Korea and Cuba. We also
This means that we have to strengthen states
Israelis fought a brilliant war and beat both
stand for the complete protection of Ameri-
and localities, not weaken them. The job is
the Arab armies and their expensive Soviet
can ships in international waters.
not being done today because local and state
weapons.
We note that in the last few months the-
officials don't have the money. They have
Since last June the Soviet Union has been
Johnson Administration has been vigorously
the ability
and the knowledge
but
pouring modern tools of war into the Middle
prosecuting the war in Vietnam. But, we also
they lack the resources because the Federal
East, and the area is again buzzing with
note that for far too long It followed a self-
tax collector has gobbled them up.
powerful new Soviet jet planes.
defeating policy of "gradualism."
Republicans have faith in our Governors
As the Soviets rush in to become the major
That "gradualism" policy caused us to pull
and State Legislators. We believe in our
force in the Middle East, with a policy of
our punches; it prolonged the fighting; it
Mayors and school board members. We think
turbulence, what is United States policy? No
cost American lives unnecessarily. This war
you can trust them to do what is right for
one seems to know.
could be over today if the Johnson Admin-
the people and the community they serve.
The U.S. is doing nothing to convince the
istration had acted with determination in-
When they don't, we have faith that the peo-
Soviets of the grievous world danger in this
stead of with vacillation.
ple will replace them with office holders who
arms race. Continuing sales of Soviet arms
It is no wonder that the communist enemy
will. That is what our representative govern-
to Arab countries force Israel to find deter-
is confused about American intentions and
ment is all about.
rent weapons.
doubts American determination. The Admin-
Revenue sharing, together with block
Where is the initiative of the Johnson Ad-
istration's ping-pong pronouncements have
grants and tax credits, would restore true
ministration to get Arabs and Israelis to the
left even Americans confused.
Federalism in America. It would give control
same peace table and preferably through
Throughout this century Republican Ad-
back to the people, provide the tools for pro-
direct talks?
ministrations have understood how to main-
grams that work, arrest the.drift of power to
The greatest insurance against Soviet dom-
tain world peace. Today, we understand what
Washington, and preserve the fundamental
ination of the Middle East is a strong
peace demands.
freedoms of the American people.
Israel, living at peace with its Arab neighbors.
The nation suffers from a "peace gap"
CONFUSION, CHAOS AND CREDIBILITY
Peace in the Middle East and survival of
which we are determined to close.
(By Senator HOWARD H. BAKER, JR. of
gallant Israel depends upon a firm and clear
OUR SONS IN VIETNAM
Tennessee)
American policy.
(By Congresswoman CHARLOTTE T. REID
A DEFENSE POSTURE SECOND TO NONE
During the past few minutes, we have
of Illinois)
heard of domestic chaos in America. But you
(By Senator PETER H. DOMINICK of Colorado)
Yes, I am a mother. Two of my four chil-
see, in this nuclear age our concern can be
The peace of the Free World depends large-
dren are sons-one of whom served four
no less for the bewildering array of confu-
ly on American strength-economic, moral
years in the Marine Corps and the other left
sion and chaos abroad. Whether we speak of
and military strength.
for Vietnam just last week. I believe that
Vietnam or Cuba, West Berlin or Latin Amer-
The right to wake up unafraid is every
not only all parents, but all thinking Amer-
ica, the Middle East or Africa, there is a
American's heritage, secure in the knowledge
icans are as deeply distressed as I am by
common theme: America is forfeiting its
that this country is too strong to attack.
complacency, disunity, and protest here at
leadership. The credibility of our intentions,
There can be no partisan politics in our
home.
our will, our economic solvency is being
efforts to maintain this goal. It is too im-
There are many problems which threaten
questioned. Not since the Civil War has the
portant to mankind. But let's look at the
our American way of life-crime, disrespect
United States been so divided. Never has
record.
for law and order-but particularly the war.
American prestige abroad fallen so low.
We are told of bomb shortages, automatic
Our men in Vietnam are fighting to insure
We find NATO in shambles and summarily
rifle malfunctions and lack of proper jungle
the freedom and happiness of all of us-of
evicted from France. We find the seeds of
gear. We have no new fighter aircraft and
our children and, indeed, our grandchildren,
world war sown in the strife-torn Middle
the TFX is still a question mark. 16" naval
too.
East: a restless giant in Latin America is just
fire power from battleships have been liter-
So-we must impose on ourselves the kind
beginning to arouse, as are the emerging Na-
ally kept in moth balls, and repeated Con-
of discipline we impose on our soldier sons.
tions of Africa. Asia is measuring the will
gressional efforts to obtain an anti-missile
While we have American troops in Vietnam,
and wisdom of the American posture.
system have been summarily thrust aside
we must be certain that they have our
As the free world loses faith in our leader-
until this year.
wholehearted support. We must be certain
ship, it is also losing hope that we have the
In the meanwhile, the Red Chinese have
that the Johnson Administration knows
will to order our own house. Thus, the in-
been steadily expanding their nuclear capa-
what it is trying to do in Vietnam and that
ternational and the domestic problems
bility. The Soviets have surpassed us in de-
it knows how to do 1t. Above all, there must
merge, as Nations rush to convert dollars to
liverable nuclear megatonnage and they have
be no false promises.
gold. And what must we do?
developed a fractional orbiting nuclear bomb
More than 16,000 families have learned the
We must have bold unifying leadership.
and six new fighter-bomber aircraft systems.
final, terrible price of freedom. Yet, the cas-
We must establish credibility for the hu-
They have the largest submarine fleet in the
ualty lists continue to rise. We must be cer-
mane motives of America and its will to re-
world and they are well on their way toward
tain that the lives which have been lost will
sist aggression. We must restore confidence
completion of an anti-missile system.
not have been sacrificed in vain.
in the American economy, before it is too
We are menaced now-not tomorrow or
WE WILL GO FORWARD
late. We must help those who are willing to
next year or the next decade, but now. The
(By Congressman GERALD R. FORD of Michi-
help themselves, not with just handouts
overwhelming strategic superiority developed
gan, the House Republican Leader)
which so often produce bitterness and re-
under President Eisenhower has rapidly dis-
sentment but with dignity and grace and
sipated. This Administration has developed
What you've seen is a picture of our party,
respect. We must lay aside the tired old tech-
a strange new doctrine-that Soviet strategic
how we look, what we think, how we feel
niques of the past and stand ready to in-
equality is better than American supremacy.
and why we believe there must be better
novate, to use our vast nuclear technology
That dangerous doctrine must be reversed
ways to run our country.
to produce fresh water from sea water, to
while there is still time. Peace, with freedom,
Only by facing facts can we, as one nation
produce abundant food supplies and energy,
is inseparable from American strength. Let's
and one people, move forward to forge in our
employed to promote cooperation instead of
keep it.
time a more perfect Union.
conflict. We must be as concerned with pre-
It seems strange not to have Senator
WHAT PEACE DEMANDS TODAY
venting another Vietnam as we are with
Dirksen by my side. We've missed him to-
bringing this one to an honorable conclu-
(By Senator JOHN G. TOWER of Texas)
night and want him back soon.
sion.
I'm here tonight to tell you where we be-
I speak for all of us, I'm sure, in expressing
lieve the great majority of Americans stand
special thanks to you, Senator Murphy, for
There must be a new direction, new leader-
on Vietnam.
the tremendous job you've done in presiding
ship, credible and sound. And to secure these
First and foremost we stand for the all-
over this hour, and to my friend and col-
ends we pledge ourselves, singly and in bi-
partisan effort, now and in the future.
out support of our half-million fighting men
league from New York, Congressman Goodell,
and women-material support and moral
who relinquished a place on the program to
DANGER IN THE MIDDLE EAST
support.
make room for others.
(By Senator HUGH SCOTT of Pennsylvania)
We stand for military success in Vietnam
We have told the truth as we see it about
One of the greatest dangers to world peace
that will enable the Vietnamese to rebuild
the State of the Union.
is ticking away in the Middle East. The
a free nation.
We're proud of our party and its leaders
President's State of the Union Message was
from Abraham Lincoln to General Eisen-
We stand for an era of peace and stability
vague about U.S. efforts in that vital area
hower. We're proud of legislators like those
that will embrace all of Southeast Asia.
of the world-because the Johnson Admin-
you've just seen-of our great governors and
We stand for the effective utilization of
istration's policies are vague.
the young men and women coming up and
America's vast air and sea superiority.
taking charge.
The Soviet Union relishes that kind of
We stand for quarantine of the enemy's
Two-party competition made America
situation.
supply lines 80 that he can no longer fight.
great and keeps it free. When stakes are high
5,
H552
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD HOUSE
January 30, 1968
and problems grave, we need more airing of
point in the RECORD and to include ex-
12. Passage of a permanent legislative code
the issues-not less.
traneous matter.)
of ethics.
Debate must be candid, it must be high-
Mr. GERALD R. FORD. Mr. Speaker,
13. Enactment of a National Homeowner-
level, and it must be respectful of honest
the role assigned to the gentleman from
ship Opportunity Act to assist low-income
differences.
All Americans should, and we do, respect
New York [Mr. GOODELL] in the prep-
families in owning their own homes.
14. A Human Investment Act to encourage
the high office of the Presidency. We ask this
aration of our Republican appraisal of
business and industry in training un-
question most seriously and respectfully:
the state of the Union was to summarize
employed men and women.
Will the President now agree to meet our
the positive Republican programs ad-
15. Creation of an Office of Industry Par-
nominee in man-to-man debates on the
vanced by the other participants or pre-
ticipation in the executive branch to
overpowering issues of 1968?
viously proposed in the 90th Congress.
coordinate private efforts in solving pressing
Will he do his part in dramatizing to the
In seeking to comply with the limitations
urban problems.
whole world, face to face before the Ameri-
can people, that free discussion in troubled
of live television, it became apparent that
16. An Industry Youth Corps to assist our
times does not divide us but unites us.
there were far too many of these pro-
nation's young people in finding employment
in private, productive jobs, not dead-end
Lincoln did.
posals-more than 47-even to enumer-
public jobs.
John F. Kennedy did.
ate briefly without subtracting from the
17. Establishment of voluntary boards of
Lyndon Baines Johnson should.
time allotted to others. The gentleman
businessmen in cities throughout this nation
We, the most powerful nation and people
from New York unselfishly ruled himself
to mobilize the total resources of com-
in history, toss and turn with the tides of
out of the presentation over the CBS
munities in helping the poor overcome their
discontent, seethe with the injustices of
network on January 23 and played an
special problems in obtaining employment
hope denied, wrestle with the burdens of a
indispensable but invisible role. The
and getting off the welfare rolls.
war unwon.
And now a startling flame bursts up from
joint Republican leadership of the Con-
18. Utilization of the "community action"
concept to assure participation of the poor in
a 15-year-old war still smouldering on an-
gress, however, announced on January
solving their own problems, while avoiding
other Asian peninsula, Korea. Negotiations
22 that additional material would be
use of poverty funds for political patronage.
at Panmunjom have never ended, perhaps
made available to the public at a later
19. Phasing over of the Job Corps into com-
are going on this very hour.
date. I am honored to place in the RECORD
munity residential training facilities that are,
All Americans will pray tonight for peace.
at this point the summary prepared by
wherever possible, combined with state
I know of no loyal American, whether we be
the distinguished chairman of our House
vocational education programs to provide
Democrats or Republicans or independents,
Republican Planning and Research Com-
efficient and effective help for unskilled
who isn't hoping the Pueblo incident can be
resolved peacefully, who doesn't want peace
mittee [Mr. GOODELL].
young men and women in qualifying for pro-
ductive, private employment.
in Korea and peace in Vietnam as quickly
CONSTRUCTIVE REPUBLICAN PROGRAMS
20. Establishment of military career cen-
as it can be honorably found.
(By Congressman CHARLES E. GOODELL of
ters to assist otherwise unqualified young
No American worthy of the name is op-
New York)
men in pursuing military careers on a volun-
posed to peace or wants war. We stand to-
In this rapidly changing twentieth century,
teer basis.
night behind our President-and we have
where today's job cannot be done with yester-
21. Providing states with a key in Head
throughout each enemy testing of our na-
day's tools, our nation must seek to utilize
Start programs while retaining parental and
tional will-in every earnest effort he makes
every human resource to solve our nation's
non-public agency participation and sup-
for enduring peace.
problems. Transformed from an agrarian to
portive health, nutrition and family serv-
Republicans stand for peace at home and
an industrial society in less than 100 years,
ices.
peace in the world.
with seven of every ten Americans now living
22. Establishment of an Early Years pro-
Peace anywhere and everywhere finally de-
in urban areas, our nation must solve the
gram, to include both elementary school chil-
pends on strength, firmness and candor from
new and demanding problems of an urban
dren who have participated in Head Start
our leaders, calm courage and confidence
society while still coping with problems re-
and those who have not, providing needed
from our people.
maining from previous generations. To ac-
additional educational, social and nutritional
We defend peace most surely when we de-
complish this task, Republicans in the United
services.
mand candor, firmness and strength in fac-
States Congress recommend 47 overall pro-
23. Coordination and unified administra-
ing up to both foreign challenges and
posals, including more than 50 specific,
tion of inter-related programs such as Head
domestic difficulties. To be strong abroad we
positive programs for a better America:
Start with the Elementary and Secondary
must be strong at home.
1. Immediate passage of a Congressional
Education Act, Job Corps with Vocational
In the year just passed we have watched
reform bill to improve Congressional legisla-
Education and Poverty training with the
our cities erupt and our savings erode.
tive machinery.
Manpower Training programs, thereby avoid-
But Americans are neither quitters nor
2. Establishment of a permanent Joint
ing waste and administrative overlap.
losers.
Committee on the Reorganization of
24. A 100% income tax deduction for medi-
We can take the hard truth, make the
Congress.
cal expenses and drug costs incurred by our
hard choices, and put our country's future
3. Adoption of a Clean Elections Law to re-
senior citizens.
first.
establish confidence in the integrity of our
25. Appointment of a National Commis-
Physical power and spiritual strength we
election process.
sion on Urban Living to study in-depth the
have. Great leadership we shall find.
4. Adoption of improvements in our elec-
problems of our urban areas.
And we, each one of us, must look deep
toral college system.
26. Creation of a blue-ribbon commission
into his conscience, searching to establish
5. Establishment of a Hoover-style commis-
to study the long-range needs of our Amer-
what is truly American, hoping to find a new
sion to recommend needed reforms in the
ican military posture.
America that unites the dreams and serves
executive branch of our government.
27. Continued development of the Ad-
the needs of all of us.
6. Adoption of an Intergovernmental Co-
vanced Manned Strategic Bomber, the long-
This generation of Americans, and the
operation Act to promote more effective re-
range interceptor aircraft, our anti-sub-
next and the next, will once again establish
lationships between federal, state and local
marine warfare capabilities, our anti-missile
justice, ensure domestic tranquility, pro-
governments.
system, and every feasible use of nuclear
vide for the common defense, promote the
7. Improved usage of our nation's fiscal
power for our Navy.
general welfare and secure the blessings of
resources through a federal revenue sharing
28. Expansion of veterans' benefits to pro-
liberty.
program with state and local governments.
vide cost-of-living increases for veterans re-
8. Bloc grants to state and local govern-
ceiving service-connected disability benefits
We will not be distracted by the shrill dis-
cord of the spoilers.
ments to make our federal grant-in-aid pro-
and for widows of veterans receiving death
We will not be diverted by the doom's day
gram more effective.
compensation benefits.
9. Allowance of tax credits to state and
29. Expansion of the G.I. benefits program
fantasies of the fearful.
local governments for federal taxes paid that
to widows of servicemen who died while
Let us instead hear this: "Be strong and
state and local governments might have
serving our country and to wives of service-
of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be
better revenue sources to solve their own
men who incurred total disability while
thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with
problems.
serving.
thee."
10. Creation of an independent in-
30. An improved earnings exemption for
We will go forward with high hearts and
vestigating committee in the United States
veterans so that their desire to earn addi-
ready hands for the hard work ahead.
Congress under the control of members of
tional income will not be hampered
the opposite party from the party of the
by prospects of a harsh reduction in their
President.
veterans' benefits.
THE POSITIVE REPUBLICAN
11. Strengthening of the power of Congress
31. Creation of an Office of Inspector Gen-
PROGRAMS
to oversee the Executive Branch and guar-
eral in the National Aeronautics and Space
antee that legislative intent is carried out
(Mr. GERALD R. FORD (at the re-
Administration to insure the safety and
through such programs as an independent
efficiency of our space program.
quest of Mr. VANDER JAGT) was granted
oversight agency of Congress and expanded,
32. Immediate enactment of legislation to
permission to extend his remarks at this
re-oriented Committee staffs.
protect civil rights workers from violence
January 30, 1968
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - HOUSE
H553
while traveling interstate and prompt passage
Mr. Ahmed pointed up the need for
most oriented towards "life saving," with the
of legislation to make illegal the use of inter-
additional data in the areas of mobility
greatest number of deaths on the highways;
tate communication and transportation fa-
patterns, employment and income, in-
the most mobile, with some of the most
ilities to provoke violence.
33. Legislation to take the Post Office out
stitutional demography and the impacts
rigid caste confinęments. Thus, one needs
of governmental programs. We cannot
to examine not only the micro or specific
f
politics.
situation, but also whether the goals of the
34. Increasing flexible usage of Title I
work toward solving the problems of our
society in terms of increased industrial
unds by the states in the Elementary and
urban areas until we have identified
production is a proper goal for the America
econdary Education Act.
these problems, and it is here the Gov-
of the seventies. Whether the state policies
35. Promoting increased efficiency and
ernment and its statisticians can provide
vital to the accomodation of these goals—
exibility in the administration of Title III
most valuable assistance. Because of the
regulation of aggregate demand, mainte-
[ the Elementary and Secondary Education
urgency of the problems facing our cities
nance of the large public and technical sec-
ct through involving state participation
ore effectively.
and the positive approach Mr. Ahmed
tors on which this regulation depends, un-
takes to solving them, I include his
derwriting of advanced technology, such as
36. Establishment of fiscal priorities that
speech in the RECORD at this point:
the provision of an increasing volume of
ill enable our nation to fully fund pro-
trained and educated manpower-should not
rams to meet urgent national and human
DATA NEEDS FOR LOCAL AND REGIONAL
include policies-such as the care of the ill,
eeds.
DECISIONMAKING
aged, provision of parks and recreation, re-
37. Reduction of the fiscal deficit and re-
(Address by Mr. Paul I. Ahmed, National
moval of waste, provision of agreeable public
ersal of inflationary monetary policies to
Center for Health Statistics, as chairman
structures. Thus, the society has to go
tabilize the cost of living.
of the conference sponsored by the Wash-
beyond the needs of the industrial system,
38. Full recognition that our balance of
ington chapters of the American Sta-
into the social needs of the cities and coun-
ayments problem cannot be met with
tistical Association, and the American
ties. The national economic solution to "na-
hort-run controls, but requires realistic
Marketing Association, held on November
tional problems" needs to include economic
rograms to expand controls and curtail un-
15, 1967, at the Interdepartmental Audi-
as well as social solutions both at the na-
ecessary expenditures.
torium, Washington, D.C.)1
tional and the local level.
39. Immediate enactment of legislation to
rovide proper federal assistance to state and
Deputy Under Secretary Ross, Commis-
Other areas we need to measure are in-
scal governments in strengthening their
sioner Clague, Ladies and Gentlemen: It is
tangibles such as discomfort, happiness,
IW enforcement capabilities.
only fitting that I call this conference an
social distinction, prestige, satisfaction with
40. Pursuit of a firm and realistic course
important gathering as the topic is timely
life, etc. The society affords a sense of high
a coping with a serious crime problem, par-
and it has such a distinguished list of par-
social urgency to increased output. In order
icularly the use, with proper judicial safe-
ticipants. It is my privilege to be its chair-
to reach this increased production goal, how-
uards, of electronic surveillance in com-
man. This conference meets in the midst of
ever, a management of demand takes place.
atting organized crime.
short and long term urban crises-riots in
It works not on the body but on the mind.
41. Establishment of an independent Fed-
the cities, high unemployment rates, sub-
It first wins acquiesce or belief; action is in
ral Maritime Administration to plan for re-
standard housing, antiquated medical facili-
response to this mental conditioning and
evelopment of our merchant marine.
ties, inadequate educational institutions,
thus devoid of any sense of compulsion. Thus
42. Assignment of a higher priority by this
polluted air and streams, death and injury
it is not that we are required to have a
dministration to rebuilding the maritime
with more high powered cars on the high-
newly configured automobile; it is because
adustry.
ways. What are the goals of the urban
we believe that we must have them. If
43. Legislation allowing wheat growers to
society? How can the statistician, economist,
society's goals are to be examined for reallo-
eceive advance crop payments.
and sociologist provide the tools to assist the
cation of resources, the legitimacy of beliefs
44. Changing the present feed grains pro-
program planner in tackling the urban prob-
and how they are arrived at will have to be
;ram to emphasize stronger market prices.
lems in both the short and long run? What
examined. For example, we ask people not
45. Prompt consideration of legislation
kinds of data are currently available? What
to smoke, not to eat certain foods, to keep
'esigned to improve the bargaining position
are the additional needs to define and meas-
the city clean and to use safety belts, etc.
f farmers.
ure the goals of urban society?
Motivation will most likely be guided by the
46. Extension of Public Law 480, the Eisen-
existing beliefs people have about the sever-
It is the statistician's task to provide data
ower Food for Peace program, with an addi-
ity of a given disease or injury, their own
on which decisions could be based to alleviate
ional emphasis on expanding markets for
reaction to it, and the benefits they might
some of the problems of our cities; data
S. farm production.
derive from taking some kind of action.
that could tell /whether an attempt should
47. Development of an incentive program
These motivations must be measured in order
be made to maintain the decentralization
) encourage construction of air and water
to have a baseline to know what beliefs we
ollution control facilities by private busi-
process of our cities or go back to their con-
need to change for a particular desired
centrated core; data which could provide
ess and industry.
result.
Opportunity and security remain the hall-
guidelines as to whether new cities should
II. NEED FOR ADDITIONAL DATA
harks of the American Dream. These 47
be built, and if so, how far apart such cities
ecommendations are a part of our Republi-
should be built; data that could provide the
Mobility patterns
decision to use 10 or 20 billion dollars if such
an program to insure the future of our na-
Many of the city problems are caused by
ion through providing equal opportunity
money was available. How can we accomplish
events far from its borders, Technological
nd security for all Americans. Crucial to our
this goal? Four dimensions must be ex-
change, a change in the economic climate
ation's progress and vital to the progress of
amined. First, we should re-examine the
and social changes in other parts of the
11 mankind is the way we as Americans re-
framework of data, especially economic
country lead to vast shifts of population
ew our commitment to this goal.
data, because of the continuously chang-
posing human problems of poverty, unem-
ing framework of economic theory. Secondly,
ployment, etc. Additional facts need to be
we may have to collect the same data we
known about movement from city to city
)ATA NEEDS FOR REGIONAL AND
now collect in a different way. Thirdly, addi-
and within metropolitan areas in terms of
LOCAL DECISIONMAKING
tional data needs to be collected; and fourth,
outflow to the suburbs and the reverse flows.
new ways of treating the data may have to be
The people who are leaving need to know
(Mr. CURTIS (at the request of Mr.
found. For the purpose of brevity, the latter
which area can offer more opportunity. The
ANDER JAGT) was granted permission to
three are classified one category of "Need
receiving cities need to know about the
xtend his remarks at this point in the
for additional data."
composition of the probable shifts of popu-
lation. A great deal more could be usefully
RECORD and to include extraneous mat-
I. GOALS OF URBAN SOCIETY
known about the middle age couples whose
er.)
No test of social success has such nearly
children have established a household of
Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, in Novem-
unanimous acceptance as the annual in-
their own. Certainly knowledge about the
er 1967, the Washington chapters of
crease in Gross National Product. Given the
increasing number of younger persons who
he American Statistical Association held
goal it is no wonder that the economic pol-
move out is of critical importance to the
conference on data needs for local
icies of the federal government over the past
urban planners. In the public health field,
two generations have been based on con-
nd regional decisionmaking. The open-
mobility itself is the prime public health
tinental or aggregative data to the neglect
variable. We have to know not simply births
ng address by Mr. Paul I. Ahmed, chair-
or exclusion of specific circumstances. Thus,
and deaths within areas but movement
nan of the conference, emphasized the
the United States has the best unemployment
within areas.
eed for new and improved statistical
data in the world, but there is no city that
Employment and income
lata to provide the means to identify
knows its unemployment rates by sections.
We are the richest nation with some of the
There is a well-known assumption of cur-
nd help solve problems of our cities. We
eed to discover not only whether the
worst slums; the most educated with some
rent policy that there is a mismatch be-
:oals of our cities conform to the desires
of the most marginal school chilren; the
tween the pool of available skills and avail-
able jobs in the inner city. It is conceivable,
of their inhabitants, but also the specific
however, that some of the problems of un-
problems that need to be solved to make
1 The views presented here are those of the
employment in a metropolitan area are
our cities more enjoyable places in which
author and not of the National Center for
caused by the combination of physical sepa-
o live.
Health Statistics.
ration in distance and separation of infor-
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE AT 9 P.M. TUESDAY--
January 14, 1969
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., Minority Leader, U.S. House of Reps.
Lyndon Johnson's sixth State of the Union Message is a most gracious and
fitting farewell address.
To me the most significant statement was his plea that Democrats in the
Congress cooperate with Richard Nixon when he assumes the heavy responsibilities
of the President on Jan. 20. I was most pleased that Mr. Johnson urged members
of his party not to seek "narrow personal or partisan advantage." I feel sure
the American people join with Mr. Johnson in that wish.
Mr. Johnson's valedictory was moderate and restrained in tone. He could
have delivered a partisan message but chose not to do SO. I am sure he made his
various recommendations in a spirit of hopefulness although he will not be in
a position to seek to implement them. In all candor, we must look to the new
Administration to set a course for the years ahead.
I am pleased that Mr. Johnson and Mr. Nixon found it possible to agree
on a surtax recommendation. It seems inescapable to me that under current
conditions -- extreme inflationary pressures and the continuing high cost of the
war in Vietnam -- the 10 per cent surcharge would have to be extended. However,
the final decision will not be made now but in May or June. And it is important
to note that Mr. Nixon properly reserves for himself the right to make the
decision he deems wise at the time a definitive judgment must be made and in the
light of conditions existing at that time.
The smoothness of the transition from one administration to the other
gives reason to hope that the cooperative spirit of Lyndon Johnson will become
the spirit of the 91st Congress.
# # #
OfficeCapy
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE AT 9 P.M. TUESDAY--
January 14, 1969
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., Minority Leader, U.S. House of Reps.
Lyndon Johnson's sixth State of the Union Message is a most gracious and
fitting farewell address.
To me the most significant statement was his plea that Democrats in the
Congress cooperate with Richard Nixon when he assumes the heavy responsibilities
of the President on Jan. 20. I was most pleased that Mr. Johnson urged members
of his party not to seek "narrow personal or partisan advantage." I feel sure
the American people join with Mr. Johnson in that wish.
Mr. Johnson's valedictory was moderate and restrained in tone. He could
have delivered a partisan message but chose not to do SO. I am sure he made his
various recommendations in a spirit of hopefulness although he will not be in
a position to seek to implement them. In all candor, we must look to the new
Administration to set a course for the years ahead.
I am pleased that Mr. Johnson and Mr. Nixon found it possible to agree
on a surtax recommendation. It seems inescapable to me that under current
conditions . -- extreme inflationary pressures and the continuing high cost of the
war in Vietnam -- the 10 per cent surcharge would have to be extended. However,
the final decision will not be made now but in May or June. And it is important
to note that Mr. Nixon properly reserves for himself the right to make the
decision he deems wise at the time a definitive judgment must be made and in the
light of conditions existing at that time.
The smoothness of the transition from one administration to the other
gives reason to hope that the cooperative spirit of Lyndon Johnson will become
the spirit of the 91st Congress.
###
GERRLD FORD LIBRARY
91sT CONGRESS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DOCUMENT
1st Session
No. 91-96
PRINCIPAL LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS
MESSAGE
FROM
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
TRANSMITTING
A REPORT RELATIVE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN ADMIN-
ISTRATION PLANS AND PRIORITIES AND CERTAIN LEGISLATIVE
PROPOSALS
APRIL 14, 1969.-Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of
the Union and ordered to be printed
To the Congress of the United States:
As the Members of Congress know, I have had under consideration
the question of whether to send to the Congress this year a message
on the state of the Union. I have decided against doing SO. However,
to assist Congress in formulating its plans, I would like to indicate at
this time some of the principal legislative proposals that I will be
sending in the weeks immediately ahead, and to report on the develop-
ment of administration plans and priorities as they relate to domestic
programs.
The first 12 weeks of the new administration have been devoted in-
tensively to the pursuit of peace abroad, and to the development of new
structures and new programs for the pursuit of progress at home.
Peace has been the first priority. It concerns the future of civiliza-
tion; and even in terms of our domestic needs themselves, what we are
able to do will depend in large measure on the prospects for an early
end to the war in Vietnam.
At the same time, the first days of this administration have afforded
us a unique opportunity to study the Nation's domestic problems in
depth, and to overhaul and retool the complex machinery of the
Executive Office.
98-011
2
3
A systematic review of domestic programs and policies has led to a
the scope of our commitment in this vital field, including the establish-
series of recommendations which I will begin sending to Congress this
ment of an Office of Child Development within the Department of
week. Among those recommendations will be-
Health, Education, and Welfare. We hope that this enlarging com-
-An increase in social security benefits, to take account of the rise
mitment will be accompanied by an enlarging of the base of knowl-
in living costs.
edge on which we act. We are not beginning with "massive" programs
-New measures to combat organized crime, and to crack down on
that risk tripping over their own unreadiness. Rather, our proposals
racketeers, narcotics traffickers, and peddlers of obscenity.
will include step-by-step plans, including careful projections of fund-
-A program of tax credits, designed to provide new incentives for
ing requirements. Equally important, though federally supported, they
the enlistment of additional private resources in meeting our
will embrace a network of local programs that will enlist voluntary
urgent social needs.
-A program to increase the effectiveness of our national drive for
participation. These legislative proposals are, of course, being prepared within the
equal employment opportunity.
context of other administration actions which bear on domestic pro-
-A comprehensive reorganization of the Post Office Department.
gram development.
-A program for the District of Columbia, including home rule and
On taking office, I could see that whether measured in terms of its
congressional representation.
ability to respond, to decide, or to implement, the executive branch
-A start on sharing the revenues of the Federal Government, SO that
simply was not structured to meet the emerging needs of the 1970's.
other levels of government where revenue increases lag behind
Therefore my first moves were organizational.
will not be caught in a constant fiscal crisis.
The National Security Council was revitalized. The Urban Affairs
-A far-reaching new program for development of our airways and
Council was created, SO that the problems of our cities could be ap-
airports, and our mass transit systems.
proached in the broader perspective they now require. A Cabinet Com-
-A comprehensive labor and manpower program, including job
mittee on Economic Policy was established, to bring greater coherence
training and placement, improvements in unemployment insur-
to the management of our Nation's economic prosperity. The system
ance, and proposals to help guarantee the health and safety of
of Federal regional offices was reorganized SO that for the first time,
workers.
related agencies will have common regional headquarters and common
-Reform of the tax structure. The burden of taxation is great
regional boundaries. An Office of Intergovernmental Relations was
enough without permitting the continuance of unfairness in the
set up to smooth the coordination of Federal, State, and local efforts.
tax system. New legislation will be proposed to prevent several
In specific operational areas, we removed postmasterships from poli-
specific abuses this year, and plans will be set in motion for a
tics, started an overhaul of the Office of Economic Opportunity and its
comprehensive revision of our tax structure by 1970, the first since
programs, and streamlined the administration of the various man-
1954.
power programs.
The legislative proposals of the next few weeks are a beginning.
One purpose of this early emphasis on organizational activity was
They form part of a responsible approach to our goal of managing
to get the decisionmaking process in order before moving to the major
constructive change in America.
decisions.
This is not law we seek in order to have it "on the books," but law
At the same time, I sent more than 100 directives to the heads of the
that we need in action. It is designed, not to look appealing in the
various departments and agencies, asking their carefully considered
record, but to take effect in our lives.
recommendations on a wide range of domestic policy issues. The budget
It will be the goal of this administration to propose only legislation
was submitted to an intensive review, and throughout the administra-
that we know we can execute once it becomes law. We have deliberated
tion we addressed ourselves to the critical question of priorities.
long and hard on each of these measures, in order to be sure we could
One priority that has emerged clearly and compellingly is that we
make it work. Merely making proposals takes only a typewriter; mak-
must put a halt, swiftly, to the ruinous rise of inflationary pressures.
ing workable proposals takes time. We have taken this time.
The present inflationary surge, already in its fourth year, represents
In other areas, where more time is needed, we will take more time.
a national self-indulgence we cannot afford any longer. Unless we save
I urge the Congress to join with this administration in this careful
the dollar, we will have nothing left with which to save our cities-or
approach to the most fundamental issues confronting our country.
anything else. I have already outlined certain steps that will be re-
Hasty action or a seeking after partisan advantage either by the Con-
quired:
gress or executive branch can only be self-defeating and aggravate
-Continuation of the monetary policies the Federal Reserve author-
the very ills we seek to remedy.
ities are now pursuing.
For example, one area of deep concern to this administration has
-A reduction of fiscal year 1970 expenditures by $4 billion below
to do with the most dependent constituency of all: the child under
the best current estimate of the budget expenditures recommended
five. I have announced a commitment to the first 5 years of life as
by the last administration.
one of the basic pledges of this administration. Headstart was one
-Continuation of the income tax surcharge for another year.
promising idea for bettering the environment and nutrition of young
-Postponing of the scheduled reductions in telephone and pas-
children; there also are many others. We have already begun enlarging
senger car excise taxes.
H. Doc. 91-96
H. Doc. 91-96
4
5
-Enactment of user charges equal in revenue to those now in the
have been made available at less cost by the use of incentives to attract
budget.
private funds.
-An increase in postal charges.
The programs I will submit have been drawn with those principles
These steps are not pleasant medicine. Medicine to combat inflation
in mind. Among their aims are-
is never pleasant. But we can no longer delay taking it.
-To supplement Federal funds with private funds, through the use
Another priority is the control of crime. On January 31, I announced
of "seed money" devices such as tax credits and loan guarantees.
a detailed plan for combating crime in the District of Columbia, recog-
-To enlist the great, vital voluntary sector more fully, using the
nizing that the Federal City should be made a model of law observance
energies of those millions of Americans who are able and eager
and law enforcement. The crime-control package soon to be submitted
to help in combating the Nation's ills.
to Congress will make clear the Federal Government's commitment,
-To help rebuild State and local institutions, SO that they both
nationwide, to assisting local authorities in protecting the lives, rights,
merit and gain a greater measure of confidence on the part of their
and property of their citizens.
own citizens.
An equally pressing priority is the entire complex of needs that
-To streamline the administration of Federal programs, not only
we commonly group under the heading, "the problems of the cities"-
for efficiency and economy, but to improve the certainty of deliv-
but which in fact reach beyond the cities, and include the distresses
ery and to cut away the clouds of confusion that now surround
of rural America as well.
not only their operation, but often their purposes.
Our policy review has strengthened my conviction that in approach-
-To make maximum use of the new knowledge constantly being
ing these problems, America needs a new direction-not a turning
gained, as, for example, in our commitment to the first 5 years
away from past goals, but a clear and determined turn toward new
of life.
means of achieving those goals.
These programs will not carry extravagant promises. The American
One example is hunger and malnutrition. The failure of past efforts
people have seen too many promises, too many false hopes raised, too
to combat these problems has been made shockingly clear. Our new
much substitution of the easy slogan for the hard performance.
programs will be both vigorous and innovative.
Neither will they carry large price tags for the coming fiscal year.
Another example is welfare. Our studies have demonstrated that
We must recognize, however, that in the long run progress will not
tinkering with the present welfare system is not enough. We need a
come cheaply; and even though the urgency of controlling inflation
complete reappraisal and redirection of programs which have aggra-
dictates budget cuts in the short run, we must be prepared to increase
vated the troubles they were meant to cure, perpetuating a dismal
substantially our dollar investment in America's future as soon as the
cycle of dependency from one generation to the next. Therefore, I will
resources become available.
be submitting to Congress a program providing for the reform of the
This administration will gladly trade the false excitement of fanfare
welfare system.
for the abiding satisfaction of achievement. Consolidation, coordina-
In the field of social legislation, we now have a hodgepodge of pro-
tion, and efficiency are not ends in themselves; they are necessary means
grams piled on programs, in which too often the pressure to perpetuate
of making America's government responsive to the legitimate demands
ill-conceived but established ones has denied needed resources to those
for new departures.
that are new and more promising.
Quietly, thoughtfully, but urgently, the members of this administra-
We have learned that too often Government's delivery systems have
tion have moved in these first few months to redirect the course of
failed: though Congress may pass a law, or the President may issue an
the Nation. I am confident of the direction, and convinced that the
order, the intended services never reach the intended recipients. Last
time to take it has come.
week, for example, in announcing a $200 million program for rebuild-
RICHARD NIXON.
ing riot-torn areas, I noted that after 2, 3, and even 4 years nothing
THE WHITE HOUSE, April 14, 1969.
had been done, and cited this as evidence of the growing impotence of
Government. The crucial point here is that whereas in the past, "leave
()
it to the States" was sometimes a signal for inaction by design, now
"leave it to Washington" has become too often a signal for inaction
by default. We have to design systems that go beyond "commitment,"
and guarantee performance.
If there is one thing we know, it is that the Federal Government can-
not solve all the Nation's problems by itself; yet there has been an over-
shift of jurisdiction and responsibility to the Federal Government.
We must kindle a new partnership between Government and people,
and among the various levels of government.
Too often, Federal funds have been wasted or used unwisely-for
example, by pouring them into direct grants, when more money could
H. Doc. 91-96
H. Doc. 91-96
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
April 14, 1969
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., Republican Leader, U.S. House of
Representatives, as placed in the Congressional Record.
MR. SPEAKER: I invite the attention of every member of this House to
President Nixon's Message spelling out the recommendations which now will begin
flowing from the White House to the Congress.
This presidential message is highly significant, for it points the
Federal Government, and indeed the entire Nation, in New Directions. It calls
for new approaches to deep and persistent problems. It opens the door to a new
national effort to improve the quality of life for all Americans -- a partnership
of the individual citizen, the local community, the private sector, business
and industry, the states and the Federal Government -- all working together for
the common good.
The new approaches will be laid out for the Congress to examine and
dissect, Mr. Speaker -- a start on sharing Federal income tax revenue with the
states and local units of government; a program of tax credits, using tax
incentives to promote the achievement of social objectives.
The Nixon Administration is moving, too, to meet our most challenging
and difficult problems head-on -- through a crackdown on narcotics traffickers;
through a program to promote equal employment opportunity more effectively;
through a top-to-bottom reorganization of the Post Office Department; through
new programs in air and mass transit travel; through expansion and improvements
in job training and placement; and through reform of our tax structure.
For our senior citizens, struggling to make ends meet in the face of
rising prices, we pledge a substantial increase in Social Security benefits.
Our pensioners have a great need for help. We must meet that need.
Mr. Speaker, it is not important that these proposals did not begin moving
from the White House to the Congress until after the Easter Recess. The most
urgent initial task of the new Administration was one of review, reappraisal and
consolidation.
Mr. Speaker, President Nixon has outlined the initial scope of his
legislative program. He has also moved to fight inflation with a new determi-
nation which I believe points toward success.
We have our work cut out for us, Mr. Speaker. It now is up to us to help
move the Nation ahead.
###
O Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
April 14, 1969
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., Republican Leader, U.S. House of
Representatives, as placed in the Congressional Record.
MR. SPEAKER: I invite the attention of every member of this House to
President Nixon's Message spelling out the recommendations which now will begin
flowing from the White House to the Congress.
This presidential message is highly significant, for it points the
Federal Government, and indeed the entire Nation, in New Directions. It calls
for new approaches to deep and persistent problems. It opens the door to a new
national effort to improve the quality of life for all Americans -- a partnership
of the individual citizen, the local community, the private sector, business
and industry, the states and the Federal Government -- all working together for
the common good.
The new approaches will be laid out for the Congress to examine and
dissect, Mr. Speaker -- a start on sharing Federal income tax revenue with the
states and local units of government; a program of tax credits, using tax
incentives to promote the achievement of social objectives.
The Nixon Administration is moving, too, to meet our most challenging
and difficult problems head-on -- through a crackdown on narcotics traffickers;
through a program to promote equal employment opportunity more effectively;
through a top-to-bottom reorganization of the Post Office Department; through
new programs in air and mass transit travel; through expansion and improvements
in job training and placement; and through reform of our tax structure.
For our senior citizens, struggling to make ends meet in the face of
rising prices, we pledge a substantial increase in Social Security benefits.
Our pensioners have a great need for help. We must meet that need.
Mr. Speaker, it is not important that these proposals did not begin moving
from the White House to the Congress until after the Easter Recess. The most
urgent initial task of the new Administration was one of review, reappraisal and
consolidation.
Mr. Speaker, President Nixon has outlined the initial scope of his
legislative program. He has also moved to fight inflation with a new determi-
nation which I believe points toward success.
We have our work cut out for us, Mr. Speaker. It now is up to us to help
move the Nation ahead.
# #