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4525683
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Military Costs, March 13, 1951
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4525683
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Military Costs, March 13, 1951
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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National security
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1951-03-31
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1951
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The original documents are located in Box D14, folder "Military Costs, March 13, 1951" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
3-13-51
rather Trufty
GREALD R, FORD, JR. - MICHIGAN
MR. SPRAKER, the high cost of our military defense progrem should
make us realise that inflation as well as Communist aggression is donaging
our national security. In Jamery of this year President Truman in his trud-
get measage told the country the United States could get along with 41 billion
for military outlays in the next fiscal year. From recent statements by the
Pentagon and other official sources it appears that the President will nov
salt for oven a larger military budget in fiscal 1952.
Defense planners contend that the cost of velipons and defense
equipment is rising for faster than was anticipated. The Pentagon budget
experts point out that every time TOW material prices and unges increase,
the cost of vespons rises. for emmple, the Army is now paying $250,000
for a heavy anti-aircraft on that cost $160,000 before the Korean var
began.
A-recent Navy directive to "all hands" illustrates the problem more
vividly. The clothing costs for one enlisted man have jumped from $118.00
to $254.75. Blankets have soomed from $6.00 to $20.00,
At the end of World the II a fighter plane cost $53,000. Now our
fighter planes cost $218,000. A medium homber cost has risen from 0185,000
to $2,500,000.
The effect of this inflationary price increase is devastating both
on our military plans and our domestic economy. The military appropriations
spproved just before the Korean mr, those approved by Congress since July
of 1950 and those now proposed will buy for loss than tes originally con-
templated. In effect, inflation by increasing the cont of guns, planes
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
Digitized from Box D14 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
and ships, has decreased our military strength just as the Chinese
Communists have done in the Korean stalemate.
It is obvious the United States mut overcome the dangers of in-
flation if ve are to win the long pull against the Kremlin. Militarily
the nation is stronger now than It VIA when the Korean Mage started, even
though ve have 50,000 casualties and losses in equipment, but domestically,
because of inflation, we are in bad shape. Our fighting non in Korea have
valiantly not the Communists on the field of Inttle and have been success-
ful despite the restrictions imposed on Ceneral MaGArthur by the Department
of State and the White House. At the same time the top administration
bureencents and policy malters do little to stem the tide of inflation.
The President's outrageous 98 billion dollar budget is one of several
basto causes of inflation. Rio budget does not call for any "tightening"
of the government's belt. The Congress, Reyublicans and Democrate nlike,
must assume the job of reducing government expenses in on all-out effort
to stave off further inflation.
In addition, the President must name full and effective use of the
Defense Production Act which Congress enneted in September of 1950. The
Thite House has had the necessary authority to "hold the line" for the
last six months without results. This dolay has already cost the taxpayers
many millions and if the bungling continues conditions are bound to be
worse. For the defense of America strong and effective action on the
"home front" is long overdue. The tools are and have been available,
when can the public expect action?
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD