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The original documents are located in Box D14, folder "Memorial Day, Holland, MI, May
31, 1954" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 D14 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Memorial Day - 1954
Holland, mehijan
Ladies and Gentlemen -
Memorial Day is indeed a solemn and significant occasion
for all Americans. It is the day set aside for honoring the memory
of the heroic men and women who have given their lives to preserve the
unity of our country, or to defend it against the aggressions of others.
In this year of Our Lord Nineteen hundred and fifty-four, its
significance is emphasized, for again the interests of the United
States and the principles and institutions it represents are the
subject of aggression.
One of the fundamental characteristics of the American people
is their desire to live in peace. We covet no other nation's territory,
we envy no other people's wealth, and we have no desire to interfere
in the manner in which they conduct their domestic affairs. But
because this love of peace is so deeply imbedded in our national spirit
we have always had difficulty in understanding the desire for conquest
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
Page 2
which exists in other nations, and we are slow to appreciate the
threat which they present to us.
This aspect of our character was never more manifest than it
is in our attitude toward world Communism and the ambitions of the
rulers of the Soviet Union. Because of our profound desire to live in
friendly neighborliness with all peoples, we find it hard to understand
the monstrousness of the Communist conspiracy, the all-encompassing
nature of its attack, and the unscrupulous and amoral character of
its leadership.
But to learn, we have only to read, for the strategy and
pattern of the Communist effort toward world domination was presented
by Lenin when he wrote:
"The dictatorship of the proletariat is a hard-fought fight
against the forces and traditions of the old society, a fight
that is both bloody and unbloody, both violent and passive,
both military and economic, both educational and administrative."
Page 3
Our experience since the end of World War II amply demonstrates
that this statement embodies the guiding principles which motivate the
men in the Kremlin. From the time that it became apparent that
Hitler and his allies were defeated, and that our aid was no longer
needed, the rulers of Communism have been constantly on the attack
against us, shifting their emphasis and changing their immediate
objectives from time to time, but always pressing toward their ulti-
mate goal of world conquest.
At Yalta, taking advantage of our unawareness of their aims
and our misplaced trust, they were able by diplomatic maneuvers to
wring concessions from us which made possible their easy conquest
of the democratic countries of Central Europe. Again at San Fran-
cisco, expecting them to become a peaceful member of the family of
nations, we agreed to the veto power in the Security Council of
the United Nations, and thus gave them a tool which has enabled
them to frustrate and hamstring the actions of that organization.
Page 4
Shifting their tactics when their cold war efforts lost
some of their effectiveness and were met by counter-measures on our
part, they resorted to military aggression in Korea, and now in
Indo-China, using as their instrument their colleagues in Red China.
And while their attack was going on in foreign fields,
these would-be world rulers did not neglect their efforts to weaken
and divide Americans at home. By varying the intensity of their
pressure upon us, they have sought to strain our economy by forcing
upon us alternate periods of recession and inflation, hoping thus
to hasten the collapse which Karl Marx predicted was inevitable.
Unfortunately, the Communists found among us a limited
few with allegiance to their cause who were willing to do their
bidding. Some of these evil and misguided men were able to rise to
positions of power and influence in our government, and by misdirecting
its policies and actions, to weaken our efforts against their masters.
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
Page 5
Others moved into sensitive jobs both in government and industry,
and through their espionage were able to gather and transmit some
of our most closely guarded secrets. Still others gained control
of some of our labor unions, and by precipitating and prolonging
strikes in our vital industries, were able to impede production
necessary to our military defense and the maintenance of our prosperity.
The Communist conspiracy is indeed a formidable enemy, and
far exceeds any threat to our national security and way of life that
we have faced in the past. It attacks in all spheres - diplomatic,
economic, and military - and is guided at all times by its goal of
world domination. Its leaders in the Kremlin know only one principle -
that the end justifies the means - and they are prepared to use any
evil means to advance their nefarious cause. Because they are
irreligious, they know no morality, and their perfidy has no limits.
Already masters of one-third of the world's peoples, they are intent
upon becoming masters of all, for so long as free men exist anywhere,
Page 6
their hold upon the nations they have conquered is in jeopardy.
To recognize Communism for what it is, and to perceive
its power and the threat which it poses, is not to lose hope.
Indeed, without such recognition we cannot prepare ourselves and
maintain the strength we need to meet the attack which is being
made upon us. To paraphrase Lincoln, if we first know where we
are, and whither we are tending, we can better judge what to do
and how to do it. Because in the past we did not know where we
were with respect to Communism, and where we were going, we were
unable to formula te the policies and take the necessary actions
to meet its aggressions, and as a consequence we suffered some defeats.
All this has changed, however, for we are now fully aware
of our danger, we know our enemy, his aims and methods, and we under-
stand what we must do to defeat him for the preservation of peace and
security of all mankind.
Page 7
The first and most indispensable thing we must do is to
maintain and expand our military strength. We know too well the
death and destruction which the hydrogen and atomic bombs can
produce, but we also know that Soviet Russia possesses somewhat
comparable instruments. We must, therefore, continue to produce
these weapons of destruction, and we must expand our strategic air
force to provide the means to deliver them. Our research and
production in the field of guided missiles must go forward unhindered
and we must not neglect any other new weapons which our science and
industry may develop. While building the powerful tools of offense,
we must not overlook the protection of our citizens at home, for we
know that our enemy is capable of reaching our nation by air. A
well-rounded and fully adequate national defense program is of prime
importance,
The horrors of modern warfare are utterly appalling, and
total in their impact, but only if we are fully prepared to wage
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
Page 8
armed conflict can we hope to avoid it. The men in the Kremlin know
as well as we what a hydrogen bomb can do, and only if they realize
that this country and its allies are able to, and will retaliate
in kind, instantly and surely, is there any chance of avoiding such
an attack on our own beloved homeland.
While preparing to meet the ultimate threat, we must not
neglect the traditional tools of war. One of the principal tactics
of our enemy is to use its satellites in localized aggressions
against areas distant from our shores, thus hoping to bring within
its control additional peoples and vital resources. This is the
pattern which was followed in Korea and Indo-China, and which we
may expect to be pursued elsewhere. Here again we cannot hope to
forestall such attacks unless we are prepared to be firm and resolute.
Another major task which we must perform is that of
maintaining our economic stability. Our economy must continue to
operate at a high level and upon an even keel, and we must avoid at
GERALD
Page 9
all costs a major economic collapse. It is a fundamental premise
of Marxian philosphy that capitalism contains within itself the
seeds of its own destruction, and that it must inevitably move
through alternate periods of inflation and deflation until it
ultimately nose dives into the chaos of the proletarian revolution.
This tenet is one of the major guiding principles of Marx's modern
day disiples, and all of their actions are designed to strain our
economy to the breaking and thus to give them the victory they so
ardently desire.
But Marx thought and wrote over a hundred years ago and
his theories were based upon a system which he saw developing in a
Europe still hampered by vestiges of feudalism and medieval monarchy.
He could not, and did not, foresee the tremendous advances which
capitalism and free enterprise have made in this country, and he
had no way of knowing the reforms which have been made and which
have destroyed the factual basis upon which his final conclusions were
founded.
Page 10
Our task in this respect is admittedly a difficult one
for we must prepare for military activity which we hope will never
be necessary while at the same time producing the goods of peace
which have given us the highest standard of living in all history.
And we must accomplish this without feeding the fires of inflation
for if we do not achieve and maintain a financial balance our
efforts will result in sure and certain bankruptcy. Each of us,
therefore, must continue to contribute to this effort according to
our ability, and we must do so willingly for the only alternative
is the loss of all that we cherish.
Fortunately, we are led in our struggle by a man who
knows full well the dangers we face, and who has the will, courage,
and ability to meet them with faith and confidence in our ultimate
victory. President Eisenhower, as commander of our forces in Europe
during the war, and as the first chief of the new European defense
forces, is familiar with the patterns of thought and the ideas which
motivate the leaders of Soviet Communism. He has seen at first hand
GERALD FORD LIBRAR,
Page 11
their perfidy and treachery, and knows through experience the soundest
methods of dealing with them. But even more importantly, he has those
qualities of leadership which fill us with hope and which will unite
us in our efforts.
Read progress has been made under President Eisenhower's
forceful and constructive guidance. Our foreign policy has been
thought out and co-ordinated, and its aims and objectives have been
clearly formulated so that all the world knows where we stand. We no
longer move from emergency to emergency created at the will of the
aggressor, but proceed according to a plan of our own. This foreign
policy rests squarely on the principle of collective security, for we
are not alone in our fight and there are other freedom loving nations
who are sharing the burdens with us. There are times, of course, when
we and our allies differ as to the means to be employed in a particular
situation, and there are some critics who profess to find in such
differences a failure in our policy. These differences do not reveal
Page 12
the weakness, but rather the strength, of our policy. It is only
through free discussion and the reConciliation of opposing views
that we can find the best course of action and unite in single-
minded purpose the forces of the free world.
Furthermore, our military programs have been re-examined
and djusted to meet the needs of our foreign policy and the capacity
of our economy to carry the load. We all recall too vividly how, at
the close of World War II, we demobilized our army, allowed our
air force to deteriorate, and placed our fleet in moth balls and
how, when hostilities in Korea were forced upon us, we embarked almost
hysterically upon a program of re-armament which resulted in waste
and duplication, strained our economy, and forced us to resort to
artificial controls in an effort to halt the inflation which
threatened to overwhelm us. The new programs which President Eisenhower
has announced, and which are presently being implemented will avoid
any repetition of this unhappy experience, and will provide a balanced
military force adequate to deter aggression and to protect the security
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
Page 13
of our country. No longer will we be called upon to prepare
hurriedly and wastefully. Consequently the burden upon our resources
will be minimized. There are some who claim that this will result
in undue rigidity in our military establishment, but such is not the
case. It is quite clear that the goals which have been set are not
inflexible and that if circumstances warrant expansion, it can be
achieved more readily because a basic pattern has been developed at a
time when calm evaluation of the various factors involved was possible.
Yes, we live in troublous times, and the way of life we cherish
is under constant attack by a ruthless, powerful and Godless foe. It
is only natural, therefore, that some of us at times give way to fear
and forget the tremendous, almost unlimited, strength which we possess.
We must at all times guard against this fear, for it is one of
the most effective weapons which Communism possesses. All too many
times in the past the adherents of this nefarious conspiracy, by creating
fear and distrust among the citizens of a country, have weakened their
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
Page 14
faith in freedom and democratic institutions, and have created
profound divisions among them which destroyed their national will and
power to resist. There have been, and undoubtedly still are, among
us men who are devoted to Communism and who are willing to serve its
cause. These are crafty men, well-trained for their traitorous activities,
and they can best be discovered and brought to justice by equally
well-trained experts who know their methods. This ferretting-out is
a job for professionals, and is a responsibility which must be done
with the highest efficiency. It must be accomplished by men whose
only objective is the disclosure and punishment of those who operate
secretly to destroy us. Success cannot be achieved by individuals who
seek publicity and personal or political advantage for their efforts.
And furthermore, this job must be done within the framework of the
guaranties embodied in our Constitution, for to do otherwise would be
to weaken our freedom and become like our enemy. The real traitors
must be found and fully punished, but lets be certain that in
accomplishing the task, we do not destroy our fundamental principles.
Page 15
As we view the horizons ahead we should appreciate the
tremendous potentialities which we possess. We are on the threshhold
of mankind's greatest era. Our natural resources are inmense and our
science and industry are second to none, but even more important is
the spiritual strength with which we as a nation are endowed. America
is a religious nation and our government is founded upon religions
principles. While we may differ as to the church we attend, or
the particular forms our worship may take, we are as one in our faith
in God. It is this faith which distinguishes us from our enemy and
which makes us superior to him, for it is the one source of strength
which he does not possess and which he cannot acquire.
If we remain steadfast in and nurture this faith, adhere to our
blessed freedom, and unite in support of the men who lead us, our
ultimate triumph will be assured, and we will achieve our victory
without adding to the numbers of those who we commemorate on this
Memorial Day.
Speech delivered by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Jr.,
Memorial Day - 1954, Holland, Michigan.
Ladies and Gentlemen -
Memorial Day is indeed a solemn and significant occasion for
all Americans. It is the day set aside for honoring the memory of
the heroic men and women who have given their lives to preserve the
unity of our country, or to defend it against the aggressions of others.
In this year of Our Lord Nineteen hundred and fifty-four, its signifi-
cance is emphasized, for again the interests of the United States and the
principles and institutions it represents are the subject of aggression.
One of the fundamental characteristics of the American people
is their desire to live in peace. We covet no other nation's territory,
we envy no other people's wealth, and we have no desire to interfere
in the manner in which they conduct their domestic affairs. But because
this love of peace is so deeply imbedded in our national spirit, we have
always had difficulty in understanding the desire for conquest which
exists in other nations, and we are slow to appreciate the threat which
they present to us.
This aspect of our character was never more manifest than it
is in our attitude toward world Communism and the ambitions of the
rulers of the Soviet Union. Because of our profound desire to live
in friendly neighborliness with all peoples, we find it hard to under-
stand the monstrousness of the Communist conspiracy, the all-encompassing
nature of its attack, and the unscrupulous and amoral character of its
leadership.
But to learn, we have only to read, for the strategy and pattern
of the Communist effort toward world domination was presented by Lenin
when he wrote:
"The dictatorship of the proletariat is a hard-fought fight
against the forces and traditions of the old society, a fight
that is both bloody and unbloody, both violent and passive,
both military and economic, both educational and administrative."
Our experience since the end of World War II amply demonstrates
that this statement embodies the guiding principles which motivate the
men in the Kremlin. From the time that it became apparent that Hitler
and his allies were defeated, and that our aid was no longer needed,
the rulers of Communism have been constantly on the attack against us,
shifting their emphasis and changing their immediate objectives from
time to time, but always pressing toward their ultimate goal of world
conquest.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
Page 2
At Yalta, taking advantage of our unawareness of their aims and our
misplaced trust, they were able by diplomatic maneuvers to wring con-
cessions from us which made possible their easy conquest of the
demovratic countries of Central Europe. Again at San Francisco,
expecting them to become a peaceful member of the family of nations,
we agreed to the veto power in the Security Council of the United
Nations, and thus gave them a tool which has enabled them to frustrate
and hamstring the actions of that organization.
Shifting their tactics when their cold war efforts lost some
of their effectiveness, and were met by counter-measures on our part,
they resorted to military aggression in Korea, and now in Indo-China,
using as their instrument their colleagues in Red China.
And while their attack was going on in foreign fields, these
would-be world rulers did not neglect their efforts to weaken and
divide Americans at home. By varying the intensity of their pressure
upon us, they have sought to strain our economy by forcing upon us
alternate periods of recession and inflation, hoping thus to hasten
the collapse which Karl Marx predicted was inevitable.
Unfortunately, the Communists found among us a limited few
with allegiance to their cause who were willing to do their bidding.
Some of these evil and misguided men were able to rise to positions
of power and influence in our government, and by misdirecting its
policies and actions, to weaken our efforts against their masters.
Others moved into sinsitive jobs both in government and industry, and
through their espionage were able to gather and transmit some of our
most closely guarded secrets. Still others gained control of some
of our labor unions, and by precipitating and prolonging strikes in
our vital industries, were able to impade production necessary to our
military defense and the maintenance of our prosperity.
The Communist conspiracy is indeed a formidable enemy, and
far exceeds any threat to our national security and way of life that
we have faced in the past. It attacks in all spheres - diplomatic,
economic and military - and is guided at all times by its goal of world
domination. Its leaders in the Kremlin know only one principle - that
the end justifies the means - and they are prepared to use any evil
means to advance their nefarious cause. Because they are irreligious,
they know no morality, and their perfidy has no limits. Already masters
of one-third of the world's peoples, they are intent upon becoming
masters of all, for so long as free men exist anywhere, their hold upon
the nations they have conquered is in jeopardy.
To recognize Communism for what it is, and to perceive its power
and the threat which it poses, is not to lose hope. Indeed, without
such recognition we cannot prepare ourselves and maintain the strength we
need to meet the attack which is being made upon us. To paraphrase Lincoln,
if we first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we can better
GERALD
Page 3
judge what to do and how to do it. Because in the past we did not know
where we were with respect to Communism, and where we were going, we
were unable to formulate the policies and take the necessary actions to
meet its aggressions, and as a consequence we suffered some defeats.
All this has changed, however, for we are now fully aware
of our danger, we know our enemy, his aims and methods, and we understand
what we must do to defeat him for the preservation of peace and
security of all mankind.
The first and most indispensable thing we must do is to main-
tain and expand our military strength. We know too well the death and
destruction which the hydrogen and atomic bombs can produce, but we
also know that Soviet Russia possesses somewhat comparable instruments.
We must, therefore, continue to produce these weapons of destruction,
and we must expand our strategic air force to provide the means to
deliver them. Our research and production in the field of guided missiles
must go forward unhändered and we must not neglect any other new weapons which
our science and industry may develop. While building the powerful tools
of offense, we must not overlook the protection of our citizens at home
for we know that our enemy is capable of reaching our nation by air. A
well-rounded and fully adequate national defense program is of prime
importance.
The horrors of modern warfare are utterly appalling, and
total in their impact, but only if we are fully prepared to wage armed
conflict can we hope to avoid it. The men in the Kremlin know as well
as we what a hydrogen bomb can do, and only if they realize that this
country and its allies are able to, and will retaliate in kind, instantly
and surely, is there any chance of avoiding such an attack on our own
beloved homeland.
While preparing to meet the ultimate threat, we must not
neglect the traditional tools of war. One of the principal tactics
of our enemy is to use its satellites in localized aggressions against
areas distant from our shores, thus hoping to bring within its control
additional peoples and vital resources. This is the pattern which was
followed in Korea and Indo-China, and which we may expect to be pursued
elsewhere. Here again we cannot hope to forestall such attacks unless
we are prepared to be firm and resolute.
Another major task which we must perform is that of main-
taining our economic stability. Our economy must continue to operate
at a high level and upon an even keel, and we must avoid at all costs
a major economic collapse. It is a fundamental premise of Marxian
philosophy that capitalism contains within itself the seeds of its own
destruction, and that it must inevitably move through alternate periods
of. inflation and deflation until it ultimately nose dives into the chaos
of the proletarian revolution. This tenet is one of the major guiding
Page 4
principles of Marx's modern day disciples, and all of their actions are
designed to strain our economy to the breaking and thus to give them the
victory they so arently desire.
But Marx thought and wrote overa hundred years ago and his
theories were based upon a system which he saw developing in a Europe
still hampered by vestiges of feudalism and medieval monarchy. He
could not, and did not, foresee the tremendous advances which capitalism
and free enterprise have made in this country, and he had no way of knowing
the reforms which have been made and which have destroyed the factual
basis upon which his final conclusions were founded.
Our task in this respect is admittedly a difficult one for
we must prepare for military activity which we hope will never be neces-
sary while at the same time producing the goods of peace which have given
us the highest standard of living in all history. And we must accomplish
this without feeding the fires of inflation for if we do not achieve and
maintain a financial balance our efforts will result in sure and certain
bankruptcy. Each of us, therefore, must continue to contribute to this
effort according to our ability, and we must do so willingly for the only
alternative is the loss of allthat we cherish.
Fortunately, we are led in our struggle by a man who knows
full well the dangers we face, and who has the will, courage and ability
to meet them with faith and confidence in our ultimate victory. President
Eisenhower, as commander of our forces in Europe during the war, and as
the first chief of the new European defense forces, is familiar with the
patterns of thought and the ideas which motivate the leaders of Soviet
Communism. He has seen at first hand their perfidy and treachery, and
knows through experience the soundest methods of dealing with them. But
even more importantly, he has those qualities of leadership which fill us
with hope and which will unite us in our efforts.
Real progress has been made under President Eisenhower's
forceful and constructive guidance. Our foreign policy has been thought
out and co-ordinated, and its aims and objectives have been clearly
formulated SO that all the world knows where we stand. We no longer move
from emergency to emergency created at the will of the aggressor, but
proceed according to a plan of our own. This foreign policy rests squarely
on the principle of collective security, for we are not alone in our fight
and there are other freedom loving nations who are sharing the burdens
with us. There are times, of course, when we and our allies differ as to
the means to be employed in a particular situation, and there are some
critics who profess to find in such differences a failure in our policy.
These differences do not reveal the weakness, but rather the strength of
our policy. It is only through free discussion and the reconciliationof
opposing views that we can find the best course of action and unite in
singleminded purpose the forces of the free world.
GERRLA FORD LIBRARY
Page 5
Furthermore, our military programshave been re-examined and
adjusted to meet the needs of our foreign policy and the capacity of our
economy to carry the load. We all recall too vividly how, at the close
of World War II, we demobilized our army, allowed our air force to
deteriorate, and placed our fleet in moth balls and how, when hostilities
in Korea were forced upon us, we embarked almost hysterically upon a pro-
gram of re-armament which resulted in waste and duplication, strained our
economy, and forced us to resort to artificial controls in an effort to
halt the inflation which threatened to overwhelm us. The new programs
which President Eisenhower has announced, and which are presently being
implemented will avoid any repetition of this unhappy experience, and will
provide a balanced military force adequate to deter aggression and to
protect the security of our country. No longer will we be called upon to
prepare hurriedly and wastefully. Consequently the burden upon our
resources will be minimized. There are some who claim that this will
result in undue rigidity in our military establishment, but such is not
the case, It is quite clear that the goals which have been set are not
inflexible and that if circumstances warrant expansion, it can be achieved
more readily because a basic pattern has been developed at a time when
calm evaluation of the various factors involved was possible.
Yes, we live in troublous times, and the way of life we cherish
is under constant attack by a ruthless, powerful and Godless foe. It
is only natural, therefore, that some of us at times give way to fear and
forget the tremendous, almost unlimited, strength which we possess.
We must at all times guard against this fear, for it is one of
the most effective weapons which Communism possesses. All too many times
in the past the adherents of this nefarious conspiracy, by creating fear
and distrust among the citizens of a country, have weakened their faith
in freedom and democratic institutions, and have created profound divisions
among them which destroyed their national will and power to resist. There
have been, and undoubtedly still are, among us men who are devoted to
Communism and who are willing to serve its cause. These are crafty men,
well-trained for their traitorous activities, and they can best be dis-
covered and brought to justice by equally well-trained experts who know
their methods. This ferretting-out is a job for professionals, and is a
responsibility which must be done with the highest efficiency. It must be
accomplished by men whose only objective is the disclosure and punishment
of those who operate secretly to destroy us. Success cannot be achieved
by individuals who seek publicity and personal or political advantage for
their efforts. And furthermore, this job must be done within the frame-
work of the guaranties embodied in our Constitution, for to do otherwise
would be to weaken our freedom and become like our enemy. The real traitors
must be found and fully punished, but lets be certain that in accomplishing
the task, we do not destroy our fundamental principles.
Page 6
As we view the horizons ahead we should appreciate the tremen-
dous potentialities which we possess. We are on the threshold of mankind's
greatest era. Our natural resources are immense and our science and
industry are second to none, but even more important is the spiritual
strength with which we as a nation are endowed. America is a religious
nationand our government is founded upon religious principles. While
we may differ as to the church we attend, or the particular forms our
worship may take, we are as one in our faith in God. It is this faith
which distinguishes us from our enemy and which makes us superior to him,
for it is the one source of strength which he does not possess and which
he cannot acquire.
If we remain steadfast in and nurture this faith, adhere to our
blesses freedom, and unite in support of the men who lead us, our ultimate
triumph will be assured, and we will achieve our victory without adding to
the numbers of those who we commemorate on this Memorial Day.