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AFL-CIO Legislative Conference, Washington, DC, January 11, 1960
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AFL-CIO Legislative Conference, Washington, DC, January 11, 1960
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The original documents are located in Box D15, folder ""AFL-CIO Legislative Conference,
Washington, DC, January 11, 1960" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 D15 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Address by Rep. Gerald Ford (R.-Mich)
before the
AFL-CIO Legislative Conference
Willard Hotel
Washington, D. C.
January 11, 1960
President Meany, my colleague, Representative John W. McCormack,
the Democratic majority leader, other distinguished guests and repre-
sentatives from the various unions of the AFL-CIO. It's a great
privilege and a high honor for me to have the opportunity to be here
this morning and to participate in these activities.
I do wish to apologize for Charlie Halleck's absence. President
Meany has indicated that he had been invited to speak for the Republican
Party but unfortunately it was necessary for him to go to Pennsylvania
to attend the funeral of one of our fine colleagues, Congressman Simp-
son of Pennsylvania. Charlie Halleck would have given you a fine
address, humorous, substantive and I think one well worth listening to.
I come as a substitute, I've done that quite a bit in my life
in the past. I only ask your indulgence because I will give my own
views and those I believe that Charlie may have been ready to give
you as a representative of the Republican Party.
In looking over rather hurriedly over the weekend the news
release in reference to the conference, I was glad to note that four
principle points seemed to be mentioned. One, there was a recognition
of certain very serious and basic national problems such as the com-
petition with the Soviet Union, the ideology and philosophy of Commu-
nism, a need for a growing and prosperous America, a necessity for
greater freedom and justice for all of America.
The announcement also indicated that there were certain facts
that had to be admitted. Such as the posterity of our people at
this time in the length and breadth of our country. Of course this
fact must be admitted because it's true. In the last six or seven
years, the average hourly wage has gone up substantially in our
country. In this same period of time, the average weekly wage has
gone up substantially. During this same period of time, the total
compensation or total national income has moved forward for all our
citizens.
Now this improvement isn't what all of us would have liked,
but nevertheless it has taken place and I believe very firmly that
if we work together even greater improvement in these areas can be
before us all in the days ahead.
The news release on this conference also indicated that certain
challenges would be issued to the two great political parties of our
country. Challenges and competition are good for all of us. They're
good for me, for you, for my political party and for yours, and I
can say without hesitation or qualification that I believe this chal-
lenge will bring greater results for your organization and for our
country as a whole. In this same release also, and I am very appre-
ciative for it, you gave to me and to a representative for the Demo-
cratic Party an opportunity to be here with you this morning. As a
-more-
Ford -2-
Republican and as a representative of the Republican Party, I re-
emphasize my gratitude for this invitation. Historically, America
believes in and has operated under, I believe successfully, a strong
two-party system. This great tradition I hope and trust will prevail
in the future. Historically, our two great political parties have
been made up of citizens of all walks of life. Both Democrat and
Republican have found their places in the minds and the hearts of
people from Maine to California and from the North to the South. We,
as Democrats and Republicans have intellectuals rom the college cam-
puses. Both Democrats and Republicans have representatives from busi-
ness, both big and small. The two political parties have in their rank
working people, production workers, skilled craftsmen, and both politi-
cal parties have farmers carrying their banners. Republicans recognize
this need for a broadly based Republican party and I say sincerely and
completely honestly that as a Republican I welcome anyone or all of
you into the ranks of the Republican Party now or in the future.
At times in the past I might say it has seemed to some of us
in the Republican Party, particularly in a state like my own, Michigan,
that the leaders of this organization and similar organizations have
cast their lots one hundred per cent with the Democrat Party as a prac-
tical matter from your point of view. I doubt the wisdom of such a
policy. This attitude may well have been the outgrowth of the old
theory of the class struggle, the issue of capital versus labor.
Fifty years ago perhaps the GOP in the minds of some people may
have well represented capital, but today modern Republican philosophy
has a far broader impact, both philosophically and practically. Per-
haps the best and most recent evidence of this is, I believe, the recent
good work of Vice President Nixon and Secretary of Labor Mitchell in
working with one of your own fine leaders, Dave McDonald, in a solution
of a difficult and tough problem for over five hundred thousand Steel-
workers. Today, I challenge the theory and the practice if it does
exist, that the best interests of labor can be achieved by this organi-
zation or any other of supporting only the Democratic Party.
I might say parenthetically that the election of more Democrats
and fewer Republicans in 1958 has, as for now, not brought the reward
that many in your organization envisioned.
May I say, also, it takes more than a political party label
to make a good ally. In my judgment the policy that this organization,
or any other, should support only one political party is outmoded, is
outdated by history. The theory of the class struggle is dead. Recent
world history proves this point beyond any doubt. As times improve,
as the good things of life become more abundant, and more available
to your members and to other Americans, as our overall standard of
living improves generally throughout the United States, the advocates
of this one-party affiliation may find themselves in the position of a
moored ship that finds itself high and dry, stranded and inoperative
when the tide of time changes its level.
-more-
Ford -3-
This conference has challenged the Congress to certain specific
actions in the legislative field. On specific legislative proposals,
your organization has endorsed certain bills, has advocated the enact-
ment of certain proposals. During the course of this session, the
reputable groups, representing other citizens of this country, will
come forward with their answers to the problems that we all have. The
President, for the Administration, recognizing certain areas that need
action will come forward with his recommendations for our approval.
From this melting pot of ideas, will come solutions of the problems
that need attention, and I am confident that this Congress, both Demo-
crat and Republican, alike will assume and meet their responsibilities
in these areas.
For myself, I believe that the problems that concern you, and
that concern Americans as a whole, can be achieved within the frame-
work of a balanced budget, by controlling inflation, and by maintaining
a strong flexible, modern and ever-alert national defense policy. One
thing that I have always felt very deeply about can be summed up in
a very few words, and it may be appropriate to say it here this morning:
sometimes as I look at legislative proposals I become somewhat appre-
hensive because I realize and I hope you do too, that a government big
enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to
take from us everything we have.
Now, in conclusion, may I say that this conference and rightly
so, recognizes the broad challenge presented by the Soviet Union,
the ideology and the philosophy of communism. This challenge is broad,
the competition is tough, it will include a fortright challenge to our
educational system. It will challenge the strength of our economy, both
as to quality, quantity and competitive prices.
The Soviet challenge will meet us in the field of military
posture. I, as one American, have no doubt that we can come out the
winner. However, in the process, I respectfully suggest that we re-
dedicate ourselves to the Republic (and we have a Republic here) that
we re-dedicate ourselves to a representative form of government and thank
God we have it, that we re-dedicate ourselves to our democratic way of
life, and I say that you can't make footprints in the sands of time
sitting down. This is not the time, my friends, for sunshine soldiers
and summer patriots. We have the brains, the determination, the leader-
ship, and if we put these all together and make a maximum effort with
God's help, we will prevail. Thank you.
###
Address by Rep. Gerald Ford (R.-Mich)
before the
AFL-CIO Legislative Conference
Willard Hotel
Washington, D. C.
January 11, 1960
President Meany, my colleague, Representative John W. McCormack,
the Democratic majority leader, other distinguished guests and repre-
sentatives from the various unions of the AFL-CIO. It's a great
privilege and a high honor for me to have the opportunity to be here
this morning and to participate in these activities.
I do wish to apologize for Charlie Halleck's absence. President
Meany has indicated that he had been invited to speak for the Republican
Party but unfortunately it was necessary for him to go to Pennsylvania
to attend the funeral of one of our fine colleagues, Congressman Simp-
son of Pennsylvania. Charlie Halleck would have given you a fine
address, humorous, substantive and I think one well worth listening to.
I come as a substitute, I've done that quite a bit in my life
in the past. I only ask your indulgence because I will give my own
views and those I believe that Charlie may have been ready to give
you as a representative of the Republican Party.
In looking over rather hurriedly over the weekend the news
release in reference to the conference, I was glad to note that four
principle points seemed to be mentioned. One, there was a recognition
of certain very serious and basic national problems such as the com-
petition with the Soviet Union, the ideology and philosophy of Commu-
nism, a need for a growing and prosperous America, a necessity for
greater freedom and justice for all of America.
The announcement also indicated that there were certain facts
that had to be admitted. Such as the posterity of our people at
this time in the length and breadth of our country. Of course this
fact must be admitted because it's true. In the last six or seven
years, the average hourly wage has gone up substantially in our
country. In this same period of time, the average weekly wage has
gone up substantially. During this same period of time, the total
compensation or total national income has moved forward for all our
citizens.
Now this improvement isn't what all of us would have liked,
but nevertheless it has taken place and I believe very firmly that
if we work together even greater improvement in these areas can be
before us all in the days ahead.
The news release on this conference also indicated that certain
challenges would be issued to the two great political parties of our
country. Challenges and competition are good for all of us. They're
good for me, for you, for my political party and for yours, and I
can say without hesitation or qualification that I believe this chal-
lenge will bring greater results for your organization and for our
country as a whole. In this same release also, and I am very appre-
ciative for it, you gave to me and to a representative for the Demo-
cratic Party an opportunity to be here with you this morning. As a
-more-
Ford -2-
Republican and as a representative of the Republican Party, I re-
emphasize my gratitude for this invitation. Historically, America
believes in and has operated under, I believe successfully, a strong
two-party system. This great tradition I hope and trust will prevail
in the future. Historically, our two great political parties have
been made up of citizens of all walks of life. Both Democrat and
Republican have found their places in the minds and the hearts of
people from Maine to California and from the North to the South. We,
as Democrats and Republicans have intellectuals f rom the college cam-
puses. Both Democrats and Republicans have representatives from busi-
ness, both big and small. The two political parties have in their rank
working people, production workers, skilled craftsmen, and both politi-
cal parties have farmers carrying their banners. Republicans recognize
this need for a broadly based Republican party and I say sincerely and
completely honestly that as a Republican I welcome anyone or all of
you into the ranks of the Republican Party now or in the future.
At times in the past I might say it has seemed to some of us
in the Republican Party, particularly in a state like my own, Michigan,
that the leaders of this organization and similar organizations have
cast their lots one hundred per cent with the Democrat Party as a prac-
tical matter from your point of view. I doubt the wisdom of such a
policy. This attitude may well have been the outgrowth of the old
theory of the class struggle, the issue of capital versus labor.
Fifty years ago perhaps the GOP in the minds of some people may
have well represented capital, but today modern Republican philosophy
has a far broader impact, both philosophically and practically. Per-
haps the best and most recent evidence of this is, I believe, the recent
good work of Vice President Nixon and Secretary of Labor Mitchell in
working with one of your own fine leaders, Dave McDonald, in a solution
of a difficult and tough problem for over five hundred thousand Steel-
workers. Today, I challenge the theory and the practice if it does
exist, that the best interests of labor can be achieved by this organi-
zation or any other of supporting only the Democratic Party.
I might say parenthetically that the election of more Democrats
and fewer Republicans in 1958 has, as for now, not brought the reward
that many in your organization envisioned.
May I say, also, it takes more than a political party label
to make a good ally. In my judgment the policy that this organization,
or any other, should support only one political party is outmoded, is
outdated by history. The theory of the class struggle is dead. Recent
world history proves this point beyond any doubt. As times improve,
as the good things of life become more abundant, and more available
to your members and to other Americans, as our overall standard of
living improves generally throughout the United States, the advocates
of this one-party affiliation may find themselves in the position of a
moored ship that finds itself high and dry, stranded and inoperative
when the tide of time changes its level.
-more-
Ford -3-
This conference has challenged the Congress to certain specific
actions in the legislative field. On specific legislative proposals,
your organization has endorsed certain bills, has advocated the enact-
ment of certain proposals. During the course of this session, the
reputable groups, representing other citizens of this country, will
come forward with their answers to the problems that we all have. The
President, for the Administration, recognizing certain areas that need
action will come forward with his recommendations for our approval.
From this melting pot of ideas, will come solutions of the problems
that need attention, and I am confident that this Congress, both Demo-
crat and Republican, alike will assume and meet their responsibilities
in these areas.
For myself, I believe that the problems that concern you, and
that concern Americans as a whole, can be achieved within the frame-
work of a balanced budget, by controlling inflation, and by maintaining
a strong flexible, modern and ever-alert national defense policy. One
thing that I have always felt very deeply about can be summed up in
a very few words, and it may be appropriate to say it here this morning:
sometimes as I look at legislative proposals I become somewhat appre-
hensive because I realize and I hope you do too, that a government big
enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to
take from us everything we have.
Now, in conclusion, may I say that this conference and rightly
so, recognizes the broad challenge presented by the Soviet Union,
the ideology and the philosophy of communism. This challenge is broad,
the competition is tough, it will include a fortright challenge to our
educational system. It will challenge the strength of our economy, both
as to quality, quantity and competitive prices.
The Soviet challenge will meet us in the field of military
posture. I, as one American, have no doubt that we can come out the
winner. However, in the process, I respectfully suggest that we re-
dedicate ourselves to the Republic (and we have a Republic here) that
we re-dedicate ourselves to a representative form of government and thank
God we have it, that we re-dedicate ourselves to our democratic way of
life, and I say that you can't make footprints in the sands of time
sitting down. This is not the time, my friends, for sunshine soldiers
and summer patriots. We have the brains, the determination, the leader-
ship, and if we put these all together and make a maximum effort with
God's help, we will prevail. Thank you.
###
GERALD