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Eisenhower Birthday Dinner, Omaha, NE, October 14, 1965
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Eisenhower Birthday Dinner, Omaha, NE, October 14, 1965
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This file contains material relating to Lyndon Johnson.
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collections
Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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Great Society
Legislation
Poverty programs
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The original documents are located in Box D19, folder "Eisenhower Birthday Dinner,
Omaha, NE, October 14, 1965" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
b Vingin Revenue
Rut, of
COATISS HAVSKA
Haus CUNNINGHAM KA Draft 10/13/65 Steve #1
Hess
Eisenhower Birthday Dinner, Omaha, Nebraska,
October 14, 1965
by Congressman Gerald R. Ford, House Republican Leader
I feel honored and privileged to have been asked to take part in this
nationwide salute to a great soldier, a great President, and a great human
being on the occasion of his 75th birthday.
I think it might be appropriate to begin by telling a little story
about the man we have come here to honor, Dwight D. Eisenhower -- a story
which was told to me by former Vice President Nixon.
It seems that in early 1953 President Eisenhower called the Vice Pres-
ident into his office. "Dick," he said, "in my short time in politics I've
been trying to find a common demominator among the politicians I've met.
Yet while some are able speakers, others are virtually inarticulate; while
some are bright, others are frankly dull. In fact, the only thing I can
see that all politicians have in common is that they all married above
themselves!'
And Speaking are I look around for this myself tonight 2 readily at all agree these very that attractive 2 marril above
myself. Dreat, great american
ladies, can only agree with Ike that our Nebraska political leaders indeed
FORD & LIBRAR, 076839
Digitized from Box D19 of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
- 2 -
share this ability to marry above themselves!
It is interesting to contrast the magnificent record of President
Eisenhower -- a man whose whole life has been dedicated to the use of
power for service -- with the record of the present incumbent in the
White House -- whose primary goal appears to be the use of power for
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
power's sake.
gool
- 3 -
I have noticed with considerable interest that even Mike Mansfield,
President Johnson's leader in the Senate, recently proposed that the next
session of Congress (quote) "spend less time on new legislation and more
time correcting oversights in legislation we have just passed. " (end of
quote)
Dont
The Democratic Senate Leader also said that Congress has "passed a
lot of major bills, some of them very hastily."
It strikes me that this may just rate as the understatement of
the decade. Why, it's like saying that Sandy Koufax is just a pretty
fair pitcher.
I might also remind you that Vice President Humphrey has spoken of
"the hugh legislative tonnage dropped on our doorstep." However, knowing
the President as I do, I think it would have been more appropriate for
Mr. Humphrey to have said, "The hugh legislative tonnage shoveled on our
doorstep."
Indeed, at the root of the problem is the fact that today we have a
President who is more interested in creating a welfare state than in the
state of our welfare.
-4-
We need only look at the new Poverty Program, which has already
become a top-heavy bureaucracy, piling bureau upon bureauj. It's time
that right-thinking Americans blew the whistle and exposed the termites
in the bureaus!
I am told that the Poverty Program in the City of Baltimore, for
instance, now spends seventy-five per cent of its funds on personnel
(which is just a fancy name for bureaucrats). And that the top personnel
receives a salary that is $7,500 a year more than that paid to the Governor
of the State!
Now, we are all against poverty -- Republicans, Democrats and Inde-
pendents -- but with a situation like this I say that it's time to take
the profit out of poverty!
Lyndon Johnson is fond of ringing slogans -- like "The Great Society" ---
but have you ever heard him say that his new programs will cost the American
taxpayers an estimated additional $16.7 billion in fiscal 1966 over and
above the so-called regular expenditures?
(NO)
Have you ever heard him say that our national debt -- the lien against
BERALD FORD LIBRARY
- 5 -
our children and grandchildren - -- is NOT $320 billion as it appears on
the record, but actually $800 billion in Y committments for future spending
that require no new laws or programs?
(NO)
Has President Johnson ever said that a $1,000 government bond bought
in 1949 is worth only $730 in buying power today?
(NO)
become of new hedden federal Types
Or that the 1964-65 federal income tax cut failed to reduce taxes
for most Americans?
(NO. Of course you have not.)
You will recall that President Truman used to call the 80th Congress
the "Do-Nothing Vongress." Well, all I can say about the present Congress
under the Johnson steamroller is that it should go down in the history
books as the "Do-Anything Congress!" Clap their hands n check Their feels
Of course, I admit that Mr. Johnson would not agree with me. He
has recently predicted that this Congress "will leap into history as the
most effective and most rewarding Congress for all the people in all the
- 6 -
history of America."
Perhaps he believes that it is a "leap into history" to saddle the
American taxpayer with a national debt that is greater than that of all
other nations in the world combined.
Perhaps the President beleives that it is "most rewarding" to have
skyrocketing living costs and the threat of spiraling inflation.
Perhaps Mr. Johnson feels that it is "most effective" to have state
and local governments crumbling under the heavy hand of federalism.
(And on this point, let me remind you that it was Dwight D. Eisen-
hower who said that one answer to bigger government in Washington is
better government in the States.)
My friends, the record of Lyndon B. Johnson has presented the Repub-
lican Party with a magnificent opportunity to return sound, sensible and
responsible government to Washington -- first in the Congressional elections
of 1966; second in the Presidential election of 1968.
Piret, Lyndon B. Johnson has given us the issue of Lyndon B. Johnson
himself, and the necessity of throwing out an administartion that puts
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD y
- 7 -
personal popularity ahead of statesmanship in the conduct of the Executive
Branch.
He has given us the issues of reckless spending, bureaucratic sprawl,
inflationary pressures and higher hidden taxes.
And, most important, he has given us the issue of loss of individual
freedom, of "big, bigger, biggest" federal government that over-shadows
the individual.
I am reminded of the words of a very wise man, who said: "A govern-
ment big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough
to take from you everything you have."
But, my fellow Republicans, for us to win the chance to restore
balance to government and return dignity to the individual -- for us to
seize the golden opportunity that the record of Lyndon Johnson has given
us -- we must present the American people with one broad-based, united
Party.
The common cause -- the cause of good government -- is great enough
god
and big enough to over-shadow all the minor differences that sometimes
separate us.
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
- 8 -
There are plenty of Democratic scalps available, my friends, without
us having to sharpen our hatchets in each P other's backs.
However, if we go forward united and together - -- as I am confident
we will -- and if we raise the funds, ring the doorbells, make the tele-
R
phone calls, infuse our neighbors with out enthusiasm, and get out the
votes on election days -- then I know that the precincts of America will
join our crusade and reward us with their confidence.
Let's get rolling!
-30-
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
Excerpts from a speech
Release for Ams
Omaha, Nebraska Oct. 14, 1965
Oct. I5, 1965
or at time of
speech delivery
At the root of America's domestic problems today is an Administration
more interested in creating a welfare state than in the state of the welfare.
We need only to look at the poverty program, which has already become a
top-heavy bureaucracy.
Republicans, Democrats and political independents alike are concerned about
poverty, but with the way things are going under the Great Society's plan
it is time to take the profit out of poverty,
The Great Society is a shambles of contradiction. Its programs are dressed
in purity of name. And, in fiscal 1966 its new programs will cost American
taxpayers an estimated additional $16.7 billion over and above the so-called
regular expenditures. Meanwhile, our national debt is not the $320 billion
appearing on the record books, Actually it is $800 billion in committments
for future spending that requires no new laws or programs.
*
*
*
The President has predicted that this Congress "will leap into history as
the most effective and most rewarding Congress for all the people in all the
history of America."
Is it rewarding to have skyrocketing living costs and the threat of
spiraling inflation., to have state and local governments crumbling under the
heavy hand of federalism? Is it effective to have reckless spending by the
Administration and its irresponsible economic policies that could lead the way
toward national and personal bankruptcy?
At this point, we recall that it was Dwight D. Eisenhower who said that one
answer to bigger government in Washington is better government in the states.
*
*
*
The record of President Johnson presents the Republican Party with a
magnificant opportunity to return sound, sensible and responsible government.
It gives us the issues of reckless spending, bureaucratic sprawl, inflationary
FORD
pressures and higher hidden taxes and the loss of individual freedom and
identity.
-more-
Speech excerpts
Rep. Gerald R. Ford (R-Mich)
The common cause the cause of good government is great enough and
big enough to over-shadow all the minor differences that sometimes separate
us.
There are plenty of Democratic political scalps available without us
having to sharpen our hatchets in each other's back.
For us to win the chance to restore balance to government and return
dignity to the individual, for us to seize the golden opportunity that the
Administration's record has given us, we must present the American people
with a broad-based, united Republican Party.
We need to develop strong fund-raising campaigns. We should enlist more
articulate, personable and knowledgable candidates. By our record we must
earn the respect of the electorate to regain stewardship of government in
state houses, counties, townships and ultimately, in Washington.
I propose a neighbor-to-neighbor crusade to tell the facts of the
alleged Great Society. We should ask our neighbors some questions about the
Administration's claim of progress.
Is it progress to retreat from the principles of the Constitution? Is it
progress to perpetuate poverty by political exploitation and purpose? Is it
progress to stifle individual incentive? Is it progress to set a record for
a national debt?
We should remind the electorate that millions of Americans, under the
Democrat Administration, have less money to spend on necessities, slimmer
savings accounts, and more taxes arbitrarily taken from their paychecks.
*
*
With one party dominating Congress and controlling the White House, millions
of Americans have nothing to say about the conduct of the Nation's business.
In the coming elections they will have an opportunity to make our society
not a G reat one, but a good one.
*
*
*
Let's get on with the job. Let's forget 1964. Let's become once again
one Republican Party. This does not mean a huge monolithic political
organization. Certainly we can have responsible disagreement. We should have
intelligent dialogue.
Together---shoulder-to-shoulder- we can win Republican victories.
# # #
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
Excerpts from a speech
Release for Ams
Omaha, Nebraska Oct. 14, 1965
Oct. I5, 1965
or at time of
speech delivery
At the root of America's domestic problems today is an Administration
more interested in creating a welfare state than in the state of the welfare.
We need only to look at the poverty program, which has already become a
top-heavy bureaucracy.
Republicans, Democrats and political in andents alike are concerned about
poverty, but with the way things are going under the Great Society's plan
it is time to take the profit out of poverty,
The Great Society is a shambles of contradiction Its programs are dressed
in purity of name. And, in fiscal 1966 its new programs will cost American
taxpayers an estimated additional $16.7 billion over and above the so-called
regular expenditures. Meanwhile, our national debt is not the $320 billion
appearing on the record books, Actually it is $800 billion in committments
for future spending that requires no new laws or programs.
*
*
The President has predicted that this Congress "will leap into history as
the most effective and most rewarding Congress for all the people in all the
history of America."
Is it rewarding to have skyrocketing living costs and the threat of
spiraling inflation., to have state and local governments crumbling under the
heavy hand of federalism? Is it effective to have reckless spending by the
Administration and its irresponsible economic policies that could lead the way
toward national and personal bankruptey?
At this point, we recall that it was Dwight D. Eisenhower who said that one
answer to bigger government in Washington is better government in the states.
*
*
*
The record of President Johnson presents the Republican Party with a
magnificant opportunity to return sound, sensible and responsible government.
It gives us the issues of reckless spending, bureaucratic sprawl, inflationary
pressures and higher hidden taxes
and the loss of individual freedom and
identity.
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
-more-
Speech excerpts
Rep. Gerald R. Ford (R-Mich)
The common cause the cause of good government is great enough and
big enough to over-shadow all the minor differences that sometimes separate
us.
There are plenty of Democratic political scalps available without us
having to sharpen our hatchets in each other's back.
For us to win the chance to restore balance to government and return
dignity to the individual, for us to seize the golden opportunity that the
Administration's record has given us, we must present the American people
with a broad-based, united Republican Party.
We need to develop strong fund-raising campaigns. We should enlist more
articulate, personable and knowledgable candidates. By our record we must
earn the respect of the electorate to regain stewardship of government in
state houses, counties, townships and ultimately, in Washington.
I propose a neighbor-to-neighbor crusade to tell the facts of the
alleged Great Society. We should ask our neighbors some questions about the
Administration's claim of progress.
Is it progress to retreat from the principles of the Constitution? Is it
progress to perpetuate poverty by political exploitation and purpose? Is it
progress to stifle individual incentive? Is it progress to set a record for
a national debt?
We should remind the electorate that millions of Americans, under the
Democrat Administration, have less money to spend on necessities, slimmer
savings accounts, and more taxes arbitrarily taken from their paychecks.
*
*
With one party dominating Congress and controlling the White House, millions
of Americans have nothing to say about the conduct of the Nation's business.
In the coming elections they will have an opportunity to make our society
not a G reat one, but a good one.
*
*
*
Let's get on with the job. Let's forget 1964. Let's become once again
one Republican Party. This does not mean a huge monolithic political
organization. Certainly we can have responsible disagreement. We should have
intelligent dialogue.
Together---shoulder-to-shoulder-- we can win Republican victories.
# # #