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Republican Dinner, Zion, IL, October 16, 1965
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4525886
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Republican Dinner, Zion, IL, October 16, 1965
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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1965
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The original documents are located in Box D19, folder "Republican Dinner, Zion, IL,
October 16, 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
Digitized from Box D19 of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
A-
READING TEXT
Republican Dinner
Zion, Illinois
October 16, 1965
The man with the warm Irish grin and a quick wit we salute tonight
how
was a newcomer to Capitol Hill when he was asked he came to
Congress.
The question was raised during a briefing in the Pentagon. It
was asked by Cyrus Vance, Secretary of the Army at the time.
Freshman Congressman Bob McClory was attending his first briefing
remained
on military affirs. He redumed modestly in the background while
secrets and grave problems were discussed by Vance.
When the session ended, Vance asked Bob whether he had taught
in a French School in Switzerland at one time.
Bob said that he had been a teacher. Vance then recalled that he
had been one of Bob's students. Then the Army Secretary asked:
"How did you ever get to Congress?"
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
-more-
Zion, Ill.
I don't know how Bob answered the Army Secfetary, but I do
know we are mighty glad he made it!
Bob operates on the theory that all work and little play is the
way to get things done in the House of Representatives. His personality
and persistence have won unusual prestige for him in the House.
The invitation to speak with you tonight and to salute Bob was
somewhat unusual. The letter went something like this:
"12th Congressional District Republicans of Illinois have a
tradition of hearing outstanding speakers at their dinner-meetings."
Then the letter listed several fine orators.
The invitation concluded: "We hope you will accept. Up until
now our programs have been exceptional!"
-
-
Tonight I will follow the advice of my wife Betty.
KISS STORY
Reserve
-more-
GERALD
Akron
B
One evening I was a guest at a banquet without being scheduled to
make a formal speech. The toastmaster--like myself--- was a graduate
of Yale University. For some reason he decided to call upon me to
make an impromptu address.
I quickly decided to talk about Yale. It was a non-partisan audience.
I told how "Y" stands for youth... "A" for appreciation "L" for
loyalty...and "E" for efficiency. The words came easily and time flew by.
As I concluded my speech, someone in the rear of the auditorium said
in a loud voice, "It's a good thing he didn't graduate from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology!"
-
-
-
Today in speaking with you, I will try to follow the advice of
my wife Betty. (KISS story)
-
-
-
more
Elmira
36
He warned, in effect, that the representatives of the American
people abandon the reckless and swift manner used this year to
adopt legislation long on quantity and short on quality.
The Senate leader noted that the Congress so far has "passed
lot of bills, some of them very hastily."...I nominate this
remark, by the way, as the under-statement of the year!
Senator Mansfield also proposed that the next session of the
89th Congress "spend less time on new legislation and more time
correcting oversights in legislation we have just passed."
He also showed an awareness of what he said is the "current and
ultimate cost" of Great Society schemes.
Perhaps the distinguished Senate leader and close political friend
of the President is somewhat shaken by some financial facts of life.
This year atone, 20 major public laws spawned in the White House
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
authorize new spending of an estimated $161 billion dollars for
only Great Society programs. This fantastic spending is over and above
so-called regular expenditures.
(more)
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
Excerpts from a speech
Release for Ams
Octo 17, 1965
Zion, Ill. Oct. 16, 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 contrati thone 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 ver and above the so-called
regular expenditures. Meanwhile, our national debt is not the $320 billion
appearing on the record books, Actually 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 Invine 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
pressures and higher hidden taxes
and the loss of individual freedom and
BERRLD FORD LIBRAR,
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.
# # #