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Republican Associates of San Diego County, San Diego, CA, April 15, 1966
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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The original documents are located in Box D20, folder "Republican Associates of San Diego
County, San Diego, CA, April 15, 1966" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 D20 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
BASIC SEXEENX SPEECH
April ?
1966
Introduction Big name guests, speaker's table, etc.
1.Gag about the Virgin of the Governors Island.
2. Joke about the ruggest individualist filing his income tax return--
(Don't write in this space "I'll write where I darn well please").
3. Midnight Friday night is (was) deadline for filing income tax returns.
Two-week breather. Then on May 1 they start taking it away from you faster under
increased schedule of withholding. They don't want you to spend it, but unxaxx
in Lyndon& Johnson's Great Society, it's perfectly o.k. for federal gov't to
blow as much of your dough as they can take away from your-and more.
4. Long before the Great Society's Income Tax Day, I detected shift
in political atmosphere.
07133 FORD LIBRARY
a. Democrats going down; Repubeans going up.
b. Why? Democrats divided on Vietna--people won't stand for
division within party in power on foreign policy. Want unity on
question of achieving peace, maintaining national security.
BASIC SPEECH In San Diego, talk mostly about Vnam; Other pts, about inflation
Following is for San Diego
J-H A FUMBLING THE BALL ON VIETNAM
1. Civil runrest
has been shaking Vietnam and hampering
war - effort.
2. Johnson's quickie conference with Premier Ky last February at
from
Honolulu bad mistake. Present political troubles in Vietnam
ptem
fuss made over Ky at Honolulu fanned fierce political rivalries.
3. Demonstrations started when Ky fired Lt. Gen.
Nguyen Chanh) Thi, 1st corps comdr at Danang. Widely agreed Ky wouldn t have
dared to purge Thi if Honolulu conference had never taken place.
4. Hope current trouble in Vietnam produces gov't with enough popular
support to move forward effectively on both the military and social fronts.
5. But fear new noutralist government may emerge in near future which will sue
for peace with Viet Cong and demand U.S. forces get out.
THEN THE CHICKENS HATCHED AT HONOLULU WILL REALLY COME HOME TO ROOST.
BASIC SPEECH -3- all points
REPUBLICANS UNITED ON OBJECTIVE OF STOPPING COMMUNIST AGGRE SSION IN VIETNAM
1. Have backed Democratic Administrations on this basic goal since '61.
2. This doesxx not mean GOP cannot make constructive suggestions; has duty
to do so as Loyal Opposition.
3.
to
intention of second-gue ssing Johnson on day-to-day military
decisions. It's his job as commander-in-chief of armed forces to tx run the war
on day-to-day basis.
4. Democrats dividedmx on Vietnam. This dampens our drive
to kike help Vietnam **IXM thwart communist aggression. Perople People will turn
to party united on Vietnam policy-Republican Party.
GERALD FORD LIBRAR
BASIC SPEECH -4-
Foloing INK is for San Diego: Others???
1. Mismanagement in Defense Department.
a. Shortage of bombs in Vie shortage of 750 and 500-pound iron bombs
for dropping by B-52s conceded by McNamara.
b. Serious deficiencies in men and material
infring- reported ty Stennis sutcommittes
c. Thesem deficiencies reported by Sen. Stennis' subcommittee
on preparedness, withdrawal of 15,000 Army specialists from
West Germanyx confirmed the strain.
destrx None of the major National Guard or Reserve units is ready for combat.
e. There are shortages in clothing, illuminating rounds and certain types of
fuses, also in communications equipment.
f. Many tanks, trucks and other automotive units are
sidelined
for
lack of trained maintenance personnel to keep them running.
g. Stennis subcommittee has warned of dangerous "drawdown" of supplies from
West Germany and other NATO allies to meet Vietnam needs.
BASIC SPEECH
--5-
SLOWING OF WAR, REDUCED COMBAT READINESS OF U.S. FORCES IN EUROPE DENIED BY ADM'N
1. American people losing confidence in Adm'n... Credibility Gap becoming
as wide as the Grand Canyon.
2. Despite drawdown of men andm materiel from Europe for Vietnam war,
Def. Secy. McNamara heatedly denied any xlx lessening of our combat readiness.
last Sunday
3. Undersecretary of State George Ball on nationwide television/denied
civil disorders in Vietnam had hurt the war x2 effort, but next day U.S.
officials in X Saigon admitted there was bomb shortage and cutback in bombing
activity be cause of the political trouble. (Stevedores at Danang had refused
to unload bombs destined for Danang Air Base.)
GERALD FORD LIBRA,
4. Truth is (according to NY Times military expert Hanson Baldwin) that
U.S. forces in Europe are -at Invent lower strength level than at any time since
before Berlin crisis of 1961.
BASIC SPEECH 5a-- Insert--Burbank
For Use in Burbank
TWO ALTERNATIVES ON FORCING STALEMATE, GAINING PEACE IN VIETNIM
1. Under present strigegy strategy, it looks like NWN a war without end.
2. Adm'n is planning to send more troops to Vietnam, perhaps double
present commitment.
3. Republican alternative is to make fully effective use of our air
and sea power. Do this before send even one more of our fine boys to Vietnam.
Try this in hope of ending war soon, achieving honorable and lasting peace.
FORD
i
MUST ALSO PERSEE MOVE QUICKLY ON XEX SOCIAL FRONT IN EX VIETNAM
GERALD
IBRARY
1. But pacification, like war effort, disrupted by civil ribs unrest.
21 Also, Johnson plan set at Honolulu looks good on paper but isn't working.
Viet Cong come back into villages at night, undo American accomplishments.
BASIC SPEECH -6-
VIETNAM WAR ANDREDIDG BUDGET
1. War costing a billion dollars a month--still Johmson and Democratic
Congress determined to do business as usual and spend an additional $3 billion
or more in fiscal 1967 onex Great Society programs.
2. If Congress approves Johnson's budgety-and the Democrats exchably
will add to it instead of cutting it-we're in line for
8. Higher taxes
b. Higher prices
c. Higher deficits
---THE GREAT SOCIETY BECOME THE HIGH SOCIETY.
3. Prsident has deliberately...
QERALD FORD LIBRABI
a. Underestimated expenditures
g. Overestimated revenues
C. Minimized the deficit
-6a-
BASIC SPEECH. ..San Diego ***** insert
For use at San Diego
IBJ ANDRXXXXXXXX PHONY ECONOMY
1. Republicans must be right in trying to cut federal spending. The
master poliitician, LBJ, now is pretendiagztoxgutxixzmrxtxexaet. talking
economy.
2. That is all Johnson has ever done about economy--talk about it.
3. Johnson's kind of economy is THE GREAT HYPOCRISY of the GREAT SOCIETY.
4. Best example of this is the fact that savings from his much-
publicized lights-out campaign at the White House have been negligible. On that
we have the word of T. Sutton Jett, National Capital Parks Director, who
recently testified before a House appropriations subcommittee that the lights-out
savings were very small.
5. Lyndon still goes around turning out the light in the ladies' room
at the Wh hte House but everybody's onto him now.
BASIC SPEECH
--7--
ASSOCIATES
LBJ AND PHONEY BUDGET
1. LBJAeconomy so-called phonly, so is LBJ budget for fiscal 1967.
2. He came up with*x "only" $1.8 billion deficit throughx
not only through sleight-of-hand bookkeeping but through fictional
spending cuts.
3. He proposed cuts in established, successful programs--reductions
he knew no congressman could go for. These were cuts in school
lunch and school milk programs, cuts for land grant colleges, ***
agricultural extension service, meat inspection and impact school
aid.
4. If he really thinks this money shouldn't be spent on these
FORD is LIBRARY GLRALD RAR
programs, he doesn't have to spend it even if Congress restores the
funds. He can freeze this money, just as Defense Secretary
McNamara froze more than $600 million in military construction funds
last December--including money for 800 desperately needed units of
military housing for our military men and their families.
BASIC SPEECH 7-A
MORE ON PHONY JOHNSON FRUGALITY
economy
GREAT HYPOGRIST
10
IDJ
13
2, LBJ still turning off lights in ladies room at White Hon so, but
an Administration official has testified before House appropri at ons
committee that savings from entire lights out campaign negligible,
S.
Council of State Chambers of Commerce, after careful study, has
conservatively estimated at that cost of Great Society programs will
skyrocket from $3.1 billion in 1965 to $21.5 billion in 1970. These
are built-in increases. That's why Republicans oppose "small" programs
like Rent Supplements, that start at $12 million this fiscal year.
FORD is LIBRARY
Still playing the game of make-believe, Mr. Johnson last Saturday
signed the 4-H bill Hubert Horatio Humphrey House but said he
would not ask Congress this year for money to build $ because it is
the 750, oolor V-PPalace
"neither necessary nor appropriate at this time." Bill provides
$45,000 in architect's fees to be spent this year.
BASIC SPEECH --8--
INFLATION
1. We're in wartime inflation.
2. During four months, November through February, wholesale prices climbed
at 6 per cent annual rate. Levelling off in March doesn't mean much. There
still will be steady uptrend.
3. I predict cost of living will jump at least 3 per cent the rest of
this year.
4. Four deficits in MK a row-49 per cent increase in federal spending
since 1960.
5. This fantastic growth in cost of federal government, this unbelievable
increase in federal spending is primarily responsible for theix inflation
we're experiencing today.
R.FORD CLORABA
BASIC SPEECH
COR this
-9-
2***
xxx
Talk about Shell-Game on Tax Cuts
but how is it going to make those cuts stick?
Congress
cut
income taxes in 1964 and excise taxes in 1965
That
great shell-game operator, LBJ, is now-you-see-it-now-you-don't R
"realgood attless besiness of
He has already wiped out part of the excise tax cuts by boosting
taxes on telephone service and cars. Now he's talking
about a $5 billion income tax boost--and trying to wish iit away by
asking governors and mayors to hold back on spending and big busine ssmen
to cut back on expansion plans. As a kind of after-thought, he has talked
about cutting federal spending. If he and big spenders in Congre SS would
cooperate, Republicans would be only too glad to help make the cutsy in
non-defense federal spending.
SanDiego? Insert A
FORCING CUTBACK IN BIZ EXPANSION DOESN'T MAKE SENSE
1. You don't fight inflation by reducing the supply of goods.
2. This kind of action invites recession.
3. Cutback in expansion plans is in direct conflict with Administration
decision to continue allowing 7 per cent tax credit for investment.
4. White House is getting big business to cut back on expansion plans
while Treasury Dept. still is offering tax incentive to go ahead.
FORD & LIBRARY 07VU39
5. This underscores the confusion
already apparent in Johnson-Humphrey Administration on how to deal
with inflation.
BASIC SEEE SPEECH
-10-
xxxxx
Talk About GOP Economy Drive:
We don't have to taise taxes againthis pare That's the way the Johnson-Humphrey
Administration is headed, but it doesn't have to happen. Republicans
Mr. Johnson
have a far better answer-cut federal spending.
has
talked about a 5 to 7 per cent increase in income taxes. We've got
a better idea--cut
Wscouldcut
5 per cent.
little
I've heard it
said this is a meat-axe approach. That's nonsense. If Mr. Johnson
FORD
can tell his cabinet to save $1200 $1.1 billion the last three
months of this fiscal year, he can find places to save
billion
in the 12 months beginning July 1. That's simple arithmetic even a
big spender can understend.
BASIC SPEECH
COD
time
10A
xx
dunno if you want this
Talk about Phoney Unemployment Stax
Johnson-Humphrey Administration trying to delude the people into
thinking the nation is enjoying great
peacetime prospertity. It's wartime prosperity, therefore a false
bust after boom.
prosperity bearing the fruits of inflation, the danger of
march
Johnson boasts of X drop in unemployment rate to 3.7 per cent, says
Nothing about fact that 266,000 Americans were *mbs drafted in past
12 months. Unemployment dropped by 190,000 in past year among men
under 25. During same period, 264,757 men in that ages group were
R.FORD
****
inducted into Armed Forces. We have 235,000 men in Vietnam, with
GERALD
BRARY
prospe cts number will go to 300,000 or 400,000 or more.
By no
saywe're ina
stretch of imagination can
peacetime prosperity.
N BASIC SPEECH
-11-
xxxire
GOP on Way Up, Will be Strong in 90th Congress Sairley
1. Johnson may not get GOP Congress buticlose to it.
2. I predict gain of 40 to 50 seats by GOP; some political writers, as
many as 80 new Republicans in House. (Again, I'm a conservative, so I stick
with the lower figures.
3. Why GOP on way up, Democrats slipping badly? Johnson has
failed to come to grips with inflation, prefers
tax increase to
federal non-defense spending cuts. Johnson has failed to deal adequately with
Vietnam, so war there probably will drag on for years and years.
BASIC SPEECH
-12-
GOP CAN MAKE BIG 166 COMEBACK
/Shomidn't take this for granted, shouldn't rely on automatic snapback.
(You can snap back with Stanback, but in politics you don't just take a pill).
"2, Must the field attractive candidates-and we're doing it.
3. Must raise enough money to run effective campaign and, as you know,
we're doing it. Have good product to sell, butAny as busine ssman knows you have
to advertise - the
4k Attractive candidates, wall-financed campaign no if substitute for
work.
Republicans can make solid gains in '66 if everybody
marches shoulder-to-shoulder and arm-in-arm to bring the GOP a team
victory. Now, trot out the cheer leaders and let's go.
FORD & LIBRARY
38.1
36'h
b
CLAUSEN insert
1. This is Booming area
Theytell me It's called the "Redwood Empire"
a.
b. Expanding at rapid rate
2. Cantell by looking at you people that your're sharp, hard-working, good
solid Americans. I understand this district has the highest level of education
of any in the country.
3. Want you to know Clausen is doing good job for you in Washington.
He's looking out for xiix everybody in his district on the Redwood
National Park Bill (bill to create redwood park in north end of 6lausen S
district. It's problem for him, what with some peeple in district being for the
park and others against it, but hexex has good grasp of the situation, good
control over it. He's determined to preserve the redwoods and to preserve the
jobs involved, too. I think Congress is going to create this park, so you're
lucky you have a man like Clausen in Washington to look after all the interests
of the district on this thing.
ED REINECKE insert
1. He scored upset victory in 1964 and he's proved he deserved to win. He's
giving you good service. Is one of the hardest-working men in Congress; I
can vouch for that.
2. He's on Interior and Insular Affairs Committee-good assignment for a
Californian. He's also on Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee-- a
natural for a fellow who's XX a skin diver.
3. I'm glad he gave up skydiving, though. I wouldn't want you to lose him.
I need him, too. After all, there are only 140 of us Republicans in the
Housex.
4. I'm pleased that Ed is bringing the federal government to yourx through the
GERALD
* "Community Days" he held throughout the district last year and through his
mobile office. He's a good man, and don't you forget itx when it comes to
sending him back to Congress.
REINECKE insert
1. I agree with Ed that individual ihitiative should be used to the
fullest at the local level. That's basic Republican philosophy. And I
understand it's the philosophy ofsil all good Californians.
2. You people are concerned about the way the White House is
controlling the entire bg legislative process in Washington. So am I--most
conserned.
36 That's why Republican Party must regain strength. We must put
new life into the two-party system.
4. Must bring the political scales back into balance--must elect
more men like Ed Reinecke to Congress Nov. 8.
This Just a "wildcard."
Johnson Would Be Better Off with GOP Congre SS wouldthe nation.
Sounds like he's campaigning for GOP. He talks of cutting spending but
liberal Democrats rebuff GOP attempts to cut all
approniationsbils
5 per cent.
Has wished out loud that Democrats would give him the Vietnam
support he gets from Republicans. His party is split over Vietnam,
some Democratic senators even arguing at this late date that we
should get out. Republicans, in best tradition of GOP, X solidly
reflect American people's determination to halt Communist
aggression in Vietnam and throughout
world.
Arother card that didn't "fit" with theothers-
DISUNITY IN ADMINISTRATION BREEDS DISUNITY IN NATION
/. Democrats divided; this hurts nation. Cause is "politics as usual"
on part of Johnson-Humphrey Administration.
2. Democrats divided; this hurts war effort. Undermines morale of our boys
fighting in Vietnam, encourages Communists to believe they will prevail.
3. Republicans united, would give nation sound policies, not politics.
4. Republicans are going on record for economy, cuts in non-y
spending.
5. Democrats bringxferes are going on record for more spending, for
busine SS as usual during Vietnam war, more inflation.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
California TexxJokes
I have a friend in San Francison who owns a fishing fleet. Everytime
he mests a new girl he buys her mink coats, diamonds, expensive perfuimes and
all kinds of luxuries. When income tax time comes, he puts all these items
down as business expense deductions--You know--bait.
I'm glad the grape pickers strike is over. I'd hate to see the
White House go back to serving French wines to its guests.
BERALD FORD LIBRARY
CARDS
SAN DIEGO, CALIF
? Apr. 1966
Congress of the United States
Herald R. Ford
Office of the Minority Leader
M.C.
house of Representatives
OFFICIAL
Speech BUSINESS Card
GOP Resociates
of San Diego Country
Also Clausen Reinedce 1
FORD is LIBRARY 07V839
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE FRIDAY P.M., APRIL 15, 1966
EXCERPTS OF SPEECH BEFORE REPUBLICAN ASSOCIATES OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY AT SAN DIEGO
Vietnam and inflation are the two biggest issues in the nation today.
Republicans are not making Vietnam an issue. The people are.
I can tell you this: I am firmly convinced that President Johnson's quickie
conference with Southvietnamese Premier Ky last February at Honolulu was a bad
mistake. I think it is the cause of the current political and civil unrest in
Vietnam.
Mr. Johnson stirred up sharp political rivalries in Vietnam by demonstrating
all-out support for one individual. Master politician that he is, he should have
known better. It was then that the Buddhists began calling Ky "an American puppet."
The current uprisings in Vietnam were touched off when Ky ousted Lt. Gen.
Nguyen Chanh Thi from his command at Danang. It is generally agreed Ky would
never have dared to purge Thi had the Honolulu conference never taken place.
I hope that out of the present political turmoil in Vietnam will come a
government with enough popular support to move forward effectively on the military
and socio-economic fronts so that Communist aggression there can be halted.
But there is a distinct possibility the result may be a government which
will sue for peace with the Viet Cong and demand that U. S. forces get out.
Then the chickens hatched at Honolulu will really come home to roost.
President Johnson again is talking economy. That's all he has ever done
about making any real cuts in government spending--just talk. His kind of
economy is the Great Hypocrisy of the Great Society because it's phony.
We recently heard from a candid man in the Johnson-Humphrey Administration--
a refreshing turn of events. National Capital Parks Director T. Sutton Jett
said in testimony before a House appropriations subcommittee that the savings
from Mr. Johnson's lights-out campaign at the White House had been negligible.
Lyndon still goes around turning out the lights in the ladies' room at the
White House, but everybody's onto him now.
(MORE)
-2-
SPEECH EXCERPTS--SAN DIEGO
Turning away from the ridiculous, we learn the Council of State Chambers
of Commerce has conservatively estimated that the cost of Great Society programs
will skyrocket from $3.1 billion in 1965 to $21.5 billion in 1970. That's why
House Republicans oppose "small" programs like Rent Supplements that start at
$12 million this fiscal year.
* * *
The American people are losing confidence in the Johnson-Humphrey
Administration. This is a natural consequence of what I call the Credibility
Canyon--failure of the Administration to let the people know what's happening.
In that vein, we found Undersecretary of State George W. Ball unblinkingly
saying on a recent nationwide television program that the civil unrest in Vietnam
was not adversely affecting the conduct of the war. The next day, U.S. officials
in Saigon acknowledged that politically riled stevedores at the port of Danang
had refused to unload bombs there. That contributed to a cutback in U. S.
bombing activity.
We also find Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara heatedly denying that
the combat readiness of U. S. forces in Europe has diminished.
The truth is that U. S. forces in Europe are at a lower strength level than
at any time since before the Berlin crisis in 1961. For the last 18 months we
have been withdrawing Army specialists and certain types of war material from
Europe because of Vietnam needs.
McNamara can issue all the denials he wants to, Our combat readiness in
Europe just isn't what he would have the nation believe.
***
Republicans have been backing Democratic administrations since 1961 in this
nation's effort to thwart Communist aggression in Vietnam.
This does not mean we cannot offer what we consider to be constructive
suggestions concerning overall Vietnam policy. But it does mean we have no
intention of second-guessing Mr. Johnson on day-to-day military decisions.
Mr. Johnson should have sole responsibility for day-to-day conduct of the
war. He is the elected commander-in-chief of our Armed Forces, acting on advice
from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Of course, he does not always take that advice.
Democrats are divided on Vietnam. This encourages the Communist aggressors
to think they can prevail if they just fight long enough. This is damaging to
this nation, and the people will not long stand for it. They will turn to a
party united on Vietnam policy--the Republican Party.
###
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE FRIDAY P.M., APRIL 15, 1966
EXCERPTS OF SPEECH BEFORE REPUBLICAN ASSOCIATES OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY AT SAN DIEGO
Vietnam and inflation are the two biggest issues in the nation today.
Republicans are not making Vietnam an issue. The people are.
I can tell you this: I am firmly convinced that President Johnson's quickie
conference with Southvietnamese Premier Ky last February at Honolulu was a bad
mistake. I think it is the cause of the current political and civil unrest in
Vietnam.
Mr. Johnson stirred up sharp political rivalries in Vietnam by demonstrating
all-out support for one individual. Master politician that he is, he should have
known better. It was then that the Buddhists began calling Ky "an American puppet."
The current uprisings in Vietnam were touched off when Ky ousted Lt. Gen.
Nguyen Chanh Thi from his command at Danang. It is generally agreed Ky would
never have dared to purge Thi had the Honolulu conference never taken place.
I hope that out of the present political turmoil in Vietnam will come a
government with enough popular support to move forward effectively on the military
and socio-economic fronts so that Communist aggression there can be halted.
But there is a distinct possibility the result may be a government which
will sue for peace with the Viet Cong and demand that U. S. forces get out.
Then the chickens hatched at Honolulu will really come home to roost.
*
President Johnson again is talking economy. That's all he has ever done
about making any real cuts in government spending--just talk. His kind of
economy is the Great Hypocrisy of the Great Society because it's phony.
We recently heard from a candid man in the Johnson-Humphrey Administration--
a refreshing turn of events. National Capital Parks Director T. Sutton Jett
said in testimony before a House appropriations subcommittee that the savings
from Mr. Johnson's lights-out campaign at the White House had been negligible.
Lyndon still goes around turning out the lights in the ladies' room at the
White House, but everybody's onto him now.
(MORE)
-2-
SPEECH EXCERPTS--SAN DIEGO
Turning away from the ridiculous, we learn the Council of State Chambers
of Commerce has conservatively estimated that the cost of Great Society programs
will skyrocket from $3.1 billion in 1965 to $21.5 billion in 1970. That's why
House Republicans oppose "small" programs like Rent Supplements that start at
$12 million this fiscal year.
***
The American people are losing confidence in the Johnson-Humphrey
Administration. This is a natural consequence of what I call the Credibility
Canyon--failure of the Administration to let the people know what's happening.
In that vein, we found Undersecretary of State George W. Ball unblinkingly
saying on a recent nationwide television program that the civil unrest in Vietnam
was not adversely affecting the conduct of the war. The next day, U.S. officials
in Saigon acknowledged that politically riled stevedores at the port of Danang
had refused to unload bombs there. That contributed to a cutback in U. S.
bombing activity.
We also find Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara heatedly denying that
the combat readiness of U. S. forces in Europe has diminished.
The truth is that U. S. forces in Europe are at a lower strength level than
at any time since before the Berlin crisis in 1961. For the last 18 months we
have been withdrawing Army specialists and certain types of war material from
Europe because of Vietnam needs.
McNamara can issue all the denials he wants to, Our combat readiness in
Europe just isn't what he would have the nation believe.
***
Republicans have been backing Democratic administrations since 1961 in this
nation's effort to thwart Communist aggression in Vietnam.
This does not mean we cannot offer what we consider to be constructive
suggestions concerning overall Vietnam policy. But it does mean we have no
intention of second-guessing Mr. Johnson on day-to-day military decisions.
Mr. Johnson should have sole responsibility for day-to-day conduct of the
war. He is the elected commander-in-chief of our Armed Forces, acting on advice
from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Of course, he does not always take that advice.
Democrats are divided on Vietnam. This encourages the Communist aggressors
to think they can prevail if they just fight long enough. This is damaging to
this nation, and the people will not long stand for it. They will turn to a
party united on Vietnam policy--the Republican Party.
###