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Acceptance of Annual George Washington Award from American Good Government Society, Washington, DC, May 1, 1966
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Acceptance of Annual George Washington Award from American Good Government Society, Washington, DC, May 1, 1966
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The original documents are located in Box D20, folder "Acceptance of Annual George
Washington Award from American Good Government Society, Washington, DC, May 1,
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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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
SPEECH BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICH., UPON ACCEPTANCE OF ANNUAL
GEORGE WASHINGTON AWARD PRESENTED BY THE AMERICAN GOOD GOVERNMENT SOCIETY,
SUNDAY EVENING, MAY 1, 1966, AT THE SHERATON PARK HOTEL, WASHINGTON, D. C.
Acnator Error
Mr. Mahon, Mr. Chairman, my colleagues, honored guests, and good friends NA:
May I express my heartfelt appreciation for having been selected to
receive the George Washington Award of the American Good Government Society.
This honor is especially satisfying tomme when I look back to January, 1965.
when
to this new jjb in
It was then I was elected minerity leader of the House by the landslide
margin of six votes--73 to 67. It is really gratifying to me--here tonight--
to be a unanimous choice for something.
I am most happy to accept this award from the hands of my good friend,
George Mahon of Texas. Let me tell you a little secret. When the Good
Government Society trustees told me I was to receive this award, they asked
me whom I wanted to make the presentation, and I picked George--another
unanimous choice--for many, many reasons.
George and I have been friends for a long time. He became chairman
of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee the year I took my seat
in Congress--1949. I went on the Appropriations committee in 1951, and
GERALD
(MORE)
-2-
Genrge, GEORGE George who had WASHINGTON taught been me on much the AWARD of Committee SPEECH what I know many today. ylars in helped the years me immenuably to follow
his characteristics
George is a great Texas Longhorn. And one of the things I appreciate
most abouthim is that, unlike a fellow Texan who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania
Avenue, George has never given me a real hard time.
I became the senior Republican on the Defense Subcommittee in 1959,
and for years George and I worked together most harmoniously to build 1 our
help ina legeslative way
Perhaps this proms I can
nation's military security Who says * can't can get along with Texans?
George has said so many nice things about me tonight I am positive he
didn't clear his speech with the White House or-my good friend, Bob McNamara,
either.
In looking over the list of previous recipients of the Good Government
Society's George Washington Award, I noted with pleasure the names of my
Mohanson NWeemon
colleagues, Wilbur Mills and John Byrnes. Both have had a major role in
1
A
drafting most of our present-day tax legislation.
With the problems of April 15 just past and some new problems just
beginning this very day--higher income tax withholding rates,
w--it
seems appropriate to tell you a story about the spirit of independence that
burns in the breasts of thousands of our taxpayers.
(MORE)
-3-
GEORGE WASHINGTON AWARD SPEECH
Last year a high-ranking official in the Bureau of Internal Revenue
called my attention to a small blank square in the upper right hand corner
of our federal income tax forms. Printed beneath the square is the strict
directive from the Internal Revenue Service--DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE.
"Jerry," the Internal Revenue official told me, "it's amazing how
many people get through making out their returns, take another look at that
space and in a fit of anger scrawl across it: 'I'll write any darn place
I please."
We are indebted to rugged individualists of this stripe. It is this
spirit of independence that has made America great. a mighty cornerstone
four nation - our people.
It is a great pleasure to me to see so many people from Michigan in the
audience here tonight.
There are thousands of other fine people back in the fifth congressional
district of Michigan who have seen fit to send me to Congress ever since I
Frankly
ran mighty scared for a seat in the House in 1948. I've been running scared
4 intend to in the fature
1
ever since. Needless to say, 1 am extremely grateful to the people of my
A
district for giving me the privilege of serving them. And I want to thank
GREATE FORD LIBRARY
(MORE)
-4-
GEORGE WASHINGTON AWARD SPEECH
them, too, for this award, because without their support I wouldn't be
standing here tonight.
I
want which to thank, too, my mother, Mrs. Dorothy Ford, who is here this whing
tonight from Grand Rapids. I am deeply indebted to my lovely and loyal
she suffers much - with a smile - most of the time
wife, Betty, who may even be getting to like politics a little bit and
the is certainly is a tremendous help to me in my role as minority leader.
The fact that I have survived in the House for nine terms shows that
all you really need to be successful in politics is an allegation of virtue,
a moderate amount of hard work, and lots of luck.
This is my 18th year in Gongress. The American Good Government Society
is presenting these awards for the 14th time, having begun the tradition in
1953 by honoring two great Americans--Mr. Republican, the late Sen. Robert A.
Taft, and a strong advocate of economy in government, former Democratic
Senator Harry F. Byrd.
Allow me at this time to heartily commend the American Good Government
Society for its devotion to the principles of constitutional government and
to strengthening the American Democratic system.
GERALD FORD JERARY
(MORE)
-5-
GEORGE WASHINGTON AWARD SPEECH
There are many ingredunts & they may from vary time to
There is no fixed formula for good government. It is really something time
of a miracle that we have fared as well as we have. That miracle has been
shaped from the dreams of people who fled from the old world to the new in
quest of something precious called freedom.
Freedom is still the essential ingredient today--the never-to-be-
forgotten element that pervades the constitutional form of government which
has made us a proud republic. It is the hallmark of a system designed to
make government the servant and not the master of the people.
most
It is fitting that the American Good Government Society's annual awards
A
should be made in the name of George Washington.
George Washington is sometimes viewed as an aristocrat, the proud
landowner, a rather cold and austere man. In truth, he was dedicated to
the democratic process. He helped kindle the miracle that has lighted the
American political scene since the revolution that gave birth to this
mighty nation.
Perhaps relatively few people know that George Washington was so
idolized by the colonists that he could have become a military dictator or
(MORE)
-6-
GEORGE WASHINGTON AWARD SPEECH
a monarch in this country when the Revolutionary War ended. There were
powerful persons who wanted to crown him king and make the new nation a
monarchy. But Washington rejected such proposals, went to Annapolis, and
formally resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary
army. Thus it was Washington who in the first instance determined that our
nation should become a republic.
Good Government follows no fixed formula but it flows--as the Good
Government Society knows--from adherence to this country's established
constitutional system, from the good sense of the American people, and from
men like Washington--men who provide this country with moral leadership in
a time of crisis, men who unselfishly give of themselves so that freedom,
law and order, good government, shall flourish.
Again, may I express my appreciation for this scroll symbolizing your
recognition of one individual's small efforts in the cause of good government,
hoping that during my years in Congress I have rendered service that makes
me worthy of it.
###
SPEECH BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICHIGAN, UPON ACCEPTANCE OF ANNUAL
GEORGE WASHINGTON AWARD PRESENTED BY THE AMERICAN GOOD GOVERNMENT SOCIETY,
SUNDAY EVENING, MAY 1, 1966, AT THE SHERATON PARK HOTEL, WASHINGTON, D. C.
Mr. Mahon, Mr. Chairman, my colleagues, honored guests, and good friends all:
May I express my heartfelt appreciation for having been selected to receive
the George Washington Award of the American Good Government Society. This honor
is especially satisfying to me when I look back to January, 1965. It was then I
was elected minority leader of the House by the landslide margin of six votes--
73 to 67. It is really gratifying to me--here tonight--to be a unanimous choice
for something.
I am most happy to accept this award from the hands of my good friend,
George Mahon of Texas. Let me tell you a little secret. When the Good Government
Society trustees told me I was to receive this award, they asked me whom I wanted
to make the presentation, and I picked George--another unanimous choice--for many,
many reasons.
George and I have been friends for a long time. He became chairman of the
House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee the year I took my seat in Congress-1949.
I went on the Appropriations committee in 1951, and George taught me much of what
I know today.
George is a great Texas Longhorn. And one of the things I appreciate most
about him is that, unlike a fellow Texan who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,
George has never given me a real hard time.
I became the senior Republican on the Defense Subcommittee in 1959, and for
years George and I worked together most harmoniously to build our nation's military
security.. Who says I can't get along with Texans?
George has said so many nice things about me tonight I am positive he didn't
clear his speech with the White House or my good friend, Bob McNamara, either.
In looking over the list of previous recipients of the Good Government
Society's George Washington Award, I noted with pleasure the names of my colleagues,
Wilbur Mills and John Byrnes. Both have had a major role in drafting most of our
present-day tax legislation.
With the problems of April 15 just past and some new problems just beginning
this very day--higher income tax withholding rates, you know--it seems appropriate
to tell you a story about the spirit of independence that burns in the breasts of
thousands of our taxpayers.
GERALD LIBRARY
(MORE)
-2-
GEORGE WASHINGTON AWARD SPEECH
Last year a high-ranking official in the Bureau of Internal Revenue called my
attention to a small blank square in the upper right hand corner of our federal
income tax forms. Printed beneath the square is the strict directive from the
Internal Revenue Service--DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE.
"Jerry," the Internal Revenue official told me, "it's amazing how many people
get through making out their returns, take enother look at that space, and in a
fit of anger scrawl across it: 'I'll write any darn place I please."
We are indebted to rugged individualists of this stripe. It is this spirit
of independence that has made America great.
It is a great pleasure to me to see so many people from Michigan in the
audience here tonight.
There are thousands of other fine people back in the Fifth Congressional
District of Michigan who have seen fit to send me to Congress ever since I ran
mighty scared for a seat in the House in 1948. I've been running scared ever
since. Needless to say, I am extremely grateful to the people of my district for
giving me the privilege of serving them. And I want to thank them, too, for this
award, because without their support I wouldn't be standing here tonight.
I want to thank, too, my mother, Mrs. Dorothy Ford, who is here tonight from
Grand Rapids. I am deeply indebted to my lovely and loyal wife, Betty, who may
even be getting to like politics a little bit and certainly is a tremendous help
to me in my role as minority leader.
The fact that I have survived in the House for nine terms shows that all you
really need to be successful in politics is an allegation of virtue, a moderate
amount of hard work, and lots of luck.
This is my 18th year in Congress. The American Good Government Society is
presenting these awards for the 14th time, having begun the tradition in 1953 by
honoring two great Americans--Mr. Republican, the late Senator Robert A. Taft, and
a strong advocate of economy in government, former Democratic Senator Harry F. Byrd.
Allow me at this time to heartily commend the American Good Government Society
for its devotion to the principles of constitutional government and to strengthening
the American Democratic system.
There is no fixed formula for good government. It is really something of a
miracle that we have fared as well as we have. That miracle has been shaped from
the dreams of people who fled from the old world to the new in quest of something
precious called freedom.
(MORE)
-3-
GEORGE WASHINGTON AWARD SPEECH
Freedom is still the essential ingredient today-the never-to-be-forgotten
element that pervades the constitutional form of government which has made us a
proud republic. It is the hallmark of a system designed to make government the
servant and not the master of the people.
It is fitting that the American Good Government Society's annual awards should
be made in the name of George Washington.
George Washington is sometimes viewed as an aristocrat, the proud landowner,
a rather cold and austere man. In truth, he was dedicated to the democratic
process. He helped kindle the miracle that has lighted the American political
scene since the revolution that gave birth to this mighty nation.
Perhaps relatively few people know that George Washington was so idolized by
the colonists that he could have become a military dictator or a monarch in this
country when the Revolutionary War ended. There were powerful persons who wanted
to crown him king and make the new nation a monarchy. But Washington rejected
such proposals, went to Annapolis, and formally resigned his commission as
commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary army. Thus it was Washington who in the
first instance determined that our nation should become a republic.
Good government follows no fixed formula but it flows--as the Good Government
Society knows--from adherence to this country's established constitutional system,
from the good sense of the American people, and from men like Washington--men who
provide this country with moral leadership in a time of crisis, men who unselfishly
give of themselves so that freedom, law and order, good government shall flourish.
Again, may I express my appreciation for this scroll symbolizing your
recognition of one individual's small efforts in the cause of good government,
hoping that during my years in Congress I have rendered service that makes me
worthy of it.
###
SPEECH BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICHIGAN, UPON ACCEPTANCE OF ANNUAL
GEORGE WASHINGTON AWARD PRESENTED BY THE AMERICAN GOOD GOVERNMENT SOCIETY,
SUNDAY EVENING, MAY 1, 1966, AT THE SHERATON PARK HOTEL, WASHINGTON, D. C.
Mr. Mahon, Mr. Chairman, my colleagues, honored guests, and good friends all:
May I express my heartfelt appreciation for having been selected to receive
the George Washington Award of the American Good Government Society. This honor
is especially satisfying to me when I look back to January, 1965. It was then I
was elected minority leader of the House by the landslide margin of six votes--
73 to 67. It is really gratifying to me--here tonight--to be a unanimous choice
for something.
I am most happy to accept this award from the hands of my good friend,
George Mahon of Texas. Let me tell you a little secret. When the Good Government
Society trustees told me I was to receive this award, they asked me whom I wanted
to make the presentation, and I picked George--another unanimous choice--for many,
many reasons.
George and I have been friends for a long time. He became chairman of the
House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee the year I took my seat in Congress--1949.
I went on the Appropriations committee in 1951, and George taught me much of what
I know today.
George is a great Texas Longhorn. And one of the things I appreciate most
about him is that, unlike a fellow Texan who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,
George has never given me a real hard time.
I became the senior Republican on the Defense Subcommittee in 1959, and for
years George and I worked together most harmoniously to build our nation's military
security Who says I can't get along with Texans?
George has said 80 many nice things about me tonight I am positive he didn't
clear his speech with the White House or my good friend, Bob McNamara, either.
In looking over the list of previous recipients of the Good Government
Society's George Washington Award, I noted with pleasure the names of my colleagues,
Wilbur Mills and John Byrnes. Both have had a major role in drafting most of our
present-day tax legislation.
With the problems of April 15 just past and some new problems just beginning
this very day--higher income tax withholding rates, you know--it seems appropriate
to tell you & story about the spirit of independence that burns in the breasts of
thousands of our taxpayers.
(MORE)
-2-
GEORGE WASHINGTON AWARD SPEECH
Last year a high-ranking official in the Bureau of Internal Revenue called my
attention to a small blank square in the upper right hand corner of our federal
income tax forms. Printed beneath the square is the strict directive from the
Internal Revenue Service--DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE.
"Jerry," the Internal Revenue official told me, "it's amazing how many people
get through making out their returns, take another look at that space, and in a
fit of anger scrawl across it: 'I'll write any darn place I please."
We are indebted to rugged individualists of this stripe. It is this spirit
of independence that has made America great.
It is a great pleasure to me to see so many people from Michigan in the
audience here tonight.
There are thousands of other fine people back in the Fifth Congressional
District of Michigan who have seen fit to send me to Congress ever since I ran
mighty scared for a seat in the House in 1948. I've been running scared ever
since. Needless to say, I am extremely grateful to the people of my district for
giving me the privilege of serving them. And I want to thank them, too, for this
award, because without their support I wouldn't be standing here tonight.
I want to thank, too, my mother, Mrs. Dorothy Ford, who is here tonight from
Grand Rapids. I am deeply indebted to my lovely and loyal wife, Betty, who may
even be getting to like politics a little bit and certainly is a tremendous help
to me in my role as minority leader.
The fact that I have survived in the House for nine terms shows that all you
really need to be successful in politics is an allegation of virtue, a moderate
amount of hard work, and lots of luck.
This is my 18th year in Congress. The American Good Government Society is
presenting these awards for the 14th time, having begun the tradition in 1953 by
honoring two great Americans--Mr. Republican, the late Senator Robert A. Taft, and
a strong advocate of economy in government, former Democratic Senator Harry F. Byrd.
Allow me at this time to heartily commend the American Good Government Society
for its devotion to the principles of constitutional government and to strengthening
the American Democratic system.
There is no fixed formula for good government. It is really something of a
miracle that we have fared as well as we have. That miracle has been shaped from
the dreams of people who fled from the old world to the new in quest of something
precious called freedom.
(MORE)
-3-
GEORGE WASHINGTON AWARD SPEECH
Freedom is still the essential ingredient today--the never-to-be-forgotten
element that pervades the constitutional form of government which has made us a
proud republic. It is the hallmark of a system designed to make government the
servant and not the master of the people.
It is fitting that the American Good Government Society's annual awards should
be made in the name of George Washington.
George Washington is sometimes viewed as an aristocrat, the proud landowner,
a rather cold and austere man. In truth, he was dedicated to the democratic
process. He helped kindle the miracle that has lighted the American political
scene since the revolution that gave birth to this mighty nation.
Perhaps relatively few people know that George Washington was so idolized by
the colonists that he could have become a military dictator or a monarch in this
country when the Revolutionary War ended. There were powerful persons who wanted
to crown him king and make the new nation a monarchy. But Washington rejected
such proposals, went to Annapolis, and formally resigned his commission as
commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary army. Thus it was Washington who in the
first instance determined that our nation should become a republic.
Good government follows no fixed formula but it flows--as the Good Government
Society knows--from adherence to this country's established constitutional system,
from the good sense of the American people, and from men like Washington--men who
provide this country with moral leadership in a time of crisis, men who unselfishly
give of themselves 80 that freedom, law and order, good government shall flourish.
Again, may I express my appreciation for this scroll symbolizing your
recognition of one individual's small efforts in the cause of good government,
hoping that during my years in Congress I have rendered service that makes me
worthy of it.
# # #