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Presenting Speaker of the House John W. McCormack to the House, January 10, 1967
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Presenting Speaker of the House John W. McCormack to the House, January 10, 1967
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The original documents are located in Box D21, folder "Presenting Speaker of the House
John W. McCormack to the House, January 10, 1967" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
JANUARY 10, 1967
REMARKS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD IN PRESENTING SPEAKER MC CORMACK TO THE HOUSE
Members of the House:
During all the victory celebrations Members of my party have been having
since last November 8, I have been steeling myself for this moment of defeat.
I want first of all to say that we must have to do something about early
Today fluting
mther all call
election projections. n For a moment, the early returns had led me to believe I
was going to win. I hope I can take the final tally, however, in good grace.
I am comforted by the fact that my vote was considerably better than the first
time I lost the Speakership two years ago.
The mace that stands here reminds us of the Heritage our American Repub Tim
RD
has from the Roman Republic. But there is one big difference. Under Roman Law
GER
LIBRARY
-2-
the vanquished were at the mercy of the victor. Under our American tradition,
the vanquished introduces the victor, and I do so today with great pleasure.
The late Mister Sam Rayburn, who had this same duty at the start of the
83rd Congress, presented our beloved Republican Speaker Joe Martin to this body,
and I can find no better way to express my sentiments about the other Gentleman
from Massachusetts, Mr. McCormack, than in Mister Sam's words:
"The Speakership of the House of Representatives should be and is the
second office in power in the government of the United States. I know (he) will
never forget the dignity of this high office in protecting, defending and
perpetuating the rights, the prerogatives and the privileges of the House of
Representatives." "This is a great body that comes each two years fresh from
FORD
the people," Mr. Sam said. "We know their wishes. We try to carry them out when
LIBRARY
they are wise and in the interest of the country."
Digitized from Box D21 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
-3-
We of the Loyal Opposition in the temporary--and I hope very temporary--
minority will stand by our speaker in the same spirit. All of us who served in
the 89th Congress or years past are very fond of the gentleman from Massachusetts.
We have found him to be highly capable, a great leader of men, an individual
uniquely equipped to fill a legislative position which is one of the cornerstones
of our free system. His word is his bond.
May I extend my personal wlecome to the new Members of the House. They
are taking their seats in this body at a time of great moment in American history.
They will have a voice and a hand in decisions which, hopefully, will move America
forward on the path to international greatness. I extend to them the hand of
friendship and assure them they will find all incumbent Members of the House ready
to offer their assistance.
LIBRARY
I also extend this pledge to our Speaker and to the American people. We
-4-
of the opposition will be loyal; we of the opposition will be responsible; and
we will work together in all that is good for America.
The Speaker's lot is not easy. Everybody is always urging him to take
one course or another. Abraham Lincoln, who was once a Freshman Member of this
House was waited upon during his Presidency by a delegation of self-styled
political experts who pressed a certain course upon him and, of course, wound up
telling him such action would win him a lot of friends. President Lincoln
calmly replied that when he had finished his term, he hoped that he would have
one friend left, and that one friend would be deep down inside himself.
I commend Abraham Lincoln's declaration of conscience to all my colleagues,
on both sides of the aisle. But I would like to amend it a little. When I finish
my term as Minority Leader of the 90th Congress, I hope I will have at least two
friends left--one deep down inside of me, and the other, the gentleman from
-5-
Massachusetts, the Honorable John W. McCormack, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
Fellow Members, I take great pleasure in presenting to this House a great
Speaker, a great American, a great citizen of the State of Massachusetts, the
Honorable John W. McCormack.
###
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE UPON DELIVERY
January 10, 1967
REMARKS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD IN PRESENTING SPEAKER MC CORMACK TO THE HOUSE
Members of the House:
During all the victory celebrations Members of my party have been having since
last November 8, I have been steeling mysèlf for this moment of defeat. I want first
of all to say that we are going to have to do something about early election project-
ions. For a moment, the early returns had led me to believe I was going to win. I
hope I can take the final tally, however, in good grace. I am comforted by the fact
that my vote was considerably better than the first time I lost the Speakership two
years ago.
The Mace that stands here reminds us of the heritage our American Republic has
from the Roman Republic. But there is one big difference. Under Roman Law the
vanquished were at the mercy of the victor. Under our American tradition, the
vanquished introduces the victor, and L do so today with great pleasure.
The late Mr. Sam Rayburn, who had this same duty at the start of the 83rd Congress,
presented our beloved Republican Speaker Joe Martin to this body, and I can find no
better way to express my sentiments about the other gentleman from Massachusetts,
Mr. McCormack, than in Mr. Sam's words:
"The Speakership of the House of Representatives should be and is the second
office in power in the government of the United States. I know (he) will never
forget the dignity of this high office in protecting, defending and perpetuating the
rights, the prerogatives and the privileges of the House of Representatives."
"This is a great body that comes each two years fresh from the people," Mr. Sam
said. "We know their wishes. We try to carry them out when they are wise and in
the interest of the country."
We of the Loyal Opposition in the temporary--and I hope very temporary--minority
will stand by our Speaker in the same spirit. All of us who served in the 89th
Congress or years past are fond of the gentleman from Massachusetts. We have found
him to be highly capable, a great leader of men, an individual uniquely equipped to
fill a legislative position which is one of the cornerstones of our free system.
May I extend my personal welcome to the new members of the House. They are
taking their seats in this body at a time of great moment in American history.
(More)
-2-
REMARKS INTRODUCING SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
They will have a voice and a hand in decisions which, hopefully, will move America
forward on the path to international greatness. I extend to them the hand of
friendship and assure them they will find all incumbent Members of the House ready
to offer their assistance.
I also extend this pledge to our Speaker and to the American people. We of the
opposition will be loyal; we of the opposition will be responsible; and we will
work together in all that is good for America.
The Speaker's lot is not easy. Everybody is always urging him to take one
course or another. Abraham Lincoln, who was once a freshman member of the House,
was waited upon during his Presidency by a delegation of self-styled political
experts who pressed a certain course upon him and, of course, wound up telling him
such action would win him a lot of friends. President Lincoln calmly replied that
when he had finished his term, he hoped that he would have one friend left, and
that one friend would be deep down inside himself.
I commend Abraham Lincoln's declaration of conscience to all my colleagues, on
both sides of the aisle. But I would like to amend it a little. When I finish my
term as Minority Leader of the 90th Congress, I hope I will have at least two
friends left--one deep down inside of me, and the other, the gentleman from
Massachusetts, the Honorable John W. McCormack, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
Fellow Members, I take great pleasure in presenting to this House a great
Speaker, a great American, a great citizen of the State of Massachusetts, the
Honorable John W. McCormack.
###
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE UPON DELIVERY
January 10, 1967
REMARKS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD IN PRESENTING SPEAKER MC CORMACK TO THE HOUSE
Members of the House:
During all the victory celebrations Members of my party have been having since
last November 8, I have been steeling mysèlf for this moment of defeat. I want first
of all to say that we are going to have to do something about early election project-
ions. For a moment, the early returns had led me to believe I was going to win. I
hope I can take the final tally, however, in good grace. I am comforted by the fact
that my vote was considerably better than the first time I lost the Speakership two
years ago.
The Mace that stands here reminds us of the heritage our American Republic has
from the Roman Republic. But there is one big difference. Under Roman Law the
vanquished were at the mercy of the victor. Under our American tradition, the
vanquished introduces the victor, and I do so today with great pleasure.
The late Mr. Sam Rayburn, who had this same duty at the start of the 83rd Congress,
presented our beloved Republican Speaker Joe Martin to this body, and I can find no
better way to express my sentiments about the other gentleman from Massachusetts,
Mr. McCormack, than in Mr. Sam's words:
"The Speakership of the House of Representatives should be and is the second
office in power in the government of the United States. I know (he) will never
forget the dignity of this high office in protecting, defending and perpetuating the
rights, the prerogatives and the privileges of the House of Representatives."
"This is a great body that comes each two years fresh from the people," Mr. Sam
said. "We know their wishes. We try to carry them out when they are wise and in
the interest of the country."
We of the Loyal Opposition in the temporary and I hope very temporary--minority
will stand by our Speaker in the same spirit. All of us who served in the 89th
Congress or years past are fond of the gentleman from Massachusetts. We have found
him to be highly capable, a great leader of men, an individual uniquely equipped to
fill a legislative position which is one of the cornerstones of our free system.
May I extend my personal welcome to the new members of the House. They are
FORD
taking their seats in this body at a time of great moment in American history.
(More)
-2-
REMARKS INTRODUCING SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
They will have a voice and a hand in decisions which, hopefully, will move America
forward on the path to international greatness. I extend to them the hand of
friendship and assure them they will find all incumbent Members of the House ready
to offer their assistance.
I also extend this pledge to our Speaker and to the American people. We of the
opposition will be loyal; we of the opposition will be responsible; and we will
work together in all that is good for America.
The Speaker's lot is not easy. Everybody is always urging him to take one
course or another. Abraham Lincoln, who was once a freshman member of the House,
was waited upon during his Presidency by a delegation of self-styled political
experts who pressed a certain course upon him and, of course, wound up telling him
such action would win him a lot of friends. President Lincoln calmly replied that
when he had finished his term, he hoped that he would have one friend left, and
that one friend would be deep down inside himself.
I commend Abraham Lincoln's declaration of conscience to all my colleagues, on
both sides of the aisle. But I would like to amend it a little. When I finish my
term as Minority Leader of the 90th Congress, I hope I will have at least two
friends left--one deep down inside of me, and the other, the gentleman from
Massachusetts, the Honorable John W. McCormack, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
Fellow Members, I take great pleasure in presenting to this House a great
Speaker, a great American, a great citizen of the State of Massachusetts, the
Honorable John W. McCormack.
###