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Lincoln Day, Stockton, CA, February 9, 1967
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4526009
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Lincoln Day, Stockton, CA, February 9, 1967
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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Revenue sharing
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The original documents are located in Box D21, folder "Lincoln Day, Stockton, CA,
February 9, 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
Digitized from Box D21 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY AT 6 p.m., PST
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1967
EXCERPTS FROM A LINCOLN DAY SPEECH BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICH., AT STOCKTON, CALIF.
Every Lincoln Day Dinner is a great occasion because it again prompts us to
draw upon the wisdom of one of the greatest men the world has ever known, our own
Abraham Lincoln.
When I say "our own Abraham Lincoln," I am not simply claiming him for the
Republican Party. Lincoln was, of course, a Republican. But he belonged to all the
people. And he was a man for all ages. That is the source of his greatness. He was
timeless; he was honest; he was to use his own phrase...of the people.
This need not be an entirely sober occasion. Lincoln was a great wit. He
loved a good joke, and he himself had a fine facility for turning a phrase.
He was at his wisest and wittiest, for instance, when he said: "Woman is man's
best present from his Maker."
I herewith dedicate that quotation to all the women in this room and all of the
women of America, wherever they may be God bless them.
* *
There probably are many Democrats who subscribe to Lincoln's beliefs but
unfortunately have failed to follow through on them.
Lincoln aptly expressed a fundamental principle of our American democracy, and
not only a personal belief, when he said: "The legitimate object of government is
to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done, but cannot do at all,
or cannot do so well for themselves, in their separate and individual capacities.
In all that the people can individually do as well for themselves, government ought
not to interfere."
(MORE)
-2-
Does this mean that Lincoln was an exponent of Laissez Faire government the idea
that that government is best which governs least? Not at all. That kind of
government, in the extreme, could result in virtual anarchy.
But I think Lincoln would be appalled by the present profusion and confusion of
federal grant-in-aid programs, the overlapping and chaos in the federal bureaucarcy,
and the extent to which the federal government has intruded into the personal lives
of every American.
I believe most Americans, including millions who call themselves Democrats,
agree with Lincoln's warning against government which becomes so big as to be
unmanageable and an unnecessary and undesirable burden for our citizens.
We have striking proof of this today. The proof is contained in the tremen-
dously favorable response generated by the idea of federal tax-sharing. This is a
proposal on which Republicans have taken the lead. It fits with Republican
philosophy. It would give state and local governments a slice of federal income
tax revenue without federal strings.
***
Americans are beginning once more to realize that many of their problems are
best solved at the state and local levels.
The last election showed that the American people are awakening to this great
and growing truth--that we can achieve true greatness as a Nation only by meeting
our responsibilities fully at all levels of government, by fully utilizing the vision
and abilities of all our citizens, by attacking state and local problems with the
talents of people closest to those problems.
Federal revenue-sharing appears to be the only road to fiscal balance and fiscal
sanity in this so-called Great Society.
We must move in a New Direction if we are again to place this Nation on the
path to greatness. I believe the American people placed their feet on that path in
the elections of last November 8th.
###
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY AT 6 p.m., PST
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1967
EXCERPTS FROM A LINCOLN DAY SPEECH BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICH., AT STOCKTON, CALIF.
Every Lincoln Day Dinner is a great occasion because it again prompts us to
draw upon the wisdom of one of the greatest men the world has ever known, our own
Abraham Lincoln.
When I say "our own Abraham Lincoln," I am not simply claiming him for the
Republican Party. Lincoln was, of course, a Republican. But he belonged to all the
people. And he was a man for all ages. That is the source of his greatness. He was
timeless; he was honest; he was...to use his own phrase...of the people.
This need not be an entirely sober occasion. Lincoln was a great wit. He
loved a good joke, and he himself had a fine facility for turning a phrase.
He was at his wisest and wittiest, for instance, when he said: "Woman is man's
best present from his Maker."
I herewith dedicate that quotation to all the women in this room and all of the
women of America, wherever they may be...God bless them.
There probably are many Democrats who subscribe to Lincoln's beliefs but
unfortunately have failed to follow through on them.
Lincoln aptly expressed a fundamental principle of our American democracy, and
not only a personal belief, when he said: "The legitimate object of government is
to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done, but cannot do at all,
or cannot do so well for themselves, in their separate and individual capacities.
In all that the people can individually do as well for themselves, government ought
not to interfere."
(MORE)
-2-
Does this mean that Lincoln was an exponent of Laissez Faire government the idea
that that government is best which governs least? Not at all. That kind of
government, in the extreme, could result in virtual anarchy.
But I think Lincoln would be appalled by the present profusion and confusion of
federal grant-in-aid programs, the overlapping and chaos in the federal bureaucarcy,
and the extent to which the federal government has intruded into the personal lives
of every American.
I believe most Americans, including millions who call themselves Democrats,
agree with Lincoln's warning against government which becomes so big as to be
unmanageable and an unnecessary and undesirable burden for our citizens.
We have striking proof of this today. The proof is contained in the tremen-
dously favorable response generated by the idea of federal tax-sharing. This is a
proposal on which Republicans have taken the lead. It fits with Republican
philosophy. It would give state and local governments a slice of federal income
tax revenue without federal strings.
***
Americans are beginning once more to realize that many of their problems are
best solved at the state and local levels.
The last election showed that the American people are awakening to this great
and growing truth--that we can achieve true greatness as a Nation only by meeting
our responsibilities fully at all levels of government, by fully utilizing the vision
and abilities of all our citizens, by attacking state and local problems with the
talents of people closest to those problems.
Federal revenue-sharing appears to be the only road to fiscal balance and fiscal
sanity in this so-called Great Society.
We must move in a New Direction if we are again to place this Nation on the
path to greatness. I believe the American people placed their feet on that path in
the elections of last November 8th.
####