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4526114
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Debate with Senator Gore, Arizona State University, April 28, 1968
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4526114
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Debate with Senator Gore, Arizona State University, April 28, 1968
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Speeches
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Crime
Education
Manpower policy
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4526114
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1968-04-30
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4
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1968
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1968-04-01
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4
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1968
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The original documents are located in Box D24, folder "Debate with Senator Gore, Arizona State University, April 28, 1968" 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 The Council donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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. Ariz. 1 NOTES FOR DEBATE WITH GORE AT ARIZ, STATE UNIV. 4/28/68 YOU HAVE ALL HEARD, TIME AND AGAIN, THE CRY THAT WE ARE FACING AN URBAN CRISIS. THE UNFORTUNATE PART OF THIS REPETITION IS THAT WE BECOME INURED TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS A CRISIS AND THAT UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE, AND DONE SOON, OUR CITIES WILL NO LONGER BE CENTERS OF CULTURE AND COMMERCE BUT WILL BECOME CESSPOOLS OF CRIME AND CORRUPTION -- HOLDING DOWN AMERICA'S PROGRESS RATHER THAN FURTHERING IT. UNTIL THE LEADERS OF OUR NATION, AND THIS MEANS PRIMARILY YOU, THE COLLEGE TRAINED MEN AND WOMEN, BECOME SUFFICIENTLY AROUSED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS, THE PROBLEMS WILL CONTINUE TO GROW UNCHECKED. IT IS so MANY OF A REAL SHAME THAT/THOSE WHO HAVE GOTTEN so MUCH FROM OUR COUNTRY ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP OTHERS WHO NEED HELP. TOO MANY, STUDENTS AS WELL AS FACULTY, SIT HERE IN A NICE, SAFE ACADEMIC ATMOSPHERE AND PONTIFICATE ABOUT GREAT ISSUES WITHOUT EVER REALLY GETTING INVOLVED. Ariz 2 SINCE THE TOPIC "THE URBAN CRISIS" ENCOMPASSES so MANY PROBLEMS AND I DO WANT TO SAVE SOME TIME TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, LET ME LIMIT MY REMARKS TO THREE KEY PROBLEMS -- CRIME, EMPLOYMENT, AND EDUCATION. (CRIME) BEFORE I GET INTO THE MEASURES WHICH THE REPUBLICAN COORDINATING COMMITTEE HAS PROPOSED TO COMBAT CRIME, PERMIT ME TO QUICKLY SKETCH THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM AND BRIEFLY COMPARE THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROMISES WITH ITS ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. IN THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, OUR POPULATION GREW BY 11%, BUT OUR CRIME RATE GREW BY 83% -- ALMOST 8 TIMES THE RATE OF POPULATION GROWTH!! THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE FORD ESTIMATED THAT THE TOTAL COST OF CRIME EACH YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES PROBABLY EXCEEDS 50 BILLION DOLLARS -- THATS RIGHT, 50 BILLION DOLLARS LIBRARY EVERY YEAR! ALTHOUGH NO ONE WILL CLAIM THAT CRIME CAN EVER BE COMPLETELY Digitized from Box D24 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library Ariz 3 ELIMINATED, I KNOW OF NO ONE WHO FEELS THAT OUR SOCIETY CAN CONTINUE TO PERMIT THIS RATE OF INCREASE WITHOUT UNDERMINING THE VERY FOUNDATIONS OF OUR SOCIETY. NOR IS PHOENIX EXEMPT FROM THE CLIMBING CRIME RATE. ACCORDING TO THE UNIFORM CRIME REPORT, PUBLISHED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, IN 1966, ALONE, 2,810 CRIMES WERE REPORTED. HOW MANY OTHERS WERE NOT REPORTED NO ONE KNOWS, ALTHOUGH WE DO KNOW THAT MANY MORE CRIMES ACTUALLY OCCUR THAN ARE EVER REPORTED. I MUST COMMEND THE PRESIDENT. HE RECOGNIZED THAT AN URBAN CRIME PROBLEM DOES EXIST. UNFORTUNATELY, AS IS TYPICAL OF MOST OF THE THINGS THE ADMINISTRATION DOES, ALL WE GOT WERE PROMISES OF ACTION. LET ME ENUMERATE SOME OF THE PROMISES AND THEN YOU TELL ME HOW MANY OF XHEN THEM WERE CARRIED OUT. IN 1964, ACCEPTING THE DEMOCRATIC Ariz 4 PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION, PRESIDENT JOHNSON PLEDGED "THE FULL RESOURCES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT" TO CONTROL CRIME AND LAWLESSNESS. IN 1965, HE PROMISED A RELENTLESS ATTACK ON ORGANIZED CRIME. IN 1966, A THREE- STAGE NATIONAL STRATEGY TO CONTROL CRIME WAS PROMISED. IN 1967, SAFE STREETS WERE PROMISED. IN 1968, PUBLIC SAFETY WAS PROMISED. IF ANY OF THESE PROMISES WERE CARRIED OUT, I DON'T KNOW OF THEM. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION HAS IGNORED AND FAILED TO IMPLEMENT MANY VITAL RECOMMENDATI ONS OF THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, A COMMISSION PERSONALLY SELECTED AND APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT JOHNSON TO EXAMINE "EVERY FACET OF CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN AMERICA". HOWEVER, REPUBLICANS, ARE NOT CONTENT TO MERELY POINT OUR THEXEMXXNESS Ariz 5 THE EMPTYNESS OF THE ADMINS TRATION'S PROMISES. ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT POSSESS THE ABILITY TO CALL UPON THE VAST FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY FOR HELP IN DEVELOPING IDEAS, WE CAN CALL UPON MANY CONCERNED CITIZENS WHO ARE WILLING TO GET INVOLVED AND WHO ARE NOT ENMESHED IN OLD, NEW DEAL MYTHS WHICH HAVE LITTLE OR NO RELATION TO OUR PRESENT SOCIETY. (CRIMINAL JUSTICE) TO IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE THE REPUBLICAN COORDINATING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED - 1. A FUNDAMENTAL REVISION OF THE RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND THE LAWS GOVERNING APPELLATE REVIEW OF CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS IN ORDER TO SET FORTH, CLEARLY, THE LIMITS TO INTERROGATION AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME, ORD DURING THE INVESTIGATION AND AT THE STATION HOUSE AND TO PREVENT ENDLESS DELAYS DURING APPEALS OVER INSIGNIFICANT TECHNICALITIES. Ariz 6 2. INNOVATION AND IMPROVEMENT IN JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION. COURT ADMINISTRATION MUST MOVE FROM THE ERA OF THE LEDGER TO THE ERA OF THE COMPUTER. To of CRACK DOWN ON ORGANIZED CRIME WHICH HAS FLOURISHED FOR TOO LONG IN TOO MANY OF OUR MAJOR CITIES, WHICH, I MIGHT ADD, ARE UNDER DEMOCRATIC CONTROL, THE REPUBLICAN COORDINATING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED, . - 1. IMMEDIATE ENACTMENT OF A BILL WHICH I AM PROUD TO HAVE CO-SPONSORED, H.R. 13275, WHICH WOULD OUTLAW ALL PRIVATE WIRETAPPING BUT WOULD AUTHORIZE "ELECTRONING SURVEILLANCE IN SPECIFIC CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ACTING UNDER STRICT COURT SUPERVISION." 2. ENACTMENT OF THE REPUBLICAN-SPONSORED CRIME IMMUNITY BILL WHICH WOULD ALLOW A WITNESS TO BE GRANTED IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION IN RETURN FOR WHICH HE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO TESTIFY OR FACE JAIL FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT. Ariz 7 3. PASSAGE OF THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL TO LESSEN THE TOO RIGID PROOF REQUIREMENTS IN RERJURY CASES. 4. ENACT ment of REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL WHICH WOULD ALLOW FEDERAL PROSECUTORS TO APPEAL COURT RULINGS SURPRESSING EVIDENCE. 5. PASSAGE OF THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL WHICH WOULD ESTABLISH FEDERAL RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES IN ORDER TO PROTECT WITNESSES AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM RETALIATION BY THE MOB. 6. ENACTMENT OF THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE HEAVIER PENALTIES TO CONVICTED GANG LEADERS. 7. AND PASSAGE OF THE GOP SPONSORED PLAN TO CREATE A PERMANENT JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZED CRIME. Ariz 8 HOWEVER, I THINK WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT SUPPLY THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME IN THE CITIES. BOTH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MUST FURNISH THE PRIMARY IMPETUS. THE STATES, WITH AS MUCH FEDERAL AID AS IS NECESSARY, SHOULD DIRECT AND COORDINATE THE WAR AGAINST CRIME. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN DEVELOP NEW AND IMPROVED TECHNIQUES OF CRIME CONTROL, BUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE NEW TECHNIQUES MUST BE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. ONE OTHER MAJOR CRIME PROBLEM FOUND PRIMARILY IN THE CITIES IS THE QUESTION OF DRUG ABUSE. I REALIZE THAT MANY STUDENTS TODAY FEEL THERE IS SMOKING NOTHING WRONG WITH "BLOWING A LITTLE GRASS" OR A LITTLE "POT", BUT THERE IS. ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE CONVENIENT TO IGNORE ALL THE DRUG ADDICTS DOWN IN THE REHABILITXATION HOSPITAL IN LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY, MARIJUANA CAN LEAD TO SUCH AN END. FOR THIS REASON, I, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE Ariz. 9 REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP WANT TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH THAT GOES INTO THE CAUSES AND CURES OF NARCOTICS ADDICTION AND WANT TO CUT DOWN ON THE AMOUNT OF DRUG TRAFFIC WHICH HAS RUINED so MANY LIVES. I WOULD LIKE TO (TRANSITION) IF I MAY SHIFT GEARS NOW, FOCUS UPON THE ROOT CAUSE INADEQUATE OF MANY OF THE URBAN PROBLEMS. OF COURSE, I AM REFERRING TOAEDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED WHO MAKE UP SUCH A LARGE PORTION OF THE URBAN POPULATION. (JOBS) THE FIRST THING THAT MUST BE DONE BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE THE MOST IMMEDIATE IMPACT IS TO FIND JOBS FOR THE URBAN POOR. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PRESENT PROGRAMS ARE BOTH EXPENSIVE AND INEFFECTIVE. BEFORE I GO ON TO THE WORKABLE REPUBLICAN ALTERNATIVES, LET ME FOCUS UPON ONE PROGRAM WHICH THE DEMOCRATS POINTED TO WITH GREAT PRIDE BUT WHICH TYPIFIES THE TYPICAL DEMOCRATIC PROGRAM CONCEIVED IN HASTE AND RAISED IN CONFUSION. Ariz. 10 (JOB CORP) I AM SPEAKING OF THE JOB CORPS. THE JOB CORD IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE OF THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. IT IS ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY WITH ASSISTANCE FROM FEDERAL, STATE, XNE LOCAL AND PRIVATE AGENCIES. IT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, SKILL TRAINING AND WORK EXPERIENCE IN AN INSTITUTIONAL SETTING. IN A MAY 1967 SURVEY CONDUCTED FOR THE JOB CORP, ONLY 56% OF A GROUP OF JOB CORPS GRADUATES WERE WORKING UPON LEAVING THE JOB CORPS WHILE 47% HAD BEEN WORKING BEFORE ENTERING. FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1966-67, THE JOB CORPS WAS AUTHORIZED TO BUT SPEND $211 MILLION, IT ACTUALLY SPENT 55 MILLION OF IF THE JOB CORPS GROUP YOUR PARENT'S HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS. WHICH WAS STUDIED WAS TYPICAL OF ALLE THE TRAINEES, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY ARE GETTING A PITIFULLY SMALL RETURN FOR THEIR INVESTMENT. I THINK THIS SHOULD PROVE TO ALL THAT JUST POURING MONEY INTO A PROBLEM AREA IS NO SOLUTION. WHAT IS NEEDED IS A WELL THOUGHT OUT Ariz. 11 CITE ALTERNATIVE, SUCH AS REPUBLICAN OFFER. LET ME A FEW PROPOSALS WHICH HAVE COME FROM THE REPUBLICAN COORDINATING COMMITTEE AND SEE IF YOU DON'T AGREE THAT THEY MAKE A LOT MORE SENSE THAN THE DEMOCRATIC WAY OF MONEY AND MORE MONEY. 1. FIRST, IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE A LOT OF WASTE AND CONFUSION, THE JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS OF THE OEO SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO EXISTING AGENCIES WHERE COMPETANT PROFESSIONALS ARE AVAILABLE TO RUN THESE PROGRAMS EFFECTIVELY. 2. A XXX ******** CONTINUING NATIONAL JOB OPPORTUNITY SURVEY SHOULD CONDUCTED BE EWXXXXXXX TO COLLECT DATA ON JOB MARKET CONDITIONS AND DEVELOPING JOB NEEDS, TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO VOCATIONAL EDUCATORS FOR USE IN FUTURE TRAINING PROGRAMS. 4. TEENAGERS SHOULD BE OFFERED UP TO TWO YEARS OF TRAINING IN NEEDED NEW SKILLS. THIS SHOULD BE OPEN TO HIGH SCHOOL AND NON-HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES. Ariz 12 IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALTERNATE CLASSROOM TRAINING WITH APPRENTICE TRAINING, EMPLOYERS SHOULD RECEIVE A CREDIT AGAINST THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX FOR PART OF THE WAGES PAID ENROLLES. 5. ALTERNATIVELY, A KNKK TWO YEAR FULL TIME APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM SHOULD BE EN COURAGED BY GIVING A PARTIAL TAX CREDIT TO EMPLOYERS WHO ARE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE. 6. EXISTING LABOR LAWS SHOULD BE RE-EXAMINED AND CHANGED TO PERMIT PART TIME EMPLOYMENT NECESSARY TO ENABLE SOME YOUNG PEOPLE TO CONTINUE IN SCHOOL AND TO MEET FINANCIAL NEEDS WHILE UNDERGOING A VALUABLE WORK EXPERIENCE. 7. DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT MUST BE ELIMINATED. RALD FORD LIBRARY 8. PERSONS RECEIVING AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN SHOULD BE GIVEN GREATER ENCOURAGEMENT TO INCREASE THEIR INCOMES BY TAKING JOBS AND Ariz. 13 THEREBY WORK TOWARDS BECOMING SELF-SUFFICIENT. 9. FINALLY, VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND JOB RETRAINING PROGRAMS SHOULD BE EXPANDED IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE ON PUBLIC RELIEF ROLLS TO BECOME SELF-RELIANT. THROUGHOUT HISTORY, AMERICANS HAVE ALWAYS STOOD OUT BECAUSE THEY STOOD ON THEIR OWN TWO FEET. IT IS IN THE AMERICAN TRADITION THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THE GHETTO DWELLERS ARE REALLY OUTSIDE OF THE AMERICAN ENVIRONMENT AND HAVE NOT DEVELOPED THE SPIRIT OF SELF-RELIANCE AND THE DESIRE FOR AN EDUCATION WHICH HAVE HELPED AMERICA DEVELOP. WHAT = REPUBLICAN PROPOSE IS TO GIVE THESE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE MAINSTREAM OF AMERICAN LIFE, TO ADVANCE WITH THE REST OF AMERICANS AND TO PARTAKE OF SOME OF THE BENEFITS OUR SOCIETY HAS MADE POSSIBLE. Ariz 14. NUMBERS THIS CANNOT BE DONE MERELY BY POURING VAST SHIPS OF OUR HARD EARNED DOLLARS INTO THE GHETTOS. ALTHOUGH NO ONE WILL DENY CORRECTING THE OVERSIGHTS OF THE PAST WILL BE EXPENSIVE, THE KEY IS TO PROVIDE JOBS AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES so THAT THESE PEOPLE WILL DEVELOP THE PRIDE AND ABILITY TO ADVANCE IN SOCIETY AND INCULCATE IN THEIR CHILDREN THE IDEAS WHICH MADE AMERICA GREAT. MERELY POUR ING IN MONEY DEFEATS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT ENCOURAGES DEPENDENCE AND AGGRAVATES THE SITUATION BY ENCOURAGING THESE PEOPLE'S CHILDREN TO FOLLOW THE PATTERNS OF DEPENDENCE SET BY THEIR PARENTS. TIME IS RUNNING SHORT so LET ME IN CONCLUS ION MENTION THREE BROAD PRINCIPALS PROGRAMS WHICH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS EMBRACED: 1. FIRST, THE ENOWRMOUS RESOURCES AND STRENGTH OF PRIVATE ENTERPRIZE MUST BE BROUGHT TO BEAR AGAINST THE MANY-FACETED PROBLEM OF THE SLUM. MERE Ariz. 15. LIP SERVICE TO PRIVATE ENTERPRIZE IS NOT ENOUGH. OUR NATIONAL POLICY MUST BE THOROUGHLY REORIENTED TO GENERATE THE MAXIMUM INVOLVMENT OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR -- BUSINESS, LABOR, THE PROFESSIONA, AND OUR NON-PROFIT ASSOCIATIONS -- IN URBAN IMPROVEMENT. THE ROLE OF GOVERMENT SHOULD EMPHASIZE REINFORCEMENT AND GUARANTEE, RATHER THAN EXECUTION AND CONTROL. 2. SECOND, A NEW NATIONAL EFFORT MUST FOCUS ON HOME OWNERSHIP FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOW POOR. A CENTURY AGO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PASSED THE HOMESTEAD ACT, WHICH POPULATED THE PRAIRIES OF THE WEST WITH FREE AND INDEPENDENT FARMERS. NOW THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HOME OWNERSHIP AND THE VALUES ASSOCIATED WITH IT, MUST BE OPENED TO THOSE PRESENTLY BEHOLDEN TO THE SLUM LORD OR CONFINED TO FORD TENANCY IN SOMBER AND IMPERSONAL PUBLIC HOUSING. FOR HOME OWNERSHIP -- WHETHER IT BE A S INGLE-FAMILY HOUSE, OR A CONDOMINIUM APARTMENT, OR A SHARE IN A HOUS ING COOPERATIVE -- BRINGS PRIDE AND DIGNITY AND INDEPENDENCE. Ariz. 16 A MAN WITH SOMETHING TANGIBLE OF HIS OWN HAS ROOTS AND A STAKE IN HIS COMMUNITY, ITS STABILITY AND ITS PROGRESS. 3. THIRD, THE POOR PEOPLE OF OUR URBAN SLUMS MUST BE ENCOURAGED TO ACTIVELY INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN SELF-HELP PROGRAMS LEADING TO BETTER HOUSING, DECENT JOBS, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY. THIS TASK WILL NOT BE EASY. BUT NO LONGER CAN WE TOLERATE A GOVERNMENTAL PHILOSOPHY INTENT ON DOING THINGS FOR PEOPLE, UNCONCERNED WITH HELPING XMXX PEOPLE TO LEARN HOW TO DO THINGS FOR THEMSELVES. SELF-HELP MEANS SELF-ESTEEM. IT MEANS AN END TO "WELFARE PATERNALISM". IT MEANS THAT A POOR MAN CAN ADVANCE THROUGH HIS OWN EFFORTS. NOTES ARIZONA STATE UNIV. APR. 28, 1968 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. OFFICE OF THE MINORITY LEADER Harald R. Ford PUBLIC DOCUMENT M.C. OFFICIAL BUSINESS DEBATE WITH SENATOR GORE 188 1888017 8817 GERALDY R FORD