Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
4526169
label
Robert A. Taft Institute of Government 7th Annual Dinner, New York, NY, November 26, 1968
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
4526169
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Robert A. Taft Institute of Government 7th Annual Dinner, New York, NY, November 26, 1968
citationUrl
collections
Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Speeches
subjects
Presidential campaigns
Revenue sharing
Urban policy
iiifBase
thumbnailUrl
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
4526169
coverageEndDate
logicalDate
1968-11-30
month
11
year
1968
coverageStartDate
logicalDate
1968-11-01
month
11
year
1968
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
url
mediaId
3004ab758cd75a33
ocrText
The original documents are located in Box D25, folder "Robert A. Taft Institute of
Government 7th Annual Dinner, New York, NY, November 26, 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
THE ROBERT A. TAFT INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT 7TH ANNUAL DINNER
7:30 p.m. Nov. 26, 1968, at the Waldorf Astoria, New York, N. Y
IT IS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE STANDING HERE
BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE NUMBERED AMONG THOSE TAFT
INSTITUTE SPEAKERS WHO HAVE PRECEDED ME DURING THE PAST
SIX YEARS. IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK TO INDIVIDUALS
JOINED TOGETHER IN THE WORTHY CAUSE WHICH BINDS YOU,
ONE TO THE OTHER.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
FL
stabler
2/TAFT
I FIND THIS OCCASION ONE OF CHALLENGE AND
TIMELINESS.
IT IS ONE OF CHALLENGE BECAUSE THE GREATEST NEED
FACING THIS NATION TODAY IS THAT OF EDUCATION. EDUCATION
IN THE SENSE OF ESTABLISHING FULL AND FREE CHANNELS OF
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE RACES AND BETWEEN THE GENERATIONS,
...BETWEEN OUR PEOPLE AND OUR GOVERNMENT.
THIS DINNER IS TIMELY BECAUSE IT OCCURS AT A MOMENT
WHEN A NEW ADMINISTRATION IS FORMING AND THE PROBLEMS
CONFRONT ING OUR PEOPLE ARE PERHAPS MORE CRUCIAL THAN AT
Digitized from Box D25 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
3/TAFT
ANY OTHER TIME SINCE THE 13 ORIGINAL COLONIES DESPERATELY
CLUTCHED AT EACH OTHER AND DECLARED THEMSELVES A NATION.
THIS OCCASION IS TIMELY BECAUSE YOURS IS AN
EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION. AND IF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
ARE TO MEET AND VANQUISH THE PERILS THAT BE-SET THEM
TODAY, IT WILL ONLY BE THROUGH A PERCEPTIVE AWARENESS
OF ALL POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.
AWARENESS IS THE END-RESULT OF KNOWLEDGE. KNOWLEDGE
IS ONE OF THE END-RESULTS OF EDUCATION.
GERA
RARY
4/TAFT
TODAY HOLDERS OF PUBLIC OFFICE IN AMERICA BADLY
NEED HELP. THEY NEED THE HELP OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
YOURS. THEY NEED HELP IN LAYING THE PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS
BEFORE THEM AND IN EXPLORING THOSE PROBLEMS BECAUSE
ONLY WITH PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING CAN THOSE ENTRUSTED WITH
THE BURDENS OF PUBLIC OFFICE HELP TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY
OF LIFE FOR ALL AMERICANS.
THIS IS OUR GOAL, REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL
AFFILIATION: A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL OF OUR PEOPLE.
5/TAFT
HOW IMPORTANT IS EDUCATION? HOW IMPORTANT IS THE
TASK THAT THE TAFT INSTITUTE HAS SET FOR ITSELF?
THOMAS HENRY HUXLEY ONCE SAID: "IT IS FUTILE TO
EXPECT A HUNGRY AND SQUALID POPULATION TO BE ANYTHING
BUT VIOLENT AND GROSS."
AND THE IMMORTAL PLUTARCH DECLARED: "THE VERY ROOT
OF HONESTY AND INTEGRITY LIES IN A GOOD ENDUCATION. "
WE ARE LIVING IN WHAT SOME HAVE CALLED "THE AGE OF
VIOLENCE." WE HAVE WITNESSED MOST SHOCKING EVENTS IN
RECENT YEARS POLITICAL AND RACIAL ASSASSINATIONS,
6/TAFT
RIOTS AND GUERRILLA WARFARE IN THE INNER CITIES, DEEP
DIVISIONS AND VIOLENT PROTEST GENERATED BY THE MOST
UNPOPULAR FOREIGN WAR IN OUR HISTORY.
I THINK IF YOU ANALYZE ALL SUCH TRAUMATIC AND TRAGIC
HAPPENINGS, YOU FIND THEY FLOW FROM A LACK OF UNDER-
STANDING .MISUNDERSTANDING THAT FOMENT THE POISON WHICH
TRIGGERS EVIL DEEDS, MISUNDERSTANDINGS WHICH FORESTALL
REMEDIAL ACTION WHICH MIGHT HAVE PREVENTED THE DEED.
LIBRARY
WE RETURN, THEN, TO EDUCATION AND THE DESPERATE
7/TAFT
NEED TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER. THIS IS THE FOUNDATION
OF THE GOOD LIFE, A LIFE OF DOMESTIC PEACE AND PROGRESS
FOR ALL OF OUR PEOPLE.
I WOULD LIKE NOW TO DISCUSS THE LAST ELECTION...
AND I THINK I CAN DO so IN THIS NONPARTISAN FORUM WITHOUT
BEING POLITICAL.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SAID
NOTHING CLEARLY ON NOV. 5. I SAY THIS IS NOT TRUE.
THE ELECTION RESULTS ARE A MANDATE...A MANDATE FOR CHANGE.
8/TAFT
I SAY THIS BECAUSE NEARLY SIX OUT OF TEN VOTERS SAID THEY
WANTED A CHANGE FROM WHAT THEY HAVE NOW.
TONIGHT I WILL CONFINE MYSELF TO THE POSSIBILITY
OF BRINGING ABOUT CHANGE ON THE DOMESTIC SCENE.
WE HAVE MOST FORMIDABLE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS. FOREMOST
ARE THE PROBLEMS OF THE CITIES AND THE DIRECTION OF
THE NEGRO REVOLUTION. THESE PROBLEMS ARE, OF COURSE,
DIRECTLY INTERRELATED.
WITH THE PEOPLE'S MANDATE FOR CHANGE, EXPRESSED
ON NOV. 5, WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO ATTACK
9/TAFT
THE PROBLEMS OF THE CITIES WITH NEW VIGOR...AND, MOST
IMPORTANTLY, WITH NEW AND MOST PROMISING WEAPONS.
I AM TALKING ABOUT BRINGING THE GENIUS OF FREE
ENTERPRISE TO BEAR ON THE PROBLEMS OF THE CITIES
ENLISTING ALL THE KNOW-HOW AND THE GREAT POWER OF
INDUSTRY IN A FRESH ASSAULT ON THE EVILS OF SLUMMISM.
I AM SPEAKING ABOUT USING FEDERAL TAX INCENTIVES TO
BRING INDUSTRY INTO THE WAR ON POVERTY AS A LEADER
NOT A PARTNER WITH GOVERNMENT, BUT A LEADER.
10/TAFT
SOME HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT SETTING UP AN ALLIANCE
FOR PROGRESS HERE AT HOME BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
SECTORS. I ENDORSE THAT IDEA, BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE
MORE THAN AN ALLIANCE. I THINK WE MUST DEVELOP A
CITIES' INDUSTRY IN THIS COUNTRY...AN INDUSTRY WHICH
WOULD MAKE IT ITS BUSINESS TO CLEAR AND REBUILD THE
SLUMS. THIS CANNOT BE DONE WITHOUT GOVERNMENT, BUT
NEITHER CAN IT BE DONE BY GOVERNMENT.
I TALK OF THE USE OF TAX INCENTIVES FOR SOCIAL
11/TAFT
OBJECTIVES IN A NONPARTISAN AND EDUCATIONAL FORUM FOR
TWO REASONS. THIS IDEA IS NOT THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OF EITHER ONE OF THE TWO MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES. IT
HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY MEN IN BOTH PARTIES. IT WILL HAVE
ITS OPPONENTS IN BOTH PARTIES. IT MUST BECOME THE
SUBJECT OF AN EDUCATIONAL PROCESS IF IT IS TO BECOME
UNDERSTOOD BY THE PEOPLE AND ACCEPTED BY THEM. ONLY
IF IT IS ACCEPTED BY THE PEOPLE WILL WE BE ABLE TO MOVE
FORWARD UNDER THIS NEW BANNER IN THE WAR ON POVERTY.
12/TAFT
I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THE TAX INCENTIVE ATTACK
ON URBAN PROBLEMS HAS SUPPORT IN BOTH PARTIES. YOU MAY
RECALL THAT THE LATE SEN. ROBERT F. KENNEDY WAS AN
ENTHUSIASTIC ADVOCATE OF TAX INCENTIVES TO PROMOTE
CONSTRUCTION OF LOW-COST HOUSING IN THE GHETTOES AND
THE BUILDING OF NEW INDUSTRIAL PLANTS IN THE INNER
CITIES. BY THE SAME TOKEN, MORE THAN 100 MEMBERS OF MY
PARTY IN THE HOUSE HAVE SPONSORED LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE
TAX CREDITS FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IN INDUSTRY. AND
13/TAFT
ALTHOUGH PRESIDENT JOHNSON HAS NEVER EMBRACED TAX
CREDITS FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS IN INDUSTRY,
OFFICIALS IN HIS LABOR DEPARTMENT HAVE.
IT IS PERHAPS SIGNIFICANT THAT SOME DEMOCRATIC
LIBERALS HAVE ARDENTLY ENDORSED TAX INCENTIVES AS A NEW
WEAPON OF ATTACK ON CITY PROBLEMS.
IN A RECENT SPEECH TO MERCY COLLEGE STUDENTS IN
DETROIT, FRANK MANKIEWICZ, FORMER PRESS SECRETARY TO
THE LATE ROBERT KENNEDY, SAID:
14/TAFT
"ONE THING IS CLEAR. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT
DO THE JOB (OF SOLVING THE CITIES' PROBLEMS). IT HAS
TRIED FOR 30 YEARS AND HAS FAILED. IT IS A FACT THAT
MANY OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE INNER CITY ARE WORSE TODAY
THAN THEY WERE 10 YEARS AGO, EVEN AFTER THE EXPENDITURE
OF COUNTLESS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS."
MR. MANKIEWICZ WENT ON TO SAY THAT PRESIDENT-ELECT
RICHARD M. "NIXON WILL BE FREE, AS VICE-PRESIDENT
LIBRARY
HUBERT HUMPHREY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN, TO OFFER NEW AND
DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS TO THE VIETNAM WAR AND THE URBAN
15/TAFT
CRISES OF HOUSING, UNEMPLOYMENT, POVERTY AND EDUCATION."
I COULD NOT HAVE SAID THESE THINGS IN THIS
NONPARTISAN FORUM...AND so I SHALL LET MR. MANKIEWICZ'S
WORDS SPEAK TO THE QUESTION.
NOW, IF...AS MR. MANKIEWICZ HAS DECLARED GOVERNMENT
CANNOT SOLVE THE CITIES' PROBLEMS, THEN WE MUST ASK
OURSELVES WHETHE R WE WANT TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS AT
ALL.
I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY QUESTION ABOUT THE ANSWER.
16/TAFT
WE MUST SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS OR WE ALL WILL PERISH.
so WHERE DO WE TURN FOR POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS? WE
TURN TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND TO STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT. SINCE ATTEMPTS AT SOLUTION BY THE POWERFUL
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN WASHINGTON HAVE FAILED, WE TURN
TO DECENTRALIZATION AS A NEW APPROACH TO THE PROBLEMS
OF THE CITIES.
WE TURN TO INDUSTRY AND TO THE STATES AND THE CITE S
AND WE SAY..."YOU CAN SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS, GIVEN THE
17/TAFT
PROPER RESOURCES. WE WILL GIVE YOU THOSE RESOURCES."
IN THE CASE OF INDUSTRY, THOSE RESOURCES WILL BE
TAX CREDITS AND GOVERNMENTAL GUIDANCE. IN THE CASE OF
STATE AND LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT, THOSE RESOURCES
WOULD BE PROVIDED THROUGH LARGER ALLOCATIONS OF FEDERAL
FUNDS BUT WITHOUT THE STRANGUIATION OF BUREAUCRATIC RED
TAPE. THE LARGER ALLOCATIONS OF FEDERAL FUNDS WOULD TAKE
THE SHAPE OF BLOC GRANTS IN BROAD PROBLEM CATEGORIES
SUCH AS EDUCATION, OR THROUGH A REBATE OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX
18/TAFT
COLLECTIONS ON A PERCENTAGE BASIS. I THINK A MAJORITY
OF AMERICANS BELIEVE THERE IS WISDOM IN A DECENTRALIZED
ATTACK ON OUR DOMESTIC PROBLEMS. YET TREMENDOUS OBSTACLES
REMAIN IN THE WAY.
THE AVENUES OF TAX CREDITS AND REVENUE SHARING TO
ATTAIN SOCIAL OBJECTIVES WILL BE BLOCKED IN CONGRESS
UNLESS WE SUCCEED IN A GREAT NEW EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
WHICH MUST PRECEDE THIS NEW ACTION PROGRAM.
ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO EDUCATE IS BY EXAMPLE.. .AND
19/TAFT
WE ALREADY HAVE THAT EXAMPLE IN THE CASE OF TAX CREDITS.
WE HAVE THE TAX CREDIT AS AN INCENTIVE TO INDUSTRY TO
BUILD NEW PLANTS AND TO BUY NEW EQUIPMENT. I BELIEVE
EVERYONE RECOGNIZES THAT THIS USE OF THE TAX CREDIT HAS
FUELED AMERICA'S GREAT ECONOMIC ENGINE AND HELPED KEEP
OUR ECONOMY GROWING AT A VIGOROUS RATE.
WHY, THEN, SHOULDN'T WE USE EXTRA OR SPECIAL TAX
CREDITS TO STIMULATE THE REBUILDING OF THE INNER CITIES
AND THE BUILDING OF NEW LIVES FOR RESIDENTS THERE THROUGH
20/TAFT
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING? PROVIDE THE DIGNITY AND SELF-RESPECT
THAT COME WITH A GOOD-PAYING JOB?
OF COURSE TAX CREDITS WILL COST MONEY IN TERMS OF
DIVERTED TAX REVENUE. AND, OF COURSE, TAX CREDITS AND
CONSEQUENT INDUSTRY EFFORTS CANNOT BE COUNTED UPON
INITIALLY TO DO THE ENTIRE JOB. BUT OUR EFFORTS TO
DATE HAVE BEEN FAR TOO LITTLE AND FAR TOO LATE. AND so
WE MUST MOVE IN A NEW DIRECTION BECAUSE IT HAS BECOME
PAINFULLY EVIDENT THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALONE CANNOT
21/TAFT
SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF THE CITIES.
WHAT ABOUT THE CITIES AND THE STATES? WHAT ROLE
SHALL THEY PLAY IN MEETING URBAN PROBLEMS?
SOME SAY THEY WOULD NOT PLACE FEDERAL FUNDS IN
THE HANDS OF THE CITIES WITHOUT TELLING MUNICIPAL
OFFICIALS EXACTLY WHAT TO DO. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE
DOING NOW. ARE OUR PROBLEMS DISAPPEARING?
ARE THERE ANY ARGUMENTS FOR SHARING FEDERAL INCOME
TAX REVENUE WITH THE CITIES AND STATES WITHOUT WRAPPING
THIS MONEY IN FEDERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS AND PLACING
22/TAFT
IT AT THE END OF A FEDERAL BUREAUCRATIC MAZE?
AGAIN, THE BEST ARGUMENT IS THAT OF EXAMPLE. THE
PRINCIPLE OF REVENUE SHARING IS BEING CARRIED OUT IN A
NUMBER OF STATES AND SUCCESSFULLY. IN MY OWN STATE OF
MICHIGAN, FOR INSTANCE, AID TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IS
CHANNELED TO THEM UNDER A GENERAL FORMULA WHICH MAKES
NO ATTEMPT TO DICTATE HOW THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT.
MICHIGAN ALSO DIVERTS A PORTION OF ITS SALES TAX REVENUE
TO LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT WITH ONLY THE MOST GENERAL
RULES FOR ITS USE.
23/TAFT
ALL OF OUR THINKING CITIZENS, REGARDLESS OF
POLITICAL AFFILIATION, RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED A REBIRTH
OF LOCAL VITALITY IN PROBLEM-SOLVING. I SUBMIT THAT
WE WILL HAVE THAT REBIRTH OF VITALITY ONLY IF WE
STIMULATE IT WITH FEDERAL FUNDS so CHANNELED AS TO PLACE
THE BURDEN FOR LOCAL PROBLEM-SOLVING ON PRIVATE INDUSTRY
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
IF WE ARE TO SUCCEED IN THIS, WE MUST HAVE THE
ACTIVE SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT OF LOCAL CITIZENS.
24/TAFT
THAT IS WHERE THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS ENTERS IN.
THAT IS WHERE AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THE TAFT INSTITUTE
CAN DO A JOB THAT, AGAIN, GOVERNMENT CANNOT DO.
THE LEGACY OF THE NEW DEAL IS STILL VERY MUCH WITH
OUR TEACHERS OF GOVERNMENT. I AM HOPEFUL THAT OUR SOCIAL
SCIENCE TEACHERS WILL TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THE NEW DEAL
ERA, ITS SUCCESSES AND ITS FAILURES. I HOPE THEY WILL
TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT PROPOSED NEW SOLUTIONS FOR THE
PROBLEMS OF THE LATE SIXTIES PROBLEMS THAT HAVE RESISTED
25/TAFT
DIRECT MASSIVE INFUSIONS OF FEDERAL FUNDS. I ASK ONLY
THAT THEY BRING AN UNBIASED VIEWPOINT TO OUR NATIONAL AND
NONPARTISAN GOALS.
IT IS ONLY IF PEO PLE THROUGHOUT OUR LAND ADOPT THAT
KIND OF AN APPROACH THAT OUR PRESIDENT-ELECT CAN "BRING
US TOGETHER" AND LEAD OUR NATION TO NEW GREATNESS.
LET A NEW SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS RISE IN THIS LAND,
A SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS THAT RISES ABOVE PARTY AND ABOVE
SELF.
26/TAFT
AND LET US BE BRAVE, AND SCHOOLED IN THOUGHT, FOR IT
IS ONLY MEN OF VALOR AND WISDOM WHO WILL CONQUER THE INJUSTICES
THAT STILL PLAGUE THIS WORLD.
# # #
LIBRARY
CARDS
NEW YORK, N.Y. Nov. 26, 1968
Congress of the United States
Herald R. 3nd
Office of the Minority Leaber
M.C.
house of Representatives
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
TUESDAY
7:30 P.M.
ROBERT A. TAFT INSTITUTE
OF GOVERNMENT
7TH ANNUAL DINNER
GERALD
WALDORF ASTORIA