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Governors' Luncheon, Washington, DC, February 27, 1969
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Governors' Luncheon, Washington, DC, February 27, 1969
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The original documents are located in Box D26, folder "Governors' Luncheon,
Washington, DC, February 27, 1969" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
M affice Copy
February 27, 1969
Coveraors' Luncheon
Washington, D. C.
Ever since I was elected Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives, it's leen one of my objectives to increase the contacts and improve
communications between Members of Congress and the Governors of our 50 States. I
believe I have had the privilege of attending all of the recent meetings of the
Republican Governors Association, but this is only the second time I have had the honor
of being the guest of all the distinguished Governors assembled.
So I went to thank the Democratic Governors especially for
having me here. I don't know exactly what was the cause of my good fortune, but
maybe you felt that I would be sympathetic to the problems of the minority.
Speaking seriously, I don't know of a single one of our pressing
national domentic problems that comes with a party label on it. of course we
try to pin our party labels on the remedies, if they work--or the other party's
label if they turn out to be failures. But we all know that even the remedies
are very Carely totally partisan in character. They are the result of the
interplay of different ideas and approaches and of patient legislative compromise,
sometimes at the State and local level, sometimes in the committees of Congress
and on the floor, but more and more often in all of these places.
BERALD FORD LIBRARY
Digitized from Box D26 of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
PAGE 2
Let me give you an example. Last year, we on the Republican
side in the Rouse undertook to work major changes, and I think major-
evements,
in the proposed legislation which became the Law Enforcement Assistance Act of
1968. One of these, as you know, was to cut the State governments in for a larger
say in the planning and in the allocation of Federal funds for crime prevention
and control, instead of letting the Justice Department in Washington deal directly
with the local authorities as the administration then wanted to de. In this
effort, as indeed in other of our efforts to promote the block grant or revenue
sharing approach in Federal assistance, we had the ungrudging support not only
of our Republican governors but of the Democratic Governors as well. And, working
together, we wrote a much better law.
Just yesterday, we have a most informative and nutually
beneficial exchange of views at a breakfast on Capitel Hill at which the conference
of House Republican members had many of our distinguished Republican Governors
as guests. I don't know how many Members have said to me since this was one of
the best meetings we've had in a long time and that we should do it more often.
Page 3
To briefly summarize the views expressed by the Governors, they would like to
sea on odie in future Federal legislation more flexibility for the States,
greater cooperation and understanding from federal agencies, and of course,
more money.
I don't think you would have got a such different verdiet from
a breakfast of Demoeratic Governors with the Demoeratic Members of the House. As
I said, the common concerns that face this nation today do not--any more than
those beyond the water's edge--vear Democratic or Republican labels, nor will
they yould to a marrow partisan approach to their solution. I hope this correctly
forecasts the spirit of the 91st Congress.
I believe, from all the evidence so far, that this increasing
involvement of State governments is going to be a guiding principle of the
Nixon-Agnew administration--and I an sure it's a favorable omen that we have as
President a former member of both the House and Senate and a former great Governor
of Maryland as Vice President.
I have resolved to speak so briefly today that I may get
Page 4
invited back to your next bipartisen conference, along with my good friend the
Speaker (Carl Albert) so that someday I can learn exactly what the Governor
of North Carolina did say to the Governor of South Carolina.
But I de want to pass along to you what our Republican Governor
of Florida said to our Republican Governor of California about our former
Republican Governor of Alaska.
"All those billion-dollar beaches of yours," said the Governor
of Florida to the Governor of California, "why, they aren't worth a plugged
Hickel."
Thank you very much.
FORD LIBRARY & GERALD
0 Affice Copy
February 27, 1969
Governors' Luncheon
Washington, D. c.
Ever since I was elected Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives, it's laen one of my objectives to increase the contacts and improve
communications between Members of Congress and the Governors of our 50 States. I
believe I have had the privilege of attending all of the recent meetings of the
Republican Governors Association, but this is only the second time I have had the henor
of being the guest of all the distinguished Governors assembled.
So I want to thank the Democratic Governors especially for
having me here. I don't know exactly what was the cause of my good fortune, but
maybe you felt that I would be sympathetic to the problems of the minority.
Speaking seriously, I don't know of a single one of our pressing
national domestic problems that comes with 8 party label on it. Of course we
try to pin our party labels on the remedies, if they work--or the other party's
label if they turn out to be failures. But we all know that even the remedies
are very darely totally partisan in character. They are the result of the
interpley of different ideas and approaches and of patient legislative compromise,
sometimes at the State and local level, sometimes in the committees of Congress
and on the floor, but more and more often in all of these places.
FORD LIBRARY & GERALD
PAGE 2
Let me give you an example. Last year, ve on the Republican
side in the House undertook to work major changes, and I think major ovements,
in the proposed legislation which became the Law Enforcement Assistance Act of
1968. One of these, as you know, was to cut the State governments in for a larger
say in the planning and in the allocation of Federal funds for crime prevention
and control, instead of letting the Justice Department in Washington deal directly
with the local authorities as the administration then wanted to do. In this
effort, as indeed in other of our efforts to promote the block grant or revenue
sharing approach in Federal assistance, we had the ungrudging support not only
of our Republican governors but of the Democratic Governors as well. And, working
together, we wrote a much better law.
Just vesterday, we have a most informative and mutually
beneficial exchange of views at a breakfast on Capitol Hill at which the conference
of House Republican members had many of our distinguished Republican Governors
as guests. I don't know how many Members have said to me since this was one of
the best meetings we've had in a long time and that we should do it more often.
GERALD LISEARY FORD
Page 3
To briefly summarize the views expressed by the Governors, they would like to
sea empodies in future Federal legislation more flexibility for the States,
greater cooperation and understanding from federal agencies, and of course,
more money.
I don't think you would have got a much different verdict from
a breakfast of Democratic Governors with the Democratic Members of the House. As
I said, the common concerns that face this nation today do not--any more than
those beyond the water's edge--wear Democratic or Republican labels, nor will
they yould to a narrow partisan approach to their solution. I hope this correctly
forecasts the spirit of the 91st Congress.
I believe, from all the evidence 80 far, that this increasing
involvement of State governments is going to be a guiding principle of the
Nixon-Agnew sdministration--and I an sure it's a favorable omen that we have as
President a former member of both the House and Senate and a former great Governor
of Maryland as Vice President.
I have resolved to speak so briefly today that I may get
Page 4
invited back to your next bipartisen conference, along with my good friend the
Speaker (Carl Albert) so that someday I can learn exactly what the Governor
of North Carolina did say to the Governor of South Carolina.
But I do want to pass along to you what our Republican Governer
of Florida said to our Republican Governor of California about our former
Republican Governor of Alaska.
"ALL those billion-dollar beaches of yours," said the Governer
of Florida to the Governor of California, "why, they aren't worth a plugged
Hickel."
Thank you very much.
F
WEARD LIBRARY OH GERALD