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Republican Dinner, Indianapolis, IN, December 12, 1969
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Republican Dinner, Indianapolis, IN, December 12, 1969
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The original documents are located in Box D28, folder "Republican Dinner, Indianapolis,
IN, December 12, 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
Distribution: 20 capies Mr. Ford
Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
-FOR RELEASE AT 6:30 P.M.--
Friday, Dec. 12, 1969
Excerpts from a Speech by House Republican Leader Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., at a
Republican Dinner, Friday evening, Dec. 12, 1969, at Indianapolis, Ind.
I feel inspired as I stand before you tonight, but not simply because the
Nixon Administration scored a stunning victory last Thursday on the floor of the
U.S. House of Representatives.
I feel inspired because each passing day strengthens my conviction that President
Nixon has set the proper course, the right course, both in Vietnam and in our domestic
affairs. I am convinced he is doing what is right for the Nation, and I am just as
certain that the Republican Party is "right" for the Nation.
The President is proceeding with a carefully worked out program to end the
Vietnam War and he has laid before the Congress a great domestic program rooted in
the desperate need for reform in America.
There is a crying need for reform in this country, although you would never guess
it from the lackadaisical attitude of most Democrats in Congress.
The Democrats have dallied on President Nixon's reform proposals because to move
on them would be to admit their past failures and add to Republican Party luster.
I would urge my Democratic friends to stop seeking political advantage long enough
to legislate in the best interests of the Nation-long enough to enact the Nixon
reform proposals which the American people want and need.
The President has proposed sweeping reforms in a number of problem areas-draft
reform, welfare reform, tax reform, revenue sharing reform, postal reform, manpower
training reform, social security reform, grant-in-aid reform and electoralreform.
He has also sought to improve the Nation's air facilities, redevelop the country's
public transportation system, establish a national occupational health and safety board,
broaden the food stamp program, step up the fight against crime, score a breakthrough
in the construction of homes for low-income families, and protect the rights of the
consumer.
A few days ago the House Democratic Leader invited the press to take a look at
the record of the 91st Congress. He was complaining about White House statements
implying that Congre SS had not been working very hard.
I wish the press could take a good, hard look at what the 91st Congre SS has done
to date. Any impartial observer would have to call it a mark-time Congress GERALE which has
IBRAR
Digitized from Box D28 of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
moved so slowly it has almost been marching in place.
Of the great Nixon reforms, the Congress has completed action on only one--draft
reform-and is nearing the finish line on one other--tax reform.
The only draft reform achieved by the Congress was to repeal one sentence in the
law so that the President could go ahead with a lottery system, the "luck of the draw"
method for selecting draftees.
On tax reform, the Senate has gone far beyond the sound, reasonable House-approved
bill and has produced a Christmas tree bill loaded with political goodies. They have
taken a tax reform bill and turned it into an irresponsible tax relief bill.
I look to the House-Senate conference committee for salvation on tax reform.
They certainly have a job to do. Being an optimist, I think they will do it and
the American people will get good tax reform legislation. I think it will be a bill
the President can sign.
Members of the Senate may kick aside all concern about inflation. But the President
cannot do SO. He is only too aware that while our tax cuts may total $8 billion or more
over several years, the cost of six per cent inflation is $28 billion a year in lost
values and dollar erosion. The President is acting for all of us in fighting the heavy
tax that is inflation.
So we've looked at the record of the 91st Congress as of this moment, and it is
not a pretty one. It is a record of failure--failure to measure up to the mandate
of reform that was delivered up by the American people in the last election.
The House Democratic Leader speaks of the "lack" of an Administration program.
That is a completely phoney charge. The Administration program of some 40 reform
proposals has been laid before the American people for all to see--and the people
like it.
In the next election the voters will put the Congress in the hands of
representatives who will move that program forward and move America forward with
it.
That new team will be a Republican team, for the Republican Party is not a
party of promises but a party of action.
The Seventies are a decade of decision. I ask the American people to look
closely at what happens to the program shaped to guide us in that decade of decision,
the Nixon program. And I ask that they look closely at the Republican Party--a
party not only ready and willing to govern the Nation but ABLE to govern the Nation.
# # #
Distribution: 20 copies Mr. Ford
o Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE AT 6:30 P.N.--
Friday, Dec. 12, 1969
Excerpts from a Speech by House Republican Leader Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich,, at a
Republican Dinner, Friday evening, Dec. 12, 1969, at Indianapolis, Ind.
I feel inspired as I stand before you tonight, but not simply because the
Nixon Administration scored a stunning victory last Thursday on the floor of the
U.S. House of Representatives.
I feel inspired because each passing day strengthens my conviction that President
Nixon has set the proper course, the right course, both in Vietnam and in our domestic
affairs. I am convinced he is doing what is right for the Nation, and I am just as
certain that the Republican Party is "right" for the Nation.
The President is proceeding with a carefully worked out program to end the
Vietnam War and he has laid before the Congress a great domestic program rooted in
the desperate need for reform in America,
There is a crying need for reform in this country, although you would mver guess
it from the lackadaisical attitude of most Democrats in Congress.
The Democrats have dallied on President Nixon's reform proposals because to move
on them would be to admit their past failures and add to Republican Party luster.
I would urge my Democratic friends to stop seeking political advantage long enough
to legislate in the best interests of the Nation-long enough to enact the Nixon
reform proposals which the American people want and need.
The President has proposed sweeping reforms in a number of problem areas--draft
reform, welfare reform, tax reform, revenue sharing reform, postal reform, manpower
training reform, social security reform, grant-in-aid reform and electoral reform.
H₆ has also sought to improve the Nation's air facilities, redevelop the country's
public transportation system, establish a national occupational health and safety board,
broaden the food stamp program, step up the fight against crime, score a breakthrough
in the construction of homes for low-income families, and protect the rights of the
consumer.
A few days ago the House Democratic Leader invited the press to take a look at
the record of the 91st Congress. He was complaining about White House statements
implying that Congre SS had not been working very hard.
I wish the press hould take a good, hard look at what the 91st Congre SS has done
to date. Any impartial observer would have to call it a mark-time Congress which has
GERALD
LIBRARY
moved so slowly it has almost been marching in place.
Of the great Nixon reforms, the Congress has completed action on only one--draft
reform--and is nearing the finish line on one other--tax reform.
The only draft reform achieved by the Congress was to repeal one sentence in the
law so that the President could go ahead with a lottery system, the "luck of the draw"
method for selecting draftees.
On tax reform, the Senate has gone far beyond the sound, reasonable House-approved
bill and has produced a Christmas tree bill loaded with political goodies. They have
taken a tax reform bill and turned it into an irresponsible tax relief bill.
I look to the House-Senate conference committee for salvation on tax reform.
They certainly have a job to do. Being an optimist, I think they will do it and
the American people will get good tax reform legislation. I think it will be a bill
the President can sign.
Members of the Senate may kick aside all concern about inflation. But the President
cannot do so. He is only too aware that while our tax cuts may total $8 billion or more
over several years, the cost of six per cent inflation is $28 billion a year in lost
values and dollar erosion. The President is acting for all of us in fighting the heavy
tax that is inflation.
So we've looked at the record of the 91st Congress as of this moment, and it is
not a pretty one. It is a record of failure--failure to measure up to the mandate
of reform that was delivered up by the American people in the last election.
The House Democratic Leader speaks of the "lack" of an Administration program.
That is a completely phoney charge. The Administration program of some 40 reform
proposals has been laid before the American people for all to see--and the people
like it.
In the next election the voters will put the Congress in the hands of
representatives who will move that program forward and move America forward with
it.
That new team will be a Republican team, for the Republican Party is not a
party of promises but a party of action.
The Seventies are a decade of decision. I ask the American people to look
closely at what happens to the program shaped to guide us in that decade of decision,
the Nixon program. And I ask that they look closely at the Republican Party--a
party not only ready and willing to govern the Nation but ABLE to govern the Nation.
# # #
GERALD FORD LIBRARY