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This file contains material relating to George McGovern.
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Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, October 21, 1972
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4526460
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Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, October 21, 1972
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This file contains material relating to George McGovern.
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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1972
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The original documents are located in Box D33, folder "Bowling Green State University,
Bowling Green, OH, October 21, 1972" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 copies with
House Galleries only
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE AT 7 P.M. SATURDAY--
October 21, 1972
Excerpts from a Speech by Rep. Gerald R. Ford at Bowling Green State University,
Bowling Green, Ohio.
I am deeply convinced that a victory for George McGovern on Nov. 7 would
seriously damage chances for world peace. It could, in fact, ultimately lead to
World War III.
I say that because there is no question in my mind that George McGovern has
a distorted view of foreign affairs. He would take the United States on a course
which would destroy the foundation already laid for the building of world peace.
It is clear that McGovern believes the Cold War developed as a result of
unwise and belligerent actions by the United States since World War II. He believes
these actions appeared threatening to the Soviet Union and that it was because of
this that the Cold War ensued.
This is the only apparent explanation for McGovern's demand that our
national defense budget be cut by $30 billion.
This appears to be the only explanation for McGovern's insistence that we
reduce U. S. troop strength in Europe--unilaterally--by more than half.
It amazes me that a Presidential candidate of one of the two major parties
in this country would urge not only the abandonment of South Vietnam to Communist
aggression but a virtual pullout of U. S. forces from Europe at a time when the
Middle East writhes in crisis and our European allies are pressing the Soviet
Union for a mutual reduction of forces in Europe.
Should Sen. McGovern be elected, any prospect of negotiating a mutual
reduction of forces with the Soviet Union would go a-glimmering. The Soviets
wouldn't negotiate something that had already been accomplished unilaterally.
George McGovern parades around in the robes of the peace-maker.
How would he make peace? He would make peace in Vietnam by accepting North
Vietnam's terms and, in effect, turning South Vietnam over to the Communists.
He would make peace elsewhere in the world by chopping our defense budget to
the point where our only alternatives in the face of aggression would be surrender
or nuclear war.
Nearly every military cutback McGovern proposes would force increased
(more)
Digitized from Box D33 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
-2--
reliance on nuclear weapons as the deterrent or response to Soviet aggression.
He would fall back on the policy of massive retaliation which John Foster Dulles
espoused, a policy wisely modified by the late President John F. Kennedy.
The policy of massive retaliation--absent the possibility of a conventional
response--would leave this nation with no alternatives but surrender or nuclear
war, as I have said.
It is for just this reason that the United States has developed a capacity
for flexible response and at considerable cost.
In view of Sen. McGovern's proposal to slash the defense forces that make
possible our policy of flexible response, I can only conclude that he simply does
not understand foreign policy and he certainly does not know how to deal with the
Communist world. He lacks, it must be said, an understanding of power and its uses.
President Nixon, by contrast, knows how to employ power and understands the
Communist mind.
This is why President Nixon has won the Cold War as we have come to know it
since World War II.
It was because Richard Nixon insisted on keeping the United States strong
that we were able to prevail in the Cold War and to hasten the disintegration of
the world Communist movement.
President Nixon won the Cold War because of his steadfast adherence to the
policy of seeking peace through strength and his ability to remain flexible in
international negotiations.
For anyone to compare Richard Nixon with Hitler is the most shocking kind of
absurdity. My own belief is that Richard Nixon will come to be recognized as one
of the greatest peacemakers of all time, a man incomparably skilled in inter-
national diplomacy and the game of war and peace.
Richard Nixon has moderated our previously rigid Cold War positions. And in
every case he achieved a gain because all of his negotiations involved the principle
of reciprocity. Each side gave up something but each side gained something.
The Nixon foreign policy consists of a carefully balanced mixture of
moderation on the one hand and commanding military strength on the other.
It is a cruel world we live in. What Richard Nixon recognizes and George
McGovern does not--is that in that world the United States must remain militarily
strong or World War III may await us.
###
House galleries only
Office
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE AT 7 P.M. SATURDAY--
October 21, 1972
Excerpts from a Speech by Rep. Gerald R. Ford at Bowling Green State University,
Bowling Green, Ohio.
I am deeply convinced that a victory for George McGovern on Nov. 7 would
seriously damage chances for world peace. It could, in fact, ultimately lead to
World War III.
I say that because there is no question in my mind that George McGovern has
a distorted view of foreign affairs. He would take the United States on a course
which would destroy the foundation already laid for the building of world peace.
It is clear that McGovern believes the Cold War developed as a result of
unwise and belligerent actions by the United States since World War II. He believes
these actions appeared threatening to the Soviet Union and that it was because of
this that the Cold War ensued.
This is the only apparent explanation for McGovern's demand that our
national defense budget be cut by $30 billion.
This appears to be the only explanation for McGovern's insistence that we
reduce U. S. troop strength in Europe--unilaterally--by more than half.
It amazes me that a Presidential candidate of one of the two major parties
in this country would urge not only the abandonment of South Vietnam to Communist
aggression but a virtual pullout of U. S. forces from Europe at a time when the
Middle East writhes in crisis and our European allies are pressing the Soviet
Union for a mutual reduction of forces in Europe.
Should Sen. McGovern be elected, any prospect of negotiating a mutual
reduction of forces with the Soviet Union would go a-glimmering. The Soviets
wouldn't negotiate something that had already been accomplished unilaterally.
George McGovern parades around in the robes of the peace-maker.
How would he make peace? He would make peace in Vietnam by accepting North
Vietnam's terms and, in effect, turning South Vietnam over to the Communists.
He would make peace elsewhere in the world by chopping our defense budget to
the point where our only alternatives in the face of aggression would be surrender
or nuclear war.
Nearly every military cutback McGovern proposes would force increased
(more)
--2--
reliance on nuclear weapons as the deterrent or response to Soviet aggression.
He would fall back on the policy of massive retaliation which John Foster Dulles
espoused, a policy wisely modified by the late President John F. Kennedy.
The policy of massive retaliation absent the possibility of a conventional
response--would leave this nation with no alternatives but surrender or nuclear
war, as I have said.
It is for just this reason that the United States has developed a capacity
for flexible response and at considerable cost.
In view of Sen. McGovern's proposal to slash the defense forces that make
possible our policy of flexible response, I can only conclude that he simply does
not understand foreign policy and he certainly does not know how to deal with the
Communist world. He lacks, it must be said, an understanding of power and its uses.
President Nixon, by contrast, knows how to employ power and understands the
Communist mind.
This is why President Nixon has won the Cold War as we have come to know it
since World War II.
It was because Richard Nixon insisted on keeping the United States strong
that we were able to prevail in the Cold War and to hasten the disintegration of
the world Communist movement.
President Nixon won the Cold War because of his steadfast adherence to the
policy of seeking peace through strength and his ability to remain flexible in
international regotiations.
For anyone to compare Richard Nixon with Hitler is the most shocking kind of
absurdity. My own belief is that Richard Nixon will come to be recognized as one
of the greatest peacemakers of all time, a man incomparably skilled in inter-
national diplomacy and the game of war and peace.
Richard Nixon has moderated our previously rigid Cold War positions. And in
every case he achieved a gain because all of his negotiations involved the principle
of reciprocity. Each side gave up something but each side gained something.
The Nixon foreign policy consists of a carefully balanced mixture of
moderation on the one hand and commanding military strength on the other.
It is a cruel world we live in. What Richard Nixon recognizes and George
McGovern does not--is that in that world the United States must remain militarily
strong or World War III may await us.
###