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Western States Republican Conference, Seattle, WA, October 6, 1973
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4526515
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Western States Republican Conference, Seattle, WA, October 6, 1973
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The original documents are located in Box D35, folder "Western States Republican
Conference, Seattle, WA, October 6, 1973" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 20capies to Latth orly M OFFICE COPY
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY--
Expected at 10:30 a.m. October 6, 1973
Excerpts from a Speech by Rep. Gerald R. Ford at the Western States Republican
Conference at the Olympic Hotel in Seattle, Washington, 10:30 A.M. PST,
Saturday, Oct. 6, 1973.
There is a new spirit at work in this country today, and it promises to
strengthen and revitalize America.
Republicans call it the New Federalism.
You know what had been going on in this country in the past--the
uninterrupted flow of power and decision-making from the states and local
communities to the bureaucrats in Washington. There has been a mushrooming
growth in funds and authority which have resulted in an overcentralized and
bureaucratized Federal Government.
Worst of all, much of the power--and with it the initiative and the
creativity--of our local government had been allowed to atrophy. And although
the Federal establishment was growing by leaps and bounds, it was largely failing
in its attempts to solve some of the nation's most pressing social and
economic problems.
This is changing. Under the present Administration with its concept of
revenue sharing, the flow of power and resources is being reversed. It is flowing
back to the states and local communities.
Listen now to the philosophy of the New Federalism. Instead of alienation,
people back home will experience the power that a real sense of purpose gives.
Instead of the much-discussed feeling of rootlessness, they will rediscover the
sense of community and pride of place that were once a primary source of
America's greatness.
Instead of the "I-just-don't-want-to-get-involved" attitude, our people
will find their instincts for democratic action and obligation whetted by the
feeling that they can indeed exercise some real, effective control over the
forces that shape their lives.
We have enacted general revenue sharing to give states and local
communities more financial muscle. But something else needs to be provided if
(more)
Digitized from Box D35 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Page 2
we are to revitalize local government the way it should be.
We should also enact special revenue sharing legislation which would help
bring decision-making closer to home in the fields of education, law enforcement,
manpower training and urban redevelopment.
We must do more than simply return power and revenue to our cities and
states. We must also insure that, given the power and the money, they develop
the leadership and the decision-making machinery to use that power and money
wisely in managing change, in reaching our great goals.
The key to meeting that need is local involvement, the kindling of a
desire on the part of people at the local level to be a part of problem-solving
in this country, to become a part of the leadership that is always required if
we are to achieve our national goals.
What is needed now is firm faith in the American system of government and
in our two-party political system.
What is needed now, at all levels of government, is strong Republican
leadership aimed at getting on with the people's business.
We in the Congress must work together to find the answers to the questions
that are plaguing the American people.
We must find ways to stabilize our economy so that the price of food comes
down.
We must care for our elderly and our veterans.
We must reduce unemployment.
We must strengthen our foreign policy through trade, educational and
cultural exchanges, building on the strong new base of our friendship with
Mainland China and the Soviet Union that has been a great initiative of the
Nixon Administration.
We must solve the energy crisis.
We must improve our schools and make our cities livable again.
There are some 30 important bills pending before the Congress. Among
them are reforms in trade, pensions and taxes;
disaster relief; and aid to the schools and communities. I urge bipartisan
support for these major efforts to improve the economy and the quality of life
in America.
We Republicans must look to tomorrow. We must work at the local level, the
state level and the national level to strengthen our Party and to work toward the
solution or our national problems. We must shape and structure in this country a
new destiny, and the leadership which will emerge to provide new solutions to the
problems we face.
I think many of those solutions will come through the New Federalism, the
movement now afoot to decentralize the Federal Government and return dollars,
power and decision-making to the local level.
Meantime, don't let anyone tell you this country is stalled on dead center.
The wheels of progress are beginning to turn again. We are making progress toward
fighting inflation, difficult though that may be to see. We are making progress
toward peace throughout the world. We are making progress toward genuine
prosperity--prosperity without war.
So let us lift ourselves up and have faith and belief in ourselves--and faith
and belief in the Republican Party. If We all work together, we can prevail. ###
Copies to Smittle only
O OFFICE COPY
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY--
Expected at 10:30 a.m. October 6, 1973
Excerpts from a Speech by Rep. Gerald R. Ford at the Western States Republican
Conference at the Olympic Hotel in Seattle, Washington, 10:30 A.M. PST,
Saturday, Oct. 6, 1973.
There is a new spirit at work in this country today, and it promises to
strengthen and revitalize America.
Republicans call it the New Federalism.
You know what had been going on in this country in the past--the
uninterrupted flow of power and decision-making from the states and local
communities to the bureaucrats in Washington. There has been a mushrooming
growth in funds and authority which have resulted in an overcentralized and
bureaucratized Federal Government.
Worst of all, much of the power--and with it the initiative and the
creativity-of our local government had been allowed to atrophy. And although
the Federal establishment was growing by leaps and bounds, it was largely failing
in its attempts to solve some of the nation's most pressing social and
economic problems.
This is changing. Under the present Administration with its concept of
revenue sharing, the flow of power and resources is being reversed. It is flowing
back to the states and local communities.
Listen now to the philosophy of the New Federalism. Instead of alienation,
people back home will experience the power that a real sense of purpose gives.
Instead of the much-discussed feeling of rootlessness, they will rediscover the
sense of community and pride of place that were once a primary source of
America's greatness.
Instead of the "I-just-don't-want-to-get-involved" attitude, our people
will find their instincts for democratic action and obligation whetted by the
feeling that they can indeed exercise some real, effective control over the
forces that shape their lives.
We have enacted general revenue sharing to give states and local
communities more financial muscle. But something else needs to be provided if
(more)
Page 2
we are to revitalize local government the way it should be.
We should also enact special revenue sharing legislation which would help
bring decision-making closer to home in the fields of education, law enforcement,
manpower training and urban redevelopment.
We must do more than simply return power and revenue to our cities and
states. We must also insure that, given the power and the money, they develop
the leadership and the decision-making machinery to use that power and money
wisely in managing change, in reaching our great goals.
The key to meeting that need is local involvement, the kindling of a
desire on the part of people at the local level to be a part of problem-solving
in this country, to become a part of the leadership that is always required if
we are to achieve our national goals.
What is needed now is firm faith in the American system of government and
in our two-party political system.
What is needed now, at all levels of government, is strong Republican
leadership aimed at getting on with the people's business.
We in the Congress must work together to find the answers to the questions
that are plaguing the American people.
We must find ways to stabilize our economy so that the price of food comes
down.
We must care for our elderly and our veterans.
We must reduce unemployment.
We must strengthen our foreign policy through trade, educational and
cultural exchanges, building on the strong new base of our friendship with
Mainland China and the Soviet Union that has been a great initiative of the
Nixon Administration.
We must solve the energy crisis.
We must improve our schools and make our cities livable again.
There are some 30 important bills pending before the Congress. Among
them are reforms in trade, pensions and taxes;
disaster relief; and aid to the schools and communities. I urge bipartisan
support for these major efforts to improve the economy and the quality of life
in America.
We Republicans must look to tomorrow. We must work at the local level, the
state level and the national level to strengthen our Party and to work toward the
solution or our national problems. We must shape and structure in this country a
new destiny, and the leadership which will emerge to provide new solutions to the
problems we face.
I think many of those solutions will come through the New Federalism, the
movement now afoot to decentralize the Federal Government and return dollars,
power and decision-making to the local level.
Meantime, don't let anyone tell you this country is stalled on dead center.
The wheels of progress are beginning to turn again. We are making progress toward
fighting inflation, difficult though that may be to see. We are making progress
toward peace throughout the world. We are making progress toward genuine
prosperity--prosperity without war.
So let us lift ourselves up and have faith and belief in ourselves--and faith
and belief in the Republican Party. If We all work together, we can prevail.
###