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6713618
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Importance of the Veto
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1
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6713618
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document
title
Importance of the Veto
citationUrl
collections
Gerald R. Ford's Material from the Writing of "A Time to Heal"
Interviews and Subject Files
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Presidential personal matters
Veto power
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6713618
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1978-12-31
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1978
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1977-01-01
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1977
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91002bce88f4cf28
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President Gerald R. Ford's handwritten reflections, 1977 or 1978
Scanned from the collection Gerald R. Ford: Materials from the writing of A Time
To Heal at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
While writing his autobiography, A Time to Heal (New York: Harper & Row, 1979), President
Gerald R. Ford composed a series of personal reflections on twenty-seven topics. What makes
these documents so unusual is not only their introspection but also their form. President Ford
recorded these observations by hand, writing in blue ball point on his favored yellow writing
tablets. He did not expend time and energy to polish and edit his writing, apparently planning to
do so when incorporating them into the book. Therefore occasional spelling or grammatical
errors or incomplete thoughts appear.
For each reflection the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library has scanned President Ford's
handwritten document and added a Library-produced transcription below to aid in reading the
reflection.
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. Gerald R. Ford 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
Importance 3Veto
The news meter generally vilws The
Prosidential vito as a negative astion, an act by
an obstructionst President on a decision frownd
upon by the drafters of the Construm, This new in
lach Card of is wring.
The night, Presidented into is united into the Constitution,
It was ordand by the framers of the Constitution as
a check-vein against an over reaching Engress
By The requerement of a Two -Thirds overvile
by both Houses If a Engras the Constitution given
In the House & sinate a responsible Tool to prevent an
there is a constituonal remiting.
obstructionst Pres from importing his with anditionally. So
a Neto is not a nepture action. In meality it
is an approvation Receive by a Prestant in that it
Hom + Senate have moved tro varially m in extor.
is an action telling the Chyress that perhaps The
a with gives The Empress an opportant to review
an apreable importure with the President The
carefully what it has done 4 to posibly sub
Pressant who represents all the people in vetory acts
afformaturly on their behalf 4 by vetaing forces The
provencial decreim -
company In Grown its view Hayond a pennchiel on
Importance of Veto
The news media generally views the Presidential veto as a negative action, an act by an
obstructionist President or a decision frowned upon by the drafters of the Constitution. This
view in each case is wrong.
The right of Presidential veto is written into the Constitution. It was ordained by the framers of
the Constitution as a check-rein against an over-reaching Congress.
By the requirement of a two-thirds override by both Houses of a Congress the Constitution gives
to the House & Senate a responsible tool to prevent an obstructionist Pres from imposing his will
arbitrarily. So there is a constitutional remedy.
A veto is not a negative action. In reality it is an affirmative decision by a President in that it is
an action telling the Congress that perhaps the House & Senate have moved too rapidly or in
error. A veto gives the Congress an opportunity to review carefully what it has done & to
possibly seek an agreeable compromise with the President. The President who represents all the
people in vetoing acts affirmatively on their behalf & by vetoing forces the Congress to broaden
its view beyond a parochial or provincial decision.