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10/24/74 - President's Dinner, United GOP Fundraiser, Chicago
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1252115
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10/24/74 - President's Dinner, United GOP Fundraiser, Chicago
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches and Statements
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Illinois
Republican National Committee (U.S.)
Speeches, addresses, etc.
Congressional elections
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1974-10-24
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1974
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1974-10-24
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1974
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The original documents are located in Box 2, folder "10/24/74 - President's Dinner, United
GOP Fundraiser, Chicago" of the President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies 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. Gerald 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
I
Unich Proy/Dius
THANK YOU, DAN TERRA, FOR THAT FINE INTRODUCTION.
Neo IT'S
A GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE IN CHICAGO AGAIN
THE HOME OF THE BEARS,
THE BULLS,
AND THE KANGAROO
THAT'S WHAT
I LIKE ABOUT CHICAGO,
YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON EXCITING THINGS
The Wondy City.
HAPPENING HERE
DAN TERRA TELLS ME, THE WAY THAT KANGAROO HAS
BEEN DODGING TACKLERS
THERE'S A BIG CONTROVERSY OVER WHAT TO DO
do
WITH HIM WHEN THEY CATCH HIM.
THE CHICAGO POLICE WANT TO PUT
HIM IN THE ZOO -- AND THE CHICAGO BEARS WANT TO PUT HIM IN THE
BACKFIELD!
AND, OF COURSE,
THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO REGISTER
HIM
AT LEAST ONCE!
Digitized from Box 2 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
- 2 -
I WAS TALKING TO MY OLD FRIEND, GEORGE "PAPA BEAR"
HALAS, BEFORE THE D INNER --- AND I WAS TELLING HIM HOW, SINCE I
BECAME PRESIDENT, I'M USUALLY INTRODUCED IN A VERY STATELY AND
This
DIGNIFIED MANNER, SUCH AS TONIGHT.
ALL EXCEPT FOR ONE D INNER
WHEN I WAS INTRODUCED BY A FORMER TEAM MATE OF MINE FROM THE
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL TEAM. AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT INTRODUCTION.
- 3 -
HE SAID, "LAD IES AND GENTLEMEN, IT MIGHT INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT
I PLAYED FOOTBALL WITH JERRY FORD FOR TWO YEARS -- AND IT MADE A
LASTING IMPRESSION ON ME. .I WAS A QUARTERBACK. JERRY FORD
WAS THE CENTER.
AND YOU MIGHT SAY, IT GAVE ME A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE PRESIDENT!"
- 4 -
Tmy bride we
CHICAGO IS GETTING TO BE A HABIT WITH
AND Y LOVE
THE PLACE.
I WAS HERE IN JUNE FOR A CONGRESSIONAL BOOSTERS
FUNDRAISER AND AGAIN IN JULY AT A DINNER FOR STATE SENATE INCUMBENTS
AND CANDIDATES.
AND BETTY WAS HERE IN SEPTEMBER FOR A LUNCHEON
HONORING REPUBLICAN WOMEN CAND IDATES.
- 5 -
INCIDENTALLY, BETTY IS A CHICAGO NATIVE, AS YOU
MAY KNOW. SHE SENDS YOU HER LOVE. SHE IS DOING FINE AND
TOLD ME SHE HOPES TO BE BACK IN HERE AGAIN SOON TO SEE ALL HER
OLD FRIENDS.
- 6 -
YOU KNOW, IT REALLY IS TRUE WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THIS
BIG, DYNAMIC CITY OF YOURS. IT LOOKS TOUGH ON THE OUTSIDE BUT,
AT HEART, IT'S A REAL SOFTY --.A WARM, FRIENDLY PLACE. THAT'S
WHY I'M ALWAYS GLAD TO COME BACK -- AND THAT'S WHY I'M so PROUD
OF THE FINE SLATE OF CANDIDATES OUR REPUBLICAN PARTY IS RUNNING FOR
OFFICE HERE IN COOK COUNTY. CHICAGO IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND BEST
CITIES IN THE COUNTRY. IT DESERVES THE BEST. LEADERSHIP. AND
THAT IS WHAT YOUR BLUE-RIBBON GOP SLATE OFFERS.
- 7 -
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS WHO
PRECEDED ME ON THE PLATFORM THIS EVENING:
BILL CROFT, WHOHAS DONE A GREAT JOB AS DINNER CHAIRMAN
AND M.C.;
PETE BENS INGER, WHO WILL MAKE A GREAT COUNTY SHER IFF;
HARRY PAGE, WHO IS RUNNING HARD AND WELL FOR STATE
TREASURER, AND WHO IS JUST THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB;
- 8 -
CHUCK PERCY, ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT, ARTICULATE
MEN IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE, AND A GOOD FRIEND;
GEORGE BURDITT, WHO WILL MAKE A GREAT COLLEAGUE FOR
CHUCK - A SENATOR WHO WILL VOTE AGAINST BIG SPENDING AND AGAINST
INFLATION THE KIND OF MAN WE NEED IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE;
AND, OF COURSE, DAN TERRA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
REPUBLICAN FUND OF ILLINOIS. DAN, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
- 9 -
SINCE THIS CAMPAIGN BEGAN I HAVE BEEN TO ALMOST EVERY
128,000 milso.
PART OF THE COUNTRY. A EVERYWHERE I FOUND THE SAME THING.
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF GOVERNMENT. PEOPLE ARE
WORRIED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE HEAD ING AS A NATION, AND WHAT IS BEING DONE
ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WE FACE.
AND PEOPLE ARE FED UP WITH CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT,
WHETHER IT IS GRAFT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OR ABUSE OF POWER AT THE TOP.
- IO -
IT IS UP TO THOSE OF US IN POLITICAL LIFE TO GIVE THE KIND
OF LEADERSHIP, THE KIND OF EXAMPLE THAT AMERICANS CAN BELIEVE IN.
AND THAT IS WHAT THE ILLINOIS G.O.P. HAS DONE, HERE IN COOK COUNTY
AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
- II -
NOW I REALIZE THAT THERE ARE SOME POLITICAL PROPHETS
WHO THINK THAT THE GAME IS UP -- THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO STAMPEDE
BLINDLY INTO THE DEMOCRATIC COLUMN.
BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.
THAT IS WHY I AM HERE
TONIGHT.
- I2 -
I HAVE BEEN IN PUBLIC LIFE FOR 26 YEARS NOW.
I HAVE
SEEN A LOT OF ELECTIONS AND I HEARD A LOT OF WISE PREDICTIONS.
Bankly
THEY WERE ALMOST ALWAYS WRONG.
IT WAS THE ONE THING YOU COULD
COUNT ON.
- 13 -
THE ONLY RULE OF THUMB THAT I KNOW AND IT IS ONE
THAT HAS NEVER FAILED ME -- WAS TAUGHT ME BY ONE OF MY DEAREST,
OLDEST FRIENDS.
HE WAS A GREAT CONGRESSMAN, A GREAT SENATOR
AND A GREAT ORATOR.
I WILL NEVER FORGET HIM.
HE CAME FROM ILLINOIS AND HIS NAME WAS EV DIRKSEN.
Jullo
- I4 -
I REMEMBER ONE AFTERNOON -- WHEN WE WERE TALKING
TOGETHER IN HIS CAPITOL OFFICE. Co was / a Diant and
Giants / sugar g'vi. always wished. his 2
just bit I Ext.
THE VIETNAM WAR WAS GOING FULL BLAST.
INFLATION WAS
A PROBLEM.
THE DEMOCRATS HAD SWAMPED US IN 1964, AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE WERE SAYING THAT THE G.O.P. WAS FINISHED.
FRANKLY, I WAS FEELING A LITTLE DOWN, A LITTLE
DISCOURAGED, AND I TOLD EV so.
111
- 15 -
HE PAUSED FOR A MOMENT, LOOKED AT ME AND SAID,
"JERRY, DON'T LET IT GET YOU DOWN. YOU JUST KEEP IN THERE DOING
YOUR BEST FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE WILL DO THEIR BEST FOR YOU."
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I DID, AND I FOUND OUT THAT
EV DIRKSEN WAS RIGHT.
IT WORKED.
IT WORKED FOR ME IN THE CONGRESS AND I BELIEVE IT WILL
WORK IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
- I6 -
BUT TO DO MY BEST FOR THE PEOPLE AND FOR AMERICA,
I AM GOING TO NEED THE HELP OF GOOD MEN AND WOMEN IN THE CONGRESS --
MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILL HELP ME FIGHT GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND
WHIP INFLATION.
WHAT WE NEED WHAT WE MUST HAVE IF WE ARE TO SEE
AMERICA THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT ECONOMIC PERIOD -- IS NOT A
VETO-PROOF CONGRESS BUT AN INFLATION-PROOF CONGRESS.
11
<1)
- 17 -
I THINK ALL OF US HAVE LEARNED IN LIFE THAT PROBLEMS --
THE REALLY BIG PROBLEMS -- DON'T SPRING UP OVERNIGHT.
AND THEY
DON'T GET SOLVED OVERNIGHT EITHER.
INFLATION IS LIKE THAT.
IT HAS BEEN BUILDING UP FOR
YEARS, LIKE A DISEASE IN THE BODY OF THE ECONOMY.
CURING IT
WILL TAKE TIME.
BUT IT CAN BE DONE.
- 18 -
HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
HOW DID INFLATION GET OUT OF
CONTROL?
THERE IS NO SINGLE, SIMPLE ANSWER.
BUT ONE BIG REASON
IS GOVERNMENT SPENDING.
HAND-IN-HAND, THEY HAVE GROWN TOGETHER.
PC
EACH UNBALANCED BUDGET - -- EACH WASTEFUL SPENDING BILL RAMMED
THROUGH THE CONGRESS -- HAS ADDED TO YOUR COST OF LIVING AND FED
INFLATION.
- 19 -
WHO IS TO BLAME?
THERE ARE MANY VILLAINS.
BUT THE BIGGEST BURDEN OF GUILT LIES ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE
BIGGEST SPENDERS. AND THE FACT IS THAT ONE POLITICAL PARTY HAS
RUN THE CONGRESS -- AND HELD OPEN THE NATION'S PURSESTRINGS --
FOR 38 OF THE LAST 42 YEARS, AND FOR THE PAST STRAIGHT 20 YEARS.
- 20 -
THAT PARTY IS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND WE CANNOT
ALLOW IT TO DRIVE THE BUDGET DEEPER INTO THE RED AND THE RATE OF
INFLATION HIGHER INTO THE BLUE.
THAT IS WHY EACH OF YOU IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER
THIS YEAR, WHEN so MUCH HANGS IN THE BALANCE.
YOUR ENTHUS IASM, YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR VOLUNTEER WORK
AND, MOST OF ALL, YOUR VOTE, ARE THE KEYS TO WHIPPING INFLATION
AND PRESERVING A HEALTHY TWO-PARTY SYSTEM IN AMERICA.
- 21 -
HERE IN ILLINOIS YOU ARE LUCKY.
YOU HAVE 12 GREAT
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION: BOB MICHEL,
ED DERWINSKI, JOHN ANDERSON, PAUL FINDLEY, BOB McCLORY,
JOHN ERLENBORN, ToM RAILSBACK, PHIL CRANE, GEORGE O'BRIEN,
BOB HANRAHAN,
ED MADIGAN AND SAM YOUNG.
- 22 -
EACH OF THESE GREAT FRIENDS AND FORMER COLLEAGUES
IS A REAL CHAMP A HARD-HITTING INFLATION FIGHTER.
AND so
ARE THE OTHER II REPUBLICAN HOUSE CANDIDATES.
WE NEED THEM IN WASHINGTON. THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT.
- 23 -
BUT YOU DON'T JUST FIGHT INFLATION IN WASHINGTON.
THE BATTLEFIELD IS THE WHOLE COUNTRY -- EVERY STATE, EVERY COUNTY
AND EVERY CITY.
so I HOPE YOU WILL ALL GET BEHIND YOUR REPUBLICAN
STATE LEGISLATURE CANDIDATES. ONLY THEY CAN GIVE YOU THE KIND
OF RESPONSIBLE, ECONOMICAL STATE GOVERNMENT YOU WANT.
- 24 -
THAT IS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF OUR PARTY. -- FROM
LINCOLN'S DAY TO THE PRESENT. TO BE JUST, TO BE FAIR, TO BE
RESPONSIBLE.
TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND TO GIVE AMERICA
THE KIND OF GOOD GOVERNMENT IT NEEDS AND DESERVES.
- 25 -
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS STOOD THAT TEST. IT ENDED
THE LONGEST, BLOODIEST WAR IN AMERICA'S HISTORY,
IT HAS BEGUN
THE LONG, HARD PROCESS OF RETURNING POWER FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT BACK TO THE PEOPLE\AND THEIR LOCALLY ELECTED LEADERS;
AND, IT IS LEADING THE BATTLE AGAINST INFLATION AND GOVERNMENT
SPENDING -- A BATTLE AMERICA MUST WIN.
IF WE PULL TOGETHER, WE CAN DO IT. AS EV DIRKSEN SAID,
"IF WE DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR THE PEOPLE, THEY WILL DO THEIR BEST FOR US."
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