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1252327
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5/21/75 - Talking Points, RNC Major City Conference
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1252327
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document
title
5/21/75 - Talking Points, RNC Major City Conference
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches and Statements
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Republican National Committee (U.S.)
Speeches, addresses, etc.
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1252327
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21
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1975-05-21
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5
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1975
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21
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1975-05-21
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5
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1975
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The original documents are located in Box 9, folder "5/21/75 - Talking Points, RNC Major
City Conference" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
Digitized from Box 9 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN def
TALKING POINTS:
RNC MAJOR CITY CONFERENCE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1975
- 1 -
1. IT'S A PLEASURE FOR ME TO JOIN YOU HERE THIS AFTERNOON
FOR THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE'S MAJOR CITY LEADERSHIP
CONFERENCE.
IF WE EXPECT TO RUN A WINNING RACE IN 1976, WE NEED
SUPPORT FROM THE BIG CITIES -- AND WE NEED TO START NOW IN
DEVELOPING THAT SUPPORT.
- 2 - -
2. A LOT OF NOMINAL DEMOCRATS IN THE BIG CITIES HAVE BEGUN
TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT THE POLITICAL SYSTEM.
THEY AREN'T
REPUBLICANS YET BY A LONG SHOT -- BUT THEY ARE NO LONGER DYED-IN-THE
WOOL DEMOCRATS EITHER.
- 3 -
IN 1972, THEY OVERWHELMINGLY REPUDIATED THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE; IN 1976, WE MUST OFFER THEM NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES WHO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND INSPIRE THEIR
TRUST AND CONFIDENCE.
- 4 - -
IF WE DO THAT, I BELIEVE WE CAN REVERSE THE FLOW OF POLITICAL POWER
IN AMERICA'S BIG CITIES.
WE CAN PUT AN END TO THE ONE-PARTY
MONOPOLY THAT so MANY OF THEM HAVE SUFFERED UNDER TOO LONG.
- 5 -
3. BUT TO WIN THIS BATTLE WE NEED MODERN, EFFICIENT
AND RESPONSIVE REPUBLICAN PARTY ORGANIZATION.
THAT'S WHY
YOU'RE HERE FOR THIS CONFERENCE.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO ASK
FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS EFFORT.
- 6 -
4. REPUBLICAN VICTORIES IN THE MAJOR CITIES ARE
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, NOT FOR THE PARTY ALONE BUT FOR THE CITIES
THEMSELVES.
OUR PARTY NEEDS THE VOTES YOUR GREAT CITIES CAN
DELIVER.
THE CITIES NEED THE LEADERSHIP REPUBLICANS HAVE
TO OFFER.
- 7 -
5. THE LEADERSHIP AND SUCCESS OF AMERICA'S CITIES IS
A MATTER OF THE HIGHEST CONCERN TO MY ADMINISTRATION.
THESE
GREAT CENTERS OF COMMERCE AND CULTURE, COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC
SERVICE CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO FALL UNDER THE GREAT WEIGHT OF PROBLEMS
THAT NOW BESET THEM.
BUT NEITHER CAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
RESCUE EVERY CITY IN AMERICA FROM ITS OWN PAST MISTAKES.
- 8 -
6. TOO MANY DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE
SOWN THE WIND WITH PROMISES THEY COULD NOT KEEP AND
AMERICA'S CITIES ARE LEFT TO REAP THE WHIRLWIND OF FINANCIAL
CRISIS, FAILING SERVICES, AND EXPECTATIONS UNFULFILLED.
- 9 -
7. REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE MAJOR CITIES --
AS DEMONSTRATED so WELL BY MAYOR PETE WILSON IN SAN DIEGO,
FOR EXAMPLE -- CAN MAKE THOSE CITIES NOT ONLY GOVERNABLE,
BUT ENJOYABLE PLACES IN WHICH TO LIVE AND WORK.
- 10 -
8. EVERY CITY HAS ITS OWN PERSONALITY, ITS OWN
RESOURCES, ITS OWN SPECIAL PROBLEMS.
BUT EVERY CITY IN
AMERICA STANDS TO BENEFIT FROM THE SOUND FISCAL AND PROGRAM
MANAGEMENT THAT IS A BEDROCK OF REPUBLICAN POLICY AND A HALLMARK
OF REPUBLICAN PERFORMANCE.
-11-
9. TAKE THAT MESSAGE HOME TO YOUR PEOPLE,
AND YOU WILL BRING THEM INTO THE REPUBLICAN COLUMN
IN NOVEMBER OF 1976.
END OF TEXT