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6/7/76 - Remarks at the Hamilton County Republican Club Breakfast, Cincinnati, OH
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6/7/76 - Remarks at the Hamilton County Republican Club Breakfast, Cincinnati, OH
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
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The original documents are located in Box 34, "6/7/76 - Remarks at the Hamilton County
Republican Club Breakfast, Cincinnati, OH" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 34 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
-1-
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK IN THE BUCKEYE STATE,
ESPECIALLY IN THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF CINCINNATI
I'VE BEEN IN OHIO MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS,
AND I HAVE MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF THOSE EARLIER VISITS
AND THE PEOPLE I HAVE MET HERE.
-2-
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I SPOKE AT A REPUBLICAN
FUND-RAISING DINNER UP IN CLEVELAND AND DURING THE DINNER
I WAS GIVEN A CAMPAIGN BUTTON THAT SAID, "PRESIDENT
GERALD FORD, MODEL A-1 FORD."
I TOOK THAT AS A COMPLIMENT
AFTER ALL,
A MODEL-A WAS ECONOMICAL; IT WAS DEPENDABLE;
IT WAS UNCOMPLICATED; AND IT GOT US WHERE WE WANTED TO GO
county
-3-
AND I HAVE COME TO OHIO TO SAY THAT, AS MUCH
AS I BELIEVE IN A STRONG AND PROSPEROUS AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE
INDUSTRY, THIS YEAR -- THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON
TO TRADE IN YOUR RELIABLE FORD -- FOR A FLASHIER MODEL
LAST FEBRUARY, WE TOOK OUR CAMPAIGN TO THE
SNOWY HILLS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE IN SEARCH OF THE FIRST
REPUBLICAN VOTES OF 1976
-3-
AND I HAVE COME TO OHIO TO SAY THAT,
AS MUCH AS I BELIEVE IN A STRONG AND PROSPEROUS AMERICAN
AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY, THIS YEAR THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON
TO TRADE IN YOUR
RELIABLE FORD ON A FLASHIER MODEL
LAST FEBRUARY, WE TOOK OUR CAMPAIGN TO THE
SNOWY HILLS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE IN SEARCH OF THE FIRST REPUBLICAN
VOTES OF 1976
-4-
BACK THEN, AS YOU WILL RECALL, THERE WAS SOME
QUESTION OF WHETHER I COULD WIN ANY VOTES AT ALL OUTSIDE
GRAND RAPIDS
NOT ONLY DID WE PROVE I COULD WIN VOTES,
I WON THE PRIMARY -- BY A LANDSLIDE MARGIN OF 1,500 VOTES.
-5-
WHEN WE GOT TO THE MICHIGAN PRIMARY,
I CARRIED MY OLD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WITH 85 PERCENT
OF THE VOTE AND CARRIED THE STATE BY MORE THAN 300,000
VOTES
-6-
SINCE OHIO STATE HAS APPARENTLY GOTTEN INTO
THE HABIT OF BEATING MICHIGAN LATELY, THE GOOD PEOPLE
OF OHIO SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP US WIN AN EVEN BIGGER VICTORY
HERE THAN WE WON IN MICHIGAN, AND I'M COUNTING ON YOUR
HELP
-7-
TOMORROW WILL BE THE LAST DAY OF THE
1976 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY CAMPAIGN,
AND
NOBODY COULD
ASK FOR A MORE DRAMATIC FINISH
-8-
WITH YOUR HELP TOMORROW, AND WITH THE HELP
OF ALL MY FRIENDS IN CALIFORNIA AND NEW JERSEY, WE CAN MAKE
THAT FINISH A DRAMATIC VICTORY FOR OUR POLICIES OF PEACE,
PROSPERITY AND TRUST
WITH A BIG WIN, WE CAN PUT OUR INTERNAL COMPETITION
BEHIND US AND START GETTING READY TO BEAT THE DEMOCRATS
IN THE FALL
-9-
WE WILL GO TO KANSAS CITY AND WIN THE NOMINATION
IN AUGUST
THEN WE WILL GO TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND
WIN THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER
I DON'T MEAN JUST THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
I MEAN THE WHOLE REPUBLICAN TICKET FROM TOP TO BOTTOM,
INCLUDING BOB TAFT, WILLIS GRADISON, DON CLANCY AND THE
REST OF THE REPUBLICAN SLATE IN OHIO
-10-
AS I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE, IF A PRESIDENT
IS TO BE AN EFFECTIVE LEADER OF HIS PARTY, HE MUST HAVE
A STRONG AND VIGOROUS PARTY TO LEAD
WE MUST WIN ELECTIONS,
NOT JUST DEBATING CONTESTS. AND THAT MUST BE OUR COMMON GOAL
IN 1976
I KNOW YOU WON'T LET ME DOWN TOMORROW,
AND I WON'T LET YOU DOWN IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
-11-
THOSE FOUR YEARS WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT TO AMERICA,
JUST AS THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN
WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT 22 MONTHS AGO, AMERICA
WAS FACING SOME OF THE MOST SERIOUS CHALLENGES IN ITS HISTORY
THE WORST ECONOMIC ADVERSITY SINCE THE GREAT
DEPRESSION WAS ONCE AGAIN CASTING A DARK SHADOW OF FEAR
OVER MILLIONS OF AMERICAN HOMES AND BUSINESSES
-12-
EVERY WEEK, MORE AND MORE AMERICANS WERE LAID OFF
THEIR JOBS
EVERY WEEK, OR SO IT SEEMED, PRICES AT THE
STORES WENT UP
EVERY WEEK, A LITTLE MORE CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE
WAS ERODED
AS ONE MAN SAID, "I'VE QUIT THINKING ABOUT
THE FUTURE.
THE PRESENT IS BAD ENOUCH FOR ME." "
-13-
UNEMPLOYMENT WOULD RISE TO NEARLY NINE PERCENT
NATIONWIDE, AND IT WOULD TOP TEN PERCENT HERE IN OHIO,
BEFORE THE WORST WAS OVER
BY THE END OF 1974, INFLATION WAS RAGING AT AN
ANNUAL RATE OF MORE THAN 12 PERCENT -- THE WORST INFLATION
IN 50 YEARS
-14-
IT WAS NOT THE EAS IEST TIME TO ASSUME THE OFFICE
OF PRESIDENT
IN MY FIRST STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, I SET
A STEADY COURSE FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
I PROPOSED A PLAN
OF GOVERNMENT ACTION THAT WOULD STIMULATE, RATHER THAN
DOMINATE, THE AMERICAN ECONOMY
-15-
A QUARTER-CENTURY OF EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT TOLD
ME THAT THE WAY TO REAL RECOVERY AND ENDURING PROSPERITY
IN AMERICA WAS NOT THROUGH GOVERNMENT QUICK FIXES WHICH
HAVE BEEN THE STOCK-IN-TRADE OF THE BIG SPENDERS IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR 40 YEARS
-16-
I HAD FAITH THAT AMERICA COULD WORK ITS WAY OUT
OF ITS ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES, RATHER THAN TRYING TO SPEND
ITS WAY OUT
I PROPOSED A MAJOR TAX CUT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND
TAX INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESS EXPANSION AND JOB PRODUCTION,
so THAT WE COULD GET THE GREAT FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM
IN AMERICA WORKING AT FULL SPEED AGAIN
-17-
initiated
WE ALSO BECAN A COMPREHENS IVE EFFORT TO RESTORE
THE CONFIDENCE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE -- IN THEMSELVES,
IN THEIR GOVERNMENT,
IN THEIR FUTURE.
THE RECORD SHOWS THAT THESE POLICIES HAVE BEEN VERY
yoursel
SUCCESSFUL, AND IT'S ABOUT TIME WE STARTED LOOKING AT THE
RECORD
-18-
SINCE THE BOTTOM OF THE RECESSION LAST YEAR,
THE AMERICAN ECONOMY HAS REGAINED ITS SOUND FOOTING AND IT HAS
SHOWN A MUCH STRONGER RECOVERY THAN EVEN THE MOST OPTIMISTIC
EXPERTS PREDICTED
-19-
THE VALUE OF AMERICA'S OUTPUT OF GOODS AND SERVICES
ROSE AT AN ANNUAL RATE OF MORE THAN 130 BILLION DOLLARS
IN REAL TERMS DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 1976.
THAT IS MORE THAN 600 DOLLARS WORTH OF ADDITIONAL GOODS AND
SERVICES PRODUCED FOR EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD IN
AMERICA, AND THAT IS PROGRESS BY ANY STANDARD
-20-
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY PEOPLE HAVE TO SPEND AFTER
TAXES AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS ARE TAKEN FROM THEIR PAYCHECKS
WHAT THE ECONOMISTS CALL "DISPOSABLE PERSONAL INCOME"
-
HAS INCREASED BY 100 BILLION DOLLARS IN THE PAST YEAR,
OR ABOUT 1,400 DOLLARS FOR THE AVERAGE AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD
I WANT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO KEEP EVEN MORE OF THE
MONEY THEY WORK so HARD TO EARN
-21-
I WANT THEM TO SPEND IT THE WAY THEY WANT TO SPEND
IT, INSTEAD OF PAYING MORE AND MORE MONEY FOR MORE AND MORE
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.
I PROPOSE TO CUT FEDERAL INCOME TAXES BY AN
ADDITIONAL TEN BILLION DOLLARS ON JULY FIRST OF THIS YEAR,
AND TO INCREASE THE PERSONAL EXEMPTION FROM 750 DOLLARS PER
PERSON TO 1,000 DOLLARS PER PERSON.
-22-
THE DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS OPPOSE THIS ADDITIONAL
TAX CUT
THEY WANT TO INCREASE FEDERAL SPENDING BY MORE
THAN 17 BILLION DOLLARS OVER MY BUDGET PROPOSAL
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN ADD UP THE DIFFERENCE
FOR THEMSELVES®
AND WHEN THEY FIGURE IT, IT IS CLEAR
THEY CAN DO WITHOUT A FEW OF THOSE BIG SPENDING DEMOCRATS
IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES IN JANUARY OF 1977
-23-
WE REPUBLICANS ARE OUTNUMBERED TWO-TO-ONE IN BOTH
THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE RIGHT NOW
THANK GOODNESS
THE FOUND ING FATHERS GAVE THE PRESIDENT THE POWER OF THE VETO
IN THE PAST 22 MONTHS I HAVE USED THAT VETO POWER
were
by
49 TIMES
WE GOT 42 OF THOSE VETOES, SUSTAINED, AND THOSE
42 VETOES WILL SAVE THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER 13 BILLION DOLLARS.
-24-
IF THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS KEEPS SENDING ME BIG
will
SPENDING, BUDGET-BUSTING BILLS, I AM PREPARED TO USE MY VETO
AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
THE VETO HAS PROVED TO BE A POWERFUL WEAPON,
NOT ONLY IN FIGHTING AGAINST WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT SPENDING,
BUT IN FIGHTING INFLATION
-25-
OVER THE PAST 22 MONTHS, WE HAVE CUT THE RATE
OF INFLATION BY MORE THAN 50 PERCENT
BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN REDUC ING INFLATION
AND STABILIZING PRICES, CONSUMER SPENDING IS UP MORE THAN
14 PERCENT OVER A YEAR AGO
-26-
FOOD SALES ARE UP MORE THAN SEVEN PERCENT
GENERAL MERCHANDISE IS UP 12 PERCENT
AUTOMOBILE SALES
IN MID-MAY WERE UP 53 PERCENT OVER A YEAR AGO
-27-
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT SIGN OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY
IS THE NUMBER OF JOBS WE HAVE GAINED IN THE PAST YEAR
NATIONWIDE, WE HAVE ADDED 3 MILLION, 600 THOUSAND JOBS
SINCE LAST MAY,
WE NOW HAVE MORE AMERICANS ON THE JOB
87 MILLION, 700 THOUSAND OF THEM
/
THAN EVER BEFORE
IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY
-28-
HERE IN OHIO, WHERE YOUR GREAT GOVERNOR
JIM RHODES HAS BEEN VIGOROUSLY PURSUING HIS PROGRAM TO BRING
JOBS TO OHIO, UNEMPLOYMENT HAS BEEN REDUCED BY ALMOST
TWO PERCENT IN THE LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S EVEN BETTER THAN WE'VE
DONE NATIONWIDE
-29-
OBVIOUSLY, THE BATTLE AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT IS
NOT OVER
BUT IT IS A BATTLE WE ARE WINNING
WE WILL
NOT BE SATISFIED UNTIL EVERY AMERICAN WHO WANTS A JOB CAN
FIND A JOB
-30-
BECAUSE WE ARE A MAJOR WORLD TRADING POWER,
OUR ECONOMIC PROGRESS AT HOME DEPENDS IN PART ON THE ECONOMIC
STABILITY AND PROGRESS OF OTHER NATIONS
IN THE PAST,
WORLD LEADERS HAVE MET TO DEAL WITH CRISES
BUT TODAY
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERSHIP TO ANTICIPATE PROBLEMS
AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF EVENTS
-31-
LAST FALL, THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD'S MAJOR
INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACIES MET IN FRANCE AND AGREED TO COORDINATE
OUR EFFORTS TO SUSTAIN A GENERAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY
THIS COOPERATION HAS MEANT LESS INFLATION AND
MORE JOBS HERE IN OHIO ACROSS AMERICA AND THROUGHOUT
THE WORLD
-32-
TO FURTHER THIS COOPERATION, AND THE ECONOMIC
BENEFITS THAT COME WITH IT, I HAVE INVITED THE LEADERS OF SIX
MAJOR INDUSTRIAL POWERS TO A SECOND ECONOMIC SUMMIT
CONFERENCE LATER THIS MONTH IN PUERTO RICO.
The purpose - to sustain the world's
economic progress + property.
-33-
PRESIDENT EISENHOWER ONCE SAID, "WE HAVE LEARNED
THAT THE FATE OF OUR OWN NATION IS BOUND UP WITH THE FATE OF
OTHERS
BECAUSE THAT IS TRUE, THERE IS NO OVERSTATING
THE NEED FOR PEACEFUL COOPERATION AND COMMON PROGRESS
AMONG NATIONS
-34-
TODAY WE ARE ENJOYING OUR ECONOMIC GAINS IN A
CLIMATE OF PEACE AND IN A NEW SPIRIT OF HOPE AND CONFIDENCE
IN AMERICA
WE HAVE ENDURED A LONG PERIOD OF DISAPPOINTMENT
AND TRAGEDY AND ADVERSITY IN AMERICAN LIFE, BUT NOW WE SEE
BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD
-35-
I WILL CONTINUE THE POLICIES THAT HAVE TURNED
THIS COUNTRY AROUND AND POINTED IT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
AGAIN OVER THE LAST 22 MONTHS
I WILL PURSUE FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS THE POLICIES
THAT HAVE LED TO PEACE, PROSPERITY AND TRUST FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE
-36-
I ASK FOR YOUR HELP AND YOUR SUPPORT TOMORROW,
NEXT NOVEMBER AND IN THE CHALLENGING YEARS AHEAD
END OF TEXT
REMARKS AT HAMILTON COUNTY REPUBLICAN
CLUB BREAKFAST, CINCINNATI, OHIO
MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1976
-1-
IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK IN THE BUCKEYE STATE,
ESPECIALLY IN THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF CINCINNATI
I'VE BEEN IN OHIO MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS,
AND I HAVE MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF THOSE EARLIER VISITS
AND THE PEOPLE I HAVE MET HERE
-2-
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I SPOKE AT A REPUBLICAN
FUND-RAISING DINNER UP IN CLEVELAND AND DURING THE DINNER
I WAS GIVEN A CAMPAIGN BUTTON THAT SAID, "PRESIDENT
GERALD FORD, MODEL A-1 FORD."
I TOOK THAT AS A COMPLIMENT
AFTER ALL,
A MODEL-A WAS ECONOMICAL; IT WAS DEPENDABLE;
IT WAS UNCOMPLICATED; AND IT GOT US WHERE WE WANTED TO GO
-3-
AND I HAVE COME TO OHIO TO SAY THAT,
AS MUCH AS I BELIEVE IN A STRONG AND PROSPEROUS AMERICAN
AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY, THIS YEAR THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON
TO
TRADE IN YOUR RELIABLE FORD ON A FLASHIER MODEL
LAST FEBRUARY, WE TOOK OUR CAMPAIGN TO THE
SNOWY HILLS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE IN SEARCH OF THE FIRST REPUBLICAN
VOTES OF 1976
-4-
BACK THEN, AS YOU WILL RECALL, THERE WAS SOME
QUESTION OF WHETHER I COULD WIN ANY VOTES AT ALL OUTSIDE
GRAND RAPIDS
NOT ONLY DID WE PROVE I COULD WIN VOTES,
I WON THE PRIMARY -- BY A LANDSLIDE MARGIN OF 1,500 VOTES.
-5-
WHEN WE GOT TO THE MICHIGAN PRIMARY,
I CARRIED MY OLD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WITH 85 PERCENT
OF THE VOTE AND CARRIED THE STATE BY MORE THAN 300,000
VOTES
-6-
SINCE OHIO STATE HAS APPARENTLY GOTTEN INTO
THE HABIT OF BEATING MICHIGAN LATELY, THE GOOD PEOPLE
OF OHIO SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP US WIN AN EVEN BIGGER VICTORY
HERE THAN WE WON IN MICHIGAN, AND I'M COUNTING ON YOUR
HELP
-7-
TOMORROW WILL BE THE LAST DAY OF THE
1976 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY CAMPAIGN, AND NOBODY COULD
ASK FOR A MORE DRAMATIC FINISH
-8-
WITH YOUR HELP TOMORROW, AND WITH THE HELP
OF ALL MY FRIENDS IN CALIFORNIA AND NEW JERSEY, WE CAN MAKE
THAT FINISH A DRAMATIC VICTORY FOR OUR POLICIES OF PEACE,
PROSPERITY AND TRUST
WITH A BIG WIN, WE CAN PUT OUR INTERNAL COMPETITION
BEHIND US AND START GETTING READY TO BEAT THE DEMOCRATS
IN THE FALL
-9-
WE WILL GO TO KANSAS CITY AND WIN THE NOMINATION
IN AUGUST
THEN WE WILL GO TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND
WIN THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER
I DON'T MEAN JUST THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
I MEAN THE WHOLE REPUBLICAN TICKET FROM TOP TO BOTTOM,
INCLUDING BOB TAFT, WILLIS GRADISON, DON CLANCY AND THE
REST OF THE REPUBLICAN SLATE IN OHIO
-10-
AS I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE, IF A PRESIDENT
IS TO BE AN EFFECTIVE LEADER OF HIS PARTY, HE MUST HAVE
A STRONG AND VIGOROUS PARTY TO LEAD.
WE MUST WIN ELECTIONS,
NOT JUST DEBATING CONTESTS, AND THAT MUST BE OUR COMMON GOAL
IN 1976
I KNOW YOU WON'T LET ME DOWN TOMORROW,
AND I WON'T LET YOU DOWN IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
-11-
THOSE FOUR YEARS WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT TO AMERICA,
JUST AS THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN
WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT 22 MONTHS AGO, AMERICA
WAS FACING SOME OF THE MOST SERIOUS CHALLENGES IN ITS HISTORY.
THE WORST ECONOMIC ADVERSITY SINCE THE GREAT
DEPRESSION WAS ONCE AGAIN CASTING A DARK SHADOW OF FEAR
OVER MILLIONS OF AMERICAN HOMES AND BUSINESSES.
-12-
EVERY WEEK, MORE AND MORE AMERICANS WERE LAID OFF
THEIR JOBS
EVERY WEEK, OR so IT SEEMED, PRICES AT THE
STORES WENT UP
EVERY WEEK, A LITTLE MORE CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE
WAS ERODED
AS ONE MAN SAID, "I'VE QUIT THINKING ABOUT
THE FUTURE
THE PRESENT IS BAD ENOUGH FOR ME."
-13-
UNEMPLOYMENT WOULD RISE TO NEARLY NINE PERCENT
NATIONWIDE, AND IT WOULD TOP TEN PERCENT HERE IN OHIO,
BEFORE THE WORST WAS OVER®
BY THE END OF 1974, INFLATION WAS RAGING AT AN
ANNUAL RATE OF MORE THAN 12 PERCENT -- THE WORST INFLATION
IN 50 YEARS
-14-
IT WAS NOT THE EAS IEST TIME TO ASSUME THE OFFICE
OF PRESIDENT
IN MY FIRST STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, I SET
A STEADY COURSE FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY
I PROPOSED A PLAN
OF GOVERNMENT ACTION THAT WOULD STIMULATE, RATHER THAN
DOMINATE, THE AMERICAN ECONOMY
-15-
A QUARTER-CENTURY OF EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT TOLD
ME THAT THE WAY TO REAL RECOVERY AND ENDURING PROSPERITY
IN AMERICA WAS NOT THROUGH GOVERNMENT QUICK FIXES WHICH
HAVE BEEN THE STOCK-IN-TRADE OF THE BIG SPENDERS IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR 40 YEARS®
-16-
I HAD FAITH THAT AMERICA COULD WORK ITS WAY OUT
OF ITS ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES, RATHER THAN TRYING TO SPEND
ITS WAY OUT
I PROPOSED A MAJOR TAX CUT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND
TAX INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESS EXPANSION AND JOB PRODUCTION,
so THAT WE COULD GET THE GREAT FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM
IN AMERICA WORKING AT FULL SPEED AGAIN
-17-
WE ALSO BEGAN A COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT TO RESTORE
THE CONFIDENCE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE -- IN THEMSELVES,
IN THEIR GOVERNMENT, IN THEIR FUTURE.
THE RECORD SHOWS THAT THESE POLICIES HAVE BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL, AND IT'S ABOUT TIME WE STARTED LOOKING AT THE
RECORD
-18-
SINCE THE BOTTOM OF THE RECESSION LAST YEAR,
THE AMERICAN ECONOMY HAS REGAINED ITS SOUND FOOTING AND IT HAS
SHOWN A MUCH STRONGER RECOVERY THAN EVEN THE MOST OPTIMISTIC
EXPERTS PREDICTED
-19-
THE VALUE OF AMERICA'S OUTPUT OF GOODS AND SERVICES
ROSE AT AN ANNUAL RATE OF MORE THAN 130 BILLION DOLLARS
IN REAL TERMS DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 1976
THAT IS MORE THAN 600 DOLLARS WORTH OF ADDITIONAL GOODS AND
SERVICES PRODUCED FOR EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD IN
AMERICA, AND THAT IS PROGRESS BY ANY STANDARD®
-20-
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY PEOPLE HAVE TO SPEND AFTER
TAXES AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS ARE TAKEN FROM THEIR PAYCHECKS --
WHAT THE ECONOMISTS CALL "DISPOSABLE PERSONAL INCOME" --
HAS INCREASED BY 100 BILLION DOLLARS IN THE PAST YEAR,
OR ABOUT 1,400 DOLLARS FOR THE AVERAGE AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD
I WANT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO KEEP EVEN MORE OF THE
MONEY THEY WORK so HARD TO EARN
-21-
I WANT THEM TO SPEND IT THE WAY THEY WANT TO SPEND
IT, INSTEAD OF PAYING MORE AND MORE MONEY FOR MORE AND MORE
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.
I PROPOSE TO CUT FEDERAL INCOME TAXES BY AN
ADDITIONAL TEN BILLION DOLLARS ON JULY FIRST OF THIS YEAR,
AND TO INCREASE THE PERSONAL EXEMPTION FROM 750 DOLLARS PER
PERSON TO 1,000 DOLLARS PER PERSON
-22-
THE DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS OPPOSE THIS ADDITIONAL
TAX CUT
THEY WANT TO INCREASE FEDERAL SPENDING BY MORE
THAN 17 BILLION DOLLARS OVER MY BUDGET PROPOSAL®
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN ADD UP THE DIFFERENCE
FOR THEMSELVES®
AND WHEN THEY FIGURE IT, IT IS CLEAR
THEY CAN DO WITHOUT A FEW OF THOSE BIG SPENDING DEMOCRATS
IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES IN JANUARY OF 1977
-23-
WE REPUBLICANS ARE OUTNUMBERED TWO-TO-ONE IN BOTH
THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE RIGHT NOW
THANK GOODNESS
THE FOUND ING FATHERS GAVE THE PRESIDENT THE POWER OF THE VETO
IN THE PAST 22 MONTHS I HAVE USED THAT VETO POWER
49 TIMES
WE GOT 42 OF THOSE VETOES SUSTAINED, AND THOSE
42 VETOES WILL SAVE THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER 13 BILLION DOLLARS
-24-
IF THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS KEEPS SENDING ME BIG
SPENDING, BUDGET-BUSTING BILLS, I AM PREPARED TO USE MY VETO
AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN®
THE VETO HAS PROVED TO BE A POWERFUL WEAPON,
NOT ONLY IN FIGHTING AGAINST WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT SPENDING,
BUT IN FIGHTING INFLATION
-25-
OVER THE PAST 22 MONTHS, WE HAVE CUT THE RATE
OF INFLATION BY MORE THAN 50 PERCENT
BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN REDUCING INFLATION
AND STABILIZING PRICES, CONSUMER SPENDING IS UP MORE THAN
14 PERCENT OVER A YEAR AGO
-26-
FOOD SALES ARE UP MORE THAN SEVEN PERCENT
GENERAL MERCHANDISE IS UP 12 PERCENT.
AUTOMOBILE SALES
IN MID-MAY WERE UP 53 PERCENT OVER A YEAR AGO
-27-
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT SIGN OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY
IS THE NUMBER OF JOBS WE HAVE GAINED IN THE PAST YEAR
NATIONWIDE, WE HAVE ADDED 3 MILLION, 600 THOUSAND JOBS
SINCE LAST MAY, AND WE NOW HAVE MORE AMERICANS ON THE JOB --
87 MILLION, 700 THOUSAND OF THEM -- THAN EVER BEFORE
IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY®
-28-
HERE IN OHIO, WHERE YOUR GREAT GOVERNOR
JIM RHODES HAS BEEN VIGOROUSLY PURSUING HIS PROGRAM TO BRING
JOBS TO OHIO, UNEMPLOYMENT HAS BEEN REDUCED BY ALMOST
TWO PERCENT IN THE LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S EVEN BETTER THAN WE'VE
DONE NATIONWIDE.
-29-
OBVIOUSLY, THE BATTLE AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT IS
NOT OVER
BUT IT IS A BATTLE WE ARE WINNING
WE WILL
NOT BE SATISFIED UNTIL EVERY AMERICAN WHO WANTS A JOB CAN
FIND A JOB®
-30-
BECAUSE WE ARE A MAJOR WORLD TRADING POWER,
OUR ECONOMIC PROGRESS AT HOME DEPENDS IN PART ON THE ECONOMIC
STABILITY AND PROGRESS OF OTHER NATIONS
IN THE PAST,
WORLD LEADERS HAVE MET TO DEAL WITH CRISES
BUT TODAY
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERSHIP TO ANTICIPATE PROBLEMS
AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF EVENTS
-31-
LAST FALL, THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD'S MAJOR
INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACIES MET IN FRANCE AND AGREED TO COORDINATE
OUR EFFORTS TO SUSTAIN A GENERAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
THIS COOPERATION HAS MEANT LESS INFLATION AND
MORE JOBS HERE IN OHIO, ACROSS AMERICA AND THROUGHOUT
THE WORLD
-32-
TO FURTHER THIS COOPERATION, AND THE ECONOMIC
BENEFITS THAT COME WITH IT, I HAVE INVITED THE LEADERS OF SIX
MAJOR INDUSTRIAL POWERS TO A SECOND ECONOMIC SUMMIT
CONFERENCE LATER THIS MONTH IN PUERTO RICO
-33-
PRESIDENT EISENHOWER ONCE SAID, "WE HAVE LEARNED
THAT THE FATE OF OUR OWN NATION IS BOUND UP WITH THE FATE OF
OTHERS
BECAUSE THAT IS TRUE, THERE IS NO OVERSTATING
THE NEED FOR PEACEFUL COOPERATION AND COMMON PROGRESS
AMONG NATIONS
-34-
TODAY WE ARE ENJOYING OUR ECONOMIC GAINS IN A
CLIMATE OF PEACE AND IN A NEW SPIRIT OF HOPE AND CONFIDENCE
IN AMERICA
WE HAVE ENDURED A LONG PERIOD OF DISAPPOINTMENT
AND TRAGEDY AND ADVERSITY IN AMERICAN LIFE, BUT NOW WE SEE
BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD
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I WILL CONTINUE THE POLICIES THAT HAVE TURNED
THIS COUNTRY AROUND AND POINTED IT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
AGAIN OVER THE LAST 22 MONTHS
I WILL PURSUE FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS THE POLICIES
THAT HAVE LED TO PEACE, PROSPERITY AND TRUST FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE
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I ASK FOR YOUR HELP AND YOUR SUPPORT TOMORROW,
NEXT NOVEMBER AND IN THE CHALLENGING YEARS AHEAD
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