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On this trip Mrs. Betty Ford received an award from the Golden Slipper Club and participated in the presentation of the copper plate of the Declaration of Independence.
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45700292
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4/26/76 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2)
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45700292
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document
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4/26/76 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2)
description
On this trip Mrs. Betty Ford received an award from the Golden Slipper Club and participated in the presentation of the copper plate of the Declaration of Independence.
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Sheila R. Weidenfeld Files (Ford Administration)
Sheila Weidenfeld's Trip Files
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Pennsylvania
President (1974-1977 : Ford). Office of the First Lady. 1974-1977
American Revolution Bicentennial, 1776-1976
Campaign trips
Medals
Presidential campaign, 1976
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45700292
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1976-05-31
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5
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1976
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1976-01-01
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1
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 24, folder "4/26/76 - Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania (2)" of the Sheila Weidenfeld Files 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 24 of the Sheila Weidenfeld Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
SUGGESTED REMARKS, PRESENTATION OF "STONE" PLATE, PHILADELPHIA,
April 26, 1976
Franklin Square seems exactly the right place for this
ceremony. Just think how many American heroes walked these
streets during the fateful spring of 1776.
This marvelous restoration of the home and shop of
Benjamin Franklin--the Grand Old Man of our Revolution--should
remind us all of those exciting times. Franklin, who was an
inventor, author, printer, diplomat, scientist and humorist, was
at home in Philadelphia during the drafting of the Declaration
of Independence and the United States Constitution.
How pleased he would be to see this very special plate,
made from the original Declaration, and a copy struck from
that plate for Philadelphia in this birthday year.
But I believe Franklin, Jefferson, and the other drafters
would be even more pleased to know the Declaration of Independence
lives in the hearts of free people everywhere and that two
hundred years later America derives its just powers from the
consent of the governed.
(Unveil the plate)
Revised Remarks, Presentation of "Stone" Plate,
Philadelphia, April 26, 1976
It's really a treat for me to be here today,
J hemalways been
because I have a special interest In the Dex Declaration
of Indp Independence and the 56 signers who pledged
Z "their lives, their fortunes and their sacred None
honor."
this interests compted phing
Several years ago, I began collecting a proof set
of coins of all the signers Just last month, I received
the last coin. It's really been fascinating, BREAMS
more
because I've learned so much about these brave men.
The collection also has refreshed my appreciation of
the Declaration of Independence. Heally I admire
those Philadelphians who wanted to R have the original
because
document back here for the BicentennialANI share
your pride / in Philadelphia's important role in the
making of our Revolution.
Although the original is too fragile to move I'm
LIBRARY
so happy to be here for these ceremonies bringing two
special copies back have to the Declaration's home town.
excellent
As I visited this maryclous restoration of Benjamin
Franklin's home and shop I was thinking wha t marvelous
stories Franklin could tell ии about those signers
who
CHK came to Philadelphia as colonials and left as Americans.
I imagine Franklin and all the signers would be interested
in
knesex
this ceremony. As a printer, Franklin would be fascinated
with the copper plate, / struck from the original Declaration
in 1823, / and with the copy made from that plate EX earlier
this month especially for Philadelphia. / But as a writer
and phixsex philosopher, Franklin, and the other signers
would most like to knowxwn know what happened to the ideas
of the Dexxa Declaration.
We could tell them: "The Declaration lives in the
hearts of free men everywhere and America derives its jus t
powers From the consent of the governed
njust
as they envisioned / so long ago in Philadelphia."
-30-
For immediate release
Monday, April 26, 1976
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary to Mrs. Ford
TEXT OF MRS. FORD'S REMARKS AT UNVEILING OF THE "STONE PLATE"
ENGRAVING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IN PHILADELPHIA
April 26, 1976
It's really a treat for me to be here today, because I have always
been interested in the Declaration of Independence and the 56
signers who pledged "their lives, their fortunes and their sacred
honor."
Several years ago, this interest prompted my collecting a proof
set of coins of all the signers. Just last month, I received the
last coin. It's really been fascinating, because I've learned so
much more about these brave men. I really admire those Philadelphians
who wanted to have the original document back here for the Bicen-
tennial, because I share your pride in Philadelphia's important
role in the making of our Revolution.
Although the original is too fragile to move, I'm SO happy to be
here for these ceremonies bringing two special copies back to the
Declaration's home town.
As I visited this excellent restoration of Benjamin Franklin's
home and ship, I was thinking what marvelous stories Franklin
could tell about those signers who came to Philadelphia as
colonials and left as Americans.
I imagine Franklin and all the signers would be interested in this
ceremony. As a printer, Franklin would be fascinated with the
copper plate, struck from the original Declaration in 1823, and
with the copy made from that plate earlier this month especially
for Philadelphia, But as a writer and philosopher, Franklin, and
the other signers would most like to know what happened to the
ideas of the Declaration.
We could tell them: "The Declaration lives in the hearts of free
men everywhere and America derives its just powers from the consent
of the governed just as they envisioned so long ago in Philadelphia."
#
#
#
NEWS
From
Committee to Return the
Declaration of Independence
to Philadelphia
For further information.
For further information:
Anne L. Sceia (215) 585-3103
Anne L. Sceia (215) 923-7700 or
Sylvia Kauders (215) MU 6-3676
BETTY FORD TO PRESENT COPPER PLATE
OF DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
TO PHILADELPHIA
A presentation by First Lady Betty Ford of the copper plate of the engrossed
copy of the Declaration of Independence at a ceremony Monday, April 26, at 3:15 p.m.,
at Franklin Court, (310 Market Street) will cap a year-long effort by a committee of
public officials, business and community leaders to bring back to Philadelphia for
the Bicentennial summer the original of the Declaration of Independence presently
housed in Washington.
The copper plate made by William Stone, a printer, in 1823 by commission of
the then Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, is acknowledged to be the only fac-
simile of the Declaration of Independence to be reproduced directly from the original
document. In addition to the plate, which will remain in Philadelphia for the re-
mainder of the Bicentennial year, Mrs. Ford will present in perpetuity, a print made
recently by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing from the Declaration plate. It
was the first time the plate was used since the 1890's. Both artifacts will be placed
in the First Bank of the United States, 3rd Street between Walnut and Chestnut
LIBRARY
Streets as part of a special exhibit produced by the National Park Service which has
jurisdiction over the building.
(More)
Sponsored by Acme Markets, Gino's Inc., Girard Bank, Sunoco Stations, and John Wanamaker.
Coordinated by the City of Philadelphia Freedom Week Committee and Philadelphia '76, Inc. in association with the Morrison Company.
Betty Ford To Present Copper Plate
Ad 1
In a desire to create a more meaningful Bicentennial experience for the millions
of visitors expected in Philadelphia for the nation's 200th birthday, the City of
Philadelphia last May, through its Freedom Week Committee, initiated an effort to
have the original engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence returned to the
city where it was drafted, adopted and signed. A draft of the Declaration in
Jefferson's hand is in Philadelphia, as is the broadside used by John Nixon when he
read the document to the public in Independence Square on July 8, 1776.
A unique civic program developed in Philadelphia when five commercial firms --
Acme Markets, Gino's, Inc., Girard Bank, Sunoco Stations and John Wanamaker -- joined
with the city and The Morrison Company, a sales promotion firm, in launching a mas-
sive community effort to obtain one million signatures on petitions directed to the
President of the United States asking for the return of the priceless document. The
Committee to Return the Declaration of Independence to Philadelphia marked the first
time that such a diversified group of corporations joined in a unified effort for
such a purpose. They provided some 600 outlets where the public could sign the
petitions. Philadelphia '76, Inc., the City's Bicentennial agency, joined in the
coordinating efforts to produce the vast number of signatures.
On March 22, a delegation presented to President Gerald R. Ford in a meeting in
the Oval Room of the White House petitions bearing 700,000 signatures. A symbolic
package was presented to the President by Anne Sceia, formerly with Girard Bank, while
Sylvia Kauders, special events director for the city, who originated the project,
presented President Ford with a quill pen and the first of the petitions that were
signed at inaugural ceremonies on July 2 at Independence Hall.
(More)
Betty Ford to Present Copper Plate
Ad 2
President Ford expressed his admiration for the tremendous effort and regretted
he could not comply with the request because of the fragility of the priceless document.
His appreciation of the citizen effort has been crystalized by the designation of
Mrs. Ford to be the presenter of the copper plate to Philadelphia.
- 30 -
4/23/76
The priceless 153-year-old William J. Stone copper plate engraving
of the Declaration of Independence being lent to Philadelphia for the
Bicentennial is the first exact and official reproduction of the
complete engrossed Declaration ever made. It was prepared between
1820 and 1823 by order of Secretary of State John Quincy Adams.
Stone produced the plate by direct impression from the original.
The stone plate is held in permanent custody for the people of the
nation by the U.S. General Service's National Archives and Records
Service, in Washington, D.C. It has been given on loan to the National
Park Service for display in Philadelphia.
The plate was recently refurbished by the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing. This work on April 13 consisted of stripping the 25 11/16th
by 30 3/4th inches plate of a protective wax and paper coating placed
on it, apparently decades ago, to curb oxidation. After cleaning,
the plate was found to be in perfect condition and a print was pulled
from it by master printer Angelo LoVecchi using an old hand crank
press. This print has also been lent to the Park Service and will
be displayed along with the original plate.
It is thought that this was the first use of the plate since 1895
when six prints were thought to have been made. It was at that time
that the Coast and Geodetic Survey made an exact electrolytic copy
of the Stone plate for the Department of State; many facsimilies of
this 1895 impression were made at that time.
Much earlier, in 1824, William J. Stone used his copper plate to
print 200 copies on parchment to be distributed by the State Department
to a variety of institutions and people, as directed by a Congressional
resolution of May 26, 1324. These facsimilies bear the name of the
engraver in the upper left corner and a certification by Adams in the
upper right corner.
Stone was later allowed to print copies from his plate, on paper,
for general distribution, but it is unknown exactly how many he made,
although some sources indicate at least 4,000. These copies bear his
name on the lower left side.
Stone facsimiles of either sort are now rare.
STATE
The 200 parchment copies from Stone's plate were distributed
according to the Congressional resolution in 1824 as follows: "Two
copies to each of the surviving signers of the Declaration of
Independence; two copies to the President of the United States; two
copies to the Vice President of the United States; two copies to
the late President, Mr. Madison; two copies to the Marquis de Lafayette;
twenty copies for the two Houses of Congress; twelve copies for the
different Departments of the Government; two copies for the President's
house; two copies for the Supreme Court room; one copy to each of the
Governors of the States; and one copy to each branch of the Legislatures
of the States; one copy to each of the Governors of the Territories of
the United States; and one copy to the Legislative Council of each
Territory; and the remaining copies to the different Universities and
Colleges of the United States, as the President of the United States
may direct."
The original engrossed Declaration of Independence from which the
Stone plate was made is on permanent display in the National Archives.
William J. Stone
William J. Stone was born in London in 1789 and brought to the United
States by an uncle in 1804. He was educated near Holmesburg, Pa., and
learned engraving under Peter Maverick. He settled in Washington in
1815, and lived there until his death in 1865. His engraved work
includes maps of Washington, 1820 and 1839; lithographs; and the
facsimile of the Declaration of Independence. Stone married
Elizabeth Lutrell of Washington, D.C. in 1821. Their son,
Robert King Stone (born 1822, died 1877), was President Abraham Lincoln's
physician and assisted at Lincoln's deathbed.
###
DEPARTMENT
SEOK
LIBRARY
Franklin Court Ceremony Platform Guests
1. Mrs. Gerald R. Ford
2. Dr. James O'Neill, Deputy Archivist of the United States
3. Mr. Chester L. Brooks, Regional Director of the National Park Serv ice
4. Mrs. Anna Marie O'Brien, Deputy City Representative of the City of
Philadelphia
5. Mr. Richard C. Bond, Chairman of the Board, Philadelphia'76, Inc.
6. Mr. John E. Strong, representing the committee to return the
Declaration of Independence to Philadelphia
Alan R. Squires - Sgt. at Arms
Marc D. Brookman 1 Sec'y - Treas. Asst.
Lawrence A. Isdaner - Sec'y
Jerome B. Muchnick - Vice Pres.
Rabbi Bertram W. Korn - Chaplain
Ronald Rubin - Past Pres.
Leonard S. Malmud - Past Pres.
Maurice Hertzfeld - Past Pres.
Irving Broudy - Past Pres.
Morris Novick - Past Pres.
Edward H. Rosen - Past Pres.
Norman P. Zarwin - Past Pres.
S. Ty Steinberg - Past Pres.
Chr. of Board
Mrs. Ford
FRONT
Frank Brodsky - President
Joseph H. Ball - Vice Pres.
APRIL 26, 1976
HEAD TABLE
Hillel S. Levinson - City Man. Dir.
GOLDEN SLIPPER CLUB
Stanford G. Brooks - V.P. (incom.
Pres.)
Elliot Rosen - Pres. of camp
Walter I. Davidson - Past Pres.
Kevy K. Kaiserman - Past Pres.
William E. McKenna - Past Pres.
William H. Sylk - Past Pres.
Louis Glazer - Past Pres.
Fredric R. Mann - former Amb. to Barbados
Morris S. Jenkins - Past Pres.
J. Sydney Hoffman - Judge Superior Court
Samuel G. Berlin - Asst. to Pres.
Rabbi Fredric Kazan - Chaplain (Benediction)
Edwin J. Berkowitz - Treasurer
-0-
PHILADELPHIA (UPD -- FIRST LADY BETTY FORD YESTERDAY PRESENTED A
COPY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ENGROSSED ON A COPPER PLATE
TO A LOCAL GROUP WHICH UN SUCCESSFULLY HAD FOUGHT TO BRING THE
ORIGINAL DOCUMENT TO PHILADELPHIA
THE COPPER PLATE, MADE IN 1823 BY WILLIAM STONE, IS THE ONLY
FACSIMILE OF THE DECLARATION TO BE REPRODUCED DIRECTLY FROM THE
ORIGINAL DOCUMENT.
THE GROUP, THE COMMITTEE TO RETURN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
TO PHILADELPHIA, PETITIONED PRESIDENT FORD IN MARCH ALLOW THE
ORIGINAL DECLARATION TAKEN TO PHILADELPHIA FOR THE BICENTENNIAL FORD
SAID HE COULD NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUEST BECAUSE THE PRICELESS
DOCUMENT WAS TOO FRAGILE TO MOVE.
THE COPPER PLATE WILL REMAIN IN THE FIRST BANK OF THE UNITED
STATES IN PHILADELPHIA FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE BICENTENNIAL
-0-
SAMPLE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN QUOTES
FRANKLIN COURT EXHIBIT HALL
FEMALE VIRTUE
DEAR SISTER, I AM HIGHLY PLEASED WITH THE ACCOUNT
CAPTAIN FREEMAN GIVES ME OF YOU, I ALWAYS JUDGED BY YOUR
BEHAVIOUR WHEN A CHILD THAT YOU WOULD MAKE A GOOD, AGREE-
ABLE WOMAN, AND YOU KNOW YOU WERE EVER MY PECULIAR FAVORITE.
I HAVE BEEN THINKING WHAT WOULD BE A SUITABLE PRESENT FOR
ME TO MAKE I HAD ALMOST DETERMINED ON A TEA TABLE, BUT
WHEN I CONSIDERED THAT THE CHARACTER OF A GOOD HOUSEWIFE
WAS FAR PREFEREABLE TO THAT OF BEING ONLY A PRETTY GENTLE-
WOMAN, I CONCLUDED TO SEND YOU A SPINNING WHEEL, WHICH I
HOPE YOU WILL ACCEPT AS A SMALL TOKEN OF MY SINCERE LOVE
AND AFFECTION. SISTER, FAREWELL, AND REMEMBER THAT MODESTY,
AS IT MAKES THE MOST HOMELY VIRGIN AMIABLE AND CHARMING,
SO THE WANT OF IT INFALLIBLY RENDERS THE MOST PERFECT BEAUTY
DISAGREEABLE AND ODIOUS, BUT WHEN THAT BRIGHTEST OF FEMALE
VIRTUES SHINES AMONG OTHER PERFECTIONS OF BODY AND MIND IN
THE SAME PERSON, IT MAKES THE WOMAN MORE LOVELY THAN AN
ANGEL.
(BF TO JANE MECOM, JAN. 6, 1727)
FEMALE PRIDE
WHY TRULY, IF WOMEN ARE PROUD, IT IS CERTAINLY OWING
TO THE MEN
FOR IF THEY WILL BE SUCH SIMPLETONS AS TO
HUMBLE THEMSELVES AT THEIR FEET AND FILL THEIR CREDULOUS
EARS WITH EXTRAVAGANT PRAISES OF THEIR WIT, BEAUTY, AND
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, (PERHAPS WHERE THERE ARE NONE TOO)
AND WHEN WOMEN ARE BY THIS MEANS PERSUADED THAT THEY ARE
SOMETHING MORE THAN HUMAN, WHAT WONDER IS IT, IF THEY CARRY
THEMSELVES HAUGHTILY AND LIVE EXTRAVAGANTLY. NOTWITHSTAND-
ING, I BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE INSTANCES OF EXTRAVAGANT
PRIDE TO BE FOUND AMONG MEN THAN AMONG WOMEN, AND THIS
FAULT IS CERTAINLY MORE HEINOUS IN THE FORMER THAN IN THE
LATTER,
(SILENCE DOGOOD, MAY 28, 1722)