Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
30806099
label
Memorandum from Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller to President Gerald R. Ford Regarding a Progress Report on the Idea of a Series of Presidential Bicentennial Speeches
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
30806099
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Memorandum from Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller to President Gerald R. Ford Regarding a Progress Report on the Idea of a Series of Presidential Bicentennial Speeches
citationUrl
collections
Dorothy E. Downton Files (Ford Administration)
Dorothy Downton's White House Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
30806099
levelOfDescription
item
productionDates
day
28
logicalDate
1975-10-28
month
10
year
1975
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
7971fad49f3944b0
ocrText
THE VICE prESIdENT
WASHINGTON
October 28, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
THE VICE PRESIDENT
had
SUBJECT:
The Bicentennial - Progress Report on
the Idea of a Series of Presidential
Bicentennial Speeches
1. On September 17, you directed me to develop
a series of Presidential Bicentennial Speeches for deliv-
ery either independently or in sequence over the next
few months.
2. Eventually, these speeches would be collected
and published - perhaps in essay form - sometime in 1976.
The result would be an excellent opportunity to
-- make a significant substantive contribution
to our Nation's celebration of its 200th
anniversary;
-- place the challenges facing us as a Nation
in a historical context, comparing the
dangers and possibilities of 1776 with
those of 1976;
-- demonstrate to the American people and to
the people of the world the magnificent
achievements and abundant future of America.
3. As Vice President, I have been able to tap
the great resources of the Library of Congress to help
with this project. Their excellent staff has come up with
what I think is an exciting collection of interrelated
themes and topics, which I have listed together at TAB A.
FORD OF LIBRARY OERALD
-2-
4. Looking over the list, it is clear that these
topics can be shaped and linked together in a number of
ways. For example -
-- Each speech or essay could end with a
specific recommendation for programmatic
action and/or for renewed commitment to
strengthening the values on which our
Nation was founded;
-- In addition, each speech or essay could be
related to an overall theme, such as "The
Making of American Freedom, 1776 and 1976".
5. Whatever format is chosen, I think you will
agree that here we have an excellent opportunity to create
a brief, high quality, conceptually sound, and popularly
appealing series.
GERALD A. EQRD LIBRARM
A
1. The role of women
Both as a separate category and as a theme to be
emphasized through all the topics. If the former,
it could be confined to the movement for women's
emancipation and equal rights (legal and social),
or it could cover a broader spectrum.
2. The role of agriculture
The reasons why we've been so successful in agriculture:
-- the tradition of "the yeoman farmer" in
colonial America - the feeding of a Nation
and (today) of world -- primacy of agricul-
ture in the early Republic -- related to
expanding frontier: geographical in the
past, technological today.
3. The role of labor
The contribution of organized labor to the economic
and social evolution of America:
-- rise of free trade (and craft) unions -- labor
legislation and its relation to the standard
of living, humane conditions, collective
bargaining -- job opportunities then and now.
4. The role of minorities
The concept of the melting-pot, giving way to the
concern with ethnic identity. Ethnic and religious --
concept of a pluralist society, equal justice under
law -- struggle for equal rights (slavery, Civil War,
civil rights, new ethnic identity).
5. The role of the intellectual
Life of the intellect in American letters -- cultural
independence -- attitudes of intellectuals to American
society and values then and now.
FORD R. GERALD LIBRARY
-2-
6. The role of science and technology
Pure and applied -- concern with change, scientific
progress, technological innovation then and now.
7. The role of the free citizen
Political participation -- rights and obligations
together -- party system, consensus, social and
political change.
8. The role of religious freedom
The impact of belief in religious and spiritual values
on the individual; might better deal more broadly
with religion in American life and thought: "civil
religion", dissent, free church in free state, religious
liberty then and now -- popular religion and the
pulpit -- revivalism and nationalism.
9. The role of philanthropy
Voluntarism in American society -- associations of
citizens, foundations (humanitarian movements).
10. The role of free enterprise
Productivity and standard of living -- individual
initiative -- mass production, industrialization,
free market economy.
11. The role of the frontier
Turner's classic thesis and its revisions -- frontier
in past and new frontiers today (science, space, new
resources).
12. The role of the federal system
The uniqueness of the Constitution, shared power,
tripartite structure -- amendment process -- role
of liberty under law -- Beard (i.e., the economic
interpretation of the Constitution) and revisions.
LIBRARY GERALD R. FORD
-3-
13, *The role of international economic relations
Trade and its significance in the Revolution
(mercantilism, freedom of trade, and hence of
navigation) ; expansion of trade and of flag -
Open Door policy -- ideals of free trade, freedom
of the seas in international economy, investment
and interdependence.
14. *The role of international aid
Aid from France crucial in the Revolution -- aid
to other lands -- relief, reconstruction, Dawes
Plan, Young Plan, Institute for Inter-American
Affairs, Office of Inter-American Affairs, Partners-
in-Progress Study, Marshall Plan, foreign aid
program and world stability.
15. The role of military strength
From birth of armed forces in the Revolution to
world responsibilities of great power in the modern
world -- evolution of the three armed services --
defensive and deterrent power crucial to world peace --
wars in behalf of liberty.
16. The role of international diplomacy
Might be treated with role of military strength --
American diplomacy at Paris, St. Petersburg, etc.,
in 18th century -- mediation and arbitration of
disputes, past and present -- movement for detente --
United Nations and other channels -- pursuit of
peaceful world order.
17. The arts and letters (which could be treated together
or separately, i.e., music, painting, literature,
the performing arts, and the like) ; the growth of
American cultural life - indigenous to the American
character.
*Might better be united.
FORD R. LIBRARY GERALD
-4-
18. Education (including the rise of the public school,
land-grant colleges, and adult-education in the
chatauqua and similar movements) ; General Education
Board work with black schools in the south.
19. Immigration (and the creation of a national consensus
from a "mosaic" of peoples); ending up with internal
migration from the rural south and Puerto Rico to
the cities of the north - major revolution in our
urban life.
20. Political participation and the party system
A vital area, possibly intended for inclusion under
"the role of the free citizen" but deserving special
emphasis and perhaps separate treatment.
21. Environmental concerns and ecology
The husbanding of wealth and resources -- might also
be considered for separate coverage (apart from its
relevance to other categories -- "free enterprise",
"the frontier", "science and technology", "labor",
and "agriculture"). A credit to the young people
of America.
22. The role of institutions in American life and history
May also merit separate treatment (i.e., the
institutional structures of a free society) or
special emphasis throughout the topics in general.
23. The role of a free press (and its concomitant,
freedom of expression)
May relate to "the free citizen", but some particular
emphasis ought to be included, perhaps under the
general rubric of the dissemination of information
and opinion through the media (with reference to
political participation and to education).
24. Sports and recreation in American popular culture
Might be treated under "the free citizen", emphasizing
the extension of leisure-time to all segments of
American society.
FORD R LIBRARY DERALD
- -5-
25. Communications - the role of a free press, radio
and television.
26. Impact of mobility in America - the automobile, aviation -
particularly, the impact on family life.
27. History and evolution of urban life in America - rural
migration to the cities, and urban migration to the
suburbs.
GERALD R. FORD LIBRARY