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Indochina Refugees - Clippings and Press Releases
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1505184
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Indochina Refugees - Clippings and Press Releases
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Theodore Marrs' General Subject Files
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The original documents are located in Box 9, folder "Indochina Refugees - Clippings and
Press Releases" of the Theodore C. Marrs 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
Some items in this folder were not digitized because it contains copyrighted
materials. Please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library for access to
these materials.
The Washington Post
JUNE 15, 1975
cover story:
parade
Vignettes of
Vietnamese Refugees
by Lloyd Shearer
Digitized from Box 9 of the Theodore C. Marrs Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
7
The Washington Post
Potomac
Sunday, June 8, 1975
The Tattoo Artist
Try It!
Last Exit From Saigon: A Tale of Rescue
Contents/Page 6
Children Celebrate
THE COLUMBUS, GA., LEDGER,
FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1975
Arrival of 'Ba'
By LISA BATTLE
youngsters as they chomped
everywhere."
were among the spectators
vigorously.
Ledger Staff Writer
Now the children were
enjoying the children's per-
"I don't like," said Mme.
singing again. 'They talk
formance. The two arrived
They pulled out the stops
Ngai, making a face.
about home and country,
Wednesday night with the
She said the children's first
for Madame Ngai.
their homeland 'We love it
director and Mrs. Tisdale.
In the grassy yard of Fort
question after greeting her
forever'," said Mrs. Kinard.
" 'When we can come back
Benning's Wilbur School
Miss Vu Thi Chinh Thuc
Nguyen Van Tin spoke
Thursday, An Lac Orphanage
to Saigon?"
and Nguyen Tan Tin, An Lac
warmly of the welcome he
children. denced sang
"I say, 'You no happy
assistants who fled as
and the others have found in
-THE SUNDAY LEDGER - ENQUIRER, APRIL 20, 1975
Tisdale, an An Lac board chair-
Betty Had To Make
man, treated the children at
the home in his free time when
he commanded the 1st Infantry
Division's medical battalion.
He backed his wife's mission
Evacuation Attempt
and flew to Los Angeles to join
in caring for the children en
route here, but emphasizes it
By LISA BATTLE
In a white pantsuit, looking
was "her show."
entertaining children with
Ledger Staff Writer
like she was headed for a holi-
diarrhea, upset stomach and
"I'm quite proud of her. I
day in Miami, Mrs. Tisdale
other ailments. The ABC-TV
like what she does," he says.
Betty Tisdale admits she
flew from Columbus April 6,
crew worked right along with
One day last week a
didn't know she could bring a
about a week after starting her
Air Force nurses and escorts
reporter drove up to the pine
Saigon, orphanage to Colum
tn
di
shaded Tisdale home and
An Lac Orphans'
"Mothers Day"
"Whenever my spirits were unusually low, I
would get into my jeep after sundown and drive
to the An Lac Orphanage where there was always
laughter."
- Dr. Tom Dooley
Madame Ngai Receives Kisses from
An Lac Orphans at Ft. Benning, Ga.
For 16 years, Mrs. Betty Tisdale has
been loving and mothering the children
of An Lac by long distance. Now she's
bringing them home.
Left orphans by the decades of war in
Vietnam, the children have been living
in the orphanage founded by the late
Dr. Tom Dooley and Madam Vu Thi
Ngai in 1954.
Her love affair with An Lac began in
1959 when she contacted the 34-year-old
Dooley at a New York hospital to volun-
teer as a secretary.
After his tragic death from cancer in
1961, she decided to vacation in the lands
Dooley loved and served. She repeated
these visits annually in 1966 she stopped
at An Lac, which means "Happy Place."
It was to the children here that Mrs.
Tisdale became known as Coy My -
Miss America - and Co Ngoan - Miss
Sweet. She did not forget the children
and upon her return to America founded
the An Lac Orphanage Inc.
Ledger-Enquirer
Betty and An Lac's Children
"An Lac" Orphanage, Inc., 116 Nguyen Dinh Chieù, Saigon
/ shall pass through
Route 1, Box 804
Whitesville Road
Columbus, Georgia 31904
this world but once.
If therefore,
Telephone: 404-323-1616
404-323-7771
there be any kindness
/ can show,
or any good thing
/ can do,
let me do it now;
let me not defer it
MOTHER'S DAY 1975
or neglect it,
for / shall not pass
this way again.
Dear wonderful friend of An Lac
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Honorary Chairman
As I try to write to you on this particular day, I am filled with mixed emotions of
Norman Cousins
joy, tears, happiness and sorrow. Perhaps you will understand these emotions as I relate
a bit of what has happened to An Lac
to
the
children
Chairman
to
Mme.
Ngai
and
to
me!
Patrick D. Tisdale, M.D.
Exactly one month ago, I arrived at Fort Benning, Georgia with 219 children from
Vice Chairman
An Lac - that was the happiness part - but I had to leave 150 children - and Mme. Ngai
Mrs. Natahli Paine
behind, then. Perhaps I had better start at the beginning. Through your help in the past
President
years or even just recently - we, all of us - had been able to be a part of helping the
Mrs. Betty Moul Tisdale
children of An Lac have a better life. We were able to accomplish much in the years
Vice President
since Dr. Tom Dooley died. The children had better food, medical care and even showers,
Miss Ina Balin
toilets and kitchens and dispensaries - but most of all, they had US they knew we loved
Mrs. David Brockman
them even though they were "half a world away."
Miss Norine Casey
John Kopp
On April 1st, as I was sitting at my desk trying to answer your letters and send out the
Wayne McKinney, M.D.
receipts, the news and the television account of what was happening to Vietnam became
John J. O'Leary
ominous. Suddenly, I knew that I could not sit by and not even try to save our children. I
H. Stephen Spahn
Mrs. Frances Thompson
didn't know how I could do it - or whether it was even possible, but I knew I had to try.
Philip Woerner, M.D.
My first thought was to charter a plane - and the staggering cost of one - $257,000
Treasurer
didn't deter me at all. Tom Dooley would find a way. But the news became more bleak and
William A. Lyman
the time became NOW, and I found that if I could be allied in a way with one of the seven
Secretary
recognized agencies I could use the government airlift and fly the children back on govern-
Mrs. Lorna Stevens
ment planes so the closest agency was the Pearl S. Buck agency and I asked them if I
could use their name to help our children - and they said I could. Nothing signed no strings
BOARD OF ADVISORS
John McL. Adams, M.D.
attached and I was on my way! I took with me a very dear friend of An Lac and Tom
Mrs. Melanie Barber
Dooley, Dr. Wayne McKinny, and an Army Captain, Ed Bensman. Ed spoke Vietnamese and
Miss Eileen Beck
was one of the First Infantry Division - Big Red One - who had adopted An Lac many
David Brockman
Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker
years ago. Ina Balin, our Vice President, flew out from the Coast and arrived one day
Senator Quentin N. Burdick
earlier. My own dear family of ten children and husband, Dr. Pat, remained at home to
Mrs. Maureen Burke
handle the calls and details of "what if the children do arrive". In answer to that, we called
Miss Melinda Burton
Mr. & Mrs. Donald Calaman
our dear friends of the First Infantry - General Orwin Talbott and General DePuy - and
Mrs. Rosalie Carper
through them, Secretary of the Army Bo Calloway gave me permission to bring the children
Mrs. Onolee Coffey
to Fort Benning if I could get them out!
Bob Considine
Mrs. Norman Cousins
But
could I??? Not being one of the "seven recognized agencies" for adoption,
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Darragh
Malcolm Dooley
it did not seem likely, but that would not keep me from trying.
Miss Teresa Gallagher
Mrs. Kathleen Gassaway
I got as far as the Philippines when they bombed the palace in Saigon and we were held
Senator & Mrs. J. K. Javits
up there for 14 hours - making my arrival in Saigon that much later. But, I did arrive
Miss Sharon Jenkins
with Wayne and Ed and there was Miss Thuc and Mme. Ngai waiting for me - had been
Mrs. Vern Jones
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Kaufman
waiting for 14 hours. We rushed to An Lac and amid cries of "Co Betty" "Co Betty" from
Mr. & Mrs. Mortimer Levitt
the children - with hugs and kisses and lots of baby cuddling I almost felt that there
Amb. & Mrs. Henry Cabot Lodge
really wasn't a war and I was there again "just to be with them." But I soon realized that
John O. Marsh
Ben Navarro
my time was short - the North Vietnamese were just 25 miles from Saigon and we were in
Winfield Niblo, PhD.
danger. Mme. Ngai had already had Miss Thuc make up the list of ALL the children, plus
Fred F. Petmecky, M.D.
the domestic help and herself. Knowing Mme. Ngai, if she put herself on the list I knew
Congressman Ogden R. Reid
Miss Elizabeth Rutledge
that we had little time - and that she was in danger. Early the next morning, Ina and I
Miss Margaret Rutledge
rushed to Dr. Pham Quang Dan's office he was the Minister of Social Welfare. He re-
Mr. & Mrs. James Skrine
membered me from my February visit and quickly insisted that I tell him of my plans. I
Mr. & Mrs. Edward A. Stevens
Mrs. Richard Thibaut, Jr.
showed him the list and he sadly shook his head. "No" - and my heart fell. But it was "No"
Senator Milton R. Young
to all those over ten years old - and "No" to Mme. Ngai. We sat there stunned. We
pleaded with him, but at that time - April 8 and 9 there was still hope that America would
help that perhaps South Vietnam would survive. His reasoning for Mme. Ngai was that
she was very important and to have her leave with the children would panic the other orphanages and there would
be no control. As a special favor to me - knowing I wasn't an agency he still consented for the children under ten,
and did not insist that prior adoption papers be filed. This was the first and only time he gave this permission. He knew
of our work - he knew that we you and I - were primarily interested in helping the children of Vietnam to become
better citizens of the future of Vietnam. We were not and never ever were in the "adoption" or exporting of their nation's
future. For this, he was extremely grateful.
We rushed back to An Lac and Miss Thuc and Mr. Tin revised the list over 200 children. All night long, Ina and
I
made
identification
tags
and
bracelets and the next morning took the new list to Dr. Dan - within minutes, he stamp-
ed it and we were off to the USAID office. Mr. Ruoff helped us make plans for the airlift. I asked him if we could go
on Saturday (this was Thursday) and he said we would have to leave the next morning at 11 A.M. We would have two
C-141 planes and we had to provide escorts. We agreed to everything and anything and rushed to the Embassy to sign
more papers and work throughout the night tagging all the children. The next morning - with little or no sleep - the
children bathed - and the INK RAN ON THE I.D. Bracelets. Frantically we had to redo them with radio, TV and
newsmen on our backs. I can't tell you the nervous state we were in - and all through it, Mme. Ngai sat - tears stream-
ing down her cheeks still looking as regal and beautiful as ever - but knowing that she was doomed to die under
Communism. I didn't know then that she had bought poison to take.
In the maddest rush you have ever seen, four bus loads of children left to take the first plane. Ed Bensman went with
them. They were most of all the toddlers and five, six and seven year olds. Then, two hours later, we took the babies -
67 of them and the older children. Just as I was to get on the plane Ambassador Martin called the airport - to wish me
well, to thank me and to make one last plea for help. To me, he was a great man - one with a heart - with love for the
children and the people of Vietnam. He thanked Senator Javits for helping me, and the other Senators and Congressmen
- Nunn, Brinkley, Morgan and the hosts of others - for they all did. And then, the babies - in boxes - were strapped
to the floor of this huge cargo plane and we were off. Ina, Wayne, Ed and myself - we did it - we evacuated An Lac
of every child under ten. (I must admit, some of the ten year olds "looked" a little older - but I won't tell, will you ???)
From Clark Air Force Base where the children were bathed and clean clothes arranged - we flew to Los Angeles.
I do want to say that the Air Force - from Saigon to Clark in the Philippines - helped more than you can ever imagine.
To see a big Air Force sergeant feeding not one, but two babies at one time, is a sight to behold - and then the Navy
took over in Los Angeles. Pat was there with the United Airlines plane he had to charter for $21,000. And we whisked the
children and babies over to it for the last part of our journey - to Fort Benning. Unfortunately, about 38 of our babies
were kept in 8 different hospitals in Los Angeles. I say unfortunately, because we had doctors aboard the World Airways
plane from Clark to Los Angeles and it was not all necessary, but the local doctors did not listen to the doctors that were
with the children across the Pacific and hence the reason for so many of the babies being kept out there.
I suppose I should keep this short, but to all of you who have helped An Lac for so many years - I would want to
talk to you all in person - in fact, I would want to write each and every one of you a personal, personal letter, but at
the moment, I feel I owe you this type letter first.
To say that my arrival - with Ina Balin - at Fort Benning - Saturday night, April 12 was the most gratifying mo-
ment of my life - 219 children - within two and one half days - the children of our beloved An Lac, is of course, an
understatement. I wish all of you could have been with me at that moment. I think all of Columbus, Georgia was there
- including my own sweet ten children and I knew then, as I have always known, that Tom Dooley was my guiding
spirit, my link with God - that we were in America - the land of the free! My beloved country.
Staff Photo Lawrence Smith
Actress Ina Balin (L), Mrs. Tisdale Hold Babies on Arrival at Ft. Benning
The children were taken to Wilbur School and each given a volunteer to help them, to love them. The school was
changed over to another An Lac. The Army was there, and all was well with the world. Only one flaw and that was the
Pearl Buck Foundation who had harrassed me across the Pacific and even now at Fort Benning, knowing that I had had
no sleep for four days, insisted on "taking custody" of the children. Since Mme. Ngai had released them to me, I would
certainly not give them to any organization - especially after their tactics and background. So, in the next four days after
arrival I had to legally fight them off and the U.S. Government sent a lawyer and representative and it was legally agreed
that the Pearl S. Buck Foundation would be absolved of all custody of the children. I then invited the Tressler Lutheran
Adoption Agency of York, Pennsylvania to help in the placement of the children.
In the meantime - my heart and thoughts were with Mme. Ngai - how could I get her out PPPI got a call through
to Ambassador Martin. His secretary listened and said she would see that Mme. Ngai, Miss Thuc and Mr. Tin (orphans
who had been with her in North Vietnam and were still at An Lac, helping) would be on the evacuation list. Would I
Contiuned on Back Page
send
her
a cable I did, and also sent one to Mme. Ngai. And then, nothing I made plans then to fly to Saigon to
get Mme. Ngai - but I called again. Don't come - this from the Embassy - and I became frantic - for if I flew over,
she might be on her way out. So another day passed, then on April 27 at 5 A.M. I received a call - from Guam - it was
Mr. Tin - Mme. Ngai was there safe could I come to get them PPPI was on a plane at 1:45 P.M. that day and
arrived in Guam at 3 A.M. on Tuesday - - Guam time.
Guam was quiet that early Tuesday morning - and I finally found Mme. Ngai with the help of a lovely Navy wife,
Peggy Dockins. She had located Mme. Ngai for me and drove me to the refugee camp. Dawn was streaking through
when
I
arrived the camp was awakening - I climbed the steps of an old warehouse building - and there on the
second floor - on an Army cot - sat beautiful Mme. Ngai - holding out her arms to me. I could not believe that I had
found her - that we - you and I would see her again. A hole had been cut out of the side of the building for air.
Breakfast was baked beans, hot dogs and rice. But not one person complained - it was a beautiful sight. I immediately
started my talks with the Immigration people. No - they were not "blood relatives" - which meant that I had to wait
for them because that put them at the bottom of the lists - so I just said I would go over his head and that I did! Within
18 hours we were at the airport - with a couple of hundred other refugees - on our way HOME.
Guam - Hawaii - Camp Pendleton - Long Beach Naval Station - Los Angeles - Atlanta - and Columbus, Georgia.
Mme. Ngai was in her new home. She is now here, living with us - same address. She says we have given her her second
life. A long time ago, in 1954 - Dr. Tom Dooley saved her and helped her get from Haiphong, North Vietnam to Saigon,
South Vietnam - and now - here she is - half a world away - in our country.
It is a beautiful story - perhaps it is not ended yet. One hundred and fifty children were left behind. A list of those
children was given to another orphanage. An orphanage who had a possibility of getting on a ship. All the ships have
not arrived - will yet another miracle take place - perhaps we shall see the rest of the children of An Lac - it is up to
God - our prayers may again be answered.
We want to have Mme. Ngai, Thuc and Tin live with us - but be independent. That is why we want to buy her her
own little place and put it right here in our front yard. An Lac - in Saigon - is no more. I will not be raising funds
anymore. I am closing my files after 14 years. I will not need your help. I can only say that without you, nothing would
have been possible. Tom Dooley used to say that he was the hands - YOU were the heart, and that was how it always
was. To say thank you to friends is awfully hard to do - for thank you just doesn't seem like enough. Know only that
you are beautiful, loyal and true - and that we love you very, very much. Don't completely forget us - and if you can, you
might want to write to Mme. Ngai on special occasions. She has no income at all and if you want to help her now and
then, please do. Our home is open for visits from you. All I can say now is - the circle is complete, from Tom Dooley,
to Mme. Ngai, to me to you. God love you forever.
Betty
P.S. Your most recent contribution of $
was received. Would you accept this as your receipt? And
we can still use green stamps to help furnish Mme. Ngai's house.
Your Contributions Are Deductible For Income Tax Purposes
Dr. Pat Tisdale at End of Airlift at Ft. Benning
The Happy Ending
The Cleveland Press, Tuesday, May 20, 1975
PAGE B9
Ford calls on Minor George
to help resettle refugees
Clevelander Minor H. much help aiding the refu-
Former Ambassador John
George set foot in his first gees, his wife said today.
Eisenhower, son of the late
President Dwight D. Eisen-
THE PLAIN DEALER, TUESDAY, MAY 20. 1975-
Ford selects
George for
refugee help
Minor H. George. vice
chairman of the Cuyahoga
County Republican party,
has been named to a presi-
dential advisory committee
to hate refusces
38 'Air Force Times JUNE 11, 1975
'Record for Putting Up Tents'
Refugee
Report
Logistician Likens Project
Marines seemed to accept the
To Mobilizing a Division
long hours and hard work with a
minimum of grumbling.
Some dependents, however, re-
By LEE EWING
Each refugee is given two or
sented the demands placed on
Times Staff Writer
three blankets and a Marine
their spouses.
field jacket, and many wear
Some wives don't like their
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -
several layers of donated cloth-
men working around Viet-
Amid the rolling hills of scrub
ing to keep warm. The Salvation
namese women, a Marine said.
brush not much different from
Army and other agencies pro-
Sexual competition as well as
Im
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1975
The New York Times
Vietnam Refugees Here Find Main Task Is Getting Jobs
By ARI L. GOLDMAN
An elderly Vietnamese
man, thinking in piasters,
gave a vender a $10 bill
for a soda and asked if that
was enough. A Vietnamese
woman out on a walk around
DATE
STATE - A.I.D. - USIA
ROUTING SLIP
7/29/75
TO:
Organ.
Initials
Date
Name or Title
Symbol
Room No. Bldg.
1.
Dr. Theodore Marrs
2.
3.
4.
5.
Approval
XX
For Your Information
Note and Return
As Requested
Initial for Clearance
Per Conversation
Comment
Investigate
Prepare Reply
File
Justify
See Me
For Correction
Necessary Action
Signature
REMARKS OR ADDITIONAL ROUTING
FROM: (Name and Org. Symbol)
ROOM NO. & BLDG.
PHONE NO.
Frank Daniel
President's Advisory Committee on Refugees
FORM JF-29 (Formerly Forms DS-10, AID-5-50 & IA-68)
3 - 68
Houston Post
Thurs. July 24,
Reference
Refugees reject offers
to leave camp security
WASHINGTON (AP) - Increasing
Another witness before the committee
numbers of Vietnamese and Cambodian
was Julia Vadala Taft, director of the
refugees are rejecting offers of sponsorship
Inter-Agency Task Force on Refugees, the
and refusing to leave the security of reset-
agency actually carrying out the move-
tlement camps, the President's Advisory
ment of 130,000 refugees into American
Committee on Refugees was told Wednes-
life.
day.
She reported that of the 130,000, some
69.000 remain in camps in the United
181 rois lofered refre J licouse a 7eak
B-2.
The Washington Star
Sunday, May 18, 1975
of the Prs's Cal al
is
FORD, ROLIERARY B. oliol 4/2
BETTY BEALE
it
GERALD
Angel of Mercy to Refugees
2,000 or more Cambodian
the countryside, supplying
She was twice decorate
Sometime tomorrow
refugees will try to em-
them with the material to
by the Khmer Republic fo
morning Camp Pendleton,
brace her. Most of them
build their own huts and
her courage.
Calif. will be invaded by a
want to find a new life in
grow their own food.
She went back tw
5-foot-21/2 dynamo of effi-
or around Washington just
AID contributed money
months ago to take $3,50
ciency cloaked in feminine
to be near her. And it's not
and a lot came from the
and some medicines fo
charm and Italian pul-
surprising when you learn
German and Italian gov-
100 who had been hit b
chritude. Her name is
what this captivating bun-
ernments, the Catholic
rockets. but after flyin
Gaetana M. Enders
3328 Reservoir Road
Washington, D.C. 20007
June 3, 1975
Dr. Theodore C. Marrs
Special Assistant to the President
for Human Resources
The White House
Dear Ted,
As we discussed this morning, I would like to give
you an outline of the activities I plan in the next few
weeks to assist individual refugee families in resettle-
ment efforts. These, I feel, will not conflict with my
role as a member of the President's Advisory Committee
but, to the extent they may be complimentary to that role
I would appreciate your advice and an occasional assist
where it would not prove burdensome.
I appreciated your very frank discussion of the
Committee's functions as you see them. While I per-
sonally think -- as you know --- that the Committee's
mandate could and should be expanded, I can under-
stand your concerns, and agree that efforts to assist
individuals and families, worthy though these may be,
should not be allowed to detract from the Committee's
broader function of advising the President as to new
overall policies and programs which could raise the
effectiveness of the refugee resettlement program as a
whole.
At the same time I must be equally frank in telling
you that, in my opinion, it is only through active in-
volvement in individual resettlement programs that mem-
bers of the Committee can maintain the background neces-
sary to advise the President properly on the progress
of this important endeavor. While the Committee may
be primarily advisory, the members must, I feel, con-
tinue to pursue an operational role not connected with
their status as members of the Committee. In addition
to its advisory role, the Committee should also serve
as an active catalyst, bringing together the experience
of its members and using this to encourage and facilitate
the work being done by the various relief organizations.
- 2 -
Our interest, presumably coincident with that expressed
by the President, should be to help existing organizations
in solving the refugee "problem" as rapidly, humanely
and effectively as possible.
In addition to my work on behalf of individual
refugees I have, as you know, also addressed the broader
issues. In the Committee I have offered suggestions
such as the proposal to look at the possibility of on-
site pretraining programs tailored to fit the job needs
of individual geographic areas of our country, which we
discussed this morning. In addition I have sought, as
a member of the Committee, to publicize through television
interviews, newspaper articles and the like, the whole
scope of the refugee problem and what the Administration,
and private organizations, are doing about it. I think
this is particularly valuable, both to let the public
know that the Administration is doing something, and to
encourage sponsorship, as well as to generate more public
support for other ways of reaching the President's stated
goal of welcoming these people into our society.
As you know, I am somewhat hampered in these efforts
by having no organizational "home base" to provide
needed administrative backstopping. I agree that it
would be inappropriate for the Committee or its staff
to get involved in my own personal efforts to aid indivi-
dual refugees, and hope to find support for this among
the various refugee organizations with which I deal. At
the same time, however, in some cases it might be diffi-
cult for these organizations to justify devoting even
a small part of their scant resources to broader tasks,
which they might see as being of no direct application
to their specific effort. In this latter area, as I
also mentioned this morning, I would hope you, Roger
Semerad and his staff might be able occasionally to help
me in accomplishing some of these "Committee-connected"
tasks.
I will be very grateful for any comments or sugges-
tions you may have, either on the above ideas or on the
program I attach; I hope I can count on you as we dis-
cussed for occasional, minor facilitative services, which
I would clear with Roger on each occasion, in connection
with my work as a member of the President's Advisory
Committee.
Sincerely,
etavia
Gaetana M. Enders
C.C. Roger Semerad
Gaetana M. Enders
3328 Reservoir Road
Washington, D. C. 20007
June 3, 1975
Mr. Roger Semerad
Executive Director of the
President's Advisory Committee
on Refugees
The White House
Dear Roger,
After my talks with you, and with Ted Marrs this
morning, I have written to him to clarify what I hope
to do as a member of the Committee (copy attached).
Here is my program of work for the weeks to come.
--- Apart from the trip to Camp Pendleton and San
Francisco, I will try to arrange appearances on tele-
vision shows and in particular on Barbara Walters'
program. Enclosed is the draft of a letter I would
propose to send to her, unless you object and would be
very grateful if you could have it typed. (This is the
sort of letter I think might be appropriate for me to
write in my role as a Committee member: hence my thought
that it should be done on White House stationery).
--- Also to contact the following women who I
think might respond to our need for sponsors and for
other forms of support for the Refugee resettlement;
Lady Bird Johnson, Margaret Hecler: House of Represen-
tatives, Massachusetts, Lois Smith: Pickwick, Public
Relations Firm, Margaret Mead: National Museum of
History, Lindy Boggs: House of Representatives (New
Orleans), Barbara Jordan: House of Representatives
(Texas), Clair Booth Luce: (Hawaii), Mrs. David
Eisenhower, Helen Thomas: White House Correspondent,
API, Gloria Steinheim: Ms. Magazine, Marietta Tree,
Nancy Kissinger, Mary McGrory: Washington Star: Pulit-
zer prize: compassionate reporter, Millicent Fenwick:
House of Representatives, Ellen Straus: New York, (Mrs.
Peter R. Straus Riverdale, New York), (national women's
volunteers in U.C. "Call of Action).
- 2 -
I would appreciate very much if someone could help me
in getting telephone numbers and addresses.
--- Using some of my husband's contacts, I plan
to get in touch with George Shultz in San Francisco
(Bechtel and the possibilities of training a group of
refugees in the area, Fred Dent (textiles) and Chuck
Percy (Bell and Howell). I have already contacted
McBundy in New York and he has been responsive pro-
vided we feed him with an accurate percentage of pos-
sible candidates for grants.
On the Committee I plan to work as hard as possi-
ble, not only in the Public Relations area, but also
in trying to get more training and educational facili-
ties for the refugees (for example --- contact the group
of Deans of Women's Colleges and other intellectual
groups).
I hope all this is within the limits of my man-
date.
I think today's meeting was very encouraging as
members of the Committee seemed very committed and
responsive.
Very sincerely,
Gaetana M. Enders
Officer Fi
artment of
Los Angeles Times
31
Wed., May 7, 1975-Parti -
ng forward
ie," he said.
Car-Hits at--
States.
"He had been in Saigon six or seven
years. I understand he was not mar
ant adminis-
ried and had no close relatives" the
Thought Pipst, said that
spokesman said.
embers had
Toward Him gon. One of
Nghiep said Baughman simply de->
cided that he belonged at the hospi-
vas left in
tal, regardless of the government in
James Thompson, 2
power.
police officer assigne about 29, a
"He felt very strongly that he must
division, was not Loma Linda
remain. He was very interested in
small foreign car } not known
helping out the homeless street boys
night. him as he drove tc n the United
in Saigon," Nghiep said.
He said its drive
blinked headlights I
went up Sepulveda E
Segundo.
it corners with
WAITING- Saigon Adventist Hospital employes and, relatives on cots of Loma Linda University gym:
When he stopped
Times photo by Joe Kennedy
Blvd. for a signal, sai
thought he heard a sh
IS COUPONS
Saigon Hospital Staff Nowin Loma Linda
car swerved around
man in the passenger
ry living purpose!
him with what looked
Adventists Bring Out Aides, Families, Including 388 Refugees
COUPON COX
Thompson, who h
BY ED MEAGHER
been put up in the domed university
Circus style tents were donated and
force four years, dre
OLYMPIC CAMERA
Times Staff Writer
gymnasium, bedded on cots.
pitched next to the gym for use as
revolver and begar
It was in operation only a little
two
the
dining areas. A kitchen was set. up,
shots went into his
Minolta 16-QT Pocket-Size Camera.
But the future appears a bit bright-
more
than
years
but
Saigon
Mini
Refugee file
THE CHRISTIAN S
CSM 7/24/75
"First the blade, then the ear,
The Monitor's view
Why the lag on-refugees?
The thousands of Southeast Asian refugees
ity of military bases. As winter approaches,
who fled their homelands in the face of
those used to the tropical climate will be even
communist take-over have slipped from public
less inclined to leave camps in California and
view. And while some of the bureaucratic
the South for Northern communities.
hang-ups which attended initial efforts to
The government has relied too much on
resettle the refugee families in the United
volunteer. agencies. It should more actively
States have abated, more than half the 131,000
encourage Americans to participate and de-
Vietnamese and Cambodians in the refugee
velop its own mechanism for matching quali-
"pipeline" remain in U.S. military camps.
fied sponsors to refugees. Visible leadership
The federal government is pushing to empty
of the kind President Ford initially expressed,
R fill
5 NEW YORK TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1975
Refugees Panel, After Vague Start, Seeking to Speed Resettlement
By LINDA CHARLTON
states. Maine has indicated ia
June 8. The Massachusetts
processed for repatriation here
facility, and the remaining 265
similar willingness to stand as
Democrat had accused the task
by United Nations representa-
are scattered in refugee centers
Special to The New York Times
WASHINGTON, June 18-A
a sponsor for refugees.
force of exposing numbers of
tives, a senior. State Depart-
elsewhere in the United States,
There are other plans, he
refugees to the dangers of ty-
ment official has said.
Nick Thorne, head of the Inter-
month àgo, with a plea for
phoons on Guam.
The refugees seeking repatri-
agency Task Force here, said
speed, President Ford set up
said. A number of what Mr.
yesterday.
a citizens' advisory commission
Semerad would describe only
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.,
ation are all South Vietnamese
to help with the resettlement
as "important national figures"
June 18 (AP)-A total of 355
except for one Cambodian.
GIVE FUN TO A CHILD
Indochinese refugees will be
Ninety are at this Marine
GIVE FRESH AIR FUND
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 1, 1975
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
&
FORD
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
GERALD
LIBRARY
I am saddened and disappointed by the action of the House of Representatives
today in rejecting assistance to the refugees from South Vietnam.
This action does not reflect the values we cherish as a nation of
immigrants. It is not worthy of a people which has lived by the philosophy
symbolized in the Statue of Liberty. It reflects fear and misunderstanding,
rather than charity and compassion.
Despite the House vote, I believe that in this tragic situation the
American people want their country to be guided by the inscription on the
Statue of Liberty:
"Give me your tired, your poor
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
After World War II, the United States offered a new life to 1,400,000
displaced persons. The generosity of the American people showed again
following the Hungarian uprising of 1956 when more than 50,000 Hungarian
refugees fled here for sanctuary. And we welcomed more than a half million
Cubans fleeing tyranny in their country.
Now, other refugees have fled from the Communist take-over in Vietnam. These
refugees chose freedom. They do not ask that we be their keepers but only,
for a time, that we be their helpers.
Some members of the House of Representatives apparently voted against the
legislation to assist the refugees because of a section relating to evacuation
from South Vietnam. The evacuation is complete.
I urge the members of the House of Representatives and of the Senate to
approve quickly new legislation providing humanitarian assistance to the
South Vietnamese refugees. To do otherwise would be a repudiation of the
finest principles and traditions of America.
#
#
#
Susan Jacoby
The New Immigrants
If the hostile reaction to the arrival
diately in his or her native land. This
of Vietnamese refugees in the United
definition would have excluded many
States proves anything, it is the diffi-
of the East European and Russian
culty Americans have in learning from
Jews who arrived here between 1880
their own history.
and 1924, most of the displaced per-
A Martian reading the newspapers
sons after World War II, a. large ma-
or watching television would find it
jority of the Cubans as well as Jews
difficult to believe that this country who have recently emigrated from the
has had any experience with immi-
Soviet Union. By custom and by Amer-
grants or political refugees. It may be
ican law, a refugee is anyone who
asking too much to expect Americans
might be persecuted because of race,
to remember how many of their fore-
religion or political beliefs. After mis-
bears arrived just one jump ahead of
judging the situation in Vietnam for 30
hostile European rulers or mobs in the
years, it is the height of arrogance and
hypocrisy for Americans to pass judg-
ment on the question of who should
Susan Jacoby is writing a book on
have stayed in Saigon.
recent immigrants to the United
American history not only offers a
States
proper definition of a political refugee
but it suggests guidelines for helping
the refugees after they arrive. The
first 300,000 Cubans arrived between
19th century abut there are more re
Jan. 1, 1959, when Fidel Castro took
Refugees: News
13
NEWS
Refugees Could End Up in Indian-Type Reservations
The civilian coordinator of the largest U.S. refugee
camp for Vietnamese says that one of three options being
considered by the federal government for handling the
refugee situation could lead to "Indian reservations" for
lower class, unskilled Vietnamese. Donald MacDonald said
one of the options under consideration, which he called
the "least desirable, " was to send unskilled refugees to
a single encampment.
MacDonald made his observations in a memorandum
circulated among officials at Ft. Chaffee and Washington.
He said non-government volunteer agencies should be
responsible for relocating Vietnamese refugees. A State
Department official denied that the government was considering
putting refugees in "Indian-type reservations. "--UPI (5/25/75)
as
on
barrel.
national assembly in Hanoi,
stressed that the study
shale and developing gas
The lower figu
Pham Van Dong spoke of
would not create a further
and oil from coal.
each barrel of n
would cost if pri
were removed 0
Gearing Up for Refugees
consumer advoc
Nader. The $445
offered by Sen.
Jackson, D-Wa
By Calvin.Zon
Sponsorship, said Van
active local agency in find-
testified before 1 8
Washington Star Staff Writer
Wagoner involves a moral,
ing such sponsors, recently
Commerce sube
Local governments and
as opposed to a legal, obli-
began encouraging its par-
on consumers,
social service agencies are
gation to provide food, shel-
ish churches to become
seeking to deter
just beginning to come to
ter, medical care and pock-
sponsors.
Ford's plan to bo
grips with the need to pre-
et money and to assist in
Representatives of more
prices would as
pare for the influx of an
finding a job, He said spon-
than a score of private and
sumers.
estimated 20,000 Viet-
sorship might last for "a
public social service agen-
Jackson repe
namese refugees expected
couple of weeks to a year,"
cies in Fairfax County
estimate that t.
to settle in the Washington
largely depending on how
gathered at the County Of-
dent's program W
area over the next several
long it takes to obtain em-
fice Building yesterday to
energy costs by $2
months.
ployment. So far about 25
discuss ways to assimilate
year, but would b
Housing, employment,
Vietnamese families are
the refugees.
only 50 million 1
and special language in-
being placed in area homes
Most heads of refugee
new domestic oil
struction are among the
through his organization,
families have professional
after two years.
said
Van
which
Refugees: News
N-11
NEWS
L. Dean Brown Resigns as Refugee Director
Former State Department official L. Dean Brown resigned
Thursday night as head of the federal inter-agency task force
coordinating refugee resettlement. Brown had said he did not
want to remain in the position any longer than necessary,
Barry Serafin (CBS) reported.
Deputy Assistant HEW Secretary Julia Taft, who has already
set up an independent HEW task force to consider long-range
refugee problems, will now head the inter-agency group. --CBS
(5/23/75)
107 Refugees at Fort Chaffee Want to Return to Vietnam
A spokesman for a group of 107 Vietnamese refugees at
Ft. Chaffee, Ark. said Friday the group would hold a protest
demonstration unless they are returned to South Vietnam, as
arranged, by next Thursday. The spokesman said he and the
others appreciate the help given by the U.S., but they just
want to go home. --AP; ABC; NBC (5/23/75)
500 Indochinese Were Stuck in U.S. While Their Governments Fell
About 300 Cambodians and 200 Vietnamese were receiving
training at 50 U.S. military bases when their countries fell to
the Communists. Many of them have found jobs here. "So far,
government planning has resulted in the decision that it is
less disruptive to leave the Cambodian and Vietnamese soldiers
where they are and made a statement that the problem is under active
consideration," David Snell (ABC) said. --ABC (5/23/75)
Eisenhower: Some Refugees Will Spend Their Lives
In Camps
Many Vietnamese refugees may never find homes in America
but may live out their lives in U.S. sponsored refugee camps,
John Eisenhower, chairman of the President's advisory committee
on Refugees said Friday. Security or illiteracy problems will
keep these refugees from being relocated.
Some 15,000, or 35 per cent, of the refugees on Guam are
illiterate farmers and fishermen. --CBS (5/23/75)
apr
16 "Sharchem
Page 12
QUESTION: Mr. President, there have been some.
Lighter GERAUD ? THE
conflicting news stories out of Vietnam about the possi-
ble,
if it is necessary, evacuation of not only
Americans but of South Vietnamese nationals from
Saigon. Is there any plan or policy about such evacuation?
THE PRESIDENT: I have ordered the evacuation
of all nonessential U.S. personnel in South Vietnam and
we are phasing down on a daily basis such U.S. personnel
who have no responsibilities, either for the Government
or for whatever other purpose they are there.
The present plan is to keep those there who
have a position of responsibility, a meaningful job.
I am not in the position to speculate as to how many
that will be, or when there might be a change in the
situation.
I think it is too fluid at this moment to
make anv categorical comment.
QUESTION: That is speaking about Americans,
and I think we understand that. But is there any policy
about the potential evacuation of South Vietnamese?
THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me. In my speech last
Thursday, I indicated there are a number of South Vietnamese
who, over a period of almost two decades, have stood with
us in various official capacities -- long-time employees
of the Federal Government, our Government, who have been
dedicated to the cause that not I, but a number of
Presidents, have pursued.
I think we have an obligation to them. To the
extent that I can, under the law, or hopefully if the law
is clarified, I think we have a responsibility to them.
But I don't think I ought to talk about an evacuation. I
hope we are in a position where we can clarify or stabilize
the situation and get a negotiated settlement that wouldn't
put their lives in jeopardy.
QUESTION: Mr. President, you have talked a great
deal about the moral obligation of this country to provide
more military arms for South Vietnam. But what about
the moral obligation to the suffering people of that
country, the moral obligation to end that war?
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Reston, the agreement which
was signed, I think, by 12 nations in January of 1973 in
Paris -- and I was there, I saw the signing -- was
accomplished with the expectation that that war would
end.
If the agreement had been lived up to, the war
would not now be going on.
MORE
Page 13
We have continued in various ways to try and achieve
a cease-fire and I can assure you that we intend to continue
those efforts.
But it is tragic, in my judgment, that what
everybody thought was good in January of 1973 has
LIBRATT GERALD ₹ FORD
been violated and now we are faced with a terrible
catastrophy at the present time.
QUESTION: But would we not then a year from
now, or five years from now, still have the same moral
obligation you speak of?
THE PRESIDENT: It is my best judgment, based on
experts within the Administration, both economic and
military, that if we had made available for the next
three years reasonable sums of military aid and economic
assistance that South Vietnam would have been viable, that
it could have met any of its economic problems, could have
met any military challenges.
This is another of the tragedies. For just a
relatively small additional commitment in economic and
military aid, relatively small compared to the $150 billion
that we spent, that at the last minute of the last quarter
we don't make that special effort and now we are faced with
this human tragedy. It just makes me sick every day I
hear about it, read about it and see it.
QUESTION: Mr. President, a political question:
You have some interest, I believe, in 1976, and there is
some doubt about the wisdom of some of the primary laws that
have been enacted.
I wonder, do you place your confidence in the
primary laws or do you like the convention system
better?
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Kirkpatrick, I have always
enjoyed a good election contest. I certainly would not
lift my hand to try and get any State to do away with a
Presidential primary election law.
I think a good contest is helpful for the public,
for the candidate, and I would not, under any circumstances,
try to undermine the decision. of any State to continue
its Presidential primary legislation.
THE PRESS: Thank you, Mr. President.
END
(AT 2:05 P.M. EDT)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 19, 1975
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
EXECUTIVE ORDER
ESTABLISHING THE PRESIDENT'S
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
Since the arrival of the first settlers on our eastern
seaboard nearly 400 years ago, America has been a refuge
for victims of persecution, intolerance and privation from
around the world. Tide after tide of immigrants has settled
here and each group has enriched our heritage and added to
our well-being as a nation.
For many residents of Southeast Asia who stood by
America as an ally and who have lost their homeland in the
tragic developments of the past few weeks, America offers a
last, best hope upon which they can build new lives. We are
a big country and their numbers are proportionately small.
We must open our doors and our hearts.
The arrival of thousands of refugees, mostly children,
will require many adjustments on their part and considerable
assistance on ours. But it is in our best interest as well
as theirs to make this transition as gracious and efficient
as humanly possible.
I have determined that it would be in the public interest
to establish an advisory committee to the President on the
resettlement in the United States of refugees from Indochina.
NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me
by the Constitution and statutes of the United States, and
as President of the United States, it is ordered as follows:
Section 1. Establishment of a Presidential Advisory
Committee. There is hereby established the President's
Advisory Committee on Refugees, hereinafter referred to as
the Committee. The Committee shall be composed of such
citizens from private life as the President may, from time
to time, appoint. The President shall designate one member
of the Committee to serve as chairman.
Sec. 2. Functions of the Advisory Committee. The
Committee shall advise the President and the heads of appro-
priate Federal agencies concerning the expeditious and
coordinated resettlement of refugees from Southeast Asia.
The Committee shall include in its advice, consideration of
the following areas:
(a) Health and environmental matters related to
resettlement;
(b) the interrelationship of the governmental and
volunteer roles in the resettlement,
(c) educational and cultural adjustments required by
these efforts;
more
2
(d) the general well-being of resettled refugees
and their families in their new American communities; and
(e) such other related concerns as the President may,
from time to time, specify.
The Committee shall also seek to facilitate the location,
solicitation, and channeling of private resources for these
resettlement efforts, and to establish lines of communication
with all concerned governmental agencies, relevant voluntary
agencies, the Vietnamese-American community and the American
public at large. The Committee shall conclude its work
within one year.
Sec. 3. Assistance, Cooperation, and Expenses.
(a) All executive departments and agencies of the Federal
government, to the extent permitted by law, are directed to
cooperate with the Committee and to furnish such information,
facilities, funds, and assistance as the Committee may require.
(b) No member of the Committee shall receive compensation
from the United States by reason of service on the Committee,
but may, to the extent permitted by law, be allowed travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as
authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5703).
Sec. 4. Federal Advisory Committee Act. Notwithstanding
the provisions of any other Executive order, the functions
of the President under the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(5 U.S.C. App. 1), except that of reporting annually to
Congress, which are applicable to the advisory committee
established by this Order, shall be performed by the
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.
GERALD R. FORD
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 19, 1975.
#####
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 19, 1975
Office of the White House Press Secretary
Jamil odT dstU to smoboadT ,A
FORD LIBRARY
-Tetts to tstudO THE WHITE HOUSE silt to
Vsb
The President today announced the appointment of seventeen persons
as members of the President's Advisory Committee on Refugees.
They are:
to absed edd bns insbiser9 ods satvbe Hiw settimmed
inerms Joseph L. Alioto, of San Francisco, California, Mayor, City
of San Francisco.
Resedive
lo
Archbishop Joseph Bernardin, of the District of Columbia,
President, United States Catholic Conference.
Ashby Boyle, of Salt Lake City, Utah, Student, University of Utah;
National Youth Chairman, March of Dimes.
Dr. W. Sterling Cary, of Hinsdale, Illinois, President, National
Council of Churches.
John Denver, of Aspen, Colorado, Professional Singer.
Ambassador John Eisenhower, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania,
former Ambassador to Belgium.
Mrs. Gaetana Enders, of the District of Columbia, wife of
Assistant Secretary of State Thomas O. Enders.
Governor Daniel Evans, of Olympia, Washington, Governor
of the State of Washington.
faurice Ferre,
of Miami, Florida, Mayor of the city
of Miami.
Minor George, of Parma, Ohio, businessman.
Edgar F. Kaiser, of Oakland, California, corporation executive
of Kaiser Industries.
Philip M. Klutznick, of Chicago, Illinois, former member of
United States delegation to the United Nations.
William J. Kuhfuss, of Mackinaw, Illinois, President, American
Farm Bureau.
George Meany, of Bethesda, Maryland, President of American
Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations.
Clarke Reed, of Greenville, Mississippi, businessman and
Republican National Committeeman.
Dr. Malcolm Todd, of Long Beach, California, physician and
President of American Medical Association.
(MORE)
(OVER)
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- 2 -
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Elder A. Theodore Tuttle, of Salt Lake City, Utah, The First
Council of the Seventy, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints.
The President today also designated Ambassador Eisenhower as edT
Chairman of the President's Advisory Committee on Refugee s. dmem 8.6
:918 yesT
The Committee will advise the President and the heads of appropriate
federal agencies concerning the expeditious and coordinated resettlement
of refugees from Southeast Asia.
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(MORE)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 19, 1975
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
TO THE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
THE EAST ROOM
12:07 P.M. EDT
Members of the Congress, members of the Advisory
Committee, members of the Federal establishment, members
who are here just to participate:
It is a great privilege and pleasure for me to
welcome you to the White House on this occasion. I
definitely am grateful for your coming to Washington on
this occasion on such short notice, but time is of the
essence.
If I might, I would like to now sign the Executive
Order and make a few comments at a later point.
We have a big job to do, and we have asked some
outstanding people from all segments of our society to
participate. I am delighted, of course, to have John
Eisenhower act as Chairman. His experience in Government,
his leadership, will be invaluable as we try to meet this
critical problem as quickly and as successfully as
possible.
We got a great deal of support from many segments
of our society. I was extremely pleased when we received
a telegram from George Meany of the AFL-CIO. I am sorry
George could not be here, but he is well represented.
We received a number of other communications
from individuals and groups -- business, agriculture,
professions, labor, of course, many church organizations,
Government, State as well as municipal -- and the response
has really been most heartwarming and very encouraging
to those of us who felt that our country had an opportunity
to again reassert the open door policy that we have had
for so long on behalf of people who wanted to come to
this great land.
It seems to me that as we look back over our
Nation's history most, if not all of us, are the
beneficiaries of the opportunities that come from a
country that has an open door.
MORE
(OVER)
Page 2
In one way or another, all of us are immigrants,
and the strength of America over the years has been our
diversity; diversity of all kinds of variations --
religion, ethnic and otherwise.
I recall very vividly a statement that seems
apropos at this time, that the beauty of Joseph's coat
is its many colors. The strength of America is its
diversity.
The people that we are welcoming today, the
individuals who are on Guam or in Camp Pendleton or
Eglin Air Force Base, are individuals who can contribute
significantly to our society in the future. They are
people of talent, they are industrious, they are
individuals who want freedom, and I believe they will
make a contribution now and in the future to a better
America.
We do have some difficulties in trying to
assimilate as quickly as possible some 100,000 plus, but
the Congress has responded, organizations are partici-
pating, administrative people are working literally night
and day, and the net result is we are making headway and
progress.
I don't mean to discount the problems, but all
of you, and those that you represent, can help tremendously
in the days ahead.
I can assure you that we will give maximum
attention, we will make every conceivable effort, to see
to it that your job is made easier so that our new friends
can start a new life in this great country. We are a
big country.
Some 35,000 heads of family are joining us.
Sixty-five percent of those who are coming are children.
They deserve a better chance. They deserve the warmth and
the friendship which is typical of America.
I just thank all of you for what you have done
and what you will do in making this job easier and better
for people that we want as good Americans.
Thank
you
very,
very
much.
END
(AT 12:13 P.M. EDT)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 19, 1975
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
TO THE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
THE EAST ROOM
12:07 P.M. EDT
Members of the Congress, members of the Advisory
Committee, members of the Federal establishment, members
who are here just to participate:
It is a great privilege and pleasure for me to
welcome you to the White House on this occasion. I
definitely am grateful for your coming to Washington on
this occasion on such short notice, but time is of the
essence.
If I might, I would like to now sign the Executive
Order and make a few comments at a later point.
We have a big job to do, and we have asked some
outstanding people from all segments of our society to
participate. I am delighted, of course, to have John
Eisenhower act as Chairman. His experience in Government,
his leadership, will be invaluable as we try to meet this
critical problem as quickly and as successfully as
possible.
We got a great deal of support from many segments
of our society. I was extremely pleased when we received
a telegram from George Meany of the AFL-CIO. I am sorry
George could not be here, but he is well represented.
We received a number of other communications
from individuals and groups -- business, agriculture,
professions, labor, of course, many church organizations,
Government, State as well as municipal -- and the response
has really been most heartwarming and very encouraging
to those of us who felt that our country had an opportunity
to again reassert the open door policy that we have had
for so long on behalf of people who wanted to come to
this great land.
It seems to me that as we look back over our
Nation's history most, if not all of us, are the
beneficiaries of the opportunities that come from a
country that has an open door.
MORE
Page 2
In one way or another, all of us are immigrants,
and the strength of America over the years has been our
diversity; diversity of all kinds of variations --
religion, ethnic and otherwise.
I recall very vividly a statement :hat seems
apropos at this time, that the beauty of Jos ph's coat
is its many colors. The strength of America is its
diversity.
The people that we are welcoming today, the
individuals who are on Guam or in Camp Pendleton or
Eglin Air Force Base, are individuals who can contribute
significantly to our society in the future. They are
people of talent, they are industrious, they are
individuals who want freedom, and I believe they will
make a contribution now and in the future to a better
America.
We do have some difficulties in trying to
assimilate as quickly as possible some 100,000 plus, but
the Congress has responded, organizations are partici-
pating, administrative people are working literally night
and day, and the net result is we are making headway and
progress.
I don't mean to discount the problems, but all
of you, and those that you represent, can help tremendously
in the days ahead.
I can assure you that we will give maximum
attention, we will make every conceivable effort, to see
to it that your job is made easier so that our new friends
can start a new life in this great country. We are a
big country.
Some 35,000 heads of family are joining us.
Sixty-five percent of those who are coming are children.
They deserve a better chance. They deserve the warmth and
the friendship which is typical of America.
I just thank all of you for what you have done
and what you will do in making this job easier and better
for people that we want as good Americans.
Thank you very, very much.
END
(AT 12:13 P.M. EDT)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 19, 1975
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
EXECUTIVE ORDER
ESTABLISHING THE PRESIDENT'S
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
Since the arrival of the first settlers on our eastern
seaboard nearly 400 years ago, America has been a refuge
for victims of persecution, intolerance and privation from
around the world. Tide after tide of immigrants has settled
here and each group has enriched our heritage and added to
our well-being as a nation.
For many residents of Southeast Asia who stood by
America as an ally and who have lost their homeland in the
tragic developments of the past few weeks, America offers a
last, best hope upon which they can build new lives. We are
a big country and their numbers are proportionately small.
We must open our doors and our hearts.
The arrival of thousands of refugees, mostly children,
will require many adjustments on their part and considerable
assistance on ours. But it is in our best interest as well
as theirs to make this transition as gracious and efficient
as humanly possible.
I have determined that it would be in the public interest
to establish an advisory committee to the President on the
resettlement in the United States of refugees from Indochina.
NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me
by the Constitution and statutes of the United States, and
as President of the United States, it is ordered as follows:
Section 1. Establishment of a Presidential Advisory
Committee. There is hereby established the President's
Advisory Committee on Refugees, hereinafter referred to as
the Committee. The Committee shall be composed of such
citizens from private life as the President may, from time
to time, appoint. The President shall designate one member
of the Committee to serve as chairman.
Sec. 2. Functions of the Advisory Committee. The
Committee shall advise the President and the heads of appro-
priate Federal agencies concerning the expeditious and
coordinated resettlement of refugees from Southeast Asia.
The Committee shall include in its advice, consideration of
the following areas:
(a) Health and environmental matters related to
resettlement;
(b) the interrelationship of the governmental and
volunteer roles in the resettlement,
(c) educational and cultural adjustments required by
these efforts;
more
2
(d) the general well-being of resettled refugees
and their families in their new American communities; and
(e) such other related concerns as the President may,
from time to time, specify.
The Committee shall also seek to facilitate the location,
solicitation, and channeling of private resources for these
resettlement efforts, and to establish lines of communication
with all concerned governmental agencies, relevant voluntary
agencies, the Vietnamese-American community and the American
public at large. The Committee shall conclude its work
within one year.
Sec. 3. Assistance, Cooperation, and Expenses.
(a) All executive departments and agencies of the Federal
government, to the extent permitted by law, are directed to
cooperate with the Committee and to furnish such information,
facilities, funds, and assistance as the Committee may require.
(b) No member of the Committee shall receive compensation
from the United States by reason of service on the Committee,
but may, to the extent permitted by law, be allowed travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as
authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5703).
Sec. 4. Federal Advisory Committee Act. Notwithstanding
the provisions of any other Executive order, the functions
of the President under the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(5 U.S.C. App. 1), except that of reporting annually to
Congress, which are applicable to the advisory committee
established by this Order, shall be performed by the
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.
GERALD R. FORD
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 19, 1975.
#####
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 19, 1975
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
TO THE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
THE EAST ROOM
12:07
P.M.
EDT
Members of the Congress, members of the Advisory
Committee, members of the Federal establishment, members
who are here just to participate:
It is a great privilege and pleasure for me to
welcome you to the White House on this occasion. I
definitely am grateful for your coming to Washington on
this occasion on such short notice, but time is of the
essence.
If I might, I would like to now sign the Executive
Order and make a few comments at a later point.
We have a big job to do, and we have asked some
outstanding people from all segments of our society to
participate. I am delighted, of course, to have John
Eisenhower act as Chairman. His experience in Government,
his leadership, will be invaluable as we try to meet this
critical problem as quickly and as successfully as
possible.
We got a great deal of support from many segments
of our society. I was extremely pleased when we received
a telegram from George Meany of the AFL-CIO. I am sorry
George could not be here, but he is well represented.
We received a number of other communications
from individuals and groups -- business, agriculture,
professions, labor, of course, many church organizations,
Government, State as well as municipal -- and the response
has really been most heartwarming and very encouraging
to those of us who felt that our country had an opportunity
to again reassert the open door policy that we have had
for so long on behalf of people who wanted to come to
this great land.
It seems to me that as we look back over our
Nation's history most, if not all of us, are the
beneficiaries of the opportunities that come from a
country that has an open door.
MORE
(OVER)
Page 2
In one way or another, all of us are immigrants,
and the strength of America over the years has been our
diversity; diversity of all kinds of variations --
religion, ethnic and otherwise.
I recall very vividly a statement that seems
apropos at this time, that the beauty of Joseph's coat
is its many colors. The strength of America is its
diversity.
The people that we are welcoming today, the
individuals who are on Guam or in Camp Pendleton or
Eglin Air Force Base, are individuals who can contribute
significantly to our society in the future. They are
people of talent, they are industrious, they are
individuals who want freedom, and I believe they will
make a contribution now and in the future to a better
America.
We do have some difficulties in trying to
assimilate as quickly as possible some 100,000 plus, but
the Congress has responded, organizations are partici-
pating, administrative people are working literally night
and day, and the net result is we are making headway and
progress.
I don't mean to discount the problems, but all
of you, and those that you represent, can help tremendously
in the days ahead.
I can assure you that we will give maximum
attention, we will make every conceivable effort, to see
to it that your job is made easier so that our new friends
can start a new life in this great country. We are a
big country.
Some 35,000 heads of family are joining us.
Sixty-five percent of those who are coming are children.
They deserve a better chance. They deserve the warmth and
the friendship which is typical of America.
I just thank all of you for what you have done
and what you will do in making this job easier and better
for people that we want as good Americans.
Thank you very, very much.
END
(AT 12:13 P.M. EDT)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 19, 1975
Office of the White House Press Secretary
lettl edT ,dsjU CITY, 925J 11s8 to ,effict stoboshi A
to adT vineve8 odt to Common
FORD LIBRARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
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The President today announced the appointment of seventeen persons do
as members of the President's Advisory Committee on Refugees.
They are;
to absed srit bas and eatvbs Hiw settimmo edT
has auoitibeqxe edt asioness Israbel
Joseph L. Alioto, of San Francisco, California, Mayor, City to
of San Francisco.
Archbishop Joseph Bernardin, of the District of Columbia,
President, United States Catholic Conference.
Ashby Boyle, of Salt Lake City, Utah, Student, University of Utah;
National Youth Chairman, March of Dimes.
Dr. W. Sterling Cary, of Hinsdale, Illinois, President, National
Council of Churches.
John Denver, of Aspen, Colorado, Professional Singer,
Ambassador John Eisenhower, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania,
former Ambassador to Belgium.
Mrs. Gaetana Enders, of the District of Columbia, wife of
Assistant Secretary of State Thomas O. Enders.
Governor Daniel Evans, of Olympia, Washington, Governor
of the State of Washington.
1 aurice Ferre,
of Miami, Florida, Mayor of the city
of Miami.
Minor George, of Parma, Ohio, businessman.
Edgar F. Kaiser, of Oakland, California, corporation executive
of Kaiser Industries.
Philip M. Klutznick, of Chicago, Illinois, former member of
United States delegation to the United Nations.
William J. Kuhfuss, of Mackinaw, Illinois, President, American
Farm Bureau.
George Meany, of Bethesda, Maryland, President of American
Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations.
Clarke Reed, of Greenville, Mississippi, businessman and
Republican National Committeeman.
Dr. Malcolm Todd, of Long Beach, California, physician and
President of American Medical Association.
(MORE)
(OVER)
2501 ,el YAM
3TAIC3MMI LOB
- 2 -
visisted 88979 esucH ettdW edit 10 soillO
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle, of Salt Lake City, Utah, The First
Council of the Seventy, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints.
The President today also designated Ambassador Eisenhower 8919 edT
Chairman of the President's Advisory Committee on Refugee s. sumem as
,eseguteR no estimamed утовіvьА
1975 yedT
The Committee will advise the President and the heads of appropriate
federal agencies concerning the expeditious and coordinated resettlement
of refugees from Southeast Asia,
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(SEVO)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 19, 1975
Office of the White House Press Secretary
FORD i GERALD LIBRARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
The President today announced the appointment of seventeen persons
as members of the President's Advisory Committee on Refugees.
They are:
Joseph L. Alioto, of San Francisco, California, Mayor, City
of San Francisco.
Archbishop Joseph Bernardin, of the District of Columbia,
President, United States Catholic Conference.
Ashby Boyle, of Salt Lake City, Utah, Student, University of Utah;
National Youth Chairman, March of Dimes.
Dr. W. Sterling Cary, of Hinsdale, Illinois, President, National
Council of Churches.
John Denver, of Aspen, Colorado, Professional Singer.
Ambassador John Eisenhower, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania,
former Ambassador to Belgium.
Mrs. Gaetana Enders, of the District of Columbia, wife of
Assistant Secretary of State Thomas O. Enders.
Governor Daniel Evans, of Olympia, Washington, Governor
of the State of Washington.
Maurice Ferre,
of Miami, Florida, Mayor of the city
of Miami.
Minor George, of Parma, Ohio, businessman.
Edgar F. Kaiser, of Oakland, California, corporation executive
of Kaiser Industries.
Philip M. Klutznick, of Chicago, Illinois, former member of
United States delegation to the United Nations.
William J. Kuhfuss, of Mackinaw, Illinois, President, American
Farm Bureau.
George Meany, of Bethesda, Maryland, President of American
Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations.
Clarke Reed, of Greenville, Mississippi, businessman and
Republican National Committeeman.
Dr. Malcolm Todd, of Long Beach, California, physician and
President of American Medical Association.
(MORE)
- 2 -
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle, of Salt Lake City, Utah, The First
Council of the Seventy, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints.
The President today also designated Ambassador Eisenhower as
Chairman of the President's Advisory Committee on Refugee 8.
The Committee will advise the President and the heads of appropriate
federal agencies concerning the expeditious and coordinated resettlement
of refugees from Southeast Asia,
###