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7335638
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President's Visit to Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill [Pool Report]
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7335638
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document
title
President's Visit to Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill [Pool Report]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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7335638
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11
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1974-08-11
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8
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1974
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Digitized from Box 1 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
AUGUST 11, 1974
POOL REPORT
Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill
The President and Mrs. Ford left their Alexandria residence shortly
before 10:00 A.M. for the short ride to Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill
on the grounds of the near-by Virginia Theological Seminary.
Mrs. Ford was wearing a mostly yellow dress with a matching jacket
and daughter Susan, the only one of the Ford children to attend, was
dressed in a polka dot print dress of black and yellow.
A few on-lookers were on hand when the Fords left and the President
waved and said, "Thank you very much. 11
As the First Family entered the church, a woman outside shouted,
"Mr. President. 11
The President responded, "Hi, how are you? "
The sermon was preached by the Rev. William L. Dols, Jr., Rector
of the church. He cut off a vacation to return to preach the sermon
to the new President and other members of the congregation. The
Rev. Patricia M. Park, a deacon, had been scheduled to preach. In
fact, her name appeared on the church program as the one to give the
sermon.
Ms. Park, 27, participated in the controversial ceremony that ordained
11 women priests but was not herself ordained.
Ms. Park assisted in the service, reading a prayer written by the
Washington area Bishop asking God's blessing on the new President
and his family. She also read a prayer asking for peace for the
Nixons.
(A full text of the prayers will be prepared.)
Rev. Dols chose two biblical texts, one from Ecclesiastes which begins,
"For everything there is a season
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance
a time to keep silent and a time
to speak.
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a
time for peace. 11 The New Testament text was from the Gospel according
(MORE)
- 2 -
to John the story of the raising of Lazarus.
The full text of the Dols sermon is being prepared. It emphasized the
theme "The Question is What do We do With the Pieces. 11
"We can relish the brokenness and feed upon the death that is all
around us, he said. Or, he said, the nation can "take the greatest
risk of all, the risk of climbing out of the grave."
The Fords sat in a last-row pew. The President occasionally put on
gold rimed glasses which he uses for far vision. When the collection
plate was passed, he put in the short of white envelope that is used
by members of the congregation.
President Ford, a long time parishioner of the church, said simply,
"Thank you very much" to Mr. Dols as he left the church.
A reporter asked what the President thought of ther sermon.
"I thought it was beautiful, 11 the President responded. "I thanked
the Reverend and I told him I thought it was wonderful. "
Asked if he agreed with the sentiments of the sermon, the President
said, "I just thought it was great."
A crowd of a hundred or so was on hand back in front of the Ford
residence when the First Family returned. The President was asked
if the sunny and warm day was "Ford weather."
"Absolutely, 11 the President said. "We even got rain in the mid-West."
Mr. Ford then said he and the family were, "Going to go in and have
some waffles and sour cream. 11
"Will you cook them, 11 he was asked.
"They wouldn't eat them if I did, 11 he replied before disappearing into
the house.
The President said he planned to reach the White House in time for
a 12:30 meeting with Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger and other
appointments.
In the auto on the way from the White House to the Ford residence,
- 3 -
Press Secretary J. F. terHorst spoke briefly to reporters.
He said the President completed the first draft of his speech to Congress
sometime yesterday but will spend much of the day today and also tomorrow
polishing the speech.
terHorst, specifying he should be identified only as an Administration
official in this passage, said, "The overriding angle (of the speech)
is going to be one of reiteration of the unity theme. It will be a pledge
to Congress of cooperation with the Congress and a request for
reciprocal cooperation with the Executive."
terHorst, on the record, said the Office of the White House Director of
Communications will now come directly under the Press Secretary's
office.
"I'm in charge of that shop now, terHorst said.
"All of the political activity over there has ceased from the moment I
came aboard, he said. Political chores once handled by the
Communications Director will be taken over by the Republican National
Committee, he said.
terHorst indicated that Communications Director Ken W. Clawson
probably will leave "in time."
terHorst reiterated as he said at yesterday's briefing that he has taken
only "a short leave of absence" from the Detroit News. But he did
not say how long he planned to remain.
"I agreed to come aboard to restructure the press operation, " he said.
Norman Kempster - Washington Star/News