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Remarks of the President Upon Introduction of Governor Nelson Rockefeller as Vice President-Designate and Press Conference of Governor Nelson Rockefeller Vice President-Designate, The Briefing Room [Ford Speech or Statement]
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7335760
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Remarks of the President Upon Introduction of Governor Nelson Rockefeller as Vice President-Designate and Press Conference of Governor Nelson Rockefeller Vice President-Designate, The Briefing Room [Ford Speech or Statement]
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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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 20, 1974
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
UPON INTRODUCTION OF
GOVERNOR NELSON ROCKEFELLER
AS VICE PRESIDENT-DESIGNATE
AND
PRESS CONFERENCE
OF
GOVERNOR NELSON ROCKEFELLER
VICE PRESIDENT-DESIGNATE
THE BRIEFING ROOM
10:20 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.
I think all of you have probably heard by now
that my nominee for Vice President is Governor
Rockefeller. I told him I was going to bring him over
to all of my friends to have some discussion and so if you
would like, I just want to reiterate the fact that I stated,
that after I looked at all of the choices, and they were
difficult; after I looked at all of the people, there
were many, but the one who in good judgment under all of
the circumstances was Nelson Rockefeller.
I think he will make a great teammate. I think
he will be good for the country, I think he will be good
for the world, and I am looking forward to working with him.
So, Nelson.
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: Thank you.
Needless to say, ladies and gentlemen, I am
deeply honored and should I be confirmed by the Congress, I
will look forward to the privilege and honor of serving
the President of the United States and, as I said in the
other room, through him all of the people of this great
country.
I am fully cognizant of the fact that the
responsibilities of the Vice President are to preside
over the Senate of the United States and to otherwise
simply carry out any assignment that he or she may receive
from the President.
MORE
Page 2
I will look forward to that opportunity of
serving him in any way that can be useful to him, and I
think and feel very strongly that already his own dedication
and openness has reawakened hope and faith and that under
his leadership we, as a people, and we, as a Nation, have
the capacity, the will and the ability to face the tough
realities and overcome them that exist in our country and
in the world today. I am optimistic about the long-term
future.
Q
Governor, do you have any understanding at
all with President Ford on what specifically you will do
as Vice President?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: Nothing in detail. There
has been a discussion on that subject, but he said nothing
today about it.
Q
Governor, you have turned down this job so many
times since 1960, why did you accept it now?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: Well, let's not exaggerate
the number of times -- twice (Laughter). But two different
factors: One, the situation that exists in our country and
the world, a situation resulting from an accelerated change,
tremendously difficult and serious problems, as the
President pointed out in his address to the Congress, very
difficult problems that have to be faced and faced realistically.
And so the solution of them is going to involve and require
all the people of this country, their dedication to the
common interests, so that this situation puts an entirely
different light on the problem.
I just would say also I have been privileged to
serve my country and State of New York, so that I am in a
position of relaxed desire to be helpful to this Nation
in any way I can.
Q
Governor, have you discussed with the
President the possibility of campaigning for the Republicans
this fall?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: Yes, sir.
Q
Will you?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: I am delighted.
Q
Governor, if you are confirmed, do you
believe that your role as Vice President will be different
than other Vice Presidents had in the past?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: I have known all the Vice
Presidents since Henry Wallace, who was a very good friend
of mine, and the role of a Vice President totally depends
on the President. If the President wants to use him,
wonderful. If he doesn't, fine.
MORE
Page 3
Q
Governor, what will you do about your financial
assets to meet the requirements of the Vice Presidency?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: I will just conform to the
law.
Q
Well, specifically?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: I assume that it is putting
them into trust.
Q
Is that what you plan to do?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: To tell you the honest
truth, this thing has moved rather rapidly, so I haven't
really studied the details, but I will now talk to the
lawyers and see what is appropriate.
Q
Would you tell us when you were first contacted
by President Ford about the nomination?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: He first talked to me on
Saturday afternoon and then made a final decision which
I got word about last night.
Q
Governor, are you prepared to detail your
personal finances for Congress, including your tax returns,
make those public?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: I am glad to do whatever
the Congress asks me and to conform to the law in every
respect.
Q
What is your net worth now?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: You are not a Member of the
Congress.
Q
Governor, did you talk to the President
about his plans for 1976?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: No, sir.
Q
What is your hope and expectation?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: That he would run for
re-election.
Q
You want him to run for that job, do you?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: I think he has already --
as I said before -- I think he has already, by his dedication
and his openness, that he has recreated, reawakened a sense
of faith and hope, not only in this country but in the
world, and I think it is tremendously important for us.
MORE
Page 4
Q
Governor, do you plan to be his running
mate in 1976.
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: Well, to tell you the
honest truth, I just got through this, got nominated, I
haven't even been confirmed, and you are way down the
road ahead of me.
Q
What about running for President again?
Let's go further down the road.
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: That is too far. All of
that stuff is too far.
Q
You are not ruling that out?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: I am just going to wait
and see if I get confirmed.
Q
Governor, will you wait on confirmation
before you campaign for any Republican candidates?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: Well, I have to say that
I was asked to fulfill an engagement tomorrow night
that was an invitation to meet the President of the
United States, a fund-raising meeting -- no, it was to
meet Vice President Ford.
That is the way the invitation reads, in Providence,
Rhode Island, and I was a substitute. Unless I get any
comment to the contrary, I guess I will go.
Q
Governor, why is your wife not present for
this historic day?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: Because until 9 o'clock
last night there was no suggestion that she be present.
This was billed as a Cabinet and leadership meeting. And
when I finally got her off the beach at a picnic in Seal
Harbor, the prospects of her getting here, and for those
ladies, the prospects of, you know, getting properly
presentable to this extremely impressive gathering, just
seemed impossible. (Laughter)
Q
Governor Rockefeller, could you give us an
estimate of about how much you are worth?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: Well, I would think that
if that subject is to be discussed, it would be before the
committee of the Congress.
MORE
Page 5
Q
It is a natural question.
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: That is right, and I have been
asked it by happenstance before. (Laughter.) But I will do
two things. I will conform totally to whatever the law requires,
and secondly, I will answer any questions that the Members
of Congress and the committees feel is important.
Q
Governor, do you think it is a good idea to
have full disclosure of finances by a candidate?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: Well, that is an interesting
question. I haven't really given it too much consideration, as I
really just got to be where I am now, which is here before you,
not even confirmed, see. So I will be prepared to do whatever
I am asked by the Congress.
Q
Governor, you just lauded the President's open-
ness.
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: Yes, sir.
Q
You seem to be a little less than open with us.
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: Well, you are not the committee
of Congress. I haven't been confirmed and I haven't gone before
the committee, and my understanding is that protocol says that
you don't discuss matters that are going to be taken up by a
committee before you get to the hearings.
Q
Do you doubt that you will be confirmed?
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: Well, I would never take any-
thing for granted in life, particularly action of this kind.
It has been a pleasure. I may see you again.
THE PRESS: Thank you, Governor.
END
(10:30 A.M. EDT)