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7335784
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Women's Equality Day, by the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation [Ford Speech or Statement]
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7335784
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document
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Women's Equality Day, by the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation [Ford Speech or Statement]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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7335784
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22
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1974-08-22
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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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 22, 1974
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY, 1974
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
On August 26th, 1920, American women finally gained
the right to vote when the Nineteenth Amendment was
certified as part of our Constitution.
Today, fifty-four years later, the women of America
are actively participating in and contributing to all aspects
of our economic, social and political life. Many obstacles
on the road to equal opportunity have been removed as
legislative and executive actions have helped to reduce
sex discrimination in education, training and employment.
Special efforts have been made in the Federal Government, so
that women now contribute more fully than ever before to the
formulation and execution of public policy.
But although we as a Nation have come a great distance
since 1920, we still have a great distance to go. In 1970,
on the floor of the House, I said that the Equal Rights
Amendment to the Constitution was an idea whose time had
come. Today I want to reaffirm my personal commitment to
that amendment. The time for ratification of the Equal
Rights Amendment has come just as surely as did the time for
the 19th Amendment.
As 1975 approaches, widely proclaimed as International
Women's Year, Americans must deal with those inequities that
still linger as barriers to the full participation of women
in our Nation's life. We must also strengthen and support
laws that prohibit discrimination based on sex.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GERALD R. FORD, President of the
United States of America, do hereby call upon all Americans
to observe August 26, 1974, as Women's Equality Day, with
appropriate ceremonies and activities. I further urge
Americans to consider the essential role of women in our
society and their contribution to our economic, social and
political well-being. As a Republic dedicated to liberty
and justice for all, this Nation cannot deny equal status
to women.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-second day of August, in the year of our Lord
nineteen hundred seventy-four, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the one hundred ninety-ninth.
GERALD R. FORD
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