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Remarks of the President and Question and Answer Session, Spanish River Park (Boca Raton, Florida) [Ford Speech or Statement]
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7342799
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Remarks of the President and Question and Answer Session, Spanish River Park (Boca Raton, Florida) [Ford Speech or Statement]
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Digitized from Box 22 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 28, 1976
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS "SECRETARY
(Boca Raton, Florida)
THE WHITE HOUSE
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
AND
QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION
SPANISH RIVER PARK
5:20 P.M.. EST
THE PRESIDENT: As I said, it is delightful to be herein
the Spanish Gardens at Boca Raton with my good friend Herb Burke.
I think we have had a very, very successful day. It exceeds
our expectations despite the slight inclement weather. The
crowds have been tremendous. The reception has been warm, and
I think we have momentum that is just going to move and move
and move and all to the good.
Now, I will be glad to answer any questions.
QUESTION: Mr. President, looking ahead to the
March 9 primary here in Florida, who do you see as the
Democratic to watch? Who do you feel is going to be the
one? Who is the most serious threat in the Democratic Party?
THE PRESIDENT: I really haven't paid much attention
to it. I have said repeatedly, and I see no reason to change, that
my good friend, Hubert Humphrey, will probably be the nominee.
Everybody else is in a horse race, and he will come from
behind and take over and they are just wasting a lot of
time.
QUESTION: To follow that up, sir, you said that
the other day as well and that seems to suggest, since he
wasn't in New Hampshire, and an unauthorized write-in campaign
for many sort fizzled up there, that the New Hampshire
Democratic primary didn't amount to much. Are you satisfied
with your victory in the Republican primary there?
THE PRESIDENT: As I recall, Hubert got 6 percent
of the vote, and I got 51 percent. There is quite a
difference.
QUESTION: Mr. President, do you have any reason to
believe that Castro is going to intervene anywhere as a result
of what you have said?
MORE
Page 2
THE PRESIDENT: No, but I think it is very
appropriate for me to have said what I said, and I meant
it very literally.
QUESTION: Mr. President, I am sorry, I didn't
hear Helen's question, but if it had to do with Cuba, I
wanted to ask you about Cuba also, and that is, down the road,
if Fidel Castro does pull his troups out of Africa, isn't
it going to be necessary for us to try to get along with
Cuba as we try to get along with China and the Soviet Union?
THE PRESIDENT: I don't think we ought to speculate.
Naturally, I think it would be very wise for them to withdraw
their troops from Angola, and any other parts of Africa, but
what happens after that, I won't speculate at this time.
QUESTION: Mr. President, what are the measures that
you said -- the appropriate measures that you viewed as
taking against Cuba? After all, measures didn't stop Cuba
in Angola.
THE PRESIDENT: It could have if the Congress
had been willing to appropriate the necessary money and give
us the necessary authority.
QUESTION: Do you think Congress is any more likely
to go along with any further measures you recommended?
THE PRESIDENT: I would .hope so because, you know,
once they make a mistake, they won't repeat it.
QUESTION: Mr. President, where did you get the
12 percentage margin that you had gained?
THE PRESIDENT: Helen asked me where this increase
in our percentage vote came to the extent of 12 percent.
As I understand my opponent's campaign manager a
few weeks ago was saying that they were going to win two to
one, which is 66 to 67 percent. I understand he has now
adjusted it downward to 55 percent, so if my mathematics are
good, old or new, I think it's 12 percent. (Laughter) So
we have picked up that many percentage points in a pretty
quick hurry.
QUESTION: Mr. President, the party for Reagan has
said that if it goes for Mr. Reagan here in Florida, it
might be the end of you. How do you feel about this?
THE PRESIDENT: That is a very ridiculous and
certainly not an accurate statement. I have said repeatedly I
am entering every one of the primaries. I regret that others
have. not done SO. They pick and choose the ones they want to
participate in.
MORE
Page 3
We are going to win, and I think we will not only
win with 31, we have a good start. I haven't lost an election
out of Michigan, and I have won some in Michigan, so I just
think we are going to keep the momentum going, and I see
nothing that would change under any circumstances the prospects
of our winning in Kansas City and being successful in
November.
QUESTION: Mr. President, if Govenor Wallace does
not get the Democratic nomination, do you expect him to run on
a third-party tickett against you?
THE PRESIDENT: I would have no way of knowing.
QUESTION: If he does, do you think that would
hurt you?
THE PRESIDENT: Since I don't think it is going
to happen, from what I read, not what I know, I don't think
it will have any impact whatsoever.
QUESTION: Mr. President, if Govenor Reagan is so
unqualified for the Presidency, why would you accept him as
a Vice President? Doesn't this kind of downgrade the
Vice Presidency? So many Vice Presidents have become
Presidents, as you know.
THE PRESIDENT: I haven't said anything other
than that it was conceivable that he might be on the ticket.
I haven't made that decision.
QUESTION: Mr. President, you talked a lot about
momentum. Can you tell us exactly what it is, where you
find the momentum, where you see it?
THE PRESIDENT: We got quite a bit of momentum, and,
up in New Hampshire, because they expected to win, I read
in some columns, and I read elsewhere a week or two before the
campaign in New Hampshire they expected to win by 8 percent
of the vote. They lost 10 percent almost overnight. I think
that is an indication of momentum, and anybody who was down
here on the trip in Florida two weeks ago and anybody who has
been here today, I can't believe doesn't see good crowds and
intense feelings, strong indications of support. And we get
the same result in polls that are taken elsewhere. We have
the momentum going by any standard that you use and when you
have it, the opposition just can't stop you.
MORE
Page 4
QUESTION: Mr. President, do you consider your-
self the underdog in the Florida primary right now?
THE PRESIDENT: I think we are going to win, so
I am not the underdog.
QUESTION: As of now you areahead?
THE PRESIDENT: In my opinion.
QUESTION: Mr. President, how crucial is Florida
for you?
THE PRESIDENT: Every State is important.
QUESTION: Have you considered the possibility
of Reagan meeting you in the Florida primary, and what
would you do?
THE PRESIDENT: Since I expect to win, we only
look for what we can do to make certain that that takes
place. I haven't considered any other option.
QUESTION: Mr. President, to go back to the
African situation for a minute, Secretary Kissinger says
we must take every necessary measure to prevent the same
kind of thing happening in Rhodesia -- civil war, guerilla
warfare, intervention -- that happened in Angola.
Will you ask Congress for money or any other
measures in Rhodesia?
THE PRESIDENT: I am not familiar with any state-
ment that Secretary Kissinger made as precise as you have
indicated, so since I don't know of such a statement being
made, I don't think I should comment on it.
QUESTION: Mr. President, there has been a lot
of the Presidential candidates, particularly in the Democratic
ranks, who showed up on lists as getting illegal contri-
butions from oil companies. I know your name showed up,
I think it was on the Ashland list, for $1,000 or more.
Could you tell us what you did with that money?
Did you know it was an illegal campaign contribution?
THE PRESIDENT: All of that was reported to the
Senate committee that investigated my qualifications for
the Vice Presidency. It was answered fully on the record.
I suggest you go back and look at the record.
MORE
Page 5
QUESTION: Mr. President, Govenor Reagan described
his showing in New Hampshire as a victory. What would your
definition for defeat be for you in Florida, less than
50 percent?
THE PRESIDENT: I don't think any particular race
where you finish second does much good for you. And since I
don't expect to finish second, I don't consider any other
options.
QUESTION: Mr. President, you have suggested that
Hubert Humphrey would probably be the nominee of the
Democratic Party. I am wondering -- two questions -- first, why
do you think he will be the nominee, and secondly, every time
you get a chance to mention that name, you seem to suggest
you would kind of like to run against Hubert. Do you think
he would be easy to beat?
THE PRESIDENT: I think we are going to win in
November, and it's just a matter of judgment on my part, Wally,
that I think when you look at the 11 Democratic candidates
and Hubert, who makes the 12th unannounced candidate, I just
think he is going to end up getting the nomination.
QUESTION: Why?
THE PRESIDENT: I will sit down and take a little
time with you some time, Wally.
QUESTION: Mr. President, for the last two weekends,
we have heard you attack Ronald Reagan and rather harshly,
today --
THE PRESIDENT: I have not attacked him today at all.
QUESTION: That is right. That's my question. Why
not this weekend, sir? Your pace seems to be a little
different.
MORE
Page 6
QUESTION: Question?
THE PRESIDENT: In he first place, I think your
basic premise is not entirely correct. As I recall last
weekend, the last time I was campaigning, I didn't mention
my individual's name, but if you wanted to construe that
without the name being mentioned, of course that is
literary sense. (Laughter)
Now, what we are trying to do is to point out to
all these fine people in Florida that we have a good
program both at home and abroad, We have the momentum
going. It is the kind of a program that we think is good
for America in the next term, and we aren't really concerned
about what other candidates are doing or saying at the
present time. We will sell our program affirmatively,
and I think we have done quite well.
QUESTION: Mr. President, if you win here and
you win in Illinois, do you think Governor Reagan should
withdraw rather than carrying it on because he can't stay
in contention, seeing it is three in a row?
THE PRESIDENT: I really don't think I should
give any advice. That is a matter of judgment for himself,
and I think it would be presumptious for me to involve
myself.
QUESTION: Would you consider him less of a
threat if that were to happen?
THE PRESIDENT: It would mean we would have, what,
three more States, and those delicate numbers add up pretty
fast, Ann.
QUESTION: Mr. President, could you announce the
qualities that you would like to see in the man you choose
as Vice President?
THE PRESIDENT: I don't think at this point I am
ready to sit down and define with definiteness the quali-
fications. I made one selection. I think he has been a
first-class Vice President, and he has been a loyal and
dedicated partner as far as I am concerned.
But, I think we have to analyze the situation as
we get closer to the convention in Kansas City and, at that
time, we will be prepared to make a specific recommendation.
Thank you all very much, and have a good day and
a good night.
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END
(AT 5:35 P.M. EST)