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7343461
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Press Pool Report No. 13, Meeting with PFC Volunteers (El Paso)
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7343461
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document
title
Press Pool Report No. 13, Meeting with PFC Volunteers (El Paso)
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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Presidential campaign, 1976
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7343461
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10
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1976-04-10
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4
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1976
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Digitized from Box 24 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
April 10, 1976
Press Pool Report No. 3--Meeting with PFC Volunteers (El Paso)
President entered to the applause of some 400 people and the music of
a mariachi band. He was introduced by John Tower who called for a
"genuine El Paso welcome, "consisting of shouts of "Viva" and responses
of "ole".
Tower told Ford this group of volunteers was "the most spirited he has
in the United States" and he promised the President that "these folks
are going to deliver this congressional district--four Ford delegates to
the national convention. "
Ford responded by calling the volunteers tops in quality, quantity and
energy. Then he said: "We start out, I think, in Texas as an underdog. 11
But he said that with a combination of his policies, 'Tower's leadership
and the local organization, "We're going to win. 11 The assumption is
that he was talking about the entire Texas primary.
In reviewing the accomplishments of his administration, Mr. Ford said:
"We were capitulated (sic) into the worst economic recession this country
has had in 40 years" but have come out of the recession and "regained
375, 000 new jobs in America. " This is a reference to jobs gained in March.
He said he had vetoed 47 bills, "an all time record, " and would veto any
more of "those bloated appropriation bills" that Congress sends to him
"again and again and again".
Then he launched into the stardard explanation of his defense policies.
He called upon the volunteers to use administration policies as "talking
points" and said: "I hope you go out and get better than 51 percent. I'm
going to be watching you. I'm going to count on you. We won't let you
down. " This was greeted by a chorus of "vivas. "
El Paso Mayor Don Henderson, after first explaining that it was "exciting"
to rub shoulders with the President and ride in a presidential limousine,
then presented Ford with a cream-colored 10-gallonhat. Ford tried it on
to cheers, took it off and said, "There's a little notein here. It says, 'Like
hell it's yours, put it back. 111 Then he turned to the crowd and said, "I
don't think you're Indian givers".
Henderson then gave Ford a pair of black leather cowboy boots with brown
trim which he said cost $500.
Ford said, "My big problem is I have a son. He's really a bronco-bustin'
horse-lovin'
person. 11 Ford said he frequently borrows items from his
closet and doesn't return those he likes, but he won't have a chance to do
it with the boots. "I'm going to lock these up, 11 the President explained.
He then waded into the audience, tried on a hat worn by one of the mariachi
band players that was identified to your poolers as a sombrero charro and
left for his suite to music and cheers.
Dean Fischer--Time
Lou Cannon Washington Post