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Remarks of the President and Question and Answer Session, the Rose Garden [Ford Speech or Statement]
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7344443
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Remarks of the President and Question and Answer Session, the Rose Garden [Ford Speech or Statement]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
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1976
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Digitized from Box 27 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 9, 1976
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
AND
QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION
THE ROSE GARDEN
4:05 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: This Wednesday is a little better
than a couple we have had. In fact, it is a very good day
because we had, I think, an excellent day yesterday in New
Jersey. We have a minimum of 65 out of 67 and a distinct
possibility that we will get the extra 2 in Ohio, and I just
finished talking to Governor Rhodes -- we have 91 out of 97,
and one of the districts is very, very close and there is a
distinct possibility that we could pick up that one.
So, the net result is we are getting very close
to the thousand delegate count. We are 150 or so shy of
the necessary 1,130. But, it is getting better and better and
we think as we go to the Convention that we will get the
necessary 1,130-plus in order to get the nomination on the
first ballot.
I will be glad to answer any questions.
QUESTION: Mr. President, what process will you
use to go about getting the uncommitted delegates?
THE PRESIDENT: We are going to maximize our effort,
but I don't think we are in a position to discuss the precise
procedures as to how we will work with the uncommitted
delegates. There are a number there that are honestly
making up their mind, and it is our view that we can convince
them by using the argument that we did in Ohio.
I am electable and I can help to elect more
Republican Members of the House and Senate. Delegates
understand that. They want to vote for a winner in November
at the Kansas City Convention and they want to pick a nominee
that will help elect more Republicans to the House and Senate,
and more State legislators.
QUESTION: Mr. President, will that argument hold
as well against Jimmy Carter as it would, say, against
Hubert Humphrey since Mr. Carter is not from Washington?
THE PRESIDENT: Frankly, I have not thought about
just what arguments we will use because, although it looks
like Jimmy Carter is going to be the nominee, we take first
things first.
MORE
Page 2
QUESTION: Mr. President, Jimmy Carter has said
he would pardon all Vietnam draft dodgers and draft evaders.
Are you planning to review your stand on that or take any
new position?
THE PRESIDENT: I answered that in Bowling Green
State University the other night when I indicated that in
September of 1974 I put forward a program whereby those who
had been draft dodgers or draft evaders could come in voluntarily
and earn their way back and clear their records. About 20,000
of them, as I recall, did. We extended the time about 90
days beyond the original date, and all of those who wanted to
are in the process or have completed it, and I regret that
more didn't but I have no plans to go beyond that.
QUESTION: Mr. President, do you anticipate a
series of platform fights leading up to the Convention?
THE PRESIDENT: It is possible, but it is premature
to know exactly how that might develop.
QUESTION: Mr. President, assuming you get the
nomination, are you willing to engage in televised debates?
THE PRESIDENT: We haven't discussed that at the
present time. I would not rule it out or commit myself to it.
QUESTION: Mr. President, our polls, New York
Times-CBS poll, in Ohio, indicated many Republicans felt
that this battle between you and Mr. Reagan had become
divisive and was hurting the party. How do you look at it
now? How much damage has been done to the Republican Party
as a result of this?
THE PRESIDENT: I don't think much damage has
been done to the Republican Party. I was very pleased to see
on the news last night that Mr. Reagan had indicated that if
I won the nomination he would support me, and I have indicated
that I have traditionally supported the Republican nominee,
and I would again, so at least the two contenders are in
agreement, and I think that is healthy. I think it would
be reflected in the delegates to the Convention and to the
Republicans in all 50 States.
QUESTION: Mr. President, now that the primaries
are over, I wonder if you and your people will continue to harp
on this thing about Rhodesia, what Mr. Reagan said about it.
At this point, aren't you going to be talking practical
politics, as you indicated earlier, in talking about the
fact that you believe you are electable, instead of going
back to Reagan and his remarks on Rhodesia?
MORE
Page 3
THE PRESIDENT: I think we will use the theme
that I used in the State of Ohio. It was very effective.
I am electable. I can bring in more Republican Members of
the Congress and State legislators. I have a good record.
We have done a great deal to make this country a good bit
more prosperous today than it was a year ago. We got peace
and we have got the trust in the White House that is needed
and necessary. We will be talking about affirmative things
that I think will help us convince delegates in the Convention
and I think it will help us win the election in November.
QUESTION: Mr. President, the count is still very
close. Hasn't Governor Reagan given you a tougher run in
the primaries than you first expected?
THE PRESIDENT: I would say that it has been a tough
contest. Competition has been rough. We expected to win,
when we started out, in Kansas City, and we think we will win
in Kansas City. We have had some disappointments but, on
the other hand, we have done very, very well, such as in Ohio
and New Jersey, and I think we will do well in some of the
convention States.
QUESTION: But hasn't the Reagan challenge been
stronger than you expected when the primaries started in
February?
THE PRESIDENT: I think that is probably true, but
I don't think that is significant as long as we win.
QUESTION: Mr. President, what does California do
to this electability argument? The former California Governor
won almost 2 to 1 there. Doesn't that indicate where he is
well-known he is also electable?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think you could make the
same argument in my behalf in the State of Michigan, and the
same as far as the State of Ohio. So, it is an argument
that we look at from the broadest possible perspective and,
when you look at the recent poll that came out Monday -- I
think it was the Roper Poll -- it indicated that I was almost
2 to 1 a better candidate from the point of view of the
Republicans who were surveyed in that poll.
So, as you look at it from a 50-State point of
view, there is no question that many, many more Republicans
believe that I am electable and should be the choice of the
Convention in Kansas City.
QUESTION: Mr. President, in view of the fact that
Governor Carter now appears to be the sure Democratic nominee,
have you begun your process of selecting a Vice President?
THE PRESIDENT: We have not proceeded any further
today than we have for the last two or three weeks. We think
we have a lot of excellent material. And, as we move further
ahead, we will start discussing that in detail, but we have
not changed our position today from a week ago in that regard.
MORE
Page 4
QUESTION: Mr. President, do you contemplate that
some smaller States, or the obscure States, will make the
decision in the selection of a nominee for the party, for
States that have not yet picked their delegation?
THE PRESIDENT: No State is obscure in my mind.
Every one of them is very, very vitally important, and we
will consider them as such. So, we want all of the delegates
from all of the States that we can possibly get, and each one
is equally important with the other.
QUESTION: Mr. President, as you have been campaigning
you have been expressing your record and your electability.
At some point, could we expect you to tell the American
people specifically what you would do in your second term
as President in terms of programs, goals?
THE PRESIDENT: The goals would be primarily the
achievements that we have accomplished in the first 22 months --
maintenance of peace, the need to increase our prosperity and
make it more permanent, and the restoration of confidence
and trust in the White House which we also have made possible
because of the attitude of this Administration. We will
get into some of the details of legislative programs, but
that is premature at the present time.
QUESTION: Mr. President, you say you are electable
but recent polls show you running behind Carter. Now, are
you concerned about this?
THE PRESIDENT: I think the polls as a whole indicate
that I am electable. We have an occasional poll that shows
that dip here or a dip there, but if you take the consensus
of the polls, I think it proves beyond any doubt that I am
electable.
QUESTION: How do you see your chances of running
against Carter?
THE PRESIDENT: I think they are good.
QUESTION: Mr. President, Melvin Laird said today
that he thinks you have got the nomination in the bag. Do you
think it is going to be that easy, and what do your advisers
tell you about that?
THE PRESIDENT: I will just say we are going to win
on the first ballot. I am delighted that my good friend, Mel,
is that optimistic, but I always prepare for the worst and
the best will take care of itself, and winning by 1,131 is
good but I would like to win by more than that on the first
ballot.
MORE
Page 5
QUESTION: How closely will you monitor the
activities of trying to firm up delegates between now and
the Convention?
THE PRESIDENT: I think I will be kept up to date
on just what the progress is. That is important and I am
very interested in it, obviously.
QUESTION: Any personal contact between you and
the uncommitted delegates?
THE PRESIDENT: We have not decided yet, Ann.
THE PRESS: Thank you, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Nice to see you all.
END (AT 4:16 P.M. EDT)