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6/2/75 - New York Women's Bar Association
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1133417
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6/2/75 - New York Women's Bar Association
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This file contains material relating to Suburban Sprawl, Waste.
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Carla A. Hills Speeches
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Equal Rights Amendment Project
Sex discrimination
Environmental protection
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1975-06-02
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1975
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2
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1975-06-02
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6
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1975
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The original documents are located in Box 1, folder "6/2/75 - New York Women's Bar
Association" of the Carla A. Hills Speeches at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 1 of the Carla A. Hills Speeches at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FINAL
NEW YORK WOMEN'S BAR ASSOCIATION
JUNE 2, 1975
I'M so VERY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD,
BUT IN HONESTY MY CONSCIENCE IS BOTHERED, MR. JUSTICE
CLARK HAS BEEN THIS NATION'S LAWYER OF THE YEAR IN so MANY
WAYS, FOR so MANY YEARS, THAT IT IS SOMEWHAT UNFAIR THAT HE
SHOULD BE DISQUALIFIED FROM RECEIVING THE OUTSTANDING WOMEN
LAWYERS AWARD SIMPLY BECAUSE HE CANNOT SATISFY ONE OF THE
LESS SIGNIFICANT PRE-REQUISITES.
I DO THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT HONOR THAT YOU PAY ME,
AND I PARTICULARLY THANK YOU, MR. JUSTICE, FOR YOUR
UNCHARACTERISTIC AND UNLAWYER-LIKE WILLINGNESS TO so GREATLY
OVERSTATE YOUR CASE IN YOUR WARM WORDS OF INTRODUCTION,
TONIGHT, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS
ON MY DUAL ROLE AS A HUD OFFICIAL AND AS A WOMAN LAWYER TO
DISCUSS WITH YOU THE FACT THAT AS A NATION WE HAVE BEEN
FORCED TO THE REALIZATION THAT WE ARE A WASTEFUL PEOPLE,
FORD a LIBRARY
-2-
IT TOOK THE MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES AND THEIR OIL
BOYCOTT TO CONVINCE US THAT WE HAVE SHAMEFULLY WASTED
ENERGY.
IT TOOK THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO TEACH US THAT WE
ARE WASTING THE AIR AND WATER RESOURCES UPON WHICH WE
DEPEND FOR SURVIVAL.
IT TOOK THE URBAN RIOTS OF 1968 TO TEACH US THAT WE
WASTE HUMAN BEINGS BY CONSIGNING TOO MANY OF THEM TO A
CYCLE OF POVERTY FROM WHICH TOO FEW BREAK FREE.
AND, IT HAS TAKEN THE GREAT EFFORTS OF ORGANIZATIONS
SUCH AS YOUR OWN TO CONVINCE LEADERS IN BOTH THE PUBLIC
AND THE PRIVATE SECTORS THAT WOMEN CAN AND SHOULD BE
PERMITTED TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SOCIETY, JUST AS MEN.
BUT OUR COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE REMAINS ONE OF INORDINATE
WASTE. As A COUNTRY WE HAVE BEEN LIKE A SPOILED CHILD USED
TO UNENDING ABUNDANCE,
of
3
-3-
WE CAN BE PLEASED THAT TODAY'S WOMEN SERVE AS BANK
PRESIDENTS, NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS, ADMIRALS, GENERALS,
FBI AGENTS, CORPORATE EXECUTIVES, AGENCY HEADS, UNITED
STATES MARSHALS, AND WE COULD GO ON.
AND, IT IS TRUE THAT WOMEN IN GENERAL ARE ACCEPTED
AT HIGHER LEVELS OF RESPONSIBILITIES, AND WOMEN LAWYERS
IN PARTICULAR HAVE FAR GREATER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
TODAY THAN A SHORT DECADE AGO,
BUT, WHO AMONG US DOES NOT ALSO KNOW THAT IN SOME
AREAS WOMEN STILL ARE NOT PAID AS MUCH AS MEN FOR THE SAME
WORK; THAT WOMEN WITH 4 YEARS OF COLLEGE EDUCATION STILL
ON THE AVERAGE EARN LESS THAN MEN WITH NO COLLEGE TRAINING
AT ALL?
AND, WHO AMONG US IS NOT CONCERNED THAT OF THE 435
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONLY 19 ARE WOMEN
AND THAT THERE IS NOT ONE WOMAN IN OUR 100 MEMBER SENATE?
Fl.
FORD
-4-
WOMEN DO ENJOY THE PROTECTION OF NEW LEGISLATION,
THE 1974 HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACT, SIGNED
BY PRESIDENT FORD, PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS
OF SEX IN THE GRANTING OF FEDERALLY-RELATED MORTGAGE
LOANS, OR IN THE SALE, RENTAL OR FINANCING OF HOUSING,
AND, THE EQUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITY Act WHICH BECOMES
EFFECTIVE IN OCTOBER, 1975 WILL DIRECTLY AND PROFOUNDLY
AFFECT WOMEN. THAT Act OUTLAWS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON
SEX OR MARITAL STATUS IN CREDIT LENDING.
BUT, SUCH LEGISLATION EMPHASIZES THE FACT THAT EVEN
TODAY IN 1975, SINGLE, WIDOWED OR DIVORCED WOMEN HAVE FAR
MORE TROUBLE SECURING CREDIT THAN DO MEN WITH THE SAME
MARITAL AND ECONOMIC STATUS,
WE HAVE PROVED THAT DECADES OF STRENUOUS EFFORT WILL
WEAR AWAY RESISTENCE TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN, BUT,
CAN WE AS A NATION AFFORD ANY LONGER TO FIGHT ALL OF THESE
BATTLES ONE BY ONE?
of
FORD
GERALD
-5-
HAS NOT THE TIME ARRIVED WHEN THIS COUNTRY MUST SAY
WITH ALL OF THE MAJESTY OF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT
WOMEN WANT THE SAME RIGHTS AND WILL ACCEPT THE SAME
RESPONSIBILITIES AS MEN?
CAN WE BE CERTAIN THAT WOMEN IN INCREASING NUMBERS
WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK HIGHER EDUCATION FOR THE GREATER
OPPORTUNITY IT AFFORDS UNLESS THAT CONSTITUTIONAL ASSURANCE
IS PROVIDED?
I BELIEVE WITH YOU, AND WITH PRESIDENT AND MRS. FORD,
THAT RATIFICATION OF THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT IS AN
ABSOLUTE NECESSITY ------ NOT TO FORCE UNWILLING WOMEN INTO
CAREERS BUT TO ASSURE THE NATION THAT ALL WOMEN so INCLINED
MAY COMPETE ON AN EQUAL FOOTING,
WE CANNOT AFFORD ANY LONGER TO WASTE THE AVAILABLE
RESOURCE OF THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO DO MORE.
FORDO IS LICA
-6-
THE WASTE OF OUR CITIES IS NO LESS TRAGIC, BLOCK
AFTER BLOCK OF ABANDONED BUILDINGS STAND AS MONUMENTS TO
UNWISE PLANNING IN MOST OF OUR GREAT CITIES, THEY NEIGHBOR
DECLINING AREAS THAT CRY OUT FOR HELP.
OUR INATTENTION, OR OFTEN OUR MISGUIDED EFFORTS, HAVE
TRAPPED LEGIONS OF AN IMPOVERISHED "UNDER CLASS" IN AN
ENVIRONMENT THAT OFFERS LITTLE INCENTIVE OR OPPORTUNITY
FOR A BETTER LIFE,
LIKE A SPREADING INFECTION, A MARGINAL NEIGHBORHOOD
FINDS LENDING POLICIES MORE STRINGENT AS LENDING INSTITUTIONS
BECOME MORE NERVOUS AS THE COMPOSITION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
BECOMES LESS STABLE, AND THE CIRCLE WIDENS.
OFTEN SUCH PROPERTIES BECOME VIABLE ONLY AS RENTAL
UNITS, MAINTENANCE DECLINES FURTHER, CRIME INCREASES, AND
FURTHER DETERIORATION AND ABANDONMENT BECOME INEVITABLE,
IN NEW YORK CITY ALONE 25,000 UNITS ARE ABANDONED
EACH YEAR,
Fi.
FORD
-7-
FOR TOO MANY YEARS GOVERNMENT POLICY HAS BEEN COUNTER-
PRODUCTIVE. WE HAVE ENCOURAGED SUBURBAN SPRAWL AND
CONCENTRATED OUR LOWER-INCOME FAMILIES IN NEW PROJECTS,
WHICH TOO OFTEN BECAME TOMORROW'S SLUMS.
INSTEAD OF PRESERVING EXISTING HOUSING STOCK, WE
EMPHASIZED CLEARANCE AND NEW CONSTRUCTION. INSTEAD OF
INCREASING SHELTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MIDDLE-INCOME
FAMILIES IN THE CITY, WE LURED THEM TO THE SUBURBS,
INSTEAD OF TREATING CAUSES, WE TREATED SYMPTOMS.
THE 1974 HOUSING Act CONSTITUTES A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE
IN NATIONAL POLICY. FEDERAL FUNDS NOW SEEK TO HALT THE
DECLINE OF NEIGHBORHOODS RATHER THAN TO PAY FOR THEIR
CLEARANCE. By GIVING CONSIDERABLE DISCRETION TO LOCAL
PLANNING, MORE THAN TWICE AS MUCH IS NOW BEING SPENT FOR
REHABILITATION LOANS THAN IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO THE AcT.
GURALDO R. FORD LIBRANDA
-8-
By PERMITTING LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO USE EXISTING AND
REHABILITATED HOUSING STOCK AS WELL AS NEW CONSTRUCTION
IN CONNECTION WITH FEDERAL RENTAL SUBSIDY FUNDS FOR
LOWER-INCOME FAMILIES, NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION IS ENCOURAGED.
LAST WEEK HUD ANNOUNCED A NEW DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
FOR URBAN HOMESTEADING WHICH WILL MAKE FEDERALLY-OWNED
HOUSES AVAILABLE AT LITTLE OR NO COSTS TO CITIES, WHICH
WILL DESIGN AND ADMINISTER LOCAL URBAN HOMESTEADING
PROGRAMS, THESE HOUSES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO PERSONS
WHO HAVE THE DESIRE AND CAPACITY TO IMPROVE THEM, AND WITH
THEM, THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF SUCCESSFUL, THIS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM WILL MEET
THE OBJECTION RAISED LAST WEEK IN THE NEW YORK TIMES TO
OUR PREVIOUS EFFORTS AT HOMESTEADING.
FAIR-MINDED PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT THE AGONY OF OUR CITIES
OVER HOUSING, JOBS, SCHOOLS, AND BUSSING, AND AGREE THAT
THE BLAME DOES NOT TOTALLY LIE WITH RACISTS OR WITH
INEFFECTIVE OFFICIALS. RATHER, IT IS APPARENT THAT ECONOMIC
AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS HAVE GROWN FAR FASTER THAN OUR CAPACITY
TO FORGE NEW SOLUTIONS,
R.
FORD
on
-9-
WHETHER WE SPEAK OF WASTED OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN
OR FOR OUR CITIES, WE CAN SPEAK OF DESPERATE PROBLEMS OR
GREAT CHALLENGES,
As ONE WHO WAS INVITED TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT BY
ELLIOT RICHARDSON, WHO LEFT BEFORE I ARRIVED, AND AS ONE
WHO WAS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE NOMINATION OF ED LEVI, WHO
CAME AS I WAS LEAVING, I HAVE SOME SENSE OF THE FUTILITY
OF COUNTING TOO HEAVILY ON FUTURE EXPECTATIONS.
NONETHELESS, I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT OUR PROFESSION CAN
AND WILL LEAD IN EFFORTS TO FORGE SOLUTIONS FOR THE TOUGH
ISSUES THAT CONFRONT US, As A LAWYER, I WILLINGLY ACCEPT
CHIEF JUSTICE BURGER'S DEFINITION OF OUR PROFESSION AS:
"SOCIETY'S PEACEMAKERS, PROBLEM
SOLVERS, AND STABLIZERS."
OBVIOUSLY, CONFLICTS AMONG OUR PERCEPTIONS AS WELL
AS OUR OBJECTIVES REMAIN.
FORD
(
-10-
PRESERVATION OF OUR CITIES AND EQUAL RIGHTS FOR
WOMEN ARE ONLY TWO OF THE VAST NUMBER OF PROBLEMS THAT
CONFRONT US,
WE PROPERLY DEBATE AND SEARCH FOR THE PROPER BALANCE
BETWEEN:
THE PRESSING NEEDS FOR ENERGY GROWTH
AND
THE INSISTENT DEMAND FOR A BETTER
ENVIRONMENT,
THE PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT TO GUARANTY
NEW JOBS, HOMES AND SECURITY
AND
OUR FAITH IN THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM,
THE CRITICAL NEEDS FOR A MORE EFFECTIVE
SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
AND
OUR DEDICATION TO FAIR TRIALS AND OUR
COMPASSION FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED.
R.
FORD
GERALD
-11-
THE SHARP DEMAND OF CONSUMERS FOR FAIRER
TREATMENT
AND
THE EQUALLY SHARP CALL FOR LESS GOVERNMENT
REGULATION,
THE DESPERATE CRY OF THE UNEMPLOYED
AND
THE UNIVERSAL DESIRE TO AVOID ANOTHER
CRIPPLING INFLATIONARY SPIRAL.
WE ALSO FACE THE HANDICAP OF A BATTERED ECONOMY,
ONE MAY WELL ASK WHAT GOOD IS A NEW APPROACH TO COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO JOBS?
SIMILARLY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN IS A
HOLLOW VICTORY WHEN THERE ARE FEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR EITHER
MEN OR WOMEN.
BUT OURS IS STILL A CREATIVE SOCIETY, AND, WE RETAIN
MORE THAN ANY OTHER NATION THE CAPACITY FOR INNOVATIVE
THOUGHT THAT CAN LEAD THE WORLD OUT OF ITS ECONOMIC AND
MORAL RECESSION,
FORDO is LIBRARY
-12-
TODAY AS WE APPROACH THE CELEBRATION OF OUR 200TH
BIRTHDAY, OUR MOTHER COUNTRY ENGLAND IS CONTEMPLATING A
STUDY OF ITS LAWS FOR THE PURPOSE OF INSTALLING THOSE
BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL SAFEGUARDS OF OUR BILL OF RIGHTS
WHICH HAVE PROTECTED US SINCE OUR INFANCY FROM THE FOLLY
OF MEN.
WHEN WE SPEAK OF OUR LEGAL SYSTEM WHICH GIVES US THIS
STRENGTH, I THINK OF THE STATEMENT BY MR. JUSTICE HOLMES,
WHO SAID:
"THE LAW, WHEREIN, AS IN A MAGIC MIRROR,
WE SEE REFLECTED NOT ONLY OUR OWN LIVES,
BUT THE LIVES OF ALL MEN THAT HAVE BEEN,
WHEN I THINK OF THIS MAJESTIC THEME MY
EYES DAZZLE."
IT IS INDEED A DAZZLING THEME. AND, I AM BOTH
HONORED AND HUMBLED BY YOUR AWARD TO ME AS A LAWYER
THIS EVENING,
B. FORD
(
-13-
IT IS ALWAYS AN HONOR TO BE COMMENDED, AND MORE
PARTICULARLY so WHEN IT COMES FROM A GROUP THAT YOU
RESPECT AND ADMIRE AS I DO YOURS,
BUT, IT IS A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE TO BE COMMENDED
BY A GROUP OF YOUR PEERS, WHO HAVE LABORED so TO SPEAK
IN THE SAME VINEYARDS, AND WHO ARE EACH IN THEIR OWN
RIGHT OUTSTANDING WOMEN LAWYERS OF 1975.
THANK YOU.
? of or