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1069175
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1975/05/20 - Speech to Indochinese Refugees, San Diego, California
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1069175
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document
title
1975/05/20 - Speech to Indochinese Refugees, San Diego, California
citationUrl
collections
Frances K. Pullen Files
Frances Pullen's Speech Reading Copies
subjects
Vietnam (Republic)
President (1974-1977 : Ford). Office of the First Lady. 1974-1977
Refugees
Vietnamese Americans
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
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1069175
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20
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1975-05-20
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5
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1975
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20
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1975-05-20
month
5
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1975
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The original documents are located in Box 3, folder "Speech to Indochinese Refugees, San
Diego, California, May 20, 1975" of the Frances K. Pullen Papers 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 3 of the Frances K. Pullen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
REMARKS
My HUSBAND, OUR CHILDREN AND I HAVE FOLLOWED WITH
GREAT SADNESS THE TRAGIC EVENTS IN INDOCHINA. WE SHARE
YOUR GRIEF, AND HAVE PRAYED FOR YOUR SAFE ARRIVAL,
I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE TROUBLED, AND THAT YOU WONDER
WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR YOU, I AM HERE TODAY TO ASSURE YOU
THAT AMERICA OFFERS YOU THE SAME OPPORTUNITY THAT IT HAS
OFFERED COUNTLESS GENERATIONS OF IMMIGRANTS -- OUR WELCOME
IS GENUINE, AND OUR INTENTIONS ARE SINCERE,
I KNOW YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED GREAT HARDSHIP, AND THAT
YOUR SITUATION HERE IS NOT IDEAL. BUT THIS IS ONLY A
TEMPORARY SITUATION WHICH, WHEN RESOLVED, WILL ALLOW
YOU TO REALIZE A NEW LIFE FOR YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILIES, AND
A PROMISING FUTURE FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR CHILDRENS'
CHILDREN.
-2-
THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE -- PEOPLES FROM ALL OVER
THE WORLD, OF ALL RELIGIOUS FAITHS AND POLITICAL
CONVICTIONS -- HAVE IN AMERICA FOUND A NEW HOME.
EVEN AS THEY PRESERVED THEIR MEMORIES AND MANY
CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF THEIR FORMER HOMES, THEY
JOINED WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN THE EXPERIENCE OF
AMERICAN LIFE,
THERE IS A LOVELY VIETNAMESE PROVERB FROM WHICH WE
CAN ALL DRAW INSPIRATION:
"THE ROAD IS HARD BUT IT IS NOT HARD
BECAUSE OF THE WIDTH OF THE RIVERS
OR HEIGHT OF THE MOUNTAINS.
IT IS HARD ONLY BECAUSE OF THE FEAR WE
HAVE OF THE MOUNTAINS AND THE RIVERS,
"
AMERICA OFFERS OPPORTUNITY IN FEAR. IT COMES
TO THOSE WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. I KNOW YOU HAVE
THE INDUSTRY, THE STRENGTH AND THE COURAGE TO SEIZE
THAT OPPORTUNITY.
-3-
I WANT TO EXTEND TO YOU, ON BEHALF OF ALL
AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS, AS WE ARE ALL IMMIGRANTS,
A WARM HEARTFELT WELCOME,
Status of Refugee Resettlement Program as of May 16
To date a total of 126, 989 refugees from Indochina have entered U.S.
control.
Of this total, 65, 553 are at Pacific safehavens and restaging areas or on
vessels.
Approximately 61, 436 have arrived in the United States. Of those,
44, 635 are at reception centers and 16,801 have been processed and
have left government control.
REMARKS
My husband, our children and I have followed with great sadness
the tragic recent events in Indochina, We share your grief.
a have prayed for your safe arrival
7
I know many of you are troubled, and that you wonder what will
lies ahead for you
happen to you here in the United States.
am here today to
I/want to assure you that America offers you the same promise
opportunity
that it has offered countless generations of immigrants. America
/
our
welcome is genuine, came -- peoples over
and Those our who intentions before are sincerelt from all
in amen
the world, of all religious faiths and political convictions have found
found a new a
home. Even as they preserved their memories and many cultural
traditions of their former homes, they joined wholeheartedly in the
experience of American life.
America offers opportunity; it comes to those who take advantage
of it. I know you have the industry and strength to seize that opportunity.
You bring to our nation a rich cultural heritage that, added to the
variety of the American experience, can only make our nation stronger.
You will find with us love and understanding and a desire to share in
your culture and experience. You will also learn we are anxious to
help.
We can be proud that you have chosen America as your haven and
your home.
this is your a / temporary situation to a
and & that situation here up not which ideal@ But wh
Oknow you have experienced great hardship
resured anly will allow you realize new
like for yourself your families and a promisin
future for your children and your childrens child
2
We will draw new strength from you, our most recent generation
of immigrants. You may need our help and understanding now, but I
know you will soon achieve success on your own.
I want to extend to you, on behalf of all Americans, the same warm
welcome that we have extended throughout our history to those who
have sought refuge here. You come to us in your moment of deep tragedy,
and we reach out our hands.
3
There is a lovely Vietnamese proverb from which we can all draw
inspiration:
"The road is hard but it is not hard because of
the width of the rivers or height of the mountains.
It is hard only because of the fear we have of the
mountains and the rivers. "
Not to be spoken, to be used only by translator
DUONG DI KHO. KHONG KHO VI
NGAN SONG CACH NUI MA KHO
VI LONG NGUOI NGAI NUI E
SONG
America who affers take reportunity advantage in gito fear It I know to you seing h
Comes
to the these dustry the strength to eftend and the to Courage you on he Rag
that stunity & "strants want as we doe all anywers