Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
1673367
label
Special Voter Groups - Senior Citizens (1)
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
1673367
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Special Voter Groups - Senior Citizens (1)
citationUrl
collections
President Ford Committee Records
Robert Marik's Subject Files
subjects
Florida
Illinois
Texas
Presidential campaign, 1976
Social security
Old age
thumbnailUrl
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
1673367
coverageEndDate
logicalDate
1976-03-31
month
3
year
1976
coverageStartDate
logicalDate
1976-02-01
month
2
year
1976
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
1700a115126a6241
ocrText
The original documents are located in Box B2, folder "Special Voter Groups - Senior
Citizens (1)" of the President Ford Committee Campaign Records 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 R. Ford donated to the
United States of America her copyrights in all of her husband's unpublished writings in National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.
President Ford Committee
1828 L STREET, N.W., SUITE 250, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036 (202) 457-6400
February 11, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
PFC LEADERSHIP
FROM:
FRED SLIGHT
Director of Research
SUBJECT:
President Ford's Special
Message on Older Americans
In his recent special message to Congress, President Ford re-
affirmed his commitment to the needs of older Americans, and
to draw on their strengths in resolving the problems of America.
He asked Congress to:
"
help our nation demonstrate by its deeds a deep
concern for the dignity and worth of our older persons.
By doing so, our nation will continue to benefit from
the contributions that older persons can make to the
strengthening of our nation. 11
President Ford noted that the single greatest threat to the quality
of life of older Americans is inflation. His first economic pri-
ority has been to fight inflation -- and his programs have cut
nearly in half the double digit inflation experienced in 1974.
But, he said,
"
the retired, living on fixed incomes, have been
particularly hard hit, and the progress we have made
has not benefited them enough.
To meet this problem, President Ford has included in his budget
request for 1977 a full cost of living increase in Social Security
benefits, that will help bolster the purchasing power of 32
million Americans. Because the President is determined that the
Social Security system will remain fiscally sound, he has also
requested legislation to increase payroll taxes by three-tenths
of one percent to cover these added costs.
To alleviate the burden of catastrophic illness, President Ford
has proposed:
LIBRARY GERALD ? FORD
*
Extending Medicare benefits by providing coverage for
unlimited days of hospital and skilled nursing facility
care for beneficiaries. and
Limiting the out-of-pocket expenses of beneficiaries
for covered services, to $500 per year for hospital
and skilled nursing services, and $250 per year for
physician and other non-institutional medical services.
The President Ford Committee, Howard H. Callaway, Chairman, Robert Mosbacher, National Finance Chairman, Robert C. Moot, Treasurer. A copy of our
Report is filed with the Federal Election Commission and is available for purchase from the Federal Election Commission, Washington, D.C. 20463.
--2-
The President closed his message with the below statement which
may best reflect his commitment to resolving the problems and
making use of the talents of our older citizens:
"Today's older persons have made invaluable contributions
to the strengthening of our nation. They have provided
the nation with a vision and strength that has resulted
in unprecendented advancements in all of the areas of
our life. Our national moral strength is due in no small
part to the significance of their contributions."
The President's special message on older Americans, and a fact sheet
describing his programs, are attached.
Attachments
FORD is 038870 LIBRARY
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE
UNTIL 12:00 NOON (EST)
February 9, 1976
Office of the White House Press : ecretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
FACT SHEET
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE ON OLDER AMERICANS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
I.
Social Security Amendments of 1976
1
Background
1
Description
2
Tax Increase for Employees/Employers
2
Tax Increase for Self-Employed
3
Cost Effects
4
Other Provisions
4
II. Medicare Improvements of 1976
6
Background
6
Description
6
A. Catastrophic Cost Protection for
6
DEBALO E. FORD LIBRARY
Health Care
B. Cost Sharing Modifications
6
C. Reimbursement Limits
7
Further Description of Elements of Program
7
A. Catastrophic Protection
7
B. Benefit Package
7
C. Cost Sharing
8
D. Provider Reimbursement
10
E. Cost Estimates
10
F. Number of Persons Covered
11
III. Older Americans Act
12
Description, by Title
12
THE PRESIDENT's MESSAGE ON OLDER AMERICANS
The President's message to Congress today referred to two
proposals dealing with income and health security for the
aged and stated his continuing support for programs delivering
services to the elderly under the Older Americans Act.
I.
SOCIAL SECURITY AMENDMENTS OF 1976
To assist in protecting the financial integrity of the Social
Security system, the President is proposing to increase the
Social Security Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance
(OASDI) tax rate by 0.3 percent each for employers and em-
ployees, and by 0.9 percent for the self-employed, beginning
January 1, 1977. This increase would be divided between the
OASI trust fund, which would receive 0.175 percent, and the
DI trust fund, which would receive 0.125 percent.
In addition, provisions are included to phase out benefits
for 18-22 year old full-time students, to change the Social
Security retirement test from a limit on monthly earnings to
a limit on annual earnings with no change in the amounts in-
volved, and to eliminate the payment of monthly Social Security
benefits for the months before a person files a claim if future
monthly benefits would be permanently reduced as a result.
BACKGROUND
The Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) trust
funds are paying out more in benefits than their current payroll
tax receipts. This is largely due to increased benefits in the
past few years and payroll tax receipts, which have lagged be-
cause of unemployment and slowed wage growth.
In 1975, the expenditures of the OASDI program exceeded income
to the program by $1.8 billion. Outgo is expected to exceed
income by more than $4 billion in 1976. Under present tax rates,
the OASDI funds will continue to pay out more than they take
in in all subsequent years until they are exhausted in the 1980's.
At present, it is possible to make up the shortfall in income
by spending assets of the trust funds. Additional income is
needed within the next few years, however, to prevent the trust
fund assets from falling below an acceptable level --- and
ultimately being exhausted.
The following table illustrates the projected status of the
combined OASDI trust funds under two different sets of economic
assumptions if no additional revenue is provided to the funds:
more
2
Status of OASDI Trust Funds-Present Law
(Dollars in billions)
1977 Budget Assumptions
1975 Social Security
Trustees Report Assumptions
Assets
Assets
beginning of year
beginning of year
Calendar
Income
as % of outgo
Income
as % of outgo
Year
Minus Outgo
during year
Minus Outgo
during year
1977
$-4.1
46%
$--5.0
44%
1978
-4.3
37
-5.8
33
1979
-3.4
29
-6.2
25
1980
-2.6
24
-7.0
18
1981
-2.0
20
-9.0
11
To prevent the rapid decline of the Social Security trust funds
over the next few years, the choices are either to restrain in-
creases in retirement and disability benefits or to increase
revenues.
DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM
The President has included a full cost of living increase in
Social Security benefits in his FY 1977 budget. To improve
the future financial stability of the Social Security system,
the President proposed, effective January 1, 1977, a payroll
tax increase of percent each for employees and employers
of covered wages. Also, the OASDI tax rate for the self-
employed would be restored to a level equal to 1-1/2 times
the employee rate.
The current Social Security tax rate is 5.85% for each employee
and employer of covered wages. Under this proposal, the tax
rate in 1977 would be 6.15% on a maximum wage base of $16,500.
This increase will cost workers with the maximum taxable in-
come less than $1 a week and will help stabilize the trust
funds so that current and future recipients can be assured of
the benefits that they have earned.
The following table shows the Social Security tax rates for
employees and employers each under present law and under the
proposal. It includes the Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI)
tax in order to show the effect of the proposal on total
Social Security tax rates.
Social Security Tax Rates
Present Law
Proposal
Calendar
Year
OASDI
HI
Total
OASDI
HI
Total
1976
4.95%
.9%
5.85%
4.95%
.9%
5.85%
1977
4.95
.9
5.85
5.25
.9
6.15
1978-80
4.95
1.1
6.05
5.25
1.1
6.35
1981-85
4.95
1.35
6.30
5.25
1.35
6.60
1986-2010
4.95
1.50
6.45
5.25
1.50
6.75
2011+
5.95
1.50
7.45
6.25
1.50
7.75
more
3
The following table shows the additional income, over what would
be produced by present law tax rates, and the ratios of trust
fund assets to outgo that would result from the proposed 0.3%
rate increase. For purposes of comparison, the information is
shown on the basis of the economic assumptions used in the 1977
budget and also on the basis of the earlier assumptions used in
the 1975 Social Security Board of Trustees' Report.
Cost Effect of 0.3% Increase
(Dollars in billions)
1977 Budget
1975 Trustees
Assumptions
Assumptions
Assets
Assets
beginning of year
beginning of year
Calendar Additional as % of outgo
Additional
as % of outgo
Year
Income
during year
Income
during year
1977
$ 4.4
46%
$ 4.4
44%
1978
5.2
41
5.2
39
1979
5.9
39
5.7
36
1980
6.5
38
6.3
34
1981
7.1
40
6.9
32
The effect of the proposal on taxes paid by employers and em-
ployees is at maximum an increase of less than $1.00 per week.
The following table shows the taxes paid by employees at various
earnings levels in 1976 and the amounts they would pay in 1977
under present law and under the proposal.
Social Security Taxes for Employers and Employees,
Each, under Present Law and under the Proposal
1976
1977.
Year's Increase
Earnings
over
Level
Present Law
Proposal
Present Law
LIBRARY
$ 5,000
$292.50
$292.50
$
307.50
$15.00
7,500
438.75
438.75
461.25
22.50
10,000
585.00
585.00
615.00
30.00
Maximum
895.05
965.25
1,014.75
49.50
The following table shows the Social Security tax rates for
OASDI for employees and employers, each, and for the self-
employed under the present law and under the proposal.
Employees and
Calendar
Employers (Each)
Self-Employed
Year
Present Law
Proposal
Present Law
Proposal
1976
4.95%
4.95%
7.0%
7.9%
1977
4.95
5.25
7.0
7.9
1978-80
4.95
5.25
7.0
7.9
1981-85
4.95
5.25
7.0
7.9
1986-2010
4.95
5.25
7.0
7.9
2011 +
5.95
6.25
7.0
9.4
V $15,300 for 1976; projected to increase automatically
under present law to $16,500 for 1977 under 1977 budget
assumptions.
more
4
The following table shows present and proposed allocation to
the DI trust fund for employees and employers combined and
for the self-employed.
Employees and Employers, Combined
Self-Employed
Calendar
Present
Present
Year
Law
Proposal
Law
Proposal
1977
1.15%
1.40%
0.815%
1.055%
1978-80
1.20
1.45
0.850
1.090
1981-85
1.30
1.55
0.920
1.165
1986.2010
1.40
1.65
0.990
1.240
2011+
1.70
1.95
1.000
1.465
COST EFFECT
The following table shows the additional income, over what
would be produced by present law tax rates, that would result
from the proposed 0.3% rate increase, on the basis of the
economic assumptions used in the 1977 budget.
Additional Income
as a Result of
Calendar
0.3% Increase
Year
(billions)
1977
$ 4.5
1978
5.7
1979
6.3
1980
7.0
1981
7.7
1977-81
31.2
The following table shows the yearly increase under the
proposed 0.9 percent rate increase for the self-employed
on the basis of the economic assumptions used in the
FY 1977 budget.
OASDHI Taxes for the Self-Employed
under Present Law and under a Proposal
to Increase the Rate to 1.5 Times the Employee Rate
1976
1977
Increase
Earnings
Over
Level
Present Law
Proposal
Present Law
$ 5,000,
$ 395.00
$
395.00
$ 440.00
$ 45.00
7,500
592.50
592.50
660.00
67.50
10,000
790.00
790.00
880.00
90.00
Maximum
1,208.70
1,303.50
1,452.00
148.50
OTHER PROVISIONS INCLUDE:
--- Phasing out Social Security benefits for students aged
18-22 who are in school full time. The phase out would occur
over 4 years so that no student now receiving benefits would
be eliminated. Federal student grant and loan programs and
other student assistance programs enacted since the student
benefit was included in the Social Security Act provide and
$15,300 for 1976; projected to increase automatically to
$16,500 for 1977 under 1977 Budget assumptions.
more
5
make available a wide range of funds for educational support.
Savings to the Social Security system from this phase out are
approximately $300 million in FY 1977.
- Changing the Social Security retirement test from a limit
on monthly earnings to a limit on annual earnings with no change
in the amounts involved. This change would eliminate current
inequitable treatment for those who receive earnings in some
months but not In others, as opposed to those who receive
comparable earnings spread equally in each month.
--- Eliminating the payment of monthly Social Security benefits
for the months before a person files a claim if future monthly
benefits would be permanently reduced as a result. Faced with
a choice between a large lump-sum payment and a reduction of
future benefits, beneficiaries in many cases prejudice their
longer run income. This result is considered inconsistent with
the purposes of the Social Security Act.
more
6
II. MEDICARE IMPROVEMENTS OF 1976
The President is proposing significant modifications in the
Federal Medicare program to provide catastrophic health cost
protection to Medicare beneficiaries, changes in cost sharing
requirements, and limits on the annual cost increases which
will be reimbursed by Medicare.
BACKGROUND
The Nation's health care system continues to be one of the
most inflationary sectors of the economy. Hospital costs have
risen by more than 200 percent since 1965 (from $40/day to
$128/day), and physicians' fees have risen more than 85% in
the same period. Both rates of increase are significantly
higher than the corresponding increases in the consumer price
index.
Medicare is a major component of Federal health spending. It
provides protection to more than 24 million aged and disabled
Americans, and is expected to pay out more than $17 billion
for health care in 1976. However, Medicare has several
failings --- it does not provide protection against the catas-
trophic financial burden of extended illness, and it does not
include adequate restraints on the increases in the costs of
health care.
For hospital care, Medicare currently pays nothing for the
first day, 100% of costs from the 2nd through the 60th day,
a reduced percentage through the 150th day, and nothing at
all after that. This pattern serves to lengthen short-term
hospital stays, but can lead to financial ruin for persons
suffering serious, extended illness. Medicare also requires
a $60 deductible and co-payments of 20% for physicians'
services. Since there is no annual maximum, this provision
contributes to the financial burden of catastrophic health
costs.
An additional problem with Medicare is that it contains
inadequate mechanisms to control health inflation. Like
most health insurance plans, it reimburses largely on the
basis of actual costs or customary charges giving providers
insufficient cause to seek to limit cost increases.
DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM
The major elements of the proposed Medicare Improvements of
1976 are the following:
A. Catastrophic Cost Protection for Health Care
For the first time, Medicare beneficiaries would be
provided protection against catastrophic health costs
by limiting the amounts an individual must pay an-
nually to $500 for covered hospital and nursing home
care and $250 for covered physicians' services. These
limits will be allowed to increase in future years in
proportion to increases in cash benefits.
B. Cost Sharing Modifications
---- Hospital Costs (Part A). Part A benefits would
be expanded to provide unlimited hospital and skilled
nursing facility (SNF) days. Under this proposal,
beneficiaries would be required to pay a deductible for
the first day of a hospital stay (as under current law),
and 10% of additional charges up to an annual maximum
of $500 for all covered Part A services.
more
7
-- Physicians' Services (Part B). This proposal
would increase the current annual deductible of $60
to $77 and maintain the existing co-payment of 20%
for physicians' services. However, it would institute
a maximum of $250 a year. The deductible would in-
crease with Social Security benefit increases. It
would also establish a coinsurance of 10% of all
charges above the deductible for all hospital-based
physician and Part B home health charges.
C. Reimbursement Limits
Annual Medicare reimbursement increases would be
limited to 7% for Part A provided per diem or per
visit costs and 4% for physicians' service charges
in 1977 and 1978.
Detailed Explanation
A. CATASTROPHIC PROTECTION
Service
Current Law
President's Proposal
Part A
No maximum liability
$500 annual maximum
limit on out-of-pocket
liability limit for
expenses for covered
all covered services
services.
in 1976 and 1977, in-
creased in future
years in proportion to
increases in cash
benefits. All out-
of-pocket expenses
incurred in the last
month of calendar year
can be carried forward
to next year.
Part B
No maximum liability
$250 annual maximum
limit on out-of-pocket
liability limit for
expenses for covered
all covered services
services.
in 1976 and 1977, in-
creased in future
years in proportion
to increases in cash
benefits. Same one
month carry-over as
Part A. Out-of-pocket
expenses for charges
in excess of reasonable
charges do not count
toward the maximum
liability limit.
B.
BENEFIT PACKAGE
1. Medicare Part A
Service
Current Law
President's Proposal
a. Hospital
90 days per benefit
Unlimited days.
days
period plus 60 days
(except
of life-time reserve.
in psy-
chiatric
hospitals)
more
8
b. Psychiatric
190 lifetime days.
Same as current law.
hospital
days.
C. Skilled
100 days per
Unlimited days.
nursing
benefit period.
facility
(SNF) days.
d. Post-
100 visits per
100 visits in year
hospital
benefit period
following hospital
home health
following hospi-
or SNF discharge.
visits.
tal or SNF
discharge.
2. Medicare Part B
No change in current coverage which has no upper
limits on most covered services.
Home health services would continue to be limited
to 100 visits per year and outpatient psychiatric
services to no more than $500 of reasonable charges
per year and out-patient physical therapy services
provided by a self-employed therapist to no more
than $100 in reasonable charges per year.
C. COST SHARING
LIDERAY GERALD FORD
1. Medicare Part A
Service
Current Law
President's Proposal
a. Hospital Services
Deductible
$104 for initial
$104 per admission,
hospitalization in
and allowed to rise
each benefit period
annually. Deductible
beginning in 1976
waived if Medicare
(based on average
covered inpatient
daily hospital
services were received
costs in 1974) and
within 60 days prior
rising annually to
to admission.
reflect increases
in hospital costs.
Coinsurance
An amount equal to
10% of hospital
1/4 of the deduc-
charges above the
tible for days
deductible.
61-90 in a benefit
period and 1/2 of
the deductible for
the 60 lifetime
reserve days.
b.' SNF Services
Deductible
None
None
Coinsurance
None for the first
10% of charges.
20 days. An amount
equal to 1/8 of the
hospital deductible
for days 21-100.
more
9
Service
Current Law
President's Proposal
C. Home Health Services
Deductible
None.
None.
Coinsurance
None.
10% of charges.
d. Blood
Deductible
3 pints per benefit 3 pints per year.
period.
2. Medicare Part B
Service
Current Law
President's Proposal
a. Physician,
outpatient
hospital care,
outpatient
physical
therapy and
speech path-
ology,
laboratory
services,
medical
supplies and
most other
covered
services.
Deductible
$60 per calendar
$77 in 1976 and 1977,
year, increased
and increased in
in future years
future years in pro-
in proportion to
portion to increases
increases in cash
in cash benefits.
benefits.
Coinsurance
20% of reasonable
Same.
charges above the
deductible.
b. Hospital-
based
physicians
(inpatient
pathology
and radiology)
Deductible
None.
None.
Coinsurance
None.
10% of charges.
c. Home Health
Services
Deductible
Included among
Included among services
services subject
subject to $77 deduc-
to $60 per calen-
tible in 1976 and 1977.
dar year
deductible.
Coinsurance
None.
10% of charges.
more
10
Service
Current Law
President's Proposal
d. Outpatient
50% of reasonable,
Same as current law.
psychiatric
charges (up to
services.
maximum reim-
bursement of
$250).
D. PROVIDER REIMBURSEMENT
Provider
Current Law
President's Proposal
Hospitals,
Reimbursed on
Places a 7% reimburse-
SNF's and
the basis of
ment limitation on
home health
reasonable costs.
the annual rates of
agencies.
(Level of reim-
increases in per diem
bursement for
hospital and SNF costs
hospital per diem
and home health visit
routine costs is
costs."
limited to the
80th percentile
of the per diem
routine costs of
similar hospitals.)
Physicians and
Reimbursed on the
Limits reimbursable
other medical
basis of customary
increases in reason-
services.
and prevailing
able charges (the
charges. (Rates
lesser of the cus-
of increase in
tomary and prevailing
prevailing charges
charges) to 4 percent
are limited by an
per year. #
economic index re
flecting practice
costs and earnings
levels in the
economy.)
* Both the 7% cost and 4% charge increase limitations
are proposed for two years pending the development
of a. longer run cost containment policy.
E. COST ESTIMATES
The following are the estimated cost increases attributable to
the new catastrophic protection and the cost savings attribu-
table to reforms in cost sharing and limits in reimbursement.
The additional costs are estimated to range between $1.1
billion and $1.4 billion. The cost sharing reform is estimated
to save about $1.8 billion and the reimbursement limits to save
about $900 million. The savings from placing a limit on in.
creases in medicare repayment rates and some of the revenues
from increased cost sharing will be used to finance the
catastrophic program.
FY 77 (in millions
Costs
of dollars)
1. Catastrophic protection
a. Hospital Insurance
**** Initial estimate of cost
+330
of $500 limit in FY 77
budget.
more
11
FY 77 (in millions
Costs
of dollars)
-- Additions based on
+562 to 862
refinement of cost
of $500 limit.
b. Supplementary Medical Insurance
-- $250 limit
+208*
Total Cost
$1.1 to $1.4
(in billions)
# Shown in President's budget request.
FY 77 (in millions
Savings
of dollars)
1. Cost Sharing Reforms
a. Hospital Insurance
-- 10% coinsurance
(-)1,730*
b. Supplementary Medical Insurance
-- Dynamic deductible ($77 for
FY 77)
(-) 111#
-- Coinsurance on hospital
based physicians and
Part B home health services
(-) 19#
Subtotal
(-)1,860*
2. Reimbursement limits
a. Hospital Insurance
--- limited to 7% per diem increase (-)730*
b. Supplementary Medical Insurance
-- limited to 4% charge increase (-)179*
Subtotal
(-)909*
Total Savings (-)$1,591 to (-)$1,741
*Shown in President's budget request.
F. NUMBER OF PERSONS COVERED, FY 77
Service
Current Law
President's Proposal
Part A
Enrollees
24,900,000
Same
Users
5,900,000
Same
Users Assisted by
$500 limit
NA
1,200,000
Part B
Enrollees
24,600,000
Same
Users meeting the
deductible
14,200,000
12,200,000
Users Assisted by
$250 limit
NA
2,000,000
more
12
III. OLDER AMERICANS ACT
The Older Americans Act was initially enacted in 1965 and
has been subsequently amended in 1967, 1969, 1972, 1973,
1974, and the most recent amendments were signed into law by
the President in November, 1975,
BACKGROUND
The major objective of the Older Americans Act is to bring
into being a system of coordinated comprehensive services at
the community level designed to enable older persons to live
independent lives in their own homes or other places of
residence and to participate in the life of their community.
To achieve this objective, the Older Americans Act provides
authorization for a national network on aging. This national
network is composed of a State Agency on Aging in each State
and Territory and the District of Columbia 489 Area Agencies
on Aging, 700 nutrition projects and the advisory committees
to the State and Area Agencies on Aging and the nutrition
projects.
DESCRIPTION OF ACT
Major sections of the Act designed to achieve the Act's overall
objective include:
Title III: Provides support to State Agencies on Aging
and through them, Area Agencies on Aging for
the development of coordinated comprehensive
service systems designed to enable older
persons to live in their own homes or other
places of residence.
This Title provides funds (1) for the support of
State Agencies on Aging and (2) for the support
of Area Agencies on Aging and social services
provided by those agencies.
States receive funds under Title III on a formula
basis based upon approval by the Commissioner on
Aging of an annual State Plan submitted by the
Governor.
Primary emphasis is placed on meeting the needs
of low income and minority older persons. Prior
to submitting the annual State Plan the State
must hold a public hearing on it. The State
Plan designates within the State planning and
service areas and identifies those areas in which
Area Agencies on Aging will be established.
Currently, States have identified 585 such plan
ning and service areas and indicated that 489 Area
Agencies will be in operation.
The Area Agencies, which may be public or private
organizations receive their funds from the State
Agencies on Aging based on an annual area plan
approved by the State Agency. A public hearing
must be held on this plan before it can be sub--
mitted to the State.
more
13
The States must utilize at least 20% of their
Title III funds for four national priority
services: transportation, home care, legal
services, and home repair. In addition, as
additional resources become available under
Title III States must use 50% of the new
funds for the priority services. This re.
quirement will no longer be operative when
the States reach the point where they are
utilizing 33-1/3% of their funds for these
four priority services.
Section 308 of Title III provides for a model
projects program designed to demonstrate new
or innovative means of meeting the needs of
older persons. This section of the law is
administered directly by the Administration
on Aging.
Title VII: Provides funds to the States for the operation of
nutrition programs designed to provide hot,
nutritious meals in congregate settings to older
persons.
States receive funds for this program on a
formula basis after the Commissioner on Aging
has approved their annual State Plan submitted
by the Governor. Primary emphasis is placed on
meeting the needs of low income and minority
older persons. Currently this program provides
support for 700 nutrition projects that serve
approximately 300,000 means a day, five days a
week, at over 4900 community sites located in
churches, senior centers, and schools.
Eighty seven percent of these meals are provided
in congregate settings; 13% are home delivered.
More than 60,000 volunteers provide their as
sistance to this program.
Surplus commodities are contributed to the
program at the rate of fifteen cents a meal
during this Fiscal Year. This rate will increase
to 25¢ a meal in Fiscal Year 1977.
An important provision in the 1975 amendments to the Act authorizes
State or Area Agencies on Aging to enter into agreements for the
purpose of meeting the common needs for transportation services
of older persons and other segments of the population.
Several other recent actions have taken place designed to help
meet these transportation needs.
--- The Administration on Aging and the Department of
Transportation have entered into a working agreement
which has resulted and will continue to result in im-
proved coordination of transportation services for
older persons.
$20.8 million of Fiscal Year 1975 Urban Mass Transporta-
tion Administration funds were allotted for capital
assistance grants to nonprofit corporations and
organizations to serve the transportation needs of
older persons and the handicapped. The Department of
Transportation will release $22 million for this
purpose in Fiscal Year 1976.
more
14
----
Approximately 45 projects in 31 States have been
selected under the Rural Highway Public Transportation
Demonstration Program in Fiscal Year 1975. A major
criterion for project selection is that the projects be
adaptable to the needs of older persons and the
handicapped.
- The first formula allotments have been made to the
States under the Section 5 Capital Assistance Formula
Grant Program of the National Mass Transportation Act of
1974. A section of the Act specifies that recipients of
funds must provide for reduced fares for the elderly
and the handicapped.
The Administration on Aging has made awards to 47 State Agencies
on Aging for the purpose of promoting and developing ombudsman
services for residents of nursing homes. The objective of these
services is to establish a process at the community level which
will be responsive to complaints from residents or relatives of
older persons in Skilled Nursing Facilities and Intermediate
Care Facilities. Activities are now underway at the State and
local levels to achieve this purpose. The 1975 amendments to
the Act authorize the Administration on Aging to continue
such programs.
####
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE
February 9, 1976
UNTIL 12 P.M. (EST)
MONDAY, FEBRUARY S, 1976
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
I ask the Congress to join with me in making improvements
in programs serving the elderly.
As President, I intend to do everything in my power to
help our nation demonstrate by its deeds a deep concern for
the dignity and worth of our older persons. By so doing,
our nation will continue to benefit from the contributions
that older persons can make to the strengthening of our
nation.
The proposals being forwarded to Congress are directly
related to the health and security of older Americans.
Their prompt enactment will demonstrate our concern that
lifetimes of sacrifice and hard work conclude in hope
rather than despair.
The single greatest threat to the quality of life of
older Americans is inflation. Our first priority continues
to be the fight against inflation. We have been able to
reduce by nearly half the double digit inflation experienced
in 1974. But the retired, living on fixed incomes have
been particularly hard hit and the progress we have made
in reducing inflation has not benefited them enough. We
GENALD FORD LIBRARY
will continue our efforts to reduce federal spending,
balance the budget and reduce taxes. The particular
vulnerability of the aged to the burdens of inflation
however, requires that specific improvements be made in
two major Federal programs Social Security and Medicare.
We must begin by insuring that the Social Security
system is beyond challenge. Maintaining the integrity of
the system is a vital obligation each generation has to
those who have worked hard and contributed to it all their
lives. I strongly reaffirm my commitment to a stable and
financially sound Social Security system. My 1977 budget
and legislative program include several elements which I
believe are essential to protect the solvency and integrity
of the system.
First, to help protect our retired and disabled citizens
against the hardships of inflation, my budget request to the
Congress includes a full cost of living increase in Social
Security benefits, to be effective with checks received in
July 1976. This will help maintain the purchasing power
of 32 million Americans.
Second, to insure the financial integrity of the Social
Security trust funds, I am proposing legislation to increase
payroll taxes by three-tenths of one percent each for
employees and employers. This increase will cost no worker
more
2
more than $1 a week, and most will pay less. These additional
revenues are needed to stabilize the trust funds so that
current income will be certain to either equal or exceed
current outgo.
Third, to avoid serious future financing problems I will
submit later this year a change in the Social Security laws
to correct a serious flaw in the current system. The current
formula which determines benefits for workers who retire in
the future does not properly reflect wage and price fluctuations.
This is an inadvertent error which could lead to unnecessarily
inflated benefits.
The change I am proposing will not affect cost of living
increases in benefits after retirement, and will in no way
alter the benefit levels of current recipients. On the other
hand, it will protect future generations against unnecessary
costs and excessive tax increases.
I believe that the prompt enactment of all of these
proposals is necessary to maintain a sound Social Security
system and to preserve its financial integrity.
Income security is not our only concern. We need to
focus also on the special health care needs of our elder
citizens. Medicare and other Federal health programs have
been successful in improving access to quality medical care
the aged. Before the inception of Medicare and Medicaid
in 1966, per capita health expenditures for our aged were
$445 per year. Just eight years later, in FY 1974, per
capita health expenditures for the elderly had increased
to $1218, an increase of 174 percent. But despite the
dramatic increase in medical services made possible by
public programs, some problems remain.
There are weaknesses in the Medicare program which must
be corrected. Three particular aspects of the current
program concern me: 1) its failure to provide our elderly
with protection against catastrophic illness costs, 2) the
serious effects that health care cost inflation is having on
the Medicare program, and 3) lack of incentives to encourage
efficient and economical use of hospital and medical services.
My proposal addresses each of these problems.
In my State of the Union Message I proposed protection
against catastrophic health expenditures for Medicare bene-
ficiaries. This will be accomplished in two ways. First, I
propose extending Medicare benefits by providing coverage
for unlimited days of hospital and skilled nursing facility
care for beneficiaries. Second, I propose to limit the
out-of-pocket expenses of beneficiaries, for covered services,
to $500 per year for hospital and skilled nursing services
and $250 per year for physician and other non-institutional
medical services.
This will mean that each year over a billion dollars of
benefit payments will be targeted for handling the financial
burden of prolonged illness. Millions of older persons live
in fear of being stricken by an illness that will call for
expensive hospital and medical care over a long period of
time. Most often they do not have the resources to pay the
bills. The members of their families share their fears
because they also do not have the resources to pay such
more
3
large bills. We have been talking about this problem for
many years. We have it within our power to act now so that
today's older persons will not be forced to live under this
kind of a shadow. I urge the Congress to act promptly.
Added steps are needed to slow down the inflation of
health costs and to help in the financing of this catastrophic
protection. Therefore, I am recommending that the Congress
limit increases in medicare payment rates in 1977 and 1978
to 7% a day for hospitals and 45 for physician services.
Additional cost-sharing provisions are also needed to
encourage economical use of the hospital and medical services
included under Medicare. Therefore, I am recommending that
patients pay 10% of hospital and nursing home charges after
the first day and that the existing deductible for medical
services be increased from $60 to $77 annually.
The savings from placing a limit on increases in
medicare payment rates and some of the revenue from increased
cost sharing will be used to finance the catastrophic illness
program.
I feel that, on balance, these proposals will provide
our elder citizens with protection against catastrophic
illness costs, promote efficient utilization of services,
and moderate the increases in health care costs.
The legislative proposals which I have described are
only part of the over-all effort we are making on behalf of
older Americans. Current conditions call for continued and
intensified action on a broad front.
We have made progress in recent years. We have responded,
for example. to recommendations made at the 1971 White House
Conference on Aging. A Supplemental Security Income program
was enacted. Social Security benefits have been increased in
accord with increases in the cost of living. The Social
Security retirement test was liberalized. Many inequities
in payments to women have been eliminated. The 35 million
workers who have earned rights in private pension plans now
have increased protection.
In addition we have continued to strengthen the Older
Americans Act. I have supported the concept of the Older
Americans Act since its inception in 1965, and last November
signed the most recent amendments into law.
A key component of the Older Americans Act is the
national network on aging which provides a solid foundation
on which action can be based. I am pleased that we have
been able to assist in setting up this network of 56 State
and 489 Area Agencies on Aging, and 700 local nutrition
agencies. These local nutrition agencies for example
provide 300,000 hot meals a day five days a week.
The network provides a structure which can be used to
attack other important problems. A concern of mine is that
the voice of the elderly, as consumers, be heard in the
governmental decision-making process. The network on aging
more
4
offers opportunities for this through membership on advisory
councils related to State and Area Agencies on Aging,
Nutrition Project Agencies and by participation in public
hearings on the annual State and Area Plans. Such involvement
can and will have a significant impact on determining what
services for the aging are to be given the highest priorities
at the local level.
The principal goal of this National Network on Aging
is to bring into being coordinated comprehensive systems
for the provision of service to the elderly at the community
level. I join in the call for hard and creative work at all
levels Federal, State and Area in order to achieve this
objective. I am confident that progress can be made.
Toward this end, the Administration on Aging and a
number of Federal Departments and agencies have signed
agreements which will help to make available to older
persons a fair share of the Federal funds available in
such areas as housing, transportation, social services,
law enforcement, adult education and manpower resources
which can play a major role in enabling older persons to
continue to live in their own homes.
Despite these efforts, however, five percent of our
older men and women require the assistance provided by
skilled nursing homes and other long term care facilities.
To assist these citizens, an ombudsman process, related
solely to the persons in these facilities, is being put
into operation by the National Network on Aging. We
believe that this program will help to resolve individual
complaints, facilitate important citizen involvement in
the vigorous enforcement of Federal, State and local laws
designed to improve health and safety standards, and to
improve the quality of care in these facilities.
Today's older persons have made invaluable contributions
to the strengthening of our nation. They have provided the
nation with a vision and strength that has resulted in un-
precedented advancements in all of the areas of our life.
Our national moral strength is due in no small part to the
significance of their contributions. We must continue and
strengthen both our commitment to doing everything we can
to respond to the needs of the elderly and our determination
to draw on their strengths.
Our entire history has been marked by a tradition of
growth and progress. Each succeeding generation can measure
its progress in part by its ability to recognize, respect and
renew the contributions of earlier generations. I believe
that the Social Security and Medicare improvements I am
proposing, when combined with the action programs under
the Older Americans Act, will insure a measure of progress for
the elderly and thus provide real hope for us all.
GERALD R. FORD
THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 9, 1976.
#####
February 6, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
Jim Mills
FROM:
Fred Slight
SUBJECT:
Florida Senior Citizen Information
The attached information is being
provided in follow-up to your request of
last evening. These materials are as
follows:
1. Stout article on the Reagan
$90 billion plan;
2. Impact of Reagan's $90 billion plan
on the state of Florida;
3. Actual Federal outlays to Florida
recipients in fiscal year 1975 for
Medicaid, Social Security and Supple-
mental Security Income programs; and
4. Voting age population for Florida
-
(age 65 and over) as of July 1, 1974.
With regard to the second item above,
I would appreciate your checking with me or
PFC Press Secretary, Peter Kaye, prior to
the public use of any of these figures.
Good luck with your challenging
assignment.
CC: Bob Marik
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
February 21, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR: BO CALLAWAY
FROM:
BOB MARIK RHM
SUBJECT:
OLDER VOTERS
This is to confirm our earlier discussions and my
conversations with Ed DeBolt regarding our programs
for Older Voters. I have hired Jim Mills to direct
the program up through the Florida primary, with
subsequent arrangements to be contingent upon his
initial results. Jim worked with Arthur Flemming
and Dan Todd on the 1971 White House Conference on
Aging, and then with Dan Todd on the Older Voters
program in the 1972 campaign. He comes highly
recommended by both men. His compensation is
$2000 per month, and is covered in our existing Feb. budget.
Jim will focus on the following areas in order to
achieve maximum impact in Florida:
O Development of an Older Americans brochure,
in conjunction with Campaign 76, to be
distributed outside of banks on March 4,
when Social Security checks are being deposited.
Coordination with the PFC Scheduling Office and
the White House to identify suitable forums for
advocate speakers to address audiences of
older Americans.
Seeking endorsements of senior citizens' groups
in Florida, and publicizing those endorsements
in coordination with Campaign '76.
In all of these activities, Jim will work in close
coordination with Bill Roberts and the Florida PFC.
He has already established a good working relationship
with the Florida Older Voters staff.
Jim will also work to build a national Advisory Committee
for the overall PFC program for Older Americans.
CC: Ed DeBolt
FORD is GERVID LIBRARY
President Ford Committee
1828 L STREET, N.W., SUITE 250, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036 (202) 457-6400
February 24, 1976
Mr. Max Friedson, President
Mr. Morris Schiffman
Executive Vice-President
Congress of Senior Citizen Organizations
of Florida, Inc.
111 N.E. Second Avenue
Miami, Florida 33132
Dear Mr. Friedson and Mr. Schiffman:
The recommendation made by the Congress of Senior Citizen
Organizations of Florida encouraging Florida's Senior Re-
publicans to vote for President Ford was a most responsible
act on the part of the Executive Board. Allow me to as-
sure you of the pleasure this brings to those of us working
on behalf of President Ford. While the President and the
federal government do not pretend to be able to solve all
the problems confronted by senior citizens more can and
will be done.
Contrary to the opinions of some, most Republicans agree
that many older persons are deprived of their earned right
to a dignified, independent, and rewarding retirement.
Since the most meaningful actions can and should take place
on the community level, local groups such as the Congress
of Senior Citizens are essential if older Americans are
to enjoy their fair share of this nation's wealth. How-
ever, such groups should not have to act alone. Local
units of both political parties must become more aware and
concerned about helping older people. Toward this end, I
am asking leaders within the Republican Party to initiate
programs aimed at providing Senior Republicans a meaning-
ful voice in party affairs at all levels. No one can ed-
ucate people on the problems of older Americans better or
more appropriately than older people themselves.
It is my firm conviction that we must change the climate
where "do-gooders" go about paternalistically defining
what is right for our senior citizens.
LIBRARY GERALD s FORD
It is time that young and old put a stop to this trend
dignity
than to enhance it.
The President Ford Committee, Howard H. Callaway, Chairman, Robert Mosbacher, National Finance Chairman, Robert C. Moot, Treasurer. A copy of our
Report is filed with the Federal Election Commission and is available for purchase from the Federal Election Commission, Washington, D.C. 20463.
In addition, it is time that people begin to recognize that
the capacity of the federal government to solve the prob-
lems of the aging is obviously limited and that only by
augmenting the federal government's actions at the state
and community level can real progress be made. The Pres-
ident's Bloc Grant revenue sharing programs will make it
possible for local government and senior citizen repre-
sentatives to define how to use federal dollars. Through
localizing the decision-making process on the use of fed-
eral dollars, seniors will be able to assert themselves
much more directly and effectively. This, I remind you,
is President Ford's action and will help seniors more
than any of the programs previously developed and admin-
istered from Washington. Republicans have not been suf-
ficiently effective in communicating this to voters. I
hope to help change that.
Under this new developing system, if seniors fail to get
their fair share, it will be the fault of local politi-
cians and senior citizens and not the federal government's.
This is why groups such as yours are vitally important to
the well-being of older people.
Allow me to once again express my gratitude for the Con-
gress's action. Keep up the good work.
Sincerely yours,
James E. Huis
James E. Mills
CC: Dr. Jim Cavanaugh
Mr. Robert Marik
Mrs. Mary Louise Smith
JEM: 1cb
FORD it 07VN30 LIBRARY
President Ford Committee
1828 L STREET, N.W., SUITE 250, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036 (202) 457-6400
February 24, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
BOB MARIK
JIM CAVANAUGH
BRUCE WAGNER
BILL ROBERTS
FROM:
JIM MILLS This
SUBJECT:
RECOGNITION OF ASSISTANCE
RENDERED
One of the most important actions in the Florida Older
Americans campaign effort was our ability to secure a
recommendation from the senior citizens lobbying group
known as the Congress of Senior Citizens Organizations
of Florida.
Attached is a copy of their press release announcing
their endorsement of President Ford. As a result of
this recommendation a newspaper ad is being placed by
us so that we can further communicate their support.
All the parties involved believe this will contribute
significantly in influencing the undecided senior Re-
publican vote our way.
Mr. Bill Bayer of Lamont Advertising in Miami was in-
strumental in linking me up with Mr. Friedson, the
Congress's President. Without his help we would not
have been aware of this group or its interest in time
to develop the ad. For this Mr. Bayer deserves our ap-
preciation. While his interest was and is in helping
the President, he had hoped that we could place the ad
through him. As a result of my encouragements he was
led to believe we would do that. However I have had
to ask for his pardon as a result of my mishandling
and in so doing, have offered to reimburse him for ex-
penses he actually incurred. Beyond this I would hope
that you too would take cognizance of Mr. Bayer's and
Lamont Advertising's help in case you are ever in a
a
position to return the favor.
FORD
GERALD
1
The President Ford Committee, Howard H. Callaw 4% Chairman, Robert Mosbacher. National Finance Chairman. Robert C. Moot, Treasurer. A copy of our
Report is filed with the Federal Election Commission and is available for purchase from the Federal Election Commission, Washington, D.C. 20463.
MAX FRIEDSON
MORRIS SCHIFFMAN
LILLIAN PASQUALE
HAROLD FRIEDMAN
MORRIS EPSTEIN
President
Executive Vice President
Executive Secretary
Recording Secretary
Treasurer
congress of florida, inc.
371-5678
111 n.e. second avenue
miami, florida 33132
senior citizens
non-partisan, non-profit
Regional Vice Pres.
EDYTHE ADLEY
S. BUD ALLEN
BERTHA BURCH
JOSEPH CAHILL
FEBRUARY 21, 1976
MRS. C. CALLOWAY
ESTRELLA DIAZ
MAX KORMAN
ZITA KRASKA
VICTOR LENDH
NATALIE MUZZONE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
STANLEY SILVERN
HENRY TUCKER
Health and Walfare
SOPHIE KORMAN
Tel. Committee
"CONGRESS OF SENIOR CITIZENS RECOMMENDS FORD AND CARTER"
ETHEL SPERLING
Parliamentarian
BENJAMIN KAHN
Veterans' Affairs
CLIFF RUTHIG
At the meeting of the Executive Board of the Congress
Trustees
LOUIS CANTELLI
of Senior Citizens of Florida, President Gerald R. Ford
BETTY ENDEWELT
DOUGLAS MARKHAM
GERTRUDE MEYER
REV. GEORGE NEFF
and former Governor Jimmy Carter were chosen as the candidates
SYLVESTER SMITH
ETHEL SPERLING
State
they wecommend Florida's senior citizens to support.
Hampton Senior Citizens
Eugene Taylor, President
Federation of Seniors of Hillsboro County
Gerard Coughlin, President
Gulfstream Areawide Council
Frank Nikolits, Chairman
The Board's Legislative Committee voted unanimously
North Florida Council
Jce Kerrigan, President
Pasco County Chapter COSC
in making its recommendations regarding both Governor
Chas. B. McNair, President
West Coast Chapter COSC
Wm. H. Fetter, President
Carter and President Ford.
Interlachen Senior Citizens
Helen V. Herman, Secretary
Morris Schiffman, Chairman of the Legislative Committee
and the Congress' President, Mr. Max Friedsen urge
all citizens to vote in this important primary election.
-140-
Contact: Mr. Morris Schiffman, Chairman, Legislative OLIBRARY Committee
Nr. Max Freedsen, President,
GERAL
A FLORIDA ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SERVE THE ELDERLY
President Ford Committee
1828 L STREET, N.W., SUITE 250, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036 (202) 457-6400
February 24, 1976
Mr. William Bayer
Lamont Advertising
9000 S.W. 87 Ct.
Miami, Florida 33176
Dear Bill:
Let me begin by thanking you for your assistance in securing
the support of the Florida Congress of Senior Citizens. With-
out your initiative and participation in the discussions, we
would not have been able to develop the ad underway. Like you,
I am convinced that this action will have a major impact in in-
fluencing undecideds our way.
Secondly, I wish to apologize for my mishandling of the ads
placement procedure. Having just recently joined the campaign,
I was not fully aware of the complications I would cause pur-
suing the method I had originally developed. As a result, you
and Lamont Advertising invested time and resources in assisting
me without any compensation. It is embarrassing to me to be
the cause of this confusion. For this I offer my sincere apol-
ogy. In addition, I hope that you will send me a bill for the
time and resource expenses incurred by Lamont Advertising as a
result of my encouragements.
Enclosed is a copy of a memorandum from me to Bob Marik, Bruce
Wagner and Jim Cavanaugh communicating the details of your
help on this part of the President's campaign. Perhaps some of
our activities in Florida have not been as productive as would
be hoped but I am confident this one will be among the most
meaningful.
Again, I am sorry for this confusion and thank you for your as-
sistance and understanding.
Sincerely yours,
Jun this
E. Mills
FORD is LIBRARY 074330
Director
Older Americans for
President Ford Committee
The President Ford Committee. Howard H. Callaway, Chairman, Robert Mosbacher, National Finance Chairman, Robert C. Moot, Treasurer. A copy of our
Report is filed with the Federal Election Commission and is available tue purchase from the Federal Election Commission, Washington, D.C. 20463-
TRAVEL PLANS FOR: Jim Mills
TIME PERIOD:
February 26 - February 29.
DESTINATION:
Chicago
FLIGHT PLANS:
American Airlines
Flight #
Date
Departure
Arrival
563
2/26
National Airport - 7:30 a.m.
O'Hare - 8:25 a.m.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS: February 26 - Bismark Hotel
312-CE6-0123
February 26 and 27 - Illinois Headquarters
February 28 and 29 - Rockford, Illinois
815-962-1145
FORD is DERALD LIBRARY
March 2, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
BO CALLAWAY
STU SPENCER
THROUGH:
BOB MARIK RHU
FROM:
JIM MILLS Mils
SUBJECT:
OLDER AMERICANS CAMPAIGN IN ILLINOIS
Attached is an overview of the campaign plan for older Americans
in Illinois.
The activities are similar to those employed in Florida with the
addition of a telephone/manpower field operation currently
underway.
I have also included an estimated program budget based on infor-
mation available. It is my understanding that the actual expendi-
tures will tend toward the high and not the low.
CC: Ed DeBolt
Skip Watts
Fred Slight
Bruce Wagner
Ed Terrill
FORD & DERALO LIBRARY
ILLINOIS OLDER AMERICANS PRIMARY CAMPAIGN PLAN
The activities and tasks presented below are designed to maximize
voter support from senior Republicans in the Illinois March 16th
primary. The objectives defined are limited to those which will
have the most impact and are immediately accomplishable.
I. ACTIVITY: Establishment of The Older Americans for PFC.
A. Tasks:
1. Identify two prominent older Republicans who will:
a. serve as Co-Chairpersons of the Committee.
b. assist in carrying those actions discussed
below which they deem appropriate.
C. expand the Committee membership on a regional/
county basis after the primary for the purposes
of further general election activities to be
developed.
d. lend their names for use in campaign materials
and advertising.
2. Potential Co-Chairpersons have been identified and
will be confirmed no later than Wednesday, March 3rd.
They are:
a. Mr. Clarence Lipman - Governor's call pending.
b. Mrs. Elizabeth Percy - pending - to serve after
the primary for general election purposes.
C. Mr. Ken Ogilvie - pending.
3. Attempts are currently underway to identify well-known
non-controversial older Americans in all major Illinois
communities to be members of the Committee (see Activity 4).
II. ACTIVITY: Advocacy/Scheduling
A. Tasks:
1. The PFC advocacy operation at the state and national
levels will place spokesmen and will schedule drop-bys
before senior citizen groups.
2. In addition to the materials already generated for
surrogate briefing, a separate memorandum developed
jointly by Commissioner Flemming, Slight and Mills
FORD is LIBRARY QERALD
presenting a recommended approach to explain the
President's Catastrophic Health Insurance proposal
will be available on March 5th. A copy of this memo-
randum will be forwarded to James Shuman.
3. Older Americans Forums - per previous discussions.
III. ACTIVITY: Communications Strategy. Communication of the fact
that President Ford is helping older Americans will be accomp-
lished through:
A. Tasks:
1. Newspaper Advertisement:
Based on in-house response to the Florida senior citizen
ad and the need to emphasize the President's commitment
to a strong Social Security system, a new ad for approp-
riate nationwide use is being developed in time for
placement in Illinois papers.
The copy of this full-page ad is currently being
developed. Space is being provided for the insertion
of name (s) of a locally prominent, non-controversial
senior Republican supporter (s) serving on the above-
mentioned committee. If an appropriate non-controversial
chairman is not confirmed by March 5th, no names will be
inserted in the ad.
Campaign '76, in cooperation with Mills, will submit the
recommended newspapers for ad placement and budget no
later than March 4th.
The impact of this ad and the Florida ad should be
measured. Therefore, it is recommended that Slight,
Mills, and Campaign 76 develop a proposed procedure,
criteria, and budget plan for such a test on a post-
election day basis.
AGREE
DISAGREE
2. Brochures:
25,000 older Americans PFC brochures have just been
sent to the Chicago headquarters. On March 1st,
Mr. Walter Parker was hired as the Older Americans for
President Ford Director in Illinois. Among other things
(see below) Mr. Parker is responsible for the distribu-
tion of these brochures in target areas throughout the
FORD
state.
GERALD
LIBRARY
3. Press Release:
The Illinois Press Director, Mr. Fred Bird, in cooper-
ation with Mills and Kaye, will develop and issue a
press release announcing the formation of the Older
Americans Committee, and why. A sample press release
is attached.
4. Interviews:
If scheduling and other conditions permit, the President's
cabinet-level advisor on aging, Dr. Arthur S. Flemming,
United States Commissioner, Administration on Aging,
will participate in interviews with local media when in
Illinois.
Scheduling of such interviews will be coordinated through
Mills and the Commissioner's office. When such inter-
views occur, the fact will be communicated to all approp-
riate PFC Directors through field reports.
IV. ACTIVITY: Field Operations. On February 28th, the Illinois PFC,
at Mills' recommendation, employed Mr. Walter Parker (age 72,
good health) as of March 1st for a fee of $250.00 per week for
the purposes presented below.
Mr. Parker was the Director of the Older Americans effort in
1972 and has complete records from that time. He had the best
organization of all states for Older Americans in 1972. It was
comprised of 168 committees throughout the state. He staged more
Older Americans events in Illinois in 1972 than did any other
senior citizens staff man in other states.
A. Tasks: Mr. Parker is, in order of priority, responsible for
re-activating his former Older Americans network with these
objectives:
1. identifying fifty former local Older Americans Chairmen
in fifty key communities,
2. having them conduct a home telephone campaign using
the pyramid system (see attached instructions),
3. having them supply capable manpower to the telephone
bank operations in those area's designated by the state
telephone bank coordinator,
4. having them distribute the Older Americans brochure to
senior citizen clusters in their areas,
5. re-activating, to the extent possible, his former down-
state farm network to carry out a home telephone campaign
using the pyramid system, and
6. distributing PFC-approved background material and
instructions to the above-mentioned contacts. Attached
are portions of the Older American's packet he will be
sending to his contacts.
GLRALD FORD FIBRART
Mr. Parker will quantitatively and qualitatively account the
results of the above-designated activities. He has been given
office space and will work both at the headquarters and at
home.
If his performance meets expectations it is possible Mills will
recommend that Mr. Parker be employed on a part-time basis in
other states.
V. ACTIVITY: Transportation. As previously discussed.
VI. BUDGET. Estimated Program Budget Expenditures for Older
Americans In Illinois (excludes overall effort impacting older
Americans)
March 1 through March 16
Low
High
A. State Staff Fees
$ 500.00
$ 600.00
(Walter Parker)
B. State Staff Expenses
200.00
250.00
(telephone, mailings,
travel)
C. Newspaper Ad
15,000.00
30,000.00
D. Brochures
500.00
700.00
E. Radio (Feb., March)
26,000.00
30,000.00
F. Advocacy (estimated)
2,000.00
5,000.00
TOTALS
$44,200.00
$66,550.00
FORD is LIBRARY 07487.
- COVER LETTER TO THE LOCAL OLDER AMERICANS CHAIRMEN -
March
, 1976
Dear
:
I was pleased to talk with you again and learn of your
desire to help President Ford.
As promised, I am enclosing guideline instructions and
background information to help you in carrying out this project.
If you have any questions, please call me at 312/641-6716 or
evenings at 312/432-5757.
If everyone you call agrees to contact at least ten friends
and some are able to help out at the telephone center, we will
have contributed tremendously to the President's campaign.
Again, it is great to be back in contact. I am sure with
this kind of effort, the President will win on March 16th and in
November.
Many thanks and best of luck.
Sincerely,
Walter Parker
FORD is LIF OTHER
- INSTRUCTIONS -
TASK #1. Telephone Campaign
The goal here is for you to call every Republican you know in your
area and
1. tally:
a. how many are intending to vote for President Ford
b. how many are intending to vote for the opposition
C. how many are not intending to vote
d. how many are undecided and
e. who would like more information on a specific issue,
what the issue is and their address.
2. ask those who support President Ford if they would get
involved in helping him by
a. calling every Republican friend they have (at least
ten) and asking them to make calls if they support
the President,
b. ask them to call you back and report the tally results
as outlined above and on the enclosed tally sheet.
Be sure to tell each person you call who you have called
so that they do not repeat calls you have made. This is
especially important in cases where the circle of friends
is the same.
TASK #2. Volunteer Support
1. Ask those you call to help gather volunteers to help in the
telephone banks in the area. The telephone bank in your area
is coordinated by
.
You should call
and ask how many volunteers he/she
needs, when and where.
2. Ask if they want transportation to the telephone banks (or
to the polls). If they do, contact the telephone bank co-
ordinator.
TASK #3. Brochures
QERALD FORD LIBRAPT
Per our telephone conversation, we are sending you
brochures
explaining how the President is helping older Americans. As you know,
- 2 -
these can be distributed in a variety of ways such as in areas where
older people shop, lobbies of retired persons residence complexes,
etc.
Be sure to ask permission where necessary and advisable and do not
hand them out around churches or where political activity is forbidden.
FORD is LIBRARY QERALO
MEMORANDUM FOR: State Press Directors
FROM: Jim Mills 202/466-2113
SUBJECT: Sample Press Release -- Older Americans for
President Ford Committee
Date
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Telephone:
HEADLINE: "Older (Senior)* Americans (State;e.g., Nevadans)
for Ford"
Mr. (Mrs.)
, Chairman of the
(State) President Ford Committee in (State) announced today the
formation of the
(e.g., Senior Texans
for President Ford Committee).
"Older people want to be actively involved in President Ford's
campaign, Mr.
said. Mr.
of
(city) and Mrs.
of (city) have been appointed to
chair this important committee.
"President Ford is helping those of us who are retired, now we
are going to help him," Mr (s).
said. "Older
people support Ford for many reasons including his success at cutting
down inflation and determination to improve and strengthen the Social
Security Trust Fund," according to Mr (s).
.
"Older people will vote for Ford because he acts rather than
talks ans because they know that a healthy economy is in their as
well as everybody's best interest," Mr (s).
, the
Committee's other Co-Chairman said.
("We older people have been around a long time. We are not
about to be hoodwinked by glamour and fancy-dan rhetoric," Mr (s).
, the Committee's Co-Chairman said.)
* Parentheses indicate optional language.
FORD is LIBRARY 038410
President Ford Committee
P.O BOX 1976 GREAT FALLS MONTANA 594 31403 727 3452
Contact: Kenneth R. Neill, Chairman
(727-2200)
Sharon Ann Ashton, Exec. Dir.
NEWS RELEASE
(727-3452)
17 February 1976
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mary Stevens Carroll, for 25 years a reporter for the United Press,
has been named Montana Senior Citizens Chairman for the President Ford Committee.
The appointment was announced by State Ford Chairman, Kenneth R. Neill!
Mrs. Carroll currently authors a column in the Republican party's state
newspaper TRUNK LINE titled "A Carroll Line." She is a member of the Cascade County
Republican Central Committee and editor of "Woman Talk," a monthly county GOP publication.
In accepting the appointment Mrs. Carroll said, "I feel President Ford
deserves our support for the way in which he has tried to stem this tide of deficit
spending. Our paychecks have had more and more withholding and the dollars left buy
less and less.
It took courage for the President to try with his vetos to stop this.
People of every party should vote for a "common sense" man such as Gerald Ford."
Mrs. Carroll currently is a board member of the College of Great Falls
Guild, and the Cascade County Republican Women's Club. She is an active member in
the Salvation Army Auxillary and the Travel Club.
She is a former school teacher. During WW II she was Chairman of the
American Committee for the Greek War Relief, public relations chairman for the British
War Relief and the Cascade County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
She and her late husband, Walker B. Carroll, have two children, a son,
Dr. Joseph M. Carroll, Superintendent of Schools of Palm Beach County, Florida, and a
daughter, Mrs. Charles E. Allen, Gig Harbor, Washington.
########
GERALD FORD LIBRAST
The President and Committee, Howard it California
the Federal tertion Commission and
SUGGESTED TARGET AREAS, OLDER
1970
AMERICANS
COUNTY
POPULATION
CITY
POPULATION
Adams
13,672
Quincey
9,778
Champaign
13,935
Champaign
5,431
Urbana
3,208
Cook
755,206
Chicago
516,353
Suburbia (Cook County)
(a) Berwyn 12,769
(b) Maywood 3,568
Cicero 12,293
Evergreen Park 4,419
Elgin 10,381
Niles 3,176
Evanston 15,518
Harvey 3,827
Des Plaines 5,618
Elmwood Park 4,297
Oak Park 14,088
Arlington Heights 4.547
Oak Lawn 6,709
Blue Island 4,098
Skokie 8,367
Chicago Heights 4,296
Park Ridge 6,243
DuPage
42,548
Bensenville
1,194
Glen Ellyn
2,221
Hinsdale
2,094
Lombard
2,829
Villa Park
3,208
Wheaton
3,102
Elmhurst
6,353
Downers Grove
3,590
Naperville
1,921
Kane
32,013
Aurora
10,102
St. Charles
1,604
Kankakee
15,177
Kankakee
5,208
Knox
11,638
Galesburg
7,121
Lake
35,947
Waukegan
7,732
Highland Park
3,470
Lake Forest
1,978
Zion
1,608
North Chicago
2,097
LaSalle
19,208
Ottawa
3,337
LaSalle
2,383
Peru
1,962
Streator
2,964
$
FORD
McLean
14,485
Bloomington
6,725
Normal
GERALD
1,949
COUNTY
POPULATION
CITY
POPULATION
Macon
18,804
Decatur (Urbanized
Area)
15,689
Madison
(See St. Clair
34,410
Alton
7,437
County)
Collinsville
2,921
Granite City
5,180
Wood River
1,724
Edwardsville
2,155
Peoria
30,317
Peoria
19,958
Urbanized area
35,085
Rock Island
23,962
Rock Island
8,328
Moline
7,591
Ill. Urban Balance
10,880
Davenport, Ill. portion
14,455
St. Clair
37,760
E. St. Louis
10,736
Belleville
8,326
Remainder in Ill. portion
of SMSA
33,713
Saugmon
26,721
Springfield
17,015
Tazewell
13,832
East Peoria
2,125
Pekin
4,344
Vermilion
16,449
Danville
7,665
Will
26,142
Joliet
12,448
Winnebago
30,385
Rockford
21,664
Rockford Urbanized
Area
26,179
Total Rockford SMSA
33,540
Total population 60 and over for these twenty counties:
1,212,611
Total population 60 and over statewide:
1,571,497
FORD is GERMLD LIBRAR
Campaign76
Media Communications, Inc.
1828 L STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036 (202) 833-8950
MARCH 3, 1976
TO:
JIM MILLS
FROM:
BRUCE WAGNER
SUBJECT:
OLDER AMERICANS CAMPAIGN IN ILLINOIS
Many thanks for filling me in regarding your plans for Illinois --
they 're most impressive.
I think we should get together regarding the possible media budgets
for Older Americans copy in Illinois and future Primaries.
Assuming the funds for this effort come out of the overall PFC
allocation, we should discuss the specifics and relative importance
of various elements of the advertising plan.
Separately, I'm not sure we 11 have the newspaper ad by tomorrow
as you suggest, but we 11 have a full page newspaper ad for your
consideration in the very near future.
Regarding the merit of measuring the impact of the advertising:
as we discussed last evening, we're very much in favor of
research of the advertising. Nevertheless, we should be sure
to agree on the relative need for research of each individual
effort; as always, copy research is expensive and should be
executed with care in terms of the allocation of funds.
Let's discuss these subjects at your convenience.
CC: E. deBolt
B. Marick
S. Spencer
F. Slight
P. Dailey
C. Wilhite
GERALD FOND LIBRARY
Peter H. Dailey, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer; Bruce S. Wagner, Executive Vice President; Robert C. Moot, Treasurer; Robert P. Visser, Secretary
President Ford Committee
1828 L STREET, N.W., SUITE 250, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036 (202) 457-6400
March 10, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR: BO CALLAWAY
THROUGH:
BOB MARIK
FROM:
JIM MILLS
SUBJECT:
Older Americans National Advisory Committee
Attached for your approval is the blueprint outlining the
overall method contemplated for the formation of this Committee.
Should you recommend any changes, a revised version will
be forwarded to you as soon as possible.
cc Stu Spencer
Ed Debolt
FORD is GERALD LIBRARY
The President Ford Committee, Howard H. Callaway, Chairman, Robert Mosbacher, National Finance Chairman, Robert C. Moot, Treasurer. A copy of our
Report is filed with the Federal Election Commission and is available for purchase from the Federal Election Commission, Washington, D.C. 20463.
OLDER AMERICANS FOR PRESIDENT FORD
NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
1.
Introduction
1.1 Purpose
1.2 Assumptions
2.0 Organization
2.1 State
2.2 Local
2.3 National
2.4 Ethnic Integration
2.5 Organization Charts
3.0 Timetable
GERALO FORD
1.0 Introduction
In realizing the overall goal of the Older Americans
Division, P.F.C., i.e., to increase awareness among senior
Americans that the President is helping them so that they will
work and vote for him, an Older Americans for President Ford
National Advisory Committee is to be established.
Agree
Disagree
1.1 Purpose
The objectives of this Committee will be to:
a. strengthen the President's active constituency
among older voters by expanding membership on the
Committee down to the local level, and
b. assist and advise in realizing the goals and
activities of the Older Americans Divison, P.F.C.,
and the overall campaign. (See Older Americans
Division, Campaign Plan).
1.2 Assumptions
a. that the requirement to focus attention on primary
states on a rotating basis encourages development of
the Committee membership from the state level down
to the local level.
b. that key general election states where primaries
are not scheduled or where they are late, should be
organized, as well,
C. that official formation and announcement of the
Older Americans National Advisory Committee can best
be accomplished after state organization and appointment
of officers.
d. that all local and state members be automatically
included as a National O.A. Committee member.
e. that the leadership of the National Advisory Committee
be known for their concern and activity in the field
of aging as well as other realms and be designated as
the Executive Board of the O.A. for President Ford
National Advisory Committee.
GERALD TODO
2
f. that the leadership also be determined based on
geographic location, name recognition, interest
in serving, and political profile,
g. that the Executive Board membership of the National
Older Americans Advisory Committee include a balance
of ethnic representation, national organization affili-
ation, and prominence.
2.0 Organization
2.1 State
The first step in the formation of the Older Americans for
President Ford National Advisory Committee is the identification
of prominent non-controversial Republican leaders involved or
knowledgeable in the field of aging on the state level. This is
to be accomplished by April 30th in all first and second priority
states. The deadline for third priority states is set for May 31st.
Two of these individuals are identified to serve (minimumly)
as figurehead Co-chairpersons. Where no substantial activity
(per state Older American plans) is expected from the appointees
and where information supports the need, a staff man will be
employed to support and expand the Committee membership and carry
out other state O.A. campaign objectives. This expansion process
is an integral part of the overall state Older Americans Campaign
Plan (e.g., Illinois).
In smaller states, chairpersons will be selected on the
above criteria, as well as their ability and desire to carry out
the work activities of that state's O.A. campaign plan.
2.2 Local Level
As indicated above, once confirmed, the Older Americans
Chairman and/or the O.A. staff person will commence committee
expansion within the state.
The local Older Americans Committee chairpersons/members
will be responsible for carrying out the activities as defined
in:
a. the state primary O.A. campaign plan when applicable,
and
b. the state general O.A. campaign plan.
As state O.A. chairpersons are selected and local chair-
persons/members are identified, the names and addresses will be
forwarded to the Older Americans Division, P.F.C., for inclusion
FORD
as members of the National O.A. Advisory Committee.
GERALD
LIBRARY
3
Letters acknowledging membership will be sent by the
Director, O.A.D. when notification of interest is sent directly
to the national P.F.C. (brochures/correspondence). This is to
commence immediately. Once the Executive Board membership
is finalized such acknowledgement will originate from its
leadership (July 1.)
2.3 National
As indicated, all senior citizens working on behalf of
the President will automatically be members of the National
Committee.
2.3.1. Executive Board
An Executive Board of the O.A. for President Ford National
Advisory Committee will be selected based on the following
formula:
a. Washington, D.C.: Chairperson Candidates:
1.
2.
3.
4.
b. Illinois: Midwestern Regional Chairperson Candidates:
1.
2.
3.
4.
C. New York: Eastern Regional Chairperson Candidates:
1.
2.
3.
4.
d. Texas: Southwest Regional Chairperson Candidates:
1.
2.
3.
4.
e. California: Western Regional Chairperson Candidates:
1.
2.
3.
4.
BERALD FORD LIBRARY
4
f. Florida: Southern Regional Chairperson Candidates:
1.
2.
3.
4.
00
State Members
Each state chairperson or co-chairperson will be con-
sidered a member of the Executive Board.
The Advisory Committee's Executive Board will be
responsible for:
1. advising the Director, Older Americans Division,
P.F.C.
2. carrying out or assisting in the implementation
of the state O.A. campaign plans in their respective
areas,
3. attending one Washington, D.C. meeting sometime
between July and September. The precise proposal
for this meeting will be submitted to the appropri-
ate parties and the Chairman, President Ford
Committee, in May. It is intended that the meeting
serve two primary functions. They are:
aa. high visibility-media event, and
bb. state planning and information exchange.
2.32 Ethnic Integration
In addition to the above membership criteria, attempts will
be made to add one member for each major ethnic group. Such
appointments may of necessity also be classified as state members.
2.33 National Organizations
Attempts will be made to identify appropriate ex-officers
of senior citizen organizations (AARP, NCSC, NRTA, etc.) in the
Executive Board selection process.
The specific Executive Board membership and activity plan in
to be submitted by April 30th.
2.4 Organizational Charts (see following page)
FORD of LIBRARY
OLDER AMERICANS DIVISION, P. F. C.
Organization Chart I
STATE PFC
CHAIRMAN, PFC
CHAIRMEN
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
FOR ADMINISTRATION
COMMISSIONER
ON AGING
OTHER DIRECTORS,
A. S. Flemming
PFC DIVISIONS
DIRECTOR,
OLDER AMERICANS
DIVISION
EXECUTIVE BOARD,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR,
OLDER AMERICANS FOR
DOMESTIC COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FORD NATIONAL
Jim Cavanaugh
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SECRETARY
OAD
OLDER AMERICANS
FOR P.F.C.
OAD
VOLUNTEERS
FIELD COORDINATOR
OAD
STATE PFC DIRECTORS
VOTING BLOC STAFF, AND
LOCAL O.A.P.F.C.
&
IDAD
GERALD
LIBRARY
SUMMARY CRITICAL PATH CHART: OLDER AMERICANS FOR PRESIDENT FORD NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ( OAFPFNAC)
LIBRARY
07/830
Goal Ia
Goal IIb
Goal IIIc
Goal IVd
Goal Ve
Executive
Executive
Executive
Commence
Executive
Board
Board
Board
Executive
Board
OAFPFNAC
Plan
Officers &
Board
Meeting
Plan
Approved
Members
Correspondence
submitted
Appointed
sent to
convention
(April 30)
tb=5 days
tc=10 days
Membership
(May 15)
(June 15)
te=30-75 75 days
(possible
(May 5)
td=30 days
activity)
(July 15-
Goal VI
August 31)
Goal I
ta=45 days
Campaign
Older Ameri-
Objectives
cans for
Achieved;
President
Letters of
Ford National
Acknowledge
Advisory
ment sent
Committee
(Nov. 15)
Organizational
individual
State 01der
O.A.D.
Local Chairper
Plan Approved
State 01der
State Older
Americans
correspondence
sons appointed
(March 15)
Americans GOTV
American Chair-
Campaign Plans
sent to
& membership
Plans Developed
person(s)
Developed and
field member-
expanded; names
& Approved in
t₁=¹-75 days
appointed by
Approved in
ship
& activity re-
concert with
state P.F.C.
t₂=1-75 days
cooperation
Chairman
with State P.F.C.
t3=1-125 days
(Mar. 15-
(Mar. 15-May31)
t4=1-90 days
ports submitted
to O.A.D. ;0.A. D.
(Mar.15-
t5=60 days
State P.F.C.
(Sept. 15)
(Mar 15-May 31)
June 15)
field visits
July 14)
Goal I
Goal II
Goal IV
Goal V
Goal III
Activities
t1=45 days
1. Older American Packet Completed
2. Letter from the Chairman
and Packet Sent
3. Field Visits and Primary
Campaign Activities Carried Out
in Accordance with Current Action
Plan
t2= 1 - 75 days
1. Research
2. Field Communications
t3= 1 - 90 days
1. Letter Developed and Approved
t4= 1 - 125 days
1. Implementation of State O.A. Plan
t₅= 60 days
1. State Program Assessed
2. Goals Established
3. O.A. Contribution to Goals
Determined
4. Plan Developed
GERALD
LIBRARY
She Special FYI.
President Ford Committee
1828 L STREET, N.W., SUITE 250, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036 (202) 457-6400
March 11, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR: JERRY JONES
FROM:
JIM MILLS
SUBJECT:
Scheduling
The President's scheduling vis-a-vis older Americans has had a
tremendous effect. It has been most helpful to me in carrying
out my efforts and has surely had a favorable impact at the polls.
You may wish to give consideration to reducing the frequency of
nursing home drop-bys in favor of sites which have a more positive
image amongst the elderly (i.e., senior center, Area Agency Advisory
Council meetings, nutrition programs, R.S.V.P. project stations,
F.G.P., etc).
CC Bob Marik
Jan and four you mgth also
mature this to state
FORDO is LIBRARY
TRAVEL PLANS FOR:
Jim Mills
TIME PERIOD:
3/11 - 3/18
DESTINATION:
Reno/Arizona/New Mexico/Texas/Washington D.C.
FLIGHT PLANS:
Flight #
Date
Departure
Arrival
UA#247
3/11
Washington National 1:55p.m.
Chicago 2:52 p.m.
UA#223
3/11
Chicago
3:45 p.m.
Reno
6:58p.m.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS:
Reno Residence: 702/323-0600
3/11-3/13 (early a.m.)
OTHER -A will call in to Betsey Bellows - 466-2113
Distribute: Marik
DeBolt
:
FORD
Watts
Terrell
GERALD
LIBRARY
President Ford Committee
1828 L STREET, N.W., SUITE 250, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036 (202) 457-6400
March 11, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR: JIM CAVANAUGH
FROM:
JIM MILLS
SUBJECTS:
Congressional Forums
Catastrophic Health Legislation
Congressional Forums:
While there is consensus that the Administration should encourage scheduling
of "town hall" type Older American Congressional Forums, little has been
done in the planning realm.
In order for a) Arthur S. Flemming and other spokesmen to schedule themselves
in priority areas in a timely way, and b) Congressmen and staffs to have
sufficient lead time, it is desirable to have states and districts targeted
and sample formats available.
The attached list of target areas was developed based on numbers of elderly,
and state priority, Congressional representation, and media market.
The format and model organization outline attached are intended to provide
liaison with a tool useful in selling the concept and its simplicity.
This program will be of great benefit to all involved and should be a
priority item.
Catastrophic Health Legislation:
Given the sensitivity of this issue and its potential impact, I would like
the opportunity to be briefed on the strategies you and Max Friedersdorf
have, or are developing. This will help me in the planning and strategy
formation process here at the P.F.C.
I can be available for such a meeting immediately upon my return (i.e., 3/19
or 3/20).
a
FORD
CC Bob Marik
GERALD
LIBRARY
The President Ford Committee, Howard H. Calloway, Chairman, Robert Mosbacher. National Finance Chairman, Robert C. Moot, Treasurer. A copy of our
Report is filed with the Federal Election Commission and is available for purchase from the Federal Election Commission, Washington, D.C. 20463.
OLDER AMERICANS FORUM PLANNING
Attached is material useful to those Congressmen and other leaders interested
in organizing forums directed at increasing the senior Americans' awareness
of the federal, state, and local governments activities on their behalf.
Such forums will help meet the need of senior citizens to become familiar with
and understand the services available to them.
FORD is LIBRARY GENALD
OVERVIEW
For check-list purposes, a Senior Americans Forum can be divided into
five components. They are:
1. Arrangements: A school auditorium, church social hall, VFW
or American Legion hall or purlic meeting place near
public transportation should be chosen as the location of the
Forum.
2. Invitations: As many personal invitations as possible should be
sent. Contact all clubs and churches. Pre-advertise
inexpensively on radio and in the newspapers. Older persons
read the papers more thoroughly than any other group.
3. Staging: The acoustics in your meeting place must be checked
thoroughly. Make sure everyone can hear. Always use a P.A.
system to be safe. Set up the forum (speaker's area, audience
chairs) in a way that makes it easy for the spokesmen to
interact with the audience. Avoid a stiff, formal arrangement.
4. Program: Sample Programs Attached.
5. Social Hour: Held after the program. Everyone ( speakers included)
should mingle and have fun. Serve refreshments (coffee, tea,
soft-drinks, cake). Explore the possibilities of entertainment
(Senior Citizen string bands or Barber Shop Quartets, etc.).
ARRANGEMENTS
Facts to Consider
When looking for a suitable place in which to hold an Older Americans Forum,
it is important to consider the projected number of attendees. The ideal,
of course, is to select a meeting place which is flexible enought to accomo-
date either a smaller or larger crowd than you actually anticipate.
The site of the Forum must be as close as possible to public transportation.
The number of older persons who will attend the Forum is directly dependent
upon the ease with which they can get there and back. This is another
reason why a Forum should not start before 9a.m. nor conclude after 4p.m.
If possible, the Forum site should be close to other attractions (shops,
park, senior center) SO that those whom you would like to be there will
have a reinforcing reason to attend.
Place
Generally, it will be unnecessary to rent a place in which to hold a Forum.
Try to reserve a school auditorium senior citizen center, church social hall
fire house, VFW hall, etc.
FORDO & LIBRARY GERALD
Transportation
A committee of volunteers could be organized to provide "car pool" type
transportation for those older persons who would like to attend the Forum
but need help in getting there. Church groups and the like often have their
own buses which they may allow to be used. Remember to consider return
transportation in your scheduling. It must be just as convenient for attendees
to get home as it is to get to the Forum. Ask local police to clear parking
places in the immediate area of the building where the Forum is to be held
so that attendees will not have to walk very far.
First Aid
If possible, try to have a doctor or nurse in attendance at the Forum The
local Red Cross Chapter may be willing to provide a first aid volunteer
and station wagon. The local fire department may of assistance in this matter.
The use of volunteer ushers may help to prevent the need for first aid.
Guest Register
Every effort should be made to secure the names and addresses of attendees.
A guest register or 3x5 cards could be used for this purpose. Ask attendees
for their names and addresses so that information can be sent to them.
INVITATIONS
Publicity
Advance publicity concerning the Forums, coverage of the event itself, and
follow-up should be coordinated by the appropriate local Congressional staff.
Personal Announcements
As many personal invitations as possible should be extended to older Americans
living in the area in which the Forum is to be held. Invitations should
be personally distributed to all clubs, fraternal organizations, church
groups, etc. Also remember to solicit all membership organizations, particu-
larly those composed of older persons---AARP, NRTA, NARFE, NCSC. Telephone
Pioneers. Also Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Chamber of Commerce, J.C.'s, American
Legion, V.F.W., D.A.V., etc. You will find that these groups are also
excellent potential sources for logistical support and "sponsor" type activity.
Follow-up:
Congressional staff should be sure to write thank you notes to all participants
and supporters who helped.
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
STAGING
Set-up
The speaker's area and the audience seats should be arranged in a way
that permits interaction between the two. Formality should be avoided.
Sound; Light; Ventilation
Always check the acoustics of the meeting place carefully. Use sound
amplification equipment and check to make sure that it is operating
properly. Check for background noise (jet planes passing over;
construction work) which might distract the audience or drown out a
speaker.
Make sure that the participants have enought light by which to read the
material. If possible, lighting of the participants should be brighter
than that of the audience, thereby highlighting your speakers. Be sure
that there is adequate ventilation. Remember, when a room fills up
with people the temperature will rise quickly. You should anticipate
this when checking an empty meeting room. Take care to avoid drafts
which may be caused by open windows. Crack windows at the top.
Miscellaneous
Prime consideration should be paid to the physical comfort of the audience
don't "pack" them in, get the most comfortable chairs possible, leave wide
aisles, etc.
GERALD LISA ? FORD
PROGRAM
SENIOR AMERICANS:
FORUMS
DATE:
LOCATION:
SPONSORED BY CONGRESSMAN
PROGRAM
9 a.m. to 9:15
Welcoming remarks by Sponsoring Representative
.
9:15 a.m. to 9:45
"The State of
: What IS IT Doing to Help
the Elderly". Speaker: Director or Representative
from the State Office on Aging.
9:45 a.m. to 10:15
Social Security. Past and future changes in the system.
How are the bank deposits of Social Security checks
working out? What about future cost-of-living increases?
What new services does Social Security offer: Repre-
sentative from local Social Security Office.
10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
The local area Agency on Aging. What is it doing and how
many people are being reached. Director.
10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Half-hour coffee break.
11 a.m. to 1130 a.m.
Senior Citizens Housing. What is the status of project
in
What is the demand and the
.
prospects for more construction under the rent subsidy
program? Director of the local/regional office of HUD.
11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Panelists will answer questions from the audience on
health, nutrition, housing, utility costs and various
services. Panelists will be
,
,
,
, and
.
12 p.m. to 12:15 p.m.
RSVP. Where can Senior Citizens help. Local RSVP Director.
12:15 p.m.
Representative
introduces Dr. Arthur S.
Flemming, U.S. Commissioner on Aging (or his designate)
for principle speech.
1 p.m.
Brief concluding remarks by Representative
thanking Dr. Flemming and all those participating.
BERALD FORD LIBRAGA
SENIOR AMERICANS:
FORUMS
DATE:
LOCATION:
SPONSORED BY CONGRESSMAN
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
4:00 p.m.
Registration
7:30 p.m.
Convening of Conference
8:00 p.m.
Keynote Address by Dr. Arthur S. Flemming, U.S. Commissioner
on Aging (or his designate)
9:00 p.m.
Reception for Dr. Flemming (or designate)
9:00 a.m.
Registration
9:30 a.m.
Convening of meeting
10:00a.m.
Remarks by
, Director, State Office
of Aging
10:30a.m.
"Congress and Aging Legislation" by Representative
12:00 noon
Luncheon (Dutch Treat)
2:00 p.m.
Workshops
4:00 p.m.
Workshop Reports and Summary
5:00 p.m.
Adjournment
FORD & LIBRARY
SOCIAL HOUR
Format
The Social Hour, directly following the formal portion of the Forum,
should be relaxing and fun. Audience and Forum participants should
mingle informally and get to know each other.
Refreshments
Coffee, tea, lemonade, soft drinks, coke, finger sandwiches, cake,
cookies, etc. should be served during the Social Hour. Often the
local women's GOP club, a church ladies auxiliary, Older Person Organ-
ization, service club, etc. will be willing to take charge of the
Social Hour and provide some "homemade" refreshments.
Entertainment
A highlight of every Forum should be some form of entertainment. It
need not be sophisticated and should involve local older persons if
possible. Check local clubs, fraternal organizations, church groups,
etc. If older person performers cannot be found, try for youths
(choral group, etc.). Old persons and young persons mix particularly
well. An excellent film called "May the Last be the Best" prepared
by the Admin i stration on Aging could be shown (if not shown during
the program portion of the Forum) (28 minutes).
FORD is LIBRARY
CONGRESSIONAL FORUM TARGETING BY STATE
I. Primary Priorities (May 1 - 31)
Projected Actual Voters
Population 60+
A. California
1,990,660
40th District
27th District
22nd District
41st District
33rd District
39th District
26th District
B. Michigan
805,700
19th District
3rd District
2nd District
6th District
C. Ohio
1,475,990
1st District
2nd District
3rd District
12th District
FORD is 07V830 LIBRARY
II. General Election Only Priority States
Projected Actual Voters
Population 60+
A. California
1,990,660
40th District
27th District
22nd District
41st District
33rd District
39th District
26th District
B. New York
2,006,760
23rd District
35th District
38th District
33rd District
5th District
C. Illinois
Pending - To be completed
March 15
D. Ohio
1,475,990
1st District
2nd District
3rd District
12thDistrict
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
Projected Actual Voters
Population 60+
E. Texas,
Pending - To be completed
by March 15
F. Pennsylvania
"
G. Michigan
805,700
19th District
3rd District
2nd District
6th District
H. Florida
Pending - To be completed
by March 15
I. New Jersey
"
J. Indiana
"
K. Missouri
"
L. Wisconsin
"
M. North Carolina
"
N. Washington
"
O. Tennessee
"
III. General Election Only Second Priority States
A. Virginia
Pending - To be completed
by March 15
B. Oklahoma
"
C. Kentucky
"
D. Iowa
"
E. Nebraska
"
F. Colorado
"
FORD is LIBRARY