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Ford Press Releases - Selective Service, 1966-1971
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4525575
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Ford Press Releases - Selective Service, 1966-1971
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The original documents are located in Box D9, folder "Ford Press Releases - Selective
Service, 1966-1971" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File 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. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
MICK DEFERMENT TESTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 10, 1966
STATEMENT BY HOUSE MINORITY LEADER GERALD R. FORD, R-MICHIGAN.
Lt. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, director of the National Selective Service
System, today has informed me that the mixup in which hundreds of Michigan
college students have been directed to take draft deferment tests hundreds
of miles away from their campuses or hometowns will be "straightened out."
"They may not get the exact date they want but they'll be able to take
the tests in their own areas," Gen. Hershey told me.
Referring to the fact that instructions went "opy out to the Michigan
students telling them to report to test lites in Mississippi and Massachusetts,
the General said "nobody from Michigan is going to Mississippi or to
Massachusetts, either 11 "We'll get this thing straightened out," he added.
I called Gen. Hershey when I learned of the mixup and heard that
Col. Arthur D. Holmes, the Michigan selective service director, was unable
to get any satisfaction from Science Research Associates, the Chicago firm
conducting the tests for National Selective Service Headquarters. Science
Research had told Col. Holmes it was "too late" and there was "nothing they
could do about it at this late date."
Gen. Hershey had a few unkind things to say about computers.
"I don't know how it happened," he said. "I'm just an old pencil-pusher,
myself."
# # #
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
Digitized from Box D9 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
MICK DEFERMENT TESTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 10, 1966
STATEMENT BY HOUSE MINORITY LEADER GERALD R. FORD, R-MICHIGAN.
Lt. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, director of the National Selective Service
System, today has informed me that the mixup in which hundreds of Michigan
college students have been directed to take draft deferment tests hundreds
of miles away from their campuses or hometowns will be "straightened out."
"They may not get the exact date they want, but they'll be able to take
the tests in their own areas," Gen. Hershey told me.
Referring to the fact that instructions went out to the Michigan
students telling them to report to test sites in Mississippi and Massachusetts,
the General said "nobody from Michigan is going to Mississippi or to
Massachusetts, either." "We'll get this thing straightened out," he added.
I called Gen. Hershey when I learned of the mixup and heard that
Col. Arthur D. Holmes, the Michigan selective service director, was unable
to get any satisfaction from Science Research Associates, the Chicago firm
conducting the tests for National Selective Service Headquarters. Science
Research had told Col. Holmes it was "too late" and there was "nothing they
could do about it at this late date."
Gen. Hershey had a few unkind things to say about computers.
"I don't know how it happened," he said. "I'm just an old pencil-pusher,
myself."
###
Distribution : Full
Q Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
February 21, 1970
I fully concur with the President's Commission on an All-Volunteer Armed
Force that we should move toward an all-volunteer military as quickly as possible.
The commission proposes allowing the Selective Service Act to expire as of
June 30, 1971. There is good reason to believe that this would not only be
desirable but feasible. Meantime we should overhaul the draft law, raise first-term
military pay, and expand the role and capability of our reserve forces.
I have long advocated an end to the draft once the United States combat role
in Vietnam is reduced to the point where the draft no longer is necessary. Today
I reaffirm that advocacy. The only way to end all of the inequities in the draft
is to end the draft itself.
It appears to me that President Nixon's program for ending the U.S. ground
combat role in Vietnam through Vietnamization of the war will make it feasible to
carry out the recommendations of his Commission on an All-Volunteer Armed Force.
The commission has done an excellent job of analyzing the pros and cons of
an all-volunteer military. Each of its members deserves the thanks of the American
people.
###
11111117
U. S. HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
REPUBLICAN POLICY
COMMITTEE
REP. JOHN J. RHODES, (R.-ARIZ.) CHAIRMAN
1616 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
TELEPHONE 225-6168
10
92nd Congress
March 30, 1971
First Session
Statement Number 1
HOUSE REPUBLICAN POLICY COMMITTEE STATEMENT ON H.R. 6531
AMENDING THE MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT OF 1967
"For greater equity we will further revise
Selective Service policies
When military
manpower needs can be appreciably reduced,
we will place the Selective Service System
on standby and substitute a voluntary force
obtained through adequate pay and career
incentives."
Republican Platform, 1968
The House Republican Policy Committee supports the passage of H.R. 6531,
Amending the Military Selective Service Act of 1967.
Tremendous progress has been made by President Nixon in effecting the
orderly and responsible withdrawal of American forces from Vietnam. The early,
1969, U.S. troop level in Vietnam of approximately 550,000 will fall below 284,000
by May 1st of this year. Reflecting the substantial lessening of combat action,
the 1970 draft call was the smallest since 1964, before the major commitment of
U.S. forces in Southeast Asia.
Consistent with the Republican promise of draft reduction and reform, the
President has recommended legislative action to facilitate a two-year transition
from conscription to an all-volunteer military force. An extension of induction
authority is required if we are to maintain, in the interim, the size and quality
(over)
-2-
of the armed forces necessary for our Nation's security. The proposed draft
reforms will enable us to work toward the objective of a zero draft call.
To insure a military force adequate to maintain the Nation's security,
a continuation of induction authority is essential. To achieve the goal of
zero draft calls, passage of the legislative proposals to make military service
more attractive and rewarding, as provided by H.R. 6531, is urgently required.
The House Republican Policy Committee recommends the passage of H.R. 6531,
Amending the Military Selective Service Act of 1967.
U. S. HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
REPUBLICAN POLICY
COMMITTEE
REP. JOHN J. RHODES, (R.-ARIZ.) CHAIRMAN
1616 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
TELEPHONE 225-6168
10
92nd Congress
March 30, 1971
First Session
Statement Number 1
HOUSE REPUBLICAN POLICY COMMITTEE STATEMENT ON H.R. 6531
AMENDING THE MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT OF 1967
"For greater equity we will further revise
Selective Service policies
When military
manpower needs can be appreciably reduced,
we will place the Selective Service System
on standby and substitute a voluntary force
obtained through adequate pay and career
incentives."
Republican Platform, 1968
The House Republican Policy Committee supports the passage of H.R. 6531,
Amending the Military Selective Service Act of 1967.
Tremendous progress has been made by President Nixon in effecting the
orderly and responsible withdrawal of American forces from Vietnam. The early,
1969, U.S. troop level in Vietnam of approximately 550,000 will fall below 284,000
by May 1st of this year. Reflecting the substantial lessening of combat action,
the 1970 draft call was the smallest since 1964, before the major commitment of
U.S. forces in Southeast Asia.
Consistent with the Republican promise of draft reduction and reform, the
President has recommended legislative action to facilitate a two-year transition
from conscription to an all-volunteer military force. An extension of induction
authority is required if we are to maintain, in the interim, the size and quality
(over)
-2-
of the armed forces necessary for our Nation's security. The proposed draft
reforms will enable us to work toward the objective of a zero draft call.
To insure a military force adequate to maintain the Nation's security,
a continuation of induction authority is essential. To achieve the goal of
zero draft calls, passage of the legislative proposals to make military service
more attractive and rewarding, as provided by H.R. 6531, is urgently required.
The House Republican Policy Committee recommends the passage of H.R. 6531,
Amending the Military Selective Service Act of 1967.