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Young Republicans State Convention, Rapid City, SD, September 18, 1965
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4525867
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Young Republicans State Convention, Rapid City, SD, September 18, 1965
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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Republican National Committee (U.S.)
U.S. Congress. 1789-
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The original documents are located in Box D18, folder "Young Republicans State Convention, Rapid City, SD, September 18, 1965" 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 The Council donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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. L.B.J. READING TEXT Housenor of Virgin Thros Long Loan KISS. An Address by Rep. Gerald R. Ford Young Republican's State Convention Rapid City, South Dakota September 18, 1965 You know, it is not always easy for one generation to speak to another. An incident from the great American classic, "The Education of Henry Adams," reminds me of this. In the book there is a description of a temper tantrum by young Henry when he was seven years old. The tantrum started because he refused to go to school. He stomped on the floor and refused to leave the house. The boy was about to win the argument when his grandfather, John Quilacy Adams, appeared. Without a word, the former President took young Henry by the hand and led him outside. The old man and his grandson walked quietly to the schodhouse nearly a mile away. By that action the grandfather earned a lifelong admiration of his grandson because in the course of the entire incident, John Quincy Adams said absolutely nothing. FORD & LIBRARY GERALD Surely, there are some things that cannot be said from one generation to another, but this is not one of those times. (more) Digitized from Box D18 of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library Ford Rapid City GOP -3- however There is a political inconsistency that bothers me. We say we are Republicans and then some head off in separate directions. One is a conservative-- he wants no change in the things forced on the world yesterday by radicals! Then, there is the liberal. He's the person with both feet firmly planted in the air. You may say the radical is nothing more or less than a conservative out of a job. under one Tent but responsible More seriously, I believe we must all be just Republicans! Let's leave the squabbling, the back stabbing, the selfish going-it-alone to the Democrats. Anyway, they're masters at it. and let's ortelling be a one we BU T J party Being just a Republican is an individual task. We don't need a committee to make this decision. "more- BERALD FORD LIBRARY Ford Rapid City GOP -5- Frankly, we are not here to either condemn what or who caused the Republican defeat last year...nor to bemoan our fate, nor to look fearfully at the future. We are here only because we firmly believe the Republican Party has a good cause, can win, and must prevail for the preservation and expansion of those principles of government that have made America the symbol and leader in the cause of freedom. Before outlining a Republican blueprint for action for the future, let's quickly analyze the present. Our party is at its lowest point--numerically speaking since 1936. Fortunately, this is not true in South Dakota. We have Senator Karl Mundt. Representatives Ben Reifel and E. Y. Berry..carrying the Republican cause in Congress. In the House the Democrats have 294 seats while we have 141. Like the Indian yogi lying on a bed of nails--it only hurts when we laugh! -more- DEPARTMENT LIBRARY Ford Rapid City GOP -7- We believe much federal spending is mishandled. Along with this misuse of funds has come misleading information and suppression of what should be public records. In Washington, the symbol for the Administration has become known as Uncle Sham. It is, indeed, government by sham. More press releases, but fewer facts, are turned out than ever before. For example, over the Labor Day weekend the Texas White House released 32 stories. They ran the gamut from the establishment of a wildlife refuge in Maryland to warm words of praise for the Indians, the aged, crime fighters, farmers, businessmen and even bureaucrats. The Washington Post commented, "the orchestration of the publicity has been supsrb!" As high-powered drum-beaters created a picture of whirlwind activity, there was another portrait of the Presidential holiday. FORD i LIBRARY GERALD -more- Ford Rapid City GOP -8- A more candid report of the weekend included a disclosure of seven hours of boating, sighteseeing in Johnson City, a drive around the ranch, and no appointments. Republicans in Congress find it difficult to get straight information from federal agencies. The news media finds it difficult to fully report government operations. In Congress the Democrats have let the investigative power of the House and Senate wither and die. Committees am not dony the job Bills come from the W hith Honse As an example of the moral climate in Washington today, take the case of Otto Otepka. He is a courageous man who spoke up at a Senate hearing to disclose lax security standards in the State Department. His reward was demotion and eventually being fired by Dean Rusk. His phone was tapped. His mail seized. No one was allowed to talk to him. The price of truth is high in the Great Society. -more- FORD 3 LIBRARY Ford Rapid City GOP -9- In the first five years of the Democratic Administrations since meanly President Eisenhower the national debt has grown to $325 billion. The Nation has $800 billion committed for future spending that requires no new laws or programs. Yes, there are issues for us. The Democrats create them. Millions of Americans are learning that the Great Society means slimmer bank accounts, more taxes arbitrarily taken from their paychecks, and fewer dollars to spend on necessities. They are discovering that a government big enough to give them everything they want is big enough to take from them everything they have. I often ask myself why I am concerned about the Republican Party. The answer is simple. -more- GERALD, Ford Rapid City GOP -10- The Republican Party is the only vehicle by which millions of Americans can express their political philosophy. This philosophy, in my judgment, is the best for America. A friend of mine in Michigan a writer and philosopher has described America in the tradition of Abraham Lincoln as a place where a person can live deeper, reach higher, see farther, think bigger, and grow greater than anywhere else on earth. As I see it, the dedicated mission of the Republican Party is to preserve these opportunities for future generations. This means the Republican Party must earn the respect of the American people. We must use our hands and our minds as did the hardy pioneers who built America from sea to shining sea. We must sell our story at every factory gate, to every dockside, to every farm-house, to every home. You-young Republicans of South Dakota- can join thousands of other young people TO do just that. -more- FORD & LIBRARY OERALD Ford Rapid City GOP -11- We must change the image of the Republican Party from that of Problems at persistent opposition to that of contructive alternatives. home of +abroad. We must convince citizens in all segments of our society that we are concerned with their problems; that we care about them individually and collectively. Finally, we must convince others that the Republican philosophy is desparately needed by our Nation. What is the Republic philosophy? We believe: * An individual has a God-given dignity and government exists to serve each person. * Each individual has the right and responsibility to govern himself within the framework of law and order. * The basic function of government is to maintain an environment in which all individuals can freely develop. RALD LIBRARY -more- Ford Rapid City GOP -12- # Government should act to help establish conditions of equal opportunity for all people. * Private ownership and free enterprise best serve economic progress. The Republican philosophy must be repeated over and over again. This reminds me of the young minister who sought advice on his sermons. A retired minister told him: "First, tell the congregation what you are going to tell them. Then tell them. Then tell them what you told them." We know where we stand. We know what we must do. We realize the high stakes the very survival of our Nation. As individuals, as a political party, we know our duty to America. We must accept the challenge. We must move forward. We will. #### LIBRARY CONGRESSMAN NEWS GERALD R. FORD HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER RELEASE Excerpts from a speech For release upon delivery Young Republican's State Convention of address Rapid City, South Dakota September 18, 1965 I believe we must all be just Republicans. Let's leave the squabbling, the back-stabbing, the selfish going-it-alone to the Democrats. They are masters at it. * * * Collectively and individually, Young Republicans of South Dakota know something can be done about winning some Republican victories, We believe the Republican Party has a good cause, can win, and must prevail for the preservation and expansion of those principles of government that have made America the symbol and leader in the cause of freedom. * * * The Democratic Party's record is vulnerable. It has a 4-year record of expediency rather than results. Despite the chest pounding about Great Society achievements, the truth is that the present Congress has adopted legislation long on quantity and short on quality. America is skating on thin ice. * * * We believe much federal spending is mishandled. Along with this has come misleading information and suppression of what should be public records. In Washington, the symbol for the Administration has become known as Uncle Sham. It is, indeed, government by sham, More news releases, but fewer facts, are turned out by the Administration than ever before, One weekend the Texas White House released 32 stories. They ran the gamut from establishment of a wildlife refuge in Maryland to words of praise for the aged, crime fighters, farmers, businessmen and bureaucrats. As high-powered drum-beaters created a picture of whirlwind weekend activity, there was another portrait of the Presidential holiday, including seven hours of boating, sight-seeing in Johnson City, a drive around the ranch, no appointments. Republicans in Congress find it difficult to get straight information from federal agencies, The news media finds it difficult to fully report government operations, In Congress the Democrats have let the investigative power of the House and Senate wither and die, * Excerpts from a speech by Rep. Gerald R. Ford GOP There are issues for the Republican Party. The Democrats help create them. For example, millions of Americans are learning that the Great Society means slimmer bank accounts, more taxes arbitrarily taken from their paychecks, and few dollars to spend on necessities. They are discovering that a government big enough to give them everything they want is big enough to take from them everything they have. * * * The Republican Party is the only vehicle by which millions of Americans can express their political philosophy. This philosophy, in my judgment, is the best for America. * * Our party must earn the respect of the American people. We must use our hands and our minds as did the hardy pioneers who built a strong America from sea to shining sea. We must sell our story at every factory gate, to every dockside, to every farm house, to every home. We must change the image of the Republican Party from that of persistent opposition to that of constructive alternatives. We must convince citizens in all segments of our society that we are concerned with their problems; that we care about them individually and collectively. * * * We believe: * An individual has a God-given dignity and government exists to serve each person. Each individual has the right and responsibility to govern himself within the framework of law and order. The basic function of government is to maintain an environment in which all individuals can freely develop. Government should act to help establish conditions of equal opportunity for all people. * Private ownership and free enterprise best serve economic progress. We know where we stand, We know what we must do. We realize the high stakes the survival of our Nation. CONGRESSMAN NEWS GERALD R. FORD HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER RELEASE Excerpts from a speech For release upon delivery Young Republican's State Convention of address Rapid City, South Dakota September 18, 1965 I believe we must all be just Republicans. Let's leave the squabbling, the back-stabbing, the selfish going-it-alone to the Democrats, They are masters at it. * * Collectively and individually, Young Republicans of South Dakota know something can be done about winning some Republican victories, We believe the Republican Party has a good cause, can win, and must prevail for the preservation and expansion of those principles of government that have made America the symbol and leader in the cause of freedom. * * * The Democratic Party's record is vulnerable. It has a 4-year record of expediency rather than results. Despite the chest pounding about Great Society achievements, the truth is that the present Congress has adopted legislation long on quantity and short on quality. America is skating on thin ice. * * * We believe much federal spending is mishandled. Along with this has come misleading information and suppression of what should be public records. In Washington, the symbol for the Administration has become known as Uncle Sham. It is, indeed, government by sham, More news releases, but fewer facts, are turned out by the Administration than ever before. One weekend the Texas White House released 32 stories. They ran the gamut from establishment of a wildlife refuge in Maryland to words of praise for the aged, crime fighters, farmers, businessmen and bureaucrats. As high-powered drum-beaters created a picture of whirlwind weekend activity, there was another portrait of the Presidential holiday, including seven hours of boating, sight-seeing in Johnson City, a drive around the ranch, no appointments. Republicans in Congress find it difficult to get straight information from federal agencies. The news media finds it difficult to fully report government operations, In Congress the Democrats have let the investigative power of the House and Senate wither and die, * * Excerpts from a speech by Rep. Gerald R. Ford GOP There are issues for the Republican Party. The Democrats help create them. For example, millions of Americans are learning that the Great Society means slimmer bank accounts, more taxes arbitrarily taken from their paychecks, and few dollars to spend on necessities. They are discovering that a government big enough to give them everything they want is big enough to take from them everything they have. * * * The Republican Party is the only vehicle by which millions of Americans can express their political philosophy. This philosophy, in my judgment, is the best for America. * * * Our party must earn the respect of the American people. We must use our hands and our minds as did the hardy pioneers who built a strong America from sea to shining sea. We must sell our story at every factory gate, to every dockside, to every farm house, to every home. We must change the image of the Republican Party from that of persistent opposition to that of constructive alternatives. We must convince citizens in all segments of our society that we are concerned with their problems; that we care about them individually and collectively. * * * We believe: * An individual has a God-given dignity and government exists to serve each person. * Each individual has the right and responsibility to govern himself within the framework of law and order. The basic function of government is to maintain an environment in which all individuals can freely develop. Government should act to help establish conditions of equal opportunity for all people. * Private ownership and free enterprise best serve economic progress. We know where we stand. We know what we must do. We realize the high stakes the survival of our Nation.