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.
Source Description
This file contains material relating to Lyndon Johnson.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
4525877
label
Burlington, VT, October 2, 1965
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
4525877
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Burlington, VT, October 2, 1965
description
This file contains material relating to Lyndon Johnson.
citationUrl
collections
Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Speeches
subjects
Republican National Committee (U.S.)
Great Society
Inflation (Finance)
Legislation
Taxation
iiifBase
thumbnailUrl
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
4525877
coverageEndDate
logicalDate
1965-10-31
month
10
year
1965
coverageStartDate
logicalDate
1965-10-01
month
10
year
1965
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
url
mediaId
6eeaf4c8abf88569
ocrText
The original documents are located in Box D19, folder "Burlington, VT, October 2, 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
Shing - setzmartis-
READING TEXT
Ther
Pmty
LB B I H
studio of stores
Burlington, Vermont
October 2, 1965
names will never hurt you
Great great man
32 states -
Technology Limmit
Your wonderful green mountain state's slogan freedom and unity'
has provided the topic of my remarks tonight.
I will follow the advice of the late President Coolidge in keeping
within reasonable time limits. A political friend once told him,
"Cal, my formula for public speaking is a good beginning and a
good ending
close together.' Mr. Coolidge thought a moment
and aske d, "Why be so windy?"
New England folks have many qualities to admire, among them
is rugged individualism.
Happily, there are many rugged individualists in America. For example,
every year many of them ignore an Internal Revenue Service warning
not to write in a small blank space at the top of the income tax form.
pen
With bold strokes they this message "I'll write any damned FORD
place I please!"
GERALD LIBRAR
-more-
Vermont
-2-
Our toastmaster's generous words remind me that very often introductions
are more memorable than the speeches they precede. I've been told
that the Governor of the Virgin Islands was once introduced at a
political rally with these unforgettable words "Now, ladnes
and gentlemen, I present the Virgin of the Governor Islands!"
Speaking as the leader of an oppressed mimority in the House,
I am especially thankful for Vermont with an all-Republican team
in Congress.
In the House the other party has 294 seats while we have 141.
Like the Indian yogi lying on a bed of nails
it only hurts
when, we laugh!
68/32
Chich Clap Their their hard hub. Tonight
-
-
-
I call upon you to make a very special effort as Republicans.
The Party needs your help, your ideas, your abililty to get things
done as you have in Vermont.
-more-
FORD is LIBRARY
Vermont
-3-
The first job is to win and keep winning in Vermont this year
and in 1966.
Rebuilding our Party on a national scale must start with Republican
victories in the States, counties and townships all over America.
We cannot hope to win by sitting on the sidelines wringing our
hands and waiting for a catastrophe.
Let's forget 1964. Let's remember not to make the same mistakes.
Let's become once again ONE Republican Party.
This does not mean a huge monolithic political party. Certainly
we can have responsible disagreements. We should have intelligent
dialogue.
Unless we leave the splintering and bickering to the Democrats and
become one big political family, we will belong to a myth. And,
America will have one-party government.
-more-
Vermont
-4-
The "one party" dominating our beloved land will be big city political
bosses, and theoretical way-out liberals more interested in a welfare
state than in the state of the general welfare.
The Nation is seeing what a one-party controlled Federal establishment
can do to our institutions and traditions. During the next few
months the degree of Federal interference and heavy-handedness in
individual affairs will dangerously increase.
The voices of the people will be even more muffled and muted.
Potomac paternalism -- already stifling the states and the people --
will grow and expand.
Even some Democrats are aware of the dangers in having one party
controlling Congress by a 2 to 1 majority. They are disturbed that
the same party has iron-fisted power in the White House.
-more-
Vermont
-5-
Many Democrats are baffled at times when the White House sends
proposed legislation to the Congress with orders to adopt it.
They don't know whether to clap their hands or click their heels!
There is a growing concern regarding the amount of legislation
passed by Congress that is long on quantity and short on quality.
Recently, Senator Mansfield, one of the President's most powerful
spokesmen, said he hopes next year less time will be spent on
new legislation and more time correcting oversights in legislation
passed this session.
Vice President Humphrey has referred to "huge legislative tonnage"
which he said has been "dropped on our doorstep."
I am pleased to learn at least some Democrats agree with Republicans
that there is a place for responsible dissent and constructive
criticism.
-more-
Vermont
-6-
Dictatorial federalism and legislation short on quality adopted
by a Democrat-controlled Congress are among the issues for
Republican campaigning.
The major issues are: President Lyndon Johnson -- his use and
misuse of power as a total politician who
is more interested in his personal glory than in
true progress.
The loss of individual freedom.
Reckless spending by the Administration.
A steady growth of direct and hidden taxes.
Higher living costs and the shadow of inflation.
The erosion of rights of states and local governments
to conduct their own business without heavy-handed
control from Washington.
-more-
Vermont
-7-
Let us more carefully examine each of these issues.
First Lyndon B. Johnson.
There are those who claim it is political folly to criticise
the man who was swept into the White House on a
landslide.
There are those who say it is impossible to win in taking on
the President by zeroing in on his tactics, his performance,
the way he conducts his high office
I disagree.
despite
Lyndon Johnson is vulnerable, the all of his power.
His Great Society is a shambles of contradictions. His programs are
dressed in purity of name. He uses his power to gag the Congress
and in so doing gags the American people. He throttles open debate
on vital and controversial issues. He preaches voting rights, yet
his own record on voting rights can't stand the open glare of
publicity.
-more-
FORD LIBRARY
Vermont
fascal Inflation information
-8-
a Ant by every
He claims his Great Society makes progress.
Is it progress to retreat from the principles of the Constitution?
Is it progress to perpetuate poverty for political exploitation
and purpose? Is it progress to tax away incentive? Is it progress
to grab one man's taxes to pay another man's rent? Is it progress
to have a Congress sway and bend like a weed in the wind when the
President huffs and puffs from the White House?
America is gradually seeing the many faces of Lyndon Johnson.
There is a gradual awakening. The shocking truth is coming out
as millions of Americans find they have less money to spend on
necessities, and slimmer bank accounts.
Another issue the loss of individual freedom.
Big, bigger, biggest federal government over-shadows the individual.
It takes his hard-earned money and spends it with reckless
abandon.
more
Vermont
-9-
It prevents him from preserving his identity in a society that is
becoming more bureacratic almost daily.
Reckless spending is another vital issue.
Our national debt is greater than that of all other nations in the
world combined. It is not the $325 billion shown on the record books,
but $800 billion in future spending committments that require no new
laws or programs.
We all know how direct and hidden taxes are zooming higher and higher.
-more-
Vermont
-10-
After last year's tax cut, most Americans felt their spendable
income would be substantially higher than in the past. The
truth is disappointing for them.
The 1964-65 federal income tax cut failed to reduce taxes for most
Americans. Other factors including the rising cost of living
and higher payroll taxes next year more than offset the tax
reductions.
For example, a family of four who earned $6,000 before taxes in
1963 will have to earn $6,175 in 1966 to retain its purchasing power.
The tax cut for this family amounts to $150 per year. Yet, even
with their taxes reduced by this amount, the family must earn an
additional $175 per year to buy the same goods and services they
purchased in 1963.
The situation stems from unsound government policies on the federal
level, leading inevitably to inflat ionary pressures.
-more-
Vermont
-11-
Higher living costs and the shadow of inflation are obvious issues.
America is becoming more aware of them every day.
Just what is inflation?
tuition
It is higher prices at the supermarket, higher
tutition
costs
at college, a $4.50 haircut in New York City, a $1,000 government
bond bought in 1949 and worth only $730 in buying power today.
If we fail to beat inflation, we fail the future. We can pass on
the legacy of a sound dollar which will assure purchasing power
of savings and future earnings. Republicans want to meet this
challenge
now. The Great Society would like to pretend inflation
doesn't exist.
Finally, there is the issue of states and local governments losing
the right to conduct their own business.
States and local governments send their tax money to Washington.
The Federal government offers tempting programs.
-more-
Vermont
-12-
Local money joins federal money, but with the federal share
comes Washington control. Administration czars move in. They
call the shots. They lay down rules. They take over.
Government has a rightful role in assisting the economy, in assisting
the states and communities. It can act as a balance wheel. It should
not be the mainspring!
The tendency to provide boundless power and responsibility
in the federal government weakens state and local government accordingly.
The trend must be reversed. Republican stewardship appears to be the
only hope to do just that.
your
In conclusion... I congratulate you for and outstanding work
in Vermont. I am confident you will bring even more Republican
victories in an atmosphere of freedom and unity.
Thank you.
# # #
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
Excerpts from a speech
For release at
Burlington, Vermont
time of delivery
October 2, 1965
10/2/65
We cannot hope to win Republican victories by sitting on the sidelines
wringing our hands and waiting for a catastrophe. Let's forget 1964. Let's
become once again one Republican Party.
This does not mean a huge monolithic political party. Certainly, we can have
responsible disagreements. We should have intelligent dialogue.
Unless we leave the splintering and bickering to the Democrats and become
one big political family, we will be members of a ghostly myth. And, America
will have one-party government.
The Nation is seeing what a one-party controlled Federal establishment can
do to our institutions and traditions. In the future, the voices of the people
will be even more muffled and muted. Potomac paternalism=-already stifling the
states and the people- will grow and expand.
* * *
Among major issues is President Johnson, his use and misuse of power.
His Great Society is a shambles of contradiction. His programs are dressed in
purity of name attempting to hide his personal ambitions for popularity. He uses
his power to gag the Congress, thus gagging the American people. He throttles
debate on vital and controversial issues.
He claims his Great Society makes progress,
Is it progress to retreat from the principles of the Constitution? Is it
progress to perpetuate poverty for political exploitation, to grab one man is taxes
to pay another man's rent, to destroy incentive, to have a Congress sway and bend
like aweed in the wind when the President huffs and puffs from the White House?
Other issues include the loss of individual freedom, reckless spending,
higher living costs and the shadow of inflation, the erosion of rights of states
and local governments to conduct their own business.
* # *
The trends must be reversed. Republican stewardship appears to be the only
hope to do just that.
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
Excerpts from a speech
For release at
Burlington, Vermont
time of delivery
October 2, 1965
10/2/65
We cannot hope to win Republican victories by sitting on the sidelines
wringing our hands and waiting for a catastrophe, Let's forget 1964. Let's
become once again one Republican Party.
This does not mean a huge monolithic political party. Certainly, we can have
responsible disagreements. We should have intelligent dialogue.
Unless we leave the splintering and bickering to the Democrats and become
one big political family, we will be members of a hostly myth. And, America
will have one-party government.
The Nation is seeing what a one-party controlled Federal establishment can
do to our institutions and traditions. In the future, the voices of the people
will be even more muffled and muted. Potomac paternalism--already stifling the
states and the people-- will grow and expand.
*
*
Among major issues is President Johnson, his use and misuse of power.
His Great Society is a shambles of diction. His programs are dressed in
purity of name attempting to hide his personal ambitions for popularity. He uses
his power to gag the Congress, thus gagging the American people. He throttles
debate on vital and controversial issues.
He claims his Great Society makes progress,
Is it progress to retreat from the rinciples of the Constitution? Is it
progress to perpetuate poverty for political exploitation, to grab one man's taxes
to pay another man's rent, to destroy incentive, to have a Congress sway and bend
like aweed in the wind when the President huffs and puffs from the White House?
Other issues include the loss of individual freedom, reckless spending,
higher living costs and the shadow of inflation, the erosion of rights of states
and local governments to conduct their own business.
* *
The trends must be reversed. Republican stewardship appears to be the only
hope to do just that,
GERALD LIVERIT FORD