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Testimonial Dinner for Representative Stanley R. Tupper, Portland, ME, October 30, 1965
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4525892
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Testimonial Dinner for Representative Stanley R. Tupper, Portland, ME, October 30, 1965
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Speeches
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Great Society
Legislation
Poverty programs
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1965-10-31
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1965
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1965-10-01
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1965
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The original documents are located in Box D19, folder "Testimonial Dinner for
Representative Stanley R. Tupper, Portland, ME, October 30, 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
Digitized from Box D19 of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and
Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Harb
READING TEXT
for Kiss Virgin
heals
Portland, Maine
27t
October 30, 1965
Bur
Mass
I
Humant clos Hands STAN relich Turpir
Testimonial dinner for Rep. Stanley R. Tupper
It is a special pleasure to be in the Pine Tree State with you
Help
to salute Stan Tupper, a fine team-player and a great help in
st Priguess
keeping the Republican oppressed minority in the House in
To
fighting trim.
The First District of Maine is fortunate to have a man of Stan's
dedication, stature and knowledge as a Representative in Congress.
His warm personality, his quick sense of humor, and his desire to
help his fellowman has won deep respect on both sides of the aisle.
I have high hopes that Republican ranks in the House will
be increased with the election of many more excellent Representatives
like Stan Tupper!
It will be a real pleasure to watch the Democrats when we can
FORD & LIBRARY SERALD
legislate from a better position of strength. During the past session,
when the White House sent messages to Congress, the Democrats didn't
know whether to clap their hands or click their heels!
Portland, Maine
B
The invitation to speak here tonight was quite unusual.
It went something like this:
"Dear Congressman Ford:
" The First District of Maine has by tradition enjoyed
outstanding speakers and programs."
The letter listed several fine orators.
Then the invitat ion concluded: "We hope you will
accept. Until now we have had exceptionally excellent
programs!"
-
-
-
I will follow the advice of my wife Betty tonight.
KISS
(INTO MAIN TEXT)
Portland Md.
1
Among the qualities of virtue is strength. Our Nation is built
on a foundation consisting of the people and their strength.
Our Nation's strength has been in its balanced government, in
statesmanship at the top of the Executive branch, in a Congress
working its will. Please note that I speak in the past tense.
What is the state of our Union today?
Is it strong when a President puts his personal popularity and
ambition first?
Is it secure when the common man battles in vain with phantom shadows
that emerge from an awesome bureaucracy to cloud his life?
Is it steadfast when the leader orders "get going" instead of
saying "let's get going together"?
more
2
Is it financially sound when the national debt is greater than
that of all the other nations in the world combined?
Is our Nation headed in the right direction when poverty is
perpetuated for political exploitation and purpose?
when
individual incentive is destroyed?.
when one man's taxes
are used to pay another man's rent?.... when we have a welfare
state?
Where is the liberty envisioned by the founding fathers of this
Nation?
Let us carefully examine what has happened to precious liberty
in the shambles of contradiction that is the Great Society.
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 and frustrating the states
and the people will grow and expand.
-more-
3
Fortunately, there are, however, some fresh signs of hope that
Congress is beginning to exercise its own right of liberty by
stiffening against White House arm-twisting.
Many members on both sides of the aisle have linedup in what amounts
learn
to a legislative revolt. And, I'm happy to that even some Democrats
are starting to mend their ways and join Republicans in refusing to be
rubber stamps for the Administration! It is not enough-but we are
making progress.
It is significant that some powerful Democrats are shaken by
Executive branch controled Congressional action.
Senator Mansfield very recently proposed that the nextsession of
the 89th Congress "spend less time on new legislation and more time
correcting oversights in legislation" adopted this year.
The Senate Majority Leader also said:
"We have passed a lot of major
bills at this session, some of them very hastily, and they stand in
extreme need of going over for loopholes, rough corners, and particularly
for an assessment of current and ultimate cost
(more)
4
It is somewhat assuring to learn that Senator Mansfield apparently
is awakening to the shocking cost of the Great Society.
This year alone, 20 major public laws spawned in the White House
to maintain its alleged Great Society authorize new spending of an
estimated $16,767,300,000 in fiscal 1966. This fantastic spending
is over and above so-called regular e xpenditutes!
Vice President Humphrey is reported as referring to the "huge
legislative tonnage dropped on our doorstep." I question his use
of the word "dropped." The word really should be "shoveled."
At least some Democrats apparently agree with Republicans that
there is a place for responsible dissent and constructive criticism.
The Democrats talk about the independence in their Great Society?
Let's examine the truth of the Great Society in search of the
alleged independence.
-more-
5
Its programs are dressed in purity of name. It holds a tempting
offer of all the good things in life without bothering to consider
the cost to every American and the future generations.
For example, Its czars conduct a so-called war on poverty. They by-pass the states.
Substantial contracts, substantial arrangements, substantial funds
are directly linked with Washginton and the local governing units.
The states are forced to stand on the sidelines. Thank goodness for
our republican Governors who work so valiantly to keep a semblance
of control over their state's own business
Republicans have long realized that the way to beat poverty is by
providing jobs. The Great Society's remedy is to compensate those
who are not working and to blame society for the disadvantaged.
Republicans believe that government can have a heart--without losing
its head.
The Office of Economic Opportunity was set up to find jobs for the poor.
And, about all the poor really get is advice.
-more-
6
One poverty project of $65,000 gobbled $57,000 of the money for
bureaucratic salaries and spent nearly all the rest for office
equipment.
In the Office of Economic Opportunity one of every 18 employees
are paid salaries in excess of $19,000. In the Defense Department,
by contrast, one of 1,000 workers is paid $19,000 a year.
Enough evidence has come to light to raise serious doubts about
the Job Corps program. Instances of criminal and immoral behavior
suggest inadequate selection processes for trainees and a breakdown
of discipline.
Democrats play fast and loose with tax dollars and the haunting
shadow of inflation covers the land. Millions of Americans have
less to spend on food, clothing, --the necessities and dwindling
savings accounts as inflation works its silent and deadly way into
the Nation's economy.
-more-
7
There is strong reason to believe that much Federal spending is
mishandled under the Democrat Administration. Along with this misuse
of funds has come misleading information and suppression of what
should be public records.
In Washington, the symbol of the Administration has become known
as Uncle Sham. It is indeed sham. More news releases, but fewer
facts, are turned out by Administration propogandists than ever
before.
We can conclude that there is no certainity under the Great Society---
except debt and taxes.
The Republican Party moves into a crucial campaign armed with
several hard-hitting issues, including the Great Society itself.
The first is President Johnson--his use and misuse of power.
The second is the erosion of the rights of states and local governments
to conduct their own business without federal control.
-more-
8
The third is the loss of the identity of individuals who have
little to say when one party controls national government by a
2 to 1 majority.
The fourth issue is a combination of in flation and the lack of
fiscal sanity on the part of the administration.
Add all the issues and together they spell Great Society
our golden opportunity to regain stewardship of government in
state houses, counties and townships, and ultimately, in Washington.
Our opportunity is in the growing awareness of Americans that they
have nothing to say about the conduct of the Nation's business. They
can only sit by and watch with mixed emotions anger, fear, and
a hope for better times.
Millions of Americans are learning that reckless spending by the
Administration and its irresponsible economic policies lead the way
toward national and personal bankruptcy.
-more-
9
These, then, are the issues. Each is directly linked with
your State's slogan---"virtue, liberty and independence.
Now, what is the course of action for our Republican Party
to make our society a good one?
We must be a united, shoulder-to-shoulder political organization.
Our Party must be broadly-based.
We need to develop strong fund-raising campaigns. We should enlist
articulate, personable, andknowledgable candidates. By our record
we must earn 84 the respect of the electorate.
I compare the Democrat political machine with its Great Society
schemes as a modern-day Goliath...the towering, powerful bully.
The Republican Party is David----- outnumbered, facing overwhelming
odds with courage and convictions.
This year, in 1966, and further into the future we will
take on goliath
And like David, we will win.
1
# # #