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6713612
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The Unelected Representatives on Capitol Hill
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6713612
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document
title
The Unelected Representatives on Capitol Hill
citationUrl
collections
Gerald R. Ford's Material from the Writing of "A Time to Heal"
Interviews and Subject Files
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Legislative branch
Presidential personal matters
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6713612
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1978-12-31
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1978
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1977-01-01
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1977
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President Gerald R. Ford's handwritten reflections, 1977 or 1978
Scanned from the collection Gerald R. Ford: Materials from the writing of A Time
To Heal at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
While writing his autobiography, A Time to Heal (New York: Harper & Row, 1979), President
Gerald R. Ford composed a series of personal reflections on twenty-seven topics. What makes
these documents so unusual is not only their introspection but also their form. President Ford
recorded these observations by hand, writing in blue ball point on his favored yellow writing
tablets. He did not expend time and energy to polish and edit his writing, apparently planning to
do so when incorporating them into the book. Therefore occasional spelling or grammatical
errors or incomplete thoughts appear.
For each reflection the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library has scanned President Ford's
handwritten document and added a Library-produced transcription below to aid in reading the
reflection.
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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
the unelected representatives on Capital Hill
have about 1960 an anmensely powerful
of + women have been requilly uphanding
in per & influence on Capital Ichill. mut of
this hard Guel are being lright, well iducated
and hard writing. They work for musters of There
House of Senate, fither in the Thes ofthe
on on The committee staff. Because of their specific
expertise They have a towendons smpket on the thinking
+ dramn making of their respective losso,
In 1949 as a freshmen member of the House fny.
has been
2 was allowed a staff of 3 tarth a salary allowmer of
A. Today a House member is allowed 15 with a salary allowmer
In the 1950's Committee were finited in number,
a
usually under the control 7 the charoman with some countries
state for M.S.
to the minority vantaing member. Today on both the Home
4 Smith side there has been a proliferation of sub-commettes
& now with sub - committee channen of memority manking member
amount without
have one or more staff assestants. as a consequence The number
of committee staff complayes has grown like typy. The note
frowth is for quarter than the growth in CNP + for speed
the growth in employees working in the executive branch
this group prepares memos for on their important borth used and
consequently directly affect The decisions made by the cleared
representatives. more ftem than not these individuals do not
Lome from The constitution of Their bossio of Therefore do not
represent the views of The notals but home.
Because The Singless has been in control of one
potitional party 28 out of the last 30 years smil 1949
them has been very lettle tumover in steff personnel or at
least in staff idealogy-
The net result is that many of the crucal
decisions made in The upolative branch are in effect
made by undected industrials who are immunizal
from voter control. This is certainly not the contemplation
of the framers the Constation
almittedly the domestic of from polices 7th 4.5
are more complicated now than in 1949. Centernly The Compens
should be adequating staffed to challenge witness from the
executive branch & effents from outside. yes, each Senstor of
House member has more constituents than 30 yours ago,
But, the public must verye for their own good, that
for Them at their chopense of without much water intool as
there is a 4th branch of got that is making many deceives
long to you have virtually me party control 7th legative
branch of the federal government
The Unelected Representatives on Capitol Hill
Since about 1960 an immensely powerful group of men & women have been rapidly
[unrecognized word] in numbers & influence on Capitol Hill. Most of this newer breed are very
bright, well educated, and hard working. They work for members of those House & Senate,
either in the offices of the legislator or on the committee staffs. Because of their specific
expertise they have a tremendous impact on the thinking & decision making of their respective
bosses.
In 1949 as a freshman member of the House of Rep., I was allowed a staff of 3 with a salary
allowance of
. Today a House member is allowed 15 with a salary allowance of
.
[written in margin: "There has been a similar burgeoning of staff members for U.S.
Senators." In the 1950's committee were limited in number, usually under the control of the
chairman with some courtesies to the minority ranking member. Today on both the House &
Senate side there has been a proliferation of sub-committees & now almost without exception
each sub-committee chairman & minority ranking member have one or more staff assistants. As
a consequence the number of committee staff employees have grown like topsy. The rate of
growth is far greater than the growth in GNP & far exceeds the growth in employees working in
the executive branch.
This group prepares memos for their bosses on important issues and consequently directly affect
the decisions made by the elected representatives. More often than not these individuals do not
come from the constituency of their bosses & therefore do not represent the views of the voters
back home.
Because the Congress has been in control of one political party 28 out of the last 30 years since
1949 there has been very little turnover in staff personnel or at least in staff ideology.
The net result is that many of the crucial decisions made in the legislative branch are in effect
made by unelected individuals who are immunized from voter control. This is certainly not the
contemplation of the framers of the Constitution.
Admittedly the domestic & foreign policies of the U.S. are more complicated now than in 1949.
Certainly the Congress should be adequately staffed to challenge witnesses from the executive
branch & experts from outside. Yes, each Senator & House member has more constituents than
30 years ago.
But, the public must realize, for their own good, that there is a 4th branch of govt that is making
many decisions for them at their expense & without much voter control as long as you have
virtually one party control of the legislative branch of the federal government.