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1252467
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8/24/75 - Remarks at Libby Dam Dedication
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1252467
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8/24/75 - Remarks at Libby Dam Dedication
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches and Statements
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Canada
Montana
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1975-08-24
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1975
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1975-08-24
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1975
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The original documents are located in Box 14, "8/24/75 - Remarks at Libby Dam
Dedication" of the President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies 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. Gerald 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
Digitized from Box 14 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
REMARKS AT LIBBY DAM DEDICATION
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 1975
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(Option)
THANK YOU, MIKE
MINISTER MACDONALD
GOVERNOR JUDGE
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
- 1 -
I AM VERY PLEASED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEDICATION OF
LIBBY DAM -- ANOTHER SUPERB MULTI-PURPOSE PROJECT CONSTRUCTED
BY OUR ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
IT PROVIDES ME WITH A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THIS BEAUTIFUL "BIG SKY" COUNTRY I'VE HEARD
so MUCH ABOUT FROM MY SON, STEVE, AND MY FRIENDS IN THE
MONTANA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.
- 2 -
THE PROBLEM IS -- THAT WE IN WASHINGTON SOMETIMES
FORGET HOW REFRESHING AND BEAUTIFUL AMERICA IS, PARTICULARLY
THIS PART OF AMERICA WHICH HAS BEEN THE INSPIRATION FOR so MANY
POETS AND PAINTERS.
- 3 -
FLYING ACROSS THIS VAST CONTINENT IS AN INSPIRATION.
I AM FILLED WITH AWE BY HOW MUCH WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN TWO SHORT
CENTURIES.
WE HAVE CARVED A CIVILIZATION OUT OF A WILDERNESS,
LET US NOW MAKE SURE WE KEEP SOME WILDERNESS CARVED OUT OF OUR
CIVILIZATION.
- 4 - -
MONTANA IS ONE OF OUR MOST RUGGED AND UNTOUCHED
AREAS.
IT STANDS AS A SYMBOL OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES
AND OUR NATIVE SPIRIT.
- 5 -
LIBBY DAM IS ALSO A SYMBOL OF HOW A COMMITMENT TO
THE ENVIRONMENT CAN BE BALANCED WITH OUR TECHNOLOGICAL NEEDS.
IT IS A MULTI-PURPOSE PROJECT THAT SHOWS IT IS POSSIBLE TO TAKE
A NATURAL RESOURCE AND USE IT WISELY TO SATISFY A WIDE VARIETY
OF HUMAN NEEDS.
- 6 -
AMERICA NEEDS MORE HOME-GROWN ENERGY AND THIS DAM WILL PROVIDE
CLEAN, ELECTRICAL POWER FOR THE EQUIVALENT OF 235,000 HOMES
The Kam will provide security for JOBS + Industry + hgr
IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
BUT MOST IMPORTANT, THIS POWER
WILL BE CREATED WITHOUT USING EXPENSIVE AND DEPLETABLE FOSSIL
FUEL.
- 7 -
HERE AT LIBBY DAM, THE MARRIAGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND NATURE WILL BE A
HAPPY AND CONSTRUCTIVE ONE.
A SECOND WELCOME PURPOSE OF LIBBY DAM IS FLOOD CONTROL.
A TELEVISION COMMERCIAL TELLS US/IT'S NOT NICE TO FOOL MOTHER NATURE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, LIBBY DAM WILL KEEP MOTHER NATURE FROM FOOLING
US.
- 8 -
AS AN OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST, ANOTHER PURPOSE OF
LIBBY DAM WHICH MILLIONS OF OTHER AMERICANS WELCOME -- IS
THE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OF THIS MAGNIFICENT LAKE.
IT WILL PROVIDE THE ACTIVITIES THAT FIRM MUSCLES, CLEAR MINDS
AND RENEW SPIRITS.
- 9 -
I DOUBT IF MEDICAL SCIENCE WILL EVER COME UP WITH
A BETTER TRANQUILIZER THAN A BOAT, A FISHING POLE, AND A
LAZY AFTERNOON.
THAT'S THE STUFF CONTENTMENT IS MADE OF.
- 10 - -
BUT THERE IS ONE AREA WHERE CONTENTMENT CAN ONLY LEAD
TO CHAOS: AND THAT'S IF WE FAIL TO GET CRACKING ON A SOLUTION TO
THE PROBLEM OF OUR INCREASING DEPENDENCE ON INSECURE OVERSEAS
SOURCES OF ENERGY.
- 11 -
TO SATISFY THEIR OWN NEEDS, OUR GOOD FRIENDS TO THE
NORTH HAVE HAD TO REDUCE AND MAY EVENTUALLY ELIMINATE THEIR
EXPORTS OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS TO THE UNITED STATES.
- 12 -
THESE EXPORTS TO THE U.S. REPRESENT MORE THAN ONE MILLION BARRELS
OF OIL PER DAY OR ITS EQUIVALENT WHICH THE UNITED STATES WILL HAVE
TO MAKE UP FROM ITS OWN ENERGY RESOURCES OR BECOME MORE AND MORE
DEPENDENT ON OPEC NATIONS.
- 13 -
THIS IS ONE MORE INDICATION OF WHY ENERGY INDEPENDENCE IS AN
ABSOLUTE NECESSITY TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR NATION.
ALTHOUGH LIBBY DAM WILL PROVIDE POWER FOR THIS REGION,
IT'S NOT THE ANSWER TO THE ENERGY SCARCITY NATIONALLY.
- 14 -
IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, EACH NATION MUST ULTIMATELY COPE WITH ITS
OWN ENERGY NEEDS AND PROBLEMS OF SUPPLY.
"ENLIGHTENED
SELF-INTEREST" IS THE KEY PHRASE.
WE WILL COOPERATE WITH ALL
OTHERS TO EASE OUR MUTUAL ENERGY DILEMMA.
2.E.A.-16 - nations
- 15 -
BUT WE MUST, ALL AMERICANS AND THE CONGRESS MUST,. REALIZE
THAT THIS IS OUR PROBLEM -- TO MEET AND TO SOLVE.
WE CANNOT
LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR SOLUTIONS.
MORE IMPORTANT, WE CAN NO
LONGER PRETEND THE NATIONAL ENERGY PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST.
- 16 -
WE MUST DEVELOP NEW DOMESTIC SOURCES OF ENERGY -- NOT ONLY
OIL AND GAS -- BUT OTHERS SUCH AS SOLAR, GEOTHERMAL AND
NUCLEAR.
WE HAVE DELAYED TOO LONG.
OUR VULNERABILITY
INCREASES DAILY.
WE MUST ACT NOW TO ACHIEVE THE ENERGY
SELF-SUFFICIENCY VITAL TO US ALL.
- 17 -
I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CONGRESS TO GET
THIS EFFORT OFF DEAD-CENTER.
TOGETHER, WE MUST SUCCEED
IN THIS EFFORT.
WE HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE!
- 18 -
BEFORE CLOSING, LET ME SAY HOW PLEASED I AM THAT
THE HARMONY THIS MULTI-PURPOSE PROJECT HAS CREATED BETWEEN
TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT IS ALSO REFLECTED IN THE WARM
RELATIONSHIP WE IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS
TO THE NORTH.
- 19 -
RELATIONS BETWEEN CANADA AND THE U.S. HAVE LONG BEEN
CHARACTERIZED BY FRIENDSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP.
THIS
DAM STANDS AS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE MUTUAL BENEFIT
SUCH CLOSE COOPERATION CAN ACCOMPLISH.
- 20 -
THE POET TENNYSON ONCE WROTE, "NOTHING IN NATURE IS
UNBEAUTIFUL."
I BELIEVE THAT MANKIND HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF PRESERVING THAT BEAUTY.
LET US THEREFORE TAKE HEART AND
PRIDE IN THE CREATION OF LIBBY DAM.
-21,-
IT WILL ENHANCE THE BEST WE AND OUR ENVIRONMENT HAVE TO OFFER.
IT OFFERS THE MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR: WE ARE THE DEFENDERS,
NOT THE DESPOILERS, OF THIS GREAT LAND.
END OF TEXT