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11/11/75 - Presidential Remarks, West Virginia GOP Fundraiser
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11/11/75 - Presidential Remarks, West Virginia GOP Fundraiser
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
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The original documents are located in Box 19, "11/11/75 - Presidential Remarks, West
Virginia GOP Fundraiser" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
DINNER-ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THANK YOU, ARCH (Gov. Arch Moore introduces you)
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS (COVERS KEY ELECTED OFFICALS
ToM POTTER (State GOP Chairman)
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
NOTE: Former U.S. Senator Chapman Revercomb will be at the head table)
Mihe Beedel
Digitized from Box 19 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS
WEST VIRGINIA GOP FUNDRAISER
NOVEMBER II, 1975
Mr. President:
at the conclusion of the dinner program you depart
the head table to your left, proceed past the music
section mannounced to the adjacent room where you will make
an
"drop-by" at the "Bucksbin Conncil
Scout Induction Ceremony. attendence: 450
Cub Scouts; 100 Boy Scouts; 200 adult
leaders. This is a mass induction ceremony
covering the 10 county area of the Buclosbin council
Suggested remarks (cards) are in back of your speech box.
-I-
IT'S A REAL TREAT FOR ME TO BE BACK IN WEST VIRGINIA
AGAIN AND TO SHARE THIS MARVELOUS EVENING WITH ALL OF YOU
GOOD
LOYAL AND ENTHUSIASTIC WEST VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS.
I KEEP HEARING HOW THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL GO INTO THE 1976
ELECTIONS AS THE UNDERDOG -- AND SOMEHOW, THAT HAS A VAGUELY
FAMILIAR RING TO IT.
ISN'T THAT WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT THE
MOUNTAINEERS AGAINST PITT LAST SATURDAY?
-2-
WHEN IT COMES TO FOOTBALL, I THINK I CAN SPEAK
WITH SOME AUTHORITY, AND TONIGHT I'M PREDICTING THAT WHAT
THE MOUNTAINEERS DID AT MORGANTOWN LAST SATURDAY -- YOUR
GREAT REPUBLICAN TICKET IS GOING TO DO AT THE POLLS NEXT
NOVEMBER!
-3-
THIS IS REALLY A GREAT EVENING AND BEFORE WE GO
ANY FURTHER, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOUR FINANCE COMMITTEE
FOR ITS SHEER RAW COURAGE IN THE WAY IT HAS HANDLED THIS
DINNER.
I SAY SHEER RAW COURAGE BECAUSE IT ISN'T EASY
TO CHARGE 100 DOLLARS A PLATE FOR DINNER
IN A STATE WHOSE
MOTTO IS: MOUNTAINEERS ARE ALWAYS FREE!
-4-
I'M VERY PLEASED TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT -- PLEASED
WITH THIS FINE TURNOUT, PLEASED TO BE BACK IN A STATE THAT
IS KNOWN BY NATIVES AND VISITORS ALIKE AS "ALMOST HEAVEN."
AND PLEASED TO BE BACK IN CHARLESTON, A CITY OF IMAGINATION,
OF ENTERPRISE, AND ABOVE ALL, A CITY THAT IS BLAZING NEW TRAILS
IN THE DELICATE SCIENCE OF REMOVING BRIDGES.
- 5 -
THE FIRST TIME I CAME TO WEST VIRGINIA WAS BACK
IN 1949 TO MAKE A HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS IN
BERKELEY SPRINGS.
I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT I SAID
ON THAT OCCASION, \ AND PROBABLY NOBODY ELSE DOES EITHER.
BUT I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF
WEST VIRGINIA, THE BEAUTY OF ITS MOUNTAINS,
THE WARMTH OF ITS PEOPLE.
- 6 -
THE IMPRESSIONS HAVEN'T CHANGED A BIT OVER THE
YEARS.
BUT WEST VIRGINIA HAS CHANGED A LOT.
THE WEST VIRGINIA I SEE TODAY IS A NEW STATE,
THE BEAUTY OF THE MOUNTAINS REMAINS.
THE WARMTH
AND HOSPITALITY OF WEST VIRGINIANS CONTINUE TO STRIKE
THE VISITOR LIKE A SUMMER BREEZE.
- 7 -
BUT THROUGH ALL OF THESE IMPRESSIONS, SOMETHING NEW
HAS BEEN ADDED.
THAT IS THE FEELING OF THE PEOPLE HERE
STRIDING CONFIDENTLY INTO THE FUTURE WHILE RETAINING THE
HERITAGE AND CHARM OF THEIR PAST.
- 8 -
THE REASONS MAY BE COMPLEX.
BUT THEY HAVE
A GREAT DEAL TO DO WITH COAL.
YOUR STATE IS ONE OF THE
LARGEST BITUMINOUS COAL PRODUCERS IN THE NATION AND
AMONG THE LEADERS IN COAL EXPORTS.
- 9 -
THIS GREAT NATURAL RESOURCE HAS IMPROVED THE
LIVING STANDARD OF MANY OF YOUR CITIZENS, ENRICHED YOUR
STATE TREASURY THROUGH AN INCREASED TAX FLOW AND
PROVIDED MUCH OF THE FUEL TO KEEP THIS NATION WARM, \
ITS LIGHTS BURNING AND ITS FACTORIES HUMMING.
- 10 -
BUT BEYOND THE SURGING DEMAND FOR COAL,
WEST VIRGINIA'S PRESENT PROSPERITY CAN BE ATTRIBUTED
IN LARGE MEASURE TO THE ENERGY,
THE SELF-RELIANCE AND
THE IMAGINATION OF YOUR CITIZENS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
I
- 11 -
UNDER THE ENLIGHTENED LEADERSHIP OF YOUR GOVERNOR,
ARCH MOORE, YOU HAVE VASTILY IMPROVED YOUR HIGHWAY SYSTEM,
-
RAISED THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AT EVERY LEVEL,
\
BUILT TOURISM
INTO A 600 MILLION DOLLAR-A-YEAR BUSINESS \ AND CONDUCTED
A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL DRIVE FOR NEW INDUSTRY THAT HAS PAID OFF
IN THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE BELOW THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE.
- 12 -
I CONGRATULATE ALL OF YOU ON YOUR STATE'S
NEW PROSPERITY -- A PROSPERITY WHICH NOW RANKS
WEST VIRGINIA FIFTH IN PER CAPITA INCOME GROWTH IN
THE NATION -- A PROSPERITY WHICH SPRINGS PRIMARILY
FROM THE RUGGED SELF-RELIANCE, \ THE INEXHAUSTIBLE ENERGY,
AND THE FIERCE INDEPENDENCE WHICH LED THE FIRST HARDY
SETTLERS IN THE 1730'S TO PENETRATE THIS WILDERNESS.
- 13 - -
TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT
ANOTHER FORM OF INDEPENDENCE.
TEN MONTHS AGO, WHEN I ADDRESSED THE UNITED STATES
CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, I SAID THE STATE OF THE
UNION WAS NOT GOOD.
I CALLED ON THE CONGRESS AND
THE COUNTRY TO MOVE IN A NEW DIRECTION.
I POINTED OUT
THE "WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING TO SEE HOW WE RESPOND."
- 14 -
THIS EVENING, \ LET US LOOK AT THE STATE OF OUR
ECONOMY COMPARED TO THAT VERY UNCERTAIN TIME LAST JANUARY
WHILE THE ECONOMY IS NOT MY CENTRAL THEME
A
IT IS ENERGY
-
NEVERTHELESS THE HEALTH OF OUR ECONOMY IS UNALTERABLY
LINKED TO A STABLE AND ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF ENERGY.
- 15 - -
LAST JANUARY, SIMULTANEOUS RECESSION AND
INFLATION WHIP-SAWED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE +
CAUGHT IN
THE MIDDLE.
THE MONEY OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
WAS BEING ERODED BY DOUBLE-DIGIT INFLATION WHILE RECESSION
CUT DEEPLY INTO OUR NATIONAL PRODUCTION AND EMPLOYMENT.
- 16 -
TODAY, ALTHOUGH WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO,
THE ECONOMY IS WELL ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY,
WE ARE MAKING MARKED PROGRESS.
- 17 -
THE SIGNS OF THIS PROGRESS ARE CLEAR FOR ALL TO SEE
OUR GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1975
11%
INCREASED BY MORE THAN ELEVEN PERCENT
+
THE BIGGEST
QUARTERLY INCREASE IN TWO DECADES.
THAT'S PROGRESS.
- 18 -
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION ROSE AT AN ANNUAL RATE
20% 20 %
OF TWENTY PERCENT DURING THIS SAME PERIOD -- THE
BIGGEST QUARTERLY INCREASE IN MORE THAN A DECADE --
AND PRODUCTIVITY AMONG AMERICAN WORKERS HAS BEEN STEADILY
IMPROVING FOR MONTHS.
AND THAT'S PROGRESS.
-19-
THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS WITH JOBS WENT UP BY
NEARLY 1.6 MILLION FROM MARCH THROUGH OCTOBER ALONE --
AND THAT'S PROGRESS.
FOR THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS, WE'VE HAD A SURPLUS OF
A BILLION-DOLLARS-A-MONTH IN OUR BALANCE OF TRADE WITH OTHER
COUNTRIES -- AND THAT'S PROGRESS, TOO.
- 20 -
INFLATION HAS BEEN CUT ALMOST IN HALF BETWEEN
12%
1974 AND 1975 -- DOWN FROM THE TWELVE PERCENT RANGE TO THE
6%
SIX PERCENT RANGE.
THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH --
it is
BUT IT'S PROGRESS.
THESE ARE ALL SIGNS OF GROWING ECONOMIC STRENGTH
AND STABILITY AND VITALITY.
-21-
THIS PAST YEAR HAS NOT SEEN THE DECLINE OF AMERICA
PREDICTED BY so MANY LAST JANUARY.
IT HAS WITNESSED
A RESURRECTION OF THE TRADITIONAL VALUES OF HARD WORK AND
TOUGHNESS-OF-SPIRIT THAT HAVE ALWAYS CHARACTERIZED
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY.
- 22 -
Believe me
NO ONE ON EARTH WILL BURY US UNLESS WE BURY OURSELVES,
II
1
THE ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES OF 1975
\
CONTRARY TO THE
FORECASTS OF FEAR
-
WERE A SIMPLE AND STRAIGHT-FORWARD
CHALLENGE TO ACHIEVEMENT.
TONIGHT, I REMIND YOU: \ WE NOT ONLY ACCEPTED
THAT CHALLENGE, WE DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
- 23 -
BUT I MUST FRANKLY ADMIT DISAPPOINTMENT IN
GETTING THE CONGRESS TO MOVE ON ENERGY.
LAST FEBRUARY,
I
THE LEADERS OF THE CONGRESS MET WITH ME AT THE WHITE HOUSE
AND SOLEMNLY ASSURED ME THEY WOULD HAVE AN ENERGY PROGRAM
ON MY DESK BY THE END OF APRIL.
WHEN THEY FAILED,
THEY ASKED FOR MORE TIME, PROMISING AGAIN TO HAVE AN
an additional
ENERGY PROGRAM ON MY DESK WITHIN 45 DAYS.
1
- - 24 -
will
AS WE MEET HERE TONIGHT, THE WIND AND SNOW
1
OF A NEW WINTER ARE BEGINNING TO WHIP ACROSS SOME AREAS
But
OF THE COUNTRY.
LIKE THE FLOWERS OF SPRING, THE
1
ENERGY PROMISES OF THE CONGRESS ARE FADED AND GONE.
-25-
so FAR THIS YEAR, PROPOSED ENERGY LEGISLATION
HAS BEEN INCORPORATED IN NEARLY 2,500 BILLS AND TIED UP
IN 29 DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.
TONIGHT, I CALL ON THE CONGRESS ONCE AGAIN TO
ACT RESPONSIBLY
TO PROVIDE THIS NATION WITH A PROGRAM
WHICH WILL PUT US ON THE ROAD TO ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.
- - 26 -
WE MUST MOVE ON THIS PROGRAM NOW
NOT AFTER
But
NEXT YEAR'S NATIONAL ELECTIONS
NOW.
THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE MUST HAVE RESPONSIBLE AND REALISTIC LEGISLATION
THAT WILL ACCOMPLISH OUR NATIONAL NEEDS AND GOALS.
- 27 -
AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, WE MUST DEVELOP
OUR MOST ABUNDANT AND MOST KNOWN ENERGY SOURCES --
AND, AS ALL OF YOU HERE IN WEST VIRGINIA KNOW,
THAT'S COAL.
COAL RESOURCES TOTAL MORE THAN
THREE TRILLION TONS -- A SUPPLY THAT GUARANTEES THE
UNITED STATES LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF ENERGY.
- - 28 -
THE FACT IS THAT WE ARE NOT so MUCH SQUANDERING
OUR FUEL RESOURCES AS WE ARE IGNORING THEM.
WE ARE
LIKE A MAN IN A DESERT WHO IS DYING FOR WATER WHILE
AN OASIS LIES JUST BEYOND THE HORIZON.
- 29 -
UNLESS WE DEVELOP THE ENERGY SOURCES THAT SURROUND
US
TAKE THE DIFFICULT STEPS REQUIRED TO MAKE THEM USABLE
-
OUR THIRST FOR FUEL WILL CREATE SEVERE HARDSHIPS FOR
OURSELVES AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
- 30 -
WHILE I AM PRESIDENT, THE FATE AND FUTURE OF
AMERICA WILL NOT BE LEFT TO UNDEPENDABLE FOREIGN SOURCES
OF
ENERGY. \\ IN THE NEXT 25 TO 50 YEARS, OIL AND GAS --
CONSTITUTING MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THE FUEL WE NOW USE --
MAY BE FAR TOO COSTLY TO BURN AT ANY PRICE.
-31-
BUT OUR NATIONAL COAL RESERVES HAVE MORE
POTENTIAL AND ARE MORE PRECIOUS TO YOUR FUTURE --
AND YOUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE -- THAN ALL THE MIDDLE EAST
RESERVES OF FUEL AND ALL OF THE FUEL THROUGHOUT THIS
VAST GLOBE. THE UNITED STATES CAN NOT AND WILL NOT
BASE ITS NATIONAL DESTINY ON ENERGY THAT BELONGS TO
OTHER NATIONS.
THAT IS NOT OUR NATIONAL FUTURE.
TO DO so WOULD BE OUR NATIONAL FOLLY.
- 32 -
WE CAN AND WE MUST DEVELOP OUR OWN
NATIONAL ENERGY RESOURCES WITHOUT DESPOILING THE
ENVIRONMENT.
IMPROVED MINING TECHNOLOGY CAN
ENSURE SAFE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND PRODUCTION OF COAL,
WE CAN AND MUST PRODUCE TECHNOLOGY TO BURN COAL
DIRECTLY WITHOUT PRODUCING ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE.
- 33 -
WE DO NOT HAVE A SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES
WE DO HAVE A SHORTAGE OF USEABLE ENERGY -- AND A SHORTAGE
OF DETERMINATION IN THE CONGRESS TO ACT, BECAUSE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENERGY PROGRAM INVOLVES POLITICALLY
DIFFICULT DECISIONS.
BUT THE CONGRESS MUST CARRY OUT
ITS RESPONSIBILITIES.
- 34 -
WE CAN PRODUCE AMERICAN ENERGY WITH AMERICAN
MONEY \\
AN AMERICAN WORK FORCE AND AMERICAN
TECHNOLOGY
-\-\--
FOR AN AMERICAN FUTURE.
- 35 -
AS I SAID EARLIER, THE "WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING
TO SEE HOW WE RESPOND."
ECONOMICALLY, WE ARE
ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY.
IN ENERGY, \ WE ARE STILL
AT A STANDSTILL.
- 36 -
THE CHOICE IS UP TO THE CONGRESS:
TO STAND STILL
IN ENERGY
TO RETREAT FROM RESPONSIBILITY AND REALITY
t
TO THREATEN OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY -- OR TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH LEGISLATION THAT WILL PRODUCE ENERGY AND ECONOMIC
STABILITY FOR THIS NATION.
- 37 -
I BELIEVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT --
AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE -- RESPONSIBILITY AND REALITY
WE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE PREPARED TO PROVIDE IT --
TO PROVIDE THIS NATION WITH STRENGTH AT HOME AND ABROAD.
and, we will
- 38 -
FROM MY TRAVELS ACROSS AMERICA, I AM CONVINCED
OF THIS:
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS IN TUNE WITH THE HOPES
AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
-
WITH THEIR DESIRES
AND THEIR WANTS.
- 39 - -
Tit'be be sparfic
IN PARTICULAR,
\ I HAVE FOUND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
WANT ENERGY INDEPENDENCE -- AND so DO WE IN THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY.
THEY WANT A SOUND ECONOMY -- AND so DO WE.
- - 40 -
THEY WANT GOOD HOUS ING,
GOOD FOOD
AND A
GOOD FUTURE FOR THEIR FAMILIES -- AND so DO WE.
THEY WANT THE 28 BILLION DOLLAR TAX CUT
I PROPOSED TO THE CONGRESS so THEY CAN SPEND THEIR
OWN MONEY RATHER THAN HAVE federal THE GOVERNMENT DO IT --
for them them
1
1
AND so DO WE.
- 41 -
AT THE SAME TIME,
THEY WANT A 28 BILLION DOLLAR
REDUCTION IN THE GROWTH OF FEDERAL SPENDING AS A START
TOWARD A BALANCED BUDGET -- AND so DO WE.
THEY WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP MEET THEIR NEEDS
WITHOUT ORDERING THEIR LIVES -- AND so DO WE.
People the fingth of wealth
ofthis land Government gove harring big enough
a us worgthy we to want, tabe
to quick Hort by enough HAVE
from isn no everything we
- 42 -
THEY WANT AN AMERICA AT PEACE AND ACTIVELY
PROMOTING PEACE WITH A STRONG INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITY
TO INSURE OUR PROTECTION -- AND so DO WE.
THEY WANT AN AMERICAN DEFENSE SECOND TO NONE --
AND so DO WE.
- 43 -
IF WE SUCCESSFULLY CARRY THIS MESSAGE
TO THE PEOPLE OF WEST VIRGINIA AND TO VOTERS ACROSS AMERICA
IN THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS, WE CAN MAKE 1976 A GREAT YEAR
FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY -- AND FOR THIS GREAT COUNTRY
OF OURS.
BUT WE NEED THE KIND OF CONTINUING SUPPORT
YOU ARE PROVIDING BY YOUR PRESENCE HERE TONIGHT.
- 44 -
THE DECISIONS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MAKE
LESS
THAN ONE YEAR FROM NOW WILL SHAPE THE COURSE OF THIS
COUNTRY WELL INTO OUR THIRD CENTURY OF INDEPENDENCE.
- 45 -
LET'S MAKE SURE WE DECIDE FOR AN AMERICA AT PEACE,
FOR A NATION RENEWED, FOR A PEOPLE WITH PRIDE,
FOR A
FUTURE THAT SUMMONS US TO NEW ACHIEVEMENT AND GLORY AND
GREATNESS.
WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN DO IT!
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
END OF TEXT