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1489589
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8/19/74 - VFW Convention, Chicago
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1489589
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document
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8/19/74 - VFW Convention, Chicago
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Sheila R. Weidenfeld Files (Ford Administration)
Sheila Weidenfeld's Trip Files
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Illinois
President (1974-1977 : Ford). Office of the First Lady. 1974-1977
Amnesty
Veterans
Voyages and travels
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1489589
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1974-08-31
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8
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1974
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1974-08-01
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8
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1974
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The original documents are located in Box 12, folder "8/19/74 - VFW Convention,
Chicago" of the Sheila Weidenfeld Files 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 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
Digitized from Box 12 of the Sheila Weidenfeld Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS TO THE
75TH ANNUAL VFW CONVENTION
Chicago, Illinois
Monday - August 19, 1974
From:
Terry O' Donnell
BACKGROUND:
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., representing more than
1.8 million members, extended to you an invitation in February to
address the opening session of its Diamond Jubilee Convention. You
accepted the VFW invitation in March and last week you reaffirmed,
your intention to attend.
Mayor Daley has issued a press release welcoming you and Mrs. Ford
and has invited the people of Chicago to greet you at the airport and
along the motorcade route.
8:20 a.m.
You join Mrs. Ford in the Map Room and together
proceed out the Diplomatic Entrance to the helicopter.
8:25 a. m.
Board helicopter and depart en route Andrews AFB.
(Flying Time: 15 minutes)
8:40 a.m.
Arrive Andrews AFB and board S'76.
PRESIDENTIAL GUESTS (On board in advance of
your arrival)
Senator Vance Hartke (D-Ind)
Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC)
Senator Cliff Hansen (R-Wyo)
Cong. Leslie C. Arends (R-III)
Cong. Dan Daniel (D-Va)
Cong. William Jennings Bryan Dorn (D-SC)
Cong. Olin Teague (D-Tex)
Cong. John Paul Hammerschmidt (R-Ark)
75th VFW Convention
2.
Chicago, Illinois
Monday . August 19, 1974
8:45 a. m.
S '76 departs en route O'Hare Field, Chicago, Illinois.
(Flying Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes)
(Time Change: - 1 hour)
9:25 a.m.
S '76 arrives O'Hare Field, Chicago, Illinois.
Your Military Aide, Commander Todd, will indicate
when you should disembark the aircraft.
Ruffles and Flourishes, Announcement, and "Hail to
the Chief" as you and Mrs Ford deplane. You will be
met at the foot of the ramp by:
Governor and Mrs. Daniel Walker (D)
Congressman Sam Young
Colonel Jack Reilly, City of Chicago Special Events
Officer (Mayor Daley's personal representative)
Mr. John Stang, Vice Commander-in-Chief of VFW
Mr. Thomas P. Walker, Vice Commander-in-Chief, VFW
Ambassador Donald Rumsfeld
Miss Diane Dummer, Chicago Lakefront Festival Queen
(who will present a floral bouquet to the First Lady)
NOTE:
Mayor Daley will not be present. He is
recuperating and resting in Michigan.
OPEN PRESS COVERAGE
CROWD SITUATION
NOTE:
If you decide in advance that you would like
to speak at the airport, a microphone will be
prepositioned. You can, if you wish, make
the decision to speak at the last minute since
a minimum of time is required to set up the
contingency microphone.
75th VFW Convention
3.
Chicago, Illinois
Monday - August 19, 1974
If you should address the crowd, it is recom-
mended that you shake hands for a few minutes
afterwards to allow time for your key staff
and Congressional guests who will be standing
behind you to board the motorcade.
9:35 a.m.
You and Mrs. Ford board motorcade and depart en route
Conrad Hilton Hotel.
(Driving Time: 50 minutes)
OPEN PRESS COVERAGE
CROWD SITUATION IN THE LOOP
NOTE:
The Presidential motorcade, prior to entering
the heaviest crowd areas, will stop to remove
the top so that you can stand and greet the crowd.
If you should desire to stop the motorcade in the
crowd areas, you should so inform Agent Keiser.
10:25 a.m.
Motorcade arrives Conrad Hilton Hotel.
You and Mrs. Ford will be met by:
Senator Charles Percy
Mr. William Smith, Conrad Hilton Hotel Manager
Mr. Smith and Governor Walker will escort you and
Mrs. Ford and Senator Percy to the elevator. Senator
Percy will proceed with you and Mrs. Ford to your suite
for a brief 5-minute personal meeting.
10:30 a.m.
Arrive Suite. 5-minute personal meeting with Senator Percy.
LIBRARY
75th VFW Convention
4.
Chicago, Illinois
Monday - August 19, 1974
10:35 a.m.
Senator Percy departs.
PERSONAL/STAFF TIME: 45 minutes
11:20 a. m.
You and Mrs. Ford depart suite and proceed to Inter-
national Ballroom to address the 75th Annual VFW
Convention.
11:25 a.m.
Arrive holding area where you will be met by Mr. Ray
R. Soden, VFW Commander-in-Chief.
11:28 a.m.
You depart holding area, escorted by Mr. Soden, and
proceed to International Ballroom foyer. You and
)
Mrs. Ford pause at entrance of Ballroom for Ruffles
and Flourishes and announcement of you, Mrs. Ford
and Commander Soden and, at "Hail to the Chief"
proceed into the Ballroom, down the center aisle and
up onto the stage using the stairs at stage right. Your
seat is the first stage left of the podium next to Mrs.
Soden. Mrs. Ford's seat is the second stage right
of the podium next to Commander Soden's.
FULL PRESS COVERAGE
ATTENDANCE: 3,000~
NOTE:
The Convention's Opening Session will have
been underway since 9:00 a.m. Overflow
convention attendees will be seated in the
adjacent Grand Ballroom to view your speech
on video monitors.
11:32 a.m.
Welcoming remarks by Mr. Soden who will present you
with the VFW's Citizenship Award and Gold Medal and
Certificate.
75th VFW Convention
Chicago, Illinois
5.
Monday - August 19, 1974
You proceed to the podium to accept this Award.
Upon acceptance, and prior to your remarks, you
may wish to place the medal and Certificate on a
small table near the podium.
11:40 a.m.
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS.
FULL PRESS COVERAGE INCLUDING
LIVE LOCAL TELEVISION
12:00 Noon
Your remarks conclude.
Escorted by Mr. Soden, you and Mrs. Ford depart
stage at "Hail to the Chief" and proceed up the center
aisle. It is suggested that you stop by the Grand
Ballroom at the rear of the International Ballroom
to briefly address the overflow crowd of approximately
2,500.
Depart hotel and board motorcade.
12:10 p.m.
Motorcade departs en route O'Hare Field.
(Driving Time: 40 minutes)
12:50 p.m.
Motorcade arrives O'Hare Field. You and Mrs. Ford
will be met by several key GOP State leaders and
candidates for office.
OPEN PRESS COVERAGE
CLOSED DEPARTURE
You and Mrs. Ford board S '76.
75th VFW Convention
6.
Chicago, Illinois
Monday - August 19, 1974
PRESIDENTIAL GUESTS:
Senator Strom Thurmond
Senator Cliff Hansen
Senator Charles Percy
Congressman Leslie Arends
Congressman Dan Daniel
Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt
Congressman Samuel Young
Congressman Robert McClory
12:55 p.m.
S '76 departs O'Hare Field en route Andrews AFB.
(Flying Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes)
(Time Change: + 1 hour)
3:20 p.m.
S '76 arrives Andrews AFB.
Proceed to helicopter and depart en route the White
House.
3:40 p.m.
Arrive South Grounds of the White House.
#####
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 19, 1974
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
(Chicago, Illinois)
THE WHITE HOUSE
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
UPON HIS ARRIVAL
AT O'HARE FIELD
9:30 A.M. CDT
This is a wonderful, wonderful day in Chicago,
and Betty and I are deeply grateful for all of you coming
out to visit us on our first trip out of Washington since
a week or ten days ago. Thank you so, so very much.
Now, let me just add a word, if I might. I
have said it several times, but all of you can contribute
so much. We have got a lot of work to do. That includes
me, as well as you, and our fellow Americans. We are going
to do that work, and we are going to accomplish what has
to be done, both at home and abroad.
There is, I think, a great opportunity for
America, for what we can do at home and what we can do
abroad. It will take a little belt tightening and
sacrificing, but with the spirit that I know exists in
America, and you exemplify it here this morning by your
warm welcome, I am sure we can do the job, with God's help.
Thank you so very, very much.
END
(9:32 A.M. CDT)
Stan 8/25/74
With
President and Mrs. Ford leave VFW convention after his amnesty speech.
GENALE R FORD LIBRARY
The New York Times/Gary Settle
President Ford addressing the convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars yesterday in
Chicago. Mrs. Ford is seated beside Ray R. Soden, right, head of the association.
FORD s LIBRARY GERALD