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    "localId": "7345035",
    "label": "Remarks of the President at a Concert and Reception to Celebrate the Bicentennial [Ford Speech or Statement]",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Remarks of the President at a Concert and Reception to Celebrate the Bicentennial [Ford Speech or Statement]",
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    "productionDates": [
        {
            "day": 20,
            "logicalDate": "1976-07-20",
            "month": 7,
            "year": 1976
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    "seq": 1,
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    "type": "document",
    "url": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/35/3450/7345035/content/library/document/0248/whpr19760720-016.pdf",
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    "ocrText": "Digitized from Box 29 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library\nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nJULY 20, 1976\nOFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nREMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT\nAT A\nCONCERT AND RECEPTION TO CELEBRATE\nTHE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BICENTENNIAL\nTHE ROSE GARDEN\n10:04 P.M. EDT\nLadies and gentlemen of the Diplomatic Corps,\nand distinguished guests:\nMrs. Ford and I are delighted to have all of you\nhere on this occasion this evening. On behalf of the\nAmerican people, I thank you for your very generous and\nenthusiastic response of your Governments and your peoples\non our 200th birthday of the United States of America.\nAmong the many Bicentennial events, this one has\na very special significance. A unique aspect of America's\ndevelopment has been its relationship between our nation and\nthe other countries of the world. Our strength and character\nare derived from all corners of the globe. The Declaration\nof Independence addressed itself to the entire world.\nToday, just as two centuries ago, a decent respect\nto the opinions of mankind continues to be our guide.\nAmerica's strength and America's well being arise from the\nprinciples embodied in the Declaration of Independence.\nIn our country, we have united many races and many\nethnic groups, and that unity, equality and freedom will be\nmaintained in the years ahead. Americans are convinced that\nconstant devotion to the individual and national freedom\nis essential to the highest and finest human aspirations.\nAmericans have never been satisfied with the\nstatus quo. We see a future of steady movement toward a\nbetter life through prosperity and justice shared by all.\nWe are proud of our success, and we are aware that no\nnation can pursue its prosperity in isolation.\nOur economies are closely linked. Neither security\nnor justice can be assured in a world tormented by\ndeprivation andby suffering.\nMORE\nPage 2\nThe peoples of the world must, in our opinion,\nlive in peace to prosper. As President, I will continue\nAmerica's role of leadership throughout the world. Our\ncountry could not have become what it is without the\nenormous contributions of the many nations all of you\nrepresent here this evening:\nToday, in this very special year, I speak for\n215 million Americans in expressing thanks to all those\nnations with whom we have ties of family, culture, of\nfriendship, of trade and alliance. We rededicate ourselves\nto working with you and with all humanity. Together\nlet us seek a human community responsive to all citizens.\nNow, with my good and old friend, His Excellency\nthe distinguished Ambassador of Nicaragua, Dean of the\nDiplomatic Corps, here in the national capital, Ambassador\nSevilla-Sacasa, please step forward.\nIn commemoration of America's Bicentennial, I am\npleased to present to you, Your Excellency, as representative\nof the entire Diplomatic Corps, a gift that symbolizes the\nspirit of this very special year in America's history. It\nis a redwood carving bearing the American symbol, the\nBald Eagle, and carrying the legend, \"Of America, Out of\nMany, One.\"\nThis token, I should say to all of you here,\nwill be sent to each of you. Also, it represents how proud\nwe are in 1976 to enjoy the friendship and the good will of\nall the countries that are represented here this evening.\nMr. Ambassador.\nEND\n(AT 10:09 P.M. EDT)"
}