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Remarks of the President at the Annual Dinner of the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation [Ford Speech or Statement]
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7346378
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Remarks of the President at the Annual Dinner of the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation [Ford Speech or Statement]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
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1976-10-21
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1976
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Digitized from Box 33 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 21, 1976
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
(New York City, New York)
THE WHITE HOUSE
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
AT THE
ANNUAL DINNER OF THE
ALFRED E. SMITH MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
THE WALDORF ASTORIA HOTEL
7:37 P.M. EDT
Your Emminence, I thank you very, very kindly
for your very warm and exceedingly kind introduction.
Members of the Smith family, Governor Carey,
Senator Javits, Senator Buckley, Mayor Beame, Mr. Silver,
Dr. Rusk, distinguished officials, guests, ladies and
gentlemen:
Let me say first how busy it is, keeping running
the country and the campaign at the same time. We seem
to go from one place to another without pausing. Some-
times it gets confusing, but it is always nice to come
back here to Philadelphia. (Laughter) I should say
thank you and good night. (Laughter)
But, you are not going to get off that easy.
You know one of the first speeches I made when I became Vice
President-designate in 1973 was here at the Alfred E.
Smith Memorial Dinner. I got out a copy of that speech
and read it.. It was very short. I have in mind Al
Smith's famous political maxim, "Don't speak until you
have something to say." He also had a favorite line
with a surprisingly modern ring, "Never promise anything
you are not perfectly sure you can deliver."
It is no wonder that so many politicians of
both parties come here every year to pay tribute to
Governor Al Smith's memory. But, the dinner also gives
opposing candidates a chance to meet in good fellowship
for a brief respite from the ardors of their campaign,
and I sincerely regret that Governor Carter is not here
yet. (Laughter)
We are coming into the home stretch of this
great campaign, and tomorrow is our last debate, only
this one is going to be a little different from the
others. Governor Carter is going to answer his questions
and I am going to quetsion my answers. (Laughter)
MORE
Page 2
I do have a message for Governor Carter. It
is about some new security measures we have taken. We
just installed a special lock on the front door of
the White House. (Laughter) Ithis "Jimmy-proof."
I wish I had time to mention all of the
distinguished Americans who are here this evening.
Looking around this head table, I am not sure whether
it is October at the Waldorf or Thanksgiving at Hugh
Carey's. (Laughter)
Let me just say a word about your exciting
Senatorial race right here in the great Empire State.
Before the program, I asked Cardinal Cooke what
significance he would attach to the fact that this year
Jim Buckley and Pat Moynihan -- two good Irish Catholics --
are running for the United States Senate. Cardinal Cooke
said it meant only one thing -- God answers prayers.
(Laughter)
Tonight, rather than talking about what divides
us, I would rather focus on what unites us: a deep belief
in the Almighty, a deep belief in the dignity of
human life, a deep belief in the morality of American
leadership.
Earlier this week Cardinal Cooke dedicated a
church on Staten Island which had been destroyed by fire
only a few years ago. The people of that church had
rallied and worked together to restore what they had
originally created, and so deeply believed in.
Similarly, in the last two years the American
people have rallied. We have restored our belief in our-
selves and in our system of Government. During our
great Bicentennial celebration this past July, we felt
that renewed spirit. The sight of those tall ships from
all over the world made every American stand taller.
It is one thing to cite the problems that we
have in America, to list our complaints and to note the
frustration over things that don't work, the disillusion-
ment with Government that has grown so widespread.
But, we should do more. Our politics ought to
mean more than noting a negative tone or negative mood
in America and becoming its champion. Our politics ought
to be able to capture the hope that there is in America and
to find out how to nourish it in specific ways.
MORE
Page 3
There is a wide range of institutions in
between which can bridge the gulf between the person and
the huge, impersonal institutions of modern life. These
same institutions can solve problems which are beyond the
power of men and women to meet as individuals and beyond
the power of Government to even understand. They are
the communities which a free people freely formed -- the
communities of families, of neighborhoods, of friends,
the communities of faith and charity.
The Jewish-Christian tradition from which this
great country emerged encouraged people to help other
people in need, especially the stranger, the newcomer.
Those of us who were called upon to serve a people born
into that tradition do well to recognize the abundance
of good will and neighborliness that characterizes such
people.
If we ask everything of Government, as powerful
as Government in America is today, we soon may end up
looking to Government to set the standards for compassion
and for care.
We may soon forget that the highest standards
were already set for us -- not on Capitol Hill, but
long ago on two loftier peaks: On Sinai and the Mount
of Olives.
So, it has been a great honor, Your Emminence,
to take part in this evening's demonstration, of how good
and how great is the heart of this great city and how
strong are the bonds of compassion and concern that unites
us as Americans.
Before I go, I note that among those absent
tonight is one distinguished American who has brought his
infectious good humor to many gatherings just like this
one, one we can justly call the rightful heir in our time
of Al Smith's nickname, "The Happy Warrior," My good
friend and the good friend of many people here, Hubert
Humphrey, is fighting another battle just tonight in Sloan-
Kettering Hospital. He should know that he has our heart-
felt prayers for a very speedy and complete recovery. We
look forward to having him with us again next year, and
I may dare say that vote among us all is unanimous.
Many years ago I shared a banquet podium just
like this with the then Vice President Hubert Humphrey.
What I said then I say again to you, to all my supporters
and to all Governor Carter's supporters, and to Governor
Carter himself: As we head into the final days of this
great campaign, the things that unite us as Americans are
far more enduring than the things that divide us. Let's
all remember that both Democrats and Republicans are
striving together to create a more perfect union with
liberty and justice for all.
MORE
Page 4
Our unwritten compact of respect for the
convictions of others and faith in the tendency of others
allows Americans the luxury of rugged political compe-
tition. Let's all work to banish war from our shrinking
world and hate from our expanding hearts, to make this
whole planet as full of friendship and felicity as this
room tonight.
Thank you and good night.
END
(AT 7:50 P.M. EDT)