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10/8/75 - YWCA of New York City
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This file contains material relating to Waste, Conspicious Consumption.
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Carla A. Hills Speeches
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The original documents are located in Box 1, folder "10/8/75 - YWCA of New York City"
of the Carla A. Hills Speeches 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 1 of the Carla A. Hills Speeches at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FINAL
#
2
YWCA OF NEW YORK CITY
OCTOBER 8, 1975
You MAY BE PLEASED TO KNOW THAT I'M NOT GOING TO TALK
ABOUT THE "STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN" IN A MAN'S WORLD.
I SUSPECT THAT WOULD BE AS POINTLESS AS TRYING TO CONVERT
CHRISTIANS TO CHRISTIANITY.
THE PLACE FOR THAT SPEECH MIGHT BE THE ANNUAL CONVENTION
OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DORMANT RESOURCES -- AND, IF ASKED,
I'D BE DELIGHTED TO MAKE IT,
BUT, IT IS NOT MUCH USE EITHER TO WOMEN OR TO THE NATION
THAT WE, HERE, EXCHANGE STATISTICS ON THE "WOMAN'S PLACE"
(AND I PUT THAT IN QUOTES) IN THE HIGHER ESCHELONS OF PRIVATE
INDUSTRY AND PUBLIC OFFICE.
THE FIGURES VARY, IN SPITE OF INNUMERABLE SUCCESS STORIES
OVER THE PAST HALF DECADE, STATISTICIANS TELL ME THERE ARE
FEWER THAN 15 PERCENT WOMEN EXECUTIVES IN INDUSTRY AND 14
PERCENT IN GOVERNMENT.
GERALD F. FORD LIBRARY
-2-
IT IS OBVIOUS THAT A GREAT MANY PEOPLE WHO NEED TO
KNOW THESE FACTS -- INCLUDING A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF WOMEN
THEMSELVES -- COULD CARE LESS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR FOR STATISTICS TO SUPPORT
THAT STATEMENT -- JUST TO THE 17 STATES WHICH so FAR HAVE
FAILED TO RATIFY THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.
WOMEN ENJOY A MAJORITY IN EVERY ONE OF THE 17 EXCEPT
NEVADA -- AND IN THAT SILVER STATE THEY MISS IT BY 7/10's
OF ONE PERCENT.
MORE THAN THAT, PAT LINDH -- PRESIDENT FORD'S ASSISTANT
FOR WOMEN'S AFFAIRS -- TOLD ME THAT MOST OF THE ANTI-EQUAL
RIGHTS AMENDMENT LETTERS RECEIVED BY THE WHITE HOUSE COME
FROM WOMEN,
IT IS LITTLE WONDER THAT SOME OF OUR GOOD FRIENDS IN
THE VANGUARD OF THE ERA MOVEMENT MIGHT OCCASIONALLY LIKEN
THEIR MISSION TO THE JOB OF SELLING A "YW" MEMBERSHIP TO
BURT REYNOLDS,
-3-
I ALSO QUESTION, SOMETIMES, WHETHER WOMEN WHO "HAVE
IT MADE" -- AS THEY SAY -- REALLY TAKE THE TIME THEY SHOULD
TO THINK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF ALL WOMEN.
YES -- PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE INEQUITIES AND THE OUT-
RIGHT DISCRIMINATION AS THEY GO ALONG -- BUT, THEY TEND TO
THINK IN TERMS OF THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE,
THE LATE JACKIE ROBINSON ONCE REMARKED THAT HE WAS so
ENGROSSED WITH MAKING IT AS A BALL PLAYER -- THAT HE DIDN'T
HAVE ALL THAT MUCH TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HIS OWN STRUGGLE
WAS DOING FOR "BLACKS" IN GENERAL,
EACH OF US SHOULD FIND A GREAT DEAL OF SOLACE IN WHAT
MR. ROBINSON ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHED FOR BLACKS --- NOT BY
BEING BLACK, BUT BY BEING ONE OF THE BEST BASEBALL PLAYERS
THE GAME HAS PRODUCED.
AND, ALTHOUGH YOU MAY BE AGHAST -- AS I CERTAINLY AM --
AT THE THOUGHT OF BEING A "ROLE MODEL" FOR SOME OF THE OTHER
35 MILLION WORKING WOMEN IN AMERICA, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS
YOU CAN DO TO HELP THE "WOMEN'S CAUSE" IS TO KEEP PROVING
LITY BY ACHIEVING.
-4-
SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS, THE PILING UP OF ONE SUCCESSFUL
EXAMPLE AFTER ANOTHER IS INDISPENSIBLE "TRENCH WORK".
IT MAY NOT BE AS DRAMATIC AS BILLIE JEAN KING'S HOLDING-
OUT FOR EQUAL WIN-PURSES FOR WOMEN TENNIS CHAMPS -- BUT, THEN,
BILLIE JEAN MIGHT NOT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED HER GOAL WITHOUT THE
SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCES OF THE HELEN WILLS, THE PAULINE BETZS,
AND THE MAUREEN CONOLLYS, WHO WENT BEFORE.
THE NEW YORK YWCA ATTESTS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS IDEA
BY THE VERY EXISTENCE OF TODAY'S SALUTE TO THOSE WHO HAVE
ACHIEVED IN THE BUSINESS WORLD. THE CAUSE TO WHICH TODAY'S
PROCEEDS WILL GO, WILL HELP AN INCREASING NUMBER OF YOUNGER
WOMEN TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS TO FUTURE LEADERSHIP.
EACH OF US HAS AN OBLIGATION -- NOT JUST TO THESE YOUNGER
WOMEN, BUT TO ALL PEOPLE -- TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE
EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THEIR
COMPETENCE.
IT IS IN THIS CONTEXT THAT THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT IS
so IMPORTANT TO THIS NATION.
-5-
IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF COMPASSION OR CONSTITUTIONAL
QUIRKINESS. IT'S A MATTER OF UNMITIGATED WASTE IN A COUNTRY
WHOSE PRODIGALITY HAS ALREADY BROUGHT OUR RESOURCES TO THE
BRINK.
IT WASTES NOT ONLY A GREAT WELL OF UNDER-UTILIZED BRAIN
POWER -- BUT PRECIOUS TIME AWAY FROM THE AWESOME PROBLEMS OF
HUMANITY AS WE ASSAIL THESE SENSELESS POCKETS OF DISCRIMINATION
-- ONE BY ONE.
FOR EXAMPLE, CONGRESS FINALLY PASSED THE EQUAL CREDIT
OPPORTUNITIES AcT, WHICH WILL GO INTO EFFECT WITHIN THE NEXT
FEW WEEKS. IT TOOK MONTHS TO PUSH THROUGH THIS PATENTLY
OBVIOUS PIECE OF LEGISLATION -- SQUANDERING TIME THAT MIGHT
HAVE BEEN BETTER EMPLOYED ON OTHER SERIOUS PROBLEMS,
RATIFICATION OF THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT WOULD PUT AN
END TO THE NEED FOR ALL THESE SMALLER BATTLES -- AND VICTORIES
--- AND LET US ALL GET ON WITH THE VITAL ISSUES,
-6-
DETRACTORS OF ERA WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AMERICANS BELIEVE
THAT THE THRUST IS DESIGNED TO PRESSURE WOMEN OUT OF THEIR
HOMES AND INTO THE WORK FORCE, I'M REASONABLY SURE THAT THEY,
THEMSELVES, REALLY DO KNOW BETTER.
THE CLEAR POINT IS SIMPLY TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR WOMEN,
WHO ARE so INCLINED, TO COMPETE ON AN EQUAL BASIS,
WOMEN IN BUSINESS, PERHAPS MORE THAN OTHERS, HAVE MANY
OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK OUT ON THAT SCORE,
IF THE NATION SEEMS TO BE IMPLORING ALL OF US FOR HELP,
IT ISN'T BECAUSE WE'RÉ SUDDENLY ALLOWED TO SIT AT THE BAR IN
MCSORLEY'S SALOON.
IT'S BECAUSE THE NATION REALLY DOES NEED HELP -- THE
HELP OF EVERY SOUND-THINKING MIND AND VIGOROUS ACHIEVER,
MEN AND WOMEN OF EVERY COLOR, SHAPE AND SIZE.
THE PROBLEMS OF HUMANITY ARE CROWDING IN ON US WITH
SUCH INEXORABLE ACCELERATION, THERE'S LITTLE LEISURE LEFT
TO ARGUE THE FINE POINTS OF SUPERIORITY BASED ON THE
BIOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION OF GENES.
-7-
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO HUMANITY. THE OLD ORDER THAT
MADE IT NECESSARY FOR YOU TO BE TWICE AS GOOD AND TWICE AS
EDUCATED TO COMPETE -- NOW MAKES YOU TWICE AS VALUABLE TO
THE NATION WHICH FACES SOME VERY TOUGH CHALLENGES IN THE
YEARS AHEAD.
LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT CHALLENGE OUR
LEADERSHIP.
LIKE DISCRIMINATION, THEY ARE RELATED TO A COMMON CAUSE
---- WASTE.
NEWSPAPERS AND ORATORS HAVE MADE US ONLY TOO WELL AWARE
OF NEW YORK CITY'S DESPERATE FINANCIAL SITUATION. THERE'S
LITTLE GAIN IN ARGUING ABOUT WHO IS TO BLAME.
WE KNOW WHO'S TO BLAME,
WE ALL ARE.
-8-
NEW YORK CITY IS BUT A MICROCOSM OF URBAN AMERICANA.
TODAY, THE SMALLEST CITY IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
MAY LOOK AT NEW YORK AND SAY: "Yes, IT COULD HAPPEN HERE."
EVEN IF THE TAXPAYERS COULD AFFORD IT, A TEMPORARY
MONETARY INFUSION TO ANY MAJOR METROPOLIS BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WOULD DO NOTHING TO CLOSE THE GAPING WOUND.
WE CERTAINLY CAN AGREE THAT THE "ROOT" PROBLEM OF ALL
CITIES -- LARGE AND SMALL -- IS MONEY.
BUT, IT IS NOT THE MONEY WE HAVEN'T GOT TO PAY TODAY'S
STAGGERING BILLS.
IT'S THE MONEY AMERICA HAS SQUANDERED OVER THE YEARS
IN THE PILLAGE OF HER OWN RESOURCES,
IT'S MONEY COUNTED BY THE BILLIONS IN DESECRATED LANDS
AS AMERICAN FINANCED THE NEWEST RING IN THE SUBURBAN SPRAWL,
IT'S MONEY SPENT IN RE-CREATING ALL THE AMENITIES AND
CONVENIENCES OUR OUTWARDLY-MOBILE SOCIETY LEFT BEHIND.
-9-
OUR NATIONAL PRODIGALITY IS NOT MERELY MEASURED IN
DOLLARS -- BUT IN THE HUMANITIES AS WELL.
FOR NEW YORK CITY, 35,000 UNITS OF HOUSING, A YEAR,
ARE ABANDONED. EXPERTS PREDICT THE RATE WILL RISE TO
50,000 NEXT YEAR.
AN ABANDONED HOUSE IS NOT JUST AN OLD DERELICT DOWN
BY THE RAILROAD IN AN EDWARD HOPPER LANDSCAPE.
ABANDONED WITH IT ARE A PART OF ALL THE THINGS THAT
MADE IT LIVE.
MUNDANE THINGS -- LIKE WATER AND SEWAGE LINES, ROADS
AND TRANSPORATION SYSTEMS AND UTILITIES.
VITAL THINGS -- LIKE THEATERS, SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES,
AND PRECIOUS PIECES OF THE HISTORY AND CULTURE THAT
GIVE THE CITY MAJESTY.
-10-
AN E. A. ROBINSON ELEGY ENDS WITH THE WORDS:
"THERE IS DARKNESS AND DECAY IN THE
HOUSE ON THE HILL
"THEY HAVE ALL GONE AWAY.
"THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO SAY.
Do WE, AS EDUCATED AND THINKING BUSINESS LEADERS --
REALLY HAVE NOTHING TO SAY?
IN THE FORWARD RUSH OF UN-HEEDED TIME THE NATION HAS
RAPIDLY RUN OUT OF EXPEDIENT SOLUTIONS AND READY EXCUSES.
WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO HELP WITH THE RE-ORDERING OF
OUR PRIORITIES.
A WELL-KNOWN WASHINGTON MATRON ONCE REMARKED: "IT
TAKES NO TIME AT ALL TO GET USED TO A LIMOSINE."
WELL, THE FUEL SHORTAGE HAS SHOWN US IT TAKES NO TIME
TO GET USED TO A MINI-CAR EITHER. IT HAS ALSO TAUGHT US
THAT THERE'S REAL COMFORT IN AN OLD-FASHIONED SWEATER WHEN
WE- HAVE TO TURN DOWN THE THERMOSTAT,
-11-
TODAY, IT'S FASHIONABLY "IN" TO USE RECYCLED NEWSPAPERS
AND BOYCOTT NON-RETURNABLE CONTAINERS, THAT'S FINE. BUT
THERE'S MORE TO THE JOB THAN RECYCLING THE DEBRIS THAT LITTERS
OUR HIGHWAYS.
THE REAL CHALLENGE IS TO RECYCLE WHOLE CITIES THAT NOW
LITTER THE VERY LIVES OF 16 MILLION AMERICANS WHO ARE OFFICIALLY
DESIGNATED AS "THE HOUSING POOR" -- WHICH IS A BUREAUCRATIC
CLICHE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN SLUMS,
THERE'S FAR MORE INVOLVED HERE THAN WEARING A PROTEST
BUTTON AND WAVING THE FLAG.
IT TAKES PERSONAL, DRIVING ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AT EVERY
LEVEL OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AND PUBLIC OFFICE WHERE THE PLANS
ARE MADE.
IT TAKES PERSONAL WILLINGNESS TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
AMONG THE FORESIGHTED.
-12-
THAT BOTTLE-STREWN, GARBAGE HEAP OF A VACANT LOT --
NO MATTER WHERE IT'S LOCATED -- ISN'T SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROBLEM.
IT'S OURS.
WE CAN'T KID OURSELVES THAT IT'S JUST A "WEST SIDE STORY".
AND, UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, IT WILL BE EVERYBODY'S
TRADEGY.
A CITY ISN'T A MASSED CONCENTRATION OF CAPITAL ASSETS,
IT'S PEOPLE.
A HEALTHY CITY IS. MADE UP OF PEOPLE OF EVERY ETHNIC AND
ECONOMIC DESCRIPTION -- WHOSE COMBINED ENERGIES AND TAXABLE
INCOMES KEEP THE CITY IN BUSINESS,
DESTROY THAT BALANCE AND YOU DESTROY THE CITY,
IN THE CURRENT "BUSINESS WEEK" MAGAZINE WHICH LANDED
ON MY DESK YESTERDAY MORNING, THERE'S AN EXTENSIVE ARTICLE
ON NEW YORK CITY'S REAL ESTATE WOES.
-13-
LET ME QUOTE ONE PERTINENT PARAGRAPH,
"THE PRESENT DETERIORATION, IF UNCHECKED,
COULD MEAN THE VIRTUAL COLLAPSE OF THE
HOUSING INVENTORY OF NEW YORK CITY AND A
MASSIVE EROSION OF THE PROPERTY TAX BASE,
WHICH WOULD HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON
THE CITY'S REVENUE-RAISING ABILITIES."
BUT, THE SHOCK WAVES OF INNER-CITY DESTRUCTION AND DECAY
DON'T JUST STOP AT THE CITY LIMITS. THEY MOVE OUT TO TOPPLE
AN EVER-WIDENING CIRCLE OF SUBURBAN DOMINOES.
THE ECONOMIC LIFE FORCES THAT BUILT THE BIG CITY, RECUR
AGAIN AND AGAIN, AS EACH NEW TOWN GROWS AND EXPANDS.
THUS, ANY COMMUNITY -- URBAN OR SUBURAN -- THAT ENJOYS,
OR HOPES TO ATTRACT, THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF PRIVATE INDUSTRY
MUST EXPECT TO SHARE THE ECONOMIC BURDENS. ONE OF THOSE
BURDENS IS PROVIDING SUITABLE HOUSING FOR THE LOWEST PAID
WORKERS IN THOSE PLANTS.
-14-
YET, IT IS A FACT OF URBAN LIFE THAT IS TOO OFTEN
CONVENIENTLY OVERLOOKED IN THE PLANNING SESSIONS OF OUR
COUNCILS.
THE INEVITABLE ALTERNATE IS ANOTHER GROWING SLUM,
AND ANOTHER CYCLE OF UNCHECKED WASTE -- OF RESOURCES AND
OF HUMANITY.
So, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS OF NEW YORK --
OR CHICAGO, OR DETROIT, OR ST. LOUIS -- WE'RE REALLY TALKING
THE PROBLEMS OF THE NATION,
IN TRUTH, OUR MODERN-DAY CITY PROBLEMS ARE SURMOUNTABLE
--- IF WE ARE WILLING TO MAKE SOME OF THE EARLY-DAY SACRIFICES
OF THE PIONEERS WHO BUILT AMERICA.
By EVERY YARDSTICK -- ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SANITY,
AND ECONOMIC NECESSITY -- WE HAVE FINALLY CONCLUDED,
STATISTICALLY, WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE CONCLUDED, INTELLIGENTLY,
MORE THAN A DECADE AGO:
THAT IT IS FAR LESS COSTLY TO RECYCLE A CITY THAN IT
IS TO BUILD ANOTHER SUBURB,
-15-
IN FACT, IT COSTS ABOUT 50 PERCENT LESS ALL AROUND --
IN LAND, ENERGY, CAPITAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES IN RECENT YEARS MAKE THAT PROPOSITION
EVEN MORE SALIENT,
THERE HAS BEEN A REMARKABLE INCREASE IN ADULT-ORIENTED
HOUSEHOLDS -- PUSHING THE DEMAND FOR LOW AND MODERATE COST
HOUSING, ACCESSIBLE TO JOBS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE
DESIRE FOR NEARBY URBANITIES AND AMENITIES.
BETWEEN 1970 AND 1973 -- SINGLES, YOUNG MARRIEDS, THE
CHILDLESS AND THE ELDERLY, ACCOUNTED FOR 82 PERCENT OF THE
NATION'S NET POPULATION GAIN.
AMERICA CAN MEET THESE NEEDS, AND, IN THE PROCESS
BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO OUR CITIES.
WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CHECK WASTE.
-16-
AND THE JOB ISN'T GOING TO GET DONE IF THE NATION WASTES
A GOLDMINE OF BRAIN POWER, INGENUITY AND INVENTIVENESS OR IF
IT WASTES TIME DEBATING ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE RUNNING THE STORE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.