Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
135838992
label
JGR/Presidential Remarks, Statements, [& Addresses] February 1984 (3 of 3)
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
135838992
contentType
document
title
JGR/Presidential Remarks, Statements, [& Addresses] February 1984 (3 of 3)
citationUrl
identifierLocal
485
collections
Records of the Office of Counsel to the President (Reagan Administration)
John Roberts' Subject Files
thumbnailUrl
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
135838992
coverageEndDate
logicalDate
1986-12-31
year
1986
coverageStartDate
logicalDate
1982-01-01
year
1982
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
3f99b39825d5cba4
ocrText
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Roberts, John G.: Files
Folder Title: JGR/Presidential Remarks, Statements,
[& Addresses] February 1984
(3 of 3)
Box: 40
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
ID #
CU
WHITE HOUSE
CORRESPONDENCE TRACKING WORKSHEET
O OUTGOING
H INTERNAL
I INCOMING
Date Correspondence
Received (YY/MM/DD)
/
/
Name of Correspondent: Richard Darman
MI Mail Report
User Codes: (A)
(B)
(C)
Subject: Presidential Speech planning
Schedule (February 27,1984)
ROUTE TO:
ACTION
DISPOSITION
Tracking
Type
Completion
Action
Date
of
Date
Office/Agency
(Staff Name)
Code
YY/MM/DD
Response
Code
YY/MM/DD
CUHOLL
ORIGINATOR 84,07,28
/
/
Referral Note:
CUNT 14
I 84,02,28
/
/
Referral Note:
WAT 18
I 84,02 08
/
/
Referral Note:
WAT 02
I 89,02,28
/
/
Referral Note:
CUAT 17
I
84,0282
/ /
Referral Note:
ACTION CODES:
DISPOSITION CODES:
A . Appropriate Action
I - Info Copy Only/No Action Necessary
A Answered
C Completed
C Comment/Recommendation
R - Direct Reply w/Copy
B - Non-Special Referral
S Suspended
D Draft Response
S For Signature
F - Furnish Fact Sheet
X Interim Reply
to be used as Enclosure
FOR OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE:
Type of Response = Initials of Signer
Code
#
"A"
Completion Date = Date of Outgoing
Comments:
Keep this worksheet attached to the original incoming letter.
Send all routing updates to Central Reference (Room 75, OEOB).
Always return completed correspondence record to Central Files.
Refer questions about the correspondence tracking system to Central Reference, ext. 2590.
5/81
ID #.
CU
WHITE HOUSE
CORRESPONDENCE TRACKING WORKSHEET
O OUTGOING
H INTERNAL
I INCOMING
Date Correspondence
Received (YY/MM/DD)
/
/
Name of Correspondent: Richard Darman
MI Mail Report
User Codes: (A)
(B)
(C)
Subject: Presidential Speech Planning
Schedule (February 27, 1984)
ROUTE TO:
ACTION
DISPOSITION
Tracking
Type
Completion
Action
Date
of
Date
Office/Agency
(Staff Name)
Code
YY/MM/DD
Response
Code
YY/MM/DD
ORIGINATOR
/
/
/
/
Referral Note:
CUAT19
I 84,02,28
/
/
Referral Note:
CUAT 04
I 84,02,28
/
/
Referral Note:
CUAT 09
I 34,02,28
/
/
Referral Note:
/
/
/
/
-
Referral Note:
ACTION CODES:
DISPOSITION CODES:
A . Appropriate Action
I . Info Copy Only/No Action Necessary
A Answered
C Completed
C - Comment/Recommendation
R - Direct Reply w/Copy
B - Non-Special Referral
S Suspended
D . Draft Response
S. For Signature
F Furnish Fact Sheet
X Interim Reply
to be used as Enclosure
FOR OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE:
Type of Response = Initials of Signer
Code = "A"
Completion Date = Date of Outgoing
Comments:
Keep this worksheet attached to the original incoming letter.
Send all routing updates to Central Reference (Room 75, OEOB).
Always return completed correspondence record to Central Files.
Refer questions about the correspondence tracking system to Central Reference, ext. 2590.
5/81
Document No.
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE:
2/27/84
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH PLANNING SCHEDULE (February 27, 1984)
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
McFARLANE
MEESE
McMANUS
BAKER
MURPHY
DEAVER
OGLESBY
STOCKMAN
ROGERS
DARMAN
P
58
SPEAKES
FELDSTEIN
SVAHN
FIELDING
VERSTANDIG
FULLER
WHITTLESEY
HERRINGTON
TUTWILER
HICKEY
WIRTHLIN
JENKINS
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments or suggestions to Ben Elliott, with a
copy to my office. Thank you.
RESPONSE:
Richard G. Darman
1984 FEB 27 PM 5: 54
Assistant to the President
Ext. 2702
February 27, 1984
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH PLANNING SCHEDULE
WRITER
EVENT
DATE
RESEARCHER
TOPIC/THEME/PURPOSE
A. SPEECHES
BRIEFING FOR NATIONAL ALLIANCE
02/29
Peter
Senior Citizens benefit from economic
OF SENIOR CITIZENS
Wednesday
Elizabeth
recovery, lower inflation, & higher
payments from S.S. & Medicare. Call for
House passage of Crime Bill.
ADDRESS TO AMERICAN LEGION WOMEN'S
03/01
Tony
Administration's commitment to peace,
AUXILIARY CONVENTION
Thursday
Misty
military rebuilding program;
economic recovery;
urge passage of Crime Bill.
LUNCH WITH ELECTED GOP WOMEN
03/02
Peter
Republican commitment to women's rights;
OFFICIALS
Friday
Elizabeth
appointment of women; economic recovery
at home; renewed strength abroad.
CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL ACTION
03/02
Ben
Economic recovery; traditional values;
CONFERENCE DINNER
Friday
Misty
peace through strength.
ADDRESS NATIONAL LEAGUE OF
03/05
Al
Economic Recovery, Jobs and Training
CITIES CONFERENCE
Monday
Kim
Partnership Act, Enterprise Zones
ADDRESS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
03/06
Peter
Social issues, values
EVANGELICALS
Tuesday
Elizabeth
(Columbus, OH)
REPUBLICAN FUNDRAISER
03/06
Ben
(New York, NY)
Tuesday
Misty
- 2
WRITER
EVENT
DATE
RESEARCHER
TOPIC/THEME/PURPOSE
RECEPTION FOR NATIONAL NEWSPAPER
03/08
Tony
ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP
Thursday
Misty
GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA
03/09
Al
ANNIVERSARY LUNCH
Friday
Kim
LUNCH WITH ELECTED GOP WOMEN
03/12
Al
OFFICIALS
Monday
Misty
FOURTH NATIONAL YOUNG
03/13
Peter
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Tuesday
Elizabeth
ADDRESS INDEPENDENT INSURANCE
03/27
AGENTS OF AMERICA
Tuesday
B. RADIO TALKS
RADIO TALK:
03/03
Ben
Saturday
RADIO TALK:
03/10
Ben
Saturday
RADIO TALK:
03/17
Ben
Saturday
RADIO TALK:
03/24
Saturday
- 3 -
WRITER
EVENT
DATE
RESEARCHER
TOPIC/THEME/PURPOSE
C. REMARKS
RECEPTION FOR U.S. WINTER
02/29
Dana
OLYMPIC TEAM
Wednesday
Elizabeth
RECEPTION FOR VIETNAM VETERANS
03/01
Tony
LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
Thursday
Kim
BRIEFING FOR STATE AGRICULTURE
03/07
Dana
OFFICIALS
Wednesday
Julie
LUNCH WITH BUSINESS EDITORS
03/07
Ben
Wednesday
Julie
DROPBY BRIEFING FOR PUERTO RICAN
03/15
Al
LEADERS
Thursday
Misty
DROPBY BRIEFING FOR CUBAN-AMERICAN
03/19
Dana
LEADERS
Monday
Misty
VISIT CONGRESS HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY
03/20
SCHOOL
Tuesday
Kim
WHITE HOUSE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
03/23
Friday
NRSC's INNER CIRCLE RECEPTION
03/26
Monday
WRITER
EVENT
DATE
RESEARCHER
TOPIC/THEME/PURPOSE
D. FOREIGN VISITS
STATE VISIT: PRES. KIRCHSCHLAEGER
02/28
Peter
OF AUSTRIA: ARRIVAL CEREMONY
Tuesday
Misty
STATE DINNER & ENTERTAINMENT
CHANC. KOHL OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC
03/05
Dana
OF GERMANY: DEPARTURE STATEMENT
Monday
Kim
P.M. SOARES OF PORTUGAL:
03/14
Dana
DEPARTURE STATEMENT
Wednesday
Julie
LUNCHEON WITH P.M. FITZGERALD &
03/16
Tony
PROMINENT IRISH AMERICANS
Friday
Julie
P.M. GARRETT FITZGERALD OF IRELAND:
03/16
Dana
DEPARTURE STATEMENT
Friday
Julie
PRES. MITTERRAND OF FRANCE:
03/22
ARRIVAL, STATE DINNER TOAST,
Thursday
Julie
AND ENTERTAINMENT THANK YOU
E. TAPINGS
TAPING: ORDER SONS OF ITALY IN
03/12
AMERICA DINNER
Monday
- 5 -
WRITER
EVENT
DATE
RESEARCHER
TOPIC/THEME/PURPOSE
F. OTHER
GRIDIRON DINNER
03/24
Saturday
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
February 29, 1984
MEMORANDUM FOR FRED F. FIELDING
FROM:
JOHN G. ROBERTS
SUBJECT:
Presidential Address: National League
of Cities Congressional-Cities Conference
Monday, March 5, 1984
Richard Darman has asked that comments on the above-
referenced remarks be sent directly to Ben Elliott
by 2:00 p.m. today. The comprehensive remarks review the
four major components of the Administration's urban policy:
sustained economic recovery, Federalism, pooling of
Government and private sector resources, and a renewal of
community life. In the course of the remarks the President
notes that the Senate has passed and the House bottled up
two pieces of legislation of particular concern to the
cities -- enterprise zones and the crime package. He urges
the audience to make their views known on Capitol Hill.
With respect to the crime issue, the President states, on
page 8, that If [l]enient judges are only lenient on crooks;
they're very hard on society." I have reviewed the remarks
and have no objections.
Attachment
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
February 29, 1984
MEMORANDUM FOR BEN ELLIOTT
DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
DIRECTOR, PRESIDENTIAL SPEECHWRITING OFFICE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING Orig. signed by FFF
COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT:
Presidential Address: National League
of Cities Congressional-Cities Conference
Monday, March 5, 1984
Counsel's Office has reviewed the above-referenced remarks,
and finds no objection to them from a legal perspective.
CC: Richard G. Darman
FFF:JGR:aea 2/29/84
bcc: FFFielding/JGRoberts/Subj/Chron
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
February 29, 1984
MEMORANDUM FOR BEN ELLIOTT
DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
DIRECTOR, PRESIDENTIAL SPEECHWRITING OFFICE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT:
Presidential Address: National League
of Cities Congressional-Cities Conference
Monday, March 5, 1984
Counsel's Office has reviewed the above-referenced remarks,
and finds no objection to them from a legal perspective.
CC: Richard G. Darman
FFF:JGR:aea 2/29/84
bcc: FFFielding/JGRoberts/Subj/Chron
ID #.
CU
WHITE HOUSE
CORRESPONDENCE TRACKING WORKSHEET
o . OUTGOING
H - INTERNAL
I - INCOMING
Date Correspondence
Received (YY/MM/DD)
/
/
Name of Correspondent:
Richard Darman
MI Mail Report
User Codes: (A)
(B)
(C)
Subject: Presidential Adchess : national
leagues of Cities Congressional- Cities
comperence Monday much 5, 1984
ROUTE TO:
ACTION
DISPOSITION
Tracking
Type
Completion
Action
Date
of
Date
Office/Agency
(Staff Name)
Code
YY/MM/DD
Response
Code
YY/MM/DD
Culture
ORIGINATOR 84,02,28
/ /
Referral Note:
CUAT 18
D. 84,02,28
584,02,29
Referral Note:
2.00 pm
CUAT 17
I 84,02,28
/ /
Referral Note:
/
/
/
/
-
Referral Note:
/ /
/
/
-
Referral Note:
ACTION CODES:
DISPOSITION CODES:
A . Appropriate Action
L * Info Copy Only/No Action Necessary
A Answered
C Completed
C . Comment/Recommendation
R - Direct Reply w/Copy
B . Non-Special Referral
S Suspended
D Draft Response
S For Signature
F . Furnish Fact Sheet
T
X Interim Reply
to be used as Enclosure
FOR OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE:
Type of Response = Initials of Signer
Code
=
"A"
Completion Date = Date of Outgoing
Comments:
Keep this worksheet attached to the original incoming letter.
Send all routing updates to Central Reference (Room 75, OEOB).
Always return completed correspondence record to Central Files.
Refer questions about the correspondence tracking system to Central Reference, ext. 2590.
5/81
Document No.
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
2/28/84
2:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY, 2/2
DATE:
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
SUBJECT:
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: NATIONAL LEAGUES OF CITIES CONGRESSIONAL-CITIES
CONFERENCE
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1984
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
McFARLANE
MEESE
McMANUS
BAKER
MURPHY
DEAVER
OGLESBY
STOCKMAN
ROGERS
DARMAN
P
SS SPEAKES
FELDSTEIN
SVAHN
FIELDING
VERSTANDIG
FULLER
WHITTLESEY
HERRINGTON
TUTWILER
WIRTHLIN
HICKEY
HENKEL
FISCHER
JENKINS
ELLIOTT
COYNE
REMARKS:
Please forward any comments/edits directly to Ben Elliott
in room 100 by 2:00 p.m. TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29,
with an information copy to my office.
Thank you.
RESPONSE:
Richard G. Darman
1984 FEB 28 PH 7: 08
Assistant to the President
Ext. 2702
(Myer/BE)
5:41
February 28, 1984
5:30 p.m.
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES
CONGRESSIONAL-CITIES CONFERENCE
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1984
Thank you very much and good afternoon. I'm delighted to
have another chance to speak with the National League of Cities.
When we last met in this room, and it was 3 years ago this week,
I didn't have much good news to report. Rising problems were
accompanied by falling confidence. In fact, we had a mess on our
hands and we both knew that there was no easy or quick way out.
Well, I closed that speech with the words, "It'll take
teamwork to get this country back on the right track
"
I
asked for your advice, participation, and for direct lines of
communication between the Federal and local governments.
You didn't let me down. Hundreds of you have met with me
individually or in groups at the White House. We've had working
sessions and small meetings. You communicated a clear and
unmistakable message -- business as usual would only make matters
worse.
Three years ago, the national economy was nearing the
breaking point, and so were our cities. We had paid a steep
price for years of good intentions, badly misdirected. Families
weren't the only ones who felt helpless in the face of
double-digit inflation, 21}-percent prime interest rates, and a
virtual halt in economic growth.
To make matters worse, the eroding tax base widened the
cost-revenue gap of city budgets. As labor costs increased,
services were cut. Doubling of tax-exempt bond rates knocked
Page 2
local governments out of the bond market. There was no choice
but to delay infrastructure projects. The private sector
couldn't give much of a helping hand because the Federal tax
burden and high cost of borrowing drained them of money and
flexibility.
Decades of Federal programs costing hundreds of billions of
dollars hadn't done the job. And the dramatic increase of
Federal participation in local government complicated urban
problems and threatened the foundation of our Federal system.
Communities lost control of some of the most basic decisions
affecting everyday life. Local policymakers became less able to
respond to the needs of their community as the Federal Government
became ever more intrusive. The growing burden of Federal
oversight did little but put cities in handcuffs and add to
overhead.
We began to lose sight of how our cities became great
centers of commerce and education, of culture and communication.
And that may well have been our worst urban problem. Ingenuity
and innovation built our cities and made them symbols of progress
and opportunity. The spirit of "community" stirred us to action
and enriched our lives. The prospect of having a direct
influence on decisions affecting our day-to-day lives tapped our
energy and ideas. But the shift to the Federal Government, with
its mandates and dictates, moved us away from the very principles
which kept our cities on a sound footing for most of our history.
We were drifting, with few solutions in sight.
Page 3
We knew America could not get back on its feet with our
cities flat on their back. So, 3 years ago we changed course.
It wasn't so much a new direction as it was a return to a formula
we shouldn't have discarded in the first place. The four major
components of our urban policy are confronting problems step by
step, by tackling the fundamental causes of urban decline.
The first is a sustained economic recovery. Make no
mistake, the best help the Federal Government can give cities is
a healthy economy, and it's the surest way to revitalize urban
America.
The second is federalism, our effort to restore balance to
the Federal system. By sorting out who does what best, we can
return power to levels of government closer to the people.
The third is public-private partnership, the pooling of
Government and private sector resources to harness the power and
creativity of the marketplace.
And the fourth and final component of our urban policy is a
renewal of community life, a return to basic values and a
strengthening of the social fabric of the city -- excellence in
the classrooms, voluntarism, a sense of responsibility and safety
on the streets.
We should be confident. We are still the same people who
put our ambitions and skills to work and built the best cities in
the world. With the program now in place, I have every reason to
believe that today's problems will be overcome. It won't be
easy, it will take a lot of work, and considerable time, but it
can and will be done.
Page 4
As I said, our starting point is economic recovery, the most
important urban renewal program. One example pretty much tells
why: $3½ billion was proposed for a job training program that
was to put 300,000 people to work. We turned it down. The
recovery has added an average of 300,000 jobs every single month
for the past 13 months. That's 4 million people who are off
unemployment and paying taxes. And it's $31/2 billion saved
because it's already being done by the recovery.
Housing starts in January rose to the highest level since
1978. Retail and auto sales are soaring. Venture capital, which
was under a billion dollars in 1980, was $4 billion in 1983.
This is good news for city budgets, city projects, and city
services. The first phase. of the recovery is making a big
difference.
Federalism is another way of saying that when it comes to
running cities, local officials can do a better job from city
hall than bureaucrats can from Washington. In our discussions,
you said you wanted regulatory relief and reform, general revenue
sharing, and block grants. That's what I call interests coming
together -- the desire to make programs more responsive to both
the people they are meant to help and the people who pay for
them, and an end to cumbersome administration and spiraling costs
at the Federal level.
Well, we're beginning to do this. We've replaced
56 narrow-purpose categorical grant programs with 8 block grants,
and 2 regulation-burdened programs -- CETA and Title XX -- with
flexible block grants. The cut in wasteful overhead has been
Page 5
dramatic: 647 pages of regulations have been eliminated and
that's reduced the paperwork burden at State and local levels by
90 percent. We estimate that local governments were spared
$2 billion in annual costs and between $4-6 billion in start-up
costs as a result of this reform.
Our current budget proposes further grant consolidations.
In each case, the objective is to let local levels determine
their own priorities, transfer funds to high priority areas and
further reduce overhead.
The flexibility and simplicity given to the States are
beginning to be felt at the local level. Six States have
consolidated portions of their health block grants into
"mini-blocks" for their loçal governments. That's only a start
and I would like to see more States doing the same thing.
Federalism can't stop at the State capital.
The third pillar of our urban policy, public-private
partnership, takes advantage of every opportunity available to
us. No single sector of our Nation -- whether it's Government,
business, labor, or non-profit organizations -- can solve our
urban problems alone. But if we work together, if we pool our
resources and thinking, the results will be amazing.
The Federal Government provides seed money and incentives
to programs like CDBG, UDAG, JTPA, and ERTA. Local government
and the private sector use loan pools, revolving funds, joint
ventures, revenue bonds, and aggressive marketing to bring new
solutions to problems of finance, neighborhood and downtown
renewal, and city services.
Page 6
Public-private partnerships activate the most efficient
community forces to meet local needs. And the best part is that
it works.
San Antonio set out to restore a three-block area between
the Alamo and the Paseo del Rio. This project started a boom
with hotel construction, new housing, commercial ventures,
historic preservation, and office remodeling. All in all, the
Federal grant generated $75 million from the private sector.
In Scioto [See-OH-tow] County, Ohio, an $800,000 grant
triggered over $5 million in private investment and attracted
16 new industries.
New Rochelle, New York, used its $850,000 in the downtown
area to lure 35 new businesses and cut the vacancy rate by
75 percent. These success stories are springing up like
jackrabbits all across America.
Another area is jobs. The Job Training Partnership Act
gives local government more flexibility, and by using private
industry councils it matches needs with sensible training. CETA
did just the opposite. It spent $53 billion to find jobs for
only 15 percent of the participants, many of which were
subsidized make-work Government positions. CETA days are over.
Our commitment is to a partnership for jobs with a future.
But perhaps the most phenomenal success story is a result of
investment tax credits in ERTA, the Economic Recovery and Tax
Act. In the last fiscal year alone, these credits stimulated
$1.8 billion in private funds. Nearly 35,000 new and restored
housing units were created, and that brought 100,000 new jobs.
Page 7
Hundreds of millions of tax dollars were permanently added to the
tax base.
There's one more initiative that could mean exciting renewal
for urban areas of hard core unemployment and blight.
Fifteen months ago at your annual convention in Los Angeles, I
talked about our enterprise zone legislation. Well, it's been on
Capitol Hill for more than 2 years -- the Senate has passed it
twice, but the leadership of the House has been bottling it up.
How in the world can they .give speeches about creating jobs and
hope when they refuse to take action on a bill designed to
provide just that?
Enterprise zones encourage growth where we need it most: in
areas of high youth and minority unemployment, in urban centers
where the tax base has been hit the hardest. And it will give
cities the flexibility they need to make it work.
Twenty-three States have already passed their own enterprise
zone legislation and the results are very encouraging. Success
stories are coming in from cities nationwide. All of you will be
on Capitol Hill this week. I hope you'll ask them to take a good
look at this evidence and to give enterprise zones a chance.
Let me say a few words here about the pending tax
legislation that would cap industrial development bonds. I know
we still don't fully agree, but at least we recognize the program
has been abused. Our commitment to partnership is real. If the
cities could come up with a workable alternative, we'll take a
hard look at it.
Page 8
The fourth and final pillar of our urban policy, renewal of
community life, is what makes cities worth living in; it's what
keeps businesses and attracts new ones; and it's what keeps faith
with the fine traditions of the past while enabling us to build
the future with confidence. Shakespeare said, "The people are
the city." And if our cities can offer excellence in education,
a spirit of neighborhood, efficiency and affordability, and
safety on our streets, with drugs and crime off -- then they can
be great centers of growth, diversity and excitement, full of
sound, colors, warmth and delight.
For too many years, crime and the fear of crime robbed the
strength and vitality of our neighborhoods and scared away the
business community. Well, common sense is beginning to pay off.
In 1982, the crime rate dropped by 4.3 percent, the biggest
decline in a decade. And all over the country, people are
banding together and working with law enforcement agencies in
thousands of crime prevention programs. We're cracking down on
career criminals, organized crime, and the drug pushers. Federal
task forces are stepping up the pressure.
But formidable challenges remain. The scales of criminal
justice seem to be tilted toward protecting the rights of
criminals, at the expense of law-abiding citizens. I believe
it's high time we restored a proper balance. Lenient judges are
only lenient on crooks; they're very hard on society. And the
way to get long overdue reform begins with passage of our
Comprehensive Crime Control Act. It passed the Senate last
month, but the House continues to wait -- but wait for what? All
Page 9
of you will be on Capitol Hill this week. Or did I mention that
already?
We also have a big job on our hands when it comes to
education. The report by the Commission on Excellence in
Education made it clear that nothing short of a grassroots
revolution would bring back quality education to America's
classrooms. Total expenditures for our schools rose more than
600 percent between 1960 and 1980. But Scholastic Aptitude Test
scores were in steady decline, and 13 percent of our 17-year-olds
were functional illiterates.
We should take a lesson from New Hampshire and we should
have done it a long time ago. In fact, I'm suprised SO few
people noticed it during all the time they spent there in recent
weeks. New Hampshire ranks 50th -- dead last -- in State aid to
education. But New Hampshire ranks first in Scholastic Aptitude
Test scores in those States where at least half the students
take the test, and has maintained that honor for more than
10 years.
The good news is, education is playing its part in America's
renewal. It's happening because parents, teachers,
administrators, local officeholders, and school boards are
finally getting back to fundamentals; there's leadership, they're
working harder, and they're thinking smarter. Today, all
50 States have education task forces and major reforms are being
adopted -- in academic standards, discipline, curriculum, and
basic values. We're already seeing signs of improvement in test
scores. I believe excellence in education is on its way back.
Page 10
This spirit of renewal is the American spirit. And wherever
you look, you can see it -- from the healthy rise in corporate
and private giving to thousands of exciting private sector
initiatives, and from neighbors helping neighbors to a welcome
return to our basic values.
Now I know that over the last 3 years, we've had to make
some tough decisions. And there's still some tough ones to come.
I appreciate that the cities you represent have felt the pain of
reducing the growth of Federal spending. But to continue down
that path America was on would have meant disaster.
We all want what is best for those who live in our cities.
They deserve no less and together we can make it happen -- and
with your leadership and with our partnership, it will happen.
Thank you and God bless you all.