Gerald Ford

Today, more Americans are gainfully employed than ever before in the 200 years of our national history.

Clearly, the creation of an economic climate in which every American who wants to work has a good job is a primary concern of every citizen; certainly, it is mine.

In compliance with a court order, another revenue sharing payment--this one for $18.7 million-to the city of Chicago has been deferred by the Department of the Treasury.

I report revisions to two deferrals previously transmitted.

We need to maintain the peace, and to protect our national interest.

We have made very substantial headway in meeting the challenges domestically and meeting the problems that we have had internationally.

America has no intention of abdicating its leadership to any nation committed to the destruction of liberty.

I suspect that we are at the present time but just as in Texas—we started in Texas as an underdog, we are making very substantial headway.

Therefore, we must do our very best to keep the peace, not the peace of weakness and concession but the peace secured by strength and courage and dedication.

In 20 months we have made headway at home, we have made great progress abroad.

I wouldn't say that we have had a sequence of non-victories.

I see no reason whatsoever for any expansion of the Federal bureaucracy.

I think you have to get in and play in it, and that is where we ought to be.

I am very proud that I am the first incumbent President who is seeking election who can stand before the American people and say that our country is at peace.

Because of sound, constructive, responsible policies, we have reduced that inflation rate so that for the first 4 months of 1976 the rate of inflation is under 3 percent, and that is progress.

As Americans, we all have a very solemn opportunity and duty to preserve, to protect, and to defend the liberties which are our American birthright.

We made this progress because we gave the free enterprise system an opportunity to work, and that is where the jobs are.

I think the Community Development Program...is aimed at holding harmless every local community that had been previously the beneficiary of seven categorical grant programs.

I think we can handle the legitimate claims of consumers without establishing another bureaucracy.

I commend each of the award winners for having earned this very prestigious recognition and commendation.

We observe today an occasion of somber reflection and grateful praise.

We are on the road to a new and lasting prosperity in 1976.

I firmly believe that we ought to get the Federal Government, to the extent that we possibly can, off the backs and out of the pockets of the people of this country.

I am always hopeful, and we are going to try very hard.

Because the United States, because this administration is trusted by all parties, we are able to make headway in the future as we have in the past.