A Time to Heal: on Homeland Security
Gerald Ford:
1976 themes: limited government; strong defense
I wanted my 1976 campaign to emphasize my dedication to 5 central themes: increased freedom for all our citizens from the encroachments of an ever-expanding federal government, the preservation of our free enterprise system,
continued fiscal responsibility, a strong national defense, and affirmation of the rights and responsibilities of state and local government.
Source: A Time To Heal, by Gerald Ford, p.296
Jul 9, 1975
Gerald Ford:
Negotiated SALT-II missile limits with USSR
We had agreed on the general framework of SALT II pact. We still had to button down two things: the numbers of launchers and MIRVs permitted each side, and whether to specify equal numbers of these for each country or allow a differential--with the
Soviets to have more launches and the US more MIRVs.Brezhnev wanted us to stop production of the Trident submarine and cancel our plans to build the B-1 bomber. Our national security, I replied, demanded that we push forward with both.
We simply couldn't rely on our ageing B-52's.
Brezhnev turned to look me in the eye. "This is an opportunity to protect not only the people of our two countries but, really, all mankind. We have accomplished something very significant, and it's our
responsibility, yours and mine, on behalf of our countries, to achieve the finalization of the document. "
"I am optimistic that we can," I said. "We have made so much headway. This is a big step forward to prevent a nuclear holocaust."
Source: A Time To Heal, by Gerald Ford, p.215-219
Nov 23, 1974
Gerald Ford:
Two years alternative service for Vietnam draft dodgers
After the Civil War, Lincoln had offered deserters restoration of their rights if they withdrew support from the enemy and swore allegiance to the Union. He was criticized for being too lenient, but his was probably the right decision at the time.
Draft dodgers, I said, could escape punishment for their offenses if they would agree to 3 conditions.
First, they'd have to present themselves to a US Attorney before January 31, 1975. They'd have to pledge allegiance to the country and agree to fulfill a two year period of alternative service.
Finally, they'd have to complete that obligation satisfactorily.
Source: A Time To Heal, by Gerald Ford, p.141&181-2
Sep 16, 1974
Gerald Ford:
Real spending on defense decreased during Vietnam
In 1965, total federal spending topped $100 billion for the first time in history. By 1975 it climbed above $300 billion. Some pundits attributed this dizzy spiral to the war in Vietnam and the hearty appetites of the "big spenders" in the Pentagon.
Nothing could have been further from the truth. In 1959, we were spending 40% of the budget for national defense. By 1974, that figure had declined to 24%, and the sums we were allocating for research and development, the procurement of new weapons
systems, and the restoration of mobilization capacity had fallen to alarmingly low levels.At the same time, another trend was developing. In 1959, federal payments to individuals accounted for 24% of the budget. By 1974, that figure had climbed to
44%. That was changing the nature of the government's role. In the early days of the Republic, the government's function was to promote domestic order and maintain national security. By 1974, its main function seemed to be the redistribution of income.
Source: A Time To Heal: The Autobiography of Gerald Ford, p.155
Aug 27, 1974
Gerald Ford:
Warren Commission: no conspiracy on JFK killing
In the summer of 1964, the commission staff began work on our financial report. Although we'd heard rumors that linked the FBI and the CIA to the President's death, we hadn't found any connection between those agencies and Oswald himself.
As regards the possibility that the Soviets or the Cubans might have been involved, we checked every allegation to the best of our ability and came up with nothing tangible. We knew about Oswald's trips to
Mexico and his meetings with representatives of the Cuban and Soviet embassies there, but because of the manner in which our intelligence agents had obtained the information (subsequently it was revealed that we had bugging devices in the
Soviet embassy in Mexico City), we decided not to publish the details, and that was a judgment in which I concurred.
Source: A Time To Heal, by Gerald Ford, p. 75-76
Jul 2, 1964
Page last updated: Feb 25, 2019