Gerald Rudolph Ford was the 38th U.S. President.
Born Leslie Lynch King, Jr., on JULY 14, 1913, he was renamed by his stepfather.
He was the only Eagle Scout to be President.
He
attended the University of Michigan on a football scholarship,
graduated from Yale Law School and served in the Navy during World War
II.
Gerald Ford was House Minority Leader until chosen to be
Vice-President when Spiro Agnew resigned, then President when Richard
Nixon resigned.
He was the only President not elected.
Gerald Ford stated upon assuming the Presidency, August 9, 1974:
"I
am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your President by your
ballots, and so I ask you to confirm me as your President with your
prayers."
Get the book, Prayers and Presidents-Inspiriting Faith from Leaders of the Past
On September 8, 1974, President Ford stated:
"The Constitution is the supreme law of our land and it governs our actions as citizens.
Only the laws of God, which govern our consciences, are superior to it.
As we are
a Nation under God, so I am sworn to uphold our laws with
the help of God."
In a Proclamation of Prayer, December 5, 1974, President Ford quoted President Eisenhower:
"Without God there could be no American form of government...
Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first-the most basic-expression of Americanism."
At a Southern Methodist University Convocation, September 13, 1975, President Ford stated:
"I see a century...which equips
young
men and women...to make their own decisions rather than permit their
future to be programmed by massive government structures that an imaginative writer foresaw for 1984--a nightmarish fantasy of what our third century could be.
It is my deepest conviction that
a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have...
Men
and women must prevail over the endless agencies and bureaus that would
reduce human beings to computerized abstractions and program people
into numbers and statistics.
Today's mounting danger is from mass government...we must not let them prevail...
Never forget that in America
our sovereign is the citizen...
The state is a servant...It must never become an anonymous monstrosity that masters everyone."
___
READ BELOW FOR MORE QUOTES OF PRESIDENT FORD:
President Ford stated in Rock Hill, SC, October 19, 1974:
"What they don't tell us when they propose all these benefits that they are going to give you from our Government...that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford addressed a Joint Session of Congress, August 12, 1974:
"They know that
a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."
President Ford stated stated at a Breakfast for Candidates in Kansas City, MO, October 16, 1974:
"Some of the big spenders don't understand that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford dedicated the "Anderson Independent and Anderson Daily Mail Building" in Anderson, SC, October 19, 1974:
"I
frequently wondered whether those who pushed and worked for those
programs of piling one Federal program on top of another day after day
after day, whether they ever realized and recognized that
a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."
President Ford told a luncheon in Des Moines, IA, October 24, 1974:
"But I remind you,
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford addressed the United Republican Fund Dinner in Chicago, IL, October 24, 1974:
"I
often used to think as these programs sort of flowed out of one
committee after another, didn't those proponents ever understand that
a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have?"
President Ford stated in Los Angeles, CA, October 31, 1974:
"In
the short haul, it is very easy for government to yield to the
temptation to give people what they want or what the politicians tell
them that they ought to have, but keep this in mind:
In the long haul,
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford stated in Salt Lake City, UT, November 2, 1974:
"The intentions of the people who have helped build the Federal layer cake are noble ones...
They
actually, sincerely believe that if the Government ministers to every
need and to every concern that it has among all the 213 million
citizens, those citizens will be happier and will be better off.
But let me make a critical, crucial point...that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford stated in Wichita, KS, November 2, 1974:
"I
know there are some who wish to have the Government do something for
everybody in massive amounts, but as they seek to promote these kinds of
efforts in the short haul, I do not think they really forecast what the
long pull means.
Let me put it this way...
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford stated at a Dinner Meeting of the Conference Board, January 22, 1975:
"The
American people are very generous....We have prided ourselves on our
responsiveness to those in our society less fortunate than ourselves.
But as we are now beginning to realize, we cannot give away any more
than what we have...
A government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have.
The
Government cannot, in my judgment, overspend year after year without
doing drastic damage to the economy and harm every one of our citizens."
President Ford addressed the Annual Dinner Meeting of the Bay Area Council in San Francisco, CA, April 4, 1975:
"Over
the 25 years that I had the privilege of serving in the House of
Representatives...well-motivated Members of the House of Representatives
would get up and argue effectively and convincingly and certainly in
the highest motivation for this social program or that social program.
Pretty soon, we started to have this proliferation, and believe me, it has proliferated...
I recall most vividly sitting there on many occasions and thinking to myself, don't they realize that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have?"
President Ford told the National Explorer's Congress of the Boy Scouts of America, April 9, 1975:
"I
would like to make one observation...it is something that worries
me...I used to see program after program presented to the House that
meant a bigger government, that meant more control over people and over
cities and over States.
I used to get very worried as I saw this
proliferation of government, and I thought to myself on many occasions
that I wish that people would think in this way...that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford stated at an annual Senate-House Fundraising Dinner, April 15, 1975:
"A
$52 billion deficit is bad enough...Every time Congress acts to add a
little, a little, a little, it gets worse and worse and worse. So, I ask
you in all honesty that we end these schemes...
If we don't do
something in a relatively short period of time, one-half of all
Americans will be living off the taxes of the other half of Americans.
Is that what you want your government function to be?...
Never forget,
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
At a Reception in Alexandria, VA, April 26, 1975, President Ford said he would:
"...make...a
campaign...cutting back and decreasing the responsibility of the
Federal Government, a campaign that is predicated on what we can do...to
expand, not cut back, the opportunity for the free enterprise system.
We have to cut back on all of these programs that some of our good friends across the political aisle try to thrust upon us...
It
is just impossible to believe all of the things that some of our
Democratic friends want to thrust upon the American people. They want to
put more bureaucracy; they want to spend more Federal money...
These people...try to thrust these programs one after another, on top of one another...
I often used to sit back in the rear seats of the House of Representatives and ask myself, 'Didn't they realize that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have?'"
President Ford stated told the Annual Meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, April 28, 1975:
"Let
me reaffirm to you today my deep personal conviction that the best way
to begin in our efforts is to improve the government we have, not to
enlarge it. I do not believe a bigger government is necessarily a better
government...
Please never forget,
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford stated told the National Federation of Independent Business, June 17, 1975:
"I
can say this with conviction: Americans have not arrived at a popular
consensus for collectivism. We have held no referendum to repeal our
economic freedom. Quite the opposite is true. Americans are proud of our
system and pleased with what it has produced.
Yet, if we continue to bigger and bigger government, Washington will become the big daddy of all citizens.
If
the power to tax goes unchecked, it will inhibit capital formation for
business and incentive for workers. And we can say goodby to the free
enterprise system that has given us so much...
You are painfully aware that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford stated at a Fundraising Supper in Cleveland, OH, July 3, 1975:
"I see a national government that responds to people's needs, but does not order people's lives. And don't forget that
a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."
President Ford stated at a Fundraising Dinner in Newport, August 30, 1975:
"I
know there are some in this country that think that the solution to our
problems at home are more programs, more spending, et cetera.
And
every time I think of that solution, I can't help but repeat something
that I have used as sort of a guideline or a criteria, and I apologize
to those I have said it to before or those that have listened to it
before:
We must be certain that we understand that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford stated at a Fundraising Dinner in Portland, September 4, 1975:
"One day I was sitting there talking to one of my associates or colleagues in the House of Representatives.
And
after we had gone through this sort of inevitable schedule that seems
to come up all the time when there is a problem and we have to have
solutions, I thought to myself--and the person who was debating and
speaking and proposing this program was a fine person;
I am not disagreeing with his motives--but I thought to myself, don't those he represents understand that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have?"
President Ford stated at a Fundraising Dinner in Kansas City, MO, September 12, 1975:
"We
are going to get rid of some of these things...because during a period
of time within the last 25 years, to my own personal knowledge, there
was this effort made to expand controls and to increase regulation.
I
used to sit in the Chamber of the House of Representatives, and I would
listen to these arguments about they had to do this for the people and
they had to do that for the people and so forth.
I was reminded one time of a saying that was given to me a good many years ago of a man who said, 'Don't ever forget that
a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.'"
President
Ford stated at the Biennial Convention of the National Federation of
Republican Women in Dallas, TX, September 13, 1975:
"In America's first century, a young nation forged political institutions responsive to the people. Unity grew from diversity.
Our second century transformed America into the most productive nation that ever existed...
Our
third century begins in less than a year...I see our people making
their own decisions rather than abdicating their future to the massive
big brother governmental structures or turning their lives to the 1984
nightmare script of what our third century could be.
It is my fervent conviction that
a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."
President
Ford stated at the Annual Convention of the National Association of
Life Underwriters in Anaheim, CA, September 21, 1975:
"Our task
today is to get the mighty engine of free enterprise running at full
throttle again. The quick solution, and the wrong one, would be to load a
lot of new spending measures onto the taxpayer and unleash a flood of
deficit dollars into the Nation's economic mainstream.
That might
make the economy leap up and shout hallelujah today, but the recovery
would be very short-lived. Soon the patient would be flat on his back,
worse off than ever. I will not be a party to such irresponsible action.
From hallelujah to heartbreak in one quick surge is not the responsible way to make our economy healthy in the future...
Government has a limited capacity to help our economy, but an almost unlimited capacity to harm it.
Never forget that
a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."
President Ford stated at a Fundraising Dinner in Detroit, MI, October 10, 1975:
"Are
you with me when I insist that the Congress cut spending enough to give
all Americans a meaningful permanent tax reduction?
Are you
with me in getting government bureaucracies out of your business, out of
your pocket, and incidentally, out of your hair?
I know that each and every one of you know that
a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."
President Ford stated at a Fundraising Dinner in Hartford, October 14, 1975:
"For
the last 38 out of 42 years the Democrats have controlled the
Congress...following the old Democratic formula of tax and tax, spend
and spend, elect and elect.
I respectfully suggest, let's turn that formula around...
As
we talk about the problem of bigger government, heavier burdens
financially, and less and less freedom, it is well to remember the
following:
A government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford stated at a Fundraising Dinner in Los Angeles, CA, October 29, 1975:
"The
Federal Government should, within the limits of its resources, help
Americans in need who cannot help themselves. We should not give Federal
assistance--and I emphasize 'we should not give Federal assistance'--to
able-bodied adults without dependents who do not choose to work, I
simply don't understand the logic of this Democrat-controlled
Congress...
Those who deserve the help of our Nation will
continue to get it. The elderly, the poor, the men and women who have
borne our Nation's arms--the Federal Government must and will meet these
legitimate obligations. But we must not pay one more cent of tribute to
interest groups...
I speak to you in these very frank and categorical terms tonight to underscore my deep conviction and greatest concern, that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford stated at a Fundraising Dinner in Charleston, November 11, 1975:
"The people of America, the length and breadth of this land, are learning that
a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."
President Ford stated at a Reception in Raleigh, NC, November 14, 1975:
"There
is...a day of reckoning when the...bills will come due...As they spend
and spend and spend, they don't seem to realize that
a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."
President Ford stated at a Dinner in Atlanta, GA, November 14, 1975:
"If
the State of Georgia can control its budget, there is no darn reason
why the United States can't do the same thing. What concerns me most is
the growth of government without consent, the increasing encroachment of
government into our lives and into our pockets.
And let me emphasize one special point:
A government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have.
The
time has come for a new rebel yell--a whole nation of rebels yelling--a
whole nation of rebels yelling no, no to big government."
President Ford stated at the Annual Convention of the American Farm Bureau Federation in St. Louis, MO, January 5, 1976:
"The
American farmer died for freedom on the bridge of Concord 200 years
ago. The least that America can do today is to let the farmer live in
freedom from the stifling interference and control of big government.
If there is one thing we can all be certain of, it is this:
A government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford told delegates attending the Young Republican Conference, January 29, 1976:
"The
relationship between the Federal Government and States is vitally
important. In my time in the Congress there was always a drive, a
tendency to concentrate power and authority in the Federal
Government...that the Federal Government knew how to do the job best and
that it was better to undercut the role of locally elected officials.
That
theory didn't work, and the net result is we piled program after
program after program on the Federal Government and we found too many
failures. We wasted too much money. We tried to control the lives of
individuals from the Federal Government and it didn't work.
Some of those people who promoted this idea for too long a time never seem to understand that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford told the Midwest Republican Conference in Dearborn, MI, January 31, 1976:
"We
have turned away from the discredited idea that the Federal Government
can solve every problem just by spending more of your tax money on it.
Yes, we know that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford addressed the Northeast Republican Conference in Arlington, VA, February 6, 1976:
"We must never lose sight of one very simple truth that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford stated at a reception in Orlando, FL, February 13, 1976:
"I
want to get the government off your back...One of the guiding things
that has always affected me--it's summarized in a sentence or two.
Some
of my staff give me a bad time because I use it, but I think it really
says in a few words what it is all about. I feel it very strongly and
very deeply, and let me put it this way:
We should never forget that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford told Volunteers in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, February 14, 1976:
"I
want a balance between the taxpayer on the one hand and the recipient
of Federal assistance on the other...I want to free the individual from
as much government control as possible.
I will make one
statement that sort of puts all of my philosophy in a very simple
sentence. I say it often because I believe it. Some of you may have
heard it, but it wraps it all up:
A government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford stated at a Question-and-Answer Session at a Campaign Rally in Ft. Myers, FL, February 14, 1976:
"Government
will do its part, but it is time we face the fact that government must
stop trying to do everything. That won't work--never has. I have said it
before, some of you may have heard it, but it sums up so cogently my
basic philosophy.
I live by this principle, I think it is sound, and let me phrase it for you very rapidly:
A government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford stated at a Question-and-Answer Session at a Public Forum in Keene, February 19, 1976:
"I
have made concrete recommendations to ensure that the intelligence
community keeps out of politics and out of people's private lives.
As
President, I intend to see that the Federal Government is under the
people's control and not the other way around. This next sentence pretty
much sums up my philosophy:
We must never forget that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford stated in Sarasota, FL, February 29, 1976:
"We
must think of the kind of country that we will leave to those future
generations in our time...Each of you must decide what role you want
your government to play in your own life and in the life of your Nation.
Let me sort of simplify something I believe in very deeply. We must never forget that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
President Ford stated in Rockford, IL, March 11, 1976:
"As
I sit in the Oval Office of the White House I get letters, I get
communications, I get legislation sent to me from the Congress, and
there is a trend. People say why don't you do this, why don't you expand
that program, why don't you spend more Federal money?...
If we
followed that course of action, if we did what the expansionists wanted
us to do as far as the Federal Government was concerned, I don't think
they have understood one of the fundamentals that is so important, and
let me phrase it this way.
I warn them, I look them in the eye and I say, 'Do you realize that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have?'"
President Ford stated at a Reception for volunteers in Rockford, March 12, 1976:
"One
of those lessons that we learned is that bigger budgets and bigger
government are not the magic answers to every problem that faces us as a
nation. We must never forget that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have...
We found that more government spending too often made these ills worse."
President Ford stated in Winston-Salem, NC, March 13, 1976:
"But
there are some people who think all answers have to come from
Washington, D.C. They want to expand the bureaucracy, they want to put
more power in the hands of those people who run things in Washington.
Let me give you a word of warning, and I think this summarizes it as about as cogently as you can. And please listen.
We should never forget that
a government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."
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