Ford UFO Files

Fifth District Radio Message
(for taping Feb. 2, 1966)
This is your Congressman Jerr.y Ford reporting to you from the Nation's
Capitol.
There is much comment here and I'm cer:ain elsewhere about the
J .)
President ' s recommendation that the term of a Representative in Congress
be extended from two to four years.
-Most of the arguments ••r- in favor of the idea stress the convenience
-it would provide legislators and their families. Some say the longer term
would reduce the energy and money spent in campaigning every other year.
Others argue that a Representative would become more of an expert in
legislative affairs by serving a four-year term.
However, I believe in more solid considerations.
I prefer the two-year term to keep the Congressman close to those who
elect him· and to all those he represents.
Every two years is not too often .for a Congressman to put his record
on the line and seek the endorsemant of the electorate. It seems to me
that a two-year term gives the people an important oppolbmity to have a
~ $h"'f~~
lJfre ditex)\voicJI in government.
Mr. Johnson's suggestion that all Congressmen be elected with the Presiden_t
/c'or,o
/r...' (/
_l~ ($'
and serve during ~ four-year term is receiving less support. Many Wf.l'ters E
\~~
recognize that the United States does not have a parliamentary form of
government as in England ~the prime minister as head ~vernment is the
leader of the majority party in the House of Commons.
~