Documents / Official release
This file from the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library holds press releases and statements that House Republican Leader Gerald R. Ford issued between January and April 1966. Most cover Vietnam policy, the war on poverty, inflation, foreign aid, the federal budget and changes in his press staff. An April 21, 1966 statement says the Air Force told Ford it would contract a university with no close Air Force ties to have scientists study unexplained UFO sightings and make the report public. According to Ford, his call for congressional hearings led to this study.
CONGRESSMAN GERALD R. FORD HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER NEWS RELEASE For release Feb. 161 1966 "t-TASHINGTON-- President Johnson's hush-hush conduct of the Vietnam ~var and his failure to tighten economic pressure on the Communist enemr heartland of Hanoi fall short of serving the national interest, Congressman Gerald R. Ford said tocta.Y. Free world shipping to the enemw aggressor in North Vietnam "at a time when the United States is fighting to protect freedom" was blamed on the President by the House Republican leader. Referring to reports of 119 free world ships "carrying goods to and from" the enemr last year, Ford accused the President of virtual~ hiding information from the American public. The Administration's figures on the volume of shipping to North Vietnam 11 do not present the complete picture," Ford said_, charging that cargo activity may be more than double the totals contained in a report on vessel movemento "This situation emphasizes at least two significant truths," Ford said. "The American people are not being given the facts about Vietnam to which they are entitled and which in no w~ give aid and comfort to the enemr. "Secondly 1 the Johnson Administration is ~ using every proper and available means for applying economic pressure on Hanoi." Ford recalled that last year the President "objected strenuously" to a proposal that would have prohibited u.s. foreign aid from going to any country whose merchant ships trade with North Vietnam. "I supported that restriction," Ford said, "and I continue to urge the President to use every means at his disposal to wage economic warfare against North Vietnam, including cutting supply routes, be they on land or sea." Ford made his statements in a newsletter to Fifth District constituents. # # # #
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Official release, from the nara collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 55 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.