Senator Dirksen * Representative Ford
January 11, 1965

Audio Index

Ninety-first Meeting of the Joint Republican Congressional Leaders Called for Monday, January 11, 1965, at 9:00 a.m. in the Capitol Office (H-202) of the House Minority Leader, the Honorable Gerald R. Ford, Jr.

Statement by EMD [Pages 1-2]

CONTENT: EMD statement on Republican Party and ensuing calls for revolutionary change in the party. Republican leadership believes action is necessary and is taking it. Sources for setting Republican policy. Introduction of GRF to provide details.

Statement by GRF [Pages 3-4]

CONTENT: GRF's first participation. Proposes a unified leadership to the Republican Party. Brings eleven members of Joint-Senate-House Republican Leadership, five living Republican nominees for President, and five representatives of the Republican Governors Association together in Republican Coordinating Committee under Dean Burch's leadership.

Question and Answer Segment [Pages 5-17]

• GRF on Republican Coordinating Committee and Republican National Chairman. Will Burch be replaced as Republican National Chairman? Many questions about relationship of two organizations.
  
  
• EMD elaborates on the role of Republican National Chairman (Burch controversial because he is associated with Goldwater). Not an effort to save Burch.
  
  
• EMD on Republican Coordinating Committee ability to set policy. Really up to those in Congress. TAPE GAP regarding Democratic effort to set up Advisory Committee (Paul Butler). EMD says this is a Coordinating Committee. More questions about relationship among Republican Coordinating Committee, Republican National Committee, and Joint Leadership.
  
  
• Questions about term of "Ev and Jerry Show." Will it be less frequent? Continue weekly.
  
  
• GRF makes it clear that he will work with EMD. There will be a meeting with the press, but House leadership may have its own.
  
  
• GRF on Republican Coordinating Committee task force. Will there be a conflict? How will conflicts on Republican Coordinating Committee be resolved? Who has most weight in the committee?
  
  
• EMD says Republican Coordinating Committee is a proposal. This is a going proposition. More questions about jealousy from Republican National Committee. Not set in concrete -- there may be changes. EMD doesn't expect conflict. Republican National Committee will supply funding.
  
  
• EMD on rumor of "Shadow Cabinet" composed of Republicans. More speculation about Republican Coordinating Committee task forces.
  
  
• Who is EMD's choice for Republican National Committee Chairman? EMD won't impose on Illinois's delegates. EMD on failure of Mackinaw Island Conference on Republican Party.

Senator Dirksen * Representative Ford
March 18, 1965

Audio Index

The audio tape of this Republican Congressional Leadership press conference came to The Dirksen Center from the National Archives (Accession 228) in 1985. This index was added to the Republican Congressional Leadership file of the Dirksen Papers in 1996.

Ninety-sixth Meeting of the Joint Republican Congressional Leaders Called for Thursday, March 18, 1965, at 9:30 a.m. in the Capitol Office (H-202) of the House Minority Leader, the Honorable Gerald R. Ford, Jr.

Statement by GRF [Pages 1-2]

CONTENT: GRF on LBJ's proposals for new programs. Threat of federal dependence. Federalizing everything not the answer.

Statement by EMD [Pages 3-4]

CONTENT: EMD on the Great Society and threat of federal government expansion. Bigness is not always the best. Statistics on size of federal government.

Question and Answer Segment [Pages 5-12]

• EMD on voting rights legislation regarding state residency requirement. Discussion relating to "examiners." EMD wants full committee consideration.
  
  
• Does GRF back the EMD legislation? Related to LBJ proposal regarding voting registration. GRF believes House can develop a purposeful bill. GRF doesn't pinpoint area of disagreement.
  
  
• EMD tells about the voting rights legislative initiative.
  
  
• GRF tells about the voting rights legislative initiative. Stresses bipartisan interest.
  
  
• EMD says we must get the job done without worrying about who gets credit.
  
  
• EMD does not acceptthat Republican alternatives to Great Society would be more expensive.
  
  
• GRF says, administration proposal for medicare would be one-third more costly.
  
  
• EMD on legislative schedule for voting rights legislation. Doesn't expect filibuster.
  
  
• EMD on arrival of spring: "tulip bulbs don't do very well if you have to use a picket to plant them." EMD says he could use a little rest.
  
  
• EMD won't speculate on what to do if there were a filibuster.