With the republican nomination. Up next on American History tv, president fords acceptance speech at the convention after narrowing defeating Ronald Reagan. Delegates and i am honored by your nomination, and i accept it. With pride, with gratitude and with the total will to win a great victory for the American People. [ applause ] we will wage a Winning Campaign in every region of this country, from the snowy banks from minnesota to the sandy plains of georgia. [ applause ] we span not a single state, we concede not a single vote. This evening, i am proud to stand before this Great Convention as the first incumbent president since dwight d. Eisenhower who can tell the American People america is at peace. [ applause ] tonight, i can tell you straightaway, this nation is sound, this nation is secure, this nation is on the mark to full economic recovery and a better quality of life for all americans. And ill tell you one more thing, this year, the issues are on our side. Im ready, im eager to go before the American People and debate the real issues facetoface with jimmy carter. [ applause ] [ chants ] the American People have a right to know first hand exactly where both of us stands. [ applause ] i am deeply grateful to those who stood with me in winning the nomination. Partys whose cause i have served all of my adult life. I respect the convictions of those who wanted change in washington. I want a change, too, after 22 long years of majority misrule, lets change the United States congress. My gratitude tonight reaches far beyond this arena. To countless friends whose confidence, hard work and unselfish support have brought me to this moment. It would be unfair to single out anyone, but may i make an exception for my wonderful family, mike, jack, steve and susan, and especially my dear wife betty. [ applause ] we republicans have had some tough competition, we not only feast the virtues of competition, we practice them. But tonight, we come together not in a battlefield to conclude a ceasefire, but to join forces on a Training Field that has conditioned us all for the rugged contest ahead. [ applause ] let me say this, from the bottom of my heart, after the scrimmages of the past few months, it really feels good to have ron reagan on the same side of the line. [ applause ] to strengthen our championship lineup, the convention has widely chosen one of the ablest americans as our next Vice President senator bob dole of kansas. With his help, with your help, with the help of millions of americans, who cherish peace, who want freedom preserved, prosperity shared and pride in america, we will win this election. [ applause ] i speak not of a republican victory, but a victory for the American People. You at home listening tonight, you are the people who pay the taxes and obey the laws. You are the people who make our system work. You are the people who make america what it is. It is from your ranks that i come and on your side i stand. [ applause ] Something Wonderful happened to this country of ours the past two years. We all came to realize on the fourth of july. Together out of years of turmoil and tragedy, wars and rights, assassinations and wrongdoing in high places, americans recaptured the spirit of 1776. We saw again the pioneer vision of our revolutionary founders and our immigrant ancestors. [ applause ] their vision was of a free man and free women enjoying limited government and unlimited opportunity. The mandate i want in 1976 is to make this vision a reality. But it will take the voices and the votes of many more americans who are not republicans, to make that mandate binding and my mission possible. I have been called an unelected president , an accidental president. We may even hear that again from the other party, despite the fact that i was welcomed and endorsed by a an overwhelming majority of their elected representatives in the congress who certified my fitness to our highest office. [ applause ] having become Vice President and president , without expecting or seeking either, i have a special feeling toward these high offices. To me, the presidency and the vice presidency were not prizes to be won, but a duty to be done. [ applause ] so, tonight, it is not the power and the glamour of the presidency that leaves me to ask for another four years. It is something every hard working american will understand, the challenge of a job well begun, but far from finished. Two years ago, on august 9, 1974, i placed my hand on the bible which betty held, and took the same constitutional oath that was as sistered to george washington. I have faith in our people, in our institutions, and in myself. My fellow americans, i said our Long National nightmare is over, it was an hour in our history that troubled our minds and tore at our hearts. Anger and hatred have risen to dangerous levels, dividing friends and families. The polarization of our political order had aroused unworthy passions of reprisal and revenge. Our governmental system was closer to stalemate than at anytime since Abraham Lincoln took that same oath of office. Our economy was in the throes of runaway inflation, taking us headlong into the worst recession since franklin d. Roosevelt took the same oath. On that dark day, i told my fellow countrymen, i am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your president by your ballot. So, i ask you, to confirm me as your president with your prayers. [ applause ] on a marble fireplace in the white house is carved a prayer which john adams wrote. It concludes may none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof, since i have resided in that historic house. I have tried to live by that prayer. [ applause ] i faced many tough problems, i probably made some mistakes, but america and americans have made an incredible comeback since august 1974. [ applause ]. Nobody can honestly say otherwise, and the plain truth is that the great progress we have made at home and abroad was in spite of the majority who run the congress of United States. For two years, i have stood for all the people against the votehungry, freespending congressional majority on capitol hill. 55 times, ive vetoed extravagant and unwise legislation. 45 times i made those vetoes stick. Those vetoes have saved american taxpayers billions and billions of dollars. I am against the big tax spender and for the little taxpayer pap. I call for a permanent tax cut, coupled with spending deductions to stimulate the economy and hardpressed taxpayers. Your permanent exception must be raised from 750 to 100,001 o0. The other partys platform tox about tax reform, but theres one big problem, their own Congress Wont act. I call for reasonable constitutional restrictions and courtordered bussing of children. But the platform concedes that bussing should be a last resort. But theres the same problem, their own Congress Wont act. I call for a Major Overhaul of criminal laws to crack down on crime and illegal drugs. The other partys platform deplores americas 90 million cost of crime. Theres the problem again. Their own Congress Wont act. The other partys platform talks about a strong defense. Now, heres the other side of the problem. Their own congress did act. They slashed 50 billion from our National Defense in the last ten years. My friends, washington is not the problem. Their congress is the problem. [ applause ] you know the president of the United States is not a magician who can wave a wand or sign a paper that will instantly end a war, cure a recession or make bureaucracy disappear. A president has immense powers under the constitution, but all of them ultimately come from the American People and their mandate to him. That is why tonight i turn to the American People. And ask not only for your prayers, but also for your strength and your support, for your voice and for your vote. [ applause ] i come before you with a twoyear record of performance without your mandate. I offer you a fouryear pledge of greater performance with your mandate. [ applause ] as governor al smith used to say, lets look at the record. Two years ago, inflation was 12 , sales were off. Plants were shut down. Thousands were being laid off every week. Fear of the future was throttling down our economy and threatening millions of families. Lets look at the record since august 1974. Inflation has been cut in half. Payrolls are up. Profits are up. Production is up. Purchases are up, since the recession was turned around, almost 4 million of our fellow americans have found new jobs, or got their old jobs back. This year, more men and women have jobs than ever before in the history of the United States. [ applause ] confidence has returned. And we are in the full surge of found recovery to steady prosperity. Two years ago, america was mired in withdrawal from southeast asia, a decade of congresses have shortchanged our global defenses and threatened our strategic posture, mounting tension between israel and the arab nations made another war seem. And we in our domestic turmoil have the will, the stamina and the university to stand up for freedom. Look at the record since august two years ago. Today, america is at peace and seeks peace for all nations. Not a single american is at war anywhere on the face of this earth tonight. Our ties with western europe and japan, economic as well as military were never stronger. Our relations with eastern europe, the soviet union and Mainland China are firm, vigilant and forward looking. Policies i have initiated offer sound progress for the peoples of the pacific, africa and latin america. Israel and egypt both trusting the United States have taken a historic step that promises an eventual just settlement for the whole middle east. The world now respects americas policy of peace through strength. The United States is again the consummate leader of the free world. Nobody questions our dedication to peace. But nobody doubts our willingness to use our strength when our vital interests are at stake. And we will. [ applause ] i call for an uptodate powerful army, navy, air force and marines that will keep america secure for decades. A Strong Military post tire is always the best insurance for peace. [ applause ] but americas strength has never rested on arms alone. It is rooted in our mutual commitment of our citizens and leaders in the highest standards of ethics and morality. And in the spiritual renewal which our nation is undergoing right now. Two years ago, peoples confidence in their highest officials to whom they had overwhelmingly entrusted power have twice been shattered. Losing faith, in the word of their elected leaders, americans lost some of their own faith in themselves. Again, lets look at the record since august 1974. From the start, my administration has been open, candid, forth right. While my entire public and private life was under searching examination for the vice presidency, i reaffirmed my life long conviction that truth is the glue that holds government together, not only government, but civilization itself. I have demanded honesty, decency and personal integrity from everybody in the executive branch of the government. The house and senate have the same duty. The American People will not accept a double standard in the United States congress. Those who make our laws today must not debase the representation of our great legislative bodies that have given us giants like daniel webster, samuel clay, sam rayburn and robert a. Taft. Whether in the nations capital, a State Capitol or city hall, private morality, trust must go together. [ applause ] from august of 1974 to august of 1976, the record shows steady progress upward, toward prosperity, peace and public trust. My record is one of progress, not platitudes. My record is one of specifics, not smiles. My record is one of performances, not promises. [ applause ] its the record i am proud to run on. It is the record the American People, democrats, independents and republicans alike will support on november 2nd. For the next four years, i pledge to you that i will hold to the steady course we have begun. But i have no intention of standing on the record alone. We will continue winning the fight against inflation. We will go on reducing the dead weight and impotence of bureaucracy. We will submit a balanced budget by 1978. We will improve the quality of life at work, at play and in our homes and in our neighborhoods. We will not abandon our cities. We will encourage urban programs which assure safety in the streets, create healthy environments and restore neighborhood pride. [ applause ] we will return control of our childrens education to parents and local school authorities. We will make sure that the party of lincoln remains the party of equal rights. We will create a tax structure thats fair for all of our citizens. Ones that preserve the continuity of the family home, the family farm, and the family business. [ applause ] we will ensure the integrity of the Social Security system and improve medicare so that our older citizens can enjoy the health and the happiness that they have earned. There is no reason they should have to go broke just to get well. [ applause ] we will make sure that this origination does not neglect citizens who are less fortunate, but provide for their needs with compassion and dignity. We will reduce the growth and the cost of government and allow individual breadwinners and businesses to keep more of the money that they earn. [ applause ] we will create a climate in which our economy will provide a meaningful job for all who wants to work. And a decent life for all americans. We will make sure that all of our young people have a better chance in life than we had. An education they can use and a career they can be proud of. [ applause ] we will carry out a farm policy that assures a fair market price for the farmer, encourages full production, leads to record exports and eases the hunger within the human family. We will never use the bounty of americas farmers as a pawn in international diplomacy. There will be no embargoes. We will continue our strong leadership to bring peace, justice and economic progress where there is turmoil, especially in the middle east. We will build a safer and saner world through patient negotiations and dependable arms agreement which reduce the danger of conflict and horror of thermal nuclear war. While i am president , we will not return to a collision course that could reduce civilization to ashes. We will build an america, where people feel rich in spirit, as well as in worldly goods. We will build an america where people feel proud about themselves and about their country. We will build on performance, not promises, experience, not expediency, real progress, instead of mysterious plans to be revealed in some dim and distant future. The American People are wise. Wiser than our opponents think. They know who pays for every campaign promise. They are not afraid of the truth. We will tell them the truth. From start to finish, our campaign will be credible, it will be responsible. We will come out fighting again. We will win. [ applause ] yes, we have all seen the polls and the pundits who say our party is dead. I heard that before, so did harry truman. Ill tell you what i think, the only polls that count are the polls the American People go to on november 2nd. [ applause ] and right now, i predict that the American People are going to say that night, gerry, youve done a good job, keep right on doing it. [ applause ] [ applause ] as i try to my imagination, to look into the homes where families are watching the end of this Great Convention. I cant tell which faces are republicans, which are democrats and which are independent. I cannot see their color or their creed. I see only americans. [ applause ] i see americans who love their husbands, their wives and their children. I see americans who love their country for what it has been and what it must become. I see americans who work hard, but who are willing to sacrifice all they have worked for, to keep their children and their country free. [ applause ] i see americans who in their own quiet way pray for peace among nations and peace among themselves. We do love our neighbors, and we do forgive those who have trespassed against us. [ applause ] i see a new generation that knows what is right and knows itself. A generation determined to preserve its ideals, its environment, our nation and the world. My fellow americans, i like what i see. [ applause ] i have no fear for the future of this great country. And as we go forward together, i promise you once more, what i promised before. To uphold the constitution, to do what is right as god gives me, to see the right. And to do the very best that i can for america. God helping me, i wonder let you down. Thank you very much. Thats one of gerald fords most emphatic speeches and one of the most enthusiastically received in a convention thats been pretty well divided up until now. Gerald ford and his challenger Ronald Reagan. The president spoke for 36 minutes and was interrupted 65 times in 36 minutes long. The longest interruption, one minute, where he said he would debate jimmy carter. Well have more on that, in a moment. His reference for being on the same side of Ronald Reagan took 39 seconds. And the most consistently applauded section of mr. Fords speech when he went after the democratic congress. Not dissimilar to the attacks that harry truman made on the republicancontrolled. I believe that turned his campaign against tom dewey around in 1948. And the polls they afford chances of reagan are just about the same, harry truman of 1948, perhaps a little better than that. The Republican Party can take heart in the fact that harry truman was able to turn those results around. Even though on Election Night itself, dewey was conceded to have won. But that wasnt the one to call. Week nights this month on American History tv, were looking at past president ial debates. Tonight, we look at the president ial debates of 1980 and 1984. Well show the only debate between incumbent jimmy carter and Ronald Reagan. They fielded questions from journalists on military spending, inflation, innercities and the iran hostage crisis. And then from 1984, the second and final debate between Ronald Reagan and former Vice President walter mondale. Watch tonight at 8 00 p. M. Enjoy American History tv this week and every weekend on cspan 3. Every saturday, on American History tv on cspan3, go inside a different classroom and hear about topics from the american revolution, civil rights and u. S. President s to 9 11. Thanks for your patience and for logging into class. With most College Classes closed due to the impact of the coronavirus, watch teachers engage with their students. Gorbachev did half of the work, but reagan met him half the way. Freedom of the press, madison originally called it freedom of the use of the press and it is indeed freedom to publish things. Lectures in history, on American History tv on cspan3 tv. Every saturday at 8 00 p. M. Lectures in history is available on podcast. Find it where you listen to podcasts. Now, on American History tv, a u. S. Information film profiling an italian newspaper reporter based in washington. He talked about covering the 1976 president ial race between ford and georgia governor jimmy carter. Washington is like a room with an enormous circle of windows. You are looking all over