Gerald R. Ford

“ On the eve of our 200th year, Thanksgiving Day should be a day of special reflection upon the qualities of heart, mind and character of the men and women who founded and built our great Nation. Let us join in giving thanks for our cultural pluralism. Let us celebrate our diversity and the great strengths that have come from sharing our traditions, our ideas, our resources, our hopes and our dreams. Let us be grateful that for 200 years our people have been dedicated to fulfilling the democratic ideal - dedicated to securing "liberty and justice for all." ”

“ As we near our Nation's two hundredth anniversary, let all of us, as equal partners in a Nation of justice under law, resolve to work, with all our strength and common sense, to achieve ". . . a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity. . . ." Through such a rededication to the spirit and principles of the Constitution we can build a better future for every individual American, and a better America for all. ”

“ We have not remade paradise on Earth. We know perfection will not be found here. But think for a minute how far we have come in 200 years.
We came from many roots, and we have many branches. Yet all Americans across the eight generations that separate us from the stirring deeds of 1776, those who know no other homeland and those who just found refuge among our shores, say in unison:
I am proud of America, and I am proud to be an American. Life will be a little better here for my children than for me. ”

“ In the two centuries that have passed, we have matured as a nation and as a people. We have gained the wisdom that age and experience bring, yet we have kept the strength and idealism of youth.
In this year of our Nation's Bicentennial, we enter our third century with the knowledge that we have achieved greatness as a nation and have contributed to the good of mankind. ”

“ As requested by the Congress, I call upon Americans in all walks of life; in both the public and private sectors, as individuals, groups, and organizations, to participate in appropriate programs and activities, at home, at work, and on the highway, so that lives may be saved and injuries prevented—symbolizing the rededication of the American people to living and working together in a spirit of mutual cooperation, harmony, dignity, and respect in order to achieve better, healthier, happier lives for all. ”

“ As a people we discovered that our Bicentennial was much more than a celebration of the past; it became a joyous reaffirmation of all that it means to be Americans, a confirmation before all the world of the vitality and durability of our free institutions. I am proud to have been privileged to preside over the affairs of our Federal Government during these eventful years when we proved, as I said in my first words upon assuming office, that "our Constitution works; our great Republic is a Government of laws and not of men. ”

“ I urge all who live and work on the Nation’s farms and ranches to make safety an integral part of all daily activities on the job and at play, at home and on the highway. I also urge those who work with and serve agricultural producers to make a special commitment during our two-hundredth birthday year to the task of helping to make rural America a truly safe place in which to live and work. I call upon all Americans to remember that we are blessed with a strong and viable agriculture, and that we must also keep it safe for ourselves and future generations. ”

“ Today, because of the sacrifice and courage of American men and women, we are a free Nation at peace.
Let us dedicate ourselves today, and every day, to honoring those valiant Americans who died in service to their country. Let us gain strength from their sacrifice and devote ourselves to the peaceful pursuits which freedom allows and progress demands. ”

“ I call upon every man, woman, and child to celebrate the diversity of tradition, culture and heritage that reflects our people and our patrimony. Let each of us "resolve to cherish and protect what we have achieved in the United States of America and to build upon it in the years ahead, not by words alone, but by actions which bespeak a continuing commitment to a heritage of individual initiative, creativity, and liberty. ”

“ I see America today crossing a threshold, not just because it is our Bicentennial but because we have been tested in adversity. We have taken a new look at what we want to be and what we want our Nation to become.
I see America resurgent, certain once again that life will be better for our children than it is for us, seeking strength that cannot be counted in megatons and riches that cannot be eroded by inflation. ”

“ Our vast and complex system of justice cannot function without the skill and dedication of our Nation's legal secretaries. Without these unsung heroines of the legal process, the wheels of justice would grind to a permanent halt. They deserve the praise, gratitude and respect not only of their employers but of the system which they serve so well. One way in which their employers can demonstrate their appreciation for jobs well done is by giving their legal secretaries greater opportunities to observe courtroom proceedings-to see more of the system in action. ”

“ In this, our Nation's 200th year, Memorial Day has special significance. As we honor those who gave their lives that our experiment with liberty might succeed, we can be proud of what America has accomplished. We are-at peace. Our Nation and our way of life endure. The sacrifices of 200 years have preserved both individual freedom and national unity. ”