Draft of a speech delivered at the Birmingham School, Toledo, OH, September 11, 1984.  Includes handwritten notes.https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/vice_presidential_campaign_speeches_1984/1083/thumbnail.jp

Ferraro, Geraldine

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Birmingham School Address: Rough Draft

Fordham University School of Law

Fordham Law SchoolFLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship and HistorySpeeches 1984 Vice-Presidential Campaign9-11-1984Birmingham School Address: Rough DraftGeraldine FerraroFollow this and additional works at: https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/vice_presidential_campaign_speeches_1984Part of the Law CommonsThis Book is brought to you for free and open access by the 1984 Vice-Presidential Campaign at FLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship andHistory. It has been accepted for inclusion in Speeches by an authorized administrator of FLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship andHistory. For more information, please contact tmelnick@law.fordham.edu.Recommended CitationFerraro, Geraldine, "Birmingham School Address: Rough Draft" (1984). Speeches. 84.https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/vice_presidential_campaign_speeches_1984/84lR.<tonk ~J.J. - ~MA"V\_ ~ ~pt.tV"\. 1 T6(1/).(); Oli f 1 1 v • -"t>· . . . o/t t/'1, ~ I FEE~A SPECIAL KINSHIP WITH ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS AUDITORIUM THIS MORNING BECAUSE, LIKE MANY OF YOU, MY ROOTS ARE WORKING CLASS AND MY PARENTS CAME TO THIS COUNTRY FROM ANOTHER LAND. HY FATHER CAME TO AMERICA THINKING THE STREETS WOULD BE PAVED WITH GOLD. HE FOUND NOT GOLD, BUI GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES. WHEN HE DIED, MY MOTHER WENT IO . WORK IN NEW YORK'S GARMEN? DISTRICT SO THAI I COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND TRY IO GET AHEAD IN THE WORLD. MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME THAI THERE IS NO GREATER GOOD, NO FINER REWARD, THAN IO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN. MY M~IHER AND FATHER FIRST SHOWED ME THE IMPORTANCE OF THE VALUES THAI .CONTI UE IO GUIDE ~ TODAY. THEY SHQWED ME, THROUGH THEIR EXAMPLE, HOW \ ? II IS IO W~K HARD, TELL TH~ TRUTH, AND C~RE ABOUT OTHERS. BECAUSJ FAMILIES HELP FORM WH~ KIND OF PEOPLE WE ARE, SIRON& FAMILIES ARE AN IMPORTANT FOUNDATION FOR THE STRENGTH AND STABILITY OF . THE COUNTRY I!SELF. IT'S FROM OUR FAMILIES THAT WE LEARN TO BE GOOD CITIZENS, TO OBEY THE LAW, II WORK HARD, IO GET ALONG WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, AND IO LOVE OUR COUNTRY. FAMILIES TEACH THE BEDROCK VALUES THAI ARE SO IMPORTANT IO OUR NATION. SO WHEN GOVERNMENT TOUCHES FAMILY LIFE -- AND II DOES EVERY DAY -- WE NEE~ II MAKE SURE II SUPPORTS, NOT WEAKENS, AMERICAN FAMILIES. BEFORE GOVERNMENT ACTS, WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES A SIMPLE QUESTION: WILL IHI! ACTION HELP OR HURT OUR FAMILIES? I'M AFRAID THAI QUESTION ISN'T BEING ASKED IN WASHINGTON TODAY. RONALD REAGAN EXIOLLS THE VALUES OF THE FAMILY, BUT ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER TH WORDS. WHEN YOU SLASH CHILD NUTRITION, AND DAY CARE FUNDS, AND SPECIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, THAI DOESN'T HELP FAMILIES. IT HURTS THEIR ABILI1 TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. WHEN YOU GUI THE STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM, THAT DOESN'T HELP FAMILIES. THAI DEPRIVES MANY FAMILIES OF THE ONLY WAY THEY HAVE IO SEE THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS GO IO COLLEGE AND GET AHEAD IN LIFE. AND WHEN YOU TRY TO REPEAL THE CHILD ABUSE ACT, THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT HELPING FAMILIES. THAT'S PERMITTING THE CRUELEST, MOST SHAMEFUL, ANTI-FAMILY ACT OF ALL -- WHICH IS VIOLENCE TOWARD CHILDREN. THIS ADMINISTRATION MAY NOT BE ANTI-FAMILY. BUT IT'S CERTAINLY INSENSISTIVE TO THE STRESS AND HARDSHIP WHICH MANY OF IT'S POLICIES ARE CAUSING FOR FAMILIES. FRITZ MONDALE AND I OFFER YOU A PRO-FAMILY ALTERNATIVE. AN ALTERNATIVE BASED IN ACTIONS, NOT WORDS. I SAY !I'S PRO-FAMILY WHEN YOU PUT THE 18~000 PEOPLE OUT OF WOR~( IN TOLEDO BACK ON THE JOB SO THEY CAN SUPORT THEIR FAMILIES. I SAY IT'S PRO-FAMILY WHEN YOU GET INTEREST RATES BACK DOWN IO LEVELS WHERE YOUNG COUPLES CAN AFFORD THE SECURITY OF OWNING THEIR OWN HOMES. I SAY IT'S PRO-FAMILY IO REFORM OUR PENSION SYSTEM SO THAT FAMILIES CAN SURVIVE THE DEATH OF A SPOUSE. AND I SAY IT'S PRO-FAMILY IO PROVIDE OUR CHILDREN WITH THE EDUCATION AND SKILLS THEY NEED IO KEEP PACE WITH A CHANGING WORKPLACE. IT'S NOT ENOUGH IO SALUTE THE FAMILY. WE NEED LEADERS WHOSE EVERY ACTION REINFORCES AND STRENGTHENS THE FAMILY. WHAT WE DON'T NEED IS AN ADMINISIATION THAI PULLS THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER AVERAGE WOR•<ING CLASS FAMILIES. THIS ELECTION PRESENTS YOU WITH A CLEAR CHOICE ON THE POLICIES THAI WILL AFFECT YOUR FAMILY. JUST LOOK AT THE RECORD. RONALD REAGAN HAS CUI THE DAY CARE PROGRAMS OF OUR COUNTRY. FRITZ MONDALE WAS THE AUTHOR OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE DAY CARE LEGISLATION IN HISTORY~ A BILL THAT WAS VETOED BY THEN-PRESIDENT NIXON. RONALD REAGAN HAS CUT PROGARMS FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN. FRITZ MONDALE HAS BEEN A FIGHTER FOR HEAD START AND THE EDUCATION FOR ALL HANDICAPPED CHILDREN ACT. RONALD REAGAN HAS CUI PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES BY 62 BILLION DOLLARS DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION. THE HARM DONE BY THOSE CUTS WOULD HAVE ALMOST DOUBLED IF CONGRESS HADN'T STOOD UP TO HIM. FRITZ MONDALE HELPED CREATE -- AND WAS THE FIRST CHAIRMAN OF -- THE SPECIAL SENATE SUBCOMMITEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHICH HELPED BLOCK SOME Of THE PRESIDENT ' S MOST DANGEROU PROPOSALS. ONE THING WE ALL WANT FOR OUR CHILDREN IS A SECURE FUTURE. EVERY FAMILY --FROM THOSE THAT CAME OVER ON THE MAYFLOWER TO THOSE THAT LANDED AT ELLIS ISLAND -- SHARES A COMMON DREAM. WE WANT TO LEAVE OUR CHILDREN JUST A LITTL BIT BEITER OFF THAN WE WERE. WE WANT THIER FUTURE TO BE JUST A LITTLE BIT BRIGHTER. QUITE FRANKLY, I'M WORRIED ABOUT OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING NOW. IF THIS ADMINISTRATION KEEPS CUTTING FUNDING FOR EDUCATION AND JOBS TRAINING, HOW ARE OUR CHILDREN GOING TO HAVE IHE TOOLS THEY NEED TO FUNCTION IN A NEW ECONOMY? IF THIS ADMINISTRATION'S ECONOMIC POLICIES ARE FORCING AUTO FACTORIES AND STEEL PLANTS TO CLOSE AT RECORD RATES, WHAT KIND OF JOBS ARE WE GOING TO PROVIDE FOR OUR CHILDREN? IF THIS ADMINISTRATION KEEP LETTING FOREIGN COUNTRIES MAKE ALL THE PARTS FOR AMERICAN CARS, WILL THERE BE ANY JOBS LEFT AI ALL? AND IF THIS ADMINISTRATION KEEPS PILING DEFICIT ON DEFICIT, WHAT KIND Of DEB1 ARE WE GOING IO ASK OUR CHILDREN IO PAY FOR US? WE WANT IO GIVE OUR CHILDREN NEW OPPORTUNITIES, NOT SADDLE THEM WITH OUR UNPAID BILLS. THIS COUNTRY NEEDS ECONOMIC POLICIES THAT HELP AMERICAN FAMILIES BY t<EEPING WORKERS EMPLOYED, ENSURING THAI OUR JOBS DON'T GO SAILING OVERSEAS, AND TAKING CARE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE PREPARED FOR THE RAPID CHANGES IN OUR WORKPLACE. WE NEED ECONOMIC POLICIES THAT KEEP DEFICITS AND INIERESI RATES DOWN SO ALL AMERICANl CAN AFFORD HOUSING. AND WE NEED TAX POLICIES !HAT GIVE WORKING CLASS FAMILIE~ THE SAME ATTENTION RICH CORPORATIONS GET. THIS ADMINISTRATION SEEMS TO BELIEVE IN THE THEORY OF SURVIVAL OF THE RICHEST. FRITZ MONDALE AND I SAY WE NEED AN ECONOMY THAI WORKS FOR US ALL. FRITZ MONDALE AND I ALSO WANT THE CHILDREN OF WORKING CLA~S FAMILIES IO HAVE THE SAME CHANCE AT A QUALITY EDUCATION AS THE CHILDREN OF REAGAN'S RI CH FRIENDS. EDUCATION IS THE KEY IO THE FUTURE. THE MINDS OF OUR CHILDREN ARE THE MOST PRECIOUS NATIONAL RESOURCES WE HAVE. OUR SECURITY, OUR LEADERSHIP IN THE WORLD DEPEND ON AN EDUCATED CITIZENRY. AND THE ABILITY OF OUR CHILDREN TO GE '. AHEAD IN A CHANGING WORLD DEPENDS · ON THEIR HAVING THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE. BUT UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, F~DERAL FUNDING FOR EDUCATION HAS DECLINED DRAMATICALLY. RONALD REAGAN EVEN THINKS WE SHOULD ABOLISH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. FOR NEXT YEAR ALONE, HE WANTS TO cur THE STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM BY ANOTHER 8 PERCENT, EDUCATION FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN BY 17 PERCENT~ VOCATIONAL EDUCATION BY 25 PERCENT, AND HE WANTS TO GET RID OF OUR LIBRARY PROGRAMS ALTOGETHER. FRITZ MONDALE AND I ~L !EVE AN INVESTMENT IN EDUCA.I ION IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE. WE BEL !EVE ~H ILDREN FROM ALL ECONOMIC BAC~rnROUNDS SHOULD HAVE TH: \. SAME ACCESS IO . EDUCATIONA~OPPORIUNITIES. THAT'S WHY, EVER SINCE THOMAS JEFFERSON, THIS COUNTRY HAS DEVELOPED A SYSTEM OF TOP-NOTCH PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE CAN'T AFFORD IO ABANDON OUR ~OMMITMENT ro THOSE SCHOOLS NOW. FRITZ MONDAL: AND I WILL MAKE SURE OUR PUBLIC S~OOLS ONCE AGAIN MEET THE HIGH STANDARDS w· KNOW THEY SHOULD. WE WAN! IO GUARANI~ ·IHAT THE FUTURE BELONGS TO ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, NOT JUST THOSE IN PRIVATE ACAREMIES. l ~l 'rts' rD- W ~t1 u.)... u BUI MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, WE WANT IO BE SURE THERE IS A FUTURE. f.»... ~ Q r i WE NEED IO BE SURE OUR COUNTRY CAN DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST A STRONG FORMIDABLE ENEMY. WE NEED ro BE SURE WE HAVE A MILITARY THAI IS WELL TRAINED WELL EGUIPED, AND WELL STAFFED. BUI THIS ADHINISIRAIION IS DIVERTING BILLIONl OF r10.LLARS INTO SHOWY, B IG-T ICKEI NUCLEAR WEAPONS THAI WILL BE OBSOLETE THE DAY THEY ARE DEPLOYED. AND OUR MILITARY READINESS IS DECLINING AS A RESULT. FRITZ MONDALE AND I WILL PAY . ATTENTION TO THE NUTS AND BOLTS THAT HAVE ALWAY~ HADE OUR ARMED FORCES STRONG, BUI I CAN GUARANTEE YOU WE WON'T PAY A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE NUI AND rwo THOUSAND FOR THE BOLT. AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE NEED A STRONG CONVENTIONAL DEFENSE, WE ALSO NEED IO BUILD AN ENDURING PEACE FOR OUR CHILDREN. MAN.Y OF YOU HERE I ODAY ARE EASTERN EUROPEANS, AND NO BODAY KNOWS BETTER THAN YOU THE IHREAI POSED BY THE SOVIET UNION. BUT YOU CAN BE SURE Of ONE THING: FRITZ MONDALE AND GERRY FERRARO HAVE NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT THE SOVIETS. WE BELIEVE IN STRENGTH AND WE BELIEVE IN MILITARY READINESS. BUI AMERICANS NOT ONLY WANT A PRESIDENT WHO WILL STAND UP IO THE SOVIETS. THEY WANT A PRESIDEN1 WHO WILL SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND NEGOTIATE THE TOUGH AGREEMENTS WE NEED TO EN[ THE NUCLEAR ARMS RACE. RONALD REAGAN IS THE FIRST PRESIDENT SINCE HERBERT .HOOVER NOT IO EVEN IALK TC OUR ADVERSARIES IN THE SOVIET UNION. AND HE IS THE FIRST PRESIDENT SINCE THE DAWN OF THE NUCLEAR ERA -- DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN -- NOT TO ENTER INTO AN ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENT. I SAY: WE OWE OUR CHILDREN THE SECURITY OF A WORLD AT PEACE. FRITZ MONDALE AND I WILL TALK IO THE SOVIETS AND WE WILL CONCLUDE THE MUTUAL AND VERIFIABLE AGREEMENTS WE NEED TO GUARANTEE A PEACEFUL FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. AS A MOTHER, I KNOW THE STRESSES OF FAMLY LIPE. I WORKED HARD RAISING MY THREE CHILDREN, AND THEN I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL AI NIGHT SO I COULD GO TO WORK AS A DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND HELP MAKE THE STREETS OF NEW YOR~' SAFER FOR EVERYBODY'S CHILDREN. AS THE CHILD OF AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY ~- AND A WIDOWED MOIHER -- I KNOW HOW HARD IT CAN BE TO STRUGGLE TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM. AND I KNOW HOW REWARDING IT CAN BE AS WELL. THE FACT THAT I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY -- THE DAUGHTER Of IMMIGRANTS AND THE FIRST WOMAN CANDIDATE FOR VICE-PRESIDENT -- IS TESTIMONY TO THE FACT THAI DREAMS CAN COME TRUE. BUT WE NEED TO BE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN'S DREAMS CAN COME TRUE TOO. TOGETHER, WE CAN ENSURE A FUTURE IN WHICH OUR CHILDREN HAVE THE EDUCATION THEY NEED IO GET AHEAD. TOGETHER, WE CAN ENSURE A FUTURE IN WHICH OUR CHILDREN HAVE THE JOBS THEY NEED IO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. TOGETHER, WE CAN ENSURE A FUTURE IN WHICH OUR CHILDREN HAVE THE TRAINING THEi NEED TO GET THOSE JOBS. AND TOGETHER, WE CAN WIN THIS ELECTION AND ENSURE A FUTURE IN WHICH ACTIONS -- NOT JUST WORDS -- GUARANTEE THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN FAMILY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. END. 

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Birmingham School Address: Rough Draft

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