Draft of a stump speech, Portland, ME, September 9, 1984.  Includes handwritten notes.https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/vice_presidential_campaign_speeches_1984/1121/thumbnail.jp

Ferraro, Geraldine

English

Fordham University School of Law

Fordham Law SchoolFLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship and HistorySpeeches 1984 Vice-Presidential Campaign9-9-1984Portland Stump Speech: 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, "Portland Stump Speech: Draft" (1984). Speeches. 122.https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/vice_presidential_campaign_speeches_1984/122·/t-.i ~ .. L' ., ·-( I ;' I ~1 , j I - , - · 1 ( : · · · "r 'i . ' \ . ' I ' I .\ -_. I '1 PAGE ONE THANK YOU, LIBBY, FOR THAT WONDERFUL INTRODUCTION. I'LL TELL YOU, I HAVE A GOOD FEELING ABOUT MAINE THIS YEAR. LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING: CAN WE WIN? WILL WE SEND RONALD REAGAN BACK TO HIS RANCH? I THINK SO TOO. I HAVE A FEELING THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ELECTED GOVERNOR JOE BRENNAN A GENEROUS MAN WHO IS STRONG ENOUGH TO BE TOUGH ON DRUNK DRIVERS AT THE SAME TIME HE'S GENTLE WITH CHILDREN -- AREN'T GOING TO RE-ELECT A MAN WHO SLASHES PROGRAMS THAT AID THE NEEDY. I HAVE A FEELING THAT THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ELECTED GEORGE MITCHELL A MAN WHO CARES DEEPLY ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND TACKLES HEAD-ON THE PROBLEM OF ACID RAIN -- AREN'T GOING TO RE-ELECT A MAN WHO THINKS POLLUTION IS CAUSED BY TREES AND AMERICA'S NATURAL RESOURCES SHOULD GO TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER. I HAVE A FEELING THAT THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO ELECT LIBBY MITCHELL TO THE U.S. SENATE -- A LEADER ON BEHALF OF EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN -- AREN'T GOING TO RE-ELECT A MAN WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE WOMEN DESERVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION OF EQ UAL RIGHTS UN DER LAW. PORTLAND, PAGE TWO I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT TWO THINGS WHICH THIS ELECTION IS ALL ABOUT: OUR FAMILIES AND OUR FUTURE. AS THE MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN, I HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE--AND A BIG INVESTMENT--IN MY FAMILY. I ENTERED PUBLIC LIFE TO MAKE THE FUTURE BETTER FOR MY CHILDREN AND MY FAMILY. BUT ALSO TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TOWARD IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR AMERICAN FAMILY. AND I WILL NOT REST--AND WALTER MONDALE WILL NOT REST--UNTIL ALL OUR FAMILIES LIVE IN A MORE PROSPEROUS, JUST AND SAFER WORLD. THIS ELECTION IS ALSO ABOUT THE FUTURE--REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT OUR OPPONENTS ONLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PAST. IN FACT, THEY'RE LIVING IN THE PAST. FRITZ MONDALE AND I AREN'T SATISFIED WITH LIVING IN THE PAST. WE WANT TO BUILD AMERICA'S FUTURE. MY PARENTS CAME TO THIS COUNTRY THINKING THAT THE STREETS WOULD BE PAVED WITH GOLD. THEY FOUND NOT GOLD, BUT GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES. AND THEY TAUGHT ME THAT A FAMILY MUST OPEN THE DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ITS CHILDREN. MANY OF YOU HERE TODAY KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS. FOR SOME OF YOU, YOUR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS WERE THE FIRST IN YOUR FAMILY TO COME TO AMERICA. THEY SACRIFICED SO THEIR CHILDREN COULD GROW AND BUILD A NEW LIFE AS AMERICANS. THEY TAUGHT YOU HOW TO DREAM. I'M A PRODUCT OF A FAMILY LIKE THAT--AND I'M PROUD OF IT. THE FACT THAT 1--THE DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS--STAND. PORTLAND, PAGE THREE HERE TODAY IS PROOF THAT NEW DOORS CAN BE OPENED, THAT DREAMS CAN COME TRUE. I ALSO LEARNED THAT DREAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES MEAN NOTHING WITHOUT HARD WORK AND STRAIGHT TALK. IF THERE'S ONE THING THIS CAMPAIGN HAS CONFIRMED, IT'S THE VALUE OF SOMETHING I'VE BELIEVED IN AND PRACTICED ALL MY LIFE: TELLING THE TRUTH. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT THIER LEADERS TO TELL IT LIKE IT rs. AND THIS ADMINISTRATION ISN'T DOING THAT. INSTEAD , THEY'VE BEEN PRACTICING THE POLITICS OF BLAME, AND THEY'VE BEEN PLAYING FAST AND LOOSE WITH THE FACTS. FIRST, GEORGE BUSH SAID WALTER MONDALE AND I WANT DRASTIC CUTS IN DEFENSE SPENDING. IN FACT, WE SUPPORT A 5 PER CENT INCREASE IN DEFENSE SPENDING. THEN HE BLAMED WALTER MONDALE FOR THE COLLAPSE OF ARMS CONTROL TALKS. IN FACT, RONALD REAGAN IS THE FIRST PRESIDENT SINCE HERBERT HOOVER WHO HASN'T EVEN TALKED TO THE LEADERS OF THE SOVIET UNION. WALTER MONDALE WILL BE THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO HOLD ANNUAL SUMMIT MEETINGS WITH THEM. THEN MR. REAGAN BLAMED THE DEMOCRATS FOR THE DEFICIT. IN FACT, RONALD REAGAN HAS ADDED MORE TO THE NATIONAL DEBT THAN ALL PRESIDENTS FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON TO JIMMY CARTER COMBINED. NOW, NO FAMILY WOULD SADDLE ITS CHILDREN WITH A MOUNTAIN OF UNPAID BILLS AND I.O.U.'s. BUT THIS ADMINISTRATION --WITH ITS 200 BILLION DOLLAR DEFICITS--IS DOING JUST THAT. PORTLAND, PAGE FOUR THEY HAVE MORTGAGED OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE. NEW LET'S GET A FEW THINGS STRAIGHT ABOUT THIS REAGAN DEFICIT--AND WHAT IT MEANS TO ME AND YOU. A DEFICIT IS NOT EASY TO UNDERSTAND. YOU CAN'T SEE A DEFICIT. YOU CAN'T SMELL A DEFICIT. YOU CAN'T TOUCH A DEFICIT. BUT YOU CAN FEEL A DEFICIT. AND YOU'RE FEELING IT RIGHT NOW. ALL OVER AMERICA, YOU'RE FEELING IT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT BUYING A HOME OR STARTING A BUSINESS--AND FACE SKY-HIGH INTEREST RATES THAT MAKE YOUR DREAM IMPOSSIBLE. YOU'RE FEELING IT WHEN YOU CAN'T GET GOVERNMENT AID TO HELP YOUR CHILDREN THROUGH COLLEGE. THE SHOE INDUSTRY AND THE POTATO FARMERS OF MAINE ARE FEELING IT WHEN THEY SUFFER UNDER THE WORST TRADE IMBALANCE IN OUR NATION"S HISTORY. AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU'RE FEELING NOW, JUST IMAGINE WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE AFTER ANOTHER FOUR YEARS. WALTER MONDALE AND I CARE TOO MUCH ABOUT THE AMERICAN FUTURE TO LET THIS SEA OF RED INK CONTINUE TO RISE. WE WANT AN ECONOMY UNBURDENED BY HUGE DEFICITS, FREE FROM THE SHACKLES OF HIGH INTEREST RATES. WE WANT A SOCIETY WHERE NEW FAMILIES CAN AFFORD MORTGAGE LOANS TO BUY HOMES, AND WHERE PEOPLE CAN STAND UP AND SAY, "I WANT TO START MY OWN BUSINESS"--AND THEN DO IT. RONALD REAGAN WON'T TELL YOU WHAT HE PLANS TO DO ABOUT THE DEFICIT. FRITZ MONDALE AND I SAY: IF THE DEFICIT CAUSES HIGH INTEREST RATES--AND IT DOES--THEN LET's PORTLAND, PAGE FIVE REDUCE IT. IF TAXES MUST GO UP--AND THEY MUST--THEN LET'S RAISE THEM FAIRLY. WALTER MONDALE AND I PLEDGE THAT AVERAGE FAMILIES WON'T PAY MORE WHILE THE RICH PAY LESS. THE AMERICAN FAMILY NEEDS AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR US ALL. XHEXXRNXHXKK®MX THE SO-CALLED REAGAN RECOVERY HAS NOT. IN OUR FAMILY, WE WERE TAUGHT NEVER TO PLAY FAVORITES. BUT WHILE THEY'VE RULED THE ROOST, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE GIVEN THEIR RICH FRIENDS A MONOPOLY ON THE AMERICAN DREAM. WALTER MONDALE AND I BELIEVE THAT THE AMERICAN DREAM BELONGS TO ALL OF US. FRANKLY, I'M SCARED BY TH~ DIRECTION THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION IS HEADING. IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, TAXES FOR THE WEALTH HAVE DROPPED DRAMATICALLY, WHILE AVERAGE FAMILIES HAVE PAID THE SAME OR MORE. AND NEARLY SIX MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PUSHED INTO POVERTY. THIS ADMINISTRATION OPERATES ON THE THEORY OF SURVIVAL OF THE RICHEST. THAT'S NOT MY IDEA OF FAIRNESS. WALTER MONDALE AND I WANT A REAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY--A RECOVERY THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US. WHILE WE MOVE INTO THE FUTURE, NOBODY SHOULD BE LEFT IN THE PAST. WALTER MONDALE AND I ALSO WANT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM TO BE OPEN TO ALL. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, MY MOTHER WORKED HARD IN THE GARMENT DISTRICT SO THAT I COULD GO TO SCHOOL AND GET AHEAD. LATER I TAUGHT IN NEW YORK'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY DAY, AND WENT TO LAW SCHOOL BY NIGHT. THAT WAS HARD WORK--BUT WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY OF OPPORTUNITY, A SOCIETY THAT REWARDS HARD WORK. PORTLAND, PAGE SIX FOR MANY OF YOU HERE--FOR MANY OF OUR FAMILIES--AN EDUCATION WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP UP THE LADDER OF SUCCESS. IT WAS OUR KEY TO THE FUTURE. BUT RONALD REAGAN DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT. HE HAS SLASHED AID TO OUR SCHOOLS AND GRANTS AND LOANS TO OUR CHILDREN, WHILE LOBBYING FOR TAX BREAKS FOR SEGREGATED ACADEMIES. UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, WE ARE LOSING GROUND EVERY DAY IN OUR BATTLE TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN. MR. REAGAN SAYS THAT HE WILL SEND A TEACHER INTO SPACE. BUT I SAY TO MR. REAGAN: IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SEND A TEACHER INTO SPACE. WE MUST INVEST IN OUR TEACHERS, AND OUR STUDENTS, HERE ON EARTH. WALTER MONDALE AND I KNOW THAT EDUCATION IS OUR LYNCHPIN CHILDREN'S FUTURE--AND THE KMIMKK OF A STRONG AND VIBRANT AMERICAN ECONOMY. AND IN OUR AMERICAN FUTURE, YOU WON'T HAVE TO FIGHT TO EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN--IT WILL BE THEIR RIGHT. ONE OF THE THINGS ANY EDUCATED CITIZEN MUST KNOW--BUT RONALD REAGAN DOESN'T--IS THAT WE MUST PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE EARTH ITSELF. PORTLAND, PAGE SEVEN HERE IN MAINE, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THE WILD AND RUGGED BEAUTY OF YOUR STATE COMPELS RESPECT FOR NATURE'S WORK. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENVIRONMENT, THIS ADMINISTRATION HASN'T PLAYED BY THE RULES. INSTEAD, ITS TORN THE RULEBOOK UP AND THROWN IT AWAY. LET'S LOOK AT THE RECORD: FOR EIGHTY YEARS, SINCE TEDDY ROOSEVELT, THIS COUNTRY HAS HAD A TRADITION OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR PROTECTION OF OUR ENVIRONEMNT. UNTIL 1980, ALL OF OUR PRESIDENT'S RECOGNIZED THAT A COMMITMENT TO A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT MAKES US A STRONG COUNTRY -- NAD PROTECTS THE HEALTH AND FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY. BUT RONALD REAGAN DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT. HE DOESN'T REALIZE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ENVIRONMENT, YOU DON'T LET THE WOOLVES GUARD THE SHEEP. HE DOESN'T REALIZE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO STUDY ACID RAIN TO DEATH TO KNOW THAT ITS KILLING THE LAKES AND TREES OF THE BEAUTIFUL STATE OF MAINE. LET'S TALK HONESTLY ABOUT ACID RAIN. IT'S AN ISSUE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DIVIDE STATES THAT MINE AND BURN HIGH SULPHUR COAL FROM THOSE ON WHICH THE ACID FALLS. THE OPPONENTS OF ACID RAIN CONTROL, PORTLAND, PAGE EIGHT RONALD REAGAN FOREMOST AMONG THEM, HAVE SOUGHT TO FAN THOSE FLAMES OF DIVISION. THAT IS NOT LEADERSHIP. AS PRESIDENT, A LEADER MUST HEAL DIVISIONS AND SOLVE PROBLEMS. WALTER MONDALE WILL SEE TO IT THAT THE CONGRESS ENACTS ACID RAIN CONTROL LEGISLATION FAIR TO ALL REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY. MR. REAGAN SAYS THAT JAMES WATT AND ANNE BURFORD DID A GOOD JOB . HE LEASED ONE BILLION ACRES OF OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS RIGHTS INCLUDING THOSE ON GEORGE'S BANK -- AND HE CLEANED UP ONLY A HANDFUL OF TOXIC WASTE SIGHTS THAT THREATEN OUR HEALTH EVERY DAY. THIS ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT BELIEVES IN LAW AND ORD ER. IT SH OULD BEGIN BY ENFORCING THE LAW. FRITZ MONDALE AND I WILL DO THAT. WE WILL STOP TAKING POLLUTERS TO LUNCH -- AND START TAKING THEM TO COURT. PORTLAND, PAGE NINE OUR ENVIRONMENT. UNTIL 1980, ALL OF OUR PRESIDENTS RECOGNIZED THAT A COMMITMENT TO A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT MAKES US A STRONG COUNTRY--AND PROTECTS THE HEALTH AND FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN. BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, RONALD REAGAN DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT. HE DOESN'T REALIZE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO STUDY ACID RAIN TO DEATH TO KNOW THAT IT'S HARMFUL TO TREES AND LAKES. HE DOESN'T SEE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GUT THE CLEAN AIR ACT TO PUT PEOPLE TO WORK. HE HAS IGNORED THE STUDIES SHOWING THAT POLLUTION CONTROLS ACTUALLY INCREASE EMPLOYMENT. AND ~E DOESN'T REALIZE THAT, WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ENVIRONMENT, YOU DON'T LET THE WOLVES GUARD THE SHEEP. MR. REAGAN SAYS THAT TREES CAUSE POLLUTION AND THAT JAMES WATT AND ANNE BURFORD DID A GOOD JOB. HE SOLD OFF OUR PUBLIC LANDS AT GARAGE SALE PRICES. HE ABANDONED THE FIGHT TO PROTECT OUR DRINKING WATER. HE LEASED ONE BILLION ACRES OF OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS RIGHTS. AND HE CLEANED UP ONLY A HANDFUL OF THE TOXIC WASTE SITES THAT THREATEN OUR HEALTH EVERY DAY. THIS ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT BELIEVEgIN LAW AND ORDER. IT SHOULD BEGIN BY ENFORCING THE LAW. FRITZ MONDALE AND· I WILL DO THAT. WE WILL STOP TAKING POLLUTERS TO LUNCH--AND START TAKING THEM TO COURT. PORTLAND, PAGE TEN WE WILL PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDERNESS AREAS. WE WILL USE THE SUPERFUND TO CLEAN UP TOXIC DUMPS. AND WE WILL CUT IN HALF THE EMISSIONS THAT CAUSE ACID RAIN BY THE END OF OUR SECOND TERM. WHILE A MONDALE-FERRARO ADMINISTRATION TAKES SOLID, CONCRETE STEPS TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT HERE ON EARTH, WE'LL ALSO TAKE STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN EARTH TO PROTECT. FOR IF WE DO NOTHING ELSE FOR OUR CHILDREN, HISTORY DEMANDS THAT WE BEQUEATH TO THEM A SAFER WORLD. MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT: THIS IS I!:!..§... ISSUE OF THIS CAMPAIGN. THE REAGAN RECORD ON ARMS CONTROL IS VERY CLEAR. RONALD REAGAN HAS OPPOSED EVERY ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENT EVER NEGOTIATED. PERIOD. AND AS PRESIDENT, 1W HE HAS PRESIDED OVER THE TOTAL COLLAPSE OF ALL TALKS AIMED AT PUTTING AN END TO THIS INSANE ARMS RACE. WHILE WE'VE FUNNELLED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO NUCLEAR WEAPONS SYSTEMS THAT WILL BE OBSOLETE THE DAY THEY ARE READY, OUR CONVENTIO~STRENGTH HAS DECLINED. TENSIONS WITH RUSSIA HAVE BEEN RAISED TO A FEVER PITCH. WE'VE SENT TROOPS TO CENTRAL AMERICA, AND ABANDONED NEGOTIATION FOR MILITARIZATION. AND OUR YOUNG MEN--250 OF THEM--WERE SENT TO BEIRUT ON A MISSION WITH NO PURPOSE, AND DIED DEATHS OF NO REASON. IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS, RONALD REAGAN HAS NOT HAD A SINGLE FOREIGN POLICY SUCCESS. WE DEMOCRATS BELIEVE IN STRENGTH AND MILITARY READINESS ' PORTLAND, PAGE ELEVEN AND WE ARE NOT NAIVE ABOUT THE SOVIETS. BUT THE QUESTION IS--OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS--WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY SON JOHN, AND TO YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN? WILL THIS PRESIDENT, UNRESTRAINED BY THE NEED FOR REELECTION, HEIGHTEN THE RISK OF WAR? I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THAT CHANCE. I WANT A PRESIDENT WHO BELIEVES IN NEGOTIATION, NOT CONFRONTATION. I WOULD RATHER TALK TEN TIMES THAN • FIGHT ONCE. I WANT A PRESIDENT WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT AN ARMS RACE HAS NO WINNER, AND DOES NOT LEAD TO PEACE. IT LEADS ONLY TO AN ARMS RACE. I WANT A PRESIDENT WHO WILL NOT TURN THE HEAVENS INTO A BATTLEGROUND. AND I WANT A PRESIDENT WHO STOPS INVESTING SO MUCH IN THE ARMS RACE--AND STARTS INVESTING MORE IN THE HUMAN RACE. IF THIS PRESIDENT CAN'T STOP EXCHANGING INSULTS WITH THE SOVIETS AND START EXCHANGING SOLID PROPOSALS TO CONTROL NUCLEAR WEAPONS--THEN IT'S TIME TO EXCHANGE THIS PRESIDENT FOR ONE WHO WILL. THIS NATION IS A DIVERSE ONE--PERHAPS THE MOST DIVERSE IN ALL THE WORLD. BUT EVERY FAMILY--FROM THE DESERTS OF CALI FORNIA SHARES A SIMILAR DREAM: I WANT TO LEAVE MY KIDS WITH A COASTS OF MAINE TO THE BETTER WORLD, AND A SAFER WORLD. WE ALL WANT TO MAKE OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES A LITTLE FULLER, AND OPEN MORE DOORS PORTLAND, PAGE TWELVE FOR THEM THAN WERE OPEN FOR US. FRITZ MONDALE AND I SHARE YOUR DREAMS, AND WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT AMERICA'S FUTURE. WHEN YOU VOTE ON NOVEMBER 6, YOU WILL BE VOTING FOR A VISION OF THE FUTURE. WHEN YOU VOTE, I ASK YOU TO REMEMBER OUR VISION: IN OUR AMERICAN FUTURE, OUR FAMILIES AND OUR CHILDREN WILL BE FREE FROM THE BURDEN OF DEBT. IN OUR AMERICAN FUTURE, THE DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY AND SUCCESS WILL BE OPEN TO ALL--NOT JUST THE PRIVILEGED FEW. IN OUR AMERICAN FUTURE, OUR FAMILIES WILL BREATHE CLEAN AIR AND DRINK FROM UNPOLLUTED WATERS. IN OUR AMERICAN FUTURE, WOMEN AND MEN WILL STAND EQUAL UNDER THE LAW. IN OUR AMERICAN FUTURE, WE WILL LIVE IN A STRONG NATION--AND REAP THE BENEFITS OF A SAFER WORLD. AND~WE WILL LEAVE TO .!11- OUR CHILDREN THE CHANCE TO DREAM--AND TO KNOW THAT THEIR DREAMS CAN COME TRUE. I ASK YOU TO JOIN WITH US TO BUILD THAT AMERICAN FUTURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 

Portland Stump Speech: Draft

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Portland Stump Speech: Draft

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