Final Campaign Speech of Congressman Mike- Mansfiel

Mansfield, Mike, 1903-2001

English

University of Montana

University of MontanaScholarWorks at University of MontanaMike Mansfield Speeches Mike Mansfield Papers1952Final Campaign Speech of Congressman Mike-MansfieldMike Mansfield 1903-2001Let us know how access to this document benefits you.Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mansfield_speechesThis Speech is brought to you for free and open access by the Mike Mansfield Papers at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been acceptedfor inclusion in Mike Mansfield Speeches by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, pleasecontact scholarworks@mso.umt.edu.Recommended CitationMansfield, Mike 1903-2001, "Final Campaign Speech of Congressman Mike- Mansfield" (1952). Mike Mansfield Speeches. 61.https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mansfield_speeches/61y Fellow ont nuns . This is ike nsfiel spe· ing to you from Billings . Tonite I ant to report to the people of mtana on the issues in the campaign for the United States Senate . 1 have not -- and I will not -- descend to personalities nor will I spread falsehoocis ab011t 1 y ff'llo - men . I have too much respect for the intelligence and the sound ju~gmcnt of ontona ' s people. In th past weeks I have travelled the legth and breadth of our state's 140, 000 square miles ., I have bean thro tgh the mountain country of the est , ncross the great plains and rich oil lands of the east, into our fast growing tm r.s and ci tics , and to t'.e cattle ranches and ! rrns ~ As I have trnvelle , I ha ve tnlke" to you -- sometimes before DUI laroe audiences in tbe bit cities, sometimes when you Jere gathered together in srnall groups m'd ~lamever yo best had the ti e we have talked face to fac,. . I thin 1<: th· t those of you who have spent so e time \\lith me will agree that I 1tav b~en bstening a·. ~ 11 cS talking. any of you have tole! me l.nt h fn your mh<ls ancl on yo ar hearts . I have founn that the problems thtlt bother i you re the aa problems that worry e~ I have found 3lso thot we have the same brave hopes , the same great dreama for the futur of tontano and ourselves . I am pro ~ that ne indrAs try is coning into 1ontana anct the reason is cheap pover. Cbe p po~~r .1lways attracts New Industry . The electric p wer for ther-e ntm plants comes from the grc t Hungry Hors am in the flotileod coun~ry. 1 h ve fougl1t in 1ashington for ten years to get the appropri<aion~ to build Hungry Horse. I can Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 36, Folder 64, Mansfield Library, University of Montana- 2 -tell you it s not n e sy job, but three ~ce·s ago the peopl of ontana had their triumph -- when Hungry ~rse D rn was dedicated. I a pleased but I a not content . t·. at has b n done at Hungry !Jor e ust be done throughout all of ontant. , eastern ontana aa ell as western ,or.tana . There i1 room -- all the room lo the world h at this Treasure State -- for more industry. And the ay to get this New Industry is to get m~Te po~er -- both public und private. That is why I a happy about the ansfie!d record in getting the author-izations and aJ>propriatlons for the Tiber , Libby , Canyon Ferry and other projects . These projects mean n~t only ehe~p power but they mean irri-gation; they ean water for o~r !arms. And never forget that only as our farmers pro per so ··il.: ti\e ei ties and towns of r ontana prosper . That is why I am fot 100% parity for farmers . 1 our farmers and ranc~ers prosper so do our businessmen4 Let anyone who doubts the truth of this 1tnte10ent look back o few years to the une•plO)'• ment in all our cities . Aed let ~im tc~ay walk down Central Avenue in Great Falls , Park treet in Butte ond the Muin streets of all our other towns . Our cities are growiDg -- ne · buildings , new hotels , ne offices , new businesses are risi~g everywhere. 'e need cheap power for another reason . The people of ntana know better than anyone that the life of our ranchers and tar rs , even as it is today, is no bed of roses . rvery farm in ontana sbould have eleetricity. lectric power is needed to run the far 1 and ranches. It is nee ed !or the comforts of the far er•s wife, e h ve made great atrides t rougt , ·.A. in bringing electricit)' to our farms and toda)' al ost 75% of the fa s in Montana are electrified. Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 36, Folder 64, Mansfield Library, University of Montana- 3 -o that is n good record but it ts not good enough. The R. E. A. Is , ithout qu stion, of tre .endous assistance to private RXatK nterprile and the appliance dealer on r1ain street knows tt. I have reviewed the duns fiel(l record on >ublic power and n .E.A. to sbo you ho\ it has made on t ana a better place in hich to live . I would like to osk my opponent where he has stood for six long years in the Se ate on public po~er. Ask hi how much help he eYer gave to the people of 1~ntana in the fight for Hungry Horse. Ask him hy he has voted agpinst R. K.A. even though he ~ he is in favor of it . Ask him t.Yhat he. bas ~ ~~r flonc for !ontnna. I can tell you the answ r . In six years in the Senate he h~s accomplished nothing! ow, t o years is a iair £!Jloug\l time to judge what a man can do for his Stutc in Congress , I think six years is too long. I do lijLt. say that .Hke ansfield has hit n home run every time he has been at bat in the laat t en years bu t hn has gotten ~ore than his share of hits , and a lot of them were for extra bases . If you will look at y opponent ' s record , the one thln~ you will notice is thut he has strtck ott -- every time. But I Rm not content . l 11e of :.Jmttnna must not dreum small dreams. c dream great dreams be~u se e are a great people living in a great State .. ~ontana has just begtm to QTOW and develop. It is our job to improve the fortune& , the lot un~ the livcl6hood of everyone in ontana , nnt Just th~ htt!ilnetlsman , not just the working man , not just the far 'T . For ~:rmTiple , what about the Indians? I am proud of hat l have accomplished in behalf of the Flathead Indian Tribe -- the unlt lnrlian tTibc in cy Congressional district . The Flathead tdbc CI'H1tTO'ls its o\\n f nds and looks after Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 36, Folder 64, Mansfield Library, University of Montanat of it o n affairs . This in ontan • - 4 -st be extendP.d to e ery Innian tribe You mny kno -- as the Inrll&ns of ontuna kno -- about my ork in the aurhot ization and the getting of the necessary FL~er 1 funds to build n Indian w·ng to the T.B. Hospital at Galen . That •lag is now under construction . At tnis ti I ust pay p blic th nks to the ontana ubercl.llosis Association , t11 the ontana Federation of 'o en ' s Clubs ond to Henrietta Crockett , one of ontana • really great w en. for the fine work they have done in pushirlg this project for the Indians throu~ • I do not know all the ~nswers to the problems of the ontana Indians but I o know that t~ey should have all the rights and all the privileges of other mericans , and I know also that the treaties entered into between the GovernMent and the Indians must be followed to the letter. And what about the educatio~ of our children , our most precious possession'? I worry abo11t the erlucation of my daughter just as you do about your chil(lren. I know that our schools are over• burdened , th t our teachers are underpuld , just as the teachers of every other state are underpaid . I rtialize that the post-w r crop of babies is flooding the schools of ontana . l''e must get m.w:.e. teacher• and we •ust pay the teachers thnt we have better salaries to keep them in our schools . That is hy I have intro(uced t e "il for Eduction" bill long with Senator Lister ill of Al.ba a . This is a bill which would use the revenue fro our off- shore oil resources -- esti t d at I 40 billion - - for defense , education, and tax reducatioo Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 36, Folder 64, Mansfield Library, University of Montana- 5 -purposes, I · s a teacher for nine Jea=s at the University of ontana so I know as well as anyor.'" l:m evot!:ld the teachers are to their profession and to our children . Speaking of taxes I want you tt> lcnow that I nM against a Federal sales .ax because it falls on the people least able to pay. Thh is not j st campaign orettory beca lSP. I fought 'and votad ogalnst th sales tax hich the Congress put QJt the people of the llistrict of Columbia and I arn against th£- ill H introduced in the Congress for a Fed ral sales tax , And no~ I want to tc!lk tt; you about Peucr. . I have no easy formula to bring pence to tt.e 'dorld -· and r.ei thcr has anyone else, I wi 11 not be one of those yoi ng r;p an:l dorm the lenyth of the land today trying to fool the American poople into believing there is so quic cure , some ne\ shorte1t to posce. r have too much respect for the American people , I have too ~ueh respect for myself to try to tell you anything but the truth. Tha road to l'e•· ce is a h.a rd road , It ls a road of sacrifice and hard wotk and vigilance. I believe we will lind 1 t but 'e d 11 ll.QJ. fint.t lt if w.J listen to the false prophets talking in this country during this ca~~a!gn , The people of Montar.a nre now being bo~borded by Desperate who ~ill do anything , tell any lie, for a vote. These Desperate 1en nc the frustrated poli ticiuns . 'fhey are so hungry for po,er so eager to take over the destiny of this country - so anxious to regain the se .. t from hich the American people drove the twenty years ago that they will do anything. In their slick and ugly way they are trying to blacken the record of every honest n who dares to oppose them. Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 36, Folder 64, Mansfield Library, University of Montana- 6 -You, th p ople of 'ontuna , h ve already heard thes deap rnte lie • Thes falsehoods ure 1ot only fro certain oppositio ontann politictana . Outsiders , carpet- bagger --to cRll the by the na e they deserve re even being brought into r ontanu by these aame self-seekh~ politicians to spread their l':lalicious propaganda . You can hear t eir scandal- · ongering about everyone . FroM no until election day you are ~oing to he~r it against Governor Adlil Stevenson, of Illinois , the De~ocrotfc candidate !or Presirlent . You have heard it against Gener· 1 George ~arshull , a great Am,.riean patriot, In this campalga 1 am ashamed to tell JO'l thAt my opposition hus even brought into ontana a 1l.iid carpet- bagger , an admitted eo ,·mist , to spread more slander. I am used to abuse by Pr·~~a . Isvettia, Radio oseow. I stood up under the abuse of ~talik and Vishinsky . As a goo~ Arlerican I am not used to having a Co munist brouQilt into r ontann to attack me, my record , and rny integrity. I realize full well that my opponents ~ill stop at nothin9 to dt!eat r~ . The Senatorship Ia this State is the big prize. :ney seek to create bitterness ano dis-unity and they think the people of ~ntan& don ' t know it. They so the seeds of hatred ano discontent . Is is any wonder that oeeent people -- who should be seeking public office -- shy away from offering their services because of the visious attacks they carl expect'? \hat about the welfare and the seeuri ty of our country? That CW..U.. always coce first because it is i aterial what hn~p~ns to a candidate personally. hat is important is the secuTi ty ar:rl ,.;elfara of o·tr Nation and th future of our children . That is the iSSIIP. bcca :.~se our understanding of It ill bring peace -- a peace based on strength and prep redne1a Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 36, Folder 64, Mansfield Library, University of Montana- 7 .. - a peace ba cd on justice and toleranr.e -- and a J•eaee hich ill create a brotherhood of !an under n'c.' :;·atl•erhood of God . This Cor~ unish paid agent spre<nis malicious and un-American propaganda and the only reason I ev~u mention this at all is becaute sor.Je of you ;ho live hi the eastern l'<>rt of ont<.na nay not know as well as the citizens in the FirsL Congression 1 district , I can only tell yo• that the people in the First District have heard this about ike nnsfield in every c~mrnign for the past six years . And I am honored un~ proud that tt1ci r votes on every election day have shown 1111 that they hari c•;ntin~cd their trust , their faith oncl their confidence in ' .. It is th last despente , fJ.n.l u.ove of t1 desperate opposition ho already see the bitter ashes of de~eut next week and it helps to hide their completely empty r~~ord of ~olng nothing. But I do wnnt to talk to you to~ight soberly and thoughtfully about the mal enemy of the Uultnd States And the free world ·- the oviet Unioa . .e are foolish indeed H we ignore the mighty nroiea and the sinister fifth column of ~~!S most ruthless dictatorship. As a epresentative, I have been as vigi l unt as any . ember of Congress more vigilant than most . Let •s look auain at the Mansfield record. I introduced the bill in Congress to outlaw the Colllllunist Party in the United States . proposal? .here does my opponent stand on thit I voted for the cCarran Internal .,eeurity Act to keep immi-grants with a subversive in t ent out of the country. I have voted for and worked for the !undt-rixon bill to make Communist organizatious register. Both ot these bills are new law on the Federal statute books. Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 36, Folder 64, Mansfield Library, University of Montana- 8 -1 oppo ent fi lly, at t l 1 te date , is t lki g v guely ag i st Co th S ate is no longer i s ssion -- but ask i wh t he ha bout 1t in six years besides talk? In fact 1 h ve found , in going through the Congre sional ecord for the past six yean has been a S n tor t at he hasn ' t even tal ·cd very. uc bout it. ut just os i portant as protecting our elves ag inat Co n-ists at ho is preparing ourselves and OJr friendly allies abro d , There is only one wny to in orld ar III and th t is to prevent it . There is only o.n.e. ll:i1X. to prever1t 'oriel ar III . It is a hard way . It will cost the taxpayer billions of dollars . Dut I say to you with deep sincerity that it is ti1e Wll.x. ~ You kno and I know that the one way to prevent the Sovi t army from overrunning Europe and the iddle ,ut , Burrna , India , Indo-China and Japan anti , eventually. South America and then the United States ia to ~ them from moving in th~ ~ place. If we do not strengthen our allies and strengthen our own A~ ed Forces , the Soviet Union will pick us off. wu:. hx. Q.Ae., J st like sitting ducks in a shooting gallery . That is why we have given military aud economic· irl to otr allies . I believe in few things l'!lore de'lply than this , that we must be prepared because the Soviet Union understunds only one· thing --llitary force . This is no longer a large country surrounded by two oceans . ~·o onths ago a British Jet plane fle the ~tlantic both ways in d.uh..t.. honrs ! r, o weeks ego 44 llleric<~n j~t fighter planes flew from California to Hawaii 2600 miles away -- about as far as from Spokane to nshington D.c. -- in fnl&.I. hours and 10 r~inutes ! Think it over because isolation does not spell security and safetJ; it Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 36, Folder 64, Mansfield Library, University of Montana- ~ -does spell danger and denth . '!'hn t iA \lhy I have :fought to s trengthea t'"' ~ nLe<f States ta ines , I a~ a veterLn of ull three serv1ces , tn • avy, the Army and the Alariltes - - th"' w.l.l£. f c 1ber •Jf Congress ho . is . In fact , I have been nn ell5ter G, l , i" each of then, altho"gh I id re ch th" high rank of PFC in the arines , I succeeded in push-ing through the • nsfielrl- Oouglas bill in the last Congress . Thnt bill provides for mini u strenqtil of three divisions of Marines , three arine Air ings nd P'lts tht• fa m r-dant of the ~arine Corps on the Joint Chi fs of Staff. 1 t is now Fedf~:rel l&w. That i~ 1art of t~e la~sfield record Gn National Jefense . Compare that record with thnt (J':.' rrty opponent . Oo not listen to what he says at election time . ASk Lim ~mot he has !..'lll..e. for .National Defense against the Soviet in the past six years ~ I have been critical o! lilY owonent ' s da-nothin-.. record . So in all fairness I must tell you thhat before I could be the United tates l elegate to tha '11it~d Nations I had to be confirmed by the Senate of the l ited St01t~s . 1\nd ~y opponent did vote !su. y confirmation . In fact the vote in tne Senate to Confir me was unanimous and every E.cp•Jbl ica n Sennt )I on the Floor voterl.. I appreciate this vote of eonficleuee in my ability to handle the Russians and I hope these l~publican Senatorr. were amply rewarded for their vote by the heart-warming priase of ~ontann in my victory over Vishinsky. Last week I asked my opponent some questtons whiclt I think he should answer for the benefit oi the 'people of ontana . They re: Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 36, Folder 64, Mansfield Library, University of Montana- 10 -1. er do o stand o f r p r1ty? ... l ere do : ou ta d en It . ·' • ( 3. you stond on the HKY~e­propo als'~ ,ov •r heor• ani·· tion 4. ~er do ~ou stan' on y ui1l to nll S m tor nd • gress n reJ.lort, ea~.:h year. ill_ sources ? s. h re do you itond on 1ontona • s umber c f con ic I robl · h freight rates? ne neople of 'ont.unu · re cnt'tlr~d to kn on th.se 4uestlcn . yot•r post tlo 'ont n toduy has CO!Je , , ~f)nt; ~ong • y . But he ust not be co -tent. 'e h v~ j t beu·1n to blli lrl Uw t'ew ont£.tl0 . l.c (Stand nt th beginning of eat er~ . e n r _ th~ :\'f:1.v fl. r ca . !fer and in rica e mu"t ntond und fiyht toget:1cr to achieve Pe c a d then to achieve a gyc3ter State th~n •ny of u~ cw~r c'l. rcc'l to drcn about 10 y ars ago. 'I hav~ ·t~rl:i!t~ h ro fot this sJreu. yo11r lont n Congress · n for ten ye· rs . if y01t e!P.ct me as your . en tor I pro l yo 1 only th t I will ork · s hutd ss 1 can 'or ut# 11., for of the for the security of our Country. uct th c use of •orld pe,..c • y fa th and MY trust is in you. This is ike 'ans!i ld th.inklna you for list uing und uyiny qoodnight . Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 36, Folder 64, Mansfield Library, University of Montana

Final Campaign Speech of Congressman Mike- Mansfield

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Final Campaign Speech of Congressman Mike- Mansfield

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