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8-15-1967 Statement of Mike Mansfield - iB g Hole National Monument Mike Mansfield 1903-2001

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Recommended Citation Mansfield, Mike 1903-2001, "Statement of Mike Mansfield - Big Hole National Monument" (1967). Mike Mansfield Speeches. 666. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mansfield_speeches/666

This Speech is brought to you for free and open access by the Mike Mansfield Papers at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Mike Mansfield Speeches by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. (Not printed at Government expense) (tongrcssional Record United States of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 90th CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

The President's Magna Carta for Urban America SPEECH The challenge is as immense as the tion whether from rural or urban States OF task is clear. It is to preserve the domes­ because, in the end, we are cne nation tic tranquillity so that the promise of the and there is no future for any part of it HON. MIKE MANSFIELD Constitution may be pursued for and by unless there is a futw·e for all of it. We OF MONTANA all Americans, under law and in order. are ehallenged to redress wrongs too IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES President Johnson is on record, with­ numerous to mention, too old to ignore. Wednesday, August 16, 1967 out equivocation: rioters must not be There are no overnight answers to this challenge, no instant solutions to the Mr. MANSFIELD. Mr. President, on rewarded; rioters should be punished to the full extent of the law. At the same problems of the cities. Money alone is not Monday last there was a meeting of the the answer. Government action alone is Democratic leadership with the Presi­ time, the President is just as insistent that there be no punishment-direct or not the answer. dent at the Wkite House. During the Let us be equally clear and emphatic, course of that meeting the domestic legis­ indirect-imposed upon and no retribu- tion exacted from the millions of law- however, that no solutions are possible lation was discussed in some detail, and abiding poor who have waited patiently without money and no long-range solu­ after the meeting the President discussed for the doors of opportunity to open in tions will take place unless there is gov- with me in greater detail his hopes, his ernment action, prompt and persistent, dreams, and his recommendations as the slums of America's cities. and at all levels. they affect the future of the cities and The President knows-every Member Two years ago President Johnson the urban areas in the light of events of the Senate knows-that we do not warned: which had transpired and in light of reward rioters when we improve the diet, recommendations he had made to the the education, and the health of little The problems o! the city are problems o! Congress dw·ing the period in which he children. housing and educatlon. They Involve Increas­ Ing employment and ending poverty.... has served as President. We do not reward rioters when we stimulate the building of the kind of They are, In large measure, the problems o! I suggested to him that if he thought American society Itself. They call !or a gen­ it advisable, he might send to me a letter housing and neighborhoods in which peo­ ple can live decently and safely and about erosity o! vlslon, a breadth o! approach, expressing his thoughts on this matter; a magnl tude of elfort which have not yet and I told him that I, in turn, would which the distinguished Senator from brought to bear on the American city. Minnesota [Mr. MoNDALEJ has just express my thoughts and do so in a President Johnson's concern about the speech on the floor of the Senate at an spoken with such perception and such cities of the Nation has been evident ever opportune time. courage. since he took office. During each of the I have received such a letter from the We do not reward rioters when we try President which contains his thoughts. to cw·b air pollution and assure a plenti­ years he has been President, he has sent I shall refer to it at the conclusion of ful supply of pure water in metropolitan to the Congress major legislative pro­ my remarks on the question of action on areas. posals dealing with the needs of urban the President's magna carta for urban We do not reward rioters when we seek America. to protect Infants from rats. America. As early as January 1964, he submitted When we pursue constructive measures We have endured, Mr. President, a a comprehensive program for housing of this kind we are helping to create a summer of urban violence without paral­ and community development. One month livable nation. We are helping to estab­ lel in the Nation's history. The fury and later, speaking in St. Louis, the President lish an urban environment that is as destruction-in cities from Newark to emphasized the Nation's goals for its hostile to rioters as it is to rats and which Detroit, from Albion to Albany-have cities between now and 1970: acts to prevent the plagues of both from seared the conscience of every respon­ spreading until they engulf the Nation. If we are to save the vltallty of our cltles, sible citizen. we must make continued progress In elimi­ We are challenged now as we were These events summon us to action. nating slums, In rehablUtatlng historic They are grim reminders of the intoler­ before the riots and during the riots­ neighborhoods, In providing for the humane ance which has become endemic in our and as we would be challenged even in relocation of people that are displaced by cities. They pose a challenge to the repu­ the absence of riots-to face up to the urban renewal, in restoring the economic tation of the Nation, and to the will of plight of the cities. We are challenged, base o! our communities, and in revltallzlng its people. wherever we may come from in the Na- the economic base of our communities. 275 351- 9454

Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 43, Folder 79, Mansfield Library, University of Montana 2 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD In his message on cities In 1965, which Legislation has been enacted looking to This eminently responsible and urgent led to the creation of the Department of the modernization of city transportation call from the President on behalf of the Housing and Urban Development, the so that Americans may get Into and out cities impels a decent, sober, and prompt President noted: of and around Inside cities easily, cheap­ response from the Congress. In the remainder of thls century-In less ly, and safely. First. Let us provide the $600 million than 40 years-urban population will double, The Medicare Act of 1965 has provided President Johnson has requested for the city land will double and we will have to further alleviation of the burdens of old­ model cities program this year. In so build In our cities as much as all that we age for millions of America's poor, many doing, we will begin to transform the have built since the first colonist arrived of whom live in cities; 25 million doctor housing, the education, the jobs, and the on these shores. It Is as If we had 40 years bills have already been paid under this health care of 6Y2 million Americans. to rebuild the entire urban United States. program. We will begin the job of rebuilding our In his message on cities in 1966, Presi­ Minimum wages for 41 million workers cities on a scale approximating the re­ dent Johnson said: were raised in 1966; nearly a million quirements of the closing decades of the If we become two people-the suburban workers have been retrained under new 20th century. affluent and the urban poor, each filled with manpower programs. Second. Let us provide the $40 million mistrust and fear one for the other . . . we More than 20 million Americans are President Johnson has requested for the shall as well condemn our own generation to receiving decent meals through food­ rent supplement program so that there a bitter paradox: and educated, wealthy, pro­ stamp and school-lunch programs. may be continued this promising effort gressive people, who would not give their thoughts, their resources, or their will to Eight million disadvantaged young- to provide decent housing for 500,000 provide for their common well-being. sters, and nearly a million young college poor American families at modest cost. students, are today benefiting from the This is the most imaginative and work­ Last August in Syracuse, N.Y., the great commitment to education which able program yet devised to make private President warned: was made by this Government In the enterprise a partner In the American goal This Is no time to delay ... I do not know landmark education acts of 1965. of a decent home for every citizen. Every how long It will take to rebuild our cities. In 1964, pioneer legislation was enacted $600 of rent supplements will allow in­ I do know It must not--and will not--take In an effort to break the dreary line of dustry to build a housing unit worth 20 forever. For my part, I pledge that this Ad­ ministration will not cease our efforts to chronic poverty In America and two mil- times that amount. make rlgh t what has taken genera tlons to lion Americans have already risen above Third. Let us provide the $20 million make wrong. that line. President Johnson has requested for the During the past 3 years, we have in- rat control bill. We have had enough of And earlier this year, in his message vested more than $16 billion In new pro- flippancy and glibness In a matter which on urban and rural poverty, he said: grams of this kind. Additional billions should be of pervasive and sober concern We do not have all the answers. But we have gone Into older programs, such as to all of America-metropolitan and have given a great many people-very young public assistance, public housing, social rural. children, restless teenagers, men without skills, mothers without proper health care for security, urban renewal, hospital con- Fourth. Let us pass the poverty bill themselves or their babies, old men and struction, and unemployment compensa- and continue, thereby, to provide access women without a purpose to fill their later tion. to training, guidance, and work oppor­ years- the opportunity they needed, when These programs have served to meet tunitles for the Nation's poor; to provide they needed It, In a way that called on them some of the more gaping of the gaps in a headstart Instead of a handicap to the to gl ve the best of themselves. metropolitan America and to meet the young of the Nation's poor. The Presi­ MUUons more Americans need-and de­ more urgent needs of millions of urban dent has requested about $2 billion for serve-that opportunity. The aim of the Americans. A continuance of these pro- this year; let us get It funded In order Administration Is, and will be, that they shall have it. grams Is essential If we mean even to that this necessary and sensible work hold the line against the rapid decay of may go on. Here are some relevancies with respect the cities. If we mean to provide some Fifth. Let us go forward with the to Federal action which bear upon the basis of a promise for a more satisfying Teacher Corps so that thousands of spe­ problem of the cities. They reflect credit future, there are 14 key measures pres- c!ally trained educators may be mobilized upon the President's leadership in urban ently before the Congress which should to help meet the educational needs of the affairs; they reflect credit on the Con- ghetto child. gress which has followed that leadership be acted upon without delay. Together, Sixth. Let us pass the Safe Streets and to a great degree. They represent they are a kind of Magna Carta for ur- Crime Control Act to strengthen pollee achievements and the opening of the ban America and for the seven out of forces throughout the Nation. possibilities for additional achievements. 10 Americans who live there. Seventh. Let us meet the adminlstra- One hundred years after Abraham Lin­ In his message on the cities in March tion's request for $80 million for housing coln established the Department of Agri­ 1965, the President said: for the elderly, so that we may continue culture, cities were given, in 1965, an We must extend the range or choices a vall­ the great progress we have made in pro­ equal voice in the Cabinet by the creation able to all our people so that all, not just the viding security, comfort, and fulfillment of the Department of Housing and Urban fortunate, can have access to decent homes for the older American. Development. and schools, to recreation and to culture. We The model cities program of 1966 and must work to overcome the forces which Eighth. Let us provide the $20 million the rent supplement program of 1965 pro­ divide our people and erode the vitality which the President requested for the vided new and advanced legislative tools which comes from the partnership or those scientific research and study of the cities for rebuilding cities and improving hous­ with diverse Incomes and Interests and back­ in order to make it possible to break new ing for the poor. sround. ground In urban development. 275-4151-9454

Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 43, Folder 79, Mansfield Library, University of Montana CONGRESSIONAL RECORD 3 Ninth. Let us provide the increases ented planners, and the most experienced Mr. President, I ask unanimous con­ President Johnson has asked in social urban experts in the nation. sent to have the entire letter printed in Chief among these proposals was the Model security so that we may raise the stand­ the RECORD. Cities Program-the most coordinated, mas­ There being no objection, the Jetter was ard of living for millions of retired sive, and far-reaching attack on urban blight in RECORD, Americans. ever proposed to the Congress. This was not ordered to be printed the as Tenth. Let us strengthen the Ele­ just a federal program. It was designed to follows: THE WHITE HOUSE, mentary and Secondary Education Act stimulate local Initiative In the private sec­ Washington, D.C., August 16, 1967. and so redouble our efforts to improve tor, and at the state, county and local level. Hon. MIKE MANSFIELD, I asked Congress to authorize .2.3 billion every classroom in the land. U.S. Senate, for the first six years of this program. Con­ Eleventh. Let us act on the civil rights Washington, D.C. gress reduced that request of $900 mllllon bill so that we may continue to move to­ DEAR MIKE: It has long been apparent that for 2 years. ward the goal of equal opportunity for all the health of our nation can be no better This year, I requested full funding of the under the Constitution. than the health of our cities. Model Cltles-$662 million. The House has Surely not a single American can doubt Twelfth. Let us provide a reasonable already cut that request to $237 million. thls any longer, after the tragic events of this and legitimate gun control bill which, I urge that this request be restored In full. summer. while recognizing the rights and needs of We can no longer be satisfied with "business Just two months after I became Presi­ rural States as well as the urban areas, as usual" when the problems are so urgent. dent--In January 1964-I sent to the Con­ will, at the same time, keep lethal weap­ These problems demand the best that an gress a Special Message on Housing and Com­ enlightened nation can plan, and the most ons out of the hands of criminals and munity Development. In outlining a series of that an affluent nation can afford. rioters. new proposals for the cities of America, I In addition, the Congress now bas before Thirteenth. Let us provide the truth­ said: "Whether we achieve our goal of a It a number of other programs proposed by in-lending bill in order to protect not decent home In a decent neighborhood for the Administration which are concerned every American citizen rests, in large meas­ only the poor but all Americans against entirely or significantly with the urban prob­ ure, on the action we take now." fiscal shell games. lems or our nation. These programs, taken Shortly thereafter, I called together some Fourteenth. Let us provide the juve­ together, represent an all-out commitment of the most brllllant minds, the most tal­ nile delinquency bill; that we may im­ to the safety and well-being of our cities and ented planners, and the most experienced prove the prospects for thousands of the citizens who live In them: urban experts In the nation. After exhaustive youngsters skirting the borders of a life Mr. President, a list of programs fol­ study, they recommended to me a number of crime. low. They are 23 in number. I will read of proposals that hold vast promise for the President Johnson's leadership has them: future of every city In this nation. Chief pointed the way to meeting the challenge among these proposals was the Model Cities Crime control. of America's cities. The job cannot be Program-the most coordinated, massive, and Firearms con trot. done by the President alone or by the Civil Rights Act of 1967. far-reaching attack on urban blight ever pro­ President even with the full cooperation Juvenile delinquency. posed to the Congress. This was not just a of the Congress. It cannot be done in Economic Opportunl ty Act. federal program. It was designed to stimulate local Initiative In the private sector, and at Washington alone. In the end, what Is Model cities. the state, county and local level. called for is the commitment and the Rent supplements. I asked Congress to authorize $2.3 billion Urban renewal. dedication of Federal agencies and offi­ for the first six years of this program. Con­ Urban mass transit, advance appropriation. cials, of civic organizations, the mayors gress reduced that request to $900 million for of the cities, and the Governors of the Urban research. Neighborhood facllltles. 2 years. States. If we work together, we will get Horne rehablll tat! on. This year, I requested full funding of the done what none can do by working alone. Model Cltles4662 million. The House has Family relocation assistance. already cut that request to $237 mllllon. We will make a great nation's cities fit Rat extermination. for a great nation's people. Elementary-Secondary Education Act. I urge that this request be restored In full. Mr. President, under date of August 16, Manpower Development and Training Act. We can no longer be satisfied with "business as usual" when the problems are so urgent. 1967, I have received the following com­ Food stamps. Child nutrition and school lunch program. These problems demand the best that an munication from the President, which I enlightened nation can plan, and the most will read only in part: Community health services. Mental health. that an a.flluent nation can afford. It haa long been apparent that the health Mental retardation. In addition, the Congress now has before of our nation can be no better than the Hospital modernization (Hlll-Burton). It a number of other programs proposed by health of our cities. Maternal and infant care. the Administration which are concerned en­ Surely not a single American can doubt tirely or significantly with the urban prob­ this any longer, after the tragic events of The letter continues: lems of our nation. These programs, taken to­ this summer. All of these programs have been pending gether, represent an all-out commitment to Just two months after I became Presi­ before the Congress since the beginning of the safety and well-being of our cities and dent--In January 1964-I sent to the Con­ this session and are Included In our January the citizens who live In them: gress a Special Message on Housing and budget. Programs and funds requested for fiscal year The task before us Is Immense. But we have Community Development. In outlining a 1968 series of new proposals for the cities of Amer­ charted a beginning- and we have done so [In millions of dollars] Ica, I said: "Whether we achieve our goal ot with the help of the best and most experi­ Crime control------50 a decent home In a decent neighborhood tor enced minds In the Nation. I believe the en­ actment and funding of these programs Is Firearms control ------every American citizen rests, In large meas­ the first step In making this commitment n Clvll Rights Act of 1967 ______ure, on the action we take now." reall ty for the people of America. Juvenile delinquency ------25 Shortly thereafter. I called together some Sincerely, Economic Opportunity Act______2, 060 ot the most brilliant minds, the most tal- LYNDON B . JOHNSON. Model cities ------662 275--{351-9454

Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 43, Folder 79, Mansfield Library, University of Montana 4 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD

Programs and funds requested tor fiscal year Programs and funds requested for fiscal year All of these programs h a ve been pending 1968- Cont!nued 1968- Contlnucd before the Congress since the beginning of [In millions of dollars] [In mill!ons of dollars] this session and are Included In our January budget. Rent supplements ------40 Manpower Development and Training The task before us Is Immense. But we have Urban renewal ------750 Act ------439 Urban mass transit, advance appro- Food stamps ------195 charted a beginning-and we have done so priation ------230 Chlld nutrition and school lunch pro- with the help of the best and most experi­ Urban research ------20 gram------348 enced minds in the Nation. I believe the Neighborhood facilities------42 Community health services______30 enactment and funding of these programs Is Home rehab!litatlon ------15 Mental health ------96 the first step in making this commitment a Famlly relocation assistance______62 Mental retardation ------25 real! ty !or the people of America. Rat extermina tion ------20 Hospital modernization (Hill-Burton)_ 50 Sincerely, Elementary-Secondary Education Act_ 1, 600 Maternal and Infant care______30 LYNDON B. JOHNSON. 275--{351- 9454

U,S, CO OV£RN IIIUIT PRI HTI!Hi OHICE 1917

Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 43, Folder 79, Mansfield Library, University of Montana