The original documents are located in Box 66, folder “American GI Forum” of the White House Central Files Name File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.

Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Digitized from Box 66 of the White House Central Files Name File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library ,#• f

IHA226C11,J)(2•118679E222>PD 18/11/7' 1139 • IC S IPMMTZZ CSP s ~ " 4' • 3115881~18 TDMT SILVER SPRING MD 8' 18·11 1139A EDT : PMS PREISIDENT FORD • HITE HOUSE DC ,; "11 IE THE ME•ERS Of THE AMERICAN Gl FORUM Of THE u.s,,

11 DC FORUM IISH TO EXPRESS OUR SINCERE BEST WISHES ON YOUR ASCt:NOENCY 11 •• TO THE PRESIDENCY, AS PRESIDENT IE MOST URGENTLY REQUEST THAT u YOU APPOINT A SPANISH SURNAMED AMERICAN TO POLICY MAKIN N

17~ WITHIN THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET, SUCH A POINTMENT IS ESSENTIAL " TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STATUS Of OUR LONG NEGLECTitJ 19 • SPANISH SURNAMED AMERICAN PEOPLE. ~ ~ IE SINCERELY HOPE THAT THIS POSITION WILL BE fiLLED WITHIN T~ : VERY NEAR fUTURE. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED M AMERICAN Gl FORUM WASHINGTON DC IS •

' Aat'U~ Jl, 1171 GENERAL PPl0-3

Dear au-. "-•'

foe 70U' -·- foUowbg --~lea.tb~ ~ c.. JI!SOCIC4 ~ tbe .-n tlfD ,.aan 1a a .-1uw oae. aa4 t - pra.l of iL Oar: Wad _.. ·~··- pzogz- towud ~~. pau. 4 Uo ~ ••rioa 110.., 1• eo •cJ ..care, oaafla.~ of hl1 c __.zy a4 of a bKt:.er life for all oar cd.Uaaa. o.r ctaall...,. 1a to 1Mdl.4 OD ~· noozd of !a••• nat. "''tn~r ....~ ca au were ...... I will ...a ~ur ·~ a •11 to 1.... aacaeaa 1a 11D11wter .ad .aU.--- Protz- for tile -.d. S. 1a tlaa ,ean Abe.t.

GR!':B P-17 33 EXECUT!VPJ _/:/£//

THE WHIT E HOUSE

WASH I NG T ON

July 27, 1976 2:00 p.m.

EVENT: Denver Convention of American GI Forum

DATE: July 30, 1976

PURPOSE: Presidential ~aFtici af1on ~been arranged at RNHA Was~ington eeting. A ~ape for the American GI For would placate attending the~ nflicting Denver meeting, add p1estige~ Eo their proceedings and cement support of the Administration.

BACKGROUND: You were,already scheduled for appearance at RNHA Washington, D.C. function -- making your participation in Denver convention impossible. Enmith and jealousy resulted when these two major events were scheduled the same day. Both requested your participation, and this taping will help satisfy the American GI Forum. t!; VETER N . ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF THE INISTR.HOR OF VETERANS AFFAIRS I WASHINGTON, D.C. 20420 July 23, 1976 r-----...... , __ MEMORANDUM FOR: t - - -- 4<•""'1'' 1I DV:e~:..---~~~ ...... ,,..,_ .. .• ~v~,,~'1:'>1,..,.,!1• - ·---- Miss Eliska Hasek t__ ·-· .L__ ~ d --·- ' ~-: ·· .. · ·~~·· -.. ... ~-X.-- . Director -~ ---.J--- Office of Presidential Messages The White House --). In response to your referral of July 21, 1976, I am happy to enclo·se a' draft message from the President for the 27th Annual National - ~merican GI. Forum Convention being held in Denver, , uly ZS thr;;;7ghAugust ;;_~ ~~

Deputy Adminisrralor - in lhe absence of RICHARD L. ROUDEBUSH Administrator

Enclosure

'1,0- 3: ~ ;-.,-, -I (/) ..... ,.,:t: fo/J,.f/( <.r. ;;.; ~ J>l'' c. ~. I 1\) • ~ J1 •"l- VI .;s -f r:- -.·~ ,...... ,- ::;!2 :t: c=;~ ~ 0 ,..,.. C::· #: af'ri:J~ N ,.,(I) \n 0 15, 1971

• Banla•

. .. ..

! ,.,... _.. .Jr'I!>Z:Wl•• 't.bCMIC)JtlC! 1 bla --~ vtabe•. • 17;

7

CCI CCI cona. cc ·.· ~cPl.bJI ; .. '\ S(P 7 ;:··6·--,< "'/~ June 18, 1976

MEMOIWI1DUM i'OR 1 - I'

FROM a

Following axe the principal Hispanic meet­ ing& for the next aeveral weaka. Recommend sending oaxaca to apeak to them or Ben y... Fernandez or aome other supportive Mexican American.

Galveaton 6/28-30

Denver 7/28-31

Do Cheney J. Marsh B. Baroody

TCM:mcp ,

Q~r.~"'r"' JUi: ... ..: 1976 c_ttHRAL t\U:.~ .• .

t(tt' •• Apzoil 30, 1176

- ~~~uuar• ' ~ ":' ·~'. ' !baa• you foe your April ~ 1 ttec to~ ~rea14aGt endonint tM in'ritaUoD ~4od ~ b.1JI to at:~.nd the 1'76 Bad.onal"'..o% rona Co!aveAUoo 1a Delaftr~ COlo~ado, •uiftv tb laat. week of. ~y.

Tbe Sohe4ul1.ag Offi~ h6a e4vJ.aa4 • .t.tt te too ea~ly to liaaliae tNt Pnld&ank'" eche4ule foe taa• Ume peci.ocl, bu~ the J.nv1 ta tl~a hui bMJa CA•d.e4 forw~4 fo~ .,., ·· canfu · ~•il4U.U.. ~eeu • tba ate. • • I. t "' I ~

I ma ottn.LD the PJf.. 1-dan~ vlll appreaJ.aU kDowla9 of YOUI' at.ron 8\lpport for thia 1nvitation. 1 ~11 al•o lUke cea::tain ~' you- la~Mt 1• abaft4 with th appzro­ priau aembeta o1 the at.af!, aDd that. you ~ f~ Q4Ql & deoi•J.oo .baa befJA Jl&4e. 1 ( 1 I

~rlaa lAppert, Jr:. O.puty Aa•l•UDt to tlae Pnaident

I tr "f-, ~ llonozoabl• Muuel Luja, Jr. I aouH of ~pneentat1ve• waabtavton, u. c. 20515 '

bcc:~inc.to Bill Nicholson for appropriate handling bee: 7wiinc. to Nancy Kennedy FYI ~ , .ettvEn CL:JEB1emu MAY 11976 /0 , .. •• . /.. • ,J r -~ -; ~-,·:..~. . . • \4.11 · <~ ·· .

~ . L' August 2.7, I, I ' l I

Dear. Mr. lleu·cra: ,. • Th~ak . yoa for yuur 1ettar in ro!erea.ccs to : .,,'

the D:li\Uer luvolYiag the P11.eblo Army ,Depot. ,, ~ h ·,' : X 'I "· j .. .I hav• re!erred yorr.r letter to . tb~ Daparhne~t ., of. Dele.o.•o for their conaiderathul. ·~ I-.Ul be. 'I . . ba touch ~itb yoa aa •oon as 1 hear furthtlr . {' lrom. til• Vap"-rtmeut• . ',.::. ~"" . ' I I lautn, 11 .. l '} . t 1; ldli( ( t• ~ y ~ I .J,l l SlaFe .~~ly. I ,, I ~ • . if h t'J•' .,,f(\l' t: I .. i I' I l .. lln (I •I' .. I J I . .. .. ''•

John 0. Marah, Jr. ,. . Cou~ellor to the Pr••ident

Mr. Chari•• Chairm.aa I( .Amet'lcan Gl Pueblo Cbpter · ~1Z9 .i:lmwQocJ La.o.e PQeblo, Color•do 81005

" cc: Tom Latimer, Department of Defense March 23, 1 76

Dear Tanya

I am pleued to oan t:he ai:tachac! White Hous ress nl-H on s rtiaea, recently na~~~ina~ by Presi4!ent: om to nocee4 lhtrt. Clal189Qe aa Director of the COraanity Services Adainiatrat:ion.

I have aleo enoloaec! a oopy of a Whl te House rele... on the Rational MYiaor:y Council on CODOIIlic Opportuniq. wbloh 1aola4ae fou dletinqalshed ~rs of our cc.aunl t:y. I •• pleased to report the President's eaignation of one of tboae Rlapanlc AIMrioan appoint:eea, Mr. Rerftando Peusu, •• Cbairun of ~ Counoil.

I belieft that ttheae late•~ announe-nts coupled vtdl the recent appolntllenta of RioaEdo NUn• of iaai, Luis rraus of aad 'folaU Arclnieva of San Diego and the pro- motion of Gil Pampa a~ the rtment of fuetice signal p era of Hispanic appolntmentJI tha~ we •• been anxioasly ' await:6nq. lfhe.. appointwmts would DOt baYe been possible;_ howeftr, withaat J'OQ1" leadership and aaalstaDce and ~ support of 1'0'11' dYft-ic orvani•ad.oa. t •• You may ra•t assured that the days ahead will bring e.en 1a0re pleaalft9 D..,. to our c011111uni ty and to ~· nation as t:he ~aau of Spanish Speaking Aaerlcana are recoqnized and nwude4 by a vratefal nd caadtted President. With ay yery beet wishes, I in Your• sincerely,

Fernando • • 8aca Special Assistant to ~· Prealdent

r. AnU)nio Moral• lfatlonal Chairman

76102 ....

December 4, 1975

.·

~ ~llYI

I aa pleued to encloae a copy o~ Under Secretary Robert: Mars• latter to the o. I. Forum. Thi• letter vas prepared in re•pooae to the G. I. Forum Besolut:ioa which I forwarded t:o tlie:Z oepart.ent ot Labor tor their follow up. S&lQCloa. Ateatamenta, I

Fernando E. c. De Baca Spacial Aasi•tant: to the Pre•ident

Mr. ADt:onio a!' Morales National Chairman ~ x. Porum ine-Ten BoWJton, su!ee •o• r.-t Worth. 76102

1 , FECDeB:mmd:l2/04/75

RfPCI\ICI'l JJl 91976 CENTRAL fiLES . . ' ' .... ;':.. ,/ ! .1_~- ~- .. ~... t' --~ ':··' -. 1 J ' ' . \ , ~- -: . s.;t-~!~- .. ~--< ·, ; (!;'_,._,_"·.· ... ,t ... , " . .·· \~t. ,, . )'f,li,'-:"r"·' . December 3, 19!5

_.:~~-- ··~·· ... , ...

' ,t.·· • ·~ y..

Dear Tonya ~ .,..,. • I

I am taking this opportunity _to ~11 aaaethinq to your attention which I consider potentially serious and counterproductive for the a.· x. Porum and my office.

:.. .: I .-·: ~ ·;· On at least three recent occasions ·(i. e., letter and · ':! ;:\ ~; .. · _, . ·~ .' ' . ' . . .. meeting with VA Administrator Roudebushr · telGCJram to ·. \ ~jt~-~- ... ~~-.. ,... t:~•'/. Attorney General J and. attached compla~"t from Padro ·' · ·.. Jimenez) this office has been completely by-passed by · :.. the l'o.rum on il'DpoJ:tant national issues affectinCJ Spanish · apeald.ng people. · Ae ·you are aware,. the· letter• which you add other l'orum officials write eventually land on my desk for action-but only after extensive routing 4 delays.· · · ·

I believe it would behoove us both and would greatly benefit the Q. I. Forum and the people we have bean . entrusted to represent if we could share timely information copies of significant correspondence with one another. · 'll,,-'1: ···~~ In return for the cooperation of your state chairmen and the National Office, I will see that you are kept fully informed on progress being made on problems affecting our people. I make this suggestion not only in my capacity as a member of the President • a staff but aa a ·brother l'orumeer of many years. ~ Mil gracias.

TU amigo,

' Pernando B. C. De Baca Spacial Assistant to the President ,X Mr. Antonio Morales National Chairman '· .-< •rioan G. I • PQla..\Ul,~,. . n O'ii'ir£'Oi1 - suite 404 i ~. Fort Worth, Texas 76102 '"'

t FECOeB:mmdzl2/03/75 ~ I i ;..... ------~~------~---- CENTRAL FILES:

File on: American G. I. Forum of the U.S.

Charged out to: S. Volpe

Recharged to: Fernando E. C.

Date: 11/18/75

' O"UT

;--....._ICATION OF FILE MATERIAL DATE CBARGmTO CIIARGm JleecriptiOD OUT Ul-'111111-1 ei'O

IDENTIFICATION OF FILE MATERIAL DATE mARGEDTO mARGED

"'?'X,I~~., ~ 1/