Oct 12, 2026 · 1 hr 52 min · 37 segments
"State of the Union Addresses by United States Presidents (1975 by 1977)-Gerald Ford" presents a collection of pivotal speeches delivered during a transformative period in American history. These…
January 15, 1975.
Mr.
Speaker, Mr.
Vice President, members of the 94th Congress and distinguished guests, twenty-six years ago a freshman congressman, a young fellow with lots of idealism who was out to change the world, stood before Sam Rayburn in the well of the house and solemnly swore to the same oath that all of you took yesterday.
An unforgettable experience, and I congratulate you all.
Two days later that same freshman stood at the back of this great chamber, over there someplace, as President Truman, all charged up by his single-handed election victory, reported as the Constitution requires on the state of the union.
When the bipartisan applause stopped, President Truman said, I am happy to report to this 81st Congress that the state of the union is good.
Our nation is better able than ever before to meet the needs of the American people and to give them their fair chance in the pursuit of happiness.
It is foremost among the nations of the world in the search for peace.
Today that freshman member from Michigan stands where Mr. Truman stood, and I must say to you that the state of the union is not good.
Millions of Americans are out of work.
Recession and inflation are eroding the money of millions more.
Prices are too high and sales are too low.
This year's federal deficit will be about thirty billion dollars.
Next year's probably forty-five billion dollars.
The national debt will rise to over five hundred billion dollars.
Our plant capacity and productivity are not increasing fast enough.
We depend on others for essential energy.
Some people question their government's ability to make hard decisions and stick with them.
They expect Washington politics as usual.
We are better able to meet our people's needs.
All Americans do have a fairer chance to pursue happiness.
Not only are we still the foremost nation in the pursuit of peace, but today's prospects of attaining it are infinitely brighter.
There were fifty-nine million Americans employed at the start of 1949.
January 15, 1975.
Mr.
Speaker, Mr.
Vice President, members of the 94th Congress and distinguished guests, twenty-six years ago a freshman congressman, a young fellow with lots of idealism who was out to change the world, stood before Sam Rayburn in the well of the house and solemnly swore to the same oath that all of you took yesterday.
An unforgettable experience, and I congratulate you all.
Two days later that same freshman stood at the back of this great chamber, over there someplace, as President Truman, all charged up by his single-handed election victory, reported as the Constitution requires on the state of the union.
When the bipartisan applause stopped, President Truman said, I am happy to report to this 81st Congress that the state of the union is good.
Our nation is better able than ever before to meet the needs of the American people and to give them their fair chance in the pursuit of happiness.
It is foremost among the nations of the world in the search for peace.
Today that freshman member from Michigan stands where Mr. Truman stood, and I must say to you that the state of the union is not good.
Millions of Americans are out of work.
Recession and inflation are eroding the money of millions more.
Prices are too high and sales are too low.
This year's federal deficit will be about thirty billion dollars.
Next year's probably forty-five billion dollars.
The national debt will rise to over five hundred billion dollars.
Our plant capacity and productivity are not increasing fast enough.
We depend on others for essential energy.
Some people question their government's ability to make hard decisions and stick with them.
They expect Washington politics as usual.
We are better able to meet our people's needs.
All Americans do have a fairer chance to pursue happiness.
Not only are we still the foremost nation in the pursuit of peace, but today's prospects of attaining it are infinitely brighter.
There were fifty-nine million Americans employed at the start of 1949.
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