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SAVINGS BONDS RALLY

April 14, 1966

MR. O'BRIEN: My friends, today we at this ceremony

have an unusual and very pleasant duty to perform. As I indi-

cated in my remarks, for the first time since the end of World

War II, we have an independent Federal agency which has attained

100 percent participation in the Savings Bond program.

I know that you are all pleased to know that the White

House, under the incomparable leadership of our President, has

attained this perfect record. And that certainly sets an

example for all of us to follow.

It is now my pleasure to present to the Vice President of

the United States, the highest award for excellence in the ·.'

Savings Bond program, the Treasury Minute Man Flag Award.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you our Vice President.

(Applause.)

PRESENTATION BY

THE VICE PRESIDENT OF

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

THE HONORABLE HUBERT H. HUMPHREY

MR. HUMPHREY: Thank you very much, Mr. O'Brien.

Our distinguished Postmaster General has taken on new

responsibilities, has delivered to you, I am sure, tbe type of

inspirational address that will encourage you to do an even

better job than you have already done. And may I say to the

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Postmaster General that he has surely attracted the top echelon

of Government here today. I notice that we have almost a full

cabinet meeting present in this departmental auditorium. And,

I can see a smile over the countenance of the Secretary of the

Treasury.

(General laughter.)

The Post Office Department is going to be of great help to

the Department of the Treasury. It Nill be bringing in the

income tax returns very shortly. And now, under the splendid

'leadership of Larry O'Brien it will be carrying forward on the

··savihgs Bond program.

First, may I express on behalf of the President, his thanks

~nd appreciation, not only for the award which has been given to

the White House and the President, but in particular his thanks

for the outstanding work of the department heads; ~ th~· agency

chiefs and director~, and all of 6ur fine civil servants and

officers of the Federal establishment.

I am going to take just a moment to tell you that we ought

to do even a better job.

I noticed that the citation was for 100 percent performance

in the White House. And r-1r. O'Brien, less I seem too immodest

to you, may I just say that there was 100 percent performance

in the Vice President's office too, on the Bond proeram.

(Applause.)

I merely wanted to spread that note on the records of t~s

meeting, and I'll be back for my flag a little later.

(General laughter.)

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Larry O'Brien is the Minute Man of today insofar as the

Bond program is concerned, but really, he's the man of the hour

many hours of the day and he's the model mailman. And just as

the Post Office Department reminds us the mail must go through,

I gather that what Mr. O'Brien is saying today is that our

Bond program must go through, too. And, it's going to.

Savings bonds have a very unique place in the history of

our country. People all over this land feel a little closer

to their Government when they have a bond that has the seal

of the United States Government upon it.

It is more than a document and more than a piece of paper.

It is a commitment on the part of the citizen to his Government,

to this democracy, to the purposes of this nation, and to its

present and to its future. It's the wisest investment that

anyone ever made. And when we ask one another to share in this

program, we are really asking one another to not only do better

for our country, but to do better for ourselves.

It's not bad to be able to invest your money and get 4.15

percent interest. And, to be sur~ you are going to get it with

no risk, a guaranteed income if there ever was one.

So we can say that a bond, a U. S. Savings Bond, is a

prudent investment for a people that believe in their country

and in the future of this land.

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I like to look upon these bonds as a share in freedom.

And in a big country like ours, Government can become impersonal.

Many things can become very impersonal because of the bigness

of everything that happens in our land.

That bond that you buy, or that someone else buys, adds

that personal touch. It makes it quite clear that you do have

a share in the cause of this nation. Not only your vote, not

only your citizenship, but you have put your money on the line.

And in so doing, have made that extra pledge of fidelity and

of loyalty to this republic. A share in freedom, and an invest­

ment in the future. I can think of no greater service that

any of us can perform at this particular time.

We know of course that these bonds will act as an anti­

inflationary force. But we know even more importantly than that,

that they represent our participation in our commitments in our

involvement all over this world. I've heard our President say

that it is not right to expect the men who are in Vietnam, and

their families, to bear all the suffering, all the pain, all the

worry, all the fighting and still finance the war.

Those of us who are priviledged to live a much more luxuri­

ous and easy life can do no less than to at least express our

willingness through our investment in this Government and in

it's purposes through the Savings Bonds.

Now I'm going to ask you one final thing. It isn't good

enough for us just to do a good job in the Federal establishment,

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in the Federal Government, even though this would, in itself,

be a singular accomplishment. Every one of us have contacts

outside. I have almost wanted to volunteer, in fact I have,

to the Secretary of the Treasury, as a bond salesman. I'd like

to just go across this country, arousing people's interest in

this great endeavor.

Every organization that you belong to should redouble it's

efforts. Most of them haven't even been reminded that there's

a need of a Savings Bond program. Every fraternal order, every

labor organization, every management organization, the chambers

of com1nerce, the veterans organizations, every single group in

America should be called upon to act, and not just to talk.

To invest, and not just to inquire as to what's going on.

So I commission you this morning in this moment that I

have with you, as a bond salesman in your own right, to go

across the length and breadth of your country, or at least in

your neighborhood, or in your office, or in your club, or in

your Legion or VFW post, or Disabled Ve rans, or whatever group

it may be. I ask you to make yourself the number one salesman

for United States Savings Bonds. And we'll see if we can't get

some more flags to present to those who do a bang-up good job.

And it's in that spirit that I come to you this morning as

one of the members of this Government, to ask us to o the kind

of a job that will gain the admiration and the respect of friend

and foe alike. Be a believer. Express that faith in your Govern-

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ment by good deeds, and we'll pay you better than 4 percent

interest as yoP g o along and do it.

rhank you, very much.

~Applause.)

t

>urname

U. S. SAVINGS BONDS DIVISION

MEMORANDUM TO MR. JULIUS CAHN:

From: Robert E. Harper

Julie --

sr~ J'ltvt ~ !'2~,~ ~. !J/ -

April 20, 1966

Here is your copy of our transcript of the Vice President's remarks during the Interdepartmental Savings Bonds Rally last Thursday, April 14.

With your earliest possible approval, we would like to re­produce his remarks and circulate them widely.

You may wish to let my secretary, Mrs. Kay Harvey, know that we may proceed as indicated above. Also, during my absence in San Diego, she may be relied on for answers to questions or as to reaching me quickly. Call her on Code 184/5775.

Warmest best regards.

Attachment

Initiator Reviewer Reviewer Reviewer Reviewer

Cnitials

• MEMORA NO UM

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

WASHINGTON

April 21, 1966

TO : Ruth

FROM: Julie

RE : SAVINGS BOND, APRIL 14 -- EDITED TRANSCRIPT

The Treasury Department was so anxious to get the Savings Bond talk "in the mill" that it did some very minor editing . I have looked over the trans ­cript and it looks just fine . The transcript is attached .

fffVV I I I I I

...

TRANSCRIPT OF UMAIXS BY THE VICE PRESIDENT BEFORE FEDWL BMPLOYIIS SAVIHGS BOND RALLY

DEPAR'l'MEN'.l'AL AQDI7.'0JU11l. APRIL 14. 1966

Tlunak you very lllUeh, Mr .. o• rien ..

Our d stingui bed Postma ter General bas taken on n

res~ibilities and has deliv red to you, I em aure, the

type of intpirational addt>esa that will encourage you to

do a b tt r job tha you bav elr edy oue ..

Aud may I ay to the Posbnaeter . neral that be baa

a~ely attracted t e top chelon of Gov rnment here today.

I notic that have altnOat .a full Cabinet: meeting present•

1 th·s i)epartment 1 AuditoritU, and I can see a smil over

t counten4nc• of the cretary of the Treasury.

lbe Poat fice Department is going to be a great help to

the Departnletlt of t e Treaeury. It will be bringing in the

income tax returns very shortly and now, under the aplGlldid

1 aderehtp of Larry 0 Brien, it will be carryin foxwaJ:d on

the Saving Bond PrOgram.

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Firat, may I express •• on behalf of The President •• his

thanks and appreciation, not only for the sward which bas been

given to The White House and The President but, in particular,

his tbanke for the outatanding work of the depsrt:aient heads.

the agency chiefs and directors and all of our fine civil

servants and officer of the Federal Establi&hmeut.

I am going to take just a moment to tell you that we ought

to do an even better job. I notice that the citation was for

100 per cent perfonuance in the White Houu and, Mr .. o•Brien,

leat I seem too innodeat, may I just say to you that there

w41s a 100 per cent performance 1 the Vice Preaident's office,

too, on the Bond program. I erely wanted to aprud that ote

on the record of this meeting and I '11 be back for my flag a

little later.

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Larry 0 1Brie ia the ''Minute Man" of today, inaofaT u the

Bond prc>gram is concerned, but really he's the man O·f tbe hour

many hOurs of the day end he is th 1110del mailtaen. Just as th

Post: Office Departnteut reniiuda us that the n1ai.l must go through,

I gather that wbat Mr. o•Brten is saying tOday is that our BOnd

progx• must go through, too, and it'a going to.

savingS BoQda have a very UDique place in the history of

our country. People •ll over ehitJ land feel a little closer

to thei.r go-vernment when they have a bOnd th~t bas the seal

of the United States Gove:rnment upon it. It ill more than e

document and more tlMJn piece of pt~per. It is a eOiblldtnlellt

~ the part of a c1ti£en to his Govet:'Pin8'0t. t:o tb1s democraey.

to the purpose of this ne tion and to 1 t• preset end tO its

future ..

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It's the Wiaeat investm.ent that anyone ever nu~de. And,

when we aak one another to share 1 tb:.te pro~•. we are really

eaking one another not only to do better for our country but to

o better for ouraelvea. t'e not bad to b able to invest your

money and get 4.15 per ce t ntereat snd to be aura you're gOing

to get it with ri1k -- a 81:Jaranteed iQ(lem if there ever was

one.. So, we can 4Y that a bon --· a U. S. Savinge Bond -· is

a prudent inveat:ment for people that believe in their country

and in the future of tbia land.

I like to look upon these bo da as a abare freedom •ad,

in a ig country like oura, govertament can become i.mperaonal.

Many things can become very impersonal, because of the b gneN

of everytbi that lulppena in our land. That bond t~t you buy

or that someone else buya adds truat per onal touc .. It ukes.

it qUite clear that you do have a abare in the cause of this

-- .....

s ..

t1011. not c:mly yow: vote, not only your ei tiaen:ahip. lnlt you

tra pledge of fi lity and of loy.ley to this rt'pUblte..

bare ln fl.'eedcq and aa nve•tmeat in the fut~,

th1 of no greater urv1C4t that a y of ua catt pet"fOX'Dl at thi•

a:nti·iaflatioaary force • but know ever~ more iJrlportantly

i lvement all over the world. I have xd our Prea dent uy

t i i.a not riSllt to expct the men who are i VietnAnD and

mins, all the fi ti.Ds an a till flJ'Ub'lCe the war. thoae of

us who are privileged to live in • nwcb more lvxuri.oua an •••Y

1 fe do no leea t~ tO at least .-p~aa our

our ~•• t 1n thia Go\fernment, and in ita purposes

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Now. I'm o:Lna to ask you one final thing. It ian•t good

enough Ql" Ull just to do a gOod job in the Fede"al EatabllBhment,.

1 the Federal GOVernment. 4tV1 n though thie would, ith1n itaalf

e a singular cc~l1abnent. Every()tW of u.s bas contacts out

side. l '1ve wa ted to volunteer and. i fact. I twve volunteered

to juat go acrose tbia coun~ arousing people •• interest in

thf.a eat endenor.

Every organiaation that you beloug to shOuld redo le its

efforts.. Moat o£ them bavea't even been rtminded that tbere

is tht! ueed of a • Eve1::y fraternal order,

ery labor organisation. every a a•ent orgal'liution, the

group io rica. should be calle upon t'O act n not juat to

talk; to invest and not jUflt to 1nquira as to wb.att• going OtL.

So. I c00Diss1on you this morning, in this 1110Ule t that

1 birve with you, a a a bond aaleaman in your Q'WQ right, to go

acros the 1 th and br~tb of your country or at lflaat in

~ nei,ghborhood, or i your office. or in your club, or in

your Legi~ or VFW post:, or Disabled Veteran&, or whatever

group it may be. I ask you to make yourselves the n\lllber one

s 1e8Ulen for United States Savings BondS. And w will see if

we can't get some more flags to present to those who do a

bang-up good job.

It's ill that spirit that 1 come to you thia UlOrning, as

one of the members of this Government to ask you to do the

kind of job that will gain the: admiration and the reapect of

friend and foe alike. h a believer. Express that faith in

your Goverome t by goOd deed& and we'll pay you better tha

4 p r cent interest aa you go al~ to do it.

thank ypu ve~y tauch.

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