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STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER ON THE 1980 DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM August 13, 1980 TO THE 1980 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION: I congratulate the Platform Committee members and the Convention delegates for the open and fair process which led to this 1980 Platform and for the Platform itself. There was thorough, sometimes heated, debate on the major domestic and foreign policy issues facing us. The end product is a strong and progressive Platform in the great tradition of the Democratic Party. I am pleased to present my comments on the Platform to the delegates to the 1980 Democratic National Convention. I give you my enthusiastic support for the thrust and ideals expressed in the Platform you have adopted. It has been my desire throughout the platform process to produce a working unity among various elements of the Party on the hundreds of issues which were initially debated. As a result of the agreements reached during the initial drafting process, agreements made thereafter on a number of Minority Reports, and through further debate on the Convention floor, this goal was substantially achieved. Chapter 1 of the Platform -deals with the-economy. A strong economy is a centerpiece to a strong and viable Nation. It is the only way to achieve our national goals of full- employ ment, balanced growth and price stability. Over the past 3 1/2 years I have sought to build a stronger economy. In that period, more than 8 million additonal jobs have been created. The onset of the seventh recession since World War II, however, has interrupted further progress and created unacceptable levels of unemployment. We must deal with this critical problem by putting our people to work in permanent jobs to build a better America. At the same time we-- -—must and we can deal with our long-run economic problems. We must reduce inflation, improve productivity, increase capital investment, expand exports, create more job opportunities for blacks, Hispanics and other minorities, retrain skilled workers displaced from declining industries, train and educate young people for skilled jobs, implement a new industrial policy for the 1980's and improve the economic viability of our States, cities and counties. The Platform as passed by the Convention commits the Democratic Party to a full employment and balanced growth policy under the Humphrey-Hawkins Act; to strong efforts to speed recovery from the recession; to strengthen the National Accord with Labor; to carefully designed tax reductions; to responsible management of the Federal budget; to policies that result in fair and reasonable interest rates to help our Nation's workers, small businesses, farmers and homeowners; to regulatory reform; to targeted assistance for areas with high unemployment; and to increase economic productivity and competitiveness. All of these commitments are compatible with the goals, and achievements of my Administration and I support them enthusiastically In 1977 we inherited the consequences of the deepest recession since the Great Depression. Working together, Democrats developedspecific solutions to the problems of that recession. The Democratic Party Platform now commits us to develop an economic recovery program which meets the needs of the 1980's and leads to renewed"growth with lower inflation. The Democratic Party has already put in place programs to counter the effects of the https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 2 recession through adjustment, assistance for workers displaced as a result of imports; public service jobs for those disadvantaged people unable to find work in the private sector; a Job Corps which is double the size it was when I took office; new private sector jobs programs like the targeted jobs tax credit and the private sector initiative which will find jobs for the hardcore unemployed; an investment in youth employment; unemployment insurance; an expanded and more efficient Food Stamp program without the purchase requirement which kept the poorest of the .poor out of the program; an assisted housing program 25 percent higher than last year; and improved programs for income maintenance. In addition, I am now seeking from the Congress prompt passage of the Youth Act of 1980, which would create 450,000 new job opportunities for young people and provide education and training for those in the poorest school districts in the country. I am also seeking from the Congress countercyclical assistance for our States, cities and counties and am also seeking a welfare reform bill. My welfare reform proposal will improve program management, sharply reduce waste and inef ficiency and raise over 2 million families out of poverty, while creating 400,000 additional jobs for those on welfare. Passage of these programs is an important part of our economic policy. Other programs like these which may be passed by Congress may contribute to a strong and healthy economy with unemployment and inflation under control. The Democratic Party has never turned its back on the working people of America or on the disadvantaged and our Party’s Platform reaffirms my own commitment that we never do so. We are and always will be the Party of jobs and opportunity. In Minority Report #3 the Democratic Party affirmed its dedication to an economic recovery program, I accept and support the intent behind this Report and plan to pursue policies that will implement its spirit and aims. I will soon announce an economic program compatible with those aims and which I believe the delegates to this Convention will enthusiastically support. The result of this program will be a sound recovery from the current recession, a significant re duction in the unemployment rate and further progress in slowing inflation. Our economic recovery program will create _ hundreds of thousands of jobs in the next year and substantially more over the long-run. The amounts needed to achieve our goals will necessarily depend upon economic conditions, what can be effectively applied over time, and the appropriate concurrence by Congress. We will propose structured tax incentives and other measures to revitalize and modernize industries, public invest ment programs, countercyclical assistance to our states, cities and counties, and targeted incentives to deal with those areas and these persons hardest hit by unemployment. I believe this is the best way to assure a lasting recovery and lower inflation. I am in full agreement that our economic programs must be based on the principle of fairness and that we should do every thing possible to avoid actions which significantly increase unemployment• However, I have concerns with Minority Report n2 because responsibility in these matters must ultimately rest with the President and the Congress. This responsibility should not be delegated to staff officials of either branch of government. I am pleased with the economic equity section, which emphasizes the continued need for a responsible fiscal policy, strong protection for working men and women, and improved programs for small business, minority business and women in business. I am also pleased by the consumer protection and anti-trust provisions. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 3 Chapter 2 on Government and Human Needs stresses the importance of passing many of the programs I have proposed, such as the Child Health Assurance Program, and strengthening other programs on which our young people, the disadvantaged and the elderly depend. On the eve of the 45th anniversary of the Social Security Act - - proposed by President Roosevelt and passed by a Democratic Congress — I am pleased that the Platform has reaffirmed our strong support for the Social Security system, which Governor Reagan once advocated should be made voluntary. I am also particularly pl-eased by our Party's strong reaffirmation of a universal, comprehensive national health insurance plan. This chapter also proposes to strengthen our efforts in the areas of transportation, housing, urban policy, veterans' affairs, neighborhoods, small ‘community and rural development, science and technology and the arts and humanities, which are important to improving the quality of life in this country. The Platform also contains a strong plank on the basic rights and liberties which I have made a hallmark of my Administration. With regard to Minority Report #9, I want to emphasize that I have no higher domestic priority than full employment. But we must make it clear that to achieve full employment we must also be successful in our fight against inflation. To be lasting, a jobs policy must not only promote economic growth and provide opportunities to the disadvantaged, but also create an environment of reasonable price stability. I am proud of the ringing endorsement of the Equal Rights Amendment contained .in /the Platform. My family and I have spent countless hours working to obtain Congressional agreement for extending the time for ratification and-to securing the necessary state approvals for ratification. I will not be satisfied until the ERA is part of our Constitution. Since the beginning of my Administration, I have personally opposed Federal funding of abortion. I am sworn to uphold the laws passed by Congress, and the Constitution of the United States as interpreted by the federal courts, but my personal view remains unchanged. Chapter 4 on Energy, Natural Resources, Environment and Agriculture represents an appropriate direction for Democratic Party policy for the 1980's. This Platform reiterates the need to produce and conserve additional energy. I am proud of the fact that over the last three and a half years we have substantially reduced our dependence on foreign oil and that we will be importing over a million and a half barrels per day less this year than in 1977 when I took office. I am also gratified that the Platform reaffirms the Demo cratic Party's historic commitment to improve economic conditions for the American farmer and the American farm family. The Platform also properly seeks to strengthen the protection and productive use of our national forests and our fisheries. Chapter 5 on foreign policy is a clear reaffirmation of the direction of our policies. It commits our Party to a strong defense while at the same time avoiding a new arms race from which no one can emerge the winner. It puts the Democratic Party on record supporting eventual ratification of the Salt II treaty because it is in our national interest. It sets forth responsible and constructive positions on U.S. - Soviet relations, arms control, human rights, refugees, NATO, the developing world, the international economy, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, Africa and the United Nations. It also reaffirms our policy on the Middle East, with the Camp David Accords as the centerpiece. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 4 One of the abiding commitments of my Administration is to a strong, secure Israel at peace with its neighbors, living within secure and recognized borders. There is no issue on which I have devoted more of my time and energy than to ensuring lasting peace between Israel and her neighbors. The Camp David Accords are an historic step toward this ultimate result. Our policy in the Middle East has been and will continue to be guided by those Accords. The Platform well states principles of United States foreign policy in the Middle East. It reaffirms what has been and will always be the position of my Administration — that we will not negotiate or recognize the PLO unless and until it accepts Israel’s right to exist and accepts U.N. Security Council’s Resolutions 242 and 338. As the Platform recognizes "it is also long past time for an end to all terrorism and other acts of violence against Israel." I am also proud that we have provided a record amount of economic and military assistance to Israel. Unlike the policy of the previous Republican Administration, there have been no arms cut-offs or "reassessments" of policy, nor will there be under a Carter Presidency. It has been our policy that Jerusalem should remain forever undivided with free access to the holy places for people of all faiths. It has been and it must remain our policy that the ultimate status of Jerusalem should be a matter of negotiation between the parties. Because the votes on _th.e Minority Reports on the MX have not occurred by the time needed to assure that delegates receive my report, I will state my position on the MX< I have spent an enormous amount of time on this issue. I believe my record bn controversial major new weapons systems like the B-l bomber make it clear that I have approved them only where essential to the Nation's interest. I strongly believe the MX missile is critical to the national security of the United States. Without it our land-based missile system would be increasingly vulnerable to ever more powerful and accurate Soviet missiles. Therefore, I will proceed withits ---deployment, in cooperation with the Congress. ****** The differences within our Party on this Platform are small in comparison with the differences between the Republican and Democratic Party Platforms. The Republican Party Platform, written by those who support Governor Reagan, is an extra-; ordinarily regressive document, which is repugnant to everything for which the Democratic Party has stood for 50 years. Their Platform offers a "free lunch" America cannot afford or achieve — the promise- of a balanced budget while at the same time proposing massive and inflationary tax cuts and excessive increases in defense spending. It fails even to mention the Equal Rights Amendment and the D.C. Voting Rights Amendment. It would repeal safety and health protections for working men and women, reject labor law reform, and weaken the minimum wage. It would turn back the clock on environmental gains. It would reverse the social advances for which our Party has historically stood — for example, by imposing an additional welfare burden on the states and promising to dismantle the Department of Education. It also opposes major new initiatives such as national health insurance. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 5 The Republicans offer little hope for the consumer, oppose public financing of Congressional elections, and would require judges to pass a litmus test of loyalty to a particular ideology. They would oppose our efforts to develop energy alternative to dwindling crude oil supplies, eviscerate the windfall profits tax, repeal the 55 mile-per-hour speed lim-it, and oppose strong efforts to achieve energy conservation. The Republican Platform is an irresponsible and archaic document whieh fails to address the challenge of the 1980 s. It is diametrically opposed to the progressive Democratic Party Platform. In attempting to fulfill the recommendations set forth in the Democratic Party Platform we must recognize that many require passage of legislation by Congress or action by.other parties or Nations. In addition, a President must retain the ability to respond to unforeseen events and crises in a responsible and effective manner. I am certain that.every delegate would want a President to have the flexibility to deal with such contingencies. As the Preamble to the 1980 Platform states, "In this platform we offer programs ana solutions that represent our dedication to Democratic principles. They define a spirit as well as a program.... a set_-qf- beliefs as well as a set of ideas. Time and events may alter their priority or prospects. But nothing will alter the defining spirit and values.of the Democratic Party." With these understandings, and with the few reservations expressed above, I.pledge to do my best to carry out the recommendations and to fulfill the principles of the 1980 Democratic Party Platform. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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