 To introduce to you today a native of a native of Grand Rapids President of the United States the honorable Gerald R. Ford. Thank you. Thank you very very much Gee, it's nice to be back in Kentwood and Kent County and the fifth congressional district in the great state of Michigan And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the very warm and cordial Reception it's just nice to see you all Told Betty I was coming out here, and she said to say hi, too I'm honored and pleased to come here at the dedication, and I thank you Russ very much for the very warm welcome as I was touring the Office that you established out there last night or the workplace I Fought to myself 34 years ago 36 years ago The first time I ran for Congress This part of Michigan Was the furniture capital of the world? The Dutch the Polish and the other nationality groups Were the craftsman of the whole United States in the building of the finest furniture? produced in our country It was primarily wood furniture And all of you know that over the years the that industry has To a significant degree left our community But when I come here today and see what has been built by Westinghouse and what is done by all of you I see the skills and the craftsmanship still exists in this community Many of your parents made the best furniture in the world 30-some years ago and We were proud of it then but today you another generation are Making the finest office furniture in the world here at Westinghouse, and I congratulate So I'm gonna and I have a very warm and close personal friendship And I'm delighted to see him join us in this great community at this facility To see the skill and the craftsmanship and the accomplishments of all of you It's wonderful to have the 40th president Ronald Reagan join us in the Western Michigan area. It's my honor and my privilege to introduce to you president Ronald Reagan Thank you all very much and before I begin the remarks I'd intended to make today Let me if I can just say a few words about the cowardly act of terrorism that we learned of early this morning The suicide attack against our embassy annex in East Bay route. It's saddened us all of course It's another painful reminder of the persistent threat of terrorism in the world I've talked with our ambassador Reg Bartholomew who although injured himself expressed pride on behalf of the Dedicated Americans that were serving with him. I called him on the flight out here. He was in the hospital there But he's quite a guy as are a lot of those foreign service people of ours he had walked out of that explosion to the hospital under his own power and He was telling me that all he had was some cuts and things and he says I'm going to get out of here tomorrow and He will But in this moment of anger and sorrow, I think our prayers are with those the bereaved have lost Someone there and our commitment to the cause of peace remains firm and of course we Have sympathy with those who are injured I'm proud as all Americans should be proud of the brave Americans that are serving as I said throughout the world in that service but I now Under this part of the day and I have enjoyed this visit so much actually it's been a bit nostalgic for me Back in an earlier life Part of my job at that time was visiting manufacturing plants and connection with the TV show that I was doing and Speaking to employees under very similar circumstances to these I don't want to give away my age But I can tell you that the plants I was visiting then look like log cabins compared to what I've seen here today You know, I look at you and I know I'm looking at America's future and it looks great If our countries to remain prosperous of the standard of living of our people is to be maintained If America is to remain a leader in world affairs, we must have policies that encourage this kind of investment in the future We aren't going to have it if politicians tax away our take-home pay Tax away the resources needed for investment and tax the vitality out of our economy Now I wouldn't want to strike a partisan note But I happen to think that America needs high-tech a lot more than she needs high taxes I know you folks here in Michigan have had your fill of politicians insisting that what you need is another tax increase We need to focus our efforts on economic growth and expanding opportunities for people We've already tried the old ideas that rely on bigger government and more taxes as a solution to our problems The old solutions more than doubled our taxes just between 1976 and 1981 They gave us murderous double-digit inflation sky-high interest rates unemployment economic stagnation and national insecurity Now there are those who would divide us appealing to envy and promising something for nothing Well, I think the American people are too decent and too smart to be taken in by such Divisiveness what we want to do is work and build and produce our for growth and expansion so that all of us and our families will be better off and I have to say something to you in just the short time that I've been here also Family yes, it's the center of our our whole system and our whole civilization and policy in this country but within this plant and Just this last short time I've seen a larger family relationship That bodes well for increased productivity in our country and it's the relationship that you all have Three and a half years ago. We started America on a totally new course a new beginning We cut the tax rates by 25 percent across the board We cut the growth in federal spending in half and trimmed away needless and counterproductive regulations It took time to reverse trends that had been building for the few years previous to that But we've proven the gloom and doomers are wrong We're in the midst of the most vibrant and vital economic expansion in 40 years Six million new jobs have been created. The pessimists said it couldn't be done but we stayed the course and now our country is reaping the rewards of high growth and low inflation We know here in Michigan progress is far from complete But that only makes us more determined than ever not to rest until every single person who wants to work Can find work. I don't think we need to waste any more time listening to those who keep telling us what we can't do Leave them be to harp on about on about no growth and limits and lowering our expectations We say America should shoot for the stars strive for the best and like our Olympic athletes go for it And if you look close you see it beginning to happen all over the country and that's why things are improving I can think of no finer example than your facility which we're Dedicating here today and you men and women who are earning living here by manufacturing high quality products of which You can be proud The courageous decision to modernize this plant to invest in the future was made at a time When the division this division of Westinghouse was not showing a profit It was a vote of confidence in America This plant also represents a new level of Cooperation and goodwill as I said between management and labor And I've been told that most all of you management and labor were part of the planning process Helping to rearrange the workplace in a way to maximize efficiency Laying out the space to facilitate the workflow and improve production quality. I Understand that many of you who work in production were Sent to customers getting some direct feedback on your work you All of you are doing a fantastic job. I Think the last thing you need here is bureaucrats or federal officials coming you to tell you how to run your business Today thanks to a gutsy investment and a commitment to succeed in the part of all concerned You are putting out products that are competitive with any in the world Now this is part of America's new confidence part of the new patriotism And I think the world is about to learn that once we Americans put our mind to it and are provided the proper tools and equipment We can out-produce out-sell and out-compete anybody in the world Success success creates success momentum creates momentum What you're producing for example will help make other companies more efficient By doing your job professionally and the very best you can Benefits can accrue all the way through the system and eventually be enjoyed in one way or another by everyone And that's what made ours the great country that it is. I Think it's all so impressive That while working hard you've taken the time and effort to get involved in community service I know you were part of a fundraising effort a charity golf classic that raised $90,000 to buy equipment for the training of paramedics. I'm told that with the equipment you help provide The lives of many people in your local area will be saved and that's quite a gift. I Know that a couple of years ago Lee Ratterink former president of your local union made a special gift to charity Lee they tell me that you sported rather long hair in those days You Pledged one inch of hair for every hundred dollars donated by your fellow workers to the muscular dystrophy campaign They also tell me you almost ended up with a crew cut Well, that's the Michigan spirit Finally, I'd like to add my special congratulations To Albury Love Junior who received the Westinghouse Award for excellence for involvement in minority activities Your service to your fellow man in the Salvation Army the Urban League and yes and counseling your fellow employees is deeply appreciated And you just heard that it was And let's not forget that all of you can be proud that your company was an official sponsor of the Olympics What you're doing is showing the world what America is all about a few years ago. Some people were counting us out Now the whole country is telling the world You ain't seen nothing yet Greg Meyer who comes from this area won the Boston Marathon last year Well, all of us are in the race for the long haul. We're part of the same team the American team And we ain't coming in second. We're going to keep working together building and producing to keep this country number one and The best country on the face of this planet And thank you for doing more than your part It'll be my honor to help you dedicate this facility the American spirit, which is what You were all about and let me just extend a word of personal gratitude also But my talking about the few years before we came here. I Wasn't in any way Talking about the days when a gentleman on this platform was the president of the United States It was going uphill then it started to go downhill and we've just tried to put it back on that uphill course He didn't know I'm gonna say this but I have to tell you this. I'm gonna tell it to another group here today. Also He and I in a way go back about 50 years Well, we didn't know each other for 50 years, but we did 50 years ago share a kind of unique experience He was in the center of the line down in the Michigan Stadium And a football game against the University of Iowa and I was up in the press box broadcasting that game Mr.. President and President Ford I Can't tell you how much your presence has meant To every person in this room and we indeed appreciate your being with us And you know, I think every one of us supports and dorses and can amplify on what? The president has just stated a combination of capital technology and people and I emphasize people Can do incredible things and you know that and I know that and I can tell you mr. President that we have 900 of the greatest employees here that any enterprise could ever hope to have how much the president if you would join me in inaugurating this addition we would be most honored Let's lift this together if we may And let me and let me read the inscription if I may and it reads dedicated to the spirit of America's people committed to technology quality and excellence