University of Virginia Library

Humphrey

Hubert H. Humphrey pledged today that as President
he would seek more federal aid for low-income families,
including increased medical assistance and Social Security
benefits.

Campaigning in Ohio, The Vice-President also
continued attacking his Republican opponent for the
White House, Richard M. Nixon, calling evasive and unfit
to be President.

In a lengthy position paper, Mr. Humphrey proposed a
family assistance program that included plans for
extending medical care to all children in low-income
families during their first year of life, and guaranteeing
increased Social Security benefits for children of
deceased, disabled or retired beneficiaries up to the age of
23 if they regularly attend school.

Mr. Humphrey, attacking Mr. Nixon, said, 'We cannot
afford an President and the American people will
not have one.'

In Toledo, Mr. Humphrey addressed himself directly to
Mr. Nixon during a rally. 'You say you are for law and
order, but you would undermine the people's confidence
in the highest court in the land,' said Mr. Humphrey.

'You say you are for our children, but you want to cut
back the so-called give-away programs that would give our
children what they need.'

It was Mr. Humphrey's second day in Ohio, where on
Sunday he hinted again that as President he would order
an early reduction of American forces in Vietnam.

He said he would favor a gradual withdrawal of U.S.
troops 'sometime in the near future' as long as American
and Allied forces were not placed in jeopardy. If elected,
he promised to seek a cutback early next year.

But Mr. Humphrey reserved a large share of criticism to
'the news you get about a handful of discontents and a
of malcontents' on college campuses and at
demonstrations such as draft card burnings before local
draft boards.

'They represent a handful in this country and they've
been given a disproportionate attention-and it is nothing
short of outrageous that this should happen,' he said.

He also added that it was the obligation of politicians
and the news media to 'portray the true story of
America.'

'The true story of America,' he said, 'is not the Black
Panthers, it is not the militant hippie and yippie.

'The true story of America is the millions of mothers
and fathers and sons and daughters who are working their
hearts out to have a family, to have a home, to go to
school, and to take a vacation, and to be decent,
tax-paying, productive citizens-and those are the ones I
appeal to for my help.'