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Superb NYC / GERALD R. FORD May 14, 1975-Dated Presidential Typed Letter Signed

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:10,000.00 USD Estimated At:12,000.00 - 14,000.00 USD
Superb NYC / GERALD R. FORD May 14, 1975-Dated Presidential Typed Letter Signed
Autographs
President Gerald Ford's Famous Refusal to New York City Mayor Beame's 1975 Request for a Federal Loan to Avoid Financial Default
GERALD R. FORD (1913-2006). 38th President of the United States (1974-77), appointed Vice President upon the resignation of Spiro Agnew (1973).
May 14, 1975-Dated, Historic Content Typed Letter Signed, "Gerald R. Ford” as President, 2 pages, measuring 7" x 10.5, on official embossed Presidential Seal “White House” Letterhead Stationery, at Washington, D.C., 14 May 1975, Choice Extremely Fine. Housed within a custom presentation slipcase. This important and historic content Letter is written to, "The Honorable Abraham D. Beame, Mayor of New York City, New York, New York". Minor staple holes at upper left corner with slight soiling near lower right margin on page 1. President Gerald Ford writes, in full:

"Dear Abe: --- The purpose of this letter is to respond to your and Governor Carey's request to me for my support for Federal legislation which would enable the City of New York to use the credit of the United States for a period of 90 days and in the amount of $1 billion. As you and Governor Carey explained it to me, this 90-day period would enable the City to bridge the period needed for the New York State Legislature to act upon your request for increased taxing authority and subsequently enable you to submit, and the City Council to adopt, a balanced budget for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 1975. I was deeply impressed with the problems you and the City Council must face in the next few weeks in meeting the financial problems of the great City of New York. I was also deeply impressed with the difficult steps confronting you to eliminate the extraordinary imbalance between current revenues and current expenses. However, it was also clear that the City's basic critical financial condition is not new but has been a long time in the making without being squarely faced. It was also clear that a ninety day Federal guarantee by itself would provide no real solution but would merely postpone, for that period, coming to grips with the problem. For a sound judgment to be made on this problem by all concerned, there must be presented a plan on how the City would balance its budget. This, given the amount involved to accomplish that balance, would require an evaluation of what the City can do through curtailment of less essential services and subsidies and what activities the City can transfer under existing state laws to New York State. [Highlighted in margins with red marker] Fiscal responsibility is essential for cities, states and the Federal government. I know how hard it is to reduce or postpone worthy and desirable public programs. Every family which makes up a budget has to make painful choices. As we make these choices at home, so must we also make them in public office too. We must stop promising more and more services without knowing how we will cover their costs. I have no doubt that the adoption of sound budget policies would have a substantial and beneficial effect on both short and long term credit of the City of New York. More specifically, in regard to your request to me for support of Congressional legislation to provide Federal backing and guarantee of City debt, I believe that the proper place for any request for backing and guarantee is to the State of New York. For such `bridge loan legislation', it seems to be both logical and desirable for the State of New York to arrange under its laws a 'bridge loan' to the City in the amount that you estimate will be needed during the City's fiscal year. [Highlighted in margins with red marker] In view of the foregoing considerations, I must deny your request for support of your Federal legislative proposal. I have asked Secretary Simon to follow closely the credit situation of the City of New York over the next few weeks, and to keep me informed. The Federal Reserve Board, under its statutory responsibilities, will, I am sure, likewise monitor the situation very closely. Sincerely, -- (Signed) Gerald R. Ford."

Secretary of the Treasury William E. Simon (1927-2000), a holdover from the Nixon administration, headed Ford's Economic Policy Board in charge of coordinating the administration's overall economic policy - a tight-money policy which sought to fight inflation (despite rising unemployment - up to 9.2% by June, 1975 - a 33-year high) by reducing government spending. In early 1975, President Ford was asked by financially strapped New York City to lend them federal funds - the famous New York City Bail Out.

In this historic letter, President Ford refused. Finally, on 26 November 1975, after New York City itself raised taxes to cut spending, Ford signed legislation extending $2.3 billion in short-term loans, enabling New York to avoid default. A fabulous piece of relatively modern financial history and a remarkable opportunity!
Gerald R. Ford was a lieutenant commander in the Navy during World War II, he became a Congressman from Michigan and rose to House Minority Leader. Following Agnew's resignation, Ford was appointed Vice President and became President upon Nixon's resignation. He was plagued by economic troubles and resentment over Nixon's pardon, and was defeated by Carter in 1976.