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NEWS CONFERENCE
GOVERNOR PARRIS BRYANT
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
MARCH 15, 1962
NERSMEN PARTICIPATING: Georgiana Beteman. FLORIDA BROADCAST NEWS;
Vernon Bradford, TAMPA TRIBUNE; Hendrix Chandler, ASSOCIATED PRESS;
Robert H. Delaney, ORLANDO SBNTINEL-STAR; James Gilleepy: UNITED
PRESS INTERNATIONAL; Chuck Goetz, FLORIDA BROADCAST NEWS; David
Gretseh, FREE LANCE RADIO; Don MeikleJohn. JOHN H. PERRY PAPERS;
Jerry Mock, FLORIDA TIMES UNION; Frank Noel, ASSOCIATED PRESS;
Steve Prentice, FLORIDA BROADCAST NEWS; Don Showerman, ASSOCIATED
PRESS; Rick Tuttle, MIAMI HERALD~ST. PETERSBURG TIMES SERVICE.
MOCK: I heard you were a tennis player, Governor.
GOVERNOR: I play tennis, let's put it that way.
CHANDLER: Can you beat Mrs. Bryant?
GOVERNOR: I don't dare. (laughter) I have never tried.
CHANDLER: Governor, have you gotten any reports on the financial
results on the dinner in Miami Beach?
GOVERNOR: No. It grossed, I believe. some $3u0,000.
CHANDLER: Is that money to be spent in Florida or as part or the
national campaign?
GOVERNOR: No decision has been made.
CHANDLER: Who makes that decision?
GOVERNOR: The people that put on the dinner.
CHANDLER: The State Democratic Committee or the ~-
GOVERNOR: No. the Democratic Committee didn't. If you will look on
the back or the program,you will see the Presidential Dinner Committee.
CHANDLER: Do you have any opinion as to President Kennedy's action
in
in endorsing two candidates who were running/the primaries -- the
propriety of that?
GOVERNOR: I don't think it would be within the realm of propriety for
me to comment on his activities in that regard. I think it would be
preeumptious or me to say.
MEIKLEJOHN: Governor, tomorrow the Board or Control is expected to
take probably the last technical action before this bond issue is
floated tor the university bonds. Do you expect that that will be
filed next week?
GOVERNOR: I hope it I111 be filed this week. I don't know whether
they can move that fast or not.
METHLFJOHN: Is there any prohibition against them going ahead and
filing this week?
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GOVERNOR: Not that I know of. Assuming the Board of Control
completes its action, I presume the attorneys can -- as soon as
they have done their typing -- file.
MOCK: I note that Senator Adams suggested that this might be
unconstitutional like the Clay County thing. Is there any
possibility of that?
GOVERNOR: There is always a possibility. Whether it is like the
Clay County thing, to quote you there, or not. I can't see any
relevance myself. The issues are so completely different.
CHANDLER: Governor, what are the prospects for release of money
from the State General Fund for university building construction
this fiscal year?
GOVERNOR: This fiscal biennium or this fiscal year?
CHANDLER: This fiscal year.
GOVERNOR: Well, I think there are prospects that we can move ahead.
However, before committing any of our available money. we are
anxious to know finally whether or not the revenues from the
certificates are going to be available. Obviously, your priorities
for general revenue monies are different if they are available, than
if they are not.
MEIKLEJOHN: If the court held that this bond issue were invalid.
would there be enough money under the new estimates for a project
like Boca Raton?
GOVERNOR: If you would take that as an isolated case, yes. Now
where it would stand in relation to other needs would be something
that I have got enough problems to work on without working on that
hypothetical one.
TUTTLE: I am a little confused -- it seems like one week we are not
going to meet the revenue. according to one expert. The next week we
are going to be over it, according to another expert. I am a little
confused as to where we really stand?
GOVERNOR: I can only repeat what I have been telling you the last
year. (laughter)
TUTTLE: I know.
GOVERNOR: And my story is still the same, only more so.
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TUTTLE: One reason for the bond issue. though, was it not, because
the situation that you did not think the capital outlay money would
be sufficient to build these?
GOVERNOR: The bond issue was predicated on the need at the time,
and which still exists, to get this whole program underway as
rapidly as possible, and the recognition of the fact that the
apprOpriation or second priority money by the Legislature was beyond
anticipated revenues, and the thought that if we would meet some
$15 million or capital outlay expenditures through a revenue issue
that we would then have enough money in general revenue without
doubt to care for all capital outlay programs provided for.
GILLESPY: Governor, do you have any personal priority, or do you
have any thoughts on a priority, of the first buildings that could
be built outside or the bond program?
GOVERNOR: Really I haven't studied that. We have been contemplating
on getting that done and up until Just now IE wouldn't have had the
money to do it anyhow. I'm very anxious and stewing around in my
own mind now trying to find a way to go even further than the
revenue issue will permit us to do. I am so convinced ~- I have been
all along, but it is magnified now -- my conviction is magnified
after conversation with President Kennedy last Saturday and after
listening to his speech, that Florida either grasp this opportunity
it has now or will forever wallow in the ebb tide.
HOOK: That's along the education line?
GOVERNOR: Yes. The President has a very high opinion or the program
upon which we have embarked and I was both surprised and very much
pleased that he was conscious of what we are trying to do. I really
think that he thinks the program we are about is even larger than it
is, and I am Just so confident that if we can provide the educational
tools, Florida can magnify its industrial growth in that high quality
area that we are so anxious to make possible.
CHANDLER: Are you talking, Governor, about the Institute or the
total program or expanded universities?
GOVERNOR: I am talking about the total program of the expanded
universities, but, particularly, in the scientific, space-age area.
I am not minimising or not OVerlooking the broad cultural basis which
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is a necessary predicate for a program of this kind, but emphasizing
for a moment the necessity for taking a giant stride forward in the
field of scientific education.
MOCK: Do you have any concrete ideas along this line?
GOVERNOR: No, sir. I do have some thoughts I am.turning over, but
nothing that I am ready to talk about yet. Nothing concrete.
CHANDLER: You think that our industrial growth, then, is keyed to
this expanded university program?
GOVERHOR: Mr. Chandler, I can't emphasize strongly enough how
important, in my Judgment, it is that we develop a program in higher
education that is comparable to what is being done here in the area
of space. We Just have to match, at least, that effort, or else we
get left. We Just miss the goal. I was talking with the President
yesterday about some space-age industry for Florida and in the course
of the conversation -- part of which was social -- he expressed his
pleasure at having been down here and his enthusiasm over the State
of Florida. I Just think we would.he so foolish economically to say
nothing of the other greater values, if we don't grasp this opportunlt}
DELANEY: Did you have occasion, Governor, to note the columnist's
item last week which quoted Colonel Glenn as saying that Cape
Canaveral was unsuited for the space program?
GOVERNOR: I didn't think he said that. I Just read the article
casually. I thought what he did was to deplore some of the "honky-
tonk" aspects of Canaveral. I didn't think he said it was unsuitable.
DELANEY: Well, the columnist said that Colonel Glenn has indicated
that the whole program was going to be moved to Texas at the
instigation of Vice President Lyndon Johnson. I wondered if you had
asked the President about that or had occasion to talk with him about
it -- any chance of it being moved?
GOVERNOR: Let me Just say that on the basis of what I now know there
is positively no indication that this will be done. Incidentally, I
understand that Colonel Glenn has later denied making such a statement,
and it would be a surprise to me if he did. I don't think there is
any basis for all this.
TUTTLE: What is the hooky-tank aspects of Cape Canaveral?
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GOVERNOR: I gave you that word in quotes even in my comments here.
My recollection of the article was that it used that phrase and I
merely repeated it.
CHANDLER: Governor. is this matter of university salaries a part or
this program we are talking about? How do you stand on this question
before the Board of Control on whether the university professors
should get 3.7 or 7.5 per cent merit raises on the average?
GOVERNOR: The question for salaries for professors -- and I think
you know that for a year now I have been leading the right, I think,
to see that they get adequate salaries -- is not Just to give them
higher pay than everybody else, which they or course are getting. but
to enable us to get and to hold the best educators that we can in our
universities. This is the only issue as far as I am concerned. I
don't think there is any magic in 3.7 or 7.5 or 20.2. The question
is what does it take to do the Job.
CHANDLER: If it is necessary to go beyond this then -- to supplement
with private pay to get the best talent available -- you would be
willing to do that?
GOVERNOR: Or I would say on the other hand if we can do it for less.
Yes, sir. I know that Just recently two of the heads or institutions
have been to me about people that they contemplated getting and they
wanted a certain authorization. They said: "Authorize us to offer
him such and such an amount of money." When I found they had no
basis of negotiation to ask for such a sum, I said: "No. you go out
and see what's the least you can get him for. And then come back and
ask for an authorization to do that and either it is worth it or it
is not." This business of saying, "Well here is a professor of such
and such and we ought to pay him $16,000." I am not listening to that.
We are in competition. We pay professors more than we pay newspaper-
men because the competition is keener and into that, of course, goes
the whole background of education and preparation and demand or the
science age and things of this kind.
DELANEY: You wouldn't suggest that they are smarter? (laughter)
GOVERNOR: If I did I couldn't get it printed. (laughter)
TUTTLE: I want to refer to a little phrase up there about five
minutes ago ~- you were saying something in effect that they are
getting paid higher than anyone else. What were you referring to?
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GOVERNOR: what I meant to say is this: that the pay increases that
we have given our university academic personnel in this administration
have been greater than that granted to any other class of employees
in the history of the state--rirst or all in the equivalent time,
and, secondly, their general levels of pay are higher than those in
any other branch or the government.
DELAREY: You spoke about the need for adequate money to enable us
to hold teachers downhere in the state. Have you had indications
that there is a substantial departure of teachers?
GOVERNOR: As a matter of fact, the turnover rate is very low.
Naturally, in academic circles there is a certain amount of built-in
turnover because, let's say, you've got a bright young man coming up
in a department with real ability. You have got a head of that
department and the only place that young man can go is into that
head position if he stays with you. Hell, in such instance you can't
and don't want to throw out the man that's head of the department so
the young man accepts an opportunity somewhere else. This is the
kind of turn-over that is healthy and expected and no amount or
money can prevent, and we wouldn't try to prevent, it. But considering
this fact, the turn-over rate in our academic staff at our
universities is low.
DELANEY: Do you have any idea or the percentage?
GOVERNOR: I have had. but I ma not sufficiently -- I had them at the
time I reached the conclusion I am now giving you, but I am not
sufficiently certain of wrnt trey were to quote them for you.
CHANDLER: Well, I gather that ycu dnnt see quite *ye to eye with
the university presidents arrur this percentage situation, but that
you do in a general way about the need for keeping --
GOVSPEOR: I think the univ;r91ty presidents are on extremely weak
ground when they say give us all this money to divide up among
uniVersity personnel. This is a batkwards approach. The question is
how much money is required to do the Job. Now, of course, I
recognize that they will tell us we need this and more, too. I
disagree with that. Basically, I think that it is the Job of the
presidents to run the universities within the guidelines laid down
by the Board of Edunntiou and the Board of Control and the Budget
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Conmission, with the freedom of course that is granted to all of
them to run for public office.
TUTTLE: Do you object to them publicly saying that they dont agree
with your philosophy on this?
GOVERNOR: No, not a bit in the world. It is a free country.
BATENAN: Governor, FSU President Blackwell said Tuesday night that
some funds appropriated for faculty salaries may not be released to
state universities and he went on to say that he did not think this
was the legislative intent. Do you know what he may be talking about?
GOVERNOR: No, but I think President Blackwell is an excellent
university president.
MEIKLEJOHN: Do you think he is a very good budget commissioner?
GOVERNOR: I don't think that is his field or government. Anyone
who has to sit on the Budget Commission and determine the release
of money has to consider not only the particular need but the needs
of all other areas or government, including the area or capital
outlay for universities, but not limited to that. I want to say that
there are many areas of the budget where we will not release all the
money that the Legislature has apprOpriated. As I understand the
Legislature when it apprOpriates money it doesn't give us a mandate:
"Novyou go out and spend this money, regardless." But they give us
a certain amount of money with which to do a Job as best we can and,
obviously, if in our Judgment it is not all required to do the
particular Job they are most anxious for us to hold on to as much or
it as we can. I believe Chairman Vinson of the Armed Services
Committee of the House is thinking about trying to insist that the
administration federally spend all the money that was appropriated by
Congress under the special provision that the Congress shall raise and
provide for the defense or the nation. But so far that constitutional
basis, if there be one, has not been established. I don't intend to
release one nickel of budgeted monies for any purpose of state
government unless I am convinced that it is required to do the Job set
for us to be done and that it is more required to do that Job than for
other Jobs which likewise need to be done.
MEIELEJOHN: Governor. how is the poll coming along on Sheriff
Kellenberger or have you quit counting?
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GOVERNOR: I have quit counting.
MEIKLEJOHN: Were you still ahead when you quit? (laughter)
GOVERNOR: Yes, sir. I would say in the last mail that I looked at
with that in mind -- for a while there all those letters were coming
straight to me because I was interested in getting comments, but
that in no longer true -- the last mail that I looked at was I guess
at least two to one in favor or my action.
DELANEY: Governor, did you by chance have a seat at the historic
re-match or Mr. Carter and Mr. Fair last weekend where you could see
what took place and give us a blow by blow account?
GOVERNOR: Well, I have heard that such an event took place. However,
I was not in the room at the time.
TUTTLE: Governor, are you aware or the recent FHA --
GOVERNOR: I have read or it.
TUTTLE: Are you looking into that?
GOVERNOR: Yes, sir.
TUTTLE: Making any recommendations?
GOVERNOR: I don't know. Fe are going to explore it.
MEIKLEJOHN: How about letting us in on it.
GOVERNOR: Cutting down "speculative" building commitments in Palm
Beach and Orange Counties.
TUTTLE: In Dade and Broward.
GOVERNOR: Yes.
CHANDLER: Would you have any authority in this field, Governor?
GOVERNOR: None whatsoever.
TUTTLE: You could recommend, however, if you disagreed with FHA?
GOVERNOR: well, of course, I have found that several agencies of
the Federal Government, to my pleasure and sometimes to my surprise
are very responsive to representation from here. I have tried to
make them few and only when they were really significant, but they
have always been received with excellent response.
TUTTLE: The Dade County builders contend that it will cut their
construction by no per cent.
GOVERNOR: This is a very important thing, of course. The sales tax
will be seriously affected by any significant cut back in building --
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CHANDLER: Governor, when do you expect some word on the designation
of the Fort Walton Beach area for the Saturn 2 project?
GOVERNOR: I understand that a designation, or a failure of
designation, is imminent.
CHANDLER: Do you still think that our prospects are good?
GOVERNOR: Yes, they are good -o they are not perfect. (laughter)
The competition is very keen from Texas, particularly, and from
California.
GILLESPY: Thank you, Governor.
GOVERNOR: Thank you, lady and gentlemen.
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RAECE 15, 2962 ICIPATING: Dearciana Batenar rd, TA!aPA TRIBUNE; hendrix ( larsey, ORLANtO SENTIT!EL-STAR. TIONAL; ChucIE Goetz, EORIDj LMICE EADIO; Lon Melklejohr FLOBIDA TI[=1E3 U}1103; Fear1k N( e, FLORIDA BROAF.CAST NFH5; i Tuttle, TAIAITI }[ERALD-5T. PErl r'd you were a tennis player, I play tennis, letis put it tt Can you beat [sps, Bryant? I don't dare. (lauchter) I i overacr, nave you gottca any
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UOVEJiNOH: Not that I knOW of. Ass completes its .ietion, I presame the they have done their typing -file DIOCE: I note that Senator Adams si: u.constitutloaal like the Clay coun There is always a possibility. Whether it is like -thing, to quote you there, ce not, I can't see an: lyse1C, The issues are so completely d1Pferent. Governor, what are the prospects for release of mai ate General Fur.d for university building eenstruot:
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be built outside of the GOVETIMOR: Seally I have on getting that done eric money to do it anyhow, own mind now trying to ( revenue issue will pern3 all along, but it le mag after conversation with listening to hls speech, it har, how or will inesi
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.... ..... m ..t.h nlely a program of this kind, but eriphasizi r takirts a giant stride forward in tli te ideas along this lirte? e sonte thoughts I am turr.ing oven bu ik about yet. Ilothing corict'ete. industrial growth, thera, is keyed to -ohroon. I war.dered if you had oceaeion to tal's with him about i basis 01" what I now krtow there will be done. Irteid--.-ntally. I m dertied maldrir; such a atatelent, did, I don't think 1:IMM is
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1hud e .7 7.1 e otmrtrie nteaeae GOVEENGR:~ Th teto o aare o rfsos-IdI ]:k youknw ha fr ayer owI aveben eain th rgh, t.n
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....... 'aa aa ...aa .. t.....y..t..tt--is o 21i heeuieet ie
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state universities and he een was the legislative irtert. GOVEFNCR: ;Io, but I thirk Er university president. EZIELEJDHN t u Chi k h : o yo 05VERU0B2 I don't .. .. .... e a s wu v u islature when i a:ymu go out and Certain amount er money wit viously. if in our judgment vtleular .iob they are most
PAGE 8
fELA/EY:Il 11e-r i o b hnehv es ttehsoi
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IIANDLER: Governor, when do you expect some word on the designat f the Port Valton Beach area for the Saturn 2 project? 17yEENOR: I understand that a designation, or a failure of lesignation, is imminent. MANPLEE: Do you still think that our prospects are good? OVERNOR1 Yes, they are good -they are not perfect. (laughter he competition is very keen Crom Texas, particularly, and fron alifornia. ILLESPY: Thank you, Governor. DVERNOR: Thank you, lady and gentlemen.
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