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NEWS CONFERENCE
GOVERNOR FARRIS BRYANT
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
MARCH 8, 1962
NEHSREN PARTICIPATING: Georgiana Bateman. FLORIDA BROADCAST NENS;
vernon Bradford, TAMPA TRIBUNE; Hendrix Chandler, ASSOCIATED PRESS;
Robert w. Delaney, ORLANDO SENTINEL-STAR; Barbara Frye, UNITED
PRESS INTERNATIONAL; Chuck Ooetz, FLORIDA BROADCAST NENS; David
Gretsch, FREE LANCE RADIO; Don Meiklejohn, JORN H. PERRY PAPERS;
Jerry Mock, FLORIDA TIMES UNION; Don Showerman, ASSOCIATED PRESS;
Stan Tarilton, FLORIDA BROADCAST NEWS; Rick Tuttle, MIAMI HERALDH
ST. PETERSBURO TIMES SERVICE; Martin Waldron, ST. PETERSBURO TIMES-
MIAMI HERALD SERVICE.
GOVERNOR: This is Ambassador SukardJc of Indonesia, who is paying
us the compliment or a visit here today. He does not wish, and I
know, of course, you will not ask him any questions. He is not here
to participate in the press conference, but we have been exchanging
compliments and he has made a statement about the people of Florida
that I think, better than anything else, typifies the finest
quality or our great state. He said the people of Florida have time
to smile. That's wonderful, isn't it? I wish I could have thought of
that. (laughter)
HALDRON: Governor. since the Ambassador is a Journalist, perhaps
he would like to question you? (laughter)
GOVERNOR: Well, he might. But is he a member of your club? If not
I can't accept any questions.
FRYE: If he has a dollar he can.
GOVERNOR: For one dollar he can get in.
CHANDLER: We have a vacancy in our club, maybe we could get him in.
GOVERNOR: Do you have any questions today?
CHANDLER: What are the latest returns from Palm Beach County.
Governor?
GOVERNOR: Well, we have sold -- I don't know how many we have sold
in that county particularly, but statewide we have sold over 2,500
tickets. The money is in Miami now and we expect to go over the
three thousand level before Saturday.
CHANDLER: Is that in line with what you had thought?
GOVERNOR: Yes, air. We had thought we would arrive at -- our goal
was 3000. Actually we are squeezing in a few more tables because
the demand has been heavier than we anticipated and we will probably
have in the neighborhood of 3100 there For this great dinner.
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GOVERNOR: Yes, I always read them with great interest. It
always interests me to see what a fellow who hasn't got the
courage to put his name on a letter is really thinking.
DELANBY: or course, you didnt feel that you should be guided
by the course or action suggested by the anonymous letter writer?
GOVERNOR: That's about right. But it is interesting, though, to
read what a fellow like that thinks.
FRYE: You mean even with the new road budget about to come up
you haven't received those letters?
GOVERNOR: No. No, we haven't.
TUTTLE: You mentioned politics in this Palm Beach County decision
on Kellenberger. If you had made the decision simply on politics,
would it have been the same?
GOVERNOR: I don't know. That is quite involved. I tell you,
though, in the long run if you make the right decision it's
politically the wise decision. Obviously, this doesnt work out
inc per cent or the time. As Abraham Lincoln said: "If I tried
to read all the criticism of me. to say nothing of answering it,
I wouldn't have time to do anything else." And he went ahead and
did what he thought was right, and by and large he ended up pretty
well.
FRYE: He ended up dead.
wALDRON: You are all using this word politically -- is that
partisan?
GOVERNOR: In a partisan sense, yes. or course we are all in ~-
the business of government is politics.
DELANEY: Do you have any plans, Governor. to do any aggressive
campaigning to see that these Republicans who qualified the other
day are not elected?
GOVERNOR: I will do everything that is proper and apprOpriate for
me to do and if this involves any vigorous personal campaigning
I will be glad to do that. My first responsibility is to be
Governor of Florida. Then I will provide leadership for the
Democratic Party. Then I Just enJoy a good right anyway.
UALDRON: Do you agree with Representative Charles Holley that the
Florida Republican Party over the years has had a do-nothing
leadership? (laughter)
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GOVERNOR: wen, you know 11' the Republican Party in Florida had
to run on its record it would never get away from the starting
post. (Laughter) The only thing that has created a Republican
Party has not been any contribution to Florida, but the importation
by Democratic administrations of peOple from other states who,
being Republican there, have not been educated to the virtues of
the Democratic Party here. And I think that if we can carry
forward that educational movement an age of enlightenment will
come upon them. (laughter)
DELANEY: In the light or that, Governor, how do you explain the
lifelong Democrats who had switched to the Republican Party right
in this county, for example, who were Democrats for Eisenhower
back in 1952?
GOVERNOR: Well, there have always been patronage Republicans
and I guess there always will be. (laughter)
FRYE: They Just don't get as much patronage. (laughter)
CHANDLER: Thank you, Governor.
GOVERNOR: Thank you, lady and gentlemen.
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MEIKLEJOHN: I am a little confused, is this a dinner honoring
Sheriff Kellenberger in Palm Beach County? (laughter)
GOVERNOR: This is a Democratic Dinner. I don't know whether the
Sheriff has bought a ticket or not.
MEIKLEJOHN: Well, what about the question? Have you gotten any
reports from Palm Beach County -- any letters suggesting....
GOVERNOR: Yes, letters. I haven't had any reports from Palm Beach
County. I have had a number of letters. Let's see, its a little
bit batter than 2 to l in favor of the action that I took. I am
rather surprised, to tell you the honesztruth. Each mail -- while
the mail has not been voluminous -- each mail has been consistent
at 2 to 1, or Just a little better than 2 to l in favor of the
snapansion.
MEIKLEJOHN: Are these from Just peeple or politicians?
GOVERNOR: Well, I don't know. I don't believe that I know
personally any or the people that have written.
FRYE: Governor, have you had any reports from the flood situation
in Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale?
GOVERNOR: Well, of course, I know that the tide is high and that
it has perhaps washed away a couple of cabanas.
FRYE: It isn't to the point where you need to send any emergency....
GOVERNOR: No. As of now I have not been alerted for any such danger.
Hugh Taylor Birch Park is under water, as you probably know.
HOOK: Is this all up and down the coast or Just in Miami?
GOVERNOR: I don't know how extensive it is, but I would say it
certainly reaches up into the Fort Lauderdale area because of the
park involved.
FRYE: Certainly a lot of the basements of the hotels in Miami Beach
are under water.
GOVERNOR: I didn't know that.
FRYE: They mentioned the Fountainebleau.
WALDRON: It has washed away a couple of highways.
GOVERNOR: This I didn't know.
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WALDRON: Governor, sometime back in early January, you appointed
a committee to investigate ways to develop a plan to keep children
from being induced into homosexuality as much as possible. At that
time you mentioned the possibility of further research. Is there
anything new on that?
GOVERNOR: I don't know how new it is. Actually, of course, there
are several prongs to the program that we have. One is the
education of law enforcement officials in the special techniques and
knowledges required for the identification and handling of
homosexuals, and this has been wonderfully received. The programs
are going on continuously -- I believe there is one going on today
somewhere -- and law enforcement officials have been very loud in
their praise of it. Secondly, we have been conducting panels of
informed people in that area of knowledge -- psychologists, Juvenile
Judges. and so forth -- and they are now trying to evolve techniques
for the treatment of these people. Then. as you know, the Florida
Childrens Commission has undertaken the broad educational program
required to handle this particular problem, and with their membership
and enthusiasm, I think a great deal can be done in educating parents
how to protect their children from this particular danger.
WALDRON: How these panels of experts -- psychologists and so on o-
is that under state auspices?
GOVERNOR: Yes, sir. we are promoting them, we are not trying to
guide them. We have been bringing these people together. There have
been three conferences now so far in which there have been going on
continuous studies and discussions of methods and techniques of
handling this beyond the detection stage.
CHANDLER: Governor, on Saturday President Kennedy will be in Miami
Beach for this fund raising dinner. what's your evaluation of his
popularity in Florida now after a year or so in office?
GOVERNOR: I have not made any effort to evaluate it. I can give
you an opinion that is certainly worth no more than any other
person's, but I would say that he is fifty percent more popular
than he was at the time of the campaign.
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CHANDLER: Then you think he might carry Florida if an election
were held this year?
GOVERNOR: I don't think there is any question about it.
TUTTLE: What do you think about the Republican turnout in
qualifying for the Congressional and legislative offices?
GOVERNOR: Well they have invested their money. I don't anticipate
it will be very effective.
FRYE: Governor, to what do you attribute this fifty per cent
increase in popularity?
GOVERNOR: I think that largely it has been his handling of the
foreign situation and, in particular, his development of the defense
strength of this country. I am not forgetful of the Cuban situation
or President Kennedy's taking upon himself whatever was the preper
share of the responsibility for that event, but I am confident that
the people of this country are proud of the strength that he has
shown, the determination that he has expressed and the concrete
steps that he has taken to bolster the international position of
this country.
CHANDLER: Has your opinion of him changed any since your experience
with him and since he has been in office this year? Do you think
he is a stronger man than you had figured he was?
GOVERNOR: I think in foreign affairs he definitely is. I think
the President has matured greatly. I have always been a friend and
admirer of his, but like so many of our Presidents he has grown with
the Job and I think he has grown faster perhaps because of his youth
than any President in my memory.
DELANEY: were you a friend and admirer of his, Governor, when you
were supporting Lyndon Johnson for the Presidential nomination?
GOVERNOR: Yes, I was. As a matter of fact, I did not know him
intimately, but I had known him casually when he had been in Florida
and on one occasion in washington. Like all Americans I made my
choice at that time and my choice was Lyndon Johnson. but it was
an affirmative choice, not a negative one,
CHANDLER: Do you think that President Kennedy will be helpful to
us in getting the 1964 Democratic Convention?
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GOVERNOR: I don't have the remotest idea.
CHANDLER: Do you plan to talk to him about this?
GOVERNOR: If the occasion presents itself.
CHANDLER: what is our overall situation on our prospects on our
getting the convention?
GOVERNOR: I don't know. I think I had better Just leave it right
there.
TUTTLE: You would like to have it wouldn't you?
GOVERNOR: I think it would be a good thing for Florida if it could
be handled properly, yes. I don't think there is any question at all
but that Florida has a better facility for handling a convention of
that size than any other place in the world -- to say nothing or in
the nation. There are real problems in connection with handling
something of that size, and having been to two of them I know that
at the very best they are mad houses. I certainly don't think we
want to drive away our normal tourist trade Just to have a convention
here for a few days, and or course, one thing we have got to consider
is that we do have a large summer tourist trade and this Democratic
Convention would almost usurp our total capacity in the Miami Beach
and Miami area.
DELANEY: Would this be a problem in July? I think July is the
usual month they have them.
GOVERNOR: July and August -- it varies between the two. As a
matter of fact, August you see is our best tourist month or the year.
We have more tourists in that month than any month in the year.
That's when we have families with their children down here. If we
ever get in the trimester system it might not come in the right
master. (laughter)
DELANEY: what other problems Governor? You spoke about that you
would like to have it here if it were properly handled....
GOVERNOR: Size and the fact that if people go -- people don't
basically go to Chicago, let's say, or to the Loop for a vacation.
They might go there to see the shows or on a sightseeing event, but
they don't go there for a vacation. But people come to Miami for
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a vacation. And we depend on them -- not Just once every four years,
but year in and year out. And I think we would want to be sure that
we could handle it without in any way endangering our regular image
as a vacation land. And I have no question that this can be done,
but this is one of the problems associated with this.
DELANEY: Aside from that are there other problems?
GOVERNOR: None that I would speak of at the time.
ROCK: Governor. you mentioned the tourists -- and you mentioned
that it is up -- do you know whether the tourists are spending more
or lees money in the state this year?
GOVERNOR: Well, of course, the sales tax for the month or January
was 9.0a per cent over a year ago. Now I have not seen that broken
down into categories or restaurants, wearing apparel and so forth --
I hope to get that data very shortly. This will give us a better
picture or the impact of our goods trade. However, I have another
index that may be more reliable than that. And that is that even
in the motel owners and hotel owners are happy, and when this is
true then the tourists must be spending money.
TUTTLE: Are you aware or that Supreme Court decision yesterday on
the Clay County development Authority bond issue?
GOVERHOR: I am aware that there was an adverse decision. I don't
know much of the details.
TUTTLE: were you a supporter of that type or approach to attracting
industry?
GOVERNOR: I don't want to criticize anybody for any effort to
attract industry. I have always felt that the State of Florida
should not offer special inducement to new industry. That we ought
to try to stick to that kind or industry that can carry its own load.
ow I realize that there are counties in Florida where the population
is being reduced and where the economic growth is not what it is
statewide, and that they have special problems which, incidentally,
we are considering trying to work out. Mr. Jarrard spoke to me or
it the other day -- some kind of incentive program within the
Development Commission itself which would
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give special recognition and reward to the salesmen of the
Development Commission when they secure the location of an
industry in one of these counties that has the greater need. And
I think that what the Area Redevelopment Program, which we
qualified the Florida counties for, and on which we are pushing
aggressively, and the advertising effort that we are making, are
in this direction. But basically I am opposed to tax and
financial inducements to industry. I think we not only want to
grow in Florida, but we want to grow in quality, and I dont believe
you achieve this by such means. Incidentally, we had a rather
interesting experience recently by being approached by industries
that formerly located in the islands for tax inducements and low
wages -- ho cents an hour and so forth - the wages have gone up
to $1.25 and the tax inducement has run out and they want to come
back to Florida. Well, I want to be sure that when they come back,
and naturally, we are anxious to have them, that they understand
that we expect industry in Florida to do its share.
MEIKLEJOHN: Governor, do you have any information on a team from
NASA that is supposed to be checking out Eglin Air Force Base as a
possible plant site for North American Aviation's saturn production?
GOVERNOR: Yes, it is being done. We had people over with them
yesterday. I have no conclusions to offer on it.
MEIKLEJOHN: Does it look encouraging from Florida's standpoint?
GOVERNOR: It does.
MEIKIEJOHN: Is Tampa in the running for that?
GOVERNOR: I dont know.
DELANEY: Governor, to get back a moment to the question about the
record number of Republicans that have qualified recently. Do you
think that there has been a trend toward former members of the
Democratic Party moving into the Republican Party and running on
that ticket?
GOVERNOR: Well, there are. I have heard of one or two or the
more weak-knead -- all parties have their weaklings and detectors.
This is bound to happen in some instances.
TUTTLE: Don't you think if a man thinks Republican he should run
Republican?
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GOVERNOR: Well, if you can define Republican. I was talking to a
Democrat yesterday and he was talking to me about Democrats and
being a true Democrat and I asked him what was his true definition
or a Democrat?, and he said: "A true Democrat is one who votes
like I do. (laughter) I think there is a lot to that. If
somebody can tell me what a Republican is d- whether it is
Rockefeller or Goldwater -~ whether it is Nixon or Welsh -- why
then I could answer your question.
TUTTLE: Are you suggesting that Welsh is a Republican type of
philosophy?
GOVERROR: No, I wasn't. I was answering your question. (laughter)
ALDRON: with the record number of candidates, regardless of party,
do you consider this a healthy sign of democracy?
GOVERNOR: Well, I think it is probably a good thing. I didn't
think it was so healthy when too men ran for Governor last time,
but it worked out real healthy. (laughter)
WALDRON: It would give them better shades of opinion.
GOVERNOR: Sir?
WALDRON: It would give the people a choice?
GOVERNOR: Yes, that's true.
NEIKIEJOHN: last week that was one of the -- or several weeks ago --
wasn't that one of the arguments of the Democratic Party -- that
we b). no many shades of Opinion among it?
GCr3.33W: That there is an opportunity within the Democratic Party
to dnr}nve one's philosophic goals for government.
MEIKLEJJHN: Governor, what part did you take in the sending of an
investigator from the Attorney Oeneral's office down to Palm Beach
County to help out Sheriff Widener after Mr. Loveren resigned down
there?
GOVERNOR: None after Mr. Loveren resigned. About six weeks ago --
I say six weeks and I am Just grabbing at a date, I'm sure it has
been more than a month - I called the Attorney General and asked
him to assign, it he would, Mr. Dardis in there to assist with
investigations. And somehow or other, because of his involvement
in the Miami race wire investigation and others, he could not get
away. I am advised, although I have had no further contact with it,
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that he has not yet reached Palm Beach but probably will shortly.
I have had nothing to do with it since that initial request.
MEIKLEJOHN: Did you ask for him to go in there for any particular
investigation?
GOVERNOR: To assist Sheriff Widener.
MEIKLEJOHN: In any particular field?
GOVERNOR: No.
MEIKLEJORN: Administratively or investigatively?
GOVERNOR: As the Sheriff needed. I wanted to be able to insure
that Palm Beach County had the best law enforcement under rather
trying conditions that was possible. When the Sheriff said that
he needed a top quality investigator in there to help him, I knew
of Mr. Dardis' capacity -- I then asked the Attorney General if it
would be possible for him to make that assignment and he assured
me that Just as soon as they could they would. I take it they have.
MEIKLEJOHN: Did Mr. widener bring up Mr. Dardis' name?
GOVERNOR: I can't recall. I suspect that he did. In fact, I am
almost sure that he did, but I am not positive. It has been six
weeks ago.
WALDRON: Do you have any way to assess your own popularity?
GOVERNOR: Do you mean in Palm Beach County or generally? (laughter)
FRYE: Now about Marion County?
GOVERNOR: That's a good question.
MEIKLEJORN: Should we ask President Kennedy about that?
GOVERNOR: The only way that I have to assess popularity -- and
that is not something that I spend much time doing -- is by your
mail. we used to receive lots of anonymous letters and lots of
critical letters. Now we don't receive either any more. We
receive out of the Palm Beach situation, of course, some letters
attributing to me purely political motives for doing that. But I
can't think of any area today where we are receiving criticism.
I don't believe we have received any anonymous letters -- I
haven't seen any in I know two or three months. This is quite a
switch, because I was getting some every day there for a little
while back before the legislature.
DELANEY: Do you ever pay much attention to anonymous letters?
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PAGE 5
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PAGE 7
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PAGE 8
a vacation. And we depend on the but year in and year out. And I we could handle it without in an as a vacation land. And I have but this la one of the problems DELANEY: Aside from that are th GDVERNGE: None that I would spe MDCK: Governor, you mentioned t that it is up -do you know whe or less money in the state this GJVERNOR: well, of course, the was 9.04 per cent over a year ag down into Eategories of restaura I hope to get that data very sho picture of the impact of our goo index that may te more reliable in the motel ownera and hotel ow t rue then the tourists nust be s TUTTLE: Are you aware of that S the Clay Cour.t-j development Isuth GOVERIron: I am aware that there know nuch of the details, TDTTLE: Here you a supporter of industry? G-vEEEDE I don't want to critie attract industry. I have always should not offer special induceme to try to stick to that kind of i on I realize that there are coun 15 belas reduced and shere tne ec stateside, and that they have spe we are canaidering trying to work it the other day -some Wind of Development Commission itself whi n -not just once eve think we would want t y way endangering our no question that this associated with this. ere other problems? ak of at the time. he tourists -and you ther the injuries are year? sales tax for the mortI o, Mow I have not seen that breker nts, wearing apparel and so forth rtly. This will give as a better ds trade. However, I have another than that. And that la tnat even nera are happy, and when this is pending money. upreme Court decision yesterday on ority bond lasue? was an adverse decision. I don't that type of approach to attractin lze anybody for any effort to felt that the State of Florida nt to new industry. That we ought ndustry that aan carry its own loa ties in Florida Where the populati onomia scowth is not what it is cial problems which, incidentally, out. Mr. Jarrard spoke to me of incentive program within the ch would
PAGE 9
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PAGE 10
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PAGE 11
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