UF00083650_00007.pdf

UF00083650_00007.txt

UF00083650_00007_pdf.txt

. Transcript of ASK THE GOVERNOR

As taped for radio release the week of
December 25, 1961
It's time to "Ask the Governor," when Governor Farris

Bryant answers questions sent in by citizens from throughout Florida.
Governor, our questions today are compiled from many that have come
to you about this year and the year ahead. First, what will you
remember best about 1961?

GOVERNOR: Oh, I suppose that the impression that will be most



vivid with me throughout the years is the urgency of those early days
of 1961 before I was accustomed to the demands of this Job -- the
time that it took -- as there was the necessity for making hundreds of
appointments and making hundreds of decisions that are necessary at
the initiation of any administration, associating with and getting the
ideas of members of the Legislature, forming a legislative program,
learning to correlate my activities with those of the members of the
Cabinet, forming the administrative organization here in the Governor's
office. The tremendous urgency of those days, the lack of time to do
the things that you wanted and needed to do -- this will be my most
vivid impression of 1961.

Q. What do you foresee for Florida in the year ahead?

GOVERNOR: I foresee a year so rosy and so filled with progress
that, in my opinion, it will be one of the outstanding -- indeed the
outstanding year of all the history of Florida. Our tourism industry
will hit its peak, our road-building program will hit its peak, our
industrial development program will hit its peak. I think the
population growth of Florida will go up again as it has in the past.
I believe that the revenues of the State of Florida -- that tax
revenues of Florida -- will hit new peaks. In all lines of endeavor
it seems to me that the State of Florida is going to make tremendous
progress. In the field of higher education we are going to have a
year that will set landmarks by which people all over the nation
will be guided for a long time to come, because we are setting out
now to do things that need to be done but that previously have not
been done in the field of higher education. I foresee a wonderful
year in 1962.

Q. Governor, what single event has pleased you the most in

1961?
GOVERNOR: If you can call it a single event, I suppose the



reception by the Legislature of the legislative program that we offered
has pleased me the most. When you consider that we asked them not to
pass any more taxes and to operate within revenues coming in from
existing taxes -- this is a difficult thing for a legislative group
to do. It is something that hasn't been done since the war, and I was
tremendously pleased. Then in almost every area of recommended
activities we cooperated and they did adopt our program. And I was
Just so pleased that our relationship with the Legislature was as good
as it was.

Q. And what event caused you the most displeasure in the year?

GOVERNOR: Well, you may be a little surprised after having
heard me say that, but I think the thing that caused me the most
displeaSure was the action of the Legislature in overriding my veto on
race track legislation. I sincerely believed then and I believe now
that Florida should not have any more legalized gambling -- that
legalized gambling should not be extended. I don't believe it is good
for the economy of the state. I don't believe it is good for the moral
life of the state. I don't believe it is good for the society of the
state. But those things aside, the Legislature overrode my veto and
this, of course, pained me a great deal and caused me a good deal of

displeasure.

Q. Very quickly, Governor, has the Job been as enjoyable as
you thought it would be?

GOVERNOR: Oh, yes. This is a wonderful Job. For anyone who



wants to do something this provides opportunities for action and
contributions unequaled anywhere in the world. It is a wonderful Job
for any man to have.

Thank you, air. If you have a question of general interest you
would like Governor Bryant to answer on this program, Jot it down on
a post card and send it to "Ask the Governor," Governor's Office,
Tallahassee, or in care of this station, which has made available
this time in the public interest. Be with us again next week when

again we "Ask the Governor."




PAGE 1

711" I.T...... ip .....TEGCEEC

PAGE 2

Q. Aoerd r .'at Yi.gl eet" Ia lased ou th st 1-6 ?YI I 1 --d fl 03VRNR:Ifyouca cllita snge vet, sppstth recetienby he Lgisatur cIthel saiepoga htw f existing ~ Itae -ti sad it tn -tr II -egsl ty f up th I it s Th. Ynd -.a ifen au dyu h mstdslrur inte Yea GCVEROR: ellyou ay b a lttle upie atrhv 11r eGy ht u thla th thn htcue m he ot 11plas k -ahI, iro h eilauei vridn yvt