|
NEWS CONFERENCE
GOVERNOR RhRRIS BRYANT
TALLAHASSEE. FLORIDA
MAY 17. 1962
NBWSMBN PARTICIRNTINC: Georgiana Betenan. atoaxnm BROADCAST Haws:
Robert H. Delaney. ORLANDO 3mm; Douglas Doubleday,
8T. PETBRBBORO TINBS; Ton Dunn, WCTV; Barbara Frye, UNITED PRESS
INTERNNTIONRL; Chuck Costs, FLORIDR BROADCAIT NEWS; David aretsch.
FREE LANCE RADIO; Jerry HOOK. RLORIDA TIMES UNION; Ted ouhall
aboazna DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIOH; Prank Noel, ASSOCIATED PRESS; Fred
Parish, UNITED PRESS INTERNNTIONAL; Ray Starr, WRRB; Stan Tarilton.
RLORIOR BROiDCAST "BUS; nartin Waldron, ST. PBTBRSBUBO TIRES-MIAMI
BBRALD SERVICE; Paul Hills. ASSOCIATBD PRESS.
GOVERNOR: Good afternoon, everybody.
FRYB: Where's your board? No beard?
GOVERNOR: Well, I should.
I'm glad to see you all. I want to announce that on May 29.
at 2 o'clock, and then again on the 30th at 9 o'clock. there is going
to be held here in the House Chamber a conference on higher education.
presided over by Board of Control Chairman. Mr. Bare harrison. The
purpose of this conference is to bring together and to take advantage
or the many independent groups that have been making their con
independent studies and coming up with some excellent ideas concerning
higher education in Florida. There has been tremendous interest in it.
as you know, and some groups have proposed technical universities;
other industrial groups have requested things for their localities --
so I have asked the Board or Control to take the leadership in
exploring with all these various groups their proposals. lending them
their start assistance and correlating what they are doing. There
will be, of course, a report by Dr. Dock Campbell on the progress at
the Committee on Quality Education. There will be a report by Mr.
Stanton Benson, 0! the Committee on Scientific and Technical Education
or the Committee of 100. which has been doing such a wonderful Job;
there will be a report of the Joint Impact Coordination Connittee on
the Cape Canaveral area; there sill be a report or the State Junior
College Advisory Board by Dr. Wattenbarger; a report or the Legislative
Reference Bureau by Mr. Kerna; a report or the Florida Educational
Television Commission; a report or the Florida unclear Commission; a
discussion by Drs. Brumbansh and Bloc of the Role and Scope Study}
and reports by the several presidents in that particular respect.
There will be a report by the Education Committee or the State Chamber
of Commerce, by Tom Tlemingx a report on the Institute for the
.10-
GOVERNOR: Well. I really haven't thought about that. I think one
could you could probably it you studied it pick out areas that
could well be served by one county government that are now served by
two. but I don't have any particular once in mind.
DBLANEY: no you think there is any prospect of that ever happening?
GOVERNOR: You know I think it is posiible some or the answers to
our problem might come from creating new counties. That is to say,
some counties might get too large to be manageable. their population
too great; they might want to divide. whereupon, of course, they
would have two senators instead or Just one. and double their
representation in the Senate.
DELANEY: Do you go along, than, with the creation of the new county
in Miami Beach?
GOVERNOR: well, it would all depend. I will have to wait until it
came up ~-
UALPRCN: Governor, do you think the home rule amendment in the
State constitution unu;d solve a lot or the apportionment problem?
GO?LB?3?: You say home rule amendment you are covering a whole
lot or ground you know.
WALDTOII: Yet, I unierttand that.
GOVERNOR: I think, generally. giving as much control of government
to local groups as is practicable (and I don't use that in the
constitutionally adopted eenee, but in generic sense) would solve
a lot of apportionment problems. I supported the Mitchell amendment
in 1955, I believe it was, both in the Constitutional Amendments
committee and on the floor.
DELANEY: Am I right in assuming that you are still taking no part
in the primary elections?
GOVERNOR: You're right. I am going to vote.
Thank you very much.
FRYE: Thank you, Governor.
.2-
Utilization of Engineers and Scientists by Mr. Robert Alligood; a
report of the Space and Underwater Engineering Institute by Dr. F. O.
Walton Smith and the summary of the Conference, of course, and open
discussion of these several reports and an attempt to blend together
as many of these ideas and to wrap than into a coherent program which
can be considered by the Board of Control and ultimately, within their
discussion, recommended to the Board of Education and to the Legislature.
I think that this will very likely be, and you have kidded me so much
I hate to use this word again, but I think it will be a very exciting
Conference, nevertheless, because it has tremendous possibilities.
Are there any particular questions about that before I go on to the
next item?
I am glad to know that Mr. Burritt, or the American Oil Company,
is here today. Mr. Burritt, I am delighted to see you.
BURRITT: I am delighted to see you, Governor.
GOVERNOR: How are you today?
BURRITT: Just fine, sir. Did you have a nice trip back today?
GOVERNOR: A very pleasant trip, thank you, sir.
BURRITT: Governor, this picture here that I am going to present to
you will soon become the focal point of the American Oil Company's
advertising designed to attract millions of people's attention to
tourism and the benefits of coming to Florida on their tacations.
This picture was painted, Governor Bryant, by Charles McBarron, a
consultant with Smithsonian Institute, and he is quite an authority
when it comes to Americans. Knowing your interest and the great
effort you put towards developing greater tourism to Florida, it Just
gives me a great deal of pleasure, Governor Bryant, to present you with
this picture. It's a water color, and it's an original painting by
McBarron.
GOVERNOR: Thank you, sir. We've got Seminoles, we ....
suaarrr: Pedro Menendez and Seminoles ....
GOVERNOR: Well now, this certainly is a wonderful painting and I do
appreciate this very, very much. You are going to use this on bill-
boards, and so forth. How is this going to be used?
-3-
BURRITT: This is going to be used as advertisements in all the
national magazines, nationwide. It will be in Life and Time and
Look. Saturday Evening Post and magazines or that kind.
GOVERNOR: The palms and blue skies and Indians speak Florida all
over.
BURRITT: Speaks Florida exactly and it follows our line or thinking
that the more attention in getting people to travel in their own
land. So few of us do it.
GOVERNOR: Thank you very much. Mr. Burritt. I appreciate the efforts
that American Oil and other industries are making to work together
encouraging more tourism in Florida. Thank you, air. It is a
beautifhl thing.
HOOK: Is this some particular location?
GOVERNOR: we will ask Mr. Burritt.
BURRITT: This is a painting made from some old sketches and so forth
of when Pedro Henendez landed in st. Augustine and they started to
build their first fort log type fort with palisades around it
was the first structure and Charles McBarron. who is a research
artist for Smithsonian, developed that in minute detail. and it's
Just about as authentic as you can make of anything dated back in
the early 16th century. But MoBarron has quite a reputation for his
knowledge of early American customs, clothing and hats.
GOVERNOR: This fits in very nicely with our quadricentennisl
celebration and particularly with St. Augustine's efforts to rebuild
this ancient heritage.
BURRITT: We should have had this in Jacksonville for that Jean
Ribault Festival we have been having down there. It would have been
a good exhibit down there.
GOVERNOR: Thank you very much. air. We appreciate it Mr. Burritt
and appreciate your company's activities.
BURRIPT: We appreciate your giving us the time. Thank you.
GOVERHOR: Are there any questions you have about this or any other
matters?
PRYB: Governor, have you had a chance to assess the outcome or the
primary in relation to your forecast not so long ago that President
Kennedy's pepulsrity has doubled in Florida? Do you think that the
primary results showed any..........
GOVERNOR: or course I recognize that the primary, and all, elections
are compounded or many, many factors -- personalities, individual
local issues and things or that kind -- and certainly anyone who looks
at tne results of those candidates who were mostly closely related to
President Kennedy, must recognize that there seems to be an approval
of .13 administration by the voters. This is certainly an incomplete
cv~nlusion, but this is one factor I think which can be seen in the
15 1 .".I.8 .
natausy: How do you find that, Governor. In what races?
GOVERNOR: well the ones that are the most significant are, or course,
the only two in the country, I believe, where the President endorsed
candidates, and that was in the Dade County area, with Congressman
Russell on the one hand, and, of course, statewide for Senator Smathers.
DBLANEY: What do you think about the outcome or the eleventh
Congressional District race in relation to this same question whether
the President is more popular......
GOVERNOR: Which one is the eleventh?
EELANEY: Orange County, Brevard, and so on.
GOVERNOR: Hell, I really hadn't thought about it in that connection.
DELANEY: Well, one of the candidates who had expressed the closest
kinship to the President ran second.
GOVERNOR well let me make a sage remark I like to give to questions
or that kind concerning that election. There are going to be a lot
of people really surprised.
DELANEY: Concerning what election? (laughter)
PRYE: Very sage. (laughter)
DBLANEY: Yes, so sage I didn't understand it
GOVERNOR: That was the purpose. That's why its sage.
FRIB: Can we interpret that to be they are going to be surprised at
the second primary results?
GOVERNOR: Hell everybody can put their own interpretation on it, you
see. It's something there for everyone. It's hard to think up
up remarks like that.
DELANBY: Are there any particular run-offs that you are going to be
watching with more interest than others, Governor?
GOVERNOR: To tell you the honest truth, I have been rather enJoyins
the respite from campaigns during this campaign and for the most
part have Just been an interested observer, but not as of yet, at
least, an analyist nor prognosticator.
rate: how was Cuba?
GOVERNOR: Very, very interesting for the brief time that I was there.
I was tremendously proud of the Florida units. There were two in
particular -- one was the destroyer escort Tweedy with a complement
largely from Pensacola, supplemented by those from Louisiana and
Mississippi, in some small part, that l was advised by the commanding
officer down there, had achieved a high state of excellence. Then
I spent time also with the men or Bomber Squadron 7&1, stationed at
Jacksonville. Almost all Florida men, perhaps all, and they have
achieved an enviable record in that in recent exercises they have been
in competition with a number or regular as well as other reserve
units, they detected more "enemy" submarines -- "enemy" in quotes,
because it was an exercise -- than all the rest of the units or
their kind put together. I was told by Admiral O'Donnell, who was
there, that they are really an outstanding group. The morale of
everyone with whom I talked was very high and they seem in a good
state of readiness.
HOOK: Did you say bomber squadron 7&1?
GOVERNOR: V? Squadron 7111. VP Petrol 7141 is more accurate. Just
incidentally. Lieutenant hens Tansler is seated in the back or the
room there, is one or the officers or that Patrol.
FRYE: Governor, John Hammer has brought up the question or
desirability of a limited access tollway from Orlando to Cape
Canaveral and says he planned to discuss it with you.and John
Phillips. It would not be built, or course, if a tree road were
found to be more feasible. Has he discussed this with you?
GOVBRROR: NO. From what I read though, and I could be wrong, I
think what I read was that he said that if people wanted it and
sought it. the Turnpike Authority was there to serve and it it
seemed the thing to do and was feasible, they would be ready to
build it. I didn't understand that he was initiating that study.
But he has not discussed it with me.
P313: I understood that he-waa making a study that he would share
with the Road Department.
GOVERNOR: I did not know that. All I know about it is what I
read in the paper.
WJLLS: I would like to return to the primaries a moment and ask you
if the outcome of the races settled as far -- if you think that
will give you a more even more harmonious session in '63 than the '61
session?
GCVERNOR: Hell I, as you know, had a very excellent relationship
with the Legislature. Let me say that so for as those races which
have been decided are concerned, I believe those that have been
elected are in the category or my friends, and I look forward to
working with them.
uELANEY: How active do you plan to be Governor, in supporting the
Democratic nominees between May 29 and the general election?
GOVERNOR: That depends. I haven't laid any campaign plane or
formed any detailed ideas at all.
WALDRON: When are you going to start stumping for the reapportionment
amencnent?
GOVERNOR: Let me put it -- I have not changed my mind. The more
I thinx about this -- of course, supreme court decisions develop
and this hizvigcn decision on top or the Tennessee decision give
a different complexion to the whole problem. I am trying to
reflect on what Florida can do. Now, it we defeat this amendment,
than we are going back, of course, to the 38-senator, 95-house
member proposal. And if I assumed this. I would assume that I
could get the Legislature to come back -- the house is already
apportioned on the 95 basis and a portion or the senate. But, of
course, the best apportionment that you can do in the senate under
the present formula will not make substantial changes in the senate.
Therefore, we would be looking for another formula. If that were
true, I would assume that you would so to the federal system trying
to fathom what the courts have in mind and. or course, trying to
fathom what our Supreme Court has in mind is like tryinc to lasso
-6-
a cloud. nut, assuming that I could do so, I would assume that they
would approve the federal system and if they did that, of course,
we would get back to something that is like, or very nearly like,
the 67-senator plan with the house reapporticned directly
proportionate to the population. This may or may not he an
improvement in view of the larger counties and the more populous
areas. So it is not an easy question to resolve, and the people of
Florida may well conclude by November that the proposal that has been
offered to them is by far the test that can he achieved.
DBIAKEY: Do you agree with the definition of the plan to be voted
on in Rovember as a creeping 67-senstor plan?
GOVERNOR: ho
DBLAHEY: You don't think Floral will grow enough to ultimately
make that e 67-senator plan?
GOVERNOR: Fifteen counties are losing population -- they are
creeping the other way, if you please. And if the present trends
continue, they will disappear. So, if we are going to assume that
is true, then they won't need senators.
HALDhON: well, you said you haven't changed your mind. You had
conveyed earlier that you did plan to make some speeches supporting
this?
GOVERHOR: Yes. Let me Just say this: Every new Supreme Court
decision requires a re-evaluation of one's position relative to
reapportionment. I haven't reached any firm conclusion that is
very different from that which I previously had for the reason that.
frankly, I don't know whether the supreme Court has said its last
word. They may come out tomorrow requiring a unicameral legislature
as being the only one that will satisfy their notions of equity and
Justice. And if this be so, then we are faced with that problem.
So I hate to reach conclusions. Looking at some of the lower
court decisions as they tried to fathom the Supreme Court's mind
one could reach the conclusion that only directed proportional
representation would satisfy the court and that we choose a
unicameral legislature purely according to population would be the
only satisfactory method. Unless we use the old Greek form of
.7-
direct vote on everything that comes up -- that, of course, would
be the ultimate. And every time we had a bill submit it to
referendum of the people.
mums: Are you a devotee of unicemerel legislature?
comm: NO, sir, I on not.
mum: Have you had a recent conference or meeting with your
Turnpike Authority?
GOVERNOR: No, sir, I haven't.
DELANEY: no you have one scheduled for today?
GOVERROR: No. sir.
DELAHEY: I Just saw one of the members out of the corner of my
eye.
HILLS: Have you received any indication whether Sheriff widener
wants to resign or not as Pals Beech County Sheriff?
GOVERNOR: I don't have any comment about the Palm Beech situation.
HILLS: The St. Johns Sheriff came up Monday of this week. to you
have -- can you tell us why he came and what he discussed with you?
GOVERNOR: he came in my office and shook hands and pledged his
cooperation in any problems that might arise. And that was about
it.
"ALDRON: Did you fuss at him about the coekfighting?
covaanoa: No, sir, I didn't
WILLS: Has that mentioned?
GOVERNOR: No, sir.
HILLS: Have you had any report on that?
GOVBRROR: Yes, I have a report on it.
WILLS: From the Sheriff?
GOVERNOR: N0
WILLS: he was not here for that purpose?
GOVERNOR: N0. Hell, he was not here to see me for that purpose.
what he saw other people about, I don't know.
WILLS: Has he here in connection with the coekfighting?
covenuon: I don't know. as was not here to see he in connection
with the cockfightins.
FRIE: Has he here to see Mr. xynes or anybody else ~-
.8-
.9-
GOVERNOR: Mr. Ryncs did not report it to me. nor has anyone else.
I didn't follow him around and I don't know what his purpose was in
being here. I can only report what he had to say to no.
VALnRON: Did you oee any evidence when you were in Guantanamo Bay
or on the way that there is another invasion being prepared?
GOVERNOR: Nb. I didn't. I did. last night quite late, ride the
fence and meet the American patrols that were guarding it. And I
want to tell you that although those can look awfully young they
look mighty capable.
HALDRON: ReVe you had any reports of Cuban refugees training in
the RVerglades?
GOVERNOR: I have not except what I read in the paper.
HILLS: no you have any reports that bolita and other illegal
gambling is on the increase in Florida?
GOVERNOR: Re. I think probably the contrary is true. I hope it
is. If vigorous prosecution will reduce it, I think it is being
reduced. or course. these things are not subject to a direct
measurement. I think, though. that it is not.
WALDRON: I want to ask another question on reapportionment.
Governor. how about giving us a short statement or your philOsophy
on reapportionnent. no you think that the Florida Legislature. for
instance, is fairly apportioned new?
GOVZRROR: Do I think it is fairly apportioned now? No, I do not.
VALDRON: no you think that it should be apportioned in a formula
directly related to population?
GOVERROR: I have supported, beginning in 1955, a proposal for
adopting the federal system by which the senate is on a base which
takes in account the geographical consideration and the house is on
the basis of population. You may recall that working there with Perry
Murray, I supported the adoption of a proposal that would have
increased the House of Representatives at that time to about 114, I
think it was. with escalators in there as population grow. And the
Senate on a one Senator per county. I still think that would be a
800d proposal.
UALDROR: no you think we have too many counties?
PAGE 3
--.. --.-.. .. ... ..
PAGE 5
FRY! Gr3mt'" OP, j-167r' ---:L 1:) S c':.Ril;/. *.0 -.5:1"/-2:2. L:st. 0:.30::0-11 p -L 1 .. -1 -r Y --t ai:: a cr.. -1 .e=.: -.-r i a13e::t t ir! Ihat .:r-tir.e.; t i on. --Ce : e;br a:tr.i eggpr .lGr. i UN ele.-;st -r.3 ': C .: ----0 i r'r.ig;&( J |1'(9 ge:. ',gr. tes g.. rusti.-.7.. -t -.. -.. :---,c ele ier,. Thiro s!'st !"r'Irur. TC te ;1 Ict --s -r -i, Y ----0. ? atr.p) -1, .:---: 3:1;7. -li Jr.' t 025-7GIEa T|-:a i 2: :s i he rUrprae. 'l-br:t 1;: t -3-1;:r. Y C-.E. i.,' s.t. -r;. -r imi -.r 1.0 i h===;; e .-eil i r. em m.!';71;:-e-: rt -.7 N | '': i i n'--Cya-: .|3J.itf. rl.:t thr? !.0 es;0. .-.T.Gei--PC:t!! L j :. yi CT, i t ::!1351 -. It i "."; :lic't"):|.ri -". jerg fer g.:gryrtir. .I E I 3 627.:) te 7); [r.| 7 4
|
