DRUG ABUSE/Divorce/Catholics/Abortion/Ford/Family
Declaring that the American family is in serious trouble, Carter pledged today to chart a profamily policy if elected President. Current Republican administration policies have actually weakened our families or even destroyed them."
Ticking off high rates of divorce, illegitimate births, juvenile delinquency and suicide, venereal disease and drug abuse, Carter said that "the breakdown of the American family has reached extremely dangerous proportions. There can be no more urgent priority for the next administration than to see that every decision our government makes is designed to honor and support and strengthen the American family."
Economics, welfare, tax and urban renewal policies under President Nixon and President Ford helped to undermine the family by failing to consider the human consequences. As President, he would require that every new federal program offer an analysis of how it would affect the family.
He added that he has named Joseph Califano, a former aide to Johnson, as special adviser "on how federal programs can aid and support the American family."
Among the programs which he would adopt to strengthen the family, would be a "comprehensive program of family planning, which would include adoptions and education and moral leadership, and would do everything possible to prevent the need for abortions." Today's comments were made in a state with a large Catholic population (NH).
MARIJUANA
The only Carter son who plans to move to Washington, Jeff says, "I'd like to live in the White House for a while." He also admits trying dope. ("I smoked marijuana in Jamaica.")
