The Spirit of 1976, Part XVI -- The End

Well, it's hard to say
Goodbye and let go
And it's hard to see it end.

But the Memories we just made
They never happen again....

It's not often I get Mike McLean stuck in my head....

Anyway, we come to the end of my series on the 1976 election. It's been kinda fun to look back on an election from before I was born that has implications today.

So, we say goodbye by ending at the begining. The newspaper article where we first hear of Orrin Grant Hatch, a young lawer from Pennsylvania who threw his hat in the ring at the last moment, filing his paperwork on the last day possible.

And, his words that first day resonate even today.

We need new faces, new blood, new thinking," [Orrin Hatch] said. "It's time to turn out the politicians in Congress who have contributed to the failure of recent years. We used to have statesmen in the Senate. Now we seem to have just expedient politicians."

Amen, Mr Hatch. Amen.

-Bob

P.S. The article is from the Salt Lake Tribune, May 11, 1976, page 16

The Spirit of 1976
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX
Part X
Part XI
Part XII
Part XIII
Part XIV
Part XV
Part XVI

The Spirit of 1976 Part XV -- An energy bill

This first one is from The Salt Lake Tribune (big surprise) 30 years ago today -- June 6, 1976, page C23:

"I believe that I speak for the average Utah citizen when I say I'm apalled by the fact that although this whole country reached a state of panic during the past energy crisis, nothing has been done to formulate a viable energy program," Orrin G Hatch declared in a statement.

The Repubilcan aspirant for the U.S. Senate nomination added: "We all know that we have dropped to fifth place in per capita living standards in the world today, with the first three places being occupied by the Middle East oil nations.

"I believe that we must support and give incentives to all resonably balanced programs which may help us to become economically and energy sound. We must set a date for self-reliance," Mr. Hatch said.

And this other one, an even bigger gem, which I forgot to put a date on (I'm 90% sure it's late May of 76), we get this tidbit:

"Although many citizens are complaining that the oil companies are making tremendous profits, we still must give incentives for the oil companies to explore and develop oil and gas prospects in our hemisphere," U.S. Senate aspirant Orrin G Hatch said Friday.

This is my next-to-the-last post in this series. Don't fret, however. I'm already working on my next series of posts.

-Bob

The Spirit of 1976
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX
Part X
Part XI
Part XII
Part XIII
Part XIV
Part XV
Part XVI

The Spirit of 1976 Part XIV -- unnecessary research programs

Salt Lake Tribune, July 11, 1976, page A13.

Republicans U.S. Senate aspirant Orrin Hatch listed a variety od "ill spending programs" approved by a "liberal" Congress ranging from golf courses costing $13.9 million a year to a study of Frisbees costing $375,000.

He condemned Sen. Frank E Moss' "liberal" voting record toward spending programs and said that literally three-fourths of the federal budget is out of control and is being "gobbled up" by more than 3,500 federal bureaus, agencies, commissions and committees.

He pointed to such spending programs as a study to find out whether chimpanzees can talk costing $135,000; annother $25,000 to study primate teeth; $84,000 to discover why and how persons fall in love; $112,000 for a study of the Ice Age tribes of Africa; $57,000 for a study on the body measurements of airline stewardess trainees.

It makes you wonder how many of these types of studies Sen Orrin has voted to approve over the past 30 years, doesn't it?

I'd also like to know the results of the falling in love study, for purely personal reasons.

-Bob

The Spirit of 1976
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX
Part X
Part XI
Part XII
Part XIII
Part XIV
Part XV

The Spirit of 1976 Part XIII -- "Be Increasingly Cynical"

Salt Lake Tribune, August 8, 1976:

Integrity of public officials will be restored only when examples of good faith are demonstrated, said U.S. Senate aspirant Orrin Hatch after describing a meeting with a congressional sponsor of a bill to repeal the automatic pay increase Congress voted itself last year.

"There is little wonder that the image of congressmen has dropped to an all-time low," said Mr. Hatch, seeking the Republican nomination, in a BYU speech. "Taxpayers must be increasingly cynical when asked to cut back, tighten up, and buckle down by the very people responsible for many of our economic woes."

"Although deficit spending is a major contributor to inflation, the congressmen have insured that they will be least affected by their reckless action," Mr. Hatch said.

And yet, after 30 years, we're still deficit spending and Congress keeps giving themselves raises, with Hatch helping out along the way.

-Bob

The Spirit of 1976
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX
Part X
Part XI
Part XII
Part XIII
Part XIV

The Spirit of 1976, Part XII -- Can you see me now?

"I can see clearly now, the rain has gone...."

[Orrin Hatch] added that high school volunteers for his campaign have been busy in the past week passing out free literature and lemonade in Salt Lake City and cleaning car windshields in northern Utah.

The slogan left after the eindow washing was, "Now that you can see clearly, why not give Orrin Hatch a chance to clean up Washington?"

From the Salt Lake Tribune, September 9, 1976.

There's a big smudge on my windshield again. It's time for Pete Ashdown to come clean it again.

-Bob

The Spirit of 1976
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX
Part X
Part XI
Part XII

The Spirit of 1976, Part XI -- a "nonpolitician"

From The Salt Lake Tribune, September 12, 1976, page 18A:

"I'm a nonpolitician," the 42-year-old Mr. Hatch asserts at the begining of most campaign literature and speeches. Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., and a graduate of Pittsburgh Law School, Mr. Hatch has been active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is married and has six children.

His thrust has been centered around the "growing power of our fourth branch of government."

"These approxamately 3,500 governmental agencies headed by appointed bureaucrats are responsible for making more than 90 percent of our laws, without being held accountable for their actions.

"This was not the intent of the framers of our Constitution, and the trend must be reversed," he says.

He's a politician now, methinks.

-Bob

The Spirit of 1976
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX
Part X
Part XI
Part XII

The Spirit of 1976 X -- Utah's Senior Senator "a Disgrace"

Sometimes, the headlines just write themselves.

Salt Lake Tribune, September 24, 1976, page 16B:

Utah's senior senator's voting record in Congress is "a disgrace," Republican candidate Orrin Hatch claimed in a debate Thursday.

[...]

"We've got too many people back there interested in feathering their own nests in the U.S. Senate," Mr. Hatch said.

"Sen. Moss has voted for virtually every fiscally irresponsible spending bill there is. Utahns have got to start recognizing this. This man has never voted for fiscal responsibility and never will," Mr. Hatch said.

"His (Sen. Moss') voting record has been a disgrace in our Congress. If I go back there, I am going to go back there and represent Utah in such a way that we are no longer considered the laughingstock of this country," he said.

He (Sen. Moss) has voted for every boondoggle -- no, I shouldn't say boondoggle -- for every major irresponsible financing or overexpenditure that we have had in our society," Mr Hatch said.

What I wouldn't give to have film of this debate. Especially of Hatch saying he wouldn't make us the laughingstock of the country. Mission Accomplished there, I'm sure.

And Orrin is the expert on boondoggle, and I'm not talking about the stuff I make "like a gazzillion" key rings out of at scout camp.

-Bob

The Spirit of 1976
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX
Part X
Part XI
Part XII

The Spirit of 1976, Part IX -- an ineffective Senator, no energy bill

From The Salt Lake Tribune, October 4, 1976:

While campaigning in St George, [Orrin Hatch] said Democratic Sen. Frank E. Moss' seniority is ineffective after 18 years because it "hasn't been represented on Interior or Agriculture committees which have a dramatic effect on our state."

"A Congress that has been dominated for 40 years of the past 44 years by the Democrats has spent and spent our dollars and all we can show for this fiscal irresponsibility is a drastic reduction in spendable real dollars, and a questionable employment future for students who are graduating from our universities," Mr. Hatch said.

"And in three years, Congress has been unable to produce a comprehensive energy bill which is vital to this nation with the possibility of an oil embargo imminent," he said in annother speech.

Orrin's 30 years' experience is not represented in Interior or Agriculture committees.

And we have an energy bill written my oil companies that has contributed to $3/gallon gasoline.

Thanks, Orrin.

-Bob

The Spirit of 1976
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX
Part X

Spirit of 1976 Part VIII -- "in hock"

From the Salt Lake Tribune of October 6, 1976. , page 17, with continuation on page 21.

My favorite quote from this story, which is full of good ones, is this one from Orrin Hatch: "The Congress has put us in hock for everything we own."

Kinda like they continue to do. Increase our debt load daily.

But, he has some other golden quotes.

Steps must be taken to curtail an "unelected buraucracy" and to stop the "proliferation of bills," [Hatch] said.

A "proliferation of bills" like flag-burning amendments, anyone?

The first goal is a balanced budget and stopping the government from competing with private enterprise in borrowing, Mr. Hatch said. "If we'd quit interfering with the private sector ... I think you'll find we'd have a reduction in unemployment."

This next segment is the close of the article. I have placed some emphasis on some key moments.

Mr. Hatch told the Rotarians that he believes small businessmen are "the most oppressed people on earth."

Mr. Hatch said there will be attempts "to paint me as a right wing crazy," but he claimed his goal is "to fight for the beleaguered, overworked taxpayer" and to protect individuals' rights from the encroachment of government.

He said the Democratic platform calls for increased government spending, and the current budget deficit is to be blamed against the Democratic-controlled congress in 40 of the last 44 years.

Well, he's done a fine job of causing us reason to not call him a right-wing crazy, hasn't he?

So, Mr. Hatch, when will you start fighting for the overworked taxpayer and protecting individuals' rights?

Oh, since it was the party in charge's fault that we were running a deficit in 1976, that must be the case today. Remind me again who's in charge?

-Bob

The Spirit of 1976
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX

The spirit of 1976, Part VII -- Seniority for Seniority's sake

Salt Lake Tribune, October 7, 1976, page 12B

Mr. Hatch also attacked the Senate Seniority system, saying: "Seniority for seniority's sake serves no useful purpose."

He told Dixie College students in St. George that "a Congress that has benn dominated for 40 of the past 44 years by Democrats has spent and spent our dollars, and all we can show for this fiscal irresponsibility is a drastic reduction in spendable real dollars and a questionable employment future for students who are graduating from our universities and colleges."

Sound familiar? The last part is just like what we have today, except the Republican congress is spending and spending our grandkids' money, not ours.

-Bob

The Spirit of 1976
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX

The Spirit of 1976: Part VI -- Moral Things

The Salt Lake Tribune, October 14, 1976, page 2B:

Mr Hatch said he wouldn't vote for any congressional pay increases with annual allowances for cost-of-living hikes until deficit budgeting was ended.

Morality in Congress must be achieved, and there must be a return to the Judeo-Christian ethic "to where we look up to our senators and representatives." He added that he believes Sen. Moss to be sincere -- "but sincerely wrong in his approach to our country."

The ultimate moral thing, he said, is to "live within our means." Mr. Hatch added he wouldn't be subserviant to any special interest groups.....

So much goodness in this one. I don't even know where to begin.

-Bob

The Spirit of 1976
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX

The Spirit of 1976 part V: A feature Article

On Sunday, October 17, 1976, The Salt Lake Tribune ran a story on the front page of the local section (B1, continued on page B2) by their political editor Douglas L Parker. He had spent parts of two days with each candidate that week. What follows are exerpts of those stories.

"I think, at the bottom line, it's a new face," said Mr. Hatch, a 42-year-old lawyer making his first dip into state elective politics since moving to Utah in 1969 from Pittsburgh, Pa. "I think the people are tired of the old politics."

A gap between the two contenders is, perhaps, most sharply drawn when you consider that Mr. Hatch was a Brigham Young University student ... when Sen. Moss, now 65, first ran and won in a three-way race for U.S. Senator in 1958.

Pete Ashdown was 9 and a student at a Bountiful-area elementary school when Sen Hatch, now 72, first ran and won in a race for U.S. Senator in 1976.

Democrats control Congress so they are to blame for inflation and bureaucracy, Mr Hatch says.

And now Republicans are in control, so I guess they are to blame.

Mr. Hatch says he resents being "branded" by some as a "right wing conservative." But he thinks that's been pretty well dissipated. He tells the medical students [at BYU] he looks upon himself as an eclectic, "one who tries to take the truth from wherever it comes."

What he does with that truth is annother matter.

-Bob

The Spirit of 1976
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX

May 10, 1976

Anyone want to guess what is significant about May 10, 1976?

It was the 479th anniversary of Amerigo Vespucci departing for the New World.
It was the 107th anniversary of the driving of the golden spike.
It was the 68th anniversary of the celebration of the first Mother's Day.
It was the 22nd anniversary of the release of "Rock Around the Clock," which was the first rock-and-roll song to reach #1 on the charts.
It was exactly 18 years before Nelson Mandela would become president of South Africa.
Fred Astaire celebrated his 77th birthday.
Bono, the lead singer of U2, celebrated his 16th birthday.

But those are not what makes May 10, 1976, significant, at least not to me.

That is the day, 30 years ago today, that a young, 42-year-old lawyer who grew up in Pittsburgh and owned a cassette tape store, who described himself as a "nonpolititian," filed to run as a Republican to become the newest United States Senator from Utah.

Orrin G Hatch, it's time to come home.

-Bob

The Spirit of 1976 IV: "fresh, new ideas"

Thanks to YDems for the name of the series.

Salt Lake Tribune, October 22, 1976, page C3:

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Orrin G Hatch said seniority doesn't count for much in the Senate anymore, and it shouldn't be a major issue of this campaign against three-term Democratic Sen. Frank E. Moss.

"His voting record is the issue. His voting record says Utah needs a new senator, and his seniority cannot outweigh his voting record," Mr. Hatch asserted.

He said the senator's seniority hasn't produced the kind of power it might have. "His supporters have said he's number three, moving up to number two. The truth is the Senate may abolish the committee that he chairs, and his election to the position of whip isn't guaranteed," Mr Hatch said.

When Sen. Moss ran in 1958 against incumbent Republican Arthur V Watkins, he said the times required fresh new ideas. Mr. Hatch said, "Now, 18 years later, that is true again. We need fresh, new ideas in the Senate."

Remember, Sen Hatch isn't the chair of any committees right now.

And, once again, 30 years later, we need fresh, new ideas in the Senate.

-Bob

The Spirit of 1976
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX

1976 Part III: I'll Resign

"The last 2 years have set disappointing national records for spending your tax money. I've pledged my vote to slow down the Senate's spending increases. If I don't vote that way . . . I''l resign! If Senator Moss had made that same pledge, he wouldn't be running for a 4th term as Senator."

(Source: Ad published in the Salt Lake Tribune, 10/27/76, page 8A)

30 years later, the country, under Republican rule, is setting new records for spening our money.

I'll be waiting for that resignation letter, Senator Hatch.

-Bob

The Spirit of 1976
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX

1976 Part II: Hatch on inflation, balanced Budget

"The key to controlling inflation is sound monetary and fiscal policy. I favor a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget over a three to five year period. The budget should be balanced over the business cycle."

Source: Salt Lake Tribune, October 31, 1976, page 10A

And where is that balanced budget amendment, Senator Hatch? Or even that balanced budget? Repeatedly, you vote against balanced budgets by voting for unbalanced budgets.

-Bob

The Spirit of 1976
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX

1976, Part I

1976 was the last time that the team now known as the Los Angeles Clippers (then the Buffalo Braves) moved out of the first round of the NBA playoffs.

The first commercial Concorde ttok of in January.

The first 4.6 miles of the Washington DC subway opened.

Apple Computers was formed.

The Ramones released their first album.

Locally, Utah House 36 candidate Phil Riesen was promoted from "the town's toughest street reporter" to co-anchor of channel 4's "Action News."

The stock market on November 2 (election day) was 966.09.

In the NBA, the Jazz played in New Orleans, the Nets in New York, and Buffalo and Kansas City had teams.

Nobody had heard of the Los Angeles Raiders.

Oh, anf Orrin Hatch was elected to the U.S. Senate.

-Bob

The Spirit of 1976
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX

1976

"It does the job and gets me around," [Pete} Ashdown said. "But it would be nice to have a new model out there." (Salt Lake Tribune, 4/8/06)

Was he talking about the motorhome or our senior senator?

-Bob