Page:1976 Campaign Strategy Paper.pdf/29

 === ANNOUNCEMENT STATEMENT ===

When you consider how jaded and cynical the members of national press corps have become and think about all the cliches and doubletalk they are accustomed to hearing from ambitious politicians, then possibly you can imagine the challenge you have to say something that is fresh, bold and believable. I will not attempt to write your speech here - that is something that should evolve from you, Jody, Stu and the issues group. I would like to set forth what I consider to be the major components of a Jimmy Carter Presidential announcement:

Statement of Candidacy.
This should say who Jimmy Carter is, what he has done, what he stands for and what he hopes to do as President. It would be m hope that you would assume a "learning posture" - you don't pretend to have all the answers or know everything and that a major aspect of your campaign will be to travel the country, listen to people and learn. I am not suggesting that you sidestep any issues - but your statement should touch on them only in a general way. Also, I liked the statement that you often made when running for Governor that you didn't have to be Governor and that you while had made a total personal commitment to the effort, you were not going to compromise the beliefs and principles you had lived by to be elected. I would like for you to make a similar statement about the Presidency because I think the press perceives accurately that most men who seek this country's highest office are so consumed