For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office - Price $1.50 11 Agree, George E., Association for the Democratic Process.. Alexander, Herbert E., director, Citizens Research Foundation.. Association for the Democratic Process, George E. Agree.-- Barr, Hon. Joseph W., Under Secretary of the Treasury, accompanied 57 Kurtz, Jerome, Tax Legislative Counsel, Department of the Treasury- 166 McGovern, Ray, vice president and legal counsel. 476 Cannon, Hon. Howard W., a U.S. Senator from the State of Nevada.. Chamber of Commerce of the United States, William M. DuVall, member, Ervin, Hon. Sam J., Jr., a U.S. Senator from the State of North Carolina. 468 POLITICAL CAMPAIGN FINANCING PROPOSALS THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1967 U.S. SENATE, Washington, D.C. The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:10 a.m., in room 2221, New Senate Office Building, Senator Russell B. Long, chairman, presiding. Present: Senators Long, Anderson, Gore, McCarthy, Williams, Curtis, and Dirksen. The CHAIRMAN. The hearing will come to order. During the time that this hearing is being televised or subject to motion picture camera, we will observe the following rule, which is a rule of the Permanent Investigation Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Government Operations and the Committee on Rules and Administration A witness may request, on grounds of distraction, harrassment or physical discomfort, that during his testimony by television, motion picture or other camera lights shall not be directed at him. Such a request will be ruled on by Committee Members present and voting at the hearing. This hearing has been called for the purpose of receiving testimony on the matter of political campaign financing. The record developed here will aid the committee in complying with the direction of the Senate that we report "provisions with respect to the presidential campaign fund law of 1966." This instruction was contained in a motion by the majority leader agreed to by the Senate on April 25. It is a rather overused but true statement that we Americans take many things for granted. Too often, we Americans have either overlooked or forgotten the principles that have always distinguished this country from every other. One idea that most of us assume as a part of our heritage is that any one of us can be chosen to lead the rest; that is, any American citizen can aspire to any elected public office. While this idea is generally taken for granted, if we reflect upon it, we will see it is not necessarily true. To be elected to public office, particularly to the higher echelons of public office, it is not sufficient to have a desire for the office or to be qualified by experience or intelligence for the office. In addition, one must have money to make the race for the office. Therefore, many poor people in the United States are automatically disqualified from obtaining elected public office. Of course, it is not the wealthy alone who are elected, but those who are not wealthy and who are elected must rely on the generosity of others. This generosity may too often be a quid pro quo for favors promised or previously rendered by the officeseeker. Or the would-be elected official who is not rich and does not care to sacrifice his inde 1 |