Memorandum 

Date: June 17, 1993 

To: Senator Dole 

From: Alec Vachon (initialed)

Re: Drop By: J.C. Penney/NOD luncheon 

	You have indicated you will try to drop by and deliver welcoming remarks to the annual J.C. Penney/NOD luncheon, tomorrow, at noon, in Dirksen 106. This lunch honors more than 20 national organizations (e.g., American Legion, Boy Scouts, and American Library Association) that through their local chapters carry out community programs that serve people with disabilities. You have delivered short remarks to this lunch each year since 1990. 

Attached are short remarks for your review and approval -­ after which I will blow up. These remarks are intended to simply recognize the underlying significance of the work of the National Partners. 

(handwriting, illegible)

(page 2)

-- WELCOME 

	GOOD AFTERNOON. IT IS A PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU ONCE AGAIN AT THIS ANNUAL LUNCHEON SPONSORED BY J.C. PENNEY AND THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ON DISABILITY HONORING NOD'S NATIONAL PARTNERS. 

	AND I AM VERY GLAD TO SEE A NUMBER OF OLD FRIENDS, INCLUDING ALAN REICH AND JIM BRADY. 

-- 	THE NOD NATIONAL PARTNERS AND THE SPIRIT OF ADA 

	LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IN 1990, THIS NATION IS NOW EMBARKED ON A GREAT ENTERPRISE. THE POET ARCHIBALD MACLEISH ONCE WROTE, "AMERICA WAS ALWAYS PROMISES." BUT FOR TOO LONG THE PROMISES OF AMERICA WERE DENIED TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BECAUSE OF DISCRIMINATION, INCLUDING A LACK OF ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCOMMODATIONS. 

	WE HAVE NOW DETERMINED TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION, AND ENSURE THAT REGARDLESS OF DISABILITY EVERY PERSON HAS A SHOT AT THE AMERICAN DREAM AND FULFILLING THEIR PERSONAL PROMISE. 

	BUT LAWS CAN DO ONLY SO MUCH. REAL INCLUSION AND INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND NOT MERELY THE APPEARANCE OF INCLUSION, MUST COME FROM THE HEART. 

	INDEED, WE WHO HAVE HAD GOOD FORTUNE BEAR SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES. AS THE NEW TESTAMENT, IN GALATIANS, READS "SO THEN, AS WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY, LET US DO GOOD TO ALL MEN." 

	TO MY MIND, THIS IS WHAT THE NATIONAL PARTNERS PROGRAM IS ALL ABOUT, AND MAKES IT SPECIAL. YOUR EFFORTS TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN YOUR PROGRAMS EXEMPLIFY THE SPIRIT OF ADA AND THE AMERICAN IDEAL OF SERVICE TO OTHERS, AND I SALUTE YOU. 

-- 	CLOSING 

	ONCE AGAIN, MY BEST WISHES. I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR LUNCH AND YOUR VISIT TO WASHINGTON, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN NEXT YEAR.