s-press_014_014_025_tr.txt

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FROM: THE OFFICE OF U.S. SENATOR BOB DOLE
NEW SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20510
(202) 225-6521

(handwritten) 208

FOR RELEASE AFTER 11 A.M. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1969

WASHINGTON, D.C. Oct. 15 --- U.S. Senator Bob Dole (R-Kans.) today hailed President Nixon's appointment of a Task Force on the Physically Handicapped as the right step in meeting "one of our nation's greatest unmet responsibilities and untapped resources."

Nixon announced formation of the task force and its members today.

One member of the 13-man board is Dr. Hampar Kelikian of the Wesley Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Ill. Dr. Kelikian played a vital role in the Senator's recovery from wounds he received while serving in the Army in World War II. Dole was hospitalized a total of 39 months and was under Dr. Kelikian's care most of that time.

In his first major speech in the Senate earlier this year, Dole urged the President to create a similar task force. "I am convinced America's public and private sectors can better achieve independence, security and dignity for the person with handicaps," Dole said. "I hope the President will see fit in the near future to appoint a task force similar to the one announced today to study the problems of the mentally handicapped.

"Well-executed, these two task forces could provide authoritative guidance to the Administration and Congress as they develop programs and allocate funds and aid the various agencies for the handicapped.

-more-







"They could also provide new incentive and direction to private and voluntary groups which aid the handicapped.

"Undoubtedly, the biggest benefits will be realized by this country's 42 million handicapped.

"Today, the President has demonstrated that he recognizes the nation's handicapped merit top-level attention. "

Other members of the task force, besides Dr. Kelikian, are: Dr. Ralph E. De Forest (chairman), Director, Department of Postgraduate Programs, American Medical Association, Chicago, Ill.; W. Scott Allan, Assistant Vice President, Liberty Mutual Insurance Companies, Boston, Mass.; Dr. Robert L. Bennett, Medical Director, Georgia Warm Springs Foundation, Warm Springs, Ga.; Lawrence W. Binger, Director of Personnel Services, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co., St. Paul, Minn.; John W. Melcher, Director for Handicapped Children, State of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisc.; Mrs. Genevieve H. Schiffmacher, Assistant Commissioner, Department of Labor and Industries, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, Mass.; Alfred Slicer, Director, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, State of Illinois, Springfield, Ill.; Lawrence Smedley, Assistant Director, AFL-CIO Department of Social Security, Washington, D.C.; Dr. William A. Spencer, Chairman, Department of Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.; Dr. S. Daniel Steiner, Medical Director, General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich.; Mrs. Spencer Tracy, President, Board of Directors, John Tracy Clinic, Los Angeles, Calif., and Henry Viscardi, Jr., President Human Resources Center, Albertson, Long Island, N.Y.