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TOUCHDOWN CLUB AWARD

Sheraton Park Hotel

January 17, 1976

I appreciate your giving me this award even though I no longer
wear two helmets.

Despite the name of this Club, I presume you have no objection
to other methods of scoring points in football.

Therefore, I am very pleased to accept this award -- which
I regard as a long-overdue tribute to European-born soccer-style
kickers. Eat your heart out Alex Karras.*

An early training in soccer is very useful. You learn to use
your head in scoring points. And you get accustomed to
innumerable kicks in the shins.

* Karras, co-announcer with Howard Cosell on ABC "Monday Night Football", is constantly grumbling about foreign-born soccer players brought in to win NFL football games with last-minute field goals.

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If the Redskins are interested, I remind them that my present contract is up at the end of this year and I'm willing to negotiate. If the Rozelle rule is still in effect then, they can compensate the government by giving up George Allen. Congress apparently is determined to run a nickel defense.

Sports are an important part of our international relations, for they speak a universal language. It is a language which some sportsmen speak louder than others -- as the Philadelphia Flyers demonstrated earlier this week.

Actually the game advanced mutual understanding between our two nations. The Russians now understand what an American hockey puck tastes like. In fact, they were so pleased with this contribution to detente that a Soviet missile cruiser is now on its way up the Delaware River.

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Thus, sports can have a real impact on our foreign policy.

To take another example, I'm sure that Muhammad Ali is going
to do wonders for our relations with Belgium next month.

At least we can be sure that such events are helping to close
the gap between international myth and reality.

Whatever the emotions aroused by any particular competitive
event may be, it is undeniable that athletic engagements with other
peoples are an important strand in a larger network of inter-
national cultural and educational ties. These can provide a more
conducive environment for those critical times when nations must
seek to moderate or resolve potentially dangerous economic or
political differences; they can provide a continuity of human

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contact that gives us hope for a future of peaceful involvement
with others even as we may be enmeshed in the confrontations of
the moment.

Our country's participation in international athletics is, of
course, primarily conducted by the private sector rather than
the government. The Department of State's part is small, but
intended to be catalytic--to help make the most of this valuable
tool of international relations. We send teaching teams of out-
standing coaches and athletes abroad. We bring foreign admini-
strators here to exchange ideas. And we try to encourage and
facilitate US teams touring abroad.

An example of how private American groups and the
Department of State can work together to advance our nation's
foreign policy interests has been our athletic exchanges with
the People's Republic of China.

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The role of our table tennis players in helping to launch our new relationship to China is well-known. Since then, private organizations and the Department have cooperated in a series of successful events with the Chinese—including swimming, basketball, and track and field. We estimate that a quarter million Chinese saw our track athletes in China last spring. We look forward to continuing to develop our athletic ties with the PRC as our overall relationship progresses. Among the next possibilities are gymnastics and archery.

Strength and skill and experience will always be as different as the variety of humanity. But in sport, as Winston Churchill said, all people meet on equal terms—all are committed to a set of rules, agreed upon and enforced. Thus sports not only can link the peoples of the world in common experiences, they

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can as well be a model for the kind of international society we
do not yet have, but must never cease to seek--an international
structure of law, justly enforced, cooperative, and dedicated to
the principle that success is achieved by merit -- or should be,
as that instant replay November 16 proved.*

I cannot let this occasion go by without saying that I am
especially proud that this award is given in memory of Sam Rayburn.
There has never been a leader with closer ties to the heartland
of this country. Born in a Tennessee log cabin, brought up
on a Texas farm, Sam Rayburn never crossed the Atlantic or
Pacific, nor had he any desire to do so. But he had the vision to
see that America's wellbeing depended not only upon our domestic

* A reference to the play which kept the Redskins out of the playoffs this season. The referee ruled a St. Louis touchdown but instant replay showed that the Cardinal receiver dropped the ball.

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strength but upon an effective foreign policy which had the non-
partisan support of Congress and the confidence of the American
people. Nonpartisanship, as Dean Acheson pointed out, is
the oil of government. And from his basement office in the House,
Sam Rayburn lubricated our government and helped preserve our
foreign policy through World War II and the darkest days of the
Cold War. "No power can defeat us," he said, "except our
disunity. We must be united."

Those words, and Sam Rayburn's example, carry a deep
significance for America today. I am proud to accept this
award given in his memory.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE
BRIEFING MEMORANDUM

S/S

UNCLASSIFIED

January 14, 1976

TO: The Secretary
FROM: PA - John E. Reinhardt

Touchdown Club
January 17, 1976

You have agreed to accept the "Mr. Sam Award" of the Touchdown Club of Washington at the 41st Annual "Timmie" Awards Dinner at the Sheraton Park Hotel on January 17, 1976.

The event is stag. Dress is black tie.

This award is made annually in honor of the late Sam Rayburn and is presented to a governmental figure who has contributed to sports through leadership. You were nominated to receive the award in view of your active interest in sports and your assistance in promoting athletic exchanges between China and the U.S. Past recipients of the award include President Ford (1975) and former Presidents Nixon (1969) and Kennedy (1963).

The President has been invited to attend the dinner; the White House advises us that he may drop in briefly. Other guests include Bob Hope (who will serve as Master of Ceremonies), Muhammad Ali, Secretary Coleman, Senator Glenn and others. Attached at Tab 1 is a head table guest list; seating has not yet been assigned. There will be some 2300 guests in attendance.

The schedule is as follows:

January 17, 1976
Sheraton Park Hotel

5:00 p.m.

Press Reception, Virginia Room.

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

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If you are unable to be present for the entire evening, we recommend 10:30-11:30 p.m. as the optimum time. If you are able to join them for the entire evening we suggest a 6:30-6:45 p.m. arrival. We understand your office will let us know your planned arrival time when this is determined.

Messrs. Charles Brotman and Don Dunnington of the Touchdown Club will meet you as you arrive and escort you throughout the evening. Win Lord also plans to attend.

The program from last year's dinner is attached at Tab 2.

Attachments:

Tab 1 - Head table guest list.

Tab 2 - Program from last year's dinner. (attached to original only.)

PA/PP/S:THughes:ktg

1/14/76 x22733

S/AM:WItoh

UNCLASSIFIED

MUHAMMAD ALI
GEORGE ALLEN
JACK ANDERSON
EDDIE ARCARO
JOHNNY BENCH
CHARLIE BROTMAN
GREGORY BROWN
JIM BROWN
PAUL BRYANT
JAMIE CARAYIANNIS
JERRY CLAIBORNE
HON. WILLIAM T. COLEMAN
WILT CHAMBERLAIN
MAURICE CULLINANE
JEFFREY DAWSON
JOSEPH DANZANSKY
DONALD DELL
AL DEMAO
JOE D'INACCIO
DON DUNNINGTON
BOB PARIS
BOB FRAILEY
HONBLE. GERALD FORD
SCOTTY BLACKEN
HON. JOHN GLENN
PETER HALEY
WOOLY MAYES
BOB HOMAN
JOS HOPE

ATHLETE OF THE CENTURY (BOXING)
GENL. MGR. & HEAD COACH WASH. REDSKINS
COLUMNIST, UNITED FEATURES SYNDICATE
ATHLETE OF THE CENTURY (HORSE RACING)
AWARD WINNER, BASEBALL, CINCINNATI REIS
GENERAL CHAIRMAN
AWARD WINNER, HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER D.C.
ATHLETE OF THE CENTURY (FOOTBALL)
HEAD COACH, UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
AWARD WINNER, SUBURBAN VA. HIGH SCHOOL
HEAD COACH, UNIV. OF MD.
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
ATHLETE OF THE CENTURY (BASKETBALL)
CHIEF, METROPOLITAN POLICY
SCHOOLBOY AWARD WINNER
PRESIDENT, GIANT FOODS
FORMER CHAMPION TENNIS PLAYER
PRESIDENT, REDSKIN ALUMNI ASSN.
ATHLETE OF THE CENTURY (BASEBALL)
PRESIDENT, T.D.C.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, G.U.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, AMERICAN U.
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
HEAD COACH, G.U.
U.S. SENATOR, OHIO
PREP SCHOOL AWARD WINNER
HEAD COACH, OHIO STATE AWARD WINNER
OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING COACH EMERITUS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER OF THE CENTURY

GENERAL DAVID C. JONES

JIM KARVELLAS

HON. HENRY A. KISSINGER

HON. THOMAS KLEPPE

HON. H. STUART KNIGHT

JACK KRAMER

GIL KRUEGER

TED MARCHIBRODA

REAR ADMIRAL KINNAIRD MCKEE

JAMES McDOWELL

HON. J. W. M. MIDDENDORF

CHET MOELLER

NELSON MUNSEY

DON NEWCOMBE

PETER O'MALLEY

ABE POLLIN

DOUG PORTER

JHOON RHEE

MARK RUSSELL

JERRY SACHS

DR. RAJ SARIN

LUCIUS SELMON

JAMES SHAFFER

MORRIS SINGL

HAROLD SOLOMON

PAUL SUGGATE

FRAN TARKENFON

CHARLIE TAYLOR

CHIEF OF STAFF, U.S. AIR FORCE

PRESIDENT, WASH. DIPLOMATS

MR. SAM AWARD

SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR

DIRECTOR, U.S. SECRET SERVICE

ATHLETE OF THE CENTURY (TENNIS)

HEAD COACH, NO. MICH. UNIV.

HEAD COACH, BALTIMORE COLTS

SUPT. U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY

NATL. COLLEGIATE HALL OF FAME

SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY

BALTIMORE COLTS

MANAGEMENT COUNCIL FOR MERIT'S
EMPLOYMENT TRAINING & RESEARCH

WASHINGTON CAPITALS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, CAPITAL
CENTRE

HEAD COACH, HOWARD UNIVERSITY

PRESIDENT, JHOON RHEE INSTITUTE
(AWARD WINNER)

HALFTIME SPEAKER

EXECUTIVE V.P. WASH. BULLETS

PROGNOSTICATOR OF THE YEAR

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

MD. SUBURBAN HIGH SCHOOL AWARD WINNER

TIME OUT SPEAKER

LOCAL BOY MAKES GOOL AWARD

MARYLAND ARROWS

NFL PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MINNESOTA)

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

JOE TERESHINSKI

MIKE THOMAS

HON. WALTER WASHINGTON

GEORGE WELSH

CHARLES "BUD" WILKINSON

GENERAL LOUIS WILSON

HON. BYRON WHITE

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V.P. TDCLUB

NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

MAYOR OF D. C.

COACH, U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY

CHAIRMAN, PLANNED MARKETING ASSOC.

COMMANDANT, U.S. MARINE CORPS

ASSOC. JUSTICE, U.S. SUPREME COURT

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Washington, D.C. 20520

MEMORANDUM TO THE SECRETARY

Attached is a draft for your introduction and
presentation of the NFL Player of the Year Award
to Fran Tarkenton.

As part of their 90 minute Super Bowl Preview,
CBS will switch to live coverage of the dinner at
approximately 11:15 p.m. Together, your introduc-
tion and presentation and Tarkenton's responding
remarks should take no longer than 2 to 5 minutes.

Winston Lord

Award to Fran Tarkenton
NFL Player of the Year
at the Touchdown Club Dinner
11:15 p. m.

January 17, 1976

It gives me great pleasure tonight to present an award to someone who has to stand up in the face of more charges than I do. Since my critics say I am soft on the Russians, perhaps Fran could teach me to throw the bomb. I think I will.

Over the course of 15 outstanding seasons Fran Tarkenton has come to hold virtually every NFL passing record. In the last game of this season he completed his 291st touchdown pass to become the all-time leader in completions for touchdowns.

And he is just as troublesome to opponents when he runs with the ball. He has rushed for over 3,600 yards, more than any quarterback in history.

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This season he led the Vikings to a 12-2 record
and the championship of the National Conference Central
Division. He threw for 25 touchdowns and almost
3,000 yards, completing better than 64 percent of his
attempts.

For this superb performance, it gives me great pleasure to present the Timmie Award as NFL Player of the Year to Fran Tarkenton.