Cliff Finch Upcoming Administration; Inauguration '76

Mr. French since the November general election. You have made numerous speeches around this state. You've made several trips to Washington that we all know about. And about an hour you'll be becoming the state's new chief executive. What have you been doing since the November general election to put an administration together we know that you have had to do that. But the only thing we have heard about your speeches and your trips to Washington what have you been doing in the meantime. Well the most important I thought worked with. Every Mississippian to formulate a overall policy. First it's always been my philosophy of life that before you make a decision you should have all the facts before you. I'm not a person that shoots from the hip so to speak. This is why I have started from the top to the bottom trying to evaluate our state government as a whole. I realize that I'm not on omnipotent nor am I all powerful that I meet every person say it started in Washington. I want it found out on a national level realizing that the largest sum of money that we receive in Mississippi

is through the bureaucracy in Washington. I want to talk to the top level officials the president of the United States and his cabinet. To see what benefits that they can give us in Mississippi. What do we receive in Mississippi. What areas would they suggest. And I want to talk with the department heads here in the local level I want to talk to the people that are experts in the field of economic development realizing that we've got to pull together and we're going to march our state and we will move all of this 50th in the bottom level in the economic area of our country. Mississippi is a great state but most important in everything else that we have in Mississippi is its people. And I'm no. That if we join hands together. That we're going to move in we not go wait that 25 years and some of our people have set up to say that we want to meet on a national level. The southeast an air bridge within 25 years of our economics. I think we can do it now and we are going to do it now. And this is why I have been

working. As much as three to 3:30 every morning. I have an office at the or day center that I can get away from seeing the people and I might say to all of you that you've been good and Canon considered allowing me an opportunity to study the problems meeting with people that are knowledgeable in all the field regardless who they voted for. Politics is over with now. You know that was. Last summer and everybody had a good time everybody worked hard for their candidate but we all are Mississippians. And I intend to be governor for every Mississippian so that every person can have a better way of life. I want to involve everybody in our government. And this is why I've been working studying the particular agents is that are spending the money trying to find ways to consolidate and save those hard earned tax dollars that the working people must play to support our government both on a local and state level as well as on a national level. These are the people that have made our country great. But it's also. An

area where we need to use every person in our government regardless of what economic level that they may be on. So I have tried to. Find ways to consolidate streamline our state government. And yet at the same time to find the most profession why just because there may be one way that the experts say that you need to go by to streamline our state government there's always a way to kill a kid without shooting. You cut his hand off. For example some of the old phrases that we may use I want to look at every avenue to find out ways that we can help our people. And this is what I've been doing for the last. 30 45 days. I made a few speeches I've encouraged people to let me. Have an opportunity to really study. And I'm grateful that they all have understood that I will not be making any type of major appointments except in case of emergencies. Until I have an opportunity to evaluate what these agencies and these people are doing in our state. All that I want to do is

make Mississippi the best go. That we've ever had. I intend to do that with everybody safe. It appears you're going to break with tradition. Would you say that it's going to be the case. Well in a sense of tradition being only for one particular type of person yes I intend to involve every person in our state whether they are workers or and working in state government of whether they retire to whether they are people it has never been recognized before. It's been our theme in our campaign to involve every person in our state to help. That means when we join hands and clasped hands together there's nobody can stop us as we can accomplish anything we want to. And I've seen people come together. We have set down and broke bread together that has never spoken to one another in their lifetime. And I have seen a great change in in our state and I've seen that the people who have always wanted to be involved in government

have always been kind of an odd kiss that you know you tend to think in the past that you know the people. Kind of holier than thou. That they have felt that you know that if you don't have this particular type of relationship with a jet set you have so to speak are the so-called elite that they are not good enough to be involved in government. I feel it's rude for all of us regardless of what economic level that you may be on. I want to involve every person to be a part of our government. They is a new movement. They have already there's already been demonstrated. That people are working together to say that you've never seen work together in a place in learning something of the workings of state government and some of the agencies and I'm sure that you'll be coming up with some recommendations on on streamlining state government you've talked about that many times. You made some surprise visits to some of the places around the state that are involved in in the state government organization was put in those terms. Can we expect more of these during your administration.

In fact you might expect them every day. This is why I want people to realize it. I don't want to see. A Sunday go to meeting type of meeting when I get there I want to see what they do every day and I want to encourage that these people it's working for our government to do their absolute best. Politics as I say it is over with. I want them to be the most professional person and when I come to visit with them I want to come on announced. I want to be able to come when I can see what they are doing is for the best interest of every person in this state. Yes they can expect me to drop in on them. I intend to call a man and talk with them and give them our overall philosophy. Given the overall policy number one of which. Is that I don't think a person that's in his position in any type of government that should be any better or feel that he's any better than the man on the lowest economic strata. I want that person to treat everybody else like he would like to be treated.

He is going or she is going to treat everybody that way as long as I'm guilty. That is if we want to encourage every person to work together and I expect that and I shall receive that as long as I'm governed. Using the word together that you mentioned in your last sentence there. During the past few weeks we've noticed some semblance of Democratic Party unity in this state. Apparently you've had success where others who have tried have failed. One I don't consider that I have had success. I think yes what has been wrong in the past is that people always looking to have their picture in the paper are their picture on the television not the tube. The people themselves all the ones that have bring us together. The only thing that I have done I have been able to encourage. People sit down and talk these problems over together and provide the type of leadership. I believe in this state so desperately needs. Not only in

Mississippi but I think throughout our nation. Is getting them involved get in the sit down and talk together and then we find that they don't have any problems after all. I can give you a good example to people from both from an completely opposite point of view. Way For removed. They came in and sit around and they saw Warnitz sitting at a table in another one sitting at another table. And finally they got up and spoke. And before they left that afternoon they said one to another said you know you're not as near a better person as I thought you were. I've seen those two people work together. That no one else would have of ever thought that they could even work together. This is what I have encouraged in this is what I will continue to encourage so that we all can use every person to the maximum benefit. To start marching to the forty nine forty eight and take our rightful place as number one in this great land of ours in preparing for this inaugural day we were viewing some tapes of the inauguration four years ago.

And we noticed some key words there was a theme it seemed to the inaugural four years ago. The new South was mentioned over and over again by people being interviewed by some of the officials that were at the inaugural platform. Where do you feel the new South is now and where would you like to see it go. Well I mean you know Mississippi in SoCal saw those plates are a part of America. I don't like to be there. And I think this is what is wrong again would begin to put our sales into particular categories and this is why I have tried in this campaign to get away from sectionalism for example the builder in the hills in the coast and all of this that begins to fictionalize and you begin to move people apart. I don't want to say. Anything although then Mississippi is part of this great land and great America of our sales people all over the United States begin to recognize it. People in Mississippi it is a part of America. In fact just

recently all my trip to New York where used to go and people would kind of frown upon you you tell them that you were from Mississippi. But today they begin to recognize as that that they welcome you with open arms and why. The two reasons number one is that the people in South of your in Mississippi get away from sectionalism again. They have always treated other people like theyd like to be treated. They are kind generous good. They are not looking selflessly for themselves how much money am I going to get out of this or how much prestige or my receiving but doing something to help their fellow man. And secondly they have begin to look at Will Mississippi have we have kept our state on a sound physical basis. Something that New York City hasnt done not to be critical of New York City but to recognize it is not everything its happened in Mississippi is bad. But it's going back to that philosophy that we know how to get along with other people. That we are working hand in hand in that we're going to prove to the other

people throughout this great land of ours that we are part of America. We're not just a south land and they need us not the north and east of the West. But we are one group of people in this great land of ours in this bus and 10 year old year of ours I think it's a best time to stop in and to look back. And see what we have accomplished this past 200 years. And see what we're going to compass his next 100 years and we can look to see what the bad things happen and how we can correct those things. We are correcting them. We're going to correct and we're going to do it now. We're not going to do it 25 years from now. You mention the working man over and over again in your campaign and it's a part of the vocabulary I think of all Mississippians at this point. Who is the working man. Anybody who brings home a paycheck is a working person. So that puts us all in the same boat puts about 90 percent of the people of our great state. So many people though all that. And there's two ways to forego love. And I think we have not only in Mississippi

but throughout this land of ours. We have placed emphasis on the top level have looked soley to the so called leadership in one area and have forgotten the real people that have made this country great. That's awful for those who came here with chop and actions men. And people who are willing to work by the sweat of their brow. These are good people they are not looking for a thing in the world but good government they are not looking for that goal to line their pockets with. And they want to please 70 to 75 percent of the tax dollars that goes to support. All of our government. In fact in talking with the present United States. Just a few days ago. I find that he is concerned and I appreciate him being this way but when they were talking and his advisors were talking solely about the large corporate Formosan we were talking about the rice industry but not a single time did anyone in this

conversation mention that small form of the average citizen out there who's raised a few acres of soybeans or cotton a few cows and I asked Mr. President I said sometime in life that we should. Stop and re-evaluate what we're doing and think about that man there he cannot change from one crop level this year to the next level let's think about the priorities on every person and not just one area of our people. I realize you can't think solely about this small forma but let's don't forget him alone with a large farm. Same way with the large corporations and lease the working man who goes in and makes IT person money. If he has the support of the people that's working for him he makes good money. And that person working for him can make even more money in sales. That's the gap that I've talked about in this campaign. That I've seen people who would go slowly to the old politicians and saying well now you get me elected. Cliff's fence did not go.

Talk to a single politician. I thought it was time that the people of this land of ours should govern their government and not just a select few. I think this is a philosophy that the people of our state and our nation needs very desperately. The ones that have not been called upon before who have made this country a great country to live. That sounds good and if you can accomplish a lot of these things that you're not even talking about as you assume the office an hour from now you would be a very popular governor. Some of the legislators have said in the in the weeks leading up to the legislative session and in the weeks of this session as they await your inaugural. That this is probably going to be an unpopular legislature the 976 legislature will probably be unpopular. It's going to be the first year. Of your four year term. And you need as a politician you need to be popular during that first year. How can you accomplish that. The legislature is looking at the possibility of a tax increase. How do you look at it a tax increase and what will you do

to to be a popular man during your first term and first year in office. I'm not necessarily looking for popularity I think this again has been a thoughtless if. Our leaders in America not in Mississippi I think we've had excellent leadership both in the Senate in the house in the in the executive branches of our government as a whole. I have never criticized and I shall never criticize anyone in any of these capacities I feel that it is my duty to lead and to work with the Senate the House and the other officials throughout this state of ours. I don't think and I believe at the end of the year the legislature will be one of the most popular because they will assume their leadership. That's all the people of our state want someone who's saying let's go down the middle of the road. Let's do our job. What are they. Somebody may think that I should do just for selfish interest. But someone who will call the shots as he feels in his part there's a vested interest in every missing.

Then we'll be popular as long as we're trying to work for popularity. Then we all become unpopular. But if we do our job properly honest and fair for every Mississippian then I think we'll be popular enough for everybody. Do you think we will have attacks have to have a tax increase this year. No I do not believe that there will be a tax increase. I've talked with the leadership of the Senate and House and they all understand as I do that the people of Mississippi are taxed even more than they should be taxed. We pay more taxes than any other person in the United States based on their per capita income. They want to feel their responsibility just as I do and I do not foresee a tax increase in the next four years. How are we going to accomplish some of the things that need to be accomplished in the next one in the next couple of years without it. For instance there are some bridges need to be constructed across the Tennessee Tombigbee. How would you compensate without a tax increase.

Well first what we should have done a long time is place priority is. The number one priority number two priorities number three. I think we're wasting some money that we don't have to be in this is where I intend to encourage the leadership of the particular agency isn't in excess of 150 or 60 agencies that were created at a time when a lot of more good but now I'm no longer serving a useful purpose or duplication of services. I want to be able streamline those right down the line and let's get the maximum dollar then we can use those dollars that are being placed in more beneficial manner than what they are placing now. And for those bridges in the areas over the Tom Donnelly Tombigbee waterway system is the greatest thing is ever happened in Mississippi. And we'll see the greatest economic impact. In fact I might say and I'm sure the people of Mississippi are interested in knowing that the this project on the eastern side of our state is the largest single project is taking place by the

United States government Corps of Engineers in any place in this United States right here in Mississippi. A lot of money in a lot industry is coming here. And yet at the same time. I realize that people and in Washington they are not and do not even want us to pay all of these calls to the bridges. We're going to provide ways to. Finance these bridges. Talk with the people in Washington and working with the senators and representatives from our state. And I feel very comfortable about the position now that we are going to provide these rules without an increase in taxes. I realize it's going to take a lot of leadership from every Mississippi and working with the people throughout this United States. I don't know that we're going to build this project and I know that we're going to finance those roads. I think it's a time to look and see what priorities that we should place and how we should place them and then we will come up with the best solution. But I do not. In any circumstances want to see people taxed one more penny on this for years.

There's always an exception to every rule but I feel with the proper leadership that we can and we will and from the encouragement without me telling in detail until we know and until our senators and representatives won't reveal in talking with the leadership. Throughout this United States that we will provide those roads. That. We rigidly start out to be for Mississippi share with 14 million. During that same 14 million that is going to build those roads will cost Mississippians if we had to pay for it. One hundred and seventy five million dollars. We cannot afford that if we had to pay our share. Based on what the original. Estimate would go on call so why believe. And fact I am. 90 percent positive that the government will. Finance those parts where we will not have to increase taxes. Let's get to Cliff and show the man the working man as you call him

during the campaign. We we know from the from the campaign programs the campaign literature. That. That your fan base will. Have a. Legal practice of going to district attorney. That you grew up on a farm. Fact I think most of us during the still realize and visualize from the campaigning that we can still see you standing at a certain point in your boyhood home. What is Cliff Ventura like when he's out of the public eye one. What is Cliff bench really like. What what are your likes what are your desires and what do you want to accomplish. Personally aside from your political ambitions. Well that's hard for individual say yourself. I am basically a worker. I believe in work. I believe that's the only way that we live accomplish anything in life is. Getting your goals and priorities and then working towards those ends.

In the practice of law that. We have a policy in in my office that all the lawyers we arrive at the office at 7 o'clock every morning. We work till our job is over with with it's all night. We do this six days out of the week. I have always worked at. That's the only thing that I know that I can do is work. But we are doers when we're working. If we have a goal to work toward and that is what we set out to do. In life. When I'm not working. If I'm out of work and I like to go out to the one home place where I have a little form few cows. Like ride horses. Take my boys we ride. Motorbikes. Dirt bikes so to speak. We have a lot of fun together we have a real close working relation family have always worked together in our campaign. The girls they have just really enjoyed every campaign I've ever met. The

boys or just they're enthusiastic about it as little girls they have really been a message to me and my wife and family in our campaigns. They enjoy campaigning like I do. They enjoy meeting people. In fact Nikki is the littlest smallest son. He just. Must be surrounded with a bunch of his little friends all the time that he enjoys he is their friend and this is pretty much the attitude of all of the members of our family we like people we like to be associated with people. In our home it is known that if this is everybody's home people feel free to come. They've always come to visit with us they'll just go and spend the night when they are there. And this is why I talk about the campaign I wanted people to come and use imagine because this was. Our home and this was their mansion. That we've had regardless of what station in life that that person was it who want to come and visit with me he get the same treatment if a person was the largest

executive in the United States. I just believe in. Treating people like I'd like to be treated. My family is it feels the same way. But when we play we play hard. I know a couple weeks ago we were riding. Their. Bikes and cause I was so blue from the waist down and I was hard labor get up to go to Washington the next day. But we play hard and we work we work hard. And same way where ever all of us got a horse together because this is a good opportunity to get out and relax in this area. We like to hunt fish. Do you really are a sport fan in every capacity I love in a type of sport. Whether. Regardless of what it might be in fact and I love it so much that I could not allow myself to become too involved because this is all I would want to do. So I've always limited myself to weekends to take care of the border activities because I work just as hard doing this. I've always been

active in the community affairs and I believe in working with our fellow man. Regardless if it's during the week it's not something just on Sundays. I don't have the time now at least I have not taken the time to do everything that I'd like to do. But basically just a simple life. I don't care for and my family has never cared for the so-called sophisticated in a sense that no one was invited unless they knew how to hold a cup of. Think you know just exactly the same way. Not that I do not appreciate every person but. I do tend to place everybody in the same category that they are human beings like I am. And I want to trade all of them whether they hold that cocktail glass the same way as somebody who holds it with their all the hand around it. That they are basically the same people. That they are good in their bed but people as a whole are good. I believe in my fellow

man. I trust my fellow man. I believe in that he is sincerely honest until he's proven otherwise. I've never been and never been sued by anybody yet. That is basically a very simple life but yet a sincere life. Has your family made the transition and you mission they've been used to campaigning. All of a sudden the time for a lot of these personal things that you'd like to do will be ending for you and your family will be in the public eye and there just won't be the time to do the things that you've been accustomed doing while you were district attorney. How will they make the transition. I don't think it'll be any different than what it was as in any other life. But again I work just as hard as district attorney as I'll be working for the governor that's about seven days a week 24 hours a day I don't know if you get much work more work out of it. But we always found time to take off and go ride motorbikes or horses or fish and hunt or just go out and be with closer to nature and closer to God be closer to the people the real

people involved in this life. I feel that we all have about the same time. I realize that that is really hard on my family than it is oh maybe. And especially it's harder in the campaign than it is. After you have been either been rejected or accepted. I can say for example some of my little girl a little boy remember that a teacher was wearing an opponent button and of course a little fellow like mine's son you know he didn't realize that everybody has a right to support who they should include your children you know always want them to love daddy like they did. Well this just broke his little heart he couldn't take it because he thought that everybody should love daddy like he did. And one of the little girls called me one day from school. And she was really heartbroken somebody was saying well he was sporting one of our opponents. And you know children have a tendency to be kind of cruel in the first place. But they were saying you know that had good their opponent was in how bad their daddy was you know.

And yet when I got to talk with her and she was crying but she realized that no one ever kicked a dead dog. That if if we weren't out in one of the top contenders nobody would even mention us. Kind of like the news people did in the first primary you know nobody ever recognizes in the first primary we were trying to be recognized and no one paid any attention to us but the people. But in a second when they begin to recognize it where we may be able to accomplish some things that they had not recently thought about. And then that once she saw that face of it to go ahead and treat that person that was. Mistreating her to some extent freed her with that same look as she would like to be treated then they will find. That that person is not near as bad as she thought they were. So she called me back two days later and said that he you know you're right since she's one of my closest friends now. So you see it's a process of them learning much faster than it would be for some of the rest of us and may learn that same philosophy is that we race 30 or 40.

It makes the children grow a little faster. It's a little hard on. But yet they're able to cope with it. And I've been very proud of my family. Mr. Finch It's almost time for you to. Get ready to. Enter the inaugural platform and take the oath of office to become officially the state's chief executive and we will wish you the best of luck and a good administration. Thank you very much appreciate your thoughts. I deeply appreciate the Khalfan said every Mississippian has placed and Cliff that's as their governor. I will return the office of governor and I have this thing. That I work every day to make you the best government that we've ever had. Thank you very much. Thank you so. Much.