April 15, 2019 - Former Gov. Bill Weld (R) Announces Candidacy

• Weld, the 2016 Libertarian nominee for vice president. announced an exploratory committee for a Republican challenge to President Trump two months ago on Feb. 15, 2019.

• On April 15 announced his candidacy via this video.


3m22s video

[Music]

Male Announcer: Massachusetts 1990. A state near bankruptcy. Corrupt Democratic machine. They called it Taxachusetts. One party rule. No Republican governor for 20 years.

One man had the courage to stand up and fight. A crime fighter appointed U.S. Attorney by Ronald Reagan.

Bill Weld ran for governor on his record.

Top Boston city officials retire; they claim accidents. U.S. Attorney Bill Weld investigates the claims. Fraudulent. Weld prosecutes, gets fraud convictions, jail, millions saved in taxes.

Now Bill Weld runs for governor. His platform? What it's always been—guts, integrity, independence.

They said it couldn't be done. No Republican could win. Bill Weld bat the odds. An historic victory.

Bill Weld cut taxes 21 times. He balanced the budget, reformed welfare.

Man: I'm not happy to be on welfare because it ain't no way to live. I don't want my children growing up seeing us living off of the welfare system. Now I'm actually out there contributing, doing something to earn my benefits. I support all the way what Gov. Weld's trying to do. Now that I'm working I feel like I'm somebody; I feel like I can contribute out there

Bill Weld made Massachusetts safer. And every day he cared.

Woman: Katie's father and I lived together for 14 years. I became pregnant and he left.
Woman: Non payment of child support was the most socially accepted form of child abuse. Gov. Weld and Lt. Gov. Cellucci made non payment of child support what it should have been long ago, a crime. No other administration has ever done for the children of this Commonwealth what the Weld administration has done.

He transformed the state. Won re-election with the largest margin ever in Massachusetts, Bill Weld made history.

Today we need Bill Weld more than ever.

Because America deserves better.

Trump clips:
He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured. Okay.

I don't know what I said. I don't remember.

...And Mexico will pay for the wall.

News Announcer: Shameful, dangerous and weak. Some of the words lawmakers from both parties are using to describe President Trump's remarks with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin today.

Trump: I moved on here like a [beep]. I couldn't get there and she was married. And when you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything. [Whatever you want]. Trump: Grab em by [beep]. Hello, how are you?

Knock the crap out of them would you? Seriously..

You know, you can see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever

You also had people that were very fine people on both sides.

I love WikiLeaks.

I know nothing about WikiLeaks.

[Music]

Male Announcer: America has a choice.

New Hampshire 2019.

A better America starts here.

Bill Weld for President. Join us.

Weld Voiceover: I'm Bill Weld, and I approve this message.


For Immediate Release
April 15, 2019
Contact: Jennifer Horn
Weld2020.org

Bill Weld Announces Candidacy For President Of The United States of America

“It is time for patriotic women and men across our great nation to stand and plant a flag.”
 
Boston, MA (April 15, 2019) Today Governor Bill Weld announced his candidacy to run for President of the United States of America in the Republican Primary.
 
“Ours is a nation built on courage, resilience, and independence.  In these times of great political strife, when both major parties are entrenched in their “win at all cost” battles, the voices of the American people are being ignored and our nation is suffering.
 
It is time for patriotic men and women across our great nation to stand and plant a flag. It is time to return to the principles of Lincoln – equality, dignity, and opportunity for all.  There is no greater cause on earth than to preserve what truly makes America great. I am ready to lead that fight,” said Weld.
 
In the months ahead Bill Weld will go directly to the American people to talk about their concerns, priorities, and dreams – both for themselves and for their children. He will share his vision of an America that lifts up all people, that unlocks the potential of every student, every small business owner, and every American worker.
 
A Reagan Republican who was appointed US Attorney by President Ronald Reagan, Bill Weld knows that America can still be that “shining city on a hill.”
 
Bill Weld believes that we must preserve the democratic institutions of our Republic: the rule of law, a free and open press, and America’s global leadership in maintaining a freer, safer world.
 
He believes that transparency is the cornerstone of accountability, that freedom dies in darkness, and that government must serve the people, not the politicians. 
 
Bill Weld is uniquely qualified to serve the American people as President.  He has an unblemished record of service and leadership.  In addition to seven years in the Department of Justice, he served two terms as Governor in Massachusetts, where he was reelected by the largest margin in state history. He cut taxes 21 times, never raised them, balanced the budget, and oversaw six upgrades in the state’s bond rating.  He signed landmark welfare reform, established public education standards, and was a trailblazer as an early proponent for LGBT civil rights.
 
He was ranked the most fiscally conservative Governor in the country by the Cato Institute and the Wall Street Journal.
 
Governor Weld was born in Smithtown, NY.  He is a graduate of Harvard College summa cum laude, studied international economics at University College, Oxford, and received his law degree from Harvard Law School cum laude. Bill is an active member of the Council on Foreign Relations and of the InterAction Council, an organization of former heads of state who meet around the world and issue annual reports on international issues of transcendent importance such as nuclear proliferation, religious sectarianism, and food and water. Bill served by Presidential appointment on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council.
 
He and his wife, Leslie, live in Canton, MA. Between them, they have eight children and eight grandchildren.
 
 
Announcement video can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/330371574/416d7768b1
 
 
Governor Bill Weld will appear today on The Lead With Jake Tapper on CNN, after which he will go immediately to the First in the Nation primary state of New Hampshire for two days of campaigning. His visit will include a diner tour, a traditional NH house party, and an official foreign policy address at the World Affairs Council of NH. 
 
All events are open press.
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
 
Diner Tour
Open Press
11:00 am The Red Arrow Diner, 61 Lowell St., Manchester, NH
11:45 am The Airport Diner, 2280 Brown Ave., Manchester, NH
1:00 pm Norton's Classic Café, 233 Main St., Nashua, NH
 
World Affairs Council of NH
Foreign Policy Address
“What Role Should America Play in the World Today?”
Doors open at 6:30 pm
Speech at 7:00 pm
Southern New Hampshire University
Hospitality Building
2500 River Rd., Manchester, NH
 
Open Press
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
 
A Conversation About Job Growth with Town Manager Kevin Smith & Local Business Owners
2:30 pm
Londonderry Town Hall
268B Mammoth Rd., Londonderry, NH
(Additional stops tba)
 
Open Press
 
House Party with Kerry and James Stap
6:30 pm
3 Hayes Hart Rd., Windham, NH
 
Open Press
Press set up 6:00 pm