To try to mesh service and sacrifice, "WIN" called for Americans to reduce their spending and consumption.[97] On October 4, 1974, Ford gave a speech in front of a joint session of Congress; as a part of this speech he kicked off the "WIN" campaign. Over the next nine days, 101,240 Americans mailed in "WIN" pledges.[95] In hindsight, this was viewed as simply a public relations gimmick which had no way of solving the underlying problems.[98] The main point of that speech was to introduce to Congress a one-year, five-percent income tax increase on corporations and wealthy individuals. This plan would also take $4.4 billion out of the budget, bringing federal spending below $300 billion.[99] At the time, inflation was over twelve percent.[100]

Budget
Ford and his golden retriever, Liberty, in the Oval Office, 1974
The federal budget ran a deficit every year Ford was president.[101] Despite his reservations about how the program ultimately would be funded in an era of tight public budgeting, Ford signed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, which established special education throughout the United States. 