Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
1554447
label
Busing, April-May 1976
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
1554447
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Busing, April-May 1976
citationUrl
collections
White House Special Files Unit Files
Issue Decision Papers for the President
subjects
Busing for school integration
Education, Elementary
Education, Secondary
Legislation
thumbnailUrl
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
1554447
coverageEndDate
day
25
logicalDate
1976-06-25
month
6
year
1976
coverageStartDate
logicalDate
1976-04-01
month
4
year
1976
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
881cc7d2410ec3ac
ocrText
The original documents are located in Box 4, folder "Busing, April-May 1976" of the White
House Special Files Unit Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Trudy,
Now that the flap is over
you can have them back
for your files.
Eleanor
5/21
BERALD
TIERARY
Digitized from Box 4 of the White House Special Files Unit Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FILeD
[4/7/76]
April 7, 1976
MR PRESIDENT:
Letter from Secretary Mathews
on Busing
The attached memorandum from Secretary Mathews
was staffed to Messrs. Cannon, Buchen, Lynn,
Marsh and Friedersdorf.
Jack Marsh and Phil Buchen submitted some
comments concerning Secretary Mathews'
suggestions. They are attached at TAB A.
Further, Jim Cannon and Jim Lynn advised
LIBRARY & GERALD
that they spoke to you last week about this matter.
I understand that Jim Cannon, the Attorney General
and Secretary Mathews are preparing an alternate
memorandum that will be forwarded to you shortly.
Jim Connor
THE WHITE HOUSE
ACTION MEMORANDUM
WASHINGTON
LOG NO.:
Date:
April 1, 1976
Time:
FOR ACTION:
CC (for information):
im Cannon
Phil Buchen
Jack Marsh
Jim Lynn
Max Friedersdorf
FROM THE STAFF SECRETARY
DUE: Date:
Saturday, April 3
Time: 10 A.M.
SUBJECT:
Letter from Secretary Mathews on Busing
ACTION REQUESTED:
For Necessary Action
For Your Recommendations
Prepare Agenda and Brief
Draft Reply
X
For Your Comments
Draft Remarks
REMARKS:
We would appreciate your comments on the attached
memorandum before we send it forward to the President.
Marsh- see comments
Freedendaf- ok to send in
Buchen see comments
FORD LIBRARY is
PLEASE ATTACH THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED.
If you have any questions or if you anticipate a
delay in submitting the required material, please
Jim Connor
telephone the Staff Secretary immediately.
For the President
Staff Jim -
Do you want this to get just our regulatr
"routine manner" note?
Trudy
-
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
3.30.76
TO: Jim Connor
For Your Information:
For Appropriate Handling:
Pres FY Ifile
Robert RDC D. Linder
THE WHITE HOUSE
ACTION MEMORANDUM
WASHINGTON
LOG NO.:
Date:
April 1, 1976
Time:
FOR ACTION:
CC (for information):
Jim Cannon
Phil Buchen
Jack Marsh
Jim Lynn
Max Friedersdorf
FROM THE STAFF SECRETARY
DUE: Date:
Saturday, April 3
Time: 10 A.M.
SUBJECT:
Letter from Secretary Mathews on Busing
ACTION REQUESTED:
For Necessary Action
For Your Recommendations
Prepare Agenda and Brief
Draft Reply
X
For Your Comments
Draft Remarks
REMARKS:
We would appreciate your comments on the attached
memorandum before we send it forward to the President.
PLEASE ATTACH THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED.
If you have any questions or if you anticipate a
delay in submitting the required material, please
Jim Connor
telephone the Staff Secretary immediately.
For the President
THE
NOILY
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20201
MAR 29 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
The best advice I can bring together from across the country leads
me to recommend a few basic precepts from which to make judgments
on a whole host of complex issues and options on the matter of busing
and desegregation.
The best policy position would be one with three basic elements:
1.
It is important that the President first reaffirm the
national commitment to the basic moral principle that
RH
segregation is incompatible with any good vision of the
future of this country and that no child should be denied
the benefits of an equal education because of race. Any
position that does not begin at this point and clear the
air on it will mire down.
2.
Your position on busing can then be restated and expanded
by the assertion that because of this moral imperative,
we cannot do other than pursue, with all diligence, the
issue of the best means. There is evidence that busing
is not an effective means in some situations, and we
cannot escape an obligation to find better approaches
to the problem. It is important at this point, however,
not to go on to try to prove that any of the alternatives
we now have is a certain cure either. None is. And
there are a great many cases where transportation by
buses is working well according to the research reports
we have.
3.
The "truth" that nobody is saying is that the solution is
in taking an approach much broader than concentrating
on busing or any of its alternatives. The first part of
that solution is to turn the issue away from just a busing
question. The busing debate is really not a constructive
debate at all, and the issue must be "depoliticized" as
much as possible. Perhaps this issue has met a stale-
mate in the political processes and must be lifted out of
that atmosphere and placed in a nonpartisan, nonpolitical
- 2 -
forum for serious and far-reaching reassessment.
The suggestion is that you push for real, useful--
not just rhetorical-- attention to the problem.
4.
The other part of the solution is to focus on the problem
as it really is, not as it seems to be. The issue is not
what means are used to achieve desegregation but who
controls that decision and how parental and community
concerns are taken into consideration. To reframe the
case and to focus on reuniting the community and parents
with school control has great potential and is the way
the cities have had some success with getting on with
desegregation.
5.
The public feels that the federal government (whether by
the courts or the legislative process) has not only
failed to solve the problem but has made it worse. There-
fore, any solution from any part of the federal govern-
ment is likely to fail even if it were the "right" solu-
tion. The only good option for the Executive Branch
may be to act as a "helper" and a partner to aid com-
munities in helping themselves.
6.
Using the precedent of the government to create a national
force that is not governmental (the National Academy of
Sciences and the National Council on the Arts and Humani-
ties are examples), perhaps we should consider working
with local governments and community groups to create
a body from the best of the local community, education
and parental leadership, titled perhaps the National Com-
munity and Education Council. It could work as a medi-
ating force and provide technical assistance to communi-
ties to deal with problems before they become crises.
In fact, the evidence from successes in Atlanta and Dallas
is that citizen alliances of the type the Council should
foster were the decisive forces. As I noted earlier,
"success" seems to turn most on how well a community
goes about making decisions that come up before the
question of busing or any other means. The Council
could also help cities to get the whole community, not
just the schools, involved in voluntary efforts to prevent
unhealthy racial isolation and foster constructive human
relations.
- 3 -
The courts might find such a body a welcome referral
point (that is, to get ideas but in no sense would it
be proper for such a council to be an agent of the
courts), and cities or community alliances might
find it a source of good ideas and even endorsement.
Another alternative would be to use the occasion of
getting the ESA legislation renewed to allow us to
encourage many of the activities that the Council would
foster without the fanfare of creating a new agency.
In sum, there do not seem to be any solutions that come from dealing
with busing directly or even in searching for alternatives. The best
chances for success seem to be in pioneering some new ground.
Americans traditionally have solved problems not by changing the
problem, but by changing their view of the problem.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 2, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
JIM CONNOR
FROM:
MAX FRIEDERSDORF m.b.
SUBJECT:
Letter from Secretary Mathews on Busing
The Office of Legislative Affairs recommends that subject letter be sent.
THE WHITE HOUSE
ACTION MEMORANDUM
WASHINGTON
LOG NO.:
Date:
April 1, 1976
Time:
FOR ACTION:
CC (for information):
Jim Cannon
Phil Buchen
Jack Marsh
Jim Lynn
Max Friedersdorf
FROM THE STAFF SECRETARY
DUE: Date:
Saturday, April 3
Time: 10 A.M.
SUBJECT:
Letter from Secretary Mathews on Busing
ACTION REQUESTED:
For Necessary Action
For Your Recommendations
Prepare Agenda and Brief
Draft Reply
X For Your Comments
Draft Remarks
REMARKS:
We would appreciate your comments on the attached
memorandum before we send it forward to the President.
PLEASE ATTACH THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED.
If you have any questions or if you anticipate a
delay in submitting the required material, please
Jim Connor
telephone the Staff Secretary immediately.
For the President
ALTH
111
DEPARTMENT
ONE
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C.20201
DEPART
MAR 29 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
The best advice I can bring together from across the country leads
me to recommend a few basic precepts from which to make judgments
on a whole host of complex issues and options on the matter of busing
and desegregation.
The best policy position would be one with three basic elements:
1.
It is important that the President first reaffirm the
RH
national commitment to the basic moral principle that
segregation is incompatible with any good vision of the
future of this country and that no child should be denied
the benefits of an equal education because of race. Any
position that does not begin at this point and clear the
air on it will mire down.
2.
Your position on busing can then be restated and expanded
by the assertion that because of this moral imperative,
we cannot do other than pursue, with all diligence, the
issue of the best means. There is evidence that busing
is not an effective means in some situations, and we
cannot escape an obligation to find better approaches
to the problem. It is important at this point, however,
not to go on to try to prove that any of the alternatives
we now have is a certain cure either. None is. And
there are a great many cases where transportation by
buses is working well according to the research reports
we have.
3.
The "truth" that nobody is saying is that the solution is
in taking an approach much broader than concentrating
on busing or any of its alternatives. The first part of
that solution is to turn the issue away from just a busing
question. The busing debate is really not a constructive
debate at all, and the issue must be "depoliticized" as
much as possible. Perhaps this issue has met a stale-
mate in the political processes and must be lifted out of
that atmosphere and placed in a nonpartisan, nonpolitical
- 2 -
forum for serious and far-reaching reassessment.
The suggestion is that you push for real, useful--
not just rhetorical-- attention to the problem.
4.
The other part of the solution is to focus on the problem
as it really is, not as it seems to be. The issue is not
what means are used to achieve desegregation but who
controls that decision and how parental and community
concerns are taken into consideration. To reframe the
case and to focus on reuniting the community and parents
with school control has great potential and is the way
the cities have had some success with getting on with
desegregation.
5.
The public feels that the federal government (whether by
the courts or the legislative process) has not only
failed to solve the problem but has made it worse. There-
fore, any solution from any part of the federal govern-
ment is likely to even if it were the "right" solu-
tion. The only good option for the Executive Branch
may be to act as a "helper" and a partner to aid com-
munities in helping themselves.
6.
Using the precedent of the government to create a national
force that is not governmental (the National Academy of
Sciences and the National Council on the Arts and Humani-
ties are examples), perhaps we should consider working
with local governments and community groups to create
a body from the best of the local community, education
and parental leadership, titled perhaps the National Com-
munity and Education Council. It could work as a medi-
ating force and provide technical assistance to communi-
ties to deal with problems before they become crises.
In fact, the evidence from successes in Atlanta and Dallas
is that citizen alliances of the type the Council should
foster were the decisive forces. As I noted earlier,
"success" seems to turn most on how well a community
goes about making decisions that come up before the
question of busing or any other means. The Council
could also help cities to get the whole community, not
just the schools, involved in voluntary efforts to prevent
unhealthy racial isolation and foster constructive human
relations.
- 3 -
The courts might find such a body a welcome referral
point (that is, to get ideas but in no sense would it
be proper for such a council to be an agent of the
courts), and cities or community alliances might
find it a source of good ideas and even endorsement.
Another alternative would be to use the occasion of
getting the ESA legislation renewed to allow us to
encourage many of the activities that the Council would
foster without the fanfare of creating a new agency.
In sum, there do not seem to be any solutions that come from dealing
with busing directly or even in searching for alternatives. The best
chances for success seem to be in pioneering some new ground.
Americans traditionally have solved problems not by changing the
problem, but by changing their view of the problem.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 5, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
JIM CONNOR
THROUGH:
PHIL BUCHEN
T.
Bobbi
FROM:
BOBBIE GREENE KILBERG
SUBJECT:
Letter from Secretary Mathews
on Busing
Secretary Mathews' central recommendation, as explained in para-
graph No. 6 of his memorandum, is that the Federal Government
work with local governments, educators and community groups to
create a mechanism that could provide mediation and technical
assistance to communities facing integration problems. The idea
is to keep problems from turning into crises and to keep communities
out of court. This recommendation parallels one of the options that
the Domestic Council has been looking into at the direction of the
President.
The Counsel's Office supports this recommendation, but would
prefer that the activities it entails be carried out without the creation
of a new agency.
THE WHITE HOUSE
ACTION MEMORANDUM
WASHINGTON
LOG NO.:
Date:
April 1, 1976
Time:
FOR ACTION:
CC (for information):
Jim Cannon
Phil Buchen
Jack Marsh
Jim Lynn
Max Friedersdorf
FROM THE STAFF SECRETARY
DUE: Date:
Saturday, April 3
Time: 10 A.M.
SUBJECT:
Letter from Secretary Mathews on Busing
ACTION REQUESTED:
For Necessary Action
For Your Recommendations
Prepare Agenda and Brief
Draft Reply
X
For Your Comments
Draft Remarks
REMARKS:
We would appreciate your comments on the attached
memorandum before we send it forward to the President.
PLEASE ATTACH THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED.
If you have any questions or if you anticipate a
delay in submitting the required material, please
Jim Connor
telephone the Staff Secretary immediately.
For the President
THE WHITE HOUSE
ACTION MEMORANDUM
WASHINGTON
LOG NO.:
due:4/3 due 4/3
Date:
April 1, 1976
Time:
10:00
FOR ACTION:
CC (for information):
Jim Cannon
Phil Buchen
Jack Marsh
Jim Lynn
Max Friedersdorf
FROM THE STAFF SECRETARY
DUE: Date:
Saturday, April 3
Time: 10 A.M.
SUBJECT:
Letter from Secretary Mathews on Busing
ACTION REQUESTED:
For Necessary Action
For Your Recommendations
Prepare Agenda and Brief
Draft Reply
X
For Your Comments
Draft Remarks
REMARKS:
We would appreciate your comments on the attached
memorandum before we send it forward to the President.
GERALD R.FORD
PLEASE ATTACH THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED.
If you have any questions or if you anticipate a
delay in submitting the required material, please
Jim Connor
telephone the Staff Secretary immediately.
For the President
DEPARTMENT
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
DIPAITIMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201
MAR 2 9 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
The best advice I can bring together from across the country leads
me to recommend a few basic precepts from which to make judgments
on a whole host of complex issues and options on the matter of busing
and desegregation.
The best policy position would be one with three basic elements:
1.
It is important that the President first reaffirm the
national commitment to the basic moral principle that
RH
segregation is incompatible with any good vision of the
future of this country and that no child should be denied
the benefits of an equal education because of race. Any
position that does not begin at this point and clear the
air on it will mire down.
2.
Your position on busing can then be restated and expanded
by the assertion that because of this moral imperative,
we cannot do other than pursue, with all diligence, the
issue of the best means. There is evidence that busing
is not an effective means in some situations, and we
cannot escape an obligation to find better approaches
to the problem. It is important at this point, however,
not to go on to try to prove that any of the alternatives
we now have is a certain cure either. None is. And
there are a great many cases where transportation by
buses is working well according to the research reports
we have.
3.
The "truth" that nobody is saying is that the solution is
in taking an approach much broader than concentrating
on busing or any of its alternatives. The first part of
that solution is to turn the issue away from just a busing
question. The busing debate is really not a constructive
debate at all, and the issue must be "depoliticized" as
much as possible. Perhaps this issue has met a stale-
mate in the political processes and must be lifted out of
that atmosphere and placed in a nonpartisan, nonpolitical
- 2 -
forum for serious and far-reaching reassessment.
The suggestion is that you push for real, useful--
not just rhetorical-- attention to the problem.
4.
The other part of the solution is to focus on the problem
as it really is, not as it seems to be. The issue is not
what means are used to achieve desegregation but who
controls that decision and how parental and community
concerns are taken into consideration. To reframe the
case and to focus on reuniting the community and parents
with school control has great potential and is the way
the cities have had some success with getting on with
desegregation.
5.
The public feels that the federal government (whether by
the courts or the legislative process) has not only
failed to solve the problem but has made it worse. There-
fore, any solution from any part of the federal govern-
ment is likely to fail--even if it were the "right" solu-
tion. The only good option for the Executive Branch
may be to act as a "helper" and a partner to aid com-
munities in helping themselves.
6.
Using the precedent of the government to create a national
force that is not governmental (the National Academy of
Sciences and the National Council on the Arts and Humani-
ties are examples), perhaps we should consider working
with local governments and community groups to create
a body from the best of the local community, education
and parental leadership, titled perhaps the National Com-
munity and Education Council. It could work as a medi-
ating force and provide technical assistance to communi-
ties to deal with problems before they become crises.
In fact, the evidence from successes in Atlanta and Dallas
is that citizen alliances of the type the Council should
foster were the decisive forces. As I noted earlier,
"success" seems to turn most on how well a community
goes about making decisions that come up before the
question of busing or any other means. The Council
could also help cities to get the whole community, not
just the schools, involved in voluntary efforts to prevent
unhealthy racial isolation and foster constructive human
relations.
- 3 -
The courts might find such a body a welcome referral
point (that is, to get ideas but in no sense would it
be proper for such a council to be an agent of the
courts), and cities or community alliances might
find it a source of good ideas and even endorsement.
Another alternative would be to use the occasion of
getting the ESA legislation renewed to allow us to
encourage many of the activities that the Council would
foster without the fanfare of creating a new agency.
In sum, there do not seem to be any solutions that come from dealing
with busing directly or even in searching for alternatives. The best
chances for success seem to be in pioneering some new ground.
Americans traditionally have solved problems not by changing the
problem, but by changing their view of the problem.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 3, 1976
MEMORANDUM TO:
JIM CONNOR
FROM:
JACK MARSH
I have reservations in reference to the attached busing
letter. The President, I think, seeks to emphasize as
a first priority what might be termed a rule.based on
quality education. The emphasis of this letter forces more
on busing per se than it does on the achievement of
quality education. It is my view that the achievement of the
goal of equal opportunity without denial of that opportunity
because of race, and the achievement of quality education
must be compatible goals.
To focus on busing as a means of integration without emphasis
on quality education does damage to both purposes.
The suggestion of "nongovernmental national force" seems to
have merit. The examples where such a "force" has been used,
should be guideposts; however, such "force" should incorporate
into the busing question the general proposition of quality
education, without denial based on race.
OF HEALTH DUCATION AND
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH. EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201
U.S.A.
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
In regard to your directive to me and the Attorney General
to make recommendations to you on the school desegregation
issue, I would like to give you a brief interim report.
I have been meeting regularly in HEW with our own experts
and with experts outside the Department and hope to have
an additional analytic paper ready by the end of this month.
We have described our work in the Department as having the
"highest priority," at your request, but have avoided giving
the impression that there is some one task force report
coming to you since that might put you on the spot for a
response. The public posture has been instead continuous
study and discussion.
In general, we have found many reasons to suggest it may
not be sound for you to advocate any specific alternative
to busing. The effectiveness of any given technique varies
widely--none works perfectly.
On the other hand, there is mounting criticism of busing
from very progressive quarters (note the enclosed editorial
in Saturday Review) and a call for leadership that is both
moral and imaginative.
You set a general direction in our last conference in the
White House when you talked about the constructive role
the Executive Branch would play if its focus was on helping
cities stay out of court and on the community building and
supporting activities we could assist with before a crisis.
We have tried to explore that idea in detail and do feel
it is the right policy direction. (But by "community
building" we do not mean shifting the burden largely to
housing.)
SERALD
Page 2 - The President
If one follows the general policy direction just described,
it is possible to talk about "alternatives to alternatives,"
that is, positive actions a community can take involving
not only schools but other community agencies that can
improve education and help eliminate racial isolation.
Faithfully yours,
Enclosure
under the Fourteenth Amendment, bu:
Managing Editor
he believes it is irresponsible to ignore
Peter Young
or stand aside from the effects of mea-
Saturday Review
Arts Editor
Editorial Director
sures taken for that purpose. "The
Roland Gelatt
Horace Sullon
achievement benefits of integrated
Executive Editor
Music Editor
Richard L. Tobin
Irving Kolodin
schools appeared substantial when 1
studied them in the middle 1960s," he
Senior Editor
Science Editor
Education Editor
Hallowell Bowser
Albert Rosenleld
James Cass
says, "hul subsequent studies of achieve.
ment in actual systems that have deseg.
Contributing Editors
Goodman Ace
Hollis Alpert
Cleveland Amory
regated, with a more rigorous
John Clardi
William Cole
Judith Crist
methodology than we were able to use
R. Buckminster Fuller
Henry Hewes
Katharine Kuh
Thomas H. Middleton
Leo Rosten
Walter Terry
in 1966, have found smaller effects, and
Margaret R Weiss
Roger M. Williams
Anthony Wollf
in some cases none at all."
A major error in the original decision
Art Director
Judith Adel
was to underestimate the extent to which
Copy Editor
Book Review Editor
family background is a controlling
Editot-Norman Cousins
Michael Schrader
Susan Health
factor in education. Parents who are
R. Erhardt
Assistant Art Director
Assistant Editors
poorly educated themselves and who
Pauline Arn Girard
Hubert B Herring
have to contend with prolonged jobless-
Chairman, Board
Jane Anne Majeski
of Directors-George C. McGhee
Susan Schiefelbein
Karen Turok
hess, overcrowding, and malnutrition
cannot reasonably be expected to create
Associate Publisher
Vice-Chairmen
a home atmosphere supportive of a
Controller
Corporate Relations
S. Spencer Grin
Nathan Cohn
Walter H. Johnson, Jr.
learning experience for their children.
Lyn White
What is happening is that we are by-
passing the fundamentals in the search
for an answer. It is the condition of the
Busing Reconsidered
black in America that continues to be
the central, overriding, and saturating
B
using was honestly conceived as a
predominantly black schools. For ex-
issue. Everything involved in lifting a
way of coping with the fact that
ample, in Washington, D.C., 96 percent
people out of their low estate in society
schools in predominantly black neigh-
of the students are black; in Newark,
-housing, health. economic opportunity,
borhoods were segregated as the result
N.J., 72 percent; in Detroit, 70 percent;
nutrition. access to justice under the law
of local geography. The effect of this
in Philadelphia, 61 percent: in Chicago,
-fits into this total challenge.
circumstantial segregation, it was bc-
58 percent; in Cleveland, 57 percent.
The first thing that has to be done
lieved at the time, was to lower standards
Does this mean that we must now bor-
is to de-politicalize the issue. By this
of education for blacks.
row white students from the suburbs and
time, busing has become a battleground
But busing hasn't worked. After al-
bus them back to the inner city?
for liberals and conservatives. There
most a decade, it seems clear that the
The document that is generally re-
appcars to be a feeling among many
principal mistake was to assume that we
garded as having provided the impetus
liberals that to oppose busing is to re-
could create a more socially responsible
for school busing is the 1966 report
nounce an essential commitment to a
society by putting the problem on wheels
Titled "Equality of Educational Oppor-
better life for blacks. Many conserva-
and expecting it to arrive at a daily solu-
tunity." It was written by James S. Cole-
tives feel that the busing program is
tlon. The evidence is substantial that
man, professor of sociology, University
proof positive of the hazards of severe
busing is leading away from integra-
of Chicago, under the sponsorship of
governmental intrusion in matters in-
tion and not toward it; that it has not
the U.S. Office of Education. Coleman's
volving racial and social injustice.
significantly improved the quality of
research showed that deprived students
What is needed is a White House
education accessible to blacks; that it
did better when their schoolmates came
Conference for the purpose of making
has lowered the standard of education
from backgrounds strong in educational
an objective analysis of the busing expe-
available to whites; that it has resulted
motivation. The general interpretation
rience and for proposing alternatives.
in the exodus of white students to pri-
placed on the Coleman Report was that
It is to be hoped that the persons in-
vate schools inside the city or to public
the practice of segregation had resulted
vited to such a conference would come
schools in the comparatively aMuent
in inferior education for blacks. The
from many professions and occupations,
suburbs beyond the economic means of
conclusion at the time was that putting
and not from education alone.
blacks; and, finally, that it has not con-
blacks into white classes offered the best
There is no disgrace in having failed
tributed to racial harmony but has pro-
chance of meeting that problem.
in an important social enterprise. The
duced deep fissures within American so-
Professor Coleman has recently com-
only disgrace is in persisting with failure
ciety.
pleted a second report. He now presents
in order to hold to commitments with-
Busing hasn't desegregated the
his somber conclusion that busing has
out regard to the need for keeping an
schools. It has resegregated them. Racial
had the effect of replacing old patterns
open mind. A country dedicated to
concentration, the core of the problem,
of segregation with new ones. "Tronical-
human rights should not have to confess
continues. Some 30 percent of white
ly," he writes, " 'desegregation' may be
intellectual and moral bankruptcy in
families have moved to the suburbs,
increasing segregation." He reaffirms
attempting to provide an adequate edu-
leaving many large northern cities with
the need for ensuring equal protection
cation for all its citizens.
N.C.
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
POSTAGE AND FEES PAID
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF H.E.W.
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
The President
The White House
Washington, D. C.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 12, 1976
WEEKLY DOMESTIC ACTIVITIES REPORT
GERALD FORD FIREARY
FOR THE PRESIDENT
1.
Uranium Enrichment
Hearings were completed April 7, and there is some
evidence that the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy
intends to rewrite the legislation both to permit
a commercial diffusion plant and to authorize the
government add-on diffusion plant. The JCAE staff
believes they have enough information to justify
the construction of two diffusion plants.
The House Budget Committee included $230 million
for the add-on in its proposed resolution for FY '77.
The Senate Budget Committee did not, and Senator
Muskie has indicated he would not add money until
Congress acts on this legislation.
It is my understanding that we do not have the
technical capability to build two diffusion plants
at the same time. If we can start with the commercial
plant, we may not ever have to build the diffusion
add-on--for the centrifuge process may be ready then.
Jim Connor and I believe that, if the JCAE is going
for two diffusion plants, we should ask Representative
John Anderson to:
1. Encourage the JCAE to give a priority
to the commercial diffusion plant--with
the add-on continuing to be a back-up plant;
2. Persuade the JCAE to get their proposal for
design and construction of the add-on as
far below the Budget Committee's $230 million
as he can.
Approve
Disapprove
2
GERALD
2. Busing
I have had two good discussions with Secretary Mathews
about an attempt to find a better approach to this
problem. I talked briefly with Ed Levi and will meet
with him tomorrow.
At this point, we believe we must develop a concept
based on these premises:
(a) Communities should find solutions on their own
rather than have them imposed by the Federal
government;
(b) Remedies can best be reached before any court
action begins;
(c) Any approach must be in accord with Federal law
enforcement responsibilities.
If this meets with your approval, I will continue meeting
with both Mathews and Levi to develop specific proposals
for you.
Approve
Disapprove
3. Navigability of Waterways
In the wake of Lake Winnipesaukee, other questions
about which waters are navigable have been brought to
our attention.
Since the Constitution was written, the definition of
navigability has evolved to the point where its
application often does not make common sense.
As a result, we believe we should ask Secretary Coleman
to review the definition with the possible objective of
recommending to Congress a more precise and practical
interpretation. This review should include an examination
of the Constitutional implications, and the advantages
and disadvantages of making any changes in the definition
of navigability.
Approve
Disapprove
3
4.
Visit with Governor Rhodes
Jim Rhodes was in town last Wednesday and asked me
to give you these comments:
"Don't worry, you have got it made.
"In dealing with Reagan, you are dealing with a
wounded animal.
"Nancy is pushing him. After starring in all those
movies, his wife won't let him play a supporting
role.
"Louie Nunn has been active in Ohio, but the Ohio
Republican Chairman (Kent McGough) is pushing through
a winner-take-all primary, which President Ford will
win. (97 delegates)
"Stay on the free enterprise jobs, the tax cuts, and
the spending cuts.
"Stop everybody from talking about who is going to
leave the Administration.
"And don't worry. "
BERALD R. FORD
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 17, 1976
WEEKLY DOMESTIC ACTIVITIES REPORT
FOR THE PRESIDENT
1.
Uranium Enrichment
Last June you decided an important principle- that
future U.S. production of enriched uranium will be
done by private enterprise--and you asked Congress to
write that principle into law.
The bill that the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy has
ordered to be reported does adopt that principle.
There is a price, however:
a)
Each ERDA contract with a private company
must be approved in 60 days by a concurrent
resolution of Congress to be a valid contract.
b)
The JCAE bill and committee report imply a
commitment to build a $3 billion Portsmouth,
Ohio add-on plant; but the limited authorization
($255 million) implies the opposite.
After weighing all elements of the JCAE bill, OMB, NSC,
ERDA, Congressional Relations, the White House Counsel,
Jim Connor and I all agree that this is a victory for
you, we ought to proclaim it, and go all out to get
Congress to pass it as quickly as we can.
APPROVE
DISAPPROVE
BERRED R. LIGHARY FORD
2
2.
Food Stamps
No suit has yet been filed to block your administrative
reforms which begin to be effective June 1, 1976.
We understand that the Food Research and Action
Committee has been shopping for a judge and is leaning
now toward a Kennedy appointee in northern Minnesota.
As soon as the suit is filed, we will schedule your
meeting with Attorney General Levi, Solicitor General
Bork and Secretary Butz to discuss how we will win the
lawsuit.
3. Busing
We are working on three possible approaches to help a
community avoid a court order to bus:
a)
A "School Mediation Service," somewhat like
the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
for labor-management disputes, which could, at
the invitation of local officials, send a
mediator to attempt to work out a solution on
school desegregation before a Federal Court
order to bus. Secretary Usery believes this
could work.
b)
A Federal "clearing-house" of information and
technical assistance, which could be made
available to a community at its request to
help work out a solution before busing is ordered.
c)
A modest Federal fiscal incentive to assist a
community leadership group in working out a
solution to its school desegregation problems.
The federal grant would match funds locally
raised and could continue for no more than three
years. The incentive funds would also be shut
off if a Federal Court ordered busing.
up5/31
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 25, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE PRESIDENT
THROUGH:
RICHARD B. CHENEY
DPB
FROM:
DOUGLAS P. BENNETT
SUBJECT:
Board of Trustees of the American
Folklife Center.
Attached for your signature are commissions for the following-
named persons to be Members of the Board of Trustees of the
American Folklife Center:
For a term of two years
Mitchell P. Kobelinski, of Illinois, Administrator
of the Small Business Administration.
For a term of four years
Michael P. Balzano, Jr., of Virginia, Director of
ACTION.
GERALD FORD JERARY
Morris Thompson, of Alaska, Commissioner of Indian
Affairs, Department of Interior.
For a term of six years
Gary Everhardt, of Virginia, Director of the National
Park Service, Department of Interior.
All necessary checks have been completed. This action reflects
your decision of May 7, 1976.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 7, 1976
ADMINISTRATIVELY CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM FOR:
DOUGLAS P. BENNETT
FROM:
JAMES E. CONNOR
JEE
SUBJECT:
Members, Board of Trustees,
American Folklife Center
(PA, WAE) Four Members
Confirming a phone call to your office of this afternoon, the
President has reviewed your memorandum of May 4th on the
above subject and has approved the appointment of the following
to be Members, Board of T rustees of the American Folklife
Center:
Mitchell Kobelinski for a term of two years
Michael P. Balzano, Jr. for a term of four years
Morris Thompson for a term of four years
Gary E. Everhardt for a term of six years
GERALD
cc: Dick Cheney
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 29, 1976
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
The Attorney General has notified me that after
a thorough review, he has decided that the Department
of Justice should not file a brief in the Boston
school desegregation case at the current stage of
litigation.
The Attorney General also pointed out that for
over two decades the Department of Justice has
entered virtually every school desegregation case
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
that the Supreme Court has agreed to review. If the
Supreme Court agrees to review the Boston case, the
Department of Justice will follow past practice and
enter the case at that time.
I have informed the Attorney General that I respect
his decision not to intervene at this time and agree
with him that the decision in no way reflects upon
the merits of the case.
I have directed the Attorney General to continue
an active search for a busing case which would be
suitable for judicial review of current case law on
forced school busing, and to accelerate his efforts to
develop legislative remedies to minimize forced school
busing. It is my intention to send a message to the
Congress recommending such legislation at the earliest
possible time. In addition, I shall meet next week
with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health,
Education and Welfare, and other members of my Adminis-
tration to review other possible actions that can be
taken to provide communities with assistance in
achieving equal educational opportunity for all.
My objective is to create better educational
opportunities consistent with the Nation's commitment
to justice and equal opportunity. In my view, massive
school busing, while done with the best of intentions,
has too often disrupted the lives and impeded the
education of the children affected. I believe that
ways can be found to minimize forced busing while also
remaining true to the Nation's ideals and our educa-
tional goals. That is my objective.
###
- 10 -
#497-5/21
Q
Why doesn't he say integrated education
then?
MR. NESSEN: I don't know, Helen.
0
Ron, there was more to this busing thing
which you haven't read, in which he suggested some of the
alternatives that heis considering.
MR. NESSEN: That is right, and it is all being
Xeroxed now so we can give it out to you.
0
Is there more on this subject that you
haven't told us about?
MR. NESSEN: We are having this Xeroxed.
There was a question, "How do you propose to get
a quality education?" "There are a number of alternatives."
He talks about the Esch amendment -- if the courts would
follow that they could get quality education without
busing.
"Secondly, there are programs that Mathews is
submitting to me as a result of my ordered study that I
think will be helpful in alleviating the problems, so we
are trying to find something that is a better remedy
than these decisions by the various courts, and I can
assure you that this is under study and that these
recommendations were done well before any Presidential
campaign was undertaken.'
n
Do you have any details on what the alter-
GERALD FORD
natives are?
MR. NESSEN: No, as he said yesterday, he is not
going to put out what they are at this time until he has
decided which ones to recommend.
0
Yesterday he said there were three alter-
natives he was considering.
MR. NFSSEN: Right.
0
Today he mentions one and very broadly
the second is a review of everything. Are there really
three alternatives? Is there a study going on?
MR. NESSEN: Did you doubt the President would
say something if it weren't the case?
0
I would just like to know what he means.
MORE
#497
- 11 -
#497-5/21
MR. NESSEN: On the 19th of February Jim Cannon
submitted this five-page proposal with nine proposed
alternatives, or other methods of achieving quality
integrated education without forced busing, and
attached to it recommendations from various members of
the staff. The President sent that out saying that it
looked like this study was on the right track and
saying that he particularly was interested in following
up on recommendations or proposals A, B, D and E.
Then, on the 17th of May, 1976, which was last
week, I guess, four days ago, Jim Cannon of the Domestic
Council sent in a two-page memo bringing the President
up-to-date on the three matters which are currently under
study by the Domestic Council -- uranium enrichment,
food stamps and busing.
In the busing category, Cannon savs, "We are
working on three possible approaches to help a community
avoid a court order to bus: A, B and C," and there they
are.
0
Keep. reading. A is what, B is what, and
C is what?
MR. NESSEN: I didn't relish the suggestion that
there were not three alternatives somewhere that the
President had seen.
0
Didn't he say one of the alternatives was
to strengthen the Esch amendment? Was that not said or
alluded to in the interview?
GERALD
MR. NESSFN: He said it in the interview. It
was not one of the three proposals listed here. It
was mentioned in the interview.
0
Ron, was one technical assistance to local
communities?
MR. NESSEN: As he said yesterday, "I am not
going to indicate what the three proposals under study
are."
0
May I have that line again, to help the
communities what?
MR. NESSEN: "Me are working on three possible
approaches to help a community avoid a court order to
bus," then a colon, then three possible approaches.
0
Did you say the Esch amendment is not
one of those three?
MR. NESSEN: It is not one of those three. It
is one he mentioned in his meeting with the Tennessee
reporters today as one additional way to --
MORE
#497
- 12 -
#497-5/21
0
So, it is up to four now?
MR. NESSEN: I suppose, yes.
0
Ron, did you make any effort to ask that
the Attorney General appear here, or were you asked not
to?
MR. NESSEN: I think we went through that
subject.
O
I didn't hear your answer, Ron.
MR. NESSEN: I think we went through that
subject, Les.
0
I know, but you didn't answer the
question. Did you ask the Department of Justice if
Attorney General Levi could meet with reporters or not?
MR. NESSEN: As I said before, the indication
from the Justice Department is that he will 00 back
to the Justice Department after --
0
They told you that before you asked, is
that it?
MR. NESSEN: You have these three, plus the one
he mentioned in the interview, which is to strengthen the
Esch amendment.
SERALD
0
And then going to the court is a fifth --
MR. NESSEN: Yes, a separate one. That goes
back to the meeting of last November, which had really
two subjects: One, alternatives' to busing, specific
proposals for it; and two, the directive to Levi to find
a case to bring the matter to the court.
0
I would like to ask you a question I asked
a day or two ago on this.
MR. NESSEN: Can the record show I am doing all
this talking and raising this issue in response to lots of
questions and haven't volunteered anything on my own?
0
Don't you think it is an important subject?
MR. NESSEN: I think it is a very important
subject, Helen, but the thing, as you can probably tell,
I am not crazy about is some idea that the White House
has raised this issue this week.
0
Don't you think your decisiveness is
overdone?
MORE
#497