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The original documents are located in Box 26, folder "Parks and Recreation (2)" of the
James M. Cannon Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
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Digitized from Box 26 of the James M. Cannon Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
LAng 1976]
PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS ON PARKS PROPOSALS
I had the opportunity during the Bicentennial
to visit several national parks and related areas.
I have seen the public enthusiasm for the
national parks and looked at the attendance records
(up about 20%).
It seems to me that this generation of Americans
have the benefits of the foresight of those who
established Yosemite and other national parks a hundred
years ago.
It seems to me appropriate that this generation
should offer as a Bicentennial birthday present to the
next generation of Americans and generations to come a
great expansion of our national park system so that
our children and grandchildren have the benefits of this
great American heritage.
The expenditure of $150 million a year over the
next 10 years means that we will have to tighten our
belts elsewhere SO that we can preserve for future
Americans our national parks, our forests, mountains,
lakes, woodlands and other natural resources.
[Aug 1976]
The President said he was going from the Convention
to Vail. From Vail he would slip away for one day to
Yellowstone to make his National Parks announcement.
He said he hasn't been back to Yellowstone since
he worked there in the summer of 1936. The President
indicated he thought this would be a good kickoff for
his campaign.
[Aug. 1976]
The President said he was going from the Convention
to Vail. From Vail he would slip away for one day to
Yellowstone to make his National Parks announcement.
He said he hasn't been back to Yellowstone since
he worked there in the summer of 1936. The President
indicated he thought this would be a good kickoff for
his campaign.
FORD is LIBRARY 9ERALD
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GERALD R. GERALD R. FORD
FROM OMB
[Aug. 1976]
Issue: What special provision for city parks should be
included in the President's parks initiative?
Alternatives:
A. Propose new legislation authorizing a $200 M one-time
categorical grant to cities for rehabilitation of run-
down park facilities.
B. Announce issuance of a letter directing Cabinet
Secretaries to urge cities to give special priority to
parks rehabilitation in using available block grant funds,
providing Federal technical assistance, and calling for
reporting of funds spent for parks and accomplishments
therewith. (See attachment)
C. Propose no specific Federal initiative for city parks.
Discussion:
Background factors bearing on this question are:
- Many believe city parks have been underfunded in recent
years as cities have placed priority elsewhere in using
available funds in tight years.
- There are over 30,000 municipal and county parks in the
U.S., with peak summer employment of about 90,000 people.
- A Presidential proposal to provide new money for city
parks, even on a one time basis, would be very popular
with mayors, city recreation departments, and park users.
- The expanded Land and Water Conservation Fund will increase
matching grants to States for park acquisition and develop-
ment from $180 M per year to an eventual $540 M per year,
most of which will be spent in and near cities.
- Block grants and special appropriationsnow provide billons
that can be used by States and cities to rehabilitate or
maintain existing parks. In addition to General Revenue
Sharing, examples are:
FORD i LIBRARI GERALD
2
$ Billion
FY 1976
FY 1977
-- Community Development Block Grants
2.8
3.2
------------------------- Comprehensive Employment and
Training Assistance (CETA) programs
Summer Youth Employment
(To be
programs
0.6
requested
in March,
1977)
Title I Employment Program
1.6
1.6
-- Local Public Works Act (recently
enacted over Presidential veto)
00
Title I (Public works projects)
--
2.0
Title II counter-cyclical
assistance to cities
-
1.25
Total
5.0
8.05
- Proposals still under consideration by the Congress which
could be used are:
- the Young Adults Conservation Act (H.R. 10138) which
has passed the House and is reported out in the Senate
despite Administration opposition.
--- increase in CETA Title I in the pending Labor-HEW
appropriation of $300 M, also opposed by the Admin-
istration.
- Of the current programs, the CETA Summer Youth Employment
Program and Title I of CETA could most readily be used to
finance a Presidential initiative. The summer program
provides part-time jobs at the minimum wage during the
summer months for disadvantaged youths. Funds are avail-
able for minimal supplies purchases. In 1976, 950,000
jobs are funded. The type of work done is at local dis-
cretion, but traditionally includes a large component of
clean-up/fix-up work. In Title I, sponsors normally
devote about 60% of their effort to youth "work experience"
activity which is similar to the summer program. Title I
serves about 1 M youth per year.
i
FORD
GERALD
LIBRARY
3
- Of the new programs, the Local Public Works Employment Act
could be a significant resource for this type of activity.
Comparison of Alternatives
Alternative A, a new, one time categorical grant of $200 M.
Pros
- Unique initiative identified with President.
- $200 M in additional funds would be a popular commit-
ment for special initiative.
Cons
- Adds $200 M to the total Federal budget in an area
already amply funded.
- Adds one more source of Federal funds which could be
used for this purpose without a defensible pro-
grammatic rationale for the need to do SO.
- Represents a reversal of a Presidential policy of
opposing new categorial grants in favor of expanding
block grants.
- Runs high risk of becoming a continuing categorical
grant program.
- Could be easily amended by Congress to provide Fed-
eral grants for general operation and maintenance of
local parks with huge Federal budget impacts (over
30,000 such parks employ about 90,000 people. $200 M
provides only an average of $6,600 per park.)
Alternative B: Presidential directive to Cabinet officers
to help localities use existing block grant programs as
funding source.
Pros
- No new legislation required
- No addition to budget totals required.
- Administrative machinery in place.
- Avoids inviting a permanent categorical program
FORD & GERALD LIBRARY
4
Cons
- Is not as direct as an earmarked appropriation request;
might be seen as a somewhat weaker commitment.
- Redirected funds would not be as popular with recipients
as added funds.
- If not handled well by agencies, could be seen as
Federal infringement on local prerogatives within
the block grant programs.
- Could invite other interests to seek comparable
Presidential support for the use of such funds, leading
to widespread earmarking, defeating the purpose of
block grants.
Alternative C; Provide no special new initiatives for
city parks.
Pros
- Avoids problems created by (1) adding to Federal
budget (2) creating new categorical grant or
(3) attempting to direct use of block grant funds.
- Would probably not be missed by potential bene-
ficiaries.
-
Omission easily defensible, if challenged, given
the pending Land and Water Conservation Fund increase
and lavish funding of the CETA and jobs programs.
Cons
- Passes up an opportunity to make a popular proposal
in an area in which it would be welcomed.
- May generate challenge that problems of poor and
of cities in the recreation area overlooked in favor
of adding good things for the affluent, the suburban,
and the rural areas.
FORD is GERALD LIBRARY
DRAFT
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
SECRETARY OF INTERIOR
SECRETARY OF LABOR
Subject:
Use of funds for rehabilitation of
city parks.
Rehabilitation of urban parks for the benefit of millions
of urban residents can be significantly furthered by use
of Federal grant programs administered by your Departments.
Specifically, several billion dollars in grant funds avail-
able under Community Development Block Grants, Compre-
hensive Employment and Training Act and Local Public Works
Act programs are eligible to be used for urban park
improvements.
Because of the importance of providing rewarding outdoor
recreation opportunity for millions of city residents, I
hereby direct that you:
- take immediate steps to urge recipients of funds
under the above cited programs to set aside
specific amounts for rehabilitation of parks and
recreation areas,
- provide technical advice and assistance in the
preparation and implementation of urban park
rehabilitation plans,
LIBRARY GERALD R. FORD
2
- Report to me annually, beginning January 1977, on
the amount of funds utilized for park rehabilita-
tion and the major accomplishments resulting from
this effort.
I hope that through your efforts at least $200 million can
be applied to this worthwhile task in the first year and
that significant progress is made toward improving the
quality of the outdoor recreation experience in urban areas.
GERALD R. FORD
Staffed out
Hemphreys
THE WHITE HOUSE
Interior
WASHINGTON
August 3, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
JIM CANNON
THRU:
MAX FRIEDERSDORF m.b.
FROM:
CHARLES LEPPERT, JR. Cof.
SUBJECT:
Rep. Delbert Latta (R. - Ohio)
Rep. Latta has forwarded the attached file on Perry's Victory and
International Peace Memorial. Please note that Latta is interested
in seeing to it that the National Park Service follows through on its
recommendations.
I suggest that a representative of the National Park Service visit
Rep. Latta to review the recommendations and the time schedule
for implementation.
cc: Jim Mitchell
John Kyl
FORD i LIBRARY 03RALD
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 5, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
JIM CANNON
FROM:
GEORGE W. HUMPHREYS
SUBJECT:
NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM
At your direction, I visited five National Park areas
in the Western States - Grand Teton and Yellowstone in
Wyoming, Yosemite and Death Valley in California, and
Grand Canyon in Arizona.
My visits were for a day to a day and a half in each
park, with an overnight in all but Death Valley. Although
I met with the Park Superintendent in each site for a
discussion of his problems, I spent most of my time
talking with the campers, hikers, and one-day visitors.
I used the concessioner's facilities without reference
to my White House position and, in general, was able
to view the facilities from a normal visitor's point.
Five specific impressions should be noted, with the
understanding that no attempt is being made to offer any
hard evidence or to allege as fact any perception I may
have.
-- The presence of the concessioner in a park is far
more evident than the presence of a Smoky - the
Ranger in campaign hat. Concessioners operate
the hotel, the dining room, the overnight tents,
the bar, the snack shack, the horse rental, etc.
Many people know the park as "a Fred Harvey Park"
or a "Curry Company Park". In numbers, a concessioner
will have 500-700 employees working and living in
the park while Park Service personnel would be
100-150. The concessioner's people are all in the
densely trafficked areas, of course, while the
Ranger is out in a trail shack or on a maintenance
job far removed from visitors.
-2-
-- Although the hikers, backpackers and cyclists
think the parks are far too accessible - "We should
rip out the roads and let nature lovers walk in
here"
"Too many people and cars in here; the
park belongs to the bears" - the majority of the
people want and enjoy the modern day conveniences.
They drive into the park and pay $27 for a Holiday
Inn type unit or $50 to $60 for a magnificent old
hotel built in 1900 that is situated near the most
spectacular view. Although they can, and do, pay
$1.75 to $3.00 for a lunch counter meal, they
can enjoy an adequate steak, trout, chicken kiev
type meal for $7.50 to $9.50 plus wine and drinks.
Many, many visitors come into the parks in the
self-contained motor homes and pay $4.00 for electrical
and water hook-ups, with a concessioner operated
store nearby for eggs, bread, milk and bologna.
The vast majority of the visitors completely enjoy
the parks, visit more than one park on their
vacations, and are not completely aware that the
Park is a Federal facility. They don't think much
about it at all, except that they like it.
-- Upon first driving through and hiking in the parks,
they appear well-kept, beautiful, and slightly
crowded. However, many areas are not open to
visitors because the roads and trails can't be
kept up for lack of funds, maintenance is more
cosmetic than substantial, and visitor services
are limited (one biologist taking 75-80 people on
a nature trail). Roads are being patched up
instead of repaired, thus each year all the money is
going for a patch that wears out before the next
year's heavy traffic begins - a tremendous mistake
from a capital investment standpoint. Sewage treat-
ment, water supply, and waste disposal systems all
need upgrading, but such problems are not visible
to the public.
-- The parks that I visited are beautiful - impressive
beyond belief, except for Death Valley. The scars
from the open mining operations there are ghastly.
-3-
-- The National Park Ranger is the complete
professional - knowledgeable, courteous, dedicated,
and happy with his position. There is a pride
and esprit evident in the Park Service that is
greater than any other I've seen among career men.
Although the staffing in many cases is woefully
short, the professionals are continuing to apply
themselves to cover the major gaps through initiative,
long hours and dedication. Park Service people
like the visitors and genuinely try to help.
To summarize, the American people enjoy their parks,
the presence (and investment) of the concessioners will
be a source of potential problems, and the Park Service
needs, and deserves, help.
CC: Quern
Humphreys
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 9, 1976
ADMINISTRATIVELY CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM FOR:
JIM CANNON
JIM LYNN
FROM:
JIM CONNOR JE
SUBJECT:
U.S. Parks
The attached article from the WASHINGTON POST of
August 9, 1976 was returned in the President's outbox with
the following notation:
"Status of our project? 11
Please follow-up with appropriate action.
cc: Dick Cheney
Attachment
Article entitled:
"Beautiful U.S. Parks in Trouble"
Beautiful U.S. Parks in Trouble
By Philip A. McCombs
Washington Post Staff Writer
Shenandoah National Park-Lord,
it is so beautiful here! It is so blue
and blue and blue-the sky. We are SO
lucky to have these green enormous
hazy mountains that stretch out end-
lessly into the heart of America. to
have this rich dark earth, these trees
stirring in the crisp morning breeze,
with only the buzz of insects and
some early morning chirping birds to
break the stillness
The national parks carry this sort of
emotional charge for so many peo-
ple. Robert R. Jacobsen, the intense
and soft-spoken National Park Service
ranger who is Shenandoah's adminis-
trator, gets a little glistening in his
eyes when he talks about the parks.
"You know, I grew up in Wyoming
in the Depression year and often the
only vacation we could take would be
sagebrushing. We'd get tents and go
out camping-so I grew up tenting as
a child in Grand Teton and Yellow-
stone. That's when I decided to be a
ranger.
"My folks moved around a lot, too,
and I never had a town I could go
back to and call home-only the
parks. 1 took my family back to Teton
and Yellowstone just this January,
and, you know, for me it was it was
an emotional experience. I was going
home. I knew the roads-we don't
change the roads in the National Park
System. I knew the turns in the roads,
and the hills. I knew where things
were.
"Americans are very transient. peri-
patetic-they're wanderers and this
has been of great concern to sociolo-
gists. I really believe that the Park
Service is providing roots for this
/country. People can take their chil-
dren and their grandchildren back to
the parks, and I think that people find
reassurance in this at a time when cit-
ies are changing, neighborhoods are
changing:
By Linda Wheeler-The Washington Post
This is a story about what bad
Shenandoah Mountains loom through the morning haze.
See PARKS, A14, Col. 1
R1
THE WASHINGTON POST
Monday, August 9. 1976
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
Some items in this folder were not digitized because it contains copyrighted
materials. Please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library for access to
these materials.
THE WHITE HOUSE
ACTION
WASHINGTON
Last Day: August 16
August 10, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR
THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
SUBJECT:
JIM CANNON Jun
S. 1526 - Boundary Waters
Canoe Area, Minnesota
Attached for your consideration is S. 1526, sponsored by
Senator Humphrey.
The enrolled bill would increase the existing appropriation
authorization for land acquisition in the Boundary Waters
Canoe Area, Minnesota from $4,500,000 to $9,000,000. The
enrolled bill is substantively identical to legislation
submitted by the Department of Agriculture.
Additional information is provided in OMB's enrolled bill
report at Tab A.
OMB, Max Friedersdorf, Counsel's Office (Lazarus) and I
recommend approval of the enrolled bill.
RECOMMENDATION
That you sign S. 1526 at Tab B.
FORD
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20503
AUG 6 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
Subject: Enrolled Bill S. 1526 - Boundary Waters
Canoe Area, Minnesota
Sponsor - Sen. Humphrey (D) Minnesota
Last Day for Action
August 16, 1976 - Monday
Purpose
Increases the existing appropriation authorization
for land acquisition in the Boundary Waters Canoe
Area from $4,500,000 to $9,000,000.
Agency Recommendations
Office of Management and Budget
Approval
Department of Agriculture
Approval
Discussion
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area is a component of
the National Wilderness Preservation System located
within the Superior National Forest in northeastern
Minnesota. The area comprises over one million
acres of forest land which contains numerous
lakes and rivers that offer a wide range of
opportunities for canoe travel and wilderness
experiences.
Under existing law, the Secretary of Agriculture
has acquired some 60,000 acres of private land
within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area to protect
it from undesirable use and development.
Although some 21,500 acres remain to be acquired
if the area is to be fully protected, Agriculture
has nearly reached the $4,500,000 appropriation
authorization ceiling that applies to such land
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
2
acquisition, and in fact, payment has not been
made for lands taken through condemnation because
of insufficient funds.
Accordingly, Agriculture submitted legislation
to the 94th Congress to provide an additional
$4,500,000 appropriation authorization for
completing necessary land acquisition within the
Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The Agriculture
proposal also provided for payment of the outstand-
ing condemnation award.
Consistent with Agriculture's proposal, S. 1526
would increase the existing appropriation
authorization for land acquisition within the
Boundary Waters Canoe Area from $4,500,000 to
$9,000,000. The enrolled bill would authorize
use of monies from the Land and Water Conservation
Fund and it would also provide for payment of
condemnation awards. Finally, it would require
the Secretary to make annual reports to Congress
(1977-1980) concerning the land acquisition
program, with the final report indicating whether
or not additional funds are needed.
In its enrolled bill letter, Agriculture notes
that S. 1526 is substantively identical to its
proposal and states that:
"S. 1526 would make it possible for this
Department to continue
to provide
for the acquisition of lands vulnerable
to forms of use and development that
could impair the unique qualities and
natural features of the wilderness canoe
country. The bill would also enable
the Department to pay all of the money
awarded by a Federal court to the
owner of certain property acquired
under the Act through condemnation
proceedings."
FORD
OTH
.
James M. Frey
for
Legislative Reference
Enclosure
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 10, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
JIM CANNON
FROM:
JACK MARSH
SUBJECT:
Canoe June Area, Minn.
S. 1526 -- Boundary Waters
If the President approves funding for the Boundary Waters Canoe
Area, I think consideration should be given to highlighting it
because of special interest in sports and parks.
Jack,
We are asking Margita White
to see if we can get special
coverage on this.
JMC
GERALD . R. 3
THE WHITE HOUSE
REQUESTED
WASHINGTON
August 12, 1976
PHONE MESSAGE FOR:
JIM CANNON
FROM:
GEORGE HUMPHREYS by C.V.
SUBJECT:
National Park and Recreation Areas
In 1975 there were 230 million visitations to the
National Park and Recreation Areas (288 units).
Projections for 1976 would indicate a visitation rate
of 260 million.
This compares to a 1965 rate of 113 million.
Projections for future visitations vary tremendously
because of the unknown number of potential areas that
may be included in the system, but it can be assumed
that the visitation rate could double over the next
ten years.
1965
113 million
1975
230 million
1976
260 million
1986
Double 1976 figure? 520 million?
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
CC: Humphreys
CC: Art Quern
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 12, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR:
JIM CANNON
FROM:
JIM CONNOR JEE
The attached article from the CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
dated August 12 was returned in the President's outbox with the
request that it be forwarded to you for your information.
cc: Dick Cheney
Attachment:
Article entitled:
Crowding threatens Forest Preserves
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S.
Genald R.
PUBLIC DOCUMENT
Ford Ja M.C.
FREE
MICHIGAN.
THE
PRESIDENT
Thursday, August 12, 1976
THE CHRISTIAN SCENCE-MONITOR
Crowding
threatens
forest
preserves
By Clayton Jones
Staff correspondent of
The Christian Science Monitor
Monongahela National Forest,
West Virginia
A wave of campers and hikers has found a
last frontier in U.S. wilderness preserves and
threatens to turn it into a crowded, trailer-
clogged, "facility"-laden jungle.
The same troubles of overcrowding that hit
the 30 million acres of the U.S. Park Service a
En route to White Mountain National Forest, Gorham, New Hampshire
By Barth J. Falkenberg, staff photographer
decade ago are cropping up on the 186 million
acres of the U.S. Forest Service's wild timber
Wilderness areas threatened: hikers and campers discover uncluttered primitive forests
and grazing lands.
"People are banging on the trees to get into
Few natural wonders such as Old Faithful
half holds 6,434 campground and picnic areas,
and more and more asked to take out the trash
the forest," says Ranger Whit Lerer of the Mo-
can be found in national forests - 155 of them
174 ski areas, 878 boating sites, 368 resorts, 550
they take in.
nongahela Forest in West Virginia's high tim-
in 43 states. Still, the attractions of solitude on
organized camps, and 323 swimming sites
The 12.3 million acres now designated by
ber and grazing territory.
Forest Service land brought a 7 percent in-
the largest single supply of outdoor recreation.
Congress as wilderness areas will increase to
"Once we designate a forest a wilderness
crease in visitors last year and more are ex-
"Every bit will be covered by land-use
15.2 million by 1980 and perhaps double by 1985
area, it becomes a major attraction," he said.
pected in 1976. Four wilderness areas now
plans," says Mr. Smith. Hiking trails will be in-
especially near urban areas. This protects
"We thought backpacking was a fad but it
have limits on use.
creased from 97,000 to 120,000 miles to meet
fragile, untouched land from roads and heavy
hasn't leveled off it keeps increasing."
For the first time, a master plan for the fu-
the new demand.
camping.
Many campsites have had to be closed, hik-
ture use of all the Forest Service's holdings
Congress hiked the Forest Service recrea-
Timber cutting would increase only 4 to 11
ing permits issued, no-littering signs put up,
was finished this spring, after Congress asked
tion budget 15 percent from $51.5 million this
percent by 1980 as the lumber production bur-
camping seasons shortened, and for the first
for one in 1974.
year to $59.1 million in 1977. The Park Service
den is shifted from public lands to private and
time, criminal activity rose right along with
"But we are still agonizing over the balance
received only an 11 percent increase.
state forests, timber imports, and substitutes.
the mounting popularity and expense of Amer-
of recreation and industry on forest land,"
The new plan shifts the agency's priorities:
A backlog of 2 million acres on Forest Service
ica's "hidden" parks.
says Zane G. Smith, Forest Service director of
Wilderness recreation areas will be dis-
land needs replanting. Timber companies sus-
But unlike the National Park System, the
recreation.
persed rather than concentrated. Campers will
tained a setback last August when a historic
U.S. Forest Service under the Department of
Half of the 186 million acres are "com-
be given guidelines on taking care of the for-
court ruling limited timber sales in the Mo-
Agriculture poses few restrictions on visitors.
mercially attractive timberland," but the other
est, diverted to areas that meet their needs,
nongahela National Forest.
No entrance fees are required, campsites
can usually be chosen anywhere, open fires are
generally permitted, as is chopping firewood,
visitors' guide to
there with
and dogs are allowed on trails. Conveniences
such as ejectricity, flush toilets, paved paths,
and treated water are hard to find.
CHICAGO
The Forest Service is more concerned with
providing such "primitive" outdoor ex-
periences than with packing campers trailer to
trailer near_scenic and historic spots, as the
Chicago's
Department of Interior has had to do in most
of its 37 national parks from Shenandoah to
Yellowstone.
ExecutiveHouse
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BR 4-6666
D266-1 MS0812
INFORMATION
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 13, 1976
MEMORANDUM TO: THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
JIM CANNON
SUBJECT:
STATUS OF NATIONAL PARK PROPOSAL
about
You asked the status of the National Park Proposal.
At our direction, Interior has already prepared the
draft legislation, along with the press release and fact
sheets to accompany the legislation. Suggested speech
material has been sent to Bob Hartmann, and his people
are working on this material now.
After initially opposing the proposal on budgetary
grounds, OMB has been extremely cooperative and is
currently reviewing the draft legislation in conjunction
with the Domestic Council staff people. This review
should be finished by August 19.
You may want to look through the two attachments.
-- A summary of the main points of the proposal
(TAB A)
-- A draft speech that has been given to Bob Hartmann
to put into final (TAB B)
GERALD ABVURIZ A. FORD
A
DOUBLE THE NATION'S PARKLANDS
AND RECREATION AREAS
PROPOSAL: Establish a ten-year program to double America's heritage
of national parks, recreation areas, wildlife refuges, urban parks,
and historic sites, excepting Alaska.
OBJECTIVE: To double the nation's parklands, wildlife refuges and
recreation areas. This new commitment will be a bicentennial gift
that the American people will give to this and future generations of
Americans.
BACKGROUND: Today's citizens have inherited vast and irreplaceable
gifts of parks, historic sites, wildlife sanctuaries and recreation
areas. The National Park Service's 287 units comprise 31.0 million
acres of which 7.5 million acres are in Alaska. The Wildlife Refuge
System's 378 units comprise 32.2 million acres of which 22.3 million
acres are in Alaska. Yet with our nation's growth, these resources
are often overcrowded and overused. At the same time many areas which
would make superb parks, sanctuaries, or recreation areas are being
lost forever because land values often make other uses more attractive
in the short term.
The proposed initial commitment of $1.5 billion over ten years would
be a sound investment in America's priceless natural resources and
avoid loss forever of an American heritage that cannot be replaced.
It would mark again this nation's commitment to preserve the best of
our vast and beautiful continent. It would expand permanently the
natural treasures future generations of Americans will inherit before
these resources are priced out of the public domain. This program does
not include Alaska inasmuch as the Administration has already proposed
to the Congress a major conservation initiative to protect in perpetuity
83 million acres of the public domain in that State. The President
reiterates the need for Congress to act quickly on the Alaska proposals
before the temporary protection afforded by the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act expires in December 1978.
DESCRIPTION: Legislation will be submitted to establish a $1.5 billion,
ten-year program to:
-- provide $500 million to be used to acquire new parks,
wildlife refuges, and recreation areas and historic
sites.
provide $300 million to develop these new acquisitions
into recreation and conservation resources ready to
serve the public.
provide $200 million for one-shot grants to cities to
upgrade present park areas in disrepair.
2
-- provide $100 million for upgrading and increased
staffing of current system of national parks and
wildlife refuges.
-- provide $400 million to develop parklands and
refuges which are currently owned by the Federal
government but are without the facilities needed
to make them usable.
DOUBLE THE NATION'S PARKLANDS
AND RECREATION AREAS
DESCRIPTION OF COMPONENTS:
1. Acquisition of new parks, wildlife refuges, recreation areas and
historic sites. ($500 million immediate appropriation to remain avail-
able for ten years over and above other funds such as the Land and Water
Conservation Fund).
Additions to the National Park System, $200 million for parks,
national rivers, recreation areas, and historic sites.
Additions to the National Wildlife Refuge System, $200 million for
the preservation of natural areas and habitat for migratory birds and
endangered species.
Additions to the Wild and Scenic River System and the National
Trails System, $100 million. This includes a commitment to expedite
the current and future studies on trails and rivers.
The National Park Service currently purchases approximately 60,000
acres annually utilizing approximately $77 million from the Land and
Water Conservation Fund. At this time, 559,608 additional acres and
$449,631,713 are required to acquire lands in Congressionally authorized
park and recreation areas and historic sites of the National Park System.
In addition, there are thousands of acres of spectacular areas that are
suitable for inclusion in the National Park System.
The Fish and Wildlife Service currently acquires approximately
85,000 acres annually utilizing funds available from the Migratory Bird
Conservation Account ($19.5 million in '76) and the Land and
2
Water Conservation Fund ($9.4 million in '76). At this time, approxi-
mately 5-million additional acres estimated at $2.5 billion are necessary
for the preservation of natural areas and habitat for migratory birds
and endangered species.
2. Development of these new acquisitions into recreation and conser-
vation resources ready to serve the public. ($300 million immediate
appropriation to remain available for ten years over and above existing
development programs and funding for units already in the National Park
and Wildlife Refuge Systems).
Such funds are generally to be used to implement park and refuge
master plans, which include visitor facilities, road and trails, resource
management tools, and such additional improvements as may be necessary
for effective park and refuge management.
3. One-time grants to cities to upgrade present park areas in disrepair.
($200 million for fiscal year 1977).
To be administered by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and apportioned
among the major cities (utilizing the Standard Metropolitan Statistical
Areas) on the basis of population and need with no city entitled to more
than 3 percent. The President will ask the Congress for the necessary
legislative authority to implement this new program well before the 1977
summer season.
4. Upgrading and increased staffing of current systems of national parks
and wildlife refuges. ($100 million for fiscal year 1977 and each year
thereafter).
3
Upgrading -- $80 million for rehabilitation of deteriorated
facilities with $60 million for national parks and $20 million for
wildlife refuges with preference to be given to those areas having
significant public visitation.
Increased staffing -- $20 million and approximately 1500 permanent
positions with 1000 for national parks and 500 for wildlife refuges to
bring the present field employment up to a level that will insure the
protection of the natural resource and meet the increasing public demand.
5. Development of parklands and refuges currently in the Federal systems
but without the necessary facilities for proper resource management
or public use. ($400 million immediate appropriation to remain available
until expended).
National park units -- recently authorized areas at which little or
no development has been provided -- $300 million.
National wildlife refuges -- $100 million.
The fiscal year '76 appropriation amounts to $11.4 million for
development of National Park units and $500,000 for Wildlife Refuges.
Park Proposal Misc.
Interior
B
THE WHITE HOUSE
DRAFT
WASHINGTON
July 19, 1976
ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE
On the fourth of July, 1976, Americans everywhere
experienced what it means to join in celebrating their
country and its ideals. The surge of emotion, the
infectious good will that characterized that day have
made us all realize that we are more united than we
thought, more at ease with one another than we remem-
bered. It was a day filled with memories for a people
again discovering the hopes and promises of the future.
The fourth of July has also convinced me of something I
have long thought to be true - that as a nation we are
ready to embark upon a major project that will mark the
Bicentennial year in a more permanent way than parades,
reinactments, fireworks, and flotillas. And I know of
no more appropriate project of this kind than to assure
that our natural heritage will be preserved and enhanced
during America's third century.
I am, therefore, asking this generation of Americans,
the generation that is privileged to celebrate our 200th
2
birthday, to join in a commitment to the land, a commit-
ment to the future, a commitment to our children, a
commitment to ourselves. I ask that Americans in 1976
endorse and enact a 10 year program to double the nation's
heritage of parks and recreation areas.
I am submitting to Congress the Bicentennial Land Heritage
Act which will provide a total of $1.5 billion over a ten-
year period to:
--- double our heritage of land for parks, recreation
areas and wildlife refuges.
--- begin development of these lands to make them
accessible, useable, and enjoyable.
-- upgrade current facilities and increase staff
at existing parks.
-- provide a new $200 million program for urban
parks.
-- accelerate the development of parklands and
refuges which have had to be delayed for lack
of manpower and funding.
Americans have always evinced a profound love for their
land. They have also displayed a great capacity for
adventure. In examining our past during this Bicentennial
year, we cannot help being struck by the hardiness of
our ancestors. For them, the ability to live in rugged,
undeveloped countryside was a necessity and encounters
3
with wild creatures were commonplace. This history has
left an indelible mark on our national character.
A good measure of the vitality of this aspect of our
character is visitation to the National Parks, which is
again up -- as high as 20 percent in some parks -- this
year, to a projected total of 260 million visitors during
1976. This influx of visitors, however, can also pose
problems for the National Park Service, whose mandate is
to provide for the enjoyment of the parks "in such manner
and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the
enjoyment of future generations". I have concluded
that if visitors are to be properly accommodated, both
the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, which manages the national wildlife refuges,
must have substantial increases in manpower and funding.
In addition, the National Wildlife Refuge System should
be expanded to include several million additional acres
of vital wildlife habitat before these lands are converted
to other uses.
As America has developed into the world's leading
industrial nation, her people have migrated to cities.
Today we are an urban nation. Unfortunately, however,
many of our city residents have been deprived of that
vital force in our national character to which I have
referred -- the zest for recreation in natural settings.
A major cause of this deprivation has been the inability
of our cities to maintain the parks which they have
created and to serve the visitors who use them. I
believe there is a need for a widespread infusion of
Federal funds to help our cities rehabilitate and improve
their parks and other outdoor recreation facilities.
The Bicentennial Land Heritage Act is an opportunity
for us today to address these issues on behalf of future
Americans. I believe that enactment of this proposal,
together with enactment of my proposal to establish new
parks, refuges, and wild and scenic rivers in Alaska,
would constitute a superb environmental bequest from
Bicentennial America to our successors.
It is my fervent hope that upon our nation's 300th
birthday, on July 4, 2076, Americans will remember us
both by our spirited celebration of the Bicentennial and
by the size of the land heritage which we preserved
unimpaired and devoted to the enjoyment of future
generations.
B
THE WHITE HOUSE
DRAFT
WASHINGTON
July 19, 1976
ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE
On the fourth of July, 1976, Americans everywhere
experienced what it means to join in celebrating their
country and its ideals. The surge of emotion, the
infectious good will that characterized that day have
made us all realize that we are more united than we
thought, more at ease with one another than we remem-
bered. It was a day filled with memories for a people
again discovering the hopes and promises of the future.
The fourth of July has also convinced me of something I
have long thought to be true - that as a nation we are
ready to embark upon a major project that will mark the
Bicentennial year in a more permanent way than parades,
reinactments, fireworks, and flotillas. And I know of
no more appropriate project of this kind than to assure
that our natural heritage will be preserved and enhanced
during America's third century.
I am, therefore, asking this generation of Americans,
the generation that is privileged to celebrate our 200th
birthday, to join in a commitment to the land, a commit-
ment to the future, a commitment to our children, a
commitment to ourselves. I ask that Americans in 1976
endorse and enact a 10 year program to double the nation's
heritage of parks and recreation areas.
I am submitting to Congress the Bicentennial Land Heritage
Act which will provide a total of $1.5 billion over a ten-
year period to:
--- double our heritage of land for parks, recreation
areas and wildlife refuges.
--- begin development of these lands to make them
accessible, useable, and enjoyable.
-- upgrade current facilities and increase staff
at existing parks.
-- provide a new $200 million program for urban
parks.
--- accelerate the development of parklands and
refuges which have had to be delayed for lack
of manpower and funding.
Americans have always evinced a profound love for their
land. They have also displayed a great capacity for
adventure. In examining our past during this Bicentennial
year, we cannot help being struck by the hardiness of
our ancestors. For them, the ability to live in rugged,
undeveloped countryside was a necessity and encounters
3
with wild creatures were commonplace. This history has
left an indelible mark on our national character.
A good measure of the vitality of this aspect of our
character is visitation to the National Parks, which is
again up -- as high as 20 percent in some parks -- this
year, to a projected total of 260 million visitors during
1976. This influx of visitors, however, can also pose
problems for the National Park Service, whose mandate is
to provide for the enjoyment of the parks "in such manner
and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the
enjoyment of future generations". I have concluded
that if visitors are to be properly accommodated, both
the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, which manages the national wildlife refuges,
must have substantial increases in manpower and funding.
In addition, the National Wildlife Refuge System should
be expanded to include several million additional acres
of vital wildlife habitat before these lands are converted
to other uses.
As America has developed into the world's leading
industrial nation, her people have migrated to cities.
Today we are an urban nation. Unfortunately, however,
many of our city residents have been deprived of that
vital force in our national character to which I have
referred -- the zest for recreation in natural settings.
A major cause of this deprivation has been the inability
of our cities to maintain the parks which they have
created and to serve the visitors who use them. I
believe there is a need for a widespread infusion of
Federal funds to help our cities rehabilitate and improve
their parks and other outdoor recreation facilities.
The Bicentennial Land Heritage Act is an opportunity
for us today to address these issues on behalf of future
Americans. I believe that enactment of this proposal,
together with enactment of my proposal to establish new
parks, refuges, and wild and scenic rivers in Alaska,
would constitute a superb environmental bequest from
Bicentennial America to our successors.
It is my fervent hope that upon our nation's 300th
birthday, on July 4, 2076, Americans will remember us
both by our spirited celebration of the Bicentennial and
by the size of the land heritage which we preserved
unimpaired and devoted to the enjoyment of future
generations.
file Interior
THE WHITE HOUSE
INFORMATION
WASHINGTON
August 13, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
SUBJECT:
JIM Park CANNON Proposal Jun
You asked about the status of the National Park Proposal:
Bob Hartmann has the speech material.
A summary of the main points of the proposal is
ready (Tab A).
Legislation has been prepared and is now under-
going a final review by the Domestic Council and
OMB staff.
OMB, after initially opposing the proposal on
budgetary grounds, is now fully cooperating.
In sum, we will be ready to go as soon as Bob Hartmann
has the opportunity to finish the speech.
DOUBLE THE NATION'S PARKLANDS
AND RECREATION AREAS
PROPOSAL: Establish a ten-year program to double America's heritage
of national parks, recreation areas, wildlife refuges, urban parks,
and historic sites, excepting Alaska.
OBJECTIVE: To double the nation's parklands, wildlife refuges and
recreation areas. This new commitment will be a bicentennial gift
that the American people will give to this and future generations of
Americans.
BACKGROUND: Today's citizens have inherited vast and irreplaceable
gifts of parks, historic sites, wildlife sanctuaries and recreation
areas. The National Park Service's 287 units comprise 31.0 million
acres of which 7.5 million acres are in Alaska. The Wildlife Refuge
System's 378 units comprise 32.2 million acres of which 22.3 million
acres are in Alaska. Yet with our nation's growth, these resources
are often overcrowded and overused. At the same time many areas which
would make superb parks, sanctuaries, or recreation areas are being
lost forever because land values often make other uses more attractive
in the short term.
The proposed initial commitment of $1.5 billion over ten years would
be a sound investment in America's priceless natural resources and
avoid loss forever of an American heritage that cannot be replaced.
It would mark again this nation's commitment to preserve the best of
our vast and beautiful continent. It would expand permanently the
natural treasures future generations of Americans will inherit before
these resources are priced out of the public domain. This program does
not include Alaska inasmuch as the Administration has already proposed
to the Congress a major conservation initiative to protect in perpetuity
83 million acres of the public domain in that State. The President
reiterates the need for Congress to act quickly on the Alaska proposals
before the temporary protection afforded by the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act expires in December 1978.
DESCRIPTION: Legislation will be submitted to establish a $1.5 billion,
ten-year program to:
provide $500 million to be used to acquire new parks,
wildlife refuges, and recreation areas and historic
sites.
provide $300 million to develop these new acquisitions
into recreation and conservation resources ready to
serve the public.
provide $200 million for one-shot grants to cities to
upgrade present park areas in disrepair.
2
-- provide $100 million for upgrading and increased
staffing of current system of national parks and
wildlife refuges.
-- provide $400 million to develop parklands and
refuges which are currently owned by the Federal
government but are without the facilities needed
to make them usable.
DOUBLE THE NATION'S PARKLANDS
AND RECREATION AREAS
DESCRIPTION OF COMPONENTS:
1. Acquisition of new parks, wildlife refuges, recreation areas and
historic sites. ($500 million immediate appropriation to remain avail-
able for ten years over and above other funds such as the Land and Water
Conservation Fund).
Additions to the National Park System, $200 million for parks,
national rivers, recreation areas, and historic sites.
Additions to the National Wildlife Refuge System, $200 million for
the preservation of natural areas and habitat for migratory birds and
endangered species.
Additions to the Wild and Scenic River System and the National
Trails System, $100 million. This includes a commitment to expedite
the current and future studies on trails and rivers.
The National Park Service currently purchases approximately 60,000
acres annually utilizing approximately $77 million from the Land and
Water Conservation Fund. At this time, 559,608 additional acres and
$449,631,713 are required to acquire lands in Congressionally authorized
park and recreation areas and historic sites of the National Park System.
In addition, there are thousands of acres of spectacular areas that are
suitable for inclusion in the National Park System.
The Fish and Wildlife Service currently acquires approximately
85,000 acres annually utilizing funds available from the Migratory Bird
Conservation Account ($19.5 million in '76) and the Land and
2
Water Conservation Fund ($9.4 million in '76). At this time, approxi-
mately 5-million additional acres estimated at $2.5 billion are necessary
for the preservation of natural areas and habitat for migratory birds
and endangered species.
2. Development of these new acquisitions into recreation and conser-
vation resources ready to serve the public. ($300 million immediate
appropriation to remain available for ten years over and above existing
development programs and funding for units already in the National Park
and Wildlife Refuge Systems).
Such funds are generally to be used to implement park and refuge
master plans, which include visitor facilities, road and trails, resource
management tools, and such additional improvements as may be necessary
for effective park and refuge management.
3. One-time grants to cities to upgrade present park areas in disrepair.
($200 million for fiscal year 1977).
To be administered by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and apportioned
among the major cities (utilizing the Standard Metropolitan Statistical
Areas) on the basis of population and need with no city entitled to more
than 3 percent. The President will ask the Congress for the necessary
legislative authority to implement this new program well before the 1977
summer season.
4. Upgrading and increased staffing of current systems of national parks
and wildlife refuges. ($100 million for fiscal year 1977 and each year
thereafter).
3
Upgrading -- $80 million for rehabilitation of deteriorated
facilities with $60 million for national parks and $20 million for
wildlife refuges with preference to be given to those areas having
significant public visitation.
Increased staffing -- $20 million and approximately 1500 permanent
positions with 1000 for national parks and 500 for wildlife refuges to
bring the present field employment up to a level that will insure the
protection of the natural resource and meet the increasing public demand.
5. Development of parklands and refuges currently in the Federal systems
but without the necessary facilities for proper resource management
or public use. ($400 million immediate appropriation to remain available
until expended).
National park units -- recently authorized areas at which little or
no development has been provided -- $300 million.
National wildlife refuges -- $100 million.
The fiscal year '76 appropriation amounts to $11.4 million for
development of National Park units and $500,000 for Wildlife Refuges.
Jim CANNON
THE WHITE HOUSE
tarks
WASHINGTON
August 26, 1976
MEMORANDUM TO: JIM CAVANAUGH
FROM:
GEORGE W HUMPHREYS
SUBJECT:
The President's Bicentennial Land
Heritage Program
Attached are the latest draft documents to support
the President's proposed remarks on Sunday.
OMB, although reluctant to approve the concept on budgetary
grounds, has reviewed the proposal thoroughly. One point
of contention remains--how to fund the $200,000,000
urban park rehabilitation portion. We think it should
be new money requiring authorizing legislation. OMB's current
thinking is that we should redirect funds under existing
authorities in other agencies and programs.
OMB is planning to send to you their arguments on this
point, along with some alternative funding Lands for the
President's consideration.
Bob Hartmannhas been working on a draft speech using a
fact sheet that reflects different numbers than are now
proposed. I suggest you give him a copy of Tab A for his
corrections.
The President should be aware of two major points:
-- The acquisition program is based entirely on the
assumption that he will approve the new land and
water conservation fund legislation expected to
pass Congress within 10-14 days. This would increase
the LWCF from the current $300 million per year
to the $900 million per year in three years. The
Administration has opposed this Legislation.
-2-
-- The doubling of the acreage is based to a large
degree upon the inclusion of Alaskan lands.
We will be adding 300,000 acres within the contiguous
48 to an existing base 3.4 million acres under
this program. The additional state-side acreage
for the next 10 years will come from the expanded
Land and Water Conservation Fund, thus the combined
effect of the President's approach and the LWCF
acquisitions will more than double the total U.S.
acreage.
now
(Jown 33.4 usable 30 up usable
33.4.
is
2T
10%
N#28
R
FORD-PARKS
VAIL. COLO. (AP) -- PRESIDEET FORD WILL UNVE L A NEW NATIONAL PARKS
CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION PROPOSAL WHEE HE SPEAKS AGAINST A
BACKDROP OF OLD FAITHFUL GEYSER IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK SUNDAY.
THE LEGISLATION, WHICH WILL BE SUBMITTED TO CONGRESS, WOULD PROVIDE
FUNDS TO ACQUIRE MORE PARK LANDS, IMPROVE THOSE ALREADY OWNED BY THE
GOVERNMEET AND ADD MORE PARK PERSONNEL. THE COST WILL BE ABOUT $1.5
BILLION.
THE BILL. ACCORDING TO ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS, WILL TIE FEDERAL
PROGRAMS MORE CLOSELY TOGE HER WITH CITY AND STATE PROGRAMS.
AFTER THE 1 P.M. (LOCAL TIME) ADD SS, THE PRESIDEET WILL FLY BY
HELICOPTER TO THE PARK'S CANYON RANGER ST TTN, WHERE HE SERVED AS A
FOREST BANGER 40 YEARS AGO. SEVERAL OF THE RANGERS WHO WORKED WITH HIM
WILL GRE T HIM THERE FOR A REUNION.
FORD THEE WILL FLY TO RAPID CITY, S.D., FOR AN AIR FORCE ONE
REFUELING STOP ON THE WAY BACK TO WASHINGTON AT THE EED OF A NINE-DAY
WORKING VACATION AT VAIL.
THE PRESIDENT'S 4:30 P.M. ARRIVAL AT ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE IN
RAPID CITY WILL BE OPEE TO THE PUBLIC.
08-27-76 10:55EDT
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
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"ocrText": "The original documents are located in Box 26, folder \"Parks and Recreation (2)\" of the\nJames M. Cannon Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nCopyright Notice\nThe copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of\nphotocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United\nStates of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.\nWorks prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public\ndomain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to\nremain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid\ncopyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nDigitized from Box 26 of the James M. Cannon Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library\nLAng 1976]\nPRESIDENT'S COMMENTS ON PARKS PROPOSALS\nI had the opportunity during the Bicentennial\nto visit several national parks and related areas.\nI have seen the public enthusiasm for the\nnational parks and looked at the attendance records\n(up about 20%).\nIt seems to me that this generation of Americans\nhave the benefits of the foresight of those who\nestablished Yosemite and other national parks a hundred\nyears ago.\nIt seems to me appropriate that this generation\nshould offer as a Bicentennial birthday present to the\nnext generation of Americans and generations to come a\ngreat expansion of our national park system so that\nour children and grandchildren have the benefits of this\ngreat American heritage.\nThe expenditure of $150 million a year over the\nnext 10 years means that we will have to tighten our\nbelts elsewhere SO that we can preserve for future\nAmericans our national parks, our forests, mountains,\nlakes, woodlands and other natural resources.\n[Aug 1976]\nThe President said he was going from the Convention\nto Vail. From Vail he would slip away for one day to\nYellowstone to make his National Parks announcement.\nHe said he hasn't been back to Yellowstone since\nhe worked there in the summer of 1936. The President\nindicated he thought this would be a good kickoff for\nhis campaign.\n[Aug. 1976]\nThe President said he was going from the Convention\nto Vail. From Vail he would slip away for one day to\nYellowstone to make his National Parks announcement.\nHe said he hasn't been back to Yellowstone since\nhe worked there in the summer of 1936. The President\nindicated he thought this would be a good kickoff for\nhis campaign.\nFORD is LIBRARY 9ERALD\nExtract Park Proposal Mtq\nRk Cabmet after\n[Aing. 1976]\nthe Country,\nD.C. QAU,\nJan nons\nto\n2066 not L out\nach\nG\nr\nmnter I wife\ntam\nThat with hugu\nago\nm mid - - tuly -\nFORD i LVBRARY\nPreasured made our mi\nlate they to lable pale.\nNutrout Duh\n5 without July 8\nIn the The Residention\nposuble that mught be talu in\nWater to Br Tenterned\nD\nbun\nAre\nnaturial\nnow up\nfurth mm what duar\ndetermine\nto Anemi\nHe & rp what new\nTo In mz an buden\nthe upsurds\nrevenue was pule for the The\nFORD i LIBRARY GERALD\nand & amon\nit mi your\nalule is Mototyn\nof datent pole\nThe\nwill\nThat The\nBarley Tv P\nam\nDetails , Khope\nGERALD R. GERALD R. FORD\nFROM OMB\n[Aug. 1976]\nIssue: What special provision for city parks should be\nincluded in the President's parks initiative?\nAlternatives:\nA. Propose new legislation authorizing a $200 M one-time\ncategorical grant to cities for rehabilitation of run-\ndown park facilities.\nB. Announce issuance of a letter directing Cabinet\nSecretaries to urge cities to give special priority to\nparks rehabilitation in using available block grant funds,\nproviding Federal technical assistance, and calling for\nreporting of funds spent for parks and accomplishments\ntherewith. (See attachment)\nC. Propose no specific Federal initiative for city parks.\nDiscussion:\nBackground factors bearing on this question are:\n- Many believe city parks have been underfunded in recent\nyears as cities have placed priority elsewhere in using\navailable funds in tight years.\n- There are over 30,000 municipal and county parks in the\nU.S., with peak summer employment of about 90,000 people.\n- A Presidential proposal to provide new money for city\nparks, even on a one time basis, would be very popular\nwith mayors, city recreation departments, and park users.\n- The expanded Land and Water Conservation Fund will increase\nmatching grants to States for park acquisition and develop-\nment from $180 M per year to an eventual $540 M per year,\nmost of which will be spent in and near cities.\n- Block grants and special appropriationsnow provide billons\nthat can be used by States and cities to rehabilitate or\nmaintain existing parks. In addition to General Revenue\nSharing, examples are:\nFORD i LIBRARI GERALD\n2\n$ Billion\nFY 1976\nFY 1977\n-- Community Development Block Grants\n2.8\n3.2\n------------------------- Comprehensive Employment and\nTraining Assistance (CETA) programs\nSummer Youth Employment\n(To be\nprograms\n0.6\nrequested\nin March,\n1977)\nTitle I Employment Program\n1.6\n1.6\n-- Local Public Works Act (recently\nenacted over Presidential veto)\n00\nTitle I (Public works projects)\n--\n2.0\nTitle II counter-cyclical\nassistance to cities\n-\n1.25\nTotal\n5.0\n8.05\n- Proposals still under consideration by the Congress which\ncould be used are:\n- the Young Adults Conservation Act (H.R. 10138) which\nhas passed the House and is reported out in the Senate\ndespite Administration opposition.\n--- increase in CETA Title I in the pending Labor-HEW\nappropriation of $300 M, also opposed by the Admin-\nistration.\n- Of the current programs, the CETA Summer Youth Employment\nProgram and Title I of CETA could most readily be used to\nfinance a Presidential initiative. The summer program\nprovides part-time jobs at the minimum wage during the\nsummer months for disadvantaged youths. Funds are avail-\nable for minimal supplies purchases. In 1976, 950,000\njobs are funded. The type of work done is at local dis-\ncretion, but traditionally includes a large component of\nclean-up/fix-up work. In Title I, sponsors normally\ndevote about 60% of their effort to youth \"work experience\"\nactivity which is similar to the summer program. Title I\nserves about 1 M youth per year.\ni\nFORD\nGERALD\nLIBRARY\n3\n- Of the new programs, the Local Public Works Employment Act\ncould be a significant resource for this type of activity.\nComparison of Alternatives\nAlternative A, a new, one time categorical grant of $200 M.\nPros\n- Unique initiative identified with President.\n- $200 M in additional funds would be a popular commit-\nment for special initiative.\nCons\n- Adds $200 M to the total Federal budget in an area\nalready amply funded.\n- Adds one more source of Federal funds which could be\nused for this purpose without a defensible pro-\ngrammatic rationale for the need to do SO.\n- Represents a reversal of a Presidential policy of\nopposing new categorial grants in favor of expanding\nblock grants.\n- Runs high risk of becoming a continuing categorical\ngrant program.\n- Could be easily amended by Congress to provide Fed-\neral grants for general operation and maintenance of\nlocal parks with huge Federal budget impacts (over\n30,000 such parks employ about 90,000 people. $200 M\nprovides only an average of $6,600 per park.)\nAlternative B: Presidential directive to Cabinet officers\nto help localities use existing block grant programs as\nfunding source.\nPros\n- No new legislation required\n- No addition to budget totals required.\n- Administrative machinery in place.\n- Avoids inviting a permanent categorical program\nFORD & GERALD LIBRARY\n4\nCons\n- Is not as direct as an earmarked appropriation request;\nmight be seen as a somewhat weaker commitment.\n- Redirected funds would not be as popular with recipients\nas added funds.\n- If not handled well by agencies, could be seen as\nFederal infringement on local prerogatives within\nthe block grant programs.\n- Could invite other interests to seek comparable\nPresidential support for the use of such funds, leading\nto widespread earmarking, defeating the purpose of\nblock grants.\nAlternative C; Provide no special new initiatives for\ncity parks.\nPros\n- Avoids problems created by (1) adding to Federal\nbudget (2) creating new categorical grant or\n(3) attempting to direct use of block grant funds.\n- Would probably not be missed by potential bene-\nficiaries.\n-\nOmission easily defensible, if challenged, given\nthe pending Land and Water Conservation Fund increase\nand lavish funding of the CETA and jobs programs.\nCons\n- Passes up an opportunity to make a popular proposal\nin an area in which it would be welcomed.\n- May generate challenge that problems of poor and\nof cities in the recreation area overlooked in favor\nof adding good things for the affluent, the suburban,\nand the rural areas.\nFORD is GERALD LIBRARY\nDRAFT\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE\nSECRETARY OF INTERIOR\nSECRETARY OF LABOR\nSubject:\nUse of funds for rehabilitation of\ncity parks.\nRehabilitation of urban parks for the benefit of millions\nof urban residents can be significantly furthered by use\nof Federal grant programs administered by your Departments.\nSpecifically, several billion dollars in grant funds avail-\nable under Community Development Block Grants, Compre-\nhensive Employment and Training Act and Local Public Works\nAct programs are eligible to be used for urban park\nimprovements.\nBecause of the importance of providing rewarding outdoor\nrecreation opportunity for millions of city residents, I\nhereby direct that you:\n- take immediate steps to urge recipients of funds\nunder the above cited programs to set aside\nspecific amounts for rehabilitation of parks and\nrecreation areas,\n- provide technical advice and assistance in the\npreparation and implementation of urban park\nrehabilitation plans,\nLIBRARY GERALD R. FORD\n2\n- Report to me annually, beginning January 1977, on\nthe amount of funds utilized for park rehabilita-\ntion and the major accomplishments resulting from\nthis effort.\nI hope that through your efforts at least $200 million can\nbe applied to this worthwhile task in the first year and\nthat significant progress is made toward improving the\nquality of the outdoor recreation experience in urban areas.\nGERALD R. FORD\nStaffed out\nHemphreys\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nInterior\nWASHINGTON\nAugust 3, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nJIM CANNON\nTHRU:\nMAX FRIEDERSDORF m.b.\nFROM:\nCHARLES LEPPERT, JR. Cof.\nSUBJECT:\nRep. Delbert Latta (R. - Ohio)\nRep. Latta has forwarded the attached file on Perry's Victory and\nInternational Peace Memorial. Please note that Latta is interested\nin seeing to it that the National Park Service follows through on its\nrecommendations.\nI suggest that a representative of the National Park Service visit\nRep. Latta to review the recommendations and the time schedule\nfor implementation.\ncc: Jim Mitchell\nJohn Kyl\nFORD i LIBRARY 03RALD\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nAugust 5, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nJIM CANNON\nFROM:\nGEORGE W. HUMPHREYS\nSUBJECT:\nNATIONAL PARK SYSTEM\nAt your direction, I visited five National Park areas\nin the Western States - Grand Teton and Yellowstone in\nWyoming, Yosemite and Death Valley in California, and\nGrand Canyon in Arizona.\nMy visits were for a day to a day and a half in each\npark, with an overnight in all but Death Valley. Although\nI met with the Park Superintendent in each site for a\ndiscussion of his problems, I spent most of my time\ntalking with the campers, hikers, and one-day visitors.\nI used the concessioner's facilities without reference\nto my White House position and, in general, was able\nto view the facilities from a normal visitor's point.\nFive specific impressions should be noted, with the\nunderstanding that no attempt is being made to offer any\nhard evidence or to allege as fact any perception I may\nhave.\n-- The presence of the concessioner in a park is far\nmore evident than the presence of a Smoky - the\nRanger in campaign hat. Concessioners operate\nthe hotel, the dining room, the overnight tents,\nthe bar, the snack shack, the horse rental, etc.\nMany people know the park as \"a Fred Harvey Park\"\nor a \"Curry Company Park\". In numbers, a concessioner\nwill have 500-700 employees working and living in\nthe park while Park Service personnel would be\n100-150. The concessioner's people are all in the\ndensely trafficked areas, of course, while the\nRanger is out in a trail shack or on a maintenance\njob far removed from visitors.\n-2-\n-- Although the hikers, backpackers and cyclists\nthink the parks are far too accessible - \"We should\nrip out the roads and let nature lovers walk in\nhere\"\n\"Too many people and cars in here; the\npark belongs to the bears\" - the majority of the\npeople want and enjoy the modern day conveniences.\nThey drive into the park and pay $27 for a Holiday\nInn type unit or $50 to $60 for a magnificent old\nhotel built in 1900 that is situated near the most\nspectacular view. Although they can, and do, pay\n$1.75 to $3.00 for a lunch counter meal, they\ncan enjoy an adequate steak, trout, chicken kiev\ntype meal for $7.50 to $9.50 plus wine and drinks.\nMany, many visitors come into the parks in the\nself-contained motor homes and pay $4.00 for electrical\nand water hook-ups, with a concessioner operated\nstore nearby for eggs, bread, milk and bologna.\nThe vast majority of the visitors completely enjoy\nthe parks, visit more than one park on their\nvacations, and are not completely aware that the\nPark is a Federal facility. They don't think much\nabout it at all, except that they like it.\n-- Upon first driving through and hiking in the parks,\nthey appear well-kept, beautiful, and slightly\ncrowded. However, many areas are not open to\nvisitors because the roads and trails can't be\nkept up for lack of funds, maintenance is more\ncosmetic than substantial, and visitor services\nare limited (one biologist taking 75-80 people on\na nature trail). Roads are being patched up\ninstead of repaired, thus each year all the money is\ngoing for a patch that wears out before the next\nyear's heavy traffic begins - a tremendous mistake\nfrom a capital investment standpoint. Sewage treat-\nment, water supply, and waste disposal systems all\nneed upgrading, but such problems are not visible\nto the public.\n-- The parks that I visited are beautiful - impressive\nbeyond belief, except for Death Valley. The scars\nfrom the open mining operations there are ghastly.\n-3-\n-- The National Park Ranger is the complete\nprofessional - knowledgeable, courteous, dedicated,\nand happy with his position. There is a pride\nand esprit evident in the Park Service that is\ngreater than any other I've seen among career men.\nAlthough the staffing in many cases is woefully\nshort, the professionals are continuing to apply\nthemselves to cover the major gaps through initiative,\nlong hours and dedication. Park Service people\nlike the visitors and genuinely try to help.\nTo summarize, the American people enjoy their parks,\nthe presence (and investment) of the concessioners will\nbe a source of potential problems, and the Park Service\nneeds, and deserves, help.\nCC: Quern\nHumphreys\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nAugust 9, 1976\nADMINISTRATIVELY CONFIDENTIAL\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nJIM CANNON\nJIM LYNN\nFROM:\nJIM CONNOR JE\nSUBJECT:\nU.S. Parks\nThe attached article from the WASHINGTON POST of\nAugust 9, 1976 was returned in the President's outbox with\nthe following notation:\n\"Status of our project? 11\nPlease follow-up with appropriate action.\ncc: Dick Cheney\nAttachment\nArticle entitled:\n\"Beautiful U.S. Parks in Trouble\"\nBeautiful U.S. Parks in Trouble\nBy Philip A. McCombs\nWashington Post Staff Writer\nShenandoah National Park-Lord,\nit is so beautiful here! It is so blue\nand blue and blue-the sky. We are SO\nlucky to have these green enormous\nhazy mountains that stretch out end-\nlessly into the heart of America. to\nhave this rich dark earth, these trees\nstirring in the crisp morning breeze,\nwith only the buzz of insects and\nsome early morning chirping birds to\nbreak the stillness\nThe national parks carry this sort of\nemotional charge for so many peo-\nple. Robert R. Jacobsen, the intense\nand soft-spoken National Park Service\nranger who is Shenandoah's adminis-\ntrator, gets a little glistening in his\neyes when he talks about the parks.\n\"You know, I grew up in Wyoming\nin the Depression year and often the\nonly vacation we could take would be\nsagebrushing. We'd get tents and go\nout camping-so I grew up tenting as\na child in Grand Teton and Yellow-\nstone. That's when I decided to be a\nranger.\n\"My folks moved around a lot, too,\nand I never had a town I could go\nback to and call home-only the\nparks. 1 took my family back to Teton\nand Yellowstone just this January,\nand, you know, for me it was it was\nan emotional experience. I was going\nhome. I knew the roads-we don't\nchange the roads in the National Park\nSystem. I knew the turns in the roads,\nand the hills. I knew where things\nwere.\n\"Americans are very transient. peri-\npatetic-they're wanderers and this\nhas been of great concern to sociolo-\ngists. I really believe that the Park\nService is providing roots for this\n/country. People can take their chil-\ndren and their grandchildren back to\nthe parks, and I think that people find\nreassurance in this at a time when cit-\nies are changing, neighborhoods are\nchanging:\nBy Linda Wheeler-The Washington Post\nThis is a story about what bad\nShenandoah Mountains loom through the morning haze.\nSee PARKS, A14, Col. 1\nR1\nTHE WASHINGTON POST\nMonday, August 9. 1976\nFORD & LIBRARY GERALD\nSome items in this folder were not digitized because it contains copyrighted\nmaterials. Please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library for access to\nthese materials.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nACTION\nWASHINGTON\nLast Day: August 16\nAugust 10, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR\nTHE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nSUBJECT:\nJIM CANNON Jun\nS. 1526 - Boundary Waters\nCanoe Area, Minnesota\nAttached for your consideration is S. 1526, sponsored by\nSenator Humphrey.\nThe enrolled bill would increase the existing appropriation\nauthorization for land acquisition in the Boundary Waters\nCanoe Area, Minnesota from $4,500,000 to $9,000,000. The\nenrolled bill is substantively identical to legislation\nsubmitted by the Department of Agriculture.\nAdditional information is provided in OMB's enrolled bill\nreport at Tab A.\nOMB, Max Friedersdorf, Counsel's Office (Lazarus) and I\nrecommend approval of the enrolled bill.\nRECOMMENDATION\nThat you sign S. 1526 at Tab B.\nFORD\nEXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT\nOFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET\nWASHINGTON. D.C. 20503\nAUG 6 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT\nSubject: Enrolled Bill S. 1526 - Boundary Waters\nCanoe Area, Minnesota\nSponsor - Sen. Humphrey (D) Minnesota\nLast Day for Action\nAugust 16, 1976 - Monday\nPurpose\nIncreases the existing appropriation authorization\nfor land acquisition in the Boundary Waters Canoe\nArea from $4,500,000 to $9,000,000.\nAgency Recommendations\nOffice of Management and Budget\nApproval\nDepartment of Agriculture\nApproval\nDiscussion\nThe Boundary Waters Canoe Area is a component of\nthe National Wilderness Preservation System located\nwithin the Superior National Forest in northeastern\nMinnesota. The area comprises over one million\nacres of forest land which contains numerous\nlakes and rivers that offer a wide range of\nopportunities for canoe travel and wilderness\nexperiences.\nUnder existing law, the Secretary of Agriculture\nhas acquired some 60,000 acres of private land\nwithin the Boundary Waters Canoe Area to protect\nit from undesirable use and development.\nAlthough some 21,500 acres remain to be acquired\nif the area is to be fully protected, Agriculture\nhas nearly reached the $4,500,000 appropriation\nauthorization ceiling that applies to such land\nGERALD FORD LIBRARY\n2\nacquisition, and in fact, payment has not been\nmade for lands taken through condemnation because\nof insufficient funds.\nAccordingly, Agriculture submitted legislation\nto the 94th Congress to provide an additional\n$4,500,000 appropriation authorization for\ncompleting necessary land acquisition within the\nBoundary Waters Canoe Area. The Agriculture\nproposal also provided for payment of the outstand-\ning condemnation award.\nConsistent with Agriculture's proposal, S. 1526\nwould increase the existing appropriation\nauthorization for land acquisition within the\nBoundary Waters Canoe Area from $4,500,000 to\n$9,000,000. The enrolled bill would authorize\nuse of monies from the Land and Water Conservation\nFund and it would also provide for payment of\ncondemnation awards. Finally, it would require\nthe Secretary to make annual reports to Congress\n(1977-1980) concerning the land acquisition\nprogram, with the final report indicating whether\nor not additional funds are needed.\nIn its enrolled bill letter, Agriculture notes\nthat S. 1526 is substantively identical to its\nproposal and states that:\n\"S. 1526 would make it possible for this\nDepartment to continue\nto provide\nfor the acquisition of lands vulnerable\nto forms of use and development that\ncould impair the unique qualities and\nnatural features of the wilderness canoe\ncountry. The bill would also enable\nthe Department to pay all of the money\nawarded by a Federal court to the\nowner of certain property acquired\nunder the Act through condemnation\nproceedings.\"\nFORD\nOTH\n.\nJames M. Frey\nfor\nLegislative Reference\nEnclosure\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nAugust 10, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nJIM CANNON\nFROM:\nJACK MARSH\nSUBJECT:\nCanoe June Area, Minn.\nS. 1526 -- Boundary Waters\nIf the President approves funding for the Boundary Waters Canoe\nArea, I think consideration should be given to highlighting it\nbecause of special interest in sports and parks.\nJack,\nWe are asking Margita White\nto see if we can get special\ncoverage on this.\nJMC\nGERALD . R. 3\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nREQUESTED\nWASHINGTON\nAugust 12, 1976\nPHONE MESSAGE FOR:\nJIM CANNON\nFROM:\nGEORGE HUMPHREYS by C.V.\nSUBJECT:\nNational Park and Recreation Areas\nIn 1975 there were 230 million visitations to the\nNational Park and Recreation Areas (288 units).\nProjections for 1976 would indicate a visitation rate\nof 260 million.\nThis compares to a 1965 rate of 113 million.\nProjections for future visitations vary tremendously\nbecause of the unknown number of potential areas that\nmay be included in the system, but it can be assumed\nthat the visitation rate could double over the next\nten years.\n1965\n113 million\n1975\n230 million\n1976\n260 million\n1986\nDouble 1976 figure? 520 million?\nFORD is LIBRARY GERALD\nCC: Humphreys\nCC: Art Quern\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nAugust 12, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nJIM CANNON\nFROM:\nJIM CONNOR JEE\nThe attached article from the CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR\ndated August 12 was returned in the President's outbox with the\nrequest that it be forwarded to you for your information.\ncc: Dick Cheney\nAttachment:\nArticle entitled:\nCrowding threatens Forest Preserves\nHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S.\nGenald R.\nPUBLIC DOCUMENT\nFord Ja M.C.\nFREE\nMICHIGAN.\nTHE\nPRESIDENT\nThursday, August 12, 1976\nTHE CHRISTIAN SCENCE-MONITOR\nCrowding\nthreatens\nforest\npreserves\nBy Clayton Jones\nStaff correspondent of\nThe Christian Science Monitor\nMonongahela National Forest,\nWest Virginia\nA wave of campers and hikers has found a\nlast frontier in U.S. wilderness preserves and\nthreatens to turn it into a crowded, trailer-\nclogged, \"facility\"-laden jungle.\nThe same troubles of overcrowding that hit\nthe 30 million acres of the U.S. Park Service a\nEn route to White Mountain National Forest, Gorham, New Hampshire\nBy Barth J. Falkenberg, staff photographer\ndecade ago are cropping up on the 186 million\nacres of the U.S. Forest Service's wild timber\nWilderness areas threatened: hikers and campers discover uncluttered primitive forests\nand grazing lands.\n\"People are banging on the trees to get into\nFew natural wonders such as Old Faithful\nhalf holds 6,434 campground and picnic areas,\nand more and more asked to take out the trash\nthe forest,\" says Ranger Whit Lerer of the Mo-\ncan be found in national forests - 155 of them\n174 ski areas, 878 boating sites, 368 resorts, 550\nthey take in.\nnongahela Forest in West Virginia's high tim-\nin 43 states. Still, the attractions of solitude on\norganized camps, and 323 swimming sites\nThe 12.3 million acres now designated by\nber and grazing territory.\nForest Service land brought a 7 percent in-\nthe largest single supply of outdoor recreation.\nCongress as wilderness areas will increase to\n\"Once we designate a forest a wilderness\ncrease in visitors last year and more are ex-\n\"Every bit will be covered by land-use\n15.2 million by 1980 and perhaps double by 1985\narea, it becomes a major attraction,\" he said.\npected in 1976. Four wilderness areas now\nplans,\" says Mr. Smith. Hiking trails will be in-\nespecially near urban areas. This protects\n\"We thought backpacking was a fad but it\nhave limits on use.\ncreased from 97,000 to 120,000 miles to meet\nfragile, untouched land from roads and heavy\nhasn't leveled off it keeps increasing.\"\nFor the first time, a master plan for the fu-\nthe new demand.\ncamping.\nMany campsites have had to be closed, hik-\nture use of all the Forest Service's holdings\nCongress hiked the Forest Service recrea-\nTimber cutting would increase only 4 to 11\ning permits issued, no-littering signs put up,\nwas finished this spring, after Congress asked\ntion budget 15 percent from $51.5 million this\npercent by 1980 as the lumber production bur-\ncamping seasons shortened, and for the first\nfor one in 1974.\nyear to $59.1 million in 1977. The Park Service\nden is shifted from public lands to private and\ntime, criminal activity rose right along with\n\"But we are still agonizing over the balance\nreceived only an 11 percent increase.\nstate forests, timber imports, and substitutes.\nthe mounting popularity and expense of Amer-\nof recreation and industry on forest land,\"\nThe new plan shifts the agency's priorities:\nA backlog of 2 million acres on Forest Service\nica's \"hidden\" parks.\nsays Zane G. Smith, Forest Service director of\nWilderness recreation areas will be dis-\nland needs replanting. Timber companies sus-\nBut unlike the National Park System, the\nrecreation.\npersed rather than concentrated. Campers will\ntained a setback last August when a historic\nU.S. Forest Service under the Department of\nHalf of the 186 million acres are \"com-\nbe given guidelines on taking care of the for-\ncourt ruling limited timber sales in the Mo-\nAgriculture poses few restrictions on visitors.\nmercially attractive timberland,\" but the other\nest, diverted to areas that meet their needs,\nnongahela National Forest.\nNo entrance fees are required, campsites\ncan usually be chosen anywhere, open fires are\ngenerally permitted, as is chopping firewood,\nvisitors' guide to\nthere with\nand dogs are allowed on trails. Conveniences\nsuch as ejectricity, flush toilets, paved paths,\nand treated water are hard to find.\nCHICAGO\nThe Forest Service is more concerned with\nproviding such \"primitive\" outdoor ex-\nperiences than with packing campers trailer to\ntrailer near_scenic and historic spots, as the\nChicago's\nDepartment of Interior has had to do in most\nof its 37 national parks from Shenandoah to\nYellowstone.\nExecutiveHouse\nDelta is an line\nrun by professionals.\n71 EAST WACKER DRIVE\n(312) 346-7100\nknow eaking um d immediately how far from here to\nAdjacent to\nSeventeenth Church of Christ,\nanes\nScientist, Chicago.\n71 CLUB RESTAURANT\nTHE OVAL ROOM RESTAURANT\nand MAP MEASURER MAP MEASURER MAP MEASURER MAP MEASURER / SUSO Montrase\nFIRST STOP FOR\nAIRPORT LIMOUSINES\nINDOOR PARKING.\nROBERT R. CARRE, Vice President / General Manager\n- 7.79 campers\ncompass on point MAP MEASURER A to station.attendanys.incase point off today destination.hikers. henniker's JUST 695 or surly\nLike Gene Harvey, line mechanic. Gene holds\ntwo FAA licenses. He has 17 years with Delta\nunder his tool belt, in mechanic school, in the\nshop, on the flight line. He's learned how to\nElegant Dining\nRegency Room\nfix everything from engines to instruments to\nand New Parisian Room\nailerons to brakes.\nInternational Dinners\nThat Delta jet belongs to Gene while it's at\nDesserts Flambeau\nthe gate. And he won't turn it over to the pilot\nCaesar Salads\nuntil he's sure it's in perfect shape for the\nMy live - (in Mail (or # name BA the at Florida, YES minimum to: Minimum of is Box (1-800) 7584, of of 3 three to 432-5024) In S.FREE San 779 (3) three Bush me how Map is St., (3) far Measurers, CA Box it 94120 7584, (800)327-8912 charge San Francisco, my just $19.95) CA\ntwo-week reach 94120\npassengers' flight. When it comes to people,\nGene Harvey couldn't care more. And that goes\nfor all 28,000 Delta professionals. &DELTA\nGrassfield's\n1\nIn\nDelta is ready when you are.\nInternational\nRestaurant\nState\nZip\n6666 N. Ridge\nChicago\nBR 4-6666\nD266-1 MS0812\nINFORMATION\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nAugust 13, 1976\nMEMORANDUM TO: THE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nJIM CANNON\nSUBJECT:\nSTATUS OF NATIONAL PARK PROPOSAL\nabout\nYou asked the status of the National Park Proposal.\nAt our direction, Interior has already prepared the\ndraft legislation, along with the press release and fact\nsheets to accompany the legislation. Suggested speech\nmaterial has been sent to Bob Hartmann, and his people\nare working on this material now.\nAfter initially opposing the proposal on budgetary\ngrounds, OMB has been extremely cooperative and is\ncurrently reviewing the draft legislation in conjunction\nwith the Domestic Council staff people. This review\nshould be finished by August 19.\nYou may want to look through the two attachments.\n-- A summary of the main points of the proposal\n(TAB A)\n-- A draft speech that has been given to Bob Hartmann\nto put into final (TAB B)\nGERALD ABVURIZ A. FORD\nA\nDOUBLE THE NATION'S PARKLANDS\nAND RECREATION AREAS\nPROPOSAL: Establish a ten-year program to double America's heritage\nof national parks, recreation areas, wildlife refuges, urban parks,\nand historic sites, excepting Alaska.\nOBJECTIVE: To double the nation's parklands, wildlife refuges and\nrecreation areas. This new commitment will be a bicentennial gift\nthat the American people will give to this and future generations of\nAmericans.\nBACKGROUND: Today's citizens have inherited vast and irreplaceable\ngifts of parks, historic sites, wildlife sanctuaries and recreation\nareas. The National Park Service's 287 units comprise 31.0 million\nacres of which 7.5 million acres are in Alaska. The Wildlife Refuge\nSystem's 378 units comprise 32.2 million acres of which 22.3 million\nacres are in Alaska. Yet with our nation's growth, these resources\nare often overcrowded and overused. At the same time many areas which\nwould make superb parks, sanctuaries, or recreation areas are being\nlost forever because land values often make other uses more attractive\nin the short term.\nThe proposed initial commitment of $1.5 billion over ten years would\nbe a sound investment in America's priceless natural resources and\navoid loss forever of an American heritage that cannot be replaced.\nIt would mark again this nation's commitment to preserve the best of\nour vast and beautiful continent. It would expand permanently the\nnatural treasures future generations of Americans will inherit before\nthese resources are priced out of the public domain. This program does\nnot include Alaska inasmuch as the Administration has already proposed\nto the Congress a major conservation initiative to protect in perpetuity\n83 million acres of the public domain in that State. The President\nreiterates the need for Congress to act quickly on the Alaska proposals\nbefore the temporary protection afforded by the Alaska Native Claims\nSettlement Act expires in December 1978.\nDESCRIPTION: Legislation will be submitted to establish a $1.5 billion,\nten-year program to:\n-- provide $500 million to be used to acquire new parks,\nwildlife refuges, and recreation areas and historic\nsites.\nprovide $300 million to develop these new acquisitions\ninto recreation and conservation resources ready to\nserve the public.\nprovide $200 million for one-shot grants to cities to\nupgrade present park areas in disrepair.\n2\n-- provide $100 million for upgrading and increased\nstaffing of current system of national parks and\nwildlife refuges.\n-- provide $400 million to develop parklands and\nrefuges which are currently owned by the Federal\ngovernment but are without the facilities needed\nto make them usable.\nDOUBLE THE NATION'S PARKLANDS\nAND RECREATION AREAS\nDESCRIPTION OF COMPONENTS:\n1. Acquisition of new parks, wildlife refuges, recreation areas and\nhistoric sites. ($500 million immediate appropriation to remain avail-\nable for ten years over and above other funds such as the Land and Water\nConservation Fund).\nAdditions to the National Park System, $200 million for parks,\nnational rivers, recreation areas, and historic sites.\nAdditions to the National Wildlife Refuge System, $200 million for\nthe preservation of natural areas and habitat for migratory birds and\nendangered species.\nAdditions to the Wild and Scenic River System and the National\nTrails System, $100 million. This includes a commitment to expedite\nthe current and future studies on trails and rivers.\nThe National Park Service currently purchases approximately 60,000\nacres annually utilizing approximately $77 million from the Land and\nWater Conservation Fund. At this time, 559,608 additional acres and\n$449,631,713 are required to acquire lands in Congressionally authorized\npark and recreation areas and historic sites of the National Park System.\nIn addition, there are thousands of acres of spectacular areas that are\nsuitable for inclusion in the National Park System.\nThe Fish and Wildlife Service currently acquires approximately\n85,000 acres annually utilizing funds available from the Migratory Bird\nConservation Account ($19.5 million in '76) and the Land and\n2\nWater Conservation Fund ($9.4 million in '76). At this time, approxi-\nmately 5-million additional acres estimated at $2.5 billion are necessary\nfor the preservation of natural areas and habitat for migratory birds\nand endangered species.\n2. Development of these new acquisitions into recreation and conser-\nvation resources ready to serve the public. ($300 million immediate\nappropriation to remain available for ten years over and above existing\ndevelopment programs and funding for units already in the National Park\nand Wildlife Refuge Systems).\nSuch funds are generally to be used to implement park and refuge\nmaster plans, which include visitor facilities, road and trails, resource\nmanagement tools, and such additional improvements as may be necessary\nfor effective park and refuge management.\n3. One-time grants to cities to upgrade present park areas in disrepair.\n($200 million for fiscal year 1977).\nTo be administered by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and apportioned\namong the major cities (utilizing the Standard Metropolitan Statistical\nAreas) on the basis of population and need with no city entitled to more\nthan 3 percent. The President will ask the Congress for the necessary\nlegislative authority to implement this new program well before the 1977\nsummer season.\n4. Upgrading and increased staffing of current systems of national parks\nand wildlife refuges. ($100 million for fiscal year 1977 and each year\nthereafter).\n3\nUpgrading -- $80 million for rehabilitation of deteriorated\nfacilities with $60 million for national parks and $20 million for\nwildlife refuges with preference to be given to those areas having\nsignificant public visitation.\nIncreased staffing -- $20 million and approximately 1500 permanent\npositions with 1000 for national parks and 500 for wildlife refuges to\nbring the present field employment up to a level that will insure the\nprotection of the natural resource and meet the increasing public demand.\n5. Development of parklands and refuges currently in the Federal systems\nbut without the necessary facilities for proper resource management\nor public use. ($400 million immediate appropriation to remain available\nuntil expended).\nNational park units -- recently authorized areas at which little or\nno development has been provided -- $300 million.\nNational wildlife refuges -- $100 million.\nThe fiscal year '76 appropriation amounts to $11.4 million for\ndevelopment of National Park units and $500,000 for Wildlife Refuges.\nPark Proposal Misc.\nInterior\nB\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nDRAFT\nWASHINGTON\nJuly 19, 1976\nENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE\nOn the fourth of July, 1976, Americans everywhere\nexperienced what it means to join in celebrating their\ncountry and its ideals. The surge of emotion, the\ninfectious good will that characterized that day have\nmade us all realize that we are more united than we\nthought, more at ease with one another than we remem-\nbered. It was a day filled with memories for a people\nagain discovering the hopes and promises of the future.\nThe fourth of July has also convinced me of something I\nhave long thought to be true - that as a nation we are\nready to embark upon a major project that will mark the\nBicentennial year in a more permanent way than parades,\nreinactments, fireworks, and flotillas. And I know of\nno more appropriate project of this kind than to assure\nthat our natural heritage will be preserved and enhanced\nduring America's third century.\nI am, therefore, asking this generation of Americans,\nthe generation that is privileged to celebrate our 200th\n2\nbirthday, to join in a commitment to the land, a commit-\nment to the future, a commitment to our children, a\ncommitment to ourselves. I ask that Americans in 1976\nendorse and enact a 10 year program to double the nation's\nheritage of parks and recreation areas.\nI am submitting to Congress the Bicentennial Land Heritage\nAct which will provide a total of $1.5 billion over a ten-\nyear period to:\n--- double our heritage of land for parks, recreation\nareas and wildlife refuges.\n--- begin development of these lands to make them\naccessible, useable, and enjoyable.\n-- upgrade current facilities and increase staff\nat existing parks.\n-- provide a new $200 million program for urban\nparks.\n-- accelerate the development of parklands and\nrefuges which have had to be delayed for lack\nof manpower and funding.\nAmericans have always evinced a profound love for their\nland. They have also displayed a great capacity for\nadventure. In examining our past during this Bicentennial\nyear, we cannot help being struck by the hardiness of\nour ancestors. For them, the ability to live in rugged,\nundeveloped countryside was a necessity and encounters\n3\nwith wild creatures were commonplace. This history has\nleft an indelible mark on our national character.\nA good measure of the vitality of this aspect of our\ncharacter is visitation to the National Parks, which is\nagain up -- as high as 20 percent in some parks -- this\nyear, to a projected total of 260 million visitors during\n1976. This influx of visitors, however, can also pose\nproblems for the National Park Service, whose mandate is\nto provide for the enjoyment of the parks \"in such manner\nand by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the\nenjoyment of future generations\". I have concluded\nthat if visitors are to be properly accommodated, both\nthe National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife\nService, which manages the national wildlife refuges,\nmust have substantial increases in manpower and funding.\nIn addition, the National Wildlife Refuge System should\nbe expanded to include several million additional acres\nof vital wildlife habitat before these lands are converted\nto other uses.\nAs America has developed into the world's leading\nindustrial nation, her people have migrated to cities.\nToday we are an urban nation. Unfortunately, however,\nmany of our city residents have been deprived of that\nvital force in our national character to which I have\nreferred -- the zest for recreation in natural settings.\nA major cause of this deprivation has been the inability\nof our cities to maintain the parks which they have\ncreated and to serve the visitors who use them. I\nbelieve there is a need for a widespread infusion of\nFederal funds to help our cities rehabilitate and improve\ntheir parks and other outdoor recreation facilities.\nThe Bicentennial Land Heritage Act is an opportunity\nfor us today to address these issues on behalf of future\nAmericans. I believe that enactment of this proposal,\ntogether with enactment of my proposal to establish new\nparks, refuges, and wild and scenic rivers in Alaska,\nwould constitute a superb environmental bequest from\nBicentennial America to our successors.\nIt is my fervent hope that upon our nation's 300th\nbirthday, on July 4, 2076, Americans will remember us\nboth by our spirited celebration of the Bicentennial and\nby the size of the land heritage which we preserved\nunimpaired and devoted to the enjoyment of future\ngenerations.\nB\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nDRAFT\nWASHINGTON\nJuly 19, 1976\nENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE\nOn the fourth of July, 1976, Americans everywhere\nexperienced what it means to join in celebrating their\ncountry and its ideals. The surge of emotion, the\ninfectious good will that characterized that day have\nmade us all realize that we are more united than we\nthought, more at ease with one another than we remem-\nbered. It was a day filled with memories for a people\nagain discovering the hopes and promises of the future.\nThe fourth of July has also convinced me of something I\nhave long thought to be true - that as a nation we are\nready to embark upon a major project that will mark the\nBicentennial year in a more permanent way than parades,\nreinactments, fireworks, and flotillas. And I know of\nno more appropriate project of this kind than to assure\nthat our natural heritage will be preserved and enhanced\nduring America's third century.\nI am, therefore, asking this generation of Americans,\nthe generation that is privileged to celebrate our 200th\nbirthday, to join in a commitment to the land, a commit-\nment to the future, a commitment to our children, a\ncommitment to ourselves. I ask that Americans in 1976\nendorse and enact a 10 year program to double the nation's\nheritage of parks and recreation areas.\nI am submitting to Congress the Bicentennial Land Heritage\nAct which will provide a total of $1.5 billion over a ten-\nyear period to:\n--- double our heritage of land for parks, recreation\nareas and wildlife refuges.\n--- begin development of these lands to make them\naccessible, useable, and enjoyable.\n-- upgrade current facilities and increase staff\nat existing parks.\n-- provide a new $200 million program for urban\nparks.\n--- accelerate the development of parklands and\nrefuges which have had to be delayed for lack\nof manpower and funding.\nAmericans have always evinced a profound love for their\nland. They have also displayed a great capacity for\nadventure. In examining our past during this Bicentennial\nyear, we cannot help being struck by the hardiness of\nour ancestors. For them, the ability to live in rugged,\nundeveloped countryside was a necessity and encounters\n3\nwith wild creatures were commonplace. This history has\nleft an indelible mark on our national character.\nA good measure of the vitality of this aspect of our\ncharacter is visitation to the National Parks, which is\nagain up -- as high as 20 percent in some parks -- this\nyear, to a projected total of 260 million visitors during\n1976. This influx of visitors, however, can also pose\nproblems for the National Park Service, whose mandate is\nto provide for the enjoyment of the parks \"in such manner\nand by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the\nenjoyment of future generations\". I have concluded\nthat if visitors are to be properly accommodated, both\nthe National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife\nService, which manages the national wildlife refuges,\nmust have substantial increases in manpower and funding.\nIn addition, the National Wildlife Refuge System should\nbe expanded to include several million additional acres\nof vital wildlife habitat before these lands are converted\nto other uses.\nAs America has developed into the world's leading\nindustrial nation, her people have migrated to cities.\nToday we are an urban nation. Unfortunately, however,\nmany of our city residents have been deprived of that\nvital force in our national character to which I have\nreferred -- the zest for recreation in natural settings.\nA major cause of this deprivation has been the inability\nof our cities to maintain the parks which they have\ncreated and to serve the visitors who use them. I\nbelieve there is a need for a widespread infusion of\nFederal funds to help our cities rehabilitate and improve\ntheir parks and other outdoor recreation facilities.\nThe Bicentennial Land Heritage Act is an opportunity\nfor us today to address these issues on behalf of future\nAmericans. I believe that enactment of this proposal,\ntogether with enactment of my proposal to establish new\nparks, refuges, and wild and scenic rivers in Alaska,\nwould constitute a superb environmental bequest from\nBicentennial America to our successors.\nIt is my fervent hope that upon our nation's 300th\nbirthday, on July 4, 2076, Americans will remember us\nboth by our spirited celebration of the Bicentennial and\nby the size of the land heritage which we preserved\nunimpaired and devoted to the enjoyment of future\ngenerations.\nfile Interior\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nINFORMATION\nWASHINGTON\nAugust 13, 1976\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nSUBJECT:\nJIM Park CANNON Proposal Jun\nYou asked about the status of the National Park Proposal:\nBob Hartmann has the speech material.\nA summary of the main points of the proposal is\nready (Tab A).\nLegislation has been prepared and is now under-\ngoing a final review by the Domestic Council and\nOMB staff.\nOMB, after initially opposing the proposal on\nbudgetary grounds, is now fully cooperating.\nIn sum, we will be ready to go as soon as Bob Hartmann\nhas the opportunity to finish the speech.\nDOUBLE THE NATION'S PARKLANDS\nAND RECREATION AREAS\nPROPOSAL: Establish a ten-year program to double America's heritage\nof national parks, recreation areas, wildlife refuges, urban parks,\nand historic sites, excepting Alaska.\nOBJECTIVE: To double the nation's parklands, wildlife refuges and\nrecreation areas. This new commitment will be a bicentennial gift\nthat the American people will give to this and future generations of\nAmericans.\nBACKGROUND: Today's citizens have inherited vast and irreplaceable\ngifts of parks, historic sites, wildlife sanctuaries and recreation\nareas. The National Park Service's 287 units comprise 31.0 million\nacres of which 7.5 million acres are in Alaska. The Wildlife Refuge\nSystem's 378 units comprise 32.2 million acres of which 22.3 million\nacres are in Alaska. Yet with our nation's growth, these resources\nare often overcrowded and overused. At the same time many areas which\nwould make superb parks, sanctuaries, or recreation areas are being\nlost forever because land values often make other uses more attractive\nin the short term.\nThe proposed initial commitment of $1.5 billion over ten years would\nbe a sound investment in America's priceless natural resources and\navoid loss forever of an American heritage that cannot be replaced.\nIt would mark again this nation's commitment to preserve the best of\nour vast and beautiful continent. It would expand permanently the\nnatural treasures future generations of Americans will inherit before\nthese resources are priced out of the public domain. This program does\nnot include Alaska inasmuch as the Administration has already proposed\nto the Congress a major conservation initiative to protect in perpetuity\n83 million acres of the public domain in that State. The President\nreiterates the need for Congress to act quickly on the Alaska proposals\nbefore the temporary protection afforded by the Alaska Native Claims\nSettlement Act expires in December 1978.\nDESCRIPTION: Legislation will be submitted to establish a $1.5 billion,\nten-year program to:\nprovide $500 million to be used to acquire new parks,\nwildlife refuges, and recreation areas and historic\nsites.\nprovide $300 million to develop these new acquisitions\ninto recreation and conservation resources ready to\nserve the public.\nprovide $200 million for one-shot grants to cities to\nupgrade present park areas in disrepair.\n2\n-- provide $100 million for upgrading and increased\nstaffing of current system of national parks and\nwildlife refuges.\n-- provide $400 million to develop parklands and\nrefuges which are currently owned by the Federal\ngovernment but are without the facilities needed\nto make them usable.\nDOUBLE THE NATION'S PARKLANDS\nAND RECREATION AREAS\nDESCRIPTION OF COMPONENTS:\n1. Acquisition of new parks, wildlife refuges, recreation areas and\nhistoric sites. ($500 million immediate appropriation to remain avail-\nable for ten years over and above other funds such as the Land and Water\nConservation Fund).\nAdditions to the National Park System, $200 million for parks,\nnational rivers, recreation areas, and historic sites.\nAdditions to the National Wildlife Refuge System, $200 million for\nthe preservation of natural areas and habitat for migratory birds and\nendangered species.\nAdditions to the Wild and Scenic River System and the National\nTrails System, $100 million. This includes a commitment to expedite\nthe current and future studies on trails and rivers.\nThe National Park Service currently purchases approximately 60,000\nacres annually utilizing approximately $77 million from the Land and\nWater Conservation Fund. At this time, 559,608 additional acres and\n$449,631,713 are required to acquire lands in Congressionally authorized\npark and recreation areas and historic sites of the National Park System.\nIn addition, there are thousands of acres of spectacular areas that are\nsuitable for inclusion in the National Park System.\nThe Fish and Wildlife Service currently acquires approximately\n85,000 acres annually utilizing funds available from the Migratory Bird\nConservation Account ($19.5 million in '76) and the Land and\n2\nWater Conservation Fund ($9.4 million in '76). At this time, approxi-\nmately 5-million additional acres estimated at $2.5 billion are necessary\nfor the preservation of natural areas and habitat for migratory birds\nand endangered species.\n2. Development of these new acquisitions into recreation and conser-\nvation resources ready to serve the public. ($300 million immediate\nappropriation to remain available for ten years over and above existing\ndevelopment programs and funding for units already in the National Park\nand Wildlife Refuge Systems).\nSuch funds are generally to be used to implement park and refuge\nmaster plans, which include visitor facilities, road and trails, resource\nmanagement tools, and such additional improvements as may be necessary\nfor effective park and refuge management.\n3. One-time grants to cities to upgrade present park areas in disrepair.\n($200 million for fiscal year 1977).\nTo be administered by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and apportioned\namong the major cities (utilizing the Standard Metropolitan Statistical\nAreas) on the basis of population and need with no city entitled to more\nthan 3 percent. The President will ask the Congress for the necessary\nlegislative authority to implement this new program well before the 1977\nsummer season.\n4. Upgrading and increased staffing of current systems of national parks\nand wildlife refuges. ($100 million for fiscal year 1977 and each year\nthereafter).\n3\nUpgrading -- $80 million for rehabilitation of deteriorated\nfacilities with $60 million for national parks and $20 million for\nwildlife refuges with preference to be given to those areas having\nsignificant public visitation.\nIncreased staffing -- $20 million and approximately 1500 permanent\npositions with 1000 for national parks and 500 for wildlife refuges to\nbring the present field employment up to a level that will insure the\nprotection of the natural resource and meet the increasing public demand.\n5. Development of parklands and refuges currently in the Federal systems\nbut without the necessary facilities for proper resource management\nor public use. ($400 million immediate appropriation to remain available\nuntil expended).\nNational park units -- recently authorized areas at which little or\nno development has been provided -- $300 million.\nNational wildlife refuges -- $100 million.\nThe fiscal year '76 appropriation amounts to $11.4 million for\ndevelopment of National Park units and $500,000 for Wildlife Refuges.\nJim CANNON\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\ntarks\nWASHINGTON\nAugust 26, 1976\nMEMORANDUM TO: JIM CAVANAUGH\nFROM:\nGEORGE W HUMPHREYS\nSUBJECT:\nThe President's Bicentennial Land\nHeritage Program\nAttached are the latest draft documents to support\nthe President's proposed remarks on Sunday.\nOMB, although reluctant to approve the concept on budgetary\ngrounds, has reviewed the proposal thoroughly. One point\nof contention remains--how to fund the $200,000,000\nurban park rehabilitation portion. We think it should\nbe new money requiring authorizing legislation. OMB's current\nthinking is that we should redirect funds under existing\nauthorities in other agencies and programs.\nOMB is planning to send to you their arguments on this\npoint, along with some alternative funding Lands for the\nPresident's consideration.\nBob Hartmannhas been working on a draft speech using a\nfact sheet that reflects different numbers than are now\nproposed. I suggest you give him a copy of Tab A for his\ncorrections.\nThe President should be aware of two major points:\n-- The acquisition program is based entirely on the\nassumption that he will approve the new land and\nwater conservation fund legislation expected to\npass Congress within 10-14 days. This would increase\nthe LWCF from the current $300 million per year\nto the $900 million per year in three years. The\nAdministration has opposed this Legislation.\n-2-\n-- The doubling of the acreage is based to a large\ndegree upon the inclusion of Alaskan lands.\nWe will be adding 300,000 acres within the contiguous\n48 to an existing base 3.4 million acres under\nthis program. The additional state-side acreage\nfor the next 10 years will come from the expanded\nLand and Water Conservation Fund, thus the combined\neffect of the President's approach and the LWCF\nacquisitions will more than double the total U.S.\nacreage.\nnow\n(Jown 33.4 usable 30 up usable\n33.4.\nis\n2T\n10%\nN#28\nR\nFORD-PARKS\nVAIL. COLO. (AP) -- PRESIDEET FORD WILL UNVE L A NEW NATIONAL PARKS\nCONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION PROPOSAL WHEE HE SPEAKS AGAINST A\nBACKDROP OF OLD FAITHFUL GEYSER IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK SUNDAY.\nTHE LEGISLATION, WHICH WILL BE SUBMITTED TO CONGRESS, WOULD PROVIDE\nFUNDS TO ACQUIRE MORE PARK LANDS, IMPROVE THOSE ALREADY OWNED BY THE\nGOVERNMEET AND ADD MORE PARK PERSONNEL. THE COST WILL BE ABOUT $1.5\nBILLION.\nTHE BILL. ACCORDING TO ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS, WILL TIE FEDERAL\nPROGRAMS MORE CLOSELY TOGE HER WITH CITY AND STATE PROGRAMS.\nAFTER THE 1 P.M. (LOCAL TIME) ADD SS, THE PRESIDEET WILL FLY BY\nHELICOPTER TO THE PARK'S CANYON RANGER ST TTN, WHERE HE SERVED AS A\nFOREST BANGER 40 YEARS AGO. SEVERAL OF THE RANGERS WHO WORKED WITH HIM\nWILL GRE T HIM THERE FOR A REUNION.\nFORD THEE WILL FLY TO RAPID CITY, S.D., FOR AN AIR FORCE ONE\nREFUELING STOP ON THE WAY BACK TO WASHINGTON AT THE EED OF A NINE-DAY\nWORKING VACATION AT VAIL.\nTHE PRESIDENT'S 4:30 P.M. ARRIVAL AT ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE IN\nRAPID CITY WILL BE OPEE TO THE PUBLIC.\n08-27-76 10:55EDT\nFORD is LIBRARY GERALD"
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