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White House - Congressional Leadership Meeting, 7/21/70 (includes minutes)
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White House - Congressional Leadership Meeting, 7/21/70 (includes minutes)
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Robert T. Hartmann Papers
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These documents were scanned from Box 107 of the Robert T. Hartmann Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
DIARY OF WHITE HOUSE LEADERSHIP
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
MEETINGS -- 91st CONGRESS
July 21, 1970
Before the President could speak a word, Arends asked
permission to raise a question concerning recent Jack
Anderson columns which appear to quote verbatim words
spoken in White House Leadership meetings. He said
that it was obvious to him that either the room was bugged
or that someone attending the meetings "is talking out of
turn." If the problem cannot be solved, the meetings
should be discontinued. RMN shares the concern, not
because anything which has been quoted has been embar-
rassing, but primarily because such columns tend to
discourage participants from speaking freely and frankly.
He asked that each person concerned be on his honor in
consersations he has with others following these meetings.
Ford agreed with Arends. Smith inquired if it is possible
the staff sometimes may make deliberate leaks to achieve a
particular PR purpose. RMN said that one of the dangers
is the policy of "debriefing." practiced by Cabinet members.
In order to implement Presidential policy, they "debrief"
their immediate subordinates, each of whom fans out and
"debriefs" his subordinates until finally everyone down to
the charwoman has been thoroughly "debriefed." To avoid
this hazard, the President has decided that certain highly
sensitive classified documents should not be discussed in
open meetings, even of the National Security Council. He
warned us not to assume that an inquiring reporter is a
friend. He might be a personal friend, but like the law,
journalism is a jealous mistress. Friendship notwithstand-
ing, the reporter's job is to get the news.
The economy was once again the central issue discussed.
Shultz said that the "anti-inflation game plan" looks better
and better. GNP leveled off in the second quarter. The
Retail Price Index maintained relatively low rate increases.
The Wholesale Price Index appears to be holding steady.
BLS today will report the Food Price Index change for last
month. It will be the lowest since December 1968.
2
ORO 3 GERATO LIBRARY
RMN said that the expenditure increase in authorization
and appropriation bills now moving through Congress, if
unchecked, will surely require a. tax increase in FY72 if
the nation is to avoid another inflationary spiral. Shultz
said that 2/3 of FY72 decisions are being made today. He
pointed to the Education Appropriation bill, now on the
President's desk, which is $453 million over the budget,
the HUD Appropriation bill which the Senate has increased
$1. 87 billion over the budget, the Agriculture Appropriation
bill which the Senate has increased $728 million over the
budget and the HEW-Labor Appropriation bill under debate
on the floor of the House today which is $93 million over
the budget, but in addition the overspending limitation clause
might force a spending increase of $200 million over the
budget. With such overspending a prospect, the deficit
will be unmanageable, particularly if the President's
increased revenue measures are not approved by the
Congress. Shultz mentioned the acceleration of the gift
tax, the postage increase and the lead-gas tax. These are
absolutely essential if the Congress continues to "go wild"
on spending increases. The VP inquired, "What is 'going
wild' end what is 'encouraging proper economic growth ?
What are the true guidelines ?"
Shultz replied that the goal is $205. 6 billion, which is the
spending limit Congress itself set on the executive.
RMN asked if it is feasible to ask Congress to put a ceiling
on itself. Bow said that he would be glad to offer such an
amendment to an upcoming resolution if someone downthwn
could draft it. Rhodes said that such a Congressional limita-
tion is impossible because appropriations bills are considered
seriatim, and it would be impossible to determine whether the
ceiling had been pearced until the end of the session when all
of the separate bills are added together. Bow had been
considering the advisability of offering an amendment to the
HEW-Labor bill or some other bill which would provide that
notwithstanding the amount of appropriations, the spending
could be no more than budget estimated unless and until
3
FORD of 038475 LIBITTY
Congress has passed revenue bills requested by the
Administration. The difficulty is that the bills requested
have not beemintroduced. Ford explained that this is
because the Ways and Means Committee has adopted the
procedure of entertaining the executive legislative suggest-
ions by inviting witnesses to explain the proposals, leaving
to the Committee the business of drafting the legislation.
Morton said that the lead-gas bill is a bitter pill to swallow
because it renews the old controversies associated with the
oil industry.
Harlow suggested that there should be a "two-legged limit. 11
One would provide that Congress may not make an appropria-
tion in excess of the budget except upon a 2/3 vote in each
House. The other would provide that new revenue sources
proposed by the President to take care of increased spending
would become law unless cancelled by a 2/3 vote of the
Congress. (I was not quite clear about the second leg.)
Allott said that it has become crystal clear to him that
liberal Democrats, joined by 12 liberal Republicans, have
organized an effort to rewrite the budget on the floor of the
Senate under the name of "reordering priorities. 11 Young
agreed and said that their purpose is to reduce the defense budget
by $5 billion.
Ford said that the President has 3 options with respect to the
overspending bills -- to veto them, to sigh them into law, or
to allow them to become law without his signature. If the
latter course is chosen, the President should announce that
he does not intend to obligate or spend more than the budget,
and if someone or some state cares to bring a law suit
challenging his power, "let them do so." He expressed the
hope that the President would not veto the education bill but
that he would not sign it.
4
Griffin said that the Democratic strategy is becoming
plain. They expect to increase every politically attractive
bill and yet cut enough from other bills to be able to claim
at the end of the session that they reduced the President's
total budget.
Scott quoted a statement made by Young to the effect that
with respect to the President's constitutional responsibility
under mandatory spending clauses, the President needs
another opinion from another lawyer. Rhodes said that the
Democratic strategy 1s to leave the defense appropriation
bill until last and then cut it deeply in the name of peace.
Harlow asked if it would be well to hold a House Republican
Conference to impress upon members the importance of
getting 1 more than 1/3 to sustain Presidential vetoes as
they come along. The VP suggested that the country should
be told thermajor cuts in defence budget and space budget
are principal causes of increased unemployment. Ford
said that we need to tell the country also that Democrats
are responsible for the huge cost-overruns in Defense Dept.
contracts. We are paying the bills today on questionable
contracts made by previous administrations. He also
expressed the opinion that the House will sustain the veto of
the Independent Office-HUD veto.
Griffin said that the veto of the Hill-Burton Act was a mistake,
and that it was counterproductive. He urged that with respect
to future vetous, the Senators be warned, particularly if an
authorization bill (as distinguished from an appropriation bill)
is concerned.
Anderson agreed that we should not overpromise and under-
perform and thereby frustrate the peoples hopes, but we should
be talking now about plans to do things on the domestic scene
which need to be done as soon as the economy can be brought
under control. He mentioned the doctor shortage as an example.
RMN said that it was a good idea. Finch indicated that several
ideas in this area are already being explored. Scott guggested
that he might explore some possibility of reducing medical costs
for people not covered by Medicare.
FORDO R GERAL LIBRARY
5
At this point, I left the room and when I returned, Wine-
berger was saying something about "no spending dividend
from the conclusion of the Vietnam War. 11 The President
said that with commitments already made in legislation
already passed, we have already spent the Vietnam peace
dividend.
RMN recommended that campaigners use the words "Big
Spenders" when referring to the Democrats. A big spender
is a popular fellow when he picks up the check. He becomes
unpopular when he can no longer pick up the check. The
people are going to have to pick up the chelsk for the
Democastic big spending. The big spender today is the
fellow who raises prices and taxes tomorrow. What the
country needs in the new Congress is a man with courage
to vote against programs which benefit a few people but
raise prices and taxes of everybody else. A spending vote
scoreboard on Members of the Senate is presently being
put together. Undoubtedly, it will show that the 8 biggest
spenders in the Senate are Democrats, all candidates for
re-election this year.
Wilson said that a similar thing can be done in the House.
Presently, he is cooperating with the Assocation of Business-
men to a program promoting Congressional candidates as
"inflation fighters.
RMN said that he hopes the Leadership understands that the
President must have a policy on vetoes. It cannot be a policy
of betoing only those bills on which it will be easy to sustain
a veto. He must sometimes make the hard choices and ask
Members of Congress to make the hard decisions. With
respect to the 3 options available to him, most of the big
spetiming overruns will be vetoed. In some special cases,
he will withhold his signature and will say that he will either
not spend the excess or that he will take the excess out of
some other program. The economy has bottomed out and is
6
FORD P. GERALD LIBRARY
beginning to turn up. In that regard, the country is in the
same posture as it was in 1968 when the economy had
recovered from the '66-'67 recession and started up. The
Democrats made the mistake of overspending and increas-
ing the money supply too fast, both of which resulted in
today's inflation. If we make the same mistakes, we will
have another inflationary spiral in 1972. With respect to cuts
in defense spedding, RMN repeated what he has said often
before. The real question at issue is whether thes Admini-
stration and the Congress are content to see the U.S. become
a second-place power. Russia is ahead in conventional
weaponry (as it has been since World War H). Russia is
ahead in ABM and missiles in general. Its MRV (although
not independently targeted) creates an imbalance. It is
possible for it to have as many as 5 warheads, each of
which is 5 times as pewerful as the warhead in our Minute-
man. While the U.S. is ahead today in Polaris missiles,
at the present rate of production, Russia will be ahemit in
1974.
Scott gave the Senate report. The vote on the D. C. Crime
Conference Report will come Thursday at 1:00 p.m. We
have the votes. The Education Conference Report will be
considered next week. The Military Procurement bill is
"on deck." Senator Margaret Smith is making satisfactory
recovery and is now walking about with crutches.
Ford gave the House report. The Conference Report on the
Housing bill is on its way to the President. Today the House
will debate the HEW-Labor Appropriation bill and hopes to
defeat amendments which would increase spending to $360
million over the budget. Hopefully, we can obtain 3 additional
Republican votes in Committee to approve the farm bill which has
come to be known as "Committee Pring No. 7." The farm pay-
ment limitation is a continuing problem.
RMN explained his statement made on yesterday that the
would veto the import quota bill approved by the Ways and
GERALO R. FORD LIBRARY
7
Means Committee. He said he first discussed the matter
with Mills and Byrnes. This country exports more than
it imports. This bill could cost as many jobs in the export
industry as it would save in the import industry. There is,
however, a special problem in the textile industry.
We adjourned at 10:40 a. m.
RICHARD H. POFF
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 21, 1970
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
PRESS CONFERENCE
OF
B.
SENATOR HUGH SCOTT
FORD
AND
GERALD
CONGRESSMAN GERALD R. FORD
LIBRARY
THE BRIEFING ROOM
AT 11:17 A.M.
EDT.
MR. ZIEGLER: The leadership Meeting lasted for two
hours and 15 minutes. Congressman Ford will begin the brief-
ing this morning.
CONGRESSMAN FORD: Thank you very much, Pon.
The major part of the meeting with the President this
morning involved the development of a strategy to win against
the big spenders in the Congress.
The feeling was that unless this battle iswon against
the big spenders in the Congress, we are inevitably, down the
road, going to have the certainty of increased problems in
inflation with people paying more through increased prices,
or secondly, the possibility of the Congress being forced
to do something about higher taxes.
The strategy is basically: One, in the House and in
the Senate to try to impose a meaningful expenditure ceiling.
The one the Congress has imposed is really one that has no
impact whatsoever. The net effect of it is that the Congress
is able to get away with a double standard. They put a ceil-
ing on, on the one hand, and then almost daily violate that
ceiling by increased appropriations or increased authorizations.
The second part of the strategy is to work closely
with the President and the White House and the President will
be faced, if this trend continues. of increased appropriations
over his budget, with the possibility of either authorizations
or appropriations that he will either have to veto or will have
to let go through without his signature.
It is not a very happy prospect, but if we are going
to win the battle against the big spenders in the Congress,
there has to be this close coordination between the Republican
leadership and our forces in the House and the Senate as well
as an attempt to impose a meaningful ceiling or to face, down
here, the problem of a veto in one or more areas.
MORE
- 2 -
SENATOR SCOTT: I think it is very interesting that
this budget represents a definite balance of concern for
human resources and in this budget the human resources alloca-
tion is 41 percent to 37 percent for defense.
I think it is the first time human resources have
exceeded the defense appropriations since 1950. In 1968,
the figures were 34 percent for human resources and 44 percent
for defense and in 1962 it was 29 percent for human resources
and 48 percent for defense.
Taking inflation into account, as some economists
LIBHARY GERALD R. FORD
have pointed out, this Administration has cut the defense
budget by about 20 percent. It would hardly stand very much
more cutting, it would seem.
On another matter, if the Housing Bill had come out
two or three years ago and had not been delayed in this
Congress, we would now have been able to report some 200,000
to 250,000 housing starts.
Again, in another context, you will recall that the
President mentioned with regard to the Cambodian matter that
it would result in a reduction of casualties, and the casual-
ty lists, since our exit from Cambodia, have been the lowest
for any comparable period.
Q Did you gentlemen discuss the chances for the
Family Assistance Program getting through?
SENATOR SCOTT: We did discuss the Family Assistance
Plan. It is a basic reform. The benefits would be apparent
in the forthcoming two or three years notably, after enact-
ment.
It would be necessary to support the starting costs
involved because it would ultimately reduce expenditures and
is far better than the presently excessively wasteful program
which is a constantly escalating program.
It could not, of course, justify any "Christmas
tree" actions in the Congress to make it less feasible in
its operation.
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I might add a point on that. In
various speeches I make around the country, I inevitably ask
this question, "Is there anyone in the audience who defends
the existing system?" I have yet to see a person stand up
and raise his hand, and, for a good reason.
In the City of New York, I think, in the last several
years, the number of people on welfare went from around 250,000
to the present figure of 1,050,000. This is a trend that is
going on all over the country.
So, the present system just cannot be defended. The
best way to solve it is to come in with a revolutionary new
program such as the President has recommended in Family Assis-
tance. And, although the starting cost may be a little higher,
the long-range projection is a projection of a cheaper cost
and a better program which involves the work incentive aspect.
MORE
- 3 -
SENATOR SCOTT: And the President is firmly and
enthusiastically behind the Family Assistance Program.
I Congressman Ford, would you describe just
how Congress could enact a meaningful expenditure ceiling?
How would you frame such a thing?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: The ceiling first has to be
related to a responsible figure. That figure is $205
billion.
FORD R. GERALD LIBRARY
Now, that means that Congress has to have a flat
ceiling where there can be no exceptions. In other words,
you cannot establish a ceiling and then let Congress, by
one or more authorizations or appropriations bills, violate
the ceiling that they imposed themselves.
What they have to do is impose the ceiling, and
then say on the various votes thereafter that there will not
be any exceptions whatsoever.
Now, we are in the process right now of trying to
find the words or the phrases or the techniques in order to
achieve that so that Congress is responsible and that Congress
will hold its own feet to the fire.
Q Mr. Ford, who are the big spenders?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: Well, the big spenders are those
that day after day are adding to the appropriation bills. Now
we understand that this afternoon, on the floor of the House,
there will be an effort made to increase the Department of
Health, Education, and Welfare's appropriation bill by
approximately $400 million over and above the recommendation
of the committee. This effort to add about $400 million to
this appropriation bill will come from the Democratic side.
We hope to defeat this inflationary, additional
spending. It is a clear indication, in this case, of whether
we are going to win the battle against the big spenders.
Q How much Republican support do you predict for
that Democratic bill to increase.
CONGRESSMAN FORD: There will be a minimum of
Republican support for the increase and the major fight
against the increase will come from the Republican side, as
it has in practically every instance in this Session of the
Congress.
Q What are the chances of passing the Family
Assistance Plan? Is it still "fair", as the President said?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: Well, of course, we have already
passed it in the House of Representatives. I would defer to
Senator Scott.
SENATOR SCOTT: Mr. Richardson is testifying before
the Senate committee today and he will throw the full support
of the Administration behind the bill. As you know, the Senate
committees like to make their own recommendations and suggestions,
but the important thing is to get this bill out relatively
unimpaired.
MORE
- 4 -
Q Senator, have the Republicans who have opposed
it in committee been convinced to back this bill now and get
it out of the committee?
SENATOR SCOTT: I would hope that enough of the
Republicans will become convinced after they have heard the
testimony and have become fully aware of the concern which
LEBRARY GERALD P FORD
the Administration has for what is truly a reform and not
merely a rehash of unworkable programs.
2 Mr. Ford, if it becomes clear that we are losing
the battle against the big spenders, will the President impose
the tax increases that have been mentioned?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: There was no discussion of that
point, but the danger is very obvious. If you don't win the
battle against big spenders the American people face two bad
prospects: One, inflation again gaining momentum, and two,
the necessity of Congress doing something to pay for the
programs that they have authorized.
Now, Congress, by going down this road of the big
spenders, has an obligation to come up with some tax proposals
to pay for it. The better procedure is to not spend, and then
you obviate the need and necessity for the tax.
Q Before you get out of this budget-blaming game
which has gone on for many, many years, aren't you going to
have to come up with a new system, something which will enable
you people to have one look at the whole package?
SENATOR SCOTT: Jerry can comment on that. That was
tried in about 1946 or 1947 and it did not work in that Congress.
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I believe that Mr. Cannon and Mr.
Tabor tried it in 1949 or 1950, where they had all of the
appropriation bills on the Floor of the House for about two
months and then when they got through, after that long, long
process, the net result was not much better than the system
that we are using today.
The main problem is self-restraint on the part of the
Congress, whether you do it in a package or whether you do
it in individual appropriation bills. Unfortunately, the
big spenders today are probably foreclosing the kind of
constructive programs that we badly want in a year or two,
and badly need. For example, if you go on the spending
binge which the Congress is on at the present time, it probably
obviates the possibility of the revenue-sharing program, which
all Mayors want, all Governors seek.
You cannot possibly share excess revenue if it does
not exist. So, I think these people who want to spend it all
today ought to be told that they are knocking out the possibility
of some very good programs, such as revenue-sharing in a year
or two, or some of these other programs that the Department of
HEW has under blueprint stage at the present time.
0 But you don't think there is any possibility of
some revision of the system that could be made to work?
MORE
- 5 -
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I would be willing to try if we could
could get some cooperation and self-restraint in the meantime.
But just going through a different format does not necessarily
R.
FORD
mean we will get a better result.
CERTATO
SENATOR SCOTT: What we may need is that legislative
miracle drug, "selfa-denial". (Laughter)
O Do you think the President will veto the Education
Bill in its present form and did you discuss that this morning?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: We did not discuss that particular
bill. That legislation, as it finally emerged, was a great
improvement over the version that came out of the Senate. The
House Conferees, on that ocassion, I thought did a remarkably
good job in getting the figures as close as they did to the
House figure. That particular bill is one that is hypersensitive.
I can only say that in the House we thought that because we
had done so well that many, many members supported it regardless
of the increase over the budget.
SENATOR SCOTT: There may be,in some instances,
situations where, if a bill becomes law with or without the
President's signature and it has a Congressional cost over-run
on it, where the President might feel obliged to take it out
of somebody else's favorite program. That could happen.
CONGRESSMAN FORD: Speaking of cost overruns,, if
I might add a comment -- this was not discussed at the meeting
this morning -- but I could not overlook a comment made by a
member of the other body yesterday that in effect condemned
Secretary Laird and the Department of Defense for some of these
cost overruns. I went back and checked the figures and in the
areas where the biggest cost overruns are, these are contracts
which were signed under the previous Administrations.
Let me cite three, for example: The F-111 Fighter
Bomber, that is a contract that was signed in December of 1962.
Obviously, it was a bad contract from the point of view of the
then Administration. The C-5A, another big cost overrun; that
contract was signed in October of 1965. The blame should be
on the previous Administration for poor management, rather
than condemning Mel Laird for the bills that he has to pay
as a result of bad contract management.
Q Isn't it really a question of the management
of the contract in this Administration? Look at Fitzgerald
who told you people about a $2 million cost overrun, and you
did nothing about it but fire him.
CONGRESSMAN FORD: But the only reason you have a
cost overrun is because the basic contract which in one case
was signed in 1962 and the other in 1965 was poor negotiation
on the part of those in positions of responsibility. The
person today is only paying the bill because of the poor
contracts which were signed three, four or five years ago.
Q Then why don't you all terminate the contracts?
You have a board over there that you have working that can do
that.
MORE
are 6 -
CONGRESSMAN FORD: The contracts, if you eliminate
them, probably have some additional costs for termination.
Now, the contract in the first instance was apparently badly
negotiated, and the cost overrun today is the result of that
bad management at that time.
Q Yet you have the same men at the Department of
Defense today who are making the same type of contracts as
made those contracts and you have done nothing to put them
out and you have had the list because I gave it to you.
ST FORD R. GERALD LIBRARY
(Laughter)
CONGRESSMAN FORD: As a matter of fact, the list
came from a publication that I sent over to get the contract
signing dates. I have it here and it shows about 15 contracts
and all but three of them were signed prior to January 20, 1970.
Q Yet you have the same men there, still making
the same contracts.
CONGRESSMAN FORD: Well, I don't want to get into a
fight over whether Mel Laird and Bob MacNamara are one and the
same. They are not. Most of those contracts were signed during
the previous Administration, and Mel Laird was not there at the
time. So, he cannot be held responsible for contracts that were
poorly negotiated.
Q Mr. Ford, would you please name the big spenders
for us? Who do you have in mind?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I think you can look down the list
of those who have, for example, offered amendments to increase
the spending in various appropriations.
Q I don't know those people. If you can name them
for me it would be a help.
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I think if you will just read the
Congressional Record you will find the names of the individuals
who offered the amendments or sent out the propaganda sheets
which we all got yesterday indicating they are going to offer
the amendments today.
Q Of course, we can look them up, but there would
be more impact if you would name them in public.
Q Why should we live with an anonymous blanket
indictment?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I will name one, for example:
Congressman Cohelan of California was the principal sponsor of
the $1 billion increase in the education appropriation bill
last year. I understand that Congressman Sid Yates, along with
others, is going to offer an amendment today to increase the
HEW appropriation bill by approximately $400 million.
Q Do you have any problems with Republicans who
are tacking on these increases?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: Very, very few. The overwhelming
majority of those amendments come from the other side of the
aisle, the more liberal members of the Democratic Party who
apparently want to spend everything now and are not willing to
step up and find the resources to pay the bills.
MORE
- 7 -
Q Are there only two big spenders in Congress
or are there more? How many are there altogether?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: There are certainly more. There
is unfortunately, apparently, a majority. I was responding
to the inquiry asking me to name several of those who had
sponsored such amendments.
Q Could you go down the list and name them for
us?
Q Is the problem with the economy simply one with
the big spenders in Congress or might there be something wrong
with the President's policy?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: The Administration submitted to
the Congress in January of this year a balanced budget for the
fiscal year 1971. Because the Congress has added to the
FORD
appropriations, the prospect in fiscal 1971 are different
than they were under the President's budget. The President
at least submitted a balanced budget and this Congress,
GENETO
unfortunately, is adding to the expenditures and the net
result is complicating the problem of a surplus.
Q How much of this problem has come from the budget's
low estimates that have been revised from time to time as the
President found that the tab for his various projects was going
up?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: The President has not added to
the individual items, with one or two minor exceptions, Any
problem in the surplus for fiscal 1971 has come from a lesser
income from taxes. The real problem is coming from the extra
authorizations and appropriations that have been prompted by
the big spenders in the Congress.
Q The incorrect estimates then are in the in-coming
revenues, rather than his expenditures?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: In the main, yes, sir.
Q What was the difference in what he received and
what he first projected?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I can't recollect those precise
figures.
Q But it directly affected the deficit, didn't it?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: To some extent, surely.
Q Mr. Ford, wasn't it the recommendation of the
men you have named that are the big spenders that the money
ought to come from the space program and other heavy missile
and weapons programs? Aren't they saying that it ought to be
a reallocation not that we should add to the budget, but that
the money should be reallocated?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: But the President has already
made that reallocation. As Senater Scott indicated, in the
budget for fiscal 1971, for the first time since 1950, the
allocation for human resources is more than that for the
Department of Defense. If you go back to 1962, I think you
see the most dramatic shift. Under the Kennedy Administration
the allocation for defense was, as I recollect, 48 percent
against 24 percent. Today it is 41 percent for human resources
and 37 percent for the Defense Department.
- 8 -
2 My question was: Isn't the argument between
you and your "big spending" opponents, as you call them, over
what we ought to spend money on. Don't they say we ought to
go further in cuts and not, for example, develop an ABM? Isn't
that one program they have been against?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I don't think, as we look down
the road, that we can afford to strip the Defense Department
of necessary capabilities for the security of the United States.
Any slashes of the Defense Department will further complicate
our problem as we face the Soviet Union and other countries
that have the desire to use their military might for war when
we are trying to keep our military capability so its strong
enough to preserve the peace.
SENATOR SCOTT: May I make a point right here? You
hear a lot of talk about reordering priorities, which being
translated means, "I want more for my crowd" and that is
exactly what is happening. There is one overriding number
one priority, and that is the defense and the security of
the United States. Whatever we can do with the revenues
has to be done with that in mind. What is happening is that
in an election year a great many people, without any regard
R.
to fiscal responsibility at all are simply adding a figure
and stringing a lot of zeros behind it and thereby hoping
GEALO
FORD
bust the budget accordingly.
LIBRARY
Now, the Administration is making a fight to put
a curb on inflation and the news on the price index is just
out and you can follow this up with Mr. Ziegler, but living
costs rose 4/10 of .1 percent in June. The June rise of this
4/10 of .1 percent was the same as the May increase and
thereby represents a slowdown from the 6/10 hike in April
and the increases of 5/10 each in February and March. This
again shows a bottoming out of the difficulties with regard
to the economy and a slower and steady gaining in the fight
against inflation.
Q Let's get back a moment to the big spenders
problem. How much on target are we now on the estimates of
tax revenues? Will we get as much as we think we will now
or can we expect even more to be decreased in the collections?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: Well, as the economy starts to
build up in the months ahead and the testimony of Dr. Paul
McCracken yesterday was that we had bottomed out and it looks
more encouraging in the months ahead, I would anticipate as
the profit picture improves that there will be more revenue
in the months ahead than we might have forecast a month or
two ago. As the economy improves, corporations make more
money and the tax revenue of the Federal Treasury is helped.
Q I understand the mechanics of it, but was there
some talk this morning of the need for a tax on the individual
income?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: No, there was no discussion of
that at all.
Q Ron, were those living cost figures on the wire?
MR. ZIEGLER: They just moved. He was referring to
an AP bulletin that just moved.
THE PRESS: Thank you, gentlemen.
END
(AT 11:42 A.M. EDT)
HOUSE ACTION, PERIOD JULY 7 THROUGH JULY 20, 1970
Tuesday, July 7, 1970
GERATO R. FORD LIBRARY
HOUSE CONSIDERED THE PRIVATE CALENDAR
PEACE CORPS
RULE
The House adopted, by a voice vote, H. Res. 1119 providing one hour
of open debate.
PASSAGE
By a record vote of 316 yeas to 46 nays, the House passed H.R. 16327,
to amend the Peace Corps Act to authorize additional appropriations.
Subsequently, this passage was vacated and S. 3430, a similar
Senate-passed bill, was passed in lieu after being amended to
contain the language of the House bill as passed.
RECOMMIT
By a record vote of 118 yeas to 244 nays, the House rejected a motion
by Mr. Gross to recommit the bill to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
with instructions to report it back forthwith containing an amend-
ment that would reduce the authorization by $28.8 million.
SILVER OR GOLD ARTICLES
RULE
By a voice vote, the House adopted H. Res. 1092 providing one hour
of open debate.
PASSAGE
By a record vote of 351 yeas to 9 nays, the House passed H.R. 8673,
to protect consumers by providing a civil remedy for misrepresenta-
tion of the quality of articles composed in whole or in part of
gold or silver.
Subsequently, this passage was vacated and S. 1046, a similar
Senate-passed bill, was passed in lieu after being amended to
contain the language of the House bill as passed.
Wednesday, July 8, 1970
LOBBYING PRACTICES--CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
By a record vote of 381 yeas, the House agreed to H. Res. 1031, amending
clause 19 of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives with
respect to lobbying practices and political campaign contributions
affecting the House of Representatives.
The following pages were scanned from a poor quality original.
-
Wednesday, July 8, 1970 (continued)
LEGARY GERALD 10 FORD
INDEPENDENT OFFICES-WID APPROPRIATIONS
House disagreed to the amendments of the Senate 20 I.L. 17540. making
appropriations for Independent Offices and Housing and Urban Develop-
ment, and agreed to a conference asked by the Senate. Appointed as
conferees: Representatives Evins of Tennessee, Doland. Shipley,
Giaimo, Marsh, Prycr of Arkansas, Mahon, Jonas, Talcott, MoDade,
Del Clawson, and Bow.
FAILING NEWSPAPERS
RULE
The House adopted by a voice vote H. Res. 1121. providing two hours
of open debate.
PASSAGE
B-7 a record vote of 292 yeas to 87 nays, with 2 voting "present," the
House passed H.R. 270. to exempt from the antituot Leve certain
joint newspaper operating arrangements.
Subsequently, this passage was vacated and 2. 1520. = similar Senate-
passed bill vas passed in lieu after being amended = contain the
Language of the House bill as passed.
RECOMMIT
BY a voice vote. the House rejected a motion by 12: lineGrogor to
recommit the bill to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Thursday. July 9. 1970
ARTS AND HUMANITIES FOUNDATION
The House insisted on its amendment to S. 3215. to amend the National
Foundation on the Arto and Humanities Act of 1965: and asseed to =
conference asked by the Senate. Appointed as conferees: Representa-
tives Perkins. Thempson of New Jersey, Brademas, Road of New York,
and Scherle.
FOREIGN MILITARY SALES
The House disagreed to the amendments of the Senate to II.R. 15628, to
amend the Foreign Military Sales Act; and agreed to = conference
asked by the Senate. Appointed as conferees: Representatives Morgan,
Cablecki, Hays, Adair, and Mailliard.
By a record vote of 247 yeas to 143 nays, the House agreed to order the
previous question on sending the measure to conference.
(more)
GERALD
LIBRARY
FOREIGN MILITARY SALES (continued)
By a record vote of 237 yeas and 153 nays with : "present," the
House acreed to table a motion by Mr. Riegle to instruct House con-
ICECES to concur in Senate amendment No. 3 (Cocper-Church amendment,
bars funds for retaining U.S. forces in Cambodia).
YOUTH CONSERVATION CORES
The House insisted on its amendment to S. 1073. to octablish = pilot
program in the Departments of the Interior and Appiculture designated
as the Youth Conservation Corpo; and agreed to 2 conference asked by
the Senate. Appointed as conferees: Representatives Perkins, Daniels
of New Jersey, O'Hara, Hathaway, William D. Ford, Meeds, Burton of
California, Green of Oregon, Hawkins, Gaydos, Scheric, Quic. Esch,
Steiger of Wisconsin, Brienborn, Eshieman, and Collins.
POSTAL REFORM
The House disagreed to the amendment of the Senate = H.R. 17070, to
improve and modernize the posta service. to terrenize the Post Office
Department: and asked n conference with the Appointed as con-
forces: Representatives Dulchi, Henderson. Udall, maicls of
New Jersey, Corbett. Gress. Connination, and
By = record vote of 225 vens to 160 navs. the House agreed to a motion
by M=. Henderson to instruct House conferces to indica on the "freedor
of choice" language regarding membership in postal unions in the bill
as passed by the House.
By a record vote of 153 yeas to 230 nays, the House rejected 2 motion
by !'=. Dulski to lay the Henderson motion on the table.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS
RULE
By a voice vote. the House adopted II. Res. 1070 providing one hour
of open debate.
PASSAGE
By a record vote of 284 yeas to 57 navs, the llouse passed H.R. 16968.
to provide for the adjustment of the Government contribution with
respect to the health benefits coverage of Federal employees and
annuitants.
RECOMMET
By a record vote of 142 yeas to 199 nays, the House rejected a motion
in Mr. Gross to recommit the bill to the Comitttee on Post Office
and Civil Service with instructions to pencel : Lack containing an
amendment that would reduce the Government contribution from 50 to
38 percent.
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Menday, July 13. 1970
GERATE R FORD LIBRARY
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONG
The House disagreed to the amendments of the Senate to n.e. 17610, making
appropriations for the Department of the Interier and related agencies
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1971; and coreed to the conference
asked by the Senate. Appointed as conferees: Representatives Hansen
of Washington, Hirwan, March, Flynt, Obey, Mahon. Reffel. McDade. Wyatt.
and Bow.
ARTS AND HUMANITIES FOUNDATION
B-- a record vote of 237 yeas to 69 nays, the House speed to the confer-
once report on S. 3215. to amend the National Bowndation on the Arts
and Humanities Act of 1965: and returned the measure to the Senate for
further action.
D. C. LEGISLATION
By a voice vote, the House nassed the following bills percaining to the
District of Columbia:
H.R. 17146, to amond the act incorporating Columbian College (the George
Washington University). amended.
H.R. 10036, to authorize the Commissioner of the District of Columbia =
sell or exchange cortain real property owned by the District in Prince
William Country, Va.
COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION ACT
The House disagreed to the amendments of the Senate to H.R. 7111, to
amend the District of Columbia Cooperative Association Act; and asked
n conference with the Senate. Appointed as conferees: Representatives
McMillan, Fugua, Dowdy. Nelson, and Broyhill of Virginia,
LEGISLATIVE REORGANIZATION
RULE
By a voice vote. the House adopted H. Res. 1090 providing four hours
of open debate.
Corcluded all general debate on U.R. 17654, to improve the operation of
the legislative branch of the Federal Government. Degan reading the
MILL for amendment when the Committee of the Whole rose. Proceedings
under the 5-minute rule will continue tomorrow.
GENATE 2 FORD LIBRARY
Tuesday, July 14, 1970
legislative
The House continued consideration on 11.R. 17654. or improve the operation
of the legislative brench =: the Federal Gevernment. but came to no
resolution thomesn, Consideration will continue
While in the Committee of the Chole, the House been the following action:
Agreed by a voice Note = on amendment by I'm. Rece regarding the
scheduling of committee mentings, specifying that three members
of a committee may file n written request with the committee chair-
men, requesting a committee meeting, and specifying the business
to be considered. 23 the chairmen doesn't schedule said meeting
within 3 days. by n majority vote of the committee, 2 meeting may
be scheduled.
Accord by a voice vote to an amendment by If Fascoll that requires
that a record of all roll call votes in committees be available to
the public. The committee record would include how each Member
voted and whether the vete MRS cast in person CH by
Acreed by a voice vote to on amendment by Mr. Smith of California to
the previous amendment that provides for the printing in one report
accompanying 2 MILL the record vote by which the HILL was reported
out of the committee.
Agreed by a division vote of 71 yeas to 54 nays to on amendment by
I'm. Schwengal that have promy voting in comittees.
By a tellor vote of 102 year to 132 nays, the House rejected the
Nathaway amendment that called for an open session well call vote
b-- a quorum of committee members to determine on n day-bu-day
basis whether the committee meeting for that porticular day would
be open CT: executive.
Wednesday. July 15. 1070
APPLES
Cleared for the President S. 1455. to permit marketing orders applicable
=0 apples to for paid advertising. by receive from the House
emendment thereto.
REGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS
The House disagreed to the amendments of the Senate to U.L. 16915, making
appropriations Sem the Legiolative Branch for the fincel year ending
June 30, 1971. and careed to a conference asked 1... the Senste. Appointed
as conferees: Representatives Andrews of Alcbama. listen. Yates, Casey,
Evens of Colorado. Mahon. Bow, Langen, Reifel and Dol Classon.
5
Wednesday. July 15, 1970 (continued)
GERATE R FORD LIBRARY
D.7. CREE AND CRIMENAL PROCEDURE ACT
R- n. record vote of 232 weas to 64 nays, the House agreed to the con-
Serence report on S. 2601. to recorpanise the counts of the District
n° columbia. and returned the measure to the Senate Her further action.
USE AUTHORIZATION
By n record vote of 311 years to 75 navo, the House chreed to the con-
derence report on I.R. 16505. to authorite appropriations for activi-
time of the National Science Foundation. clearing the measure for
the White House.
SEA GRANT AUTHORIZATION
The House agreed to the Senate amendment to N.R. to amend title II
of the Marine Resources and Engineering Development Act of 1966. clear-
ing the measure for the President.
LEGISLATIVE REORGAMIZATION
The House continued consideration on IL.R. 17631. : the operation
n° the legislative bennch of the Federal Government MAZ care to no
resolution thereon. Consideration visit continue
While in the Committee of the Whole, by a voice vite, the House agreed
to an amendment 1. M=. Statemer of Wisconsin that choludes Saturdays.
Bundays, and local holidays in the computation fill calendar days for
the filing of SUTD crental, nincrity, CT allitional HAVE for inclusion
in the printing -: = report.
CANCER CRUSADE
The llouse agreed to 71. Con. Res. 673, expressing the sense of the Congress
with respect to the connuast of cancer on : national crusade.
Termsday, July 16, 1970
OVERNATIONAL TRAPS AGE
BY a record vote of 174 veds to 207 nays. the Found refected the con-
Sevence renett on E. 14635. to amend the International Tracel Act
of 1961. as amended. in order to improve the holence of novments by
further promoting travel to the United States.
OFFICE OF EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
By a record vote of 337 year to 30 navs. the House careet = the con-
ference concet on H.R. 16016. maining approprictions Cord the Office
of Education for the Signal year ending June 3% 1971.
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GEHALD FORD LIBRARY
Thursday, July 16, 1970 (continued)
LEGISLATIVE REORGANIZATION
The House continued consideration on H.R. 17654, to improve the opera-
tion of the legislative branch of the Federal Government, but came
to no resolution thereon. Consideration will continue on Monday,
July 20.
While in the Committee of the Whole, by a teller vote of 105 yeas to
63 nays, the House agreed to an amendment by Mr. Thompson of New Jersey,
that provides that not less than one-third of committee funds be used
for investigatory staff for the minority.
Monday, July 20, 1970
HOUSE CONSIDERED THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
SUSPENSIONS (6 BILLS)
The House voted to suspend the rules and passed the following bills:
H.R. 18253, to increase the availability of guaranteed home loan
financing for veterans (passed by a roll call vote of 326 yeas
to 0 nays.)
H.R. 14114, to improve the administration of the national park
system (passed by a roll call vote of 325 yeas to 0 nays.)
The House voted to suspend the rules and passed the following bills
by voice vote:
S. 3279, to extend the boundaries of the Toiyabe National Forest,
Nevada.
H.R. 12475, the Federal Aid in Fish and Wildlife Restoration Acts.
H.R. 14124, to extend the term for fisheries loans.
H.R. 15351, to authorize additional funds for the operation of the
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission.
EMERGENCY HOUS ING
By a voice vote, the House agreed to the conference report on S. 3685,
the Emergency Home Finance Act.
FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD
House agreed to the Senate amendments on S. 3889, which extends for
one year the authority of the Federal Reserve Board to purchase United
States obligations, clearing the measure for the President.
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P. FORD LIBRARY
Menday. July 20, 1970 (continued)
LEGISLATIVE REORGANIZATION
By a teller vote of 93 yeas to 96 nays, the House defeated an amend-
ment by Mr. Dennis which would have stricken Section 116 from the
Bill which permits televising of committee hearings.
By a voice vote, the House defeated an amendment by Mr. Harvey of
Michigan which would have allowed the committees to set up their
own regulations as far as televising of committee hearings was
concerned.
HOUSE RECESS
The House agreed by voice vote to recess from the close of business
Friday, August 14 until noon Wednesday, September 9, 1970, subject
to recall by the Speaker on three-days notice.
PROGRAM AHEAD
Tuesday, July 21, 1970, and Balance of Week
PRIVATE CALENDAR
H.R. 18515 - Department of Labor-Department of Health, Education, and
Welfare Appropriations Bill, FY 1971
S. 3978 - Wheat referendum
(OPEN RULE - ONE HOUR OF DEBATE)
H.R. 17654 - Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970
(CONTINUE CONSIDERATION)
H.R. 13100 - To extend programs for training in the allied health professions.
(OPEN RULE - ONE HOUR OF DEBATE)
H.R. 14237 - To amend the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental
Health Centers Construction Act of 1963
(OPEN RULE - ONE HOUR OF DEBATE)
H.R. 16542 - To regulate the mailing of unsolicited credit cards.
(OPEN RULE - TWO HOURS OF DEBATE)