Foreign and Domestic Briefing Book, NAB Convention, March 19, 1974 [2 of 2]

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OCR Page 1 of 76
THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON March 17, 1974 MEMORANDUM TO THE PRESIDENT FROM: PJB/RZ 1) The President might get foreign policy questions from several areas. Most likely are: a) A question to RN calling for clarification of some kind of the hard-nosed position taken in Chicago, re: European economic and political confrontation, being inconsistent with security cooperation. Should be a major storm by Monday night. b) Oil Embargo, possible price rises; and questions re: potential Arab blackmail if and when they attach conditions. RN dealt with issue in Chicago; we have no hard word from Arabs. c) Benefits of detente -- what are we getting for the policy, perhaps keying off Soviets advice to Arabs to continue boycott. 2) Energy questionand economic question almost certain -- could come in any form. 3) Almost certain some question or questions on A) President's relations with and treatment by the press during Watergate and B) President's view on attacks on networks by White House aides and C) RN view on various issues of major concern to the broadcasters. PJB view is that if RN has criticism to make of press, he should lay it out unqualified, state it and move on; on matter of broadcasters, leave the door open as to what policy is or will be. Burch disagrees with latter, and his position is reflected in Q and A. And Burch memo. Also, by way of general advice, we feel the President should not get bogged down into any complicated, esoteric issue about cable TV