Ford Administration Notes from the Cabinet Meeting

THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON October 30, 1974 GERALD 3 MEMORANDUM FOR: JERRY JONES LIBRARY FROM: JOHN GUTHRIE get SUBJECT: Notes from the Cabinet Meeting October 30, 1974 The President opened the meeting at 11:06 am thanking the attendees for coming to this working session. He asked Roy Ash to report on personnel reduction and progress toward meeting the $300 billion FY75 budget goal. Mr. Ash indicated that personnel reduction was on schedule. The programs which have been identified by each department for possible elimina- tion would more than achieve the goal - thus permitting the President some options in the selection of actual programs to be eliminated. The President stated that in his Economic Message he had presented a finely tuned package of proposals to meet the economic needs of the nation. He further stated that the polls indicate that 82% of the American public are more concerned about inflation than any other issue. The President referred to three charts which had been prepared by Bill Seidman and were displayed in the room (see attachment A). He pointed out that each of the initiatives had been assigned for action and follow-up to one of the departments. In this manner there will be no question about who is responsible for that action and the success of the initiatives. NOTE: Reports given by each Cabinet officer will be referred to in the comprehensive handout included as Tab B. Secretary Butz reported on the items listed in Tab B. With respect to the rice legislation the President agreed to make a personal phone call to Dave Martin in an effort to move the bill out of the rules committee. The President asked Secretary Butz how the voluntary reporting system on exports was progress- ing. The Secretary said it appears this system is working well and that whenever a corporation requests to export over 50,000 tons, he checks with the State Department. He cited the example of recent orders for wheat shipments to Iran. The President asked the Secretary what impact the announcement of the Russian wheat deal had had on the farm market. The Secretary replied that initially prices dropped significantly but they have generally recovered.