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    "ocrText": "The original documents are located in Box 59, folder \"Republican National Committee (2)\"\nof the Philip Buchen 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 Gerald R. Ford donated to the United\nStates of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.\nWorks prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public\ndomain.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 59 of the Philip Buchen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library\nRp not\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nCrate\nWASHINGTON\nFebruary 6, 1975\nMr. Malcolm B. Petrikin\nAttorney and Counselor at Law\n107 W. 3rd Street\nMedia, Pennsylvania 19063\nDear Mr. Petrikin:\nThe President has asked me to reply to your very thoughtful\nletter of January 27, 1975. He very much appreciates your\nconcern for the future of the Republican Party and for your\nhelpful suggestions as to the approach which should be\ntaken in order to be of greatest service to the well being\nof our country.\nI am passing your letter on to Mr. Robert Hartmann, Counselor\nto the President, so that he may also have the benefit of\nyour worthwhile ideas.\nSincerely,\nBuchen\nPhilip N. Buchen\nCounsel to the President\nCC: Mr. Robert Hartmann\nin\nFORD\nFRONEFIELD DE FURIA AND PETRIKIN\nOF COUNSEL\nWENDELL E.WARNER\nATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW\nDM\nDELAWARE COUNTY\nE.WALLACE CHADWICK\nEDWARD H. P. FRONEFIELD\nCHARLES P. LARKIN,JR.\n1910-1969\nGUY G. DEFURIA\nMALCOLM B. PETRIKIN\n107 W.3RD STREET\nHOWARD M. LUTZ\nFRANK GINSBURG\nALBERT E.HOLL,JR.\nMEDIA, PA.19063\nVINCENT J. LABRASCA\nPHILIP A.MCMUNIGAL,JR.\n1913-1970\nJOSEPH T. LABRUM, JR.\nJOHN W.WELLMAN\nF. MARTIN DUUS\nJ.ROBERT TWOMBLY\nJOHN J. MAFFEI\n565-3100\nCHARLES F. KNAPP\nJOSEPH A. DAMICO, JR.\nEDWARD J.CARNEY, JR.\nAREA CODE 215\nJOHN R. LARKIN\nWILLIAM F. KEATING\nCHARLES C. KEELER\nJ.JOSEPH HERRING, JR.\nBRUCE A.IRVINE\nLEO A.HACKETT\nPLEASE REPLY TO:\nPETER A. DUNN\nROSEMARY C.MCMUNIGAL\nJanuary 27, 1975\nEUGENE H. EVANS\nBOX 647\nFRANCIS T. SBANDI\nGERALD J. SPITZ\nSTEVEN G. BROWN\nMEDIA, PA.19063\nSTEPHEN H. PALMER\nHonorable Gerald Ford, President\nUnited States of America\nWhite House\nWashington, D. C.\nDear Mr. President:\nThe last two times we talked personally were when you spoke\nat the Scranton Dinner and Mrs. Petrikin and I had cocktails with you at\nthe Hugh Scott Dinner.\nI have steadfastly worked for the Republican Party for many,\nmany years. I was Tom Dewey's Delaware County Finance Chairman when\nhe twice ran for President. I was one of the three principal Independent\nRepublican Leaders helping to elect, over the opposition of the McClure\nMachine in Delaware County, my senior law partner, E. Wallace Chadwick,\nto the 80th Congress. I was one of the twenty-seven members of the\nElectoral College of Pennsylvania, casting ballots for the election of\nPresident Nixon and Vice President Agnew. Last year, I was Drew Lewis'\nDelaware County Finance Chairman. Currently, I am one of three Vice-\nChairmen of the Pennsylvania Republican Finance Committee. We have been\nmeeting to plan ways and means of strengthening and financing the Party\nin Pennsylvania.\nEnough for who I am. The sole purpose for having presented\nof\nFORD\nit and the condensed autobiography enclosed is hopefully to convince\nwhomever intercepts this letter, that I'm not a crackpot and that out of\nDEPARTMENT\nloyalty to you he should, at least, let you read it.\nLIBRARY\nHas the spiritual and moral fabric of America deteriorated to\nsuch a point it is irretrievably committed to the same fate of all prior\npowerful and affluent nations? If not, has America reached the cross-\nroads and must we not, at this point, take time out to assess our position,\nFRONEFIELD, DEFURIA AND PETRIKIN\n- 2 -\nchart the course that must now be pursued and immediately get about\ndoing it?\nIs it not time to label the Democratic Party for what it truly\nis - an exploiter of human weaknesses for votes and power with its \"pie-\nin-the-sky\" and the \"government owes everyone security from the cradle\nto the grave\" philosophy and programs ? If so, then should this not be\naccomplished in an adroit and subtle manner?\nHas it not, by its complete subservience to Big Labor Bosses\nencouraged and protected the racketeering practices of sections of\norganized labor, particularly in the building trades, when, by violence\nto property and even to persons it has coerced non-union contractors,\nwhose employer did not wish to belong to a union, to compel them to join\nand has intimidated political subdivisions, institutions, hospitals and\nother owners of large facilities into excluding non-union contractors from\nbidding on projects?\nHas not such obeisance allowed and sanctioned the gradual,\nbut steady mediocrity in performance and controlled productivity, inspite\nof generous annual wage and fringe increases?\nHave not these practices contributed immeasurably to our in-\nflation problem? More importantly, have they not weakened the moral\nand spiritual fabric of our workers, leading them to engage in giving less\nthan a full day's productivity for a day's wages?\nLike our welfare programs, the dollar cost is inconsequential\nin comparison with the human cost, its affect on the moral and spiritual\nstrength on those involved.\nIsn't it about time we accepted the fact that, unless we can\nrecondition the hearts and motivations of America to want a more courageous,\nself-reliant, disciplined and dedicated way-of-life, we cannot hope to ever\nagain be the Majority Party Except for another candidate of Eisenhower's\npopularity or another Democratic President of Johnson's failures, is it\nrealistic to expect to elect a Republican President and a majority in the\nSenate and House?\nUSED LIDRARY\nFRONEFIELD, DEFURIA AND PETRIKIN\n- 3 -\nEven if we out-promised the Democrats, the Labor Bosses and\ncertain minority groups would never buy it. They know what the\nDemocrats will do for them - they would never trust us to perform. Even\nif they would, who of us will be willing to pay such a price? If America\nis destined to go the way of all other wealthy past civilizations, then\nI'd damn sight rather the Historians would place the blame on the\nDemocratic Party rather than the Republican.\nThere is a story told about a father, who was being annoyed by\nhis young son asking him questions while he was trying to read the news-\npaper, Turning the page, he saw a map of the world, He cut it up into a\njigsaw type of puzzle and asked his son to put the map of the world to-\ngether. The father was amazed when his son completed the puzzle in a\nfew minutes. When asked how he did it, he replied there was a picture\nof a boy on the reverse side and when he put the boy together right, the\nworld turned out allright.\nI guess what I am trying to say is, that there is not a single\nproblem facing America today that could not be solved, or at least helped,\nif we could inspire the right motivation and dedication. It is my opinion\nthat America is ready for someone to \"Challenge It To True Greatness\".\nIsn't it worth trying and what have we to lose?\nWhy shouldn't the Republican Party be committed to establishing\nit as having a true concern for human worth, human dignity and individual\nliberty ?\nWe must declare what we believe in and fight for it. Regardless\nof the risks (and there are many), we must discontinue making decisions\nand taking positions on the basis of political expediency and for the purpose\nof winning elections. Such decisions must be made on what is best for\nAmerica. We must commence to say it as-it-is and sponsor those programs\nand causes best calculated to \"turn America around\". Should decisions,\nresulting in hardship and sacrifice, have to be made to assure America's\nwell being in the long haul, then they should be made, having faith that\nAmerica, as has always been the case, will measure up.\nEven though we may, for a few years, be like a \"voice in the\nGREATE FORD\nFRONEFIELD, DEFURIA AND PETRIKIN\n- 4 -\nwilderness\", by God, let's at least be that voice:\nLet's stop attempting to appeal to minority groups, just because\nthey are minorities. Let's think of everyone as Americans and what's good for\nAmerica is good for all. Let's stop being paternalistic to minority groups.\nLet's, instead, pursue a cause of action best calculated to afford an equal\nopportunity for and to inspire all, regardless of race, creed or color, to\ndevelop their full potential and be rewarded, with a true sense of achieve-\nment and belonging. This is SO essential to personal well being and\nhappiness.\nWe have an opportunity now, such as will not be available to\nus for another hundred years. The Press, TV, Radio, Cinema, the Pulpit\nand all Communications Media can be mobilized to dramatize the indepen-\ndence, courage, sacrifice, industriousness, creativity, self discipline\nand religious faith of our forefathers two hundred years ago as part of the\nBicentennial Celebration. These programs are bound to make an impression\nand cause favorable comparison between the spiritual fortitude and self-\nreliance of our ancestors and our present day dependence and permissive-\nness.\nMay I suggest that we, as a Party, take advantage of this\nhistorical celebration to launch a spiritual (meaning of the spirit) renaissance\nin this Country, so that the principles of the Republican Party will be\nattractive to the new spirit in America and assure the Party, with the new\nconcept of responsible leadership, an opportunity to get America well on\nthe way to true greatness.\nMr. President, you have the potential to be the One to lead\nAmerica in this direction. Your homespun candor and appeal makes you the\nideal person for this job. Everyone finds it easy to relate to you. You -\nbetter than anyone else now on the national scene - can gain the complete\nconfidence of the Nation should you commence now to act, talk and make\ndecisions as though you were ineligible for election in 1976. This will\nassure that even those who disagree with any particular decision will still\nbelieve in you.\nMoreover, I suggest it is a great deal more important that you\nFRONEFIELD, DEFURIA AND PETRIKIN\n- 5 -\nshould make full use of these God-Given two years to lead the Nation\nto greatness than that you should be elected in 1976. But, in my\nopinion, the surest way to get elected is to reestablish respect and\nfaith in ourselves and in our Country.\nSincerely,\nMalcolm B. Petrikin\nMBP/epr\nEtter & STATE\nApril 28, 1506\nFamily\n-\nWAS - Madalyn H. Putrikin\nChildren - Patricia P. Gebhart\nDiana P. Midkiff\nReligion\n-\nProtestant - Member of First Baptist Church, Chester, Pa:\nEducation\nI\nChester High School - 1924\nSwarthmore College A.B. - 1928\nTemple University Law School LL.B. - 1932\nAdmitted to practice in Delaware County 1933. Have been engaged in\nthe general ce: practice oflaw ever 107 since. present, the firm name is Washington Fronefield,\nPennsylvania.\nThe\nfirm\nis\nCounsel for Delaware County National Bank and many of the corporations doing business\nin Delaware County and along the Riverfront and is engaged In general practice.\nMember of the Delaware County Bar Association, The Pennsylvania\nBar Association, the American Bar Association and the Judicature Society.\nCivic Activities\nPresident of the Chester Y. M. Assistant Solicitor\nand member of the Board and Executive Committee of the\nDelaware County Chamber of Commerce; member of the\nand Executive Conimittee\nBoard of Directors OI the Philadelphia A. A.\nClub; member of\nAdvisory Council\nor Valiey Forge Council, Boy Scouts of America\nand member of the Board of Directors and, Executive Com-\nmittee of the Atlantic Steel Castings Company, Chester,\nPa.; member of Board and Solicitor for the American Red\nCross 1 Chester Chapter; Chairman ПИХНИК of Lawyer's Committee\nof United Fund of Chester: member of Board of Directors\nand Solicitor of Concord Day Center: Board or Trustees,\nFirst Baptist Church, Chester, Pa.; Board of Directors of\nCrozer-Chester Medical Center.\nClubs\nThe Springhaven Club, Wallingford, Pa.;\nSeaview Country Club, Absecon, New Jersey;\nKiwanis Club of Chester and Colonial Club of Chester;\nThe Drexelbrook Club, Drexel Hill, Pa.\nUnion League Philadelphia, Pa.\nThe Colonial Club, Chéster, Pa.\nFraternities\n-\nSwarthmore College:\nPhf Sigma Kappa\nPsi Delta Epsilon - Honorary Journalistic Fraternit\nBook & Key - Senior Honorary Fraternity\nAwards\nRecipient of the Chester Junior Chamber of Commerce\n\"Young Man of the Year\" Award 1941, the Chester\nFORD LIBRARY\nBusinessmen's and Delaware County Chamber of Commers\n\"Man of the Year\" Award 1958; The George Ellis Memoria.\nAvaid 1967 Y Chester jenior Chamber X Commerce and\n\"Kelse Award\" from PMC Colleges February 14, 1969.\n1971 Kiwants Club \"Man of the Year' Award.\nState Government Exper ence -\nMember of the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Scard, und\nappointments of Governors Martin and Duff, 1844 - 1955\nActivity Dog V State Treasurer under State Treasurer.\nHonorable Weldon B.S yourd, and Chatrman of the\nof Picance and Revenue FGSV - 1058: Special Iss\nState It's Robert Xen: and Chairman of of E.\nand Rew no 1958 - 1962; Chairman of Pennsylvania\nRelations and, under appointment of Governoro\n1963 - to and President of the National States\nEnhor 12/31/71. Agencios 1965 - 1966.\nRNC,\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nMarch 1, 1975\nDear Mr. Keenan:\nThank you very much for sending me a copy\nof your thoughtful letter written to\nMary Louise Smith.\nI know your comments will be given careful\nconsideration by people at the Republican\nNational Committee.\nSincerely,\nThey Buelen\nPhilip W. Buchen\nCounsel to the President\nMr. J. Douglas Keenan\n1385 York Avenue #34F\nNew York, New YOrk 10021\nBERALD R. FORD LIBRARY\nRepublican\nnot\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\ncante.\nWASHINGTON\nMarch 7, 1975\nMEMORANDUM TO:\nPHILIP W. BUCHEN\nJOHN O. MARSH, JR.\nDONALD H. RUMSFELD\nJAMES LYNN\nL. WILLIAM SEIDMAN\nRONALD H. NESSEN\nJAMES CANNON\nANN WHITMAN\nFROM:\nROBERT T. HARTMANN\nPAA\nEffective March 10, 1975, a new system of processing invitations\nextended to the President and Vice President from entities of the\nRepublican Party throughout the nation will be instituted. The\nnew procedure will involve the Republican National Committee\nas a part of the input process in recommending whether invita-\ntions should be accepted or not.\nOccasionally many of us receive communications from friends\nand acquaintances urging acceptance of an invitation to the Presi-\ndent or Vice President. These should be handled as they always\nhave been by referral to Warren Rustand's Scheduling Office, but\nin your acknowledgement of Republican Party invitations, you may\nwish to mention the fact that the Republican National Committee\nnow has a role in the decision process for such invitations. In\nshort, let the RNC take the blame if the answer is \"No\".\nBERALD FORD\nRepublican\nRepublican\nnational\nNational\nCommittee\nCommittee.\nMary Louise Smith\nChairman\nMarch 19, 1975\nMr. Philip W. Buchen\nCounsel to the President\nThe White House\nWashington, D. C. 20500\nDear Phil:\nWe are pleased to be able to provide you with the enclosed Federal\nElection Law Manual. We commissioned this work shortly after the 1974\ncampaign act was passed : last year but this is much broader in scope than\nthat.\nWe have attempted to include all federal legislation affecting\ncampaigns including pertinent tax legislation and rulings.\nAll Republican members of Congress and each State GOP headquarters\nare being provided copies at no charge. Additional copies may be obtained\nat a cost of $25.00 for party affiliated individuals and groups and for\n$50.00 each for other groups. Such requests should be forwarded to\nJacquie Nystrom at the Republican National Committee's headquarters or\ncall at (202) 484-6693.\nYou will receive (as will all those who purchase the books) timely\nupdates as various rulings and court interpretations are handed down.\nIt may prove necessary for us to levy a small additional charge to continue\nthis service next year.\nI hope you find this work useful and urge you to let us know if you\nsee any changes or improvements that you think might make it even better.\nSincerely,\nMary Sauise\nMary Louise Smith\nEMAIL FORD LIBRARY\n3\nRep-nat Rep. - not\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nCommittee\nWASHINGTON\nApril 23, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR: PHIL BUCHEN\nFROM:\nRON NESSEN R.H.N.\nCould you look at the attached letter and give me\nsuggestions on its contents, if they should be changed?\nThe check addressed to me was in a Republican\nFinance Committee envelope with no correspondence\nof any kind. Apparently it had been sent, in addition\nto a check for them, and they passed it along.\nI have no idea who Ralph L. Hill is, and of course\nwant to return the check to him.\nLack O.K.\nto me.\nP.W.B.\n$000 LIBRARY is\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nApril 23, 1975\nDear Mr. Hill:\nI am returning the check which the Republican\nNational Finance Committee forwarded to me, made\nout in my name for $50.\nI presume this is a campaign contribution, and\nif so, it should be made out to the Republican National\nCommittee and sent directly to them. I have nothing\nwhatever to do with campaign donations for the\nRepublican National Committee.\nSincerely,\nRon Nessen\nPress Secretary\nto the President\nMr. Ralph L. Hill\n4625 Oakwood Place\nFORD & LIBRARY\nRiverside, California 92506\nRALPH L. HILL\nNo. 1116\n4625 OAKWOOD PL.\nRIVERSIDE, CA 92506\n4-14- 1975 90-124\n1222\n00\nPAY TO THE\nORDER OF\nRon, Messeur, White House Press secretars 50\nFifty T no/100\nDOLLARS\nSECURITY PACIFIC NATIONAL BANK\nRiverside Main Office\n3773 Main St., Riverside, Ca. 92501\nRash h. Hill\nRep not\nAorfels\nCommittee\nEva,\nMr. Buchen asked me what had happened\non this which I knew nothing of.\nI did talk with Sara about it and\nshe is sending me a note saying she\nis now 100% sure that\nShirley\nfee note attached\nBERALD FORD LIBRARY\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\n4/23\nShirley:\nAttached is a copy of the Jayson\nletter as it went out. It was cleared\nby Friedersdorf, Marsh and Cheney.\nOn the answer to question #5 (which\nwe wanted Mr. Buchen's clearance on)\nI checked on 3/31/75 with Billy\nShaddix down in our Photo Office and\nhe confirmed definitely (and has\nbackup) that all photos used for\npolitical purposes are indeed paid for\nby the RNC.\nA note of interest -- Mr. Nessen's\noffice says that they got back a very\ncordial note from Jayson who was\nplease with such a complete and\ninformative letter.\nSara\nS.\nA.\nBERALD\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nMarch 21, 1975\nMr. Lester S. Jayson\nDirector\nCongressional Research Service\nThe Library of Congress\nWashington, D.C. 20540\nGEAL 11. FORD LIBRARY\nAttention: Dr. Virginia McMurtry\nDear Mr. Jayson:\nIn response to your letter to me of March 6, 1975, I am including\nbelow the answers to your questions about the White House Photographic\nOffice you reported that a member of Congress requested answers to:\n1. How many photographers whose salaries are paid from Federal\nfunds are attached to the White House at the present time?\nThere are currently five photographers who are assigned to the\nWhite House Photo Office and are paid by the White House.\n2. Are any of these photographers on loan to the White House from\nother Executive Branch departments and agencies? If so, how many?\nNone of these photographers is on loan to the White House from any\nother Executive branch, department or agency.\n3, By which Executive Branch departments, agencies, or other sources\nof funds are the salaries of the White House photographers paid?\nSince none of the photographers is assigned from an Executive branch,\ndepartment or agency, each is paid by the White House.\n4. Is there any existing regulation or policy which differentiates\nbetween using the White House photographers for private or personal\nas contrasted with public or official assignments? If so, could you\nkindly describe such regulation or policy?\n-2-\nThe White House Photo Office policy is that all White House\nphotographers will perform only official photography while on duty.\nA check with each of the photographers indicates that none perform\nany freelance photography as they are always on call to serve the\nPresident and cannot make advance commitments of an unofficial\nnature to perform on their own time.\n5. If a picture taken by a White House photographer for official\npurposes is subsequently used for political purposes, such as\ncampaign publicity, is any reimbursement or other form of payment\nmade? Please describe how this matter is handled.\nAny official White House photographs which are subsequently used\nfor political purposes are paid for by the Republican National\nCommittee.\n6. We would appreciate any additional information or comments\nwhich you believe to be relevant to this inquiry.\nMost of the photographs issued by the White House Photo Office go to\nfulfill requests from the American public. Since most of these requests\nare for pictures of the President or the First Lady, we have used\nsubstantial numbers of lithograph photos to reduce the costs\nsubstantially per print. The second largest category of requests,\nafter those from the general public, includes requests from members\nof Congress for their personal use and for their constituents.\nAdditionally, in the past six months we have placed tighter control on the\nnumber of official photographs which are sent to citizens who meet with\nthe President.\nWe do not send out unsolicited photographs to anyone. We have also\ninstituted a policy whereby any photographs which go to a publication\non an exclusive basis are also made available upon request to any\nlegitimate news medium on the date of publication of these exclusive\nphotos. Occasionally, the White House Photographer may cover an\nevent which was not covered by the press photographers. If his\nphotographs are of particular news value and requested by the press,\nthey are released for publication.\nIt should also be noted that the primary purpose of the White House\nPhoto Office is for historical documentation of the Presidency.\nAll photographs and negatives of the President at the close of each\nAdministration are sent to the National Archives and Records Service\nfor preservation.\nFORD\n- -3-\nI hope these answers are helpful to you.\nSincerely,\nRonald H. Nessen\nPress Secretary to the President\nSEAL E veno the\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\n3/28/75\nEva:\nMr. Buchen called on the Lester Jayson\nletter we sent through him for clearance.\nHe wanted to make absolutely certain sure\nthat the answer to question #5 was indeed\ntrue (i. e. any official White House photographs\nused for political purposes are paid for\nby the RNC)\nI checked with the Photo Office and they\nassured me that they were 90% certain\nthis is the policy, but that to make sure\n100% I should check with the man who sends\nthe bills in for payment (Billy Shaddix) who\nwill be in on Monday.\nWe'll just hold the letter until the group\nreturns from Palm Springs -- we'll have\nthen checked it out completely.\nThanks.\nSara\nSara Currence\nDave Hoopes's Office\nSERALD FORD\nFriday 3/28/75\n4:05 This has been approved by Mr. Cheney and\nis O.K. to send out if you and Friedersdorf\nsay it's O.K.\nTORD & LIBRARY\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nDate:\n3/28/75\nTO:\nPHILIP W. BUCHEN\nFROM:\nDAVID C. HOOPES\nFYI: [ ]\nComment:\nCould you please look over the attached\nletter to be sent from Ron Nessen to\nLester Jayson and let me know as soon\nas possible if you have any problems --\nwe need your clearance especially for\nthe answer to #5.\nThank you.\nLIBRARY BERALD\nRep. hatcurb\nPresident\nPersonal\nWednesday 4/16/75\n2:30 After her conversation with you about the two\nchecks the President gave to Mary Louise Smith\nlast night, Dorothy checked with them to see\nhow the checks were made out.\nThey were made out to the Republican Senate House\nDinner, in the amount of $1, 000 each.\n(You had indicated they should be made either to\nRepublican National Committee or the Republican\nCongressional Committee.)\nThey are holding the checks until we can ascertain\nfrom you if they are acceptable as they are; if not,\nDorothy can get them back and rewrite the checks\ncorrectly.\nO.K. made out to Republican Senate House Dinner x\nHave Dorothy get them back and make up\nnew ones to either Republican National Committee\nor Republican Congressional Committee\nDERALD FORD\nWednesday 4/16/75\n2:30 Dorothy Downton called.\nAfter your information that it was all right for the\nPresident to contribute to a general purpose committee\nup to an aggregate of $25,000 or $1,000 per candidate,\nshe called Mrs. Smith.\nMrs. Smith had Dorothy check with her secretary,\nwho confirmed the checks were made out to the\nRepublican Senate House Dinner, in the amount of $1,000 each.\nDorothy has asked them to hold the checks until she\ncan check with you.\nIs that O. K?\nShould they return the checks and have them re-made\nto either the Republican National Committee or the\nRepublican Congressional Committee?\nOr is\n\"Republican Senate House Dinner\" O.K. ?\nBERALD you Team\n4#4\nRep. Net and CC. PHIL BUCHEN\nADMINISTRATIVELY\nCONFIDENTIAL\nOFFICE OF THE VICE president\nWASHINGTON\nApril 28, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nPeter J. Wallison\nSUBJECT: The Capitol Hill Club\nAs far as I have been able to determine at the present\ntime, this is the situation:\n1. Travelers Insurance Company, the holder of the\nonly existing mortgage on the premises occupied by the\nRepublican National Committee and the Capitol Hill Club\nis about to foreclose its mortgage.\n2. Foreclosure is imminent because the Club has\nnot been meeting its rental payments to Capitol Hill\nAssociates, the owner of the property, and Capitol Hill\nAssociates (\"Associates\") in turn has not been able to\nmake timely mortgage payments.\n3. The Club needs approximately $700,000 to clear\nup its debts (mostly to the Marriott Corporation) and to\npay its rent through 1976; Associates needs approximately\n$400,000 to clear up its own outstanding obligations.\n4. Advances to Associates could be secured by a\nsecond mortgage (after Travelers) on the premises\noccupied by both the Club and RNC, but advances to the\nClub would be unsecured, and there can be no assurance that\nit would ever be recovered unless the Club became a going\nconcern. The following questions arise at this point:\n(a) Is your interest here in preserving the\nClub or just the Republican National Committee\nlease?\nSERAD FORD LIBRARY\n-2-\nBecause the leases of both the Club and the\nCommittee have been assigned to Travelers as\nsecurity for the mortgage, if Travelers forecloses\nit would be in a position to evict the Republican\nNational Committee as well as the Club. Thus, it\ncould be argued that the only way to protect the\ntenure of the RNC is to finance the operation of\nthe Club.\nThis argument, however, does not work.\nTravelers would not want to evict the RNC, because\nthe zoning for the property permits occupancy only\nby the Republican National Committee, and Travelers\nwould have great difficulty getting a variance.\nInstead, Travelers will probably sell the property\nto Congress, which has a right of first refusal on\nboth properties and wants to use at least the Club\nbuilding for office space. John Rhodes has said that\nif the property is sold to Congress, he can arrange\nto have the RNC property leased back to RNC again.\nIn this transaction, the Club would fold and the\nlosers would be Marriott Corporation ($270,000) and\ncertain other creditors of the Club. Associates\nwould come out with a profit of approximately $300,000,\nsince the pre-agreed price for the property to Congress\nexceeds by that amount the total principal sum of\nthe mortgage and other obligations of Associates.\n(b) If your purpose, on the other hand, is to\nsave the Club as well as the RNC, things are a good\ndeal more complicated.\nAs noted above, any advance to the Club would be\nunsecured, and might be lost entirely if it does not\nbecome a viable organization.* This risk could be\nreduced by inducing the RNC to pick up a larger portion\nof the rent paid by the two entities to Associates,\nreleasing a larger proportion of the Club's income\nfor repayment of the loan made by the group you would\nassemble. Naturally, however, this is no guarantee\nthat your investors would get their money back in two\nyears, or ever.\n*\nIt should be noted that the officers of Associates who\nI have spoken to seem to believe that the Club would be\nviable under new management and that a report on the\nClub by Restaurant Associates of New York demonstrates\nthis.\nin\nVOID\nNEGREY\n-3-\nThe reasons for your entering this transaction anyway\nare unclear to me. Apparently, there is a feeling that it\nwould be a great political issue for the Democrats if a\nRepublican organization went into bankruptcy. However, it\nwould also be a nice issue, and would cause you personally\nmany difficulties, when it became known that you had assisted\nthe RNC and the Capitol Hill Club by advancing a substantial\namount of money with no real hope of return.\nHowever, I have tentatively set up a meeting for\nWednesday afternoon with the officers and attorneys for\nAssociates, and I will, of course, go forward with this\ntransaction unless you indicate otherwise.\nFORD\n3\nNovember 21, 1974\nTo:\nDorothy\nFrom: Eva\nIassume this is one\nyou will want to take\nin to the President\nyourself.\nThanks.\nDERALO FORD LIBRARY\nNovember 25, 1974\nAttention: Fred Dixon\nPresident\nGentlemen:\nIt has come to my attention that I may have\noverlooked sending you a written resignation\nfrom the positions I had while a Member of\nCongress when I served on your Board of\nDirectors and Executive Committee.\nPlease accept this letter as my written\nresignation from both such positions.\nSincerely,\nGerald R. Ford\nCapitol Hill Associates, Inc.\n310 First Street, Southeast\nWashington, D. C. 20003\nBERALD LIBRARY FORD\nRep. hat\nCente\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nwashington\n5/9/75\nMr. Buchen:\nGene Beckman called you (803) 386-3792\nJohnsonville, S. C.\nHe knew you 16 years ago when he was\nassociated with Jones Y. Pharr of\nCharlotte, N. C. and Rospatch Corp.\nMr. Beckman is now associated with the\nFlorence County Republican Party which\nis having an appreciation dinner for volunteer\nworkers who manned the polls for the primary.\nSouth Carolina had the first Republican\nprimary in history manned totally by\nvolunteers.\nHe wants to invite the President to attend\nthe dinner on May 23 - 8 PM.\n5/10/75 JANE\nColled 0 advised\nagainst making\nrequest for Presidential\nappoarance. T.\nGERALD 4. FORD\nIndregratted\nFriday 5/9/75\n9/9/75\nSpeaking engage- me\n11:20\nBob Eleveld said Marba Perrott suggested he\n(616) 459-4186\ncall here. Mr. Eleveld is the Fifth District\nRepublican Chairman and has been a sked by\nthe Chairman of the Kent County Medical Society\nto see whether or not you could be the speaker at their\nannual meeting in September -- September 9th.\nIt is a meeting of all the members of the society and their\nwives -- will run about 700 people (based on past years),\nand they would like you to speak on anything you want.\n$500 honorarium plus expenses.\nThe current president of the society is Dr. Harold Bowman,\nChief Pathologist at St. Mary's Hospital, who says he has\nmet you.\nEleveld's address is 666 Old Kent Building, Grand Rapids 45902\nIf you aren't available, they thought they would like\nto have someone from the Washington contingent --\nSeidman or ????\nDeclined by\nphone on 5/12/75\nDERALO A. FORD LIBERRY\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.\nRNC\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nMay 12, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nDUDLEY CHAPMAN\nFROM:\nPHILIP BUCHEN T.W.B.\nPlease prepare a reply for my signature to\nthe attached memo from Dick Cheney raising\nquestions concerning the Los Angeles Times\nstory of May 9, 1975, as to the legality of\ncertain expenditures by the Republican\nNational Committee.\nAttachment\nFORD is LIBRARY\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nwashington\nMay 10, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nPHIL BUCHEN\nFROM:\nDICK CHENEY\nD\nAttached is a piece out of the Los Angeles Times from Friday,\nMay 9th, raising questions about the legality of the RNC pro-\nviding support for polls for the White House, etc.\nI would appreciate it if you would review this and let me have\nyour thoughts on it.\nCC: Don Rumsfeld\nJerry Jones\nAttachment\nSERVICE E. FORD LIBRARY\n22 Part 1-Fri., - May 9. 1975\nLos Ingeles Times\neral Elections Commission is going to\n$25,000, informed sources said.\nenforce the law.\"\nmoney came from $500,000 budgeted\nThe polls in question were conduct-\nGOP Committee Spending\n$40,000\nby the National Committee for White\non\nFord Polls\ned by Decision Making Information. si\nHouse political experises which\nLos Angeles-based firnt, in February,\ncludes part of the cost of presidential\nMarch and April. The survey includ-\ntrips. the distribution of such\nBY ROBERT SHOGAN\ntions posed at the suggestion of\ntee on behalf of Mr. Ford was ques-\nWalter T. Skallerup, treasurer of\ned voter reaction in five states Mr.\nidential mementos as cuff links,\nTimes Political Writer\nWhite House aides.\ntioned by aides to potential rivals in\nthe campaign committee for Demo-\nFord has visited-Texas, Kansas.\ntacks and ladies' pins, and political\nWASHINGTON-The Republican\nGOP officials. White House aides\nboth parties.\ncratic Sen. Henry M. Jackson of\nFlorida, Indiana and California-to\nreceptions in Washington.\nNational Committee. which is limited\nand Dean Burch. chairman of Mr.\n\"If this money was spent solely on\nWashington. said the polling spon-\nhis proposals on energy and the econ-\nThe purpose of the poll, Mahe said,\nby a new campaign reform law to\nFord's newly organized \"informal\"\nthe President, who, if he isn't a can-\nsored by the Republican committee\nomy, plus a nationwide sample which\nwas \"to study how the President's\ndidate already technically, will presu-\nraised \"a very serious question\": and\nrated Mr. Ford's overall performance\n$5,000 contribution to a candidate for\ncampaign committee. defended the\npolicies are being received and what\nthe presidential nomination. has al-\npolls as designed to serve the Pres-\nmably become one, it raises a lot of\nsuggested that the Federal Elections\nand attitudes about specific issues.\nhis strengths and weaknesses are in\nident as a policy maker and national\nquestions,\" said Peter Hannaford, an\nCommission, established under the\nThey indicated that Mr. Ford was\nready commissioned about $40,000 in\nterms of carrying these policies to\npolls on President Ford's policies and\nleader rather than as a candidate.\naide to Ronald Reagan.\n1974 campaign reforms, might in-\nmore popular than his policies and\nthe country.\" Mahe pointed out that\npopularity. The Times has learned.\nMr. Ford repeatedly has stated that\n\"The Republican National Commit-\nquire into its legality.\nthat his trips tended to boost his\nstanding in the areas he visited.\npolls, along with other presidential\nThe polls, now under study at the\nhe intends to seek the GOP nomina-\ntee is supposed to work for the whole\n\"The President is not above the\npolitical expenses not directly relàted\nThe committee has already paid\nWhite House. were initiated at White\ntion in 1976. although he has avoided\nparty.\" added Hannaford, who said\nlaw,\" Skallerup said. \"I think that's\nto a campaign, have traditionally\nabout $15,000 to DMI. according to\nHouse request. National Committee\na formal declaration of candidacy.\nhe had not discussed the matter with\none of the things we recently\nbeen paid for by the committee.\nGOP executive director Eddie Mahe.\nofficials acknowledged. and the ques-\nBut the expenditure by the commit-\nReagan.\nreestablished. And I assume the Fed-\nThe remaining cost will be about\nPlease Turn to Page 23, Col.\nRNC\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nMay 19, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR: DICK CHENEY\nFROM:\nPHIL BUCHEN T.W.B.\nSUBJECT:\nLA Times Story on Polling Expenses\nI believe that our legal position is sound in that you may use\nRepublican Party funds for political purposes that relate to the\nPresidency itself as distinguished from the President's own\npersonal candidacy. Since there are continuing political expenses\nrelating to the Presidency, we cannot avoid all such criticism by\nsimply stopping the expenditures. We should be cautious, however,\nto be sure that the facts in all cases are persuasive that the expenditure\nis legitimately in the interest of the Party and not just of the candidate,\nsince the propriety of our position depends on this factual distinction.\nPolling is a particularly sensitive activity which calls for considerable\ndiscretion in deciding what information we are to seek.\nAs soon as the President has his own source of political funds, it\nwould be helpful to run some polls clearly related to his own\ncandidacy so that their subject matter would provide a contrast\nto polls conducted with Party funds.\ncc: Don Rumsfeld\nJerry Jones\nFORD LIBRARY\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nMay 12, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nDUDLEY CHAPMAN\nFROM:\nPHILIP BUCHEN\nT.W.B.\nPlease prepare a reply for my signature to\nthe attached memo from Dick Cheney raising\nquestions concerning the Los Angeles Times\nstory of May 9, 1975, as to the legality of\ncertain expenditures by the Republican\nNational Committee.\nAttachment\nA\n1620\nSTATE\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nMay 10, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nPHIL BUCHEN\nFROM:\nDICK CHENEY\nD\nAttached is a piece out of the Los Angeles Times from Friday,\nMay 9th, raising questions about the legality of the RNC pro-\nviding support for polls for the White House, etc.\nI would appreciate it if you would review this and let me have\nyour thoughts on it.\ncc: Don Rumsfeld\nJerry Jones\nAttachment\nTHE\n22 Part I Fri., May 9. 1975\nLos Angrles Times\neral Elections Commission is going to\n$25,000, informed sources said. The\nenforce the law.\"\nmoney came from $500,000 budgeted\nGOP Committee Spending\n$40,000\nThe polls in question were conduct-\nby the National Committee for White\non\nFord Polls\ned by Decision Making Information. a\nHouse political expenses. Which in-\nLos Angeles-based firm, in February,\ncludes part of the cost of presidential\nMarch and April. The survey includ-\ntrips, the distribution of such pres-\nBY ROBERT SHOGAN\ntions posed at the suggestion of\ntee on behalf of Mr. Ford was ques-\nWalter T. Skallerup. treasurer of\ned voter reaction in five states Mr.\nidential mementos as cuff links, tie\nTimes Political Writer\nWhite House aides.\ntioned by aides to potential rivals in\nthe campaign committee for Demo-\nFord has visited-Texas, Kansas,\ntacks and ladies' pins, and political\nWASHINGTON-The Republican\nGOP officials. White House aides\nboth parties.\ncratic Sen. Henry M. Jackson of\nFlorida, Indiana and California-to\nreceptions in Washington.\nNational Committee, which is limited\nand Dean Burch, chairman of Mr.\n\"If this money was spent solely on\nWashington, said the polling spon-\nhis proposals on energy and the econ-\nThe purpose of the poll, Mahe said,\nby a new campaign reform law to\nFord's newly organized \"informal\"\nthe President, who, if he isn't a can-\nsored by the Republican committee\nomy, plus a nationwide sample which\nwas \"to study how the President's\n$5,000 contribution to a candidate for\ncampaign committee, defended the\ndidate already technically, will presu-\nraised \"a very serious question\" and\nrated Mr. Ford's overall performance\npolicies are being received and what\nthe presidential nomination, has al-\npolls as designed to serve the Pres-\nmably become one, it raises a lot of\nsuggested that the Federal Elections\nand attitudes about specific issues.\nhis strengths and weaknesses are in\nready commissioned about $40,000 in\nident as a policy maker and national\nquestions,\" said Peter Hannaford, an\nCommission, established under the\nThey indicated that Mr. Ford was\nterms of carrying these policies to\npolls on President Ford's policies and\nleader rather than as a candidate.\naide to Ronald Reagan.\n1974 campaign reforms, might in-\nmore popular than his policies and\nthe country.\" Mahe pointed out that\npopularity, The Times has learned.\nMr. Ford repeatedly has stated that\n\"The Republican National Commit-\nquire into its legality,\nthat his trips tended to boost his\npolls,, along with other presidential\nstanding in the areas he visited.\nThe polls, now under study at the\nhe intends to seek the GOP nomina-\ntee is supposed to work for the whole\n\"The President is not above the\npolitical expenses not directly related\nThe committee has already paid\nWhite House, were initiated at White\ntion in 1976, although he has avoided\nparty.\" added Hannaford, who said\nlaw,\" Skallerup said. \"I think that's\nabout $15,000 to DMI. according to\nto a campaign, have traditionally\nHouse request. National Committee\na formal declaration of candidacy.\nhe had not discussed the matter with\none of the things we recently\nbeen paid for by the committee.\nGOP executive director Eddie Mahe.\nofficials acknowledged, and the ques-\nBut. the expenditure by the commit-\nReagan.\nreestablished. And I assume the Fed-\nThe remaining cost will be about\nPlease Turn to Page 23, Col.\nRWC\nMay 19, 1975\nDear Jere:\nThank you very much for your note about\nSusan Harrington.\nShe did call my office at a time when I\nwas not ávailable but promised to call\nlater. As soon as she calls again, I shall\nbe glad to discuss with her how she might\nbe most helpful in the work of the\nRepublican Party.\nVery best regards to you and Jame from\nBunny and me.\nSincerely,\nPhilip W. Buchen\nCounsel to the President\nMr. Jerome W. Eberts\n3180 Polo Drive\nDelray Beach, Florida 33444\nTORD 1. LIBRARY 07/030\nWarnick,\nASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO Wavid\nSTUDENT UNION BUILDING MOSCOW, IDAHO 83843\nOFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT\nJune 14, 1975\nPhilip W. Buchen\nCounsel to the President\nThe White House\nWashington, D.C.\nDear Mr. Buchen:\nThanks very much for your kind letter of May 2. I appreciate\nyour taking the time to reply.\nI would like to write and congratulate the President\non his presentation and action regarding the energy situation.\nIn addition, I wanted to note the date of the Idaho\nRepublican State Convention has been changed from the third\nweekend in June, 1976, to the fourth weekend- the 25th and\n26th. As Publicity Chairman of the Latah County Central\nCommittee, who are handling arrangements for the state convention\nto be held here, I thought I would notify you of this.\nPlease reiterate our invitation to the President to visit\nthe convention.\nThanks again,\nPavil\nDavid Warnick, Chairman\nIdaho College Republican League\nGERALD F. FORD\nPetanter\nJune 27, 1975\nnomter\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nDOUG BENNETT\nFROM:\nPHIL BUCHEN\nAtmached is a resume concerning Ms. Lucy\nHummer. She is highly recommended by\nRichard D. Obenshain, Co-Chairman,\nRepublican National Committee.\nAs I have advised Mr. Obenshain, we have\nno current opening in the White House\nLegal Office, but it may be that you\ncould find another opening here in the\nWhite House.\nAttachment\nGERALD F FORD\nP.\nRich.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJune 18, 1975\nDear Mr. Obenshain:\nRegarding your letter of June 4, I regret\nto say that we do not have an opening in\nour office for Ms. Lucy Hummer. However,\nin the event that Ms. Hummer is interested\nin being considered for some other position\nwithin the White House or elsewhere in the\nAdministration, I suggest she submit her\ncredentials to Mr. Douglas Bennett who is\nthe new Director of the Office of\nPresidential Personnel.\nI appreciate your interest in proposing\nMs. Hummer for consideration.\nSincerely,\nPhilip W. Buchen\nCounsel to the President\nMr. Richard D. Obenshain\nCo-Chairman\nRepublican National Committee\n310 First Street, Southeast\nWashington, D. C. 20003\nBERALD N. FORD\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nJuly 9, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTED MARRS\nFROM:\nPHILIP BUCHEN\nP.W.B.\nSUBJECT:\nTree Planting Schedule Proposal\nBecause of the commercial advantage to the American\nAssociation of Nurserymen from the Green Survival\nBicentennial Tree Planting Program and the identifi-\ncation with the President which will occur as a\nresult of this schedule proposal, I hesitate to join\nin recommending it. I believe it might be better to\ninvolve the National Parks Foundation and the National\nParks Department, which has jurisdiction over the\nWhite House grounds, as the entities to be identified\nwith the tree planting rather than having the\nPresident be personally involved. I fear that the\nPresident's involvement may lead to his being involved\nin acceptance of other gifts in kind for the benefit\nof the White House and White House grounds which will\nbe in part motivated by desire on the part of the\ncommercial donors to gain the advantage of the\npublicity resulting from involvement with the President.\nGERALD # LIBRARY FORD\nRNC\nADMINISTRATIVELY CONFIDENTIAL\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nSeptember 13, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR: PHIL BUCHEN\nFROM:\nBARRY ROTH\nSUBJECT:\nPress inquiry concerning the Capitol\nHill Club\nOn Friday, the Press Office referred Ms. Judith Roales of the\nDelaware State News (671-8172) to me for the purpose of explaining,\non a not-for-attribution basis, our regulations on employee conduct\nthat deal with trading on one's White House position for personal\nprofit. She then posed a hypothetical question that clearly referred\nto the Vice President arranging for the President to appear at the\nfundraiser for the Capitol Hill Club. After speaking with Peter\nWallison, I explained to her that our office wasn't familiar with the\nfacts surrounding this event or the Vice President's stock ownership\nin Capitol Hill Associates (Associates), the club's landlord, and that\nshe should call the Vice President's press office. Apparently her\ninquiry is directed to show that the club is on the brink of bankruptcy\nand that the President's appearance benefits the Associates, a corpora-\ntion in which the Vice President owns 300 shares.\nPeter explained, in confidence, that the Vice President will be giving\nhis shares to charity as soon as the paperwork is completed by his\nprivate counsel. He also raised the point that the President's children,\nand perhaps the President, own a small number of shares in Associates.\nI checked with Benton Becker on this, and his recollection is that the\nchildren do own one share each, which was purchased by Congressman\nFord not as an investment but in order to raise the funds necessary to\nbuild the Eisenhower Center. The stock pays no dividend. Peter,\nBenton and I agree that, for the reporter to write that the President or\nVice President is personally profiting from the fundraising for the club,\nshe has made a very strained and inaccurate conclusion.\nIf an inquiry is made to us in this regard, the following could be offered\nin response:\nGERALD FORD\n-2-\n(1) The Capitol Hill Club is not on the brink of\nbankruptcy, and, since January, has been in the black,\ndespite an overall deficit.\n(2) Capitol Hill Associates is not an investment\nventure but was simply the vehicle chosen to finance the\nenhower Center. It pays no dividend.\n(3) There is no pecuniary benefit to the President,\nVice President or First Family as a result of these efforts\non behalf of the Club. The Club is separable from Associates,\nand, even if the Club were to go bankrupt, the Associates\ncontinue to own the property, subject to the outstanding\nmortgage, and any other liens. Obviously, the stockholders\nof Associates are not personally liable for any debts of\neither the Club or Associates.\n(4) The Club is a Republican social club, and, for this\nreason, the President and Vice President obviously would\nlike to be of assistance to it.\nI understand that the eventual goal is for the Club to buy the building\nfrom Associates at its original cost. The stockholders would then be\nin a position to recover their original investment, or something\napproximating that amount.\nIt is appropriate to consider whether the President or First Family\nshould follow the Vice President's example and donate the stock to\ncharity. However, before recommending this, we should check with\nBob McBain to see who owns any such stock and in what amounts. In\nthe absence of yourself and Rod, I have mentioned this to Jim Connor\nin order that someone will be aware of these inquiries.\nFORD LIBHARY 03\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nRNC\nWASHINGTON\nOctober 10, 1975\nspec)\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nDICK CHENEY\nFROM:\nPHIL BUCHEN .P.W.B.\nSUBJECT:\nDemocratic Senatorial\nCampaign Committee\nLetter to the FEC\nAttached for your information is the letter from the Democratic\nSenatorial Campaign Committee which accuses the RNC of violating\nthe Federal Election Campaign Act by its expenditures on support\nof the President as head of the party. It also proposes that the PFC\nbe required to reimburse the RNC for such expenditures retroactive\nto either July 8 when the President announced his candidacy, August 21\nwhen the FEC issued the \"Bentsen\" ruling that appearances by\nannounced candidates before large groups were presumed to be\ncampaign related, or September 4 when the FEC responded to\nWyman.\nWhile it is not possible to predict the FEC decision on this question,\nthe FEC has previously taken the position that their rulings should\nbe prospective rather than retroactive when the law is unclear and\nthe question relates to a traditional campaign practice.\nWe are working with Bob Visser at the PFC and Benton Becker for\nthe RNC on comments on Mary Louise Smith's letter, and which will\nalso reflect some of the arguments made by the Democrat's complaint.\nThe DNC is expected to file additional comments next week in\nopposition to the RNC practice.\n1. FORD LIBERTY\nBuchen FYI\nOctober 17, 1975\nMEMORANDUM TO:\nPAUL THEIS\nFROM:\nKEN LAZARUS\nSUBJECT:\nUse of RNC Files\nThis is in response to your inquiry made earlier this week on\nthe propriety of integrating certain files of the RNC into the\nresearch records currently maintained by your office for in-\nclusion in a microfilm bank which would be established here.\nBackground\nMy understanding of the facts relevant to your inquiry may be\nsummarized in the following manner.\nThe RNC currently maintains issue-oriented files including\nspeeches, public statements and other public records of major\npolitical figures representing a broad cross-section of political\nand ideological views. Independent of the RNC, the research\nsection of the Editorial Office maintains files of public record\ninformation, L e. newsclippings, Congressional Record excerpts,\netc. in order to facilitate the drafting of Presidential statements.\nYour proposal is to integrate into your records certain portions\nof the RNC files which relate to public comment by political\nfigures on major issues of national concern. Your intent is not\nto develop political profiles on potential election opponents of the\nPresident, but to increase your range of information and knowledge\non domestic and international issues.\nAfter receipt of the RNC information, you intend to have all of\nyour files transferred to microfilm in order to simplify storage\nand access. The costs of the microfilming and scanners would\nbe covered by public funds.\nFORD LIBRARY\n. 2 -\nThis proposal raises three concerns:\na. Privacy Act. The Privacy Act of 1974 establishes\nconditions for the retention, access and disclosure of\npersonal data contained in the various information\nsystems which are maintained by Federal agencies.\nThe Act prescribes the maintabance of any record\nwhich describes how an individual exercises rights\nguaranteed by the First Amendment unless expressly\nauthorised by statute or the individual about whom\nthe record is maintained.\nOffices in the Executive Office of the President\nwhose sole function is to advise and assist the\nPresident are not subject to the Act. However, it\nshould be noted that President Ford served as the\nfirst chairman of the Domestic Council Committee\non the Right of Privacy during his term as Vice\nPresident and strongly supported the Privacy Act.\nMoreever, although there is good cause for the\nWhite House to refuse voluntary compliance with\nthe access and disclosure provisions of the Act,\nthere would not appear to be any substantial argu-\nments against voluntary compliance with the\nretention provisions to the maximum extent feasible.\nb. Use of official funds. Assuming that the\nmicrofilm bank were utilized solely in support of\nthe official statements of the President, the\nexpenditure of public funds to finance the project\nwould be proper. Utilisation of the system for\npolitical (personal or party) purposes would, of\ncourse, be violative of Federal law. To some\nextent, the inclusion of RNC files in your own\nrecords would tend to politically taint your system.\nc. Public perception. Given the President's\nstatement indicating that White House personnel\nwould not be involved in the election, public\nconcern over the accumulation of information\nrelating to individuals and the potential for\nmisuse of the RNC files, the proposal could\nraise some political problems.\nFORD LIBRARY\n- 3 -\nConclusion\nAssuming the proposal would not result in the utilization\nof your system for political purposes, it would not be a\nviolation of law. However, in view of the other considerations\nnoted above, I would recommend you reconsider the matter.\nSTATE FORD\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nRNC\nWASHINGTON\nNovember 20, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nJACK CALKINS\nFROM:\nPHIL BUCHEN P.W.B.\nSUBJECT:\nThe Official 1975 Republican\nParty Medal\nIn response to your inquiry on the above referenced matter,\nattached is a draft response to Rod Smith for either Bob\nHartmann or yourself to send. Benton Becker has advised\nthat the plastic cover is being changed to read \"support\nto the RNC in 1975. 11\nPlease call me or Barry Roth if you have any questions.\nAttachment\nBERALD LIBRARY FORD\nDRAFT -- November 19, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nROD SMITH\nFROM:\nSUBJECT:\nThe Official 1975 Republican\nParty Medal\nIn response to your request concerning the above referenced\nmatter, the RNFC may use the President's likeness and\nfacsimile signature on the Official 1975 Republican Party\nMedal. We understand that this is to be offered as a\npremium to contributors to the Republican Party. We have\nalso been advised that the inscription on the plastic case\nwill be changed to read 11\nsupport to the Republican\nParty in 1975. \" However, this approval is not in any way\nto be considered as authorizing the RNC, the RNFC, or\nany other political committee or person to undertake any\nactivities or expenditures on behalf of the President's candidacy.\nIf you have any additional questions in this regard, please do\nnot hesitate to contact me.\nCC: Benton L. Becker, Esq.\nRobert Visser\nbcc: Phil Buchen\nSCALE a. FORD LIBRARY\nBerry\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nNovember 14, 1975\nMEMORANDUM TO:\nPHILIP BUCHEN\nFROM:\nJACK CALKINS\nAttached is a self-explanatory file concerning \"The Official 1975\nRepublican Party Medal\" which is planned for use as a fundraising\npremium by the Republican National Finance Committee. You\nwill note that the Presentation Stand which is planned for this\nmedal bears the President's facsimile signature. I am informed\nby Rod Smith that this package was put together out of town by\nthe same firm which did the 1972 similar item and that there\nwas a misunderstanding with regard to the obtaining of permis-\nsion to use the President's facsimile signature. Therefore,\nthese have already been manufactured with the signature thereon,\nbut obviously the RNFC does not wish to start sending them to\nrecipients until they have been properly cleared by the White\nHouse.\nGiven the 1972 Nixon precedent for this type of item and the other\nmore recent permission granted by President Ford for the use of\nhis signature in fundraising activities by entities of the Republican\nParty, I do not see that there should be any problem in giving\npermission for this item, but in accordance with standard practice,\nI am forwarding it to your office for further action.\nPlease advise me of any further action taken on this request.\nJTC:rg\nCC: RTH\nSEAL R. FORD LIBRARY\nRepublican\nNational\nFinance\nCommittee.\nNovember 11, 1975\nChairman\nJeremiah Milbank\nMEMORANDUM\nTO:\nJACK CALKINS\nFROM:\nROD SMITH Rod.\nSUBJECT: APPROVAL TO UTILIZE FACSIMILE OF PRESIDENT FORD'S SIGNATURE\nAttached is the brochure used in our Ford Medal mailing and a copy\nof the brochure used in 1972 for the Nixon Medal mailing. As you\nwill note, the concept and design are almost exactly the same. As I\nexplained to you over the phone, there was confusion on our part\nthat approval to utilize the President's signature had already been\nobtained. I apologize for this error and sincerely hope there is no\nproblem in now obtaining formal approval to utilize a facsimile of\nthe President's signature on this project.\nI would very much appreciate your assistance in this matter and hope\nwe can resolve it as soon as possible. If there are any questions\nor problems, please give me a call.\nThank you.\nSEAL FORD LIBRARY\nDwight D. Eisenhower Republican Center: 310 First Street Southeast, Washington, D.C. 20003. (202) 484-673(\nThe Official 1975 Medal\nof the Republican National Party\nA treasured\nheirloom you'll\nproudly display\nNATIONAL COMMITTEE\nGERALD\nPO\nThe Republican Party depends upon the\nloyal support of individual members for its\ncontinued existence. Without this support,\nthe Party would quickly cease to function.\nDemocratic candidates receive huge con-\ntributions from funds controlled by the\n1975\nOF\nUNITED\nleadership of the big Labor Unions. The\nRepublican Party receives the bulk of its\ncontributions in donations from individual\nParty members. This traditional Republican\nmethod of fund-raising is in accordance\nwith the ideal set forth by President Eisen-\nhower who defined the Republican Party\nA priceless memento of your support\nas the Party which \"promotes individual\nof the Republican Party\nparticipation.\"\nIn keeping with this tradition, the Re-\npublican Party is giving as a memento and\nThis historic Medal was created by one of the\nquantity solely for contributors of $15.00 to $24.95.\na token of appreciation this Official 1975\nworld's foremost medallic sculptors-Mico Kauf-\nContributors of $25.00 or more will receive a solid Sterl-\nMedal, struck in solid Bronze and suitably\nman, who created the obverse of the official\ning Silver medal. Both medals will be in brilliant, proof-\npresented for display, to every Republican\nU.S. Ford Inaugural Medal. It is being minted by\nlike finish, with a mirror-bright background. These\nParty member who makes a contribution\nthe Medallic Art Company, which also minted\nlimited editions are not for sale at any price.\nat this time in the amount of $15.00 up to\nthe Official U.S. Ford Inaugural Medal.\nThis distinctive Commemorative Medal, in either Sil-\n$24.95. (Contributors of $25.00 or more\nver or Bronze, makes an appropriate memento of your\nreceive the beautiful Solid Sterling Silver\nA special solid Bronze edition, in a desk stand bear-\nimportant participation in support of the Republican\nMedal.)\nthe President's message of appreciation and a fac-\nParty in 1975, and is sure to become a valuable col-\nYour participation in this vital support\nsimile of his signature, will be produced in limited\nlector's item in the years ahead.\nof the Party is deeply appreciated,\nSENTS\nLIBRARY\nLIBRARY\nFORD\nSTRUCK FOR\nREPUBLICAN\nThe Official\nONAL PARTY\n1975\nGER AUDRES GRORD OF\nRepub ican\ncontinu\ninformation\nSTATES\nParty\nsupport\nby one of the largest and foremost pri-\nMedal\nvate mints in the world, an independent,\npublicly owned corporation, not affiliated\nwith the U.S. Mint or any other govern-\nmental agency.\nGEP AWAY DEFORD THE\nYOUR 1975\nSUPPORT MEDAL\nSTATES\nWILL COME\nAPPROPRIATELY MOUNTED\nGERALD RECEINITED 2 FO PO STATES\nIN À DISTINCTIVE\nOF\nWith personal appreciation\nfor your generous support\nDESK STAND\nin 1975.\nGerald R. Ford\nAN EXCLUSIVI KEEPSAKE\nFOR THE REPUBLIC N PARTY'S\nSUPPORTERS\nWith personal appreciations\nYour Presentation Stand will be inscribed:\nfor your generous support\nAM\ntreas\nred heirl\nVIII\nin 1975.\nWith personal appreciation for\nthreet R Ford\nproudly\nyour generous support.\nof your ictive p\n-Gerald Ford\"\nin\nthe\nRepubil\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nRNC\nWASHINGTON\n(su\nVander\nDecember 30, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR\nTHE HONORABLE ANTONIN SCALIA\nASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL\nDEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nSUBJECT: Fund Raising by the National Republican\nCongressional Committee\nRegarding a subject which we discussed the other\nday, I am enclosing a duplicate of a letter sent\nto me by Chairman Guy Vander Jagt.\nP.W.B.\nPhilip W. Buchen\nCounsel to the President\nEnclosure\nCC: Barry Roth\nDEBAILO FORD LIBRARY\nWednesday 3/10/76\n9:35 Yesterday Mary Louise Smith called to talk with\n484-6700\nyou while your \"big\" meeting was going on.\nShe said that an Iowan who once ran for Congressman\nwas indicted for misuse of union funds; District Court\nJudge has discharged his probation and indicated no objection\nto restoration of his rights; Governor of Iowa has\nrecommended a pardon.\nMrs. Smith wanted to ask about\npardon procedures, etc.\nSince bothyyou and Ken were in the meeting, I told her I\nwould have the Pardon Attorney or someone in his office\ncall to explain the process.\nI checked this morning with Mrs. Smith's secretary and\nshe advises they called her back promptly and her questions\nwere answered -- she is most appreciative.\nTHE % . veng LIBRARY"
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