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1535122
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1976/04/01 - Agricultural Policy Committee
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1535122
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document
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1976/04/01 - Agricultural Policy Committee
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James M. Cannon Files (Ford Administration)
James Cannon's Meetings Files
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1976-03-31
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1976
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1976-03-01
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 57, folder "1976/04/01 - Agricultural Policy
Committee" of the James M. Cannon Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 57 of the James M. Cannon Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 1, 1976
MEETING WITH THE AGRICULTURAL POLICY COMMITTEE
Thursday, April 1, 1976
3:00 p.m. (30 minutes)
The Cabinet Room
From: Jim Connor
I.
PURPOSE
To preside at the first meeting of the newly formed
Agricultural Policy Committee and to inform the
Committee of your desire to have Earl Butz in charge
of agricultural policy.
II.
BACKGROUND, PARTICIPANTS & PRESS PLAN
A. Background: In Springfield, Illinois, on March 5,
you announced in remarks to the Farm Forum that
you were asking Earl Butz to assume a new and
vital role in strengthening America's agricultural
policy-making within the executive branch by
serving as the chairman of the new Cabinet-level
agricultural committee that you created.
On March 11 you sent a memorandum to certain
members of the Cabinet and agency heads informing
them of the new Agricultural Policy Committee
and designating them as members (Tab A). This will
be your first meeting with the newly created group.
B. Participants: Tab B.
Staff: Jim Connor.
C. Press Plan: To be announced. Photo opportunity.
III.
TALKING POINTS
1. Last month I announced my reorganization of
agricultural policy making within the Administration
and created our new Agricultural Policy Committee, on
which each of you will serve. I have asked Earl
Butz to serve as chairman of this group.
FORD
2
2. The purpose of this committee is to consolidate
agricultural policy-making into one group within
the Administration, which will advise me on
the formulation, coordination, and implementation
of our food and agricultural policy.
3. I want to make it clear that the scope of the
committee includes both domestic and international
food and agricultural issues.
4. I've had some concern about our ability to expedite
rice and grain shipments under the P.L. 480 program.
One thing I want the committee to do is to review
our procedures under the 480 program to see if
we can't cut back on unnecessary paper work in
order to speed up purchase agreements under this
program.
5. Earl, why don't you tell us about your ideas
for the committee.
food
issue
deasended,
GERALD R. FORD
April 1, 1976
AGRICULTURAL POLICY COMMITTEE
meet
1. Membership
The Agricultural Policy Committee will include:
good
mrs
Secretary of Agriculture - Chairman
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Commerce
Assistant to the President for Economic Affairs
Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs
Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Special Representative for Trade Negotiations
Special Assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs
Executive Director of the Council on International
Economic Policy
2. Terms of Reference
The "Fact Sheet on Agricultural Policy-making Reorganization" states that:
This new Committee is being formed to consolidate agricultural
policy making into one group which will report directly to
the President and will advise him on the formulation, coordination
and implementation of all agricultural policy. The scope of the
Committee will include both domestic and international issues.
3. Executive Secretaries of Agricultural Policy Committee
There will be two Executive Secretaries of the Agricultural Policy
Committee:
*
An Executive Secretary for Farm Policy and International
Trade (Richard E. Bell, Assistant Secretary for International
Affairs and Commodity Programs)
*
An Executive Secretary for Economics and Economic Development
(Don Paarlberg, Director of Agricultural Economics)
4. Meetings
The Agricultural Policy Committee will meet regularly every two months
and may have special meetings at the call of the Chairman.
LILER
FORD
ALD
5. Agricultural Policy Working Group
An Agricultural Policy Working Group will provide the Agricultural
Policy Committee with staff assistance by monitoring agricultural
developments and preparing issue papers and other analyses. The
Working Group will be chaired by the Executive Secretaries of the
Agricultural Policy Committee and will include representatives of
the:
*
Department of Agriculture
*
Department of the Treasury
Department of State
*
Department of Commerce
*
Office of Management and Budget
*
Council on International Economic Policy
*
Domestic Council
National Security Council
*
Special Representative for Trade Negotiations
*
Council on Wage and Price Stability
Council for Economic Advisers
The Working Group will meet regularly once a month and may have
special meetings called by the Chairmen. It will meet at the
Department of Agriculture, in Room 218-A of the Administrative
Building.
6. Policy Issues. for Consideration
Policy issues that may be considered by the Agricultural Policy
Committee in the near future include such items as:
(a) Administration's: sugar policy
(b) Administration's policy concerning palm oil imports
(c) Level of grain sales to the Soviet Union
(d) Administration's meat import policy
(e) Administration's food-aid policy
(f) Administration's policy toward commodity agreements in
general (e.g., as it applies to UNCTAD and CIEC.)
GERALD