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    "title": "White House Leadership Meeting, 2/06/73",
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        "U.S. House of Representatives. 3/4/1789-",
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    "ocrText": "These documents were scanned from Box R33 of the Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\noffing\nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nFEBRUARY 6, 1973\nOFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nPRESS CONFERENCE\nOF\nSENATOR HUGH SCOTT\nAND\nCONGRESSMAN GERALD R. FORD\nGERALD FORD LIBRARY\nTHE BRIEFING ROOM\nAT 11:43 A.M. EST\nMR. ZIEGLER: The Leadership Meeting this morning\nbegan at 9:30 and ended at 11:15. As was our practice\nduring the first four years, Senator Scott and Congressman\nFord are here to brief you following the Republican Leadership\nMeeting, as we move into the early days of the second term.\nCongressman Ford will begin.\nCONGRESSMAN FORD: Thank you very much, Ron.\nThe substance of the briefing was primarily the\nbudget for 1973 and the actions that have been taken by the\nAdministration and the budget for '74. Inevitably we got\naround to the various latest proposals in the House, as\nwell as the Senate, to try and force the President to spend\nsome of the money that has been impounded, which brought\nup a bill that we are going to consider on the Floor of\nthe House tomorrow, a bill reported by the House Committee\non Agriculture, which seeks to force the President to spend\nsome $225 million in the so-called REAP program.\nThat is a program begun in the Depression days\nto help farmers with income and to stimulate certain\nconservation practices. Over the years, the program has\nchanged significantly, but nevertheless, it is one of those\nprograms that seems to go on and on and on, whether conditions\nor circumstances change. And this legislation we are going\nto fight.\nWe have a strong indication, if not a clearcut\nindication that this bill and others in the same category\nwill undoubtedly be vetoed by the President in order to\nmaintain the fiscal integrity in fiscal year 1973 on the\nbasis that when all of them are considered together, it\nwill be a budget busting program, which as the President\nhas said repeatedly would lead to more taxes or added\ninflationary pressure.\nAlthough this particular bill is only $225 million\nout of the some $8.7 billion held in reserve or impounded,\nwhen you add them all up they come to the total figure.\nMORE\n- 2 -\nAnd I would like to point out, as I believe Ron\nZiegler may have pointed out to you yesterday, that this\nAdministration, on a comparable basis with other previous\nAdministrations, has a better record of not withholding\nGERALD FORD VIBRARY\non a personal basis than the preceding Administration.\nAnd in this fiscal year thus far, some 3.5 percent\nhas been withheld and will be withheld under the President's\naction that he has taken and this compares favorably with the\nfive to six percent withheld by the previous Administration.\nI think we can sustain the vetoes even if we are\nunable to defeat the legislation, and I think the American\npeople will support both the President and the Congress\nin this action in sustaining the vetoes.\nSENATOR SCOTT: The President's budget is not\nonly responsible, it is responsive to the social needs of\nthe country, and demonstrably, the spending for these social\nneeds in just about every category runs far beyond any\nsuch spending in previous Administrations and often in the\nrange of 300 and 400 percent greater than in previous\nAdministrations.\nReferring to an issue such as impacted aid, I think\nit ought to be made clear that Montgomery County, Maryland,\nwhich is one of the richest counties in America, has been\nreceiving more funds long after the original premise of\nthe Act has been lost than the sum total of the 100 poorest\ncounties in the United States. So there has to be\na reevaluation of many programs to eliminate those which\nare not working or those which have not been working for\nthe purposes for which they were originally created.\nMy constituency constantly asks me, \"When are\nyou going to reshuffle the priorities? When are you going\nto turn the economy up and take a look at it and\nshake out the waste and the fat?\"\nThat is exactly what the President is determined\nto do. I believe there will be a very substantial number\nof vetoes and the issue will have to go to the country on\nwhether the people want taxes. If the Congress goes above\nthe $250 billion and the $269 billion for the two budgets,\nthe Congress will have to raise taxes, and it is as simple\nas that.\nI would like to add one other matter. At the\nend of the meeting the President referred very movingly\nand very feelingly to his meeting with the family of\nColonel Nolde. I will not go into details, except to\nsay that when he assesses his reaction to various suggestions\nin this country as to the alleged morality of the war,\nthat he is sustained by thoughts of Colonel Nolde and his\nfamily who made it clear that they were courageous and\nextremely understanding of the decisions which he had made,\nand those thoughts of Colonel Nolde and those like him who\ndied or who were wounded or prisoners, is a very sustaining\nthought.\nMORE\n- 3 -\nQ\nSenator Scott, did the President have any\ncomment on the Senate legislation which would require\napproval by the Senate of Mr. Ash's nomination?\nSENATOR SCOTT: Well, the Senate has already acted,\nas you know, and there was a brief comment to inquire as to\nGERALD FORD LIBRART\nwhat would happen in the House and I don't know whether\nRepresentative Ford made a comment on that or not. It is\nnot before the House yet, but it is the kind of thing that\nI would rather expect a veto if it comes down here, and\nI would also expect that a veto could be sustained.\nQ\nWhy would he veto that, Senator Scott?\nSENATOR SCOTT: He will give the reasons if he\ndecides to veto it, but the appointment is a personal\nappointment. It is an appointment under the Executive Office\nand it has not in the past required confirmation. Mr. Ash\nhas been sworn in and it would seem to me that this is\nat this point rather ex post facto.\nQ\nCould we ask Mr. Ford his reaction on it?\nCONGRESSMAN FORD: My impression is that the House\nwill pass it, but we can sustain a veto if one is forthcoming\nfor the reasons that Senator Scott gave. This has been\ntraditionally an office where the President made the appointment\nwithout the consent of the Senate.\nWhy a change now? The obvious answer is purely\none of politics.\nQ\nDid the President say what Messages he will\nsend to Congress this week?\nSENATOR SCOTT: No, he didn't refer to any special\nmessages. Helen, we got the impression that before long some\nMessages will be coming up, but I think in some cases they\nwill wait on legislation.\nQ\nSenator Scott, you said, I believe, there\nwill be a very substantial number of vetoes. Is your\nbelief based on a statement by the President? Did he\nspecifically say, \"If those bills come down, I will veto them.\"\nSENATOR SCOTT: The President did not make that\nspecific statement. There were statements made by various\npersons in the room as to the possibility of these various\nbills, speaking generally and collectively, being vetoed,\nand the President's statement was very clear, that he will\ntake what action is necessary to maintain the budget at\nthe responsible level that he has indicated in his public\nstatements and when it is necessary to do that, there\nwill be vetoes to accomplish the purpose.\nCONGRESSMAN FORD: I think the point was made and\nit seems to me very valid that of the bills that were vetoed\nat the end of the last session, the ones that were pocket\nvetoed, over a three-year period they would add either to\nappropriations or authorizations some $7 billion, and that in\nthe consideration of any individual veto, the total would\nhave to be considered, and that the President is not in favor\nof increasing taxes to that extent; therefore, he has an\nobligation to consider the $7 billion in that context.\nMORE\n- 4 -\nIf the House and the Senate want to seek to pass\nlegislation and perhaps override his vetoes in this\nGERALD FORD LIBRANT\n$7 billion category, they have to take the consequences\nwhich would be an additional tax increase.\nSENATOR SCOTT: Let me add there, in Mr. Ash's\nexposition of the budget in his pamphlets and what he has\nsaid to the Senate Republican Conference, he made it clear\nthat by the time of the '75 budget, if all of these excesses\nare locked in, there would be a further deficit of the\ndifference between about $288 billion and $312 billion.\nQ\nI believe you said this was a responsive\nbudget, responsive to the social needs of the county. This\nbudget cuts back on education and summer jobs and water\nand sewer, many things, so would you please tell us where\nit is responsive to the social needs of the country?\nCONGRESSMAN FORD: Let me answer in reference to\neducation.\nI asked the question categorically because we have\nhad complaints from educators that this program is being\nreduced or terminated, et cetera. The facts are that under\nspecial revenue sharing for education, there is more money\nin the special revenue sharing for education than if you\ntook all of the categorical grants for education that are\nallegedly discontinued or cut back.\nSo, when you look at the education appropriation\nin total, there is more in the '74 budget than was in\na comparable '74 budget if you used the categorical grant\napproach.\nSENATOR SCOTT: Sarah, reading the budget is a\nvery difficult exercise, but if you will look at the budget,\nyou will find that the charges made that these cuts are\nbringing the items down below what used to be done, or\nbelow what the needs are, you will see that is not justified\nin the budget statements.\nAnd on education, you will note that the emphasis\nis being shifted over a period of time from aid to\ninstitutions, purely, to aid to the students, so that there\nwill be gradually more and more assistance to the people who\nneed it and I think the parents of this country are going\nto be glad to see that students will be getting more of the\nmoney and some of the professors who write essays for $600\neach, may be getting a little less.\nQ\nHave you made up your mind what position you\nwill take on the Ervin Resolution and was that discussed\nthis morning?\nSENATOR SCOTT: That will be discussed at the\nRepublican Conference beginning at 12:30. I should not say\nanything before that. I will submit the question to the\nConference, on the question of their reactions to the\nErvin Resolution. If passed, we will, of course, nominate\nthe two members of the minority to serve.\nMORE\n-- 5 -\nGERALD FORD LIBRARY\nI rather think that the majority has the votes\nto pass it. The minority may or may not interpose any\nobjection. They may offer amendments. They may not. The\nonly concern I personally have at the moment, and other\ninformation will come right after the Conference, is that\nthe committee does not have to report until February, 1974.\nI would think that they could probably get a report in\nearlier than that. They ought to be able to satisfy the\npressures of the curious sooner than that. I don't see why\nthey have to sit on it for 12 months.\nQ\nWhat is the President's position on that?\nSENATOR SCOTT: It was not discussed at all.\nQ\nSenator, would it be desirable for Congressional\nrepresentation at the Paris peace conference on Vietnam and\nwas that discussed?\nSENATOR SCOTT: That was not discussed. I think\nthat is a matter for the Executive to decide whether he\nwishes Congressional representation at this point or perhaps\nat some later point.\nQ\nHow about the trip to Hanoi by Dr. Kissinger?\nApparently there is some move to take along a Congressional\ndelegation.\nSENATOR SCOTT: Neither of us has been made aware\nof that at all. If Dr. Kissinger were to call up and invite\nus, we would consult our schedule, but nothing has happened.\nQ\nDid you discuss at all the President's approach\nto reconstruction aid to Indochina, particularly Vietnam?\nSENATOR SCOTT: No, this was mostly on domestic\nissues this morning, except a summary of the President's\nregarding the Nolde family.\nQ\nWhat is your assessment for getting reconstruction\naid to Hanoi through the House?\nCONGRESSMAN FORD: Since the President hasn't\nasked for it and Henry Kissinger hasn't indicated there is\nanything pending, we haven't discussed it as far as any\nHouse membership is concerned.\nQ\nDo you personally think you could get it?\nCONGRESSMAN FORD: I haven't given it much thought,\nbecause we aren't faced with that problem. The House better\npass and the Senate, too, the existing Foreign Aid bill\nwhich is just about due to run out this fiscal year and\nthat is a matter of immediate attention. And it ought to\nbe passed and I think the Congress ought to be condemned\nfor not finishing its business before we adjourned last fall.\nQ Senator Scott, in connection with the President's\ndiscussion with the Nolde family and other matters in regard\nto amnesty, as I gather came up in that context, do you\nagree that the price that must be paid by draft resisters\nis a criminal penalty?\nMORE\n- 6 -\nSENATOR SCOTT: Criminal penalties were not\ndiscussed per se in the meeting. The question of amnesty\nGERALD FORD LIBRARY\nonly arose in general discussions having to do with the\nterms of those residents in Canada, for example, who would\nexpect to come back upon the assumption that the war is\nimmoral and they wish that to be recognized as a part of\ntheir forgiveness or forgetfulness.\nI recall the story of President Lincoln, who\nhas not been quite fully remembered in this regard, when\na soldier in that war returned who was a deserter and he had\na messenger appear at the White House door who asked for\namnesty. President Lincoln's reply was he would be granted\namnesty if he would serve in prison the number of days that\nhe was absent from the armed forces.\nI think that represents what President Lincoln\nreally thought about it. I myself am not going to comment\non criminal penalties. I think, however, that we cannot\naccept deserters or draft dodgers back on any premise that\nthe war is immoral, because then we would be denouncing\nand belittling and demeaning the deaths of all those who\nhave been lost in Vietnam and we would have allegedly reached\nthe conclusion that they died in an immoral cause and I would\nmyself reject that.\nQ\nYou say then that they died for a moral cause?\nSENATOR SCOTT: I would say they died loyal and\nfaithful to their country and to their country's decisions\nand that is the highest duty to serve.\nQ\nYou are not answering the same premise.\nSENATOR SCOTT: I think everyone of us has his\nown judgment on a moral cause. It seemed to me that\nPresident Kennedy went into this war from the highest moral\nas well as political motivations and I am not going to\nderogate from President Kennedy's motives.\nQ Could I ask Congressman Ford his position on\nwhether or not the price to be paid must be a criminal penalty?\nCONGRESSMAN FORD: That is what the law says at\nthe present time and whether there should be any change that\nis a matter for subsequent Congresses or the President to\nmake a decision on. But I would agree generally with Senator\nScott that the judgment, as of now, is that you don't downgrade\nthe 2,500,000 who served in Vietnam by changing the status\nof those who decided to leave the country and to violate the\nlaw.\nSENATOR SCOTT: Some of those who ran away and\ncowered in foreign seclusion would, under the law of averages,\nprobably have died in Southeast Asia. Someone else died\nfor them and this is pretty hard to forget or to forgive.\nQ\nDo you reject completely the concept that some\nof them could serve their country in another capacity now?\nMORE\n- 7 -\nGE3ALO FORD\nSENATOR SCOTT: That will come up in legislation.\nI don't reject it completely. I simply say the law\npresently inflicts a criminal penalty. If the Congress\nwishes to change that, we can consider it, but so far as\nthose who were AWOL are concerned, I would vote against\ndispensing with the criminal penalty if they are found guilty\nupon their return.\nQ\nIn a philosophical way, would you say those\nwho had fled Hitler in Germany should have been condemned?\nSENATOR SCOTT: No, I think it is entirely\ndifferent, Helen. You are assuming this is a Hitletarian\nAmerica and I have to reject that.\nQ\nI reject that, too.\nSENATOR SCOTT: Of course, there is not the slightest\nanalogy. The people who fled Hilter's Germany fled from\nan oppressive situation, from a tyrant and dictator who was\nkilling them and their relatives. This has not been, and\nI hope to God never will be the situation in America.\nThose who fled in America, fled to avoid military\nservice or set themselves up in moral judgment against\nthe laws of the country and their demand on return is that\nwe shall accept their moral judgments, thereby denouncing\nthe moral judgments of those who served and fought and died.\nIt is as simple as that to me and I think the first household\ndoor you knock on you will get the same reaction from\nvirtually every family in America.\nQ\nSenator Scott and Congressman Ford, do you\nexpect the Administration to submit new legislation on this\nmatter of amnesty or do you understand they are relying on\npresent law?\nCONGRESSMAN FORD: I know of no proposal and\neverything I have heard indicates that any discussion of it\nis premature.\nQ\nDo you know when the first POWs will return\nto America?\nCONGRESSMAN FORD: It wasn't discussed this morning.\nSENATOR SCOTT: I have been informed -- I do not\nknow whether it is accurate -- that the anti-militant war\nprotestors are now moving to a campaign for amnesty. I think,\nfirst of all, that ought to wait on the return of the prisoners\nof war.\nSecond, I hope it will be given its proper evaluation\nin the media, fairly reported, fully reported, but not out\nof proportion to those who died and those who suffered. Some\nbalance should be struck and I am sure it will be and that\nis why I made the statement.\nTHE PRESS: Thank you, gentlemen.\nEND\n(AT 12:05 P.M. EST)\nsend to the\nPresident next\ntime GRF goes FORD\nGERALD LIBRARY R. GERALD R.\n1/6/43\nGave the to for\nJanuary 30, 1973\nTo action.\nMiss Becky Johnson\n1019 Hamilton\nGrand Rapids, Michigan 49504\nDear Becky:\nThank you for writing me and sending me your message about\npeace. I know that the President is thinking about all the\nboys and girls of America as he works to stop the war and\nbring about a peace that will last. He needs all our prayers\nand I will give him your message.\nWith kind regards,\nGerald R. Ford, M. C.\nGRF:rn\nGERALD R. LIBRARY FORD\nHIGHLIGHTS OF HOUSE ACTION, JANUARY 26, 1973 THROUGH FEBRUARY 5, 1973\nFriday, January 26, 1973\nGERALD FORD LIBRARY\nVIETNAM WAR\nBy a voice vote, the House agreed to H. J. Res. 246, providing for\na moment of prayer and thanksgiving and a National Day of Prayer\nand Thanksgiving.\nTuesday, January 30, 1973\nFLOOD INSURANCE\nBy a voice vote, the House passed S. J. Res. 26, to increase the\nthe limitation on the face amount of flood insurance coverage au-\nthorized to be outstanding, clearing the measure for the President.\nMonday, February 5, 1973\nSUSPENSION (One Bill)\nThe House voted to suspend the rules and pass the following bill:\nHighway Beautification: H. J. Res. 123, Highway Beautification\nCommission amendment (passed by a roll call vote of 283 yeas\nto 40 nays).\nPROGRAM AHEAD\nWednesday, February 7, 1973\nH. R. 2107 - To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out\na rural environmental assistance program.\nTHE LINCOLN'S DAY RECESS WILL BE FROM THE CONCLUSION OF BUSINESS ON\nFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9 UNTIL NOON, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19.\n# # #\nHOUSE ACTION, PERIOD JANUARY 26, 1973 THROUGH\nGERALO FORD LIBRARY\nFriday, January 26, 1973\nJOINT COMMITTEE ON ATOMIC ENERGY\nThe Speaker appointed as House members of the Joint Committee on\nAtomic Energy, the following: Representatives Holifield, Price\nof Illinois, Young of Texas, Roncalio of Wyoming, McCormack,\nHosmer, Anderson of Illinois, Hansen of Idaho, and Lujan.\nVIETNAM WAR\nBy a voice vote, the House agreed to H. J. Res. 246, providing for\na moment of prayer and thanksgiving and a National Day of Prayer\nand Thanksgiving.\nPRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE -- REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. 1\nThe House received and read a message from the President transmitting\nto Congress Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1973--referred to the Com-\nmittee on Government Operations. (H. Doc. 93-43).\nMonday, January 29, 1973\nPRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE -- BUDGET\nThe House received and read a message from the President submitting\nthe proposed budget of the United States for the fiscal year be-\nginning July 1, 1973; estimated budget expenditures were $268.6 billion;\nestimated budget receipts were $256 billion. The message was referred\nto the Committee on Appropriations. (H. Doc. 93-15)\nTuesday, January 30, 1973\nFLOOD INSURANCE\nBy a voice vote, the House passed S. J. Res. 26, to increase the\nlimitation on the face amount of flood insurance coverage authorized\nto be outstanding, clearing the measure for the President.\nWednesday, January 31, 1973\nHOUSE COMMITTEES\nRULE\nBy a record vote of 238 yeas to 135 nays, the House agreed to H. Res.\n176, providing for one hour of general debate. By a record vote of\n205 yeas to 167 nays the previous question was ordered on the rule.\n(MORE)\n-2-\nGERALD FORD LIBRARY\nWednesday, January 31, 1973 (continued)\nPASSAGE\nBy a record vote of 282 yeas to 91 nays, the House agreed to H. Res.\n132, to create a select committee to study the operation and im-\nplementation of rules X and XI of the Rules of the House of Repre-\nsentatives.\nSubsequently, the Speaker appointed the following Members to serve\non the select committee: Representatives Bolling, chairman,\nStephens, Culver, Meeds, Sarbanes, Martin of Nebraska, Frelinghuysen,\nWiggins, Steiger of Wisconsin, and Young of Florida.\nPRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE--ECONOMIC REPORT\nThe House received and read a message from the President transmitting\nthe Economic Report of the President and the Annual Report of the\nCouncil on Economic Advisers--referred to the Joint Economic Com-\nmittee. (H. Doc. 93-28)\nThursday, February 1, 1973\nJOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE\nThe Speaker appointed as Members of the Joint Economic Committee on\nthe part of the House the following: Representatives Patman, Bolling,\nReuss, Griffiths, Moorhead, Carey of New York, Widnall, Conable,\nBrown of Ohio, and Blackburn.\nNO LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS\nMonday, February 5, 1973\nSUSPENSION (One Bill)\nThe House voted to suspend the rules and pass the following bill:\nHighway Beautification: H. J. Res. 123, Highway Beautification\nCommission amendment (passed by a roll call vote of 283 yeas\nto 40 nays).\nPROGRAM AHEAD\nNO ANNOUNCED LEGISL ATIVE PROCRAM FOR TUESDAY, FEB 6.\nTuesday, February 6, 1973\nNO ANNOUNCED LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM\nWednesday, February 7, 1973\nH.R. 2107 - To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out\na rural environmental assistance program.\n# # #\nFORD\nGERALD\nLIBRARY\nGENERAL JOHN C. MEYER\nGeneral John C. Meyer is Commander in Chief of the Strategic Air Command\nand Director, Joint Strategic Target Planning. Staff, Offutt Air Force Base,\nNebraska. SAC is the long-range strike force of the United States comprised\nof a mixture of combat aircraft and intercontinental ballistic missiles. The\nJoint Strategic Target Planning Staff is a specialized Joint Staff which\ndevelops and maintains key war plans for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.\nGeneral Meyer graduated from Dartmouth College with a B. A. degree in\nPolitical Geography. After several flying assignments he led his fighter\nsquadron into combat during World War II in the European Theater of\noperations and became the leading American Ace in Europe, with a total\nof 37 1/2 aircraft destroyed in the air and on the ground.\nFollowing World War II, General Meyer was selected as the Secretary of\nthe Air Force's principal point of contact with the U.S. House of Representa-\ntives. From there he went to Korea as Commander of a jet fighter group\nand personally destroyed two Communist MIG-15 aircraft bringing his total\nof enemy aircraft destroyed to 39 1/2.\nAfter graduating from the Air War College, General Meyer was retained as\nan instructor of Future Military Strategy. After other assignments, he\ncommanded the 12th Tactical Air Force and worked closely with Army\nForces in the Western United States in developing Joint Logistics to close\nair support training. In February of 1966 he was assigned to the organization\nof the Joint Chiefs of Staff and in May of 1967 became the Director of\nOperations of that staff. Later he was promoted to four star rank and served\nas the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. On May 1, 1972 he became the\nCommander in Chief of SAC, an exercised command of B-52 Forces during\nthe bombing campaign of late December.\nHis military decorations include three Distinquished Service Crosses, this\ncountry's second highest award for valor. General Meyer is married to the\nformer Mary Moore, a former Naval Lieutenant. He and Mrs. Meyer have\nfive children.\nBiography\n10RD it LIBRARY GERALD\nUNITED STATES AIR FORCE\nSECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE\nAV 991-4291\nOFFICE OF INFORMATION\nAREA CODE 202/574-4291\nCOMMAND SERVICES UNIT\nBOLLING AFB, D.C. 20332\nGENERAL JOHN C. MEYER\nGeneral John C. Meyer is Commander in Chief of the\nStrategic Air Command and Director, Joint Strategic\nTarget Planning Staff, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebr. SAC\nis the long-range strike force of the United States\ncomprised of a mixture of combat aircraft and inter-\ncontinental ballistic missiles.\nGeneral Meyer, born in Brooklyn, N.Y., attended\nschools in the New York City area and graduated from\nDartmouth College with a bachelor of arts degree in\npolitical geography. He enlisted in the Air Corps in\nNovember 1939. In July 1940 he was commissioned a second\nlieutenant and awarded his pilot wings.\nAfter several flying assignments, he commanded the\n487th Fighter Squadron in the 352d Fighter Group, a part\nof the Eighth Air Force. He led the squadron into combat during World War II\nin the European Theater of Operations and participated in several of the major\ncampaigns, including Ardennes-Alsace, Northern France, and Rhineland. By\nNovember 1944, while serving as Deputy Commander, 352d Fighter Group, he had\nbecome the leading American Ace in Europe with a total of 37½ aircraft destroyed\nin the air or on the ground. He completed 200 combat missions and 462 combat\nflying hours.\nFollowing World War II, General Meyer served in a variety of assignments\nwhich led to his selection in 1948 as the Secretary of the Air Force's prin-\ncipal point of contact with the U.S. House of Representatives. General Meyer\nthen returned to a tactical unit in August 1950 when he assumed command of the\n4th Fighter Group at New Castle, Del. He deployed his F-86 group to Korea and\nparticipated in the First United Nations Counteroffensive and Chinese Communist\nForces Spring Offensive campaigns. He completed 31 combat sorties and destroyed\ntwo communist MIG-15 aircraft, bringing his total of enemy aircraft destroyed\nto 39½.\nGeneral Meyer, after a tour of duty as Director of Operations for Air\nDefense Command and Continental Air Defense Command, graduated from the Air\nWar College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in June 1956, and was retained as\nan instructor at the College. He was then assigned to the Strategic Air\nCommand where he commanded air divisions in the northeast United States.\nOVER\n(Current as of June 1, 1972)\n(Local reproduction authorized)\nFORD LIBRARY & CERALD\nIn July 1962 he was assigned to the Headquarters of the Strategic Air Command\n(SAC) at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebr., as the Deputy Director of Plans. While\nassigned to SAC, he also served as the Commander's representative to the Joint\nStrategic Target Planning Staff, a specialized joint staff which develops and\nmaintains key war plans for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.\nIn November 1963 General Meyer became the Commander of the Tactical Air\nCommand's Twelfth Air Force with headquarters at Waco, Tex. Twelfth Air Force\nprovided forces for joint logistic and close air support training with Army\nforces stationed in the western half of the United States.\nIn February 1966 he was assigned to the Organization of the Joint Chiefs\nof Staff where he served first as Deputy Director then Vice Director of the\nJoint Staff. In May 1967 he became the Director of Operations on the Joint\nStaff.\nHe was then selected to be the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States\nAir Force, and assumed those duties in August 1969. He served as the Vice\nChief of Staff through April 1972. On May 1, 1972, he became the seventh\nCommander in Chief of the Strategic Air Command.\nGeneral Meyer's military career has included a broad variety of assign-\nments. He has held operational jobs in air defense interceptors, tactical\nfighters and strategic bombers. He has also been a key member of the Joint\nStaff, the Headquarters U.S. Air Force staff, and the Strategic Air Command\nstaff. He has been called upon to command major tactical and strategic units,\nand is now the Commander of the Strategic Air Command.\nHis military decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross with two\noak leaf clusters, Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster,\nSilver Star with one oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying\nCross with six oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 14 oak leaf clusters, Croix\nde Guerre with palm (France), and Croix de Guerre with palm (Belgium).\nGeneral Meyer is married to the former Mary Moore of Fort Lee, N.J. He\nand Mrs. Meyer have five children: M. Christine Mesh, John C. Jr., Michael A.,\nMargaret D., and Martha.\n-30-\nPERSONAL FACT SHEET\nA. Personal Data\n1. Born - Apr. 3, 1919, Brooklyn, N.Y.; father - August H. Meyer\n(deceased); mother - Florence G. Meyer.\n2. Married - Apr. 4, 1945; wife - Mary Moore Meyer; children -\nM. Christine, John C. Jr., Michael A., Margaret D., and Martha.\nR.\nFORD\nB. Education\nGERALD\nLIBRARY\n1. Graduate, Mercersburg Academy, Mercersburg, Pa., 1937.\n2. Graduate, Flying Schools, Randolph & Kelly Flds., Tex., 1940.\n3. Graduate, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., B.A., 1948.\n4. Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., 1956.\nC. Service\n1. Nov 1939 July 1940 Student, Primary, Basic & Advanced Flying\nSchools, Randolph & Kelly Flds., Tex.\n2. Aug 1940 June 1941 Instr., Basic Flying School, Randolph Fld.,\nTex., and Gunter Fld., Ala.\n3. July 1941 - Jan 1942 Ftr. cont. & plt., 33d Pursuit Sq., Iceland.\n4. Jan 1942 Sept 1942 Flt. Comdr., 33d Ftr. Wg., ETO.\n5. Sept 1942 Nov 1942 Instr. Plt., 98th Ftr. Sq., Tampa, Fla.\n6. Dec 1942 June 1943 Comdr., 34th Ftr. Sq., Westover Fld., Mass.,\n& later La Guardia Fld. and Mitchel Fld., N.Y.\n7. July 1943 Nov 1944 Comdr., 487th Ftr. Sq., ETO.\n8. Nov 1944 Feb 1945 Dep. Comdr., 352d Ftr. Gp., ETO.\n9. Feb 1945 July 1945 Dir., 1st Ftr. Comd., Gunnery School,\nSuffolk County AAF, N.Y.\n10. July 1945 Dec 1945 Dep. Air Base Comdr., 135th AAFBU,\nMillville, N.J.\n11. Dec 1945 Apr 1946 Dep. Asst. CofS, A-4, 102d AAFBU & later\nAsst. to Asst. CofS, A-2, 100th AAFBU, Mitchel Fld., N.Y.\n12. Apr 1946 May 1946 Asst. CofS, A-3, 300th AAFBU, Tampa, Fla.\n13. May 1946 Sept 1946 Ops. Ofcr., 312th AAFBU, March Fld., Calif.\n14. Sept 1946 Feb 1948 Student, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H.\n15. Feb 1948 July 1950 USAF Liaison Ofcr., House of Representatives,\n& later Asst. House Liaison Ofcr., OSAF, Washington, D.C.\n16. Aug 1950 June 1951 Comdr., 4th Ftr. Int. Gp., New Castle Co.\nArpt., Del., later Korea & Japan.\n17. June 1951 - Dec 1951 Exec. Ofcr. & later Dep. Comdr., 101st Ftr.\nInt. Wg., Grenier AFB, N.H., later Larson AFB, Wash.\n18. Jan 1952 Mar 1952 Dep. Comdr., 4703d Def. Wg., Larson AFB, Wash.\n19. Mar 1952 June 1955 Dir. of Ops. & Tng., DCS/Ops., ADC, Ent AFB,\nColo.\nOVER\n20. June 1955 - June 1956 Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.\n21. July 1956 - June 1959 Faculty Member, Air War College, Maxwell\nAFB, Ala.\n22. June 1959 - Sept 1961 Comdr., 57th Air Div., Westover AFB, Mass.\n23. Sept 1961 - July 1962 Comdr., 45th Air Div., Loring AFB, Maine.\n&\nFORD\n24. July 1962 - Oct 1963 Dep. Dir. of Plans, Directorate of Plans\nSAC, Offutt AFB, Nebr.\nGERALD\n25. Nov 1963 - Jan 1966 Comdr., 12th Air Force, Waco, Tex.\nLIBRARY\n26. Feb 1966 - Dec 1966 Dep. Dir., The Joint Staff, OJCS, Washington,\nD.C.\n27. Jan 1967 - May 1967 Vice Dir., The Joint Staff, OJCS, Washington,\nD.C.\n28. May 1967 - Aug 1969 Dir. for Operations, J-3, The Joint Staff,\nOJCS, Washington, D.C.\n29. Aug 1969 - Apr 1972 Vice CofS, USAF, Washington, D.C.\n30. May 1972 - Present Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command,\nand Director, Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebr.\nD. Decorations and Service Awards\nDistinguished Service Cross\nEuropean-African-Middle Eastern\nw/2 oak leaf clusters\nCampaign Medal w/5 service stars\nDistinguished Service Medal\nWorld War II Victory Medal\nw/1 oak leaf cluster\nNational Defense Service Medal\nSilver Star w/1 oak leaf cluster\nw/1 service star\nLegion of Merit\nKorean Service Medal w/3 service\nDistinguished Flying Cross\nstars\nw/6 oak leaf clusters\nAir Force Longevity Service Award\nAir Medal w/14 oak leaf clusters\nRibbon w/5 oak leaf clusters\nArmy Commendation Medal\nCroix de Guerre w/palm (France)\nPurple Heart\nCroix de Guerre w/palm (Belgium)\nDistinguished Unit Citation Emblem\nUnited Nations Service Medal\nw/4 oak leaf clusters\nSmall Arms Expert Marksmanship\nAmerican Defense Service Medal\nRibbon\nw/1 service star\nAmerican Campaign Medal\nE. Effective Dates of Promotions\nGrade\nTemporary\nPermanent\n2d Lt\nJuly 26, 1940\n1st Lt\nOct 24, 1941\nJuly 5, 1946\nCapt\nJan 21, 1943\nMaj\nSept 2, 1943\nSept 3, 1948\nLt Col\nApr 18, 1944\nJuly 12, 1951\nCol\nJan 19, 1951\nJuly 1, 1958\nBrig Gen\nAug 1, 1959\nJan 30, 1962\nMaj Gen\nApr 1, 1963\nFeb 27, 1964\nLt Gen\nJune 12, 1967\nGen\nAug 1, 1969\n(Date of Rank July 31, 1969)\nEND"
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