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This file includes meeting minutes.
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1562895
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Congressional Leadership Meetings with the President - 1/16/75: Bipartisan
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1562895
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document
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Congressional Leadership Meetings with the President - 1/16/75: Bipartisan
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This file includes meeting minutes.
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John O. Marsh Files (Ford Administration)
John Marsh's General Subject Files
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Legislative liaison
Energy policy
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1975-01-01
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1975
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1975-01-01
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1975
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The original documents are located in Box 9, folder "Congressional Leadership Meetings
with the President - 1/16/75: Bipartisan" of the John Marsh 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 R. 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 9 of The John Marsh Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 16, 1975
Bipartisan Leadership Breakfast, 8:00 a.m., Thursday, January 16, 1975
Members Present:
Speaker, Mansfield, Scott, Bob Byrd, Griffin, Moss (Ted), Curtis, Marsh,
Hartmann, Loen, Vice President, Kendall, Friedersdorf, Rumsfeld, Burton,
McFall, Michael, Rhodes
Absent:
Anderson (foreign trip), O'Neill
The President thanked those present for their cooperation and gave very
brief summary of his views about yesterday's message. He urged them to move
forward to consider the program recognizing there would be differences.
Promised to cooperate with them.
Speaker Albert expressed his hope for cooperation by the Congress and
promised speedy consideration on the tax proposal which he hoped would be
to the President by 1 April. Cautioned the President about his veto promise
insofar as creation of public service employment.
Senator Mansfield echoed the same cooperative attitude and praised the
President's remarks including his Monday night address to the people He
pointed out that all recognized there would be differences but he felt there was
plenty of common ground for workable compromises.
from VORD LIBRAS
-2-
McFall indicated a concern about the President moving to the import levy
on 1 February as having an adverse impact in an inflation sense. The President
responded explaining the rationale for his proposal.
Byrd complemented the President's Message yesterday. Said it was a good
delivery and that he liked the tax rebate proposal in a general way but did not
agree with its across the board application.
Byrd commended the President's remarks in reference to foreign policy
questions and the expanding role of the Congress in reference to the same. Felt
the President's remarks were in order in this regard. He further pointed out that
he favored some form of gas rationing. He felt this should be given serious
consideration. He emphasized a need for coal research and requested a meeting
30m
HANDLE
with key people in the Administration handling this. The President recommended
that Bob Seamans of ERDA meet with Byrd. Byrd indicated a desire to have this
similar type meeting with House leaders. The final suggestion was that
Seamans would meet with Byrd, Moss and counterparts in the House.
Scott suggested that Congress should sense the American attitude and it
should be the Congress who should impose rationing.
The President stressed the need for (1) changing the auto emission
standards; (2) development of Elk Hills; (3) amendments to the Clean Air Act
to exploit further coal. The President stressed that these were three key proposals
that required legislative action.
-3-
Rhodes urged relaxation of standards on the use of coal and the speeding
of licensing of nuclear plants by necessary legislation.
Moss urged gas rationing with some type of a time trigger that would
either implement rationing or would take rationing off. He also said that we
should use the Selective Service Boards as administrative agents to handle
rationing.
Curtis warned that we should be carefull that the conversation program
does not impact adversely on our productivity. He pointed out that produc-
tion was what was needed and that conservation measures could affect produc-
tion of fertilizer and therefore food supplies.
The President urged deregulation of natural gas and indicated that this
might run counter to Harley Staggers' views.
Byrd felt that maybe Harley Staggers might go along with some possible
modified proposal on deregulation of natural gas.
Moss urged that we restrict natural gas and not permit it for use in
industrial boilers.
The President said that new gas unless it is deregulated will not leave
Texas or Louisiana and that it will cause the industry to move to that area of
the country. He pointed out that the Clean Air Act restricts the conversion
RICORD
program for coal.
-4-
McFall urges that we apply regulation to intra-state gas as well, or
at least look at it. He thinks that rather than full deregulation that we
should talk in terms of controlled deregulation.
Rhodes pointed out that gas is a commodity that will have to seek its
own level in the marketplace.
Byrd urged a modified approach on gas deregulation too. Byrd pointed
out that the electrical users are the ones that are hard hit by no gas which in
some instances require people to heat with electricity because gas is not available
in new home construction.
Moss pointed out that with this exclusive commodity that gas states are
engaged in a type of blackmail for the rest of the country. Several members
commented on remarks that Senator Long had made in reference to his views on
the monopoly that they enjoy on natural gas and how those who wanted it would
have to pay the price. (Senator Long was not present.)
The Vice President pointed out these problems impost an opportunity and
challenge and if we can lick them, we can assure the U.S. position at home and
abroad. It is an exciting time and one where we should bend our efforts and
energies to resolving these issues.
Griffin said the program really offers incentives for the development of
other fuels. He questions whether we should resort to a rationing program.
-5-
Scott urged that we move toward some deregulation.
Speaker and others indicated that they had to leave because of the
Democratic Caucus which would begin at 9: 30, and the breakfast meeting
adjourned at 9: 15.
FORD