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    "title": "Rockefeller, Nelson - Confirmation Hearings: General (1)",
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    "ocrText": "The original documents are located in Box 29, folder \"Rockefeller, Nelson - Confirmation\nHearings: General (1)\" of the John Marsh 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 Gerald R. Ford donated to the United\nStates of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.\nWorks prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public\ndomain.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.\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.\nDigitized from Box 29 of The John Marsh Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library\nALBANY TIMES UNION - 9/15/66\nA State trooper dismissed two years ago for\ninsubordination said Wednesday that State Police had used\nillegal wiretaps \"for political advantage\" for Governor Rockefeller.\nHe said an investigator in the office of Superintendent\nArthur Cornelius had told him the State Police had 126 wiretaps\nin operation.\nThe accusation by John H. Donohue of Peekskill came at\na press conference in New York City called by Ellenville Democratic\nRepresentative Joseph Y. Resnick, who announced he planned to ask\nfor a law making all wiretapping illegal throughout the\nUnited States.\n\"I have information that the State Police of New York\nhave, indeed, been engaged in the illegal tapping of phones,\"\nResnick said. \"I am given to understand that even the wires of\nState Legislators have been tapped.\"\nHe said the only way the Federal Government can prevent\nmisuse of wiretapping is to make all taps illegal.\n\"That way the State Police, or anyone else for that\nmatter, will not be tempted to undertake illicit activities under\nthe guise of legal sanction.\"\n'SLANDER' CHARGED\nSuperintendent Cornelius characterized the statements\nas \"sla der\" a \"disservice to law enforcement\" and charged that\nthe Ellenville Congressman \"is more interested in publicity than\nthe truth. \"\nBERALD FORD LIBRARY\nA spokesman for the Governor's Office said that\nSuperintendent Cornelius answered the wiretapping charges more\nthan a month ago by claiming the statements were false. At\nthat time, the wiretap charge concerned Donohue's home telephone.\nThe spokesman added that any further comments should\ncome from Cornelius.\nResnick also called for an investigation by the House\nJudiciary Committee into the dismissal and \"harrassment\" of the\ntrooper and \"extensive\" illegal wiretapping carried on by the\nState Police.\nEX-TROOPER INTRODUCED\nResnick introduced former state trooper Donohue who he sai\nhad been \"cashiered, persecuted, and harrassed because he spoke\nup against an unfair system.\"\nDonohue said an investigator in the State Police\nSuperintendent's office had told him \"the State Police had 126\nillegal wiretaps to give Governor Rockefeller information for\npolitical advantage.\"\nDonohue declined to elaborate on his charges or to\nname the investigator. He said he would do so only in the\nCongressional probe called for by Resnick.\nDonohue said he was subject to many forms of pressure\nfrom the State Police, including having his home phone tapped after\nhe initiated law suits against Superintendent Cornelius charging\nGERALD FOND LIBRARY\nan unfair promotion system. He said he was offered deals,\nthreatened, confined to a mental hospital for a day, denied driving\nprivileges and generally harrassed during the four years of\nlitigation on the case.\nFollowing the charges made by Resnick and Donohue at\nWednesday's press conference, the superintendent issued a rebuttal\ncharacterizing the statements as \"slander.\"\n\"Congressman Resnick has again charged the New York\nState Police with the commission of a felony,' the superintendent\nsaid. \"In so doing he has slandered not only myself, but the\nnearly 2,800 members of the Division who are dedicated to the\nenforcement of law. \"\n\"Mr. Resnick's statement that an illegal wiretap was\nplaced on the home phone of former trooper Donohue by the State\nPolice is a repetition of a false charge he made August 15.\"\n\"He was advised at that time by letter that the State\nPolice 'did not tap the telephone of former trooper Donohue either\nwith or without a court order.\"\n\"I also/urged in the letter, \"Superintendent Cornelius\ncontinued, \"that if he had any evidence in his possession that the\nNew York State Police or any member has violated the law he should\npromptly turn this over to the appropriate District Attorney\nand to my office.\"\n\"I also pointed out that the effect of his accusation was\nto undermine public confidence in law enforcement and impede the\ndifficult task of law enforcement.\"\nFORD\n817\nPUBLICITY NOTED\n\"Mr Resnick at no time has communicated with me or anyone\nelse in authority at State Police Headquarters to ascertain the\nfacts in the matter. I myself conclude that he to more interested\nin publicity than in the truth. His actions in this matter are a\ndisservice to law enforcement and to the people of the State of\nNew York. I am sure they will offend the sensibilities of all\nfair-minded people. \"\nCornelius also pointed out that in his letter to Resnick\non 8-19, he said, \"To my knowledge and there has not been an illegal\ntelephone tap installed by the New York State police during my tenure\nas Superintendent, nor will there be.\"\nHe noted that Donohue was dismissed from the State Police\nafter a hearing and the entire proceedings were reviewed by\nthe appellate division of the Supreme Court which affirmed his\ndismissal.\"\nWiretapping is legal in New York State with a court order\nbut evidence gathered by wiretapping cannot be used in court.\nDonohue has a 1.5 million dollar lawsuit against the\nState Police and Cornelius in the Court of Claims scheduled to be\nheld in Poughkeepsie next month by Judge Dorothy Donaldson.\nGERALD FORD LIBRARY\nALBANY TIMES UNION - 9/15/66\nRoeley\nA State trooper dismissed two years ago for\ninsubordination said Wednesday that State Police had used\nillegal wiretaps \"for political advantage\" for Governor Rockefeller.\nHe said an investigator in the office of Superintendent\nArthur Cornelius had told him the State Police had 126 wiretaps\nin operation.\nThe accusation by John H. Donohue of Peekskill came at\na press conference in New York City called by Ellenville Democratic\nRepresentative Joseph Y. Resnick, who announced he planned to ask\nfor a law making all wiretapping illegal throughout the\nUnited States.\n\"I have information that the State Police of New York\nhave, indeed, been engaged in the illegal tapping of phones,\"\nResnick said. \"I am given to understand that even the wires of\nState Legislators have been tapped.\"\nHe said the only way the Federal Government can prevent\nmisuse of wiretapping is to make all taps illegal.\n\"That way the State Police, or anyone else for that\nmatter, will not be tempted to undertake illicit activities under\nthe guise of legal sanction.\"\n'SLANDER' CHARGED\nSuperintendent Cornelius characterized the statements\nas \"slander\" a \"disservice to law enforcement\" and charged that\nthe Ellenville Congressman \"is more interested in publicity than\nthe truth.\"\nDERALD FORD LIBRARY\nA spokesman for the Governor's Office said that\nSuperintendent Cornelius answered the wiretapping charges more\nthan a month ago by claiming the statements were false. At\nthat time, the wiretap charge concerned Donohue's home telephone.\nThe spokesman added that any further comments should\ncome from Cornelius.\nResnick also called for an investigation by the House\nJudiciary Committee into the dismissal and \"harrassment\" of the\ntrooper and \"extensive\" illegal wiretapping carried on by the\nState Police.\nEX-TROOPER INTRODUCED\nResnick introduced former state trooper Donohue who he sai\nhad been \"cashiered, persecuted, and harrassed because he spoke\nup against an unfair system.\"\nDonohue said an investigator in the State Police\nSuperintendent's office had told him \"the State Police had 126\nillegal wiretaps to give Governor Rockefeller information for\npolitical advantage.\"\nDonohue declined to elaborate on his charges or to\nname the investigator. He said he would do so only in the\nCongressional probe called for by Resnick.\nDonohue said he was subject to many forms of pressure\nfrom the State Police, including having his home phone tapped after\nhe initiated law suits against Superintendent Cornelius charging\nFORD is LIBRARY GERALD\nan unfair promotion system. He said he was offered deals,\nthreatened, confined to a mental hospital for a day, denied driving\nprivileges and generally harrassed during the four years of\nlitigation on the case.\nFollowing the charges made by Resnick and Donohue at\nWednesday's press conference, the superintendent issued a rebuttal\ncharacterizing the statements as \"slander.\"\n\"Congressman Resnick has again charged the New York\nState Police with the commission of a felony,\" the superintendent\nsaid. \"In so doing he has slandered not only myself, but the\nnearly 2,800 members of the Division who are dedicated to the\nenforcement of law.\"\n\"Mr. Resnick's statement that an illegal wiretap was\nplaced on the home phone of former trooper Donohue by the State\nPolice is a repetition of a false charge he made August 15.\"\n\"He was advised at that time by letter that the State\nPolice 'did not tap the telephone of former trooper Donohue either\nwith or without a court order.\"\n\"I also/urged in the letter, \"Superintendent Cornelius\ncontinued, \"that if he had any evidence in his possession that the\nNew York State Police or any member has violated the law he should\npromptly turn this over to the appropriate District Attorney\nand to my office.\"\n\"I also pointed out that the effect of his accusation was\nto undermine public confidence in law enforcement and impede the\ndifficult task of law enforcement.\"\nFORD LIBRARY &\nPUBLICITY NOTED\n\"Mr Resnick at no time has communicated with me or anyone\nelse in authority at State Police Headquarters to ascertain the\nfacts in the matter. I myself conclude that he is more interested\nin publicity than in the truth. His actions in this matter are a\ndisservice to law enforcement and to the people of the State of\nNew York. I am sure they will offend the sensibilities of all\nfair-minded people.\"\nCornelius also pointed out that in his letter to Resnick\non 8-19, he said, \"To my knowledge and there has not been an illegal\ntelephone tap installed by the New York State police during my tenure\nas Superintendent, nor will there be.\"\nHe noted that Donohue was dismissed from the State Police\nafter a hearing and the entire proceedings were reviewed by\nthe appellate division of the Supreme Court which affirmed his\ndismissal.\"\nWiretapping is legal in New York State with a court order\nbut evidence gathered by wiretapping cannot be used in court.\nDonohue has a 1.5 million dollar lawsuit against the\nState Police and Cornelius in the Court of Claims scheduled to be\nheld in Poughkeepsie next month by Judge Dorothy Donaldson.\nFORD & LIBRARY GERALD\n28\nteb\n173\n[Transcript of Nixon\n95 tape ]\n20\n[oval 865-14,\nP\nThe doctors say that the poor old gent had a tumor. The FBI\nRG460]\nsaid he had one.\nD He had Abe Fortas and Deke DeLoache backed up by some other\npeople in the Bureau and try to talk this doctor into examining\nthis guy to say the man had a brain tumor. He was very\n(unintelligible) ill, slightly eratic, but eager. This doctor\nwouldn't buy it.\nP\nThe doctor had never examined him before or anything.\nD\nNo.\nP\nThey were trying to set it up though, huh? What other kind\nof activities?\nD\nWell, as I say, I haven't probed Sullivan to the depths on this\nthing because I want to treat him at arm's length until he is\nsafe, because he has a world of information that may be available.\nP\nBut he says that what happened on the bugging thing. Who told\nwhat to whom again?\nD\nOn the '68 thing -- I was trying to track down the leaks. He\nsaid that the only place he could figure it coming from would\nbe one of a couple of sources he was aware of that had been\nsomewhat discovered publicly. He said that Hoover had told\nPatrick Coyne about the fact that this was done. Coyne had\ntold Rockefeller now Rockefeller had told Kissinger. I have\nREST\nnever run it any step beyond what Mr. Sullivan said there. The\nother thing is that when the records were unavailable for Mr.\nHoover all these logs, etc. Hoover tried to reconstruct them\nby going to the Washington Field Office and he made a pretty\ngood stir about what he was doing when he was trying to get\nFORD & LIBRARY GERAL the\n96\n21\nrecord and reconstruct it. He said that at that time we probably\nhit the grapevine in the Bureau that this had occurred. But\nthere is no evidence of it. The records show at the Department\nof Justice and the FBI that no such survelliance was ever conducted\nP\nShocking to me!\nD\nWhat the White House had from reporters in LIFE. The other\nperson who knows and is aware of it is Mark Felt, and we have\ntalked about Mark Felt before.\nP\nLet's face it. Suppose Felt comes out now and unwraps. What\ndoes it do to him?\nD\nHe can't do it.\nP\nHow about (unintelligible)? Who is going to hire him? Let's\nface it - the guy who goes out -- he couldn't do it unless he\nhad a guarantee from somebody like TIME Magazine who would say\nlook we will give you a job for life. Then what do they do?\nHe would go to a job at LIFE, and everyone would treat him like\na pariah. He is in a very dangerous situation., These guys\nyou know -- the informers. Look what it did to Chambers.\nChambers informed because he didn't give (expletive deleted).\nBut then one of the most brilliant writers according to Jim\nShepley we have ever seen in this country -- and I am not\nreferring to the Communist issue -- greatest writer of his\ntime, - about 30 years ago, probably TIME's best writer of the\ncentury -- they finished him. Either way, the informer is not\none in our society. Either way, that is the one thing people\ncan't survive. They say no civilized (characterization deleted)\ninforms, Hoover to Coyne to Nelson Rockefeller to Kissinger.\nBERALD FORD\n97\n22\nRight?\nD\nThat's right.\nP\nWhy Coyne tell it to Nelson Rockefeller? I have known\nCoyne for years. I haven't known him well, but he was a great\nfriend of one of my Administrative Assistants, Bob King, who\nused to be a Bureau head.\nD\nNow this is Sullivan's story I have no reason to know whether\nit is true, but I don't have any reason to doubt that it is true.\nP\nHoover told me, and he also told Mitchell personally that this\nhad happened.\nD\nI was talking the '68 incident that occurred. I wasn't referring\nto that now. When this Coyne, etc., this was the fact that\nnewsmen -- excuse me I thought you were making reference to\nthe fact that three years ago the White House had allegedly --\nP\nOh, sure, sure. That is not the same one.\nD\nOn the '68 incident all I have been able to find out is what\nyou told me that Hoover had told you, what he had told Mitchell.\nP\nYeah. Mitchell corroborates that, doesn't he?\nD\nKevin Phillips called Pat Buchanan the other day with a widbit\nthat Dick Whelan on the NSC staff has seen memoranda between\nthe NSC-and the FBI that the FBI had been instructed to put\nsurvelliance on Anna Chennault, the South Vietnamese Embassy\nand the Agnew plane. This note also said that Deke DeLoach\nwas the operative FBI officer on this.\nP\nThe Agnew plane? I think DeLoach's memory now is very very\nhazy. He doesn't remember anything.\nFORD is LIBRARY GERALD\nD\nI talked to Mitchell about this and he has talked to DeLoach.\n23\n98\nDeLoach has in his possession, and he has let Mitchell\nreview them, some of the files on this.\nP\nBut not --\nD\nBut they don't go very far; this is DeLoach protecting his\nown hide.\nP\nIt is just as well because we can't do anything with it.\nSo Hoover told Coyne, who told Rockefeller, that newsmen\nwere being bugged.\nD\nThat tickles you. That is right.\n₽\nWhy do you suppose they did that?\nD\nI haven't the foggiest idea. It is a Sullivan story as\nto where the leak might have come from about the current\nTime Magazine story, which we are stonewalling totally here.\nP\nOh, absolutely.\n(Material not related to Presidential action deleted)\nP\nWell, is this the year you are going to try to get out the\n'68 story?\nD\nWell, I think the threat of the '68 story when Scott and\nothers were arguing that the Committee up on the Hill broadened\nits mandate to include other elections. They were hinting around\nFORD i LIBRARY GERALD\n#6\nRoch filla Roch petta presental\nPARTICIPANTS\nExecutive\nThe President\nThe Secretary of the Treasury, William Simon\nChairman of Federal Reserve Board, Arthur Burns\nChairman of Council of Economic Advisers, Herbert Stein\nDirector of Office of Management and Budget, Roy Ash\nSenate\nJames Eastland cont-of.town) of tron)\nPresident Pro Tem\nMike Mansfield\nLeader\nHugh Scott\nLeader\nRobert Byrd\nWhip\nRobert Griffin\nWhip\nFrank Moss\nConference Secretary\nNorris Cotton\nConference Chairman\nHouse\nCarl Albert\nSpeaker\nThomas O'Neill\nLeader\nJohn Rhodes\nLeader\nJohn McFall\nWhip\nLes Arends\nWhip\nOlin Teague\nCaucus Chairman\nJohn Anderson (ill)\nConference Chairman\nStaff\nDean Burch\nRobert Hartmann\nJack Marsh\nAlexander Haig\nBill Seidman\nJerry terHorst\nKenneth Cole\nWilliam Timmons\nTom Korologos\nMax Friedersdorf\nBill Baroody\nKen Rush\nFORD is LIBRARY GERALD\n4\n*\n1)\nm\n#\n4\n#\nD\n4\n*\n7:4\n#\nOFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT\nWASHINGTON\nAugust 13, 1974\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD\nFROM:\nHoward Kerr\nAt 3:20 p.m. I took a call from Jo Wilson of the Senate office\nwho stated that she had just received a call from Bob Herrema,\nAdministrative Assistant to Senator Weicker. She then passed on\nto me the gist of Mr. Herrema's report to her.\nAt 3:35 p.m. Dr. Marrs called Mr. Herrema and informed\nhim that Jo Wilson had contacted this office and asked Mr. Herrema\nto repeat his story which is as follows:\nA Mr. H. A. Long called Senator Weicker's office asking to\nspeak to Senator Weicker or his Administrative Assistant. Mr. Herrema\nreturned his call this afternoon. Mr. Long stated that he was with\nHeritage Books and had a residence in Philadelphia and Washington.\nHe further stated that over the years he has become close friends with\na Mr. Hal O'Brien who is associated with American Services located\non Connecticut Avenue. Mr. Herrema states that Mr. 6.04.167\nhas\nadvised him that Howard Hunt's original papers are in storage either\nat Heritage Books or American Services. (On this last point\nMr. Herrema is not clear.) According to Mr. O'Brien there is\ninformation in these papers concerning Governor Rockefeller which\nis of a derogatory nature. These particular papers were alleged to\nhave been destroyed by Mr. Roy Shephard but apparently were not.\nMr. Herrema went on to state that it was his understanding\nthat Mr. Jaworski --through Hank Ruth--had signed a seizure order\nand that the FBI were taking custody of these papers today.\nrorn\nMr. Herrema stated that Mr. Long appeared to be rational,\nintelligent, and displayed none of the traits usually associated with\na crank call. Mr. Long told Bob Herrema that he called Senator\nWeicker because he felt Senator Weicker would see that something\nwas done about this matter. Bob Herrema asked that notwithstanding\nhis impression of Mr. Long that it could be a crank call, that it\ncould be someone \"trying to do Nelson Rockefeller in, \"or that\nhe could be legitimate.\nAt 3:45 p.m. Dr. Marrs called Mr. George Sanders of the\nFBI and passed on Mr. Herrema's story in its entirety. Mr. Sanders\nis checking out this information and will get back to this office.\nFORD\n2\nAugust 21, 1974\nMEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION\nPLACE: Mr. Marsh's Office\nWhite House\nDATE: August 21, 1974\nTIME: 3:00 p.m.\nSUBJECT: Contingency Plan for Support of Nelson Rockefeller\nPARTICIPANTS:\nMr. Philip Buchen\nDr. Theodore Marrs\nMr. William Casselman\nMr. Stan Ebaer, OMB\nMr. Art Sampson, Administrator, GSA\nMr. Harold S. Trimmer, General Counsel, GSA\nIn this meeting a contingency plan was developed to provide for\nsupport of Nelson Rockefeller. In essence, in this contingency plan he\nwould be serving as an Advisory to the President. This would provide\na legal basis for provision of space and personnel. Such a contingency\nplan is necessary since there is no provision in the 1963 Transition Act\nfor the support of a Vice President designate under the 25th Amendment.\nThe legal people present were of the opinion that this was an appropriate\nplan in the event that it was necessary to provide such support to Nelson\nRockefeller.\nThe legal background which permits the provision of Secret\nService protection is believed to cover the situation of Mr. Rockefeller.\nIt does, however, apparently require coordination with the appropriate\ncongressional representatives. Mr. Bill Casselman will follow through\non this point after involving Timmons and Simons.\nGERASE\nThe contingency plan described above will not be implemented\nwithout full consideration by Mr. Rockefeller, and there is an assumption\nthat he may want to provide his own office space and staff on a private\nbasis with the detailing of any essential White House staff to provide an\ninformational base.\nNo action will be taken without coordination with Mr. Hartmann,\nMr. Marsh and Mr. Buchen.\nGREATE FORD LIDNARY\nPrepared by: Theodore C. Marrs\nTCM:sc\nTHE NEW YORK TIMES, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1974\n6\nConnally' Author Doubts Rockefeller Sales Link\nBy LINDA CHARLTON\nLouis, said his only contact\nseller in Morrow's catalogue,\nSpecial to The New York Times\nwith Mr. Rockefeller had come\nachieving an advance sale of\net a Lincoln's Birthday Renuh\nabout 25 000 copies form book\nNovember 7, 1974\nNIR\nfile\nTO:\nJack Marsh\nFROM:\nJim Cannon Jun\nSUBJECT:\nConfirmation of the Designee for Vice President\nPursuant to the conversations which Bob Douglass\nand I had with you and Don Rumsfeld on Monday, November 4, 1974,\non how President Ford could be helpful in moving the\nconfirmation proceedings, we would suggest the following:\n1. President Ford has already talked with\nSenator Mansfield about moving ahead to a vote on\nconfirmation. We would request that President Ford\nalso telephone:\n-- Senator Byrd\n-- Senator Scott\n-- - Senator Cannon\n- - Speaker Albert\n-- Majority Leader Tip O'Neill\n-- Minority Leader John Rhodes\n-- Chairman Rodino\nWith these points --\na. The President sent up the nomination\non August 20, 1974.\nb. Two and one-half months for the investigations\nis plenty of time.\nC. The President knows what is in the FBI\nreport, the audits, and other investigations,\nand strongly supports his confirmation.\nd. Country has serious problems and the\nAdministration wants Rockefeller's help\nin solving these problems.\nFORD & LIBRARY QENALD\n-2-\ne. President asks that Senate (House)\nproceed promptly with hearings, get out\nyour Committee report, and bring it to the\nfloor for a vote.\n2. We suggest that the President follow up\nhis telephone calls with a November 9, 1974 letter which\nhe could make public for Sunday, November 10, 1974.\nis LIBRARY\nNovember 7, 1974\n≤\nTO:\nJack Marsh\nFROM:\nJim Cannon\nSUBJECT:\nConfirmation of the Designee for Vice President\nPursuant to the conversations which Bob Douglass\nand I had with you and Don Rumsfeld on Monday, November 4, 1974,\non how President Ford could be helpful in moving the\nconfirmation proceedings, we would suggest the following:\n1. President Ford has already talked with\nSenator Mansfield about moving ahead to a vote on\nconfirmation. We would request that President Ford\nalso telephone:\nMcFall\nfall\n-- Senator Byrd\nMe\nand\n-- Senator Scott\n-- Senator Cannon\n-- Speaker Albert\n-- Majority Leader Tip O'Neill\n-- Minority Leader John Rhodes\n-- Chairman Rodino\nWith these points --\na. The President sent up the nomination\non August 20, 1974.\nb. Two and one-half months for the investigations\nis plenty of time.\nC. The President knows what is in the FBI\nreport, the audits, and other investigations,\nand strongly supports his confirmation.\nd. Country has serious problems and the\nAdministration wants Rockefeller's help\nin solving these problems.\nFORD i LIBRARY GERALD\n-2-\ne. President asks that Senate (House)\nproceed promptly with hearings, get out\nyour Committee report, and bring it to the\nfloor for a vote.\n2. We suggest that the President follow up\nhis telephone calls with a November 9, 1974 letter which\nhe could make public for Sunday, November 10, 1974.\nFORD & LIBRARY AERALD\nnew york Times\nRockefeller\nnovember 8, 1974\nOn the\nP.C39\nSidelines\nBy James Reston\nFLASH\nFOR COMMCENTER USE ONLY\nUNCLAS\nPRECEDENCE\nCLASSIFICATION\nDEX\nFROM: JACK Marsh\nDAC\nGPS\nTO: military Aide For\nLDX 002\nPAGES 4\nTHE PRESIDENT\nTTY\nCITE\nINFO:\n(CAMP DAVID)\nDTG: 0916167\nRELEASED BY:\nTOR: 0916212\nEo\nSPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:\nTHE PRESIDENT IS WAITING FOR\nTHIS MEMORANDUM!\nSITUATION ROOM\nWHITE HOUSE\n'74 NOV 2: AM 11: 11:31 31\n778017\nWHCA FORM 8, 22 FEB 74\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nNovember 9, 1974\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nFROM:\nJACK MARSH\nThis is the Hartmann draft of the Rockefeller\nletter. I would appreciate your changes or your\napproval so that we can begin final preparation\nfor delivery.\nDear\n:\nI am writing to request your assistance and cooperation\nin carrying out the clear intention of the 25th Amendment to\nthe Constitution which we in the Congress proposed in 1965 and\nwhich became effective upon ratification by the Legislatures\nof 47 States in 1967.\nThe essence of the 25th Amendment, insofar as it pertains\nto a vacancy in the Office of the Vice President (Section 2),\nis that a prolonged vacancy in the second office of the Federal\nGovernment and the normal successor to the Presidency is unde-\nsirable as a matter of public policy. While the language of\nthis Constitutional amendment fixes no specific time limit on\nthe process of nomination and confirmation, I view it as implicit\nin the adoption of this section that vacancies be as brief as\nthe careful consideration of a nominee by the President and the\nCongress will permit.\nI therefore considered it my Constitutional duty, imme-\ndiately upon assuming the Office of the President, to place the\nhighest priority on submitting a nomination for the vacancy in\nthe Vice Presidency to the Congress. Within eleven days I sub-\nmitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives the name\nof Nelson A. Rockefeller of New York.\nIn contrast to this Congress' careful but expeditious\nconsideration over a period of eight weeks of my own nomination\nto be the Vice President, the only precedent in the use of the\n25th Amendment for this purpose, neither body has yet completed\n-2-\n(\nconsideration of the qualifications of my nominee. There is\npublic speculation that no final action will be taken by this\n93rd Congress before it adjourns sine die.\nThe Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate\ncommenced its hearings promptly on September 23 and I under-\nstand will resume them on November 13th, prior to the return\nof the Congress from its current recess. However, the hearings\nof the Committee on the Judiciary of the House have not yet even\nbegun.\nIn nominating Nelson Rockefeller for the vacancy in the\nOffice of the Vice President on August 20, 1974, almost 12 weeks\nago, after personal consultation with the leadership of the\nmajority and minority parties in both bodies of the Congress,\nI reached the considered conclusion that he was the best quali-\nfied person to fill this important office and the one who could\nbest assist me in working with the Congress to find practical\nsolutions to the many problems facing our country at home and\nabroad.\nIn accordance with the urgency implicit in the 25th Amend-\nment to the Constitution, I immediately authorized the Federal\nBureau of Investigation and all other Executive Agencies of the\nFederal Government to cooperate with the respective Committees\nof the House and Senate in their investigation of Governor\nRockefeller's qualifications and fitness to fill this office.\nThe nominee has stated his willingness to cooperate fully with\nthe cognizant committees in their preliminary studies, audits,\n(\n- 3 -\ninvestigations and inquiries.\nThe public information resulting from these investigations has\nmainly been concerned with Governor Rockefeller's personal wealth and\nhow he uses it. I have noted that over the past decade he has paid nearly\nhalf of his income in Federal, State and local taxes and some 30 percent\nof his total taxable income has been donated to charitable institutions.\nBut I feel the primary issue is not Governor Rockefeller's\npersonal wealth so much as his wealth of experience. He has served with\nfive Presidents in Federal positions and has administered the affairs of one\nof our most complex State Governments with demonstrated efficiency and\ncapacity for solving economic and social problems and with concern for\nthe rights and well-being of all its people.\nIn my judgment it is essential that this Congress give the\nhighest priority to completing the confirmation process mandated by\nthe Constitution when it returns from recess on November 18. The\nnational interest is not well served by a continued vacancy in the Vice\nPresidency and I remain firmly convinced that Governor Rockefeller is\neminently qualified for this office.\nTherefore, I respectfully request your assistance in expediting\nthose procedures for which the Congress is constitutionally responsible\nin order to ensure a final determination by both the Senate and the House\nof Representatives in the remaining days of the 93rd Congress.\nWith warm personal regards.\nSincerely,\nNovember 11, 1974\nDear Jim:\nAttached is the list of addressees and\nletter which President Ford delivered\nthis morning.\nSincerely,\nJohn O. Marsh, Jr.\nCounsellor to the President\nMr. James Cannon\nAssistant to the Chairman\nCommission on Critical Choices\nfor Americans\n22 West 55th Street\nNew York, New York 10019\nHJK:cmp\nFORD i LIBRA Group\nSenator Mike Mansfield\nDear Mike:\nSenator James O. Eastland\nDear Jim:\nSenator Robert C. Byrd\nDear Bob:\nSenator Hugh Scott\nDear Hugh:\nSenator Howard W. Cannon\nDear Mr. Chairman:\n(type two letters)\nDear Howard:\nSenator Marlow W. Cook\nDear Marlowr:ow:\nRepresentative Carl Albert\nDear Carl:\nRepresentative Thomas O'Neill, Jr.\nDear Tip:\nRepresentative John J. Rhodes\nDear John:\nRepresentative John J. McFall\nDear Jack:\nRepresentative Leslie C. Arends\nDear Les:\nRepresentative Edward Hutchinson\nDear Ed:\nSenator Robert P. Griffin\nDear Bob:\n.\nRepresentative Peter Rodino, Jr.\nDear Pete:\nFORD & LIBRAL 078838\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nNovember 11, 1974\nDear Mr. Chairman:\nI am writing to request your assistance and cooperation in\ncarrying out the clear intention of the 25th Amendment to the\nConstitution which we in the Congress proposed in 1965 and\nwhich became effective upon ratification by the Legislatures\nof 47 States in 1967.\nThe essence of the 25th5 Amendment, insofar as it pertains to\na vacancy in the Office of the Vice President (Section 2), is\nthat a prolonged vacancy in the second office of the Federal\nGovernment and the normal successor to the Presidency is un-\ndesirable as a matter of public policy. While the language\nof this Constitutional amendment fixes no specific time limit\non the process of nomination and confirmation, I view it as\nimplicit in the adoption of this section that vacancies be\nas brief as the careful consideration of a nominee by the\nPresident and the Congress will permit.\nI therefore considered it my Constitutional duty, immediately\nupon assuming the Office of the President, to place the high-\nest priority on submitting a nomination for the vacancy in\nthe Vice Presidency to the Congress. Within eleven days I\nsubmitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives the\nname of Nelson A. Rockefeller of New York.\nIn contrast to this Congress' careful but expeditious con-\nsideration over a period of eight weeks of my own nomination\nto be the Vice President, the only precedent in the use of\nthe 25th Amendment for this purpose, neither body has yet\ncompleted consideration of the qualifications of my nominee.\nThere is public speculation that no final action will be\ntaken by this 93rd Congress before it adjourns sine die.\nThe Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate com-\nmenced its hearings promptly on September 23 and I understand\nwill resume them on November 13th, prior to the return of the\nCongress from its current recess. However, the hearings of\nthe Committee on the Judiciary of the House have not yet even\nbegun.\nFORD VIBRARY\n2\nIn nominating Nelson Rockefeller for the vacancy in the Office\nof the Vice President on August 20, 1974, almost 12 weeks ago,\nafter personal consultation with the leadership of the majority\nand minority parties in both bodies of the Congress, I reached\nthe considered conclusion that he was the best qualified person\nto fill this important office and the one who could best assist\nme in working with the Congress to find practical solutions to\nthe many problems facing our country at home and abroad.\nIn accordance with the urgency implicit in the 25th Amendment\nto the Constitution, I immediately authorized the Federal Bureau\nof Investigation and all other Executive Agencies of the Federal\nGovernment to cooperate with the respective Committees of the\nHouse and Senate in their investigation of Governor Rockefeller's\nqualifications and fitness to fill this office. The nominee has\nstated his willingness to cooperate fully with the cognizant\ncommittees in their preliminary studies, audits, investigations\nand inquiries.\nGovernor Rockefeller has served with five Presidents in Federal\npositions and has administered the affairs of one of our most\ncomplex State Governments with demonstrated efficiency and ca-\npacity for solving economic and social problems and with concern\nfor the rights and well-being of all its people.\nIn my judgment it is essential that this Congress give the high-\nest priority to completing the confirmation process mandated by\nthe Constitution when it returns from recess on November 18.\nThe national interest is not well served by a continued vacancy\nin the Vice Presidency and I remain firmly convinced that\nGovernor Rockefeller is eminently qualified for this office.\nTherefore, I respectfully request your assistance in expediting\nthose procedures for which the Congress is constitutionally\nresponsible in order to ensure a final determination by both\nthe Senate and the House of Representatives in the remaining\ndays of the 93rd Congress.\nWith warm personal regards.\nSincerely, R.\nThe Honorable Howard W. Cannon\nFORDO is LIBRARY\nUnited States Senate\nWashington, D.C. 20510\nSenator Mike Mansfield\nDear Mike:\nSenator James O. Eastland\nDear Jim:\nSenator Robert C. Byrd\nDear Bob:\nSenator Hugh Scott\nDear Hugh:\nSenator Howard W. Cannon\nDear Mr. Chairman:\n(type two letters)\nDear Howard:\nSenator Marlow W. Cook\nRepresentative Carl Albert\nDear Carl:\nRepresentative Thomas O'Neill, Jr.\nDear Tip:\nRepresentative John J. Rhodes\nDear John:\nRepresentative John J. McFall\nDear Jack:\nRepresentative Leslie C. Arends\nDear Les:\nRepresentative Edward Hutchinson\nDear Ed:\nSenator Robert P. Griffin\nDear Bob:\nRepresentative Peter Rodino, Jr.\nDear Pete:\nFORD : LIBRARY\nDear\n:\nI am writing to request your assistance and cooperation\nin carrying out the clear intention of the 25th Amendment to\nthe Constitution which we in the Congress proposed in 1965 and\nwhich became effective upon ratification by the Legislatures\nof 47 States in 1967.\nThe essence of the 25th Amendment, insofar as it pertains\nto a vacancy in the Office of the Vice President (Section 2),\nis that a prolonged vacancy in the second office of the Federal\nGovernment and the normal successor to the Presidency is unde-\nsirable as a matter of public policy. While the language of\nthis Constitutional amendment fixes no specific time limit on\nthe process of nomination and confirmation, I view it as implicit\nin the adoption of this section that vacancies be as brief as\nthe careful consideration of a nominee by the President and the\nCongress will permit.\nI therefore considered it my Constitutional duty, imme-\ndiately upon assuming the Office of the President, to place the\nhighest priority on submitting a nomination for the vacancy in\nthe Vice Presidency to the Congress. Within eleven days I sub-\nmitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives the name\nof Nelson A. Rockefeller of New York.\nIn contrast to this Congress' careful but expeditious\nconsideration over a period of eight weeks of my own nomination\nto be the Vice President, the only precedent in the use of the\n25th Amendment for this purpose, neither body has yet completed\nFRED & LIBRARY\n-2-\nconsideration of the qualifications of my nominee. There is\npublic speculation that no final action will be taken by this\n93rd Congress before it adjourns sine die.\nThe Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate\ncommenced its hearings promptly on September 23 and I under-\nstand will resume them on November 13th, prior to the return\nof the Congress from its current recess. However, the hearings\nof the Committee on the Judiciary of the House have not yet even\nbegun.\nIn nominating Nelson Rockefeller for the vacancy in the\nOffice of the Vice President on August 20, 1974, almost 12 weeks\nago, after personal consultation with the leadership of the\nmajority and minority parties in both bodies of the Congress,\nI reached the considered conclusion that he was the best quali-\nfied person to fill this important office and the one who could\nbest assist me in working with the Congress to find practical\nsolutions to the many problems facing our country at home and\nabroad.\nIn accordance with the urgency implicit in the 25th Amend-\nment to the Constitution, I immediately authorized the Federal\nBureau of Investigation and all other Executive Agencies of the\nFederal Government to cooperate with the respective Committees\nof the House and Senate in their investigation of Governor\nRockefeller's qualifications and fitness to fill this office.\nThe nominee has stated his willingness to cooperate fully with\nthe cognizant committees in their preliminary studies, audits,\nFORD it LIBRARY\n- 3 -\ninvestigations and inquiries.\nThe public information resulting from these investigations has\nmainly been concerned with Governor Rockefeller's personal wealth and\nhow he uses it. I have noted that over the past decade he has paid nearly\nhalf of his income in Federal, State and local taxes and some 30 percent\nof his' total taxable income has been donated to charitable institutions.\nBut I feel'the primary issue is not Governor Rockefeller's\npersonal wealth somuchias/his wealth of experience. He has served withwith\nfive Presidents in Federal positions and has administered the affairs of one\nof our most complex State Governments with demonstrated efficiency and\ncapacity for solving economic and social problems and with concern for\nthe rights and well-being of all its people.\nIn my judgment it is essential that this Congress give the\nhighest priority to completing the confirmation process mandated by\nthe Constitution when it returns from recess on November 18. The\nnational interest is not well served by a continued vacancy in the Vice\nPresidency and I remain firmly convinced that Governor Rockefeller is\neminently qualified for this office.\nTherefore, I respectfully request your assistance in expediting\nthose procedures for which the Congress is constitutionally responsible\nin order to ensure a final determination by both the Senate and the House\nof Representatives in the remaining days of the 93rd Congress.\nWith warm personal regards.\nFORD & LIBRARY ORNALD\nSincerely,\n- 3 -\ninvestigations and inquiries.\nThe public information resulting from these investigations has\nmainly been concerned with Governor Rockefeller's personal wealth and\nhow he uses it. I have noted that over the past decade he has paid nearly\nhalf of his income in Federal, State and local taxes and some 30 percent\nof his total taxable income has been donated to charitable institutions.\nBut Ifeel the primary issue is not Governor Rockefeller's\nGovernor Rockefoller\npersonal wealth so much as his wealth of experience. He has served with\nfive Presidents in Federal positions and has administered the affairs of one\nof our most complex State Governments with demonstrated efficiency and\ncapacity for solving economic and social problems and with concern for\nthe rights and well-being of all its people.\nIn my judgment it is essential that this Congress give the\nhighest priority to completing the confirmation process mandated by\nthe Constitution when it returns from recess on November 18. The\nnational interest is not well served by a continued vacancy in the Vice\nPresidency and I remain firmly convinced that Governor Rockefeller is\neminently qualified for this office.\nTherefore, I respectfully request your assistance in expediting\nthose procedures for which the Congress is constitutionally responsible\nin order to ensure a final determination by both the Senate and the House\nof Representatives in the remaining days of the 93rd Congress.\nWith warm personal regards.\nFORD & LIBRARY SERALD\nSincerely,\n- 3 -\ninvestigations and inquiries.\nThe public information resulting from these investigations has\nmainly been concerned with Governor Rockefeller's personal wealth and\nhow he uses it. I have noted that over the past decade he has paid nearly\nhalf of his income in Federal, State and local taxes and some 30 percent\nof his total taxable income has been donated to charitable institutions.\nBut I feel the primary issue is not Governor Rockefeller's\npersonal wealth somuch.as his wealth of experience He has served with 1111\nfive Presidents in Federal positions and has administered the affairs of one\nof our most complex State Governments with demonstrated efficiency and\ncapacity for solving economic and social problems and with concern for\nthe rights and well-being of all its people.\nIn my judgment it is essential that this Congress give the\nhighest priority to completing the confirmation process mandated by\nthe Constitution when it returns from recess on November 18. The\nnational interest is not well served by a continued vacancy in the Vice\nPresidency and I remain firmly convinced that Governor Rockefeller is\neminently qualified for this office.\nTherefore, I respectfully request your assistance in expediting\nthose procedures for which the Congress is constitutionally responsible\nin order to ensure a final determination by both the Senate and the House\nof Representatives in the remaining days of the 93rd Congress.\nWith warm personal regards.\nFORD & LIBRARY SERVIC\nSincerely,\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\n11/9/74\nMr. Buchen:\nMessrs. Hartmann and Marsh\nhave cleared the attached.\nThe President also has a copy.\nMr. Marsh would like to have\nyour comments today -- they\nwant the letter to go out this\nweekend.\nJane\nFORD i LIBRARY GERALD\nDear\n:\nI am writing to request your assistance and cooperation\nin carrying out the clear intention of the 25th Amendment to\nthe Constitution which we in the Congress proposed in 1965 and\nwhich became effective upon ratification by the Legislatures\nof 47 States in 1967.\nThe essence of the 25th Amendment, insofar as it pertains\nto a vacancy in the Office of the Vice President (Section 2),\nis that a prolonged vacancy in the second office of the Federal\nGovernment and the normal successor to the Presidency is unde-\nsirable as a matter of public policy. While the language of\nthis Constitutional amendment fixes no specific time limit on\nthe process of nomination and confirmation, I view it as implicit\nin the adoption of this section that vacancies be as brief as\nthe careful consideration of a nominee by the President and the\nCongress will permit.\nI therefore considered it my Constitutional duty, imme-\ndiately upon assuming the Office of the President, to place the\nhighest priority on submitting a nomination for the vacancy in\nthe Vice Presidency to the Congress. Within eleven days I sub-\nmitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives the name\nof Nelson A. Rockefeller of New York.\nIn contrast to this Congress' careful but expeditious\nconsideration over a period of eight weeks of my own nomination\nto be the Vice President, the only precedent in the use of the\n25th Amendment for this purpose, neither body has yet completed\nLIBRARY CERALD R. FORD\n-2-\nconsideration of the qualifications of my nominee. There is\npublic speculation that no final action will be taken by this\n93rd Congress before it adjourns sine die.\nThe Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate\ncommenced its hearings promptly on September 23 and I under-\nstand will resume them on November 13th, prior to the return\nof the Congress from its current recess. However, the hearings\nof the Committee on the Judiciary of the House have not yet even\nbegungun.\nIn nominating Nelson Rockefeller for the vacancy in the\nOffice of the Vice President on August 20, 1974, almost 12 weeks\nago, after personal consultation with the leadership of the\nmajority and minority parties in both bodies of the Congress,\nI reached the considered conclusion that he was the best quali-\nfied person to fill this important office and the one who could\nbest assist me in working with the Congress to find practical\nsolutions to the many problems facing our country at home and\nabroad.\nIn accordance with the urgency implicit in the 25th Amend-\nment to the Constitution, I immediately authorized the Federal\nBureau of Investigation and all other Executive Agencies of the\nFederal Government to cooperate with the respective Committees\nof the House and Senate in their investigation of Governor\nRockefeller's qualifications and fitness to fill this office.\nThe nominee has stated his willingness to cooperate fully with\nthe cognizant committees in their preliminary studies,\nLIBRARY CERALD .\n3 -\ninvestigations and inquiries.\nGovernor Rockefeller has served with five Presidents in\nFederal positions and has administered the affairs of one of our most\ncomplex State Governments with demonstrated efficiency and capacity\nfor solving economic and social problems and with concern for the rights\nand well-being of all its people.\nIn my judgment it is essential that this Congress give the\nhighest priority to completing the confirmation process mandated by\nthe Constitution when it returns from recess on November 18. The\nnational interest is not well served by a continued vacancy in the Vice\nPresidency and I remain firmly convinced that Governor Rockefeller is\neminently qualified for this office.\nTherefore, I respectfully request your assistance in expediting\nthose procedures for which the Congress is constitutionally responsible\nin order to ensure a final determination by both the Senate and the House\nof Representatives in the remaining days of the 93rd Congress.\nWith warm personal regards.\nSincerely,\nLIBRARY GERALD : FORD\n3 -\ninvestigations and inquiries.\nGovernor Rockefeller has served with five Presidents in\nFederal positions and has administered the affairs of one of our most\ncomplex State Governments with demonstrated efficiency and capacity\nfor solving economic and social problems and with concern for the rights\nand well-being of all its people.\nIn my judgment it is essential that this Congress give the\nhighest priority to completing the confirmation process mandated by\nthe Constitution when it returns from recess on November 18. The\nnational interest is not well served by a continued vacancy in the Vice\nPresidency and I remain firmly convinced that Governor Rockefeller is\neminently qualified for this office.\nTherefore, I respectfully request your assistance in expediting\nthose procedures for which the Congress is constitutionally responsible\nin order to ensure a final determination by both the Senate and the House\nof Representatives in the remaining days of the 93rd Congress.\nWith warm personal regards.\nSincerely,\nLISAARY GERALD SERALD & FORD\n3 -\ninvestigations and inquiries.\nGovernor Rockefeller has served with five Presidents in\nFederal positions and has administered the affairs of one of our most\ncomplex State Governments with demonstrated efficiency and capacity\nfor solving economic and social problems and with concern for the rights\nand well-being of all its people.\nIn my judgment it is essential that this Congress give the\nhighest priority to completing the confirmation process mandated by\nthe Constitution when it returns from recess on November 18. The\nnational interest is not well served by a continued vacancy in the Vice\nPresidency and I remain firmly convinced that Governor Rockefeller is\neminently qualified for this office.\nTherefore, I respectfully request your assistance in expediting\nthose procedures for which the Congress is constitutionally responsible\nin order to ensure a final determination by both the Senate and the House\nof Representatives in the remaining days of the 93rd Congress.\nWith warm personal regards.\nSincerely,\nFORD & GLAVED LIBRARY\n- 3 -\ninvestigations and inquiries.\nThe public information resulting from these investigations has\nmainly been concerned with Governor Rockefeller's personal wealth and\nhow he uses it. I have noted that over the past decade he has paid nearly\nhalf of his income in ederal, State and local taxes and some 30 percent\nof his total taxable income has been donated to charitable institutions.\nBut Ifeel the primary issue is not Governor Rockefeller's\nGovernor Rockefoller\npersonal wealth so much as his wealth of experience. He has served with\nfive Presidents in Federal positions and has administered the affairs of one\nof our most complex State Governments with demonstrated efficiency and\ncapacity for solving economic and social problems and with concern for\nthe rights and well-being of all its people.\nIn my judgment it is essential that this Congress give the\nhighest priority to completing the confirmation process mandated by\nthe Constitution when it returns from recess on November 18. The\nnational interest is not well served by a continued vacancy in the Vice\nPresidency and I remain firmly convinced that Governor Rockefeller is\neminently qualified for this office.\nTherefore, I respectfully request your assistance in expediting\nthose procedures for which the Congress is constitutionally responsible\nin order to ensure a final determination by both the Senate and the House\nof Representatives in the remaining days of the 93rd Congress.\nWith warm personal regards.\nSERALD ? FORD\nSincerely,\nThe President\nThe White House\nNovember RiH 12, 1974\nWashington, D.C.\nDear Mr. President:\nI have your letter of yesterday urging my\nassistance in expediting the nomination procedures\nassociated with the selection of a new Vice President.\nCongress has failed to implement and expedite the\n25th Amendment to the Constitution, and I regret this\nvery much. Certainly, all relevant evidence should\nbe made available but there is also substantial\nevidence that Congress has fallen short of its\nresponsibility in expediting these hearings and other\nactions.\nIn reviewing the legislative history of the 25th\nAmendment, I have found ample references to the\nnecessity for filling presidential and vice presidential\nvacancies as quickly as possible. While the Floor\nmanager of the Amendment, Senator Bahy, said he \"could\nforesee the attempt to delay and stall the confirmation.\"\nSenator Ervin responded that patriotic and intelligent\nmembers of Congress who love their country \"will not\njeopardize their country by holding up the consideration\"\nof new leaders.\nGERALD FORD VIBRARY\nIt is my hope that the spirit of the 25th Amendment\ndisplayed in 1965 will be adhered to now as the Congress\ncontinues its consideration of a new Vice President.\nSincerely,\nHugh Scott\nFORD i 0788\nm\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nNovember 12, 1974\nMEMORANDUM FOR: WILLIAM E. TIMMONS\nTHROUGH:\nTOM KOROLOGOS\nFROM:\nPATRICK E. O'DONNELL\npoor\nSUBJECT:\nRockefeller Hearings\nSenate Rules Committee will conduct hearings on the Rockefeller nomination\ncommencing at 10:00 A.M. November 13. Present plans are for Governor\nRockefeller to testify all day Wednesday and for the following witnesses\nto testify on Thursday and Friday - in the general area of the Laskey\nbook and Rockefeller gifts:\nJohn Wells -- Attorney-Rogers and Wells\nRobert B. Orr - - Attorney-Upper Blackeddy, Pennsylvania\nDonald C. O'Brien, Jr. -- Attorney-Rockefeller Plaza, New York\nJohn E. Rockwood -- Attorney-New York City\nLaurence Rockefeller\nJ. Richardson Dilworth -- 30 Rockefeller Plaza-New York City\nNeil McCaffrey -- Publisher-Arlington House, New York City\nVictor Laskey\nArthur Goldberg\nWilliam J. Ronan Chairman-Port Authority of New York\nRobert B. Anderson -- Former Secretary of Treasury\nEmmett John Hughes -- Writer-Rutgers University\nFORD is 076839 LIBRASY\n- -2- -\nJames W. Gaynor -- Engineer-New Rochelle, New York\nEdmund J. Logue -- New York Urban Development Corporation\nUnknown spokesman -- Americans for Democratic Action\nI understand from Spoff Canfield a large demonstration is planned on the\nhill. I have detailed memo coming in that regard.\nHearings could continue after Friday but this decision has not yet been\nreached.\nFORD & GRANTS LIBRARY\nM\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nNovember 13, 1974\nMEMORANDUM FOR BILL TIMMONS\nFROM:\nTOM KOROLOGOS TK\nSUBJECT:\nSenator Pell\nYou asked about how Pell might go on the\nRockefeller nomination. He said in a press\nconference last week in Rhode Island \"I don't\nsee any reason as yet why I won't vote for\nhim.\"\nCC:\n& FORD LIBRABA\nNovember 13, 1974\nsend to marsh me.\nDear Mr. Chairman:\nA\nI would like to thank you for your November 12\nletter acknowledging the President's letter to\nyou about Nelson Reckefeller's confirmation\nhearings. I will be pleased to ... that the\nPresident receives it right away and I know\nthat he will be most grateful for your spirit of\ncooporation.\nWith kind regards,\nSincerely,\nMax L. Friedersderf\nDeputy Assistant\nto the President\nThe Nenerable Peter W. Redine, Jr.\nChairman\nCommittee on the Judiciary\nHouse of Representatives\nWashington, D.C. 20515\nw/dazoming to Bill Timmons - FYI\nMLF:EF:jk\nFORD & LIBRARY 038400\nNINETY-THIRD CONGRESS\nPETER W. RODINO, JR. (N.J.) CHAIRMAN\nHAROLD D. DONOHUE, MASS.\nEDWARD HUTCHINSON, MICH.\nJACK BROOKS, TEX.\nROBERT MC CLORY, ILL.\nGENERAL COUNSEL:\nROBERT W. KASTENMEIER, WIS.\nHENRY P. SMITH III, N.Y.\nJEROME M. ZEIFMAN\nDON EDWARDS, CALIF.\nCHARLES W. SANDMAN, JR., N.J.\nTOM RAILSBACK, ILL.\nCongress of the United States\nASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL:\nWILLIAM L. HUNGATE, MO.\nGARNER J. CLINE\nJOHN CONYERS, JR., MICH.\nCHARLES E. WIGGINS, CALIF.\nCOUNSEL:\nJOSHUA EILBERG, PA.\nDAVID W. DENNIS, IND.\nHAMILTON FISH, JR., N.Y.\nCommittee on the Judiciary\nHERBERT FUCHS\nJEROME R. WALDIE, CALIF.\nHERBERT E. HOFFMAN\nWALTER FLOWERS, ALA.\nWILEY MAYNE, IOWA\nWILLIAM P. SHATTUCK\nJAMES R. MANN, S.C.\nLAWRENCE J. HOGAN, MD.\nH. CHRISTOPHER NOLDE\nPAUL S. SARBANES, MD.\nM. CALDWELL BUTLER, VA.\nJOHN F. SEIBERLING, OHIO\nWILLIAM S. COHEN, MAINE\nHouse of Representatives\nALAN A. PARKER\nJAMES F. FALCO\nGEORGE E. DANIELSON, CALIF.\nTRENT LOTT, MISS.\nMAURICE A. BARBOZA\nROBERT F. DRINAN, MASS.\nHAROLD V. FROEHLICH, WIS.\nFRANKLIN G. POLK\nCHARLES B. RANGEL, N.Y.\nCARLOS J. MOORHEAD, CALIF.\nMashington, D.C. 20515\nTHOMAS E. MOONEY\nBARBARA JORDAN, TEX.\nJOSEPH J. MARAZITI, N.J.\nMICHAEL W. BLOMMER\nRAY THORNTON, ARK.\nDELBERT L. LATTA, OHIO\nALEXANDER B. COOK\nELIZABETH HOLTZMAN, N.Y.\nWAYNE OWENS, UTAH\nNovember 12, 1974\nCONSTANTINE J. GEKAS\nEDWARD MEZVINSKY, IOWA\nThe President\nThe White House\nBT\nDear Mr. President:\nI very much appreciate your letter of November 11, 1974,\nconcerning the nomination of Nelson A. Rockefeller to be Vice\nPresident.\nLet me assure you of my deep personal commitment to handling\nthis matter with both thoroughness and dispatch. Unfortunately,\nthe results of the Internal Revenue Service audit of the nominee's\nincome tax returns were not completed and made available to the\nCommittee until October 18th. As a result we were not able to\ncommence our hearings prior to the recess of the Congress for\nthe election period.\nImmediately after the election I advised Governor Rockefeller\nof my desire to commence the hearings on his nomination in the\nweek that the House of Representatives returned from the recess.\nYesterday, I informed Governor Rockefeller that the Committee\nhearings on his nomination would commence on November 21st.\nI am certain that the Committee on the Judiciary will act\nboth expeditiously and responsibly with respect to this matter.\nwarm record regard Sincerely,\nPetr\nPETER W. RODINO, JR.,\nChairman\nFUED & 078836\nPWR ZSS\nU.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES\nCOMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20515\nPeter W Rdeid\nM.C.\nOFFICIAL BUSINESS\nThe President\nThe White House\n\"\nTO JACK FUI MARSH-\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nBr\nNovember 13, 1974\nJomm\nM\nMEMORANDUM FOR DILL TIMMONS\nJom\nFROM:\nTOM KOROLOGOS TK\nSUBJECT:\nSenator Pell\nYou asked about how Pell might go on the\nRockefeller nomination. He said in a press\nconference last week in Rhode Island \"I don't\nsee any reason as yet why Iwon't vote for\nhim.\"\nCERRED\nFORD is LIBRARY CIVE\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nDate\nTO: JACK March\nTHRU: Bicc Timmonsfa\nFROM: Tom C. Korologosk\nFor your information\nNEWS\nfrom U.S. Senator HUGH SCOTT, Pennsylvania\nWashington, D.C. 20510\n(202) 225-6324\n10\nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n11/13/74\nSenator Hugh Scott (R-Pa.), Senate Republican Leader, sent\nthe following letter to the President today:\nGERALE 8. FORD\nDear Mr. President:\nI have your letter of yesterday urging my assistance\nin expediting the nomination procedures associated with\nthe selection of a new Vice President.\nCongress has failed to implement and expedite the\n25th Amendment to the Constitution, and I regret this\nvery much. Certainly, all relevant evidence should be\nmade available, but there is also substantial evidence\nthat Congress has fallen short of its responsibility in\nexpediting these hearings and other actions.\nIn reviewing the legislative history of the 25th\nAmendment, I have found ample references to the necessity\nfor filling presidential and vice presidential vacancies\nas quickly as possible. While the Senate Floor manager\nof the Amendment, Senator Birch Bayh, said he \"could fore-\nsee the attempt to delay and stall the confirmation,\"\nSenator Sam Ervin responded that patriotic and intelligent\nmembers of Congress who love their country \"will not\njeopardize their country by holding up the consideration\"\nof new leaders.\nIn the House of Representatives, then Chairman of the\nJudiciary Committee, Representative Emanuel Celler (who\nalso served as Floor manager of the Amendment), said, \"We\ndare not longer trifle with this situation by neglect. If\nthere is a vacancy, the vacancy must and should be filled.\"\nCongressman John Lindsay noted that a delay in the Senate\nwould put \"the monkey on the back of the Congress to do\nits job. The President does his job in the selection of\na proper person to fill the office of the Vice-Presidency,\nand then Congress must answer to the country if it does\nnot speedily perform its job.\"\nIt is my hope that the spirit of the 25th Amendment\ndisplayed in 1965 will be adhered to now as the Congress\ncontinues its consideration of a new Vice President.\nSincerely,\n/s/ Hugh Scott\nRepublican Leader\nNovember 14, 1974\nTOJACK PUI marsh-\nBT\nDear Mr. Chairmans\nI would like to thank you for your November 13\nletter acknowledging the President's letter to\nyou about Nelson Rockefeller's confirmation\nDr.\nhearings. I will be pleased to see that the\nPresident receives It right away, and I know\nthat he will be most grateful for your spirit of\ncooporation.\nWith warm regard,\nSincerely,\nTom\nTom C. Kereleges\nDeputy Assistant\nto the President\nThe Honorable Howard W. Casson\nChairman\nCommittee on Rules and Administration\nUnited States Senate\nWashington, D.C. 20510\nbee w/incoming to Bill Timmons - FYI\nTCK:EF:jk\nFORD : LIBRARY GERALD\nHOWARD W. CANNON, NEV., CHAIRMAN\nCLAIBORNE PELL, R.I.\nMARLOW W. COOK, KY.\nROBERT C. BYRD, W. VA.\nHUGH SCOTT, PA.\nJAMES B. ALLEN, ALA.\nROBERT P. GRIFFIN, MICH.\nHARRISON A. WILLIAMS, JR., N.J.\nMARK O. HATFIELD, OREG.\nWILLIAM WHORTER COCHRANE, STAFF DIRECTOR\nHUGH Q. ALEXANDER, CHIEF COUNSEL\nUnited States Senate\nJOSEPH E. O'LEARY, PROFESSIONAL STAFF\nMEMBER (MINORITY)\nCOMMITTEE ON\nRULES AND ADMINISTRATION\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20510\nNovember 13, 1974\nThe President\nThe White House\nWashington, D. C. 20500\nDear Mr. President:\nThis will respond to your letter of November 11\nwherein you respectfully urge that this Committee and\nthe Congress expedite the confirmation proceedings\nincident to the Vice Presidential nomination of Nelson\nA. Rockefeller, to ensure a final determination during\nthe 93rd Congress.\nLet me assure you most respectfully that it is\nmy purpose, as I will say in my opening statement at\nGovernor Rockefeller's hearings later this morning,\nthat \"this nomination should have the highest Congressional\npriority.\" Likewise, we know you will agree that full\nand appropriate consideration must be accorded to this\nprocedure, as your letter sets out.\nI feel most sincerely that our Committee on\nRules and Administration is meeting that test. Twenty-\nthree business days after this nomination was received\nin the Senate from you, our Committee began its hearings,\nalthough the final reports of the Federal Bureau of\nInvestigation were not received by me until November 4.\nAdditionally, our Committee's request for a complete\naccounting of Governor Rockefeller's campaign contributions\nwas not met until last Monday evening, November 11, at\n9 p.m., when this information was received. Likewise,\nthe voluminous report of the Joint Committee on Internal\nRevenue Taxation on the nominee's tax returns was not\ncompleted until October 23.\nFORDO is LIBRARY\n/\nThe President\nNovember 13, 1974\nPage Two\nTherefore, I felt it desirable to recite briefly\nthe above facts incident to our Committee's work. As\nI will reiterate at our hearings this morning, \"Our\ncountry deserves at the earliest possible time a\nsitting Vice President.\"\nI am hopeful that goal can be accomplished as\nexpeditiously as our Constitutional responsibilities\nwill permit. You will have my wholehearted cooperation.\nRespectfully yours,\nHOWARD W. CANNON\nChairman\nFORD is EIBRARY G7VBE\nTHE PRESIDENT\n1974 NOV 13 PM 3 44\nHAND T\nRECEP. AND SECURITY UNIT\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nUnited States Senate\nCOMMITTEE ON\nRULES AND ADMINISTRATION\nHoward W.bannon\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20510\nU.S.S.\nOFFICIAL BUSINESS\nA\nThe President\nThe White House\nWashington, D. C., 20500\nVIA RIDING PAGE\nNovember 15, 1974\nTo Jackmarch Jack marsh 74 Brt\nDear Johns\nI would like to thank you for your November 13\nletter acknowledging the President's letter to\nyou about Nelson Rockefeller's confirmation\nhearings. I will be pleased to see that the\nPresident receives it right away, and I know\nthat he will be most grateful for your spirit of\ncooporation.\nWith kind regards,\nSincerely,\nMax L Friederederf\nDeputy Assistant\nto the President\nThe Honorable John J. Rhodes\nMinority Leader\nHouse of Representatives\nWashington, D.C. 20515\nbec w/incoming to Bill Timmons - FYI\nMLF:EF:jk\nFORD is LIBRARY 078839\n11-15\nJOHN J. RHODES\nADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT\n1ST DISTRICT, ARIZONA\nALMA A. ALKIRE\nLEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT\nCOMMITTEE:\nRICHARD ROBERTS\nAPPROPRIATIONS\nCongress of the United States\nSECRETARIES:\nSUBCOMMITTEES:\nRITA M. DECENZO\nDEFENSE\nhouse of Representatives\nCLARA POSEY\nOLIVE RAY\nPUBLIC WORKS\nPERRIE 'LEE PROUTY\nLEGISLATIVE\nWashington, D.C. 20515\nCAROLYN J. JOHNSTON\nDISTRICT OFFICE:\n6040 FEDERAL BUILDING\nNovember 13, 1974\nPHOENIX, ARIZONA 85025\nROBERT J. SCANLAN\nLUCYLE VON DORN\nCECELIA STEWART\nBT\nThe President\nThe White House\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue\nWashington, D.C. 20500\nDear Mr. President:\nI agree wholeheartedly with your comments in your letter\nof November 11, concerning the confirmation of Nelson Rocke-\nfeller as Vice President of the United States.\nPlease be assured that I will do all I can to expedite\naction on the Vice President designate.\nI feel very strongly that this action must be taken by\nthe 93rd Congress and will do all in my power to see that this\nis given top priority.\nSincerely,\ngot\nrjs\nFORD & LIBRARY GERALD\nTHIS STATIONERY PRINTED ON PAPER MADE WITH RECYCLED FIBERS\nNovember 15, 1974\n2:25 p.m.\nMr. Marsh:\nWalter Mote just called and Commander\nKerr spoke to him.\nOn 3 and 4 December the House Republicans\nand Democaate will caucus and they would\nlike to know if on either of those days if\nNelson Rockefeller could have lunch with\nthem.\nBonnie\nFORD LIBRARY is GERALD"
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