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White House - Congressional Leadership Meeting, 1/28/69 (includes minutes, Ford notes, Hartmann notes)
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1550965
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White House - Congressional Leadership Meeting, 1/28/69 (includes minutes, Ford notes, Hartmann notes)
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Robert T. Hartmann Papers
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These documents were scanned from Box 106 of the Robert T. Hartmann Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP AGENDA
January 28, 1969
8:30-8:40 a. m.
I.
Upcoming Congressional Activities
8:40-9:10 a. m.
II.
Executive Actions
a. Interest increase, FHA mortgages
b. Surplus Federal properties for municipalities
C. Amendments to Johnson budget
9:10-9:40 a.m.
III.
Legislation
a. Legislative-Executive pay increase - status
b. Re-enactment of Reorganization Act
C. Formulation of legislative program
d. Anti-crime programs
9:40-9:50 a.m.
IV.
Statement for Press Conference
9:50-10:00 a.m.
V.
Photographs
LIBRARY GERALD ? FORD
DIARY OF WHITE HOUSE LEADERSHIP MEETINGS -- 91st CONGRESS
January 28, 1969
Foreword: (The following digest is based upon pencil notes
taken casually at the first meeting of the new President
with the Joint House-Senate Leadership in the Cabinet Room
in the White House. Not until the following day was I
advised by Ford that I had been named Secretary to the
onit
House Republican Leadership and was to serve in that capac-
ity in addition to my capacity as Secretary of the House
Republican Conference. He said that one of the functions
of the new post would be to keep minutes of White House
Leadership meetings. Because I was not apprised prior to the
meeting, these minutes must be interpreted as incomplete and
imprecise.)
Personal Note: I left my home in Annandale at 7:15, antici-
pating that the trip through traffic would consume 55 or 60
minutes. I arrived at the White House, was told where to
park my car and invited into the South Entrance. Someone
took my hat and coat, another grabbed me by the arm and led
me to the elevator and as I exited from the elevator, still
another person took me by the arm, opened a door to a room
which was not familiar to me and ushered me suddenly into the
presence of the President, the Vice-Prosident, the Senate
girlt
Republican Leader, the House Republican Leader and Bryce
Harlow. I hope all present could see how embarrassed I was
and thus understood that I was an innocent interloper. The
President shook hands and invited me to have breakfast. I
replied that I had already had breakfast and wanted nothing
to ent. He ordered coffee and asked me to have a seat at the
table beside Dirksen. I recall little about the conversation
which continued some 45 minutes until 8:30, except Ramsey
Clark's charge that RMN had broken his word when he withdrew
the 5 judicial nominations. RMN pointed out that he had said
specifically that some of the names withdrawn would be
resubmitted to the Senate and suggested that the one in whom
President Johnson was most interested might properly be
renominated. All agreed that this was Barefoot Sanders.
Cecil Poole's name was also raised. I said that I had come
FORD
BERALD
LIBRARY
2
to know him as a Member of the Advisory Committee to the
National Commission on Reform of the Federal Criminal
Laws of which I am privileged to be Vice-Chairman. I said
that while Poole's approach is decidedly liberal, he is an
able and articulate advocate, extremely knowledgeable in
the field of criminal justice, very faithful in attendance
to his duties on the Committee and commands a good deal of
support in many circles. Senator Dirksen said that Senator
Murphy was very much opposed to Mr. Poole on the strength of
some information he had received from California attorneys.
RMN indicated that he would likely name another aspirant to
this berth.
...
Begin
The meeting assembled at 8:40 in the Cabinet Room. RMN
presented the following agenda:
8:30-8:40 a.m.
I. Upcoming Congressional Activities
8:40-9:10 a.m.
II. Executive Actions
a. Interest increase, FHA
mortgages
b. Surplus Federal properties
for municipalities
C. Amendments to Johnson budget
9:10-9:40 a.m.
III. Legislation
a. Legislative-lixecutive pay
increase - status
b. Re-enactment of Reorganization
Act
C. Formulation of legislative
program
d. Anti-crime programs
9:40-9:50 a.m.
IV. Statement for Press Conference
9:50-10:00 a.m.
V. Photographs
TORD i LABRARY
3
RMN said that after the legislative machinery begins to
function, these Leadership meetings will be held weekly
on Tuesday mornings, beginning at 8:30 a.m. He plans,
tentatively for February 18, a bipartisan Leadership meet-
ing at the White House and possibly other such meetings
later in the year. In attendance at these meetings will
be only those members of the Leadership selected by Dirksen
and Ford in negotiation with Harlow. There will be a
Congressional Reception in two parts on February 19 and 20 - -
no white tie. Later, RMN will hold White House meetings with
ranking Minority Members of committees and appropriate
members of the Cabinet.
Romney explained why HUD increased interest ceilings on
FHA mortgages. Burns emphasized that it was the interest
ceiling and not the interest market that was raised. The
purpose was to prevent the leakage of available investment funds
away from housing.
Agnew discussed a program to attack poverty by municipalities
using surplus federal property for instructional, recrea-
tional and other purposes. He mentioned as an example the
Brooklyn Navy Yard and indicated that Congressman Coller is
planning such legislation with respect to that facility.
Legislation is necessary for the sale of any federal property
for less than fair market value. There are presently about 24
such propertics available. RMN asked if the program could not
be broadened to include depressed rural areas. Agnew replied
in the affirmative. Cramer reminded the President that EDA
was expiring this year and would have to be extended and that
the Democrats are trying to steal a march in the pollution
abatement program. RMN said that the Administration needs
to do something different and decisive in the poverty field
and said that this approach would appeal to the country because
it avoids a waste of facilities now standing idle and returns
them to the tax rolls of the localities and at the same time
provides jobs.
Budget Director Mayo reported that he is taking a "fishy-eyed
look" at the priority lists being submitted by agency heads.
He said that there will be no major surgery on the FY69 budget,
but that special efforts would be made to make reductions in
the FY70 budget. Dirksen asked if this could be said publicly.
4
Mayo said yes. RMN interjected to say that it might be
better to say that we are making a major effort to reduce
the FY69 budget, but that it is difficult to perform major
surgery on a carry-over budget without endangering the future
of the patient. He said further that it is important to
emphasize the need to keep the budget under control and
spending limited in order to dampen the fires of inflation,
but that we must examine every need and every proposal in
order to fix a sensible scale of priorities. Mayo said that
he was pleased with a recent conversation he held with George
Mahon and was convinced that he intended to be cooperative.
Ford discussed the resolution to disapprove the executive
and Congressional pay raise. The 30-day time limit for
Congressional veto expires February 13, and so far the
Democrats have not organized any committees. Republicans
completed committee appointments on Monday. Until committees
are organized, the Rules Committee is reluctant to consider
a rule to discharge the House Post Office and Civil Service
Committee from further consideration of the disapproval
resolution Dirksen said that he intended to defend the
Kappel Commission and the President's Report. Scott said
he would support Dirksen. Allott took the position that the
procedure established in the 1966 act utilizing a commission
was an abdication of Congressional responsibility. He also
objected to the imbalance between pay levels for Members of
Congress and those for Members of the Supreme Court. Mayo
said the cost was $35 million. Mayo said that it would be
best not to revise the personnel ceiling immosed during the
last administration but to plan to live under it. He said
further that there would be no effort to present 1 completely
new budget document to the Congress. Ford said that the cost
of the raise called for by President Johnson would be only
$31 or $32 million. RMN said while there was no logical
justification for the differentiation between the Supreme
Court salary and Congressional salaries on the basis of time
and work performed, his experience with the recruitment program
to staff the new Administration shows the need to increase
salaries to levels more commarable to those in industry,
RMN
said that it would be necessary to send a message to Congress,
probably this week, asking for re-enactment of the Reorganization
Act on the theory that 1 new President should have the same
opportunity as the old President to put the house of the
Federal Establishment in order.
5
Burns, Counselor to the President, explained his plan to
formulate an overall legislative program. He said that he
was drawing upon the GOP Platform, Nixon pronouncements
during the campaign, Task Force recommendations, letters
and telephone calls from Members of Congress and Members
of the Cabinet. However, he emphasized that his staff is
sifting all recommendations and trying to bring them into
accord with the President's general political philosophy.
Agnew discussed the need to gain the initiative in a
program of oceanography and marine development, including
development of costal zones, deep sea mineralogy and ecology,
offshore oil exploration and extractions, etc.
RMN is still considering the advisability of a formal State
of the Union message. The decision will vill not be made
until he has discussed it further with the Leadership.
Mitchell made a comprehensive report of the need for prompt
action in the anti-crime field for the District of Columbia.
He said that in the field of law enforcement, the basic
tools are the criminal laws already on the state statute
books and the chief federal function is to help upgrade local
law enforcement through the mechanism of the LEA. The
District of Columbia needs to be made a showcase of enlightened
law enforcement. In that regard, he said that the Department
of Justice would deal with the function of law enforcement
and leave principal responsibility for social problems to
other departments. He cautioned against the indiscriminate
use of military troops in the District, except as a last
resort, in order to avoid the image of a national police
apparatus. He focused upon personnel as the primary problem.
The Judicial Conference has requested 67 new judges in the
nation at large, and Mitchell will recommend several new judges
for the District. Recruitment procedures must be upgraded.
Court procedures must be streamlined. The quality of defense
must be improved and the Department might consider an enlarge-
ment of the public defender office in the District of Columbia.
He said that an intermediate Appellate Court system might be
erected to take the strain off the Circuit Court of Appeals.
Correctional institutions are in bad shape. He mentioned
particularly Lorton and suggested that this facility might be
incorporated in the U. S. Prison System. In response to
questions from Bill Cramer, Mitchell said that they would use
6
the wiretap authority granted in last year's omnibus crime
bill, that he would support reform of the Bail Reform Act
of 1966 and that he would support the concept of a minimum
mandatory penalty for the use of a firearm in the commission
of a federal felony. He said that leadership must be brought
to bear to increase citizen involvement in the war against
crime and that nerhans the Citizen Crime Commission in the
District of Columbia could be assisted under LEA.
RMN said that it would be necessary to ask for additional
money for crime control but that the most important thing
was to instill a new attitude and a new determination to make
certain that justice is indeed swift, fair and effective.
P.S. The Leadership accompanied the President to the Rose
Garden, where his staff made a presentation of a
beautiful 6-months old Irish Setter.
GREATED B. FORD LIBRAST
Determined to be an
5/19/2010
CONF IDENTIAL
Administrative Marking
While my notes are still warm, I am setting down some of the items discussed at
FORD
the meeting today (Dec. 16) which may require further action or argument by you. CERALE
RTH
LIBRARY
Bryce announced that RN will meet Demo. legislative leaders during week of Jan. 27.
During week of Feb. 3, RN expects to meet with ranking @6B members of committees, in
separate House and Senate groups. Receptions for new members of House and Senate were
set for week of Feb. 10, but this was advanced to week of Feb. 17 when someone raised
question of Lincoln Day recess.
RN said he wants Members of Congress to get to know his Cabinet choices, especially
John Mitchell and "that Agriculture fellow.' Suggested they meet with Senate GOP
Policy luncheon on Jan. 7. GRF raised question of inviting them to Conference bkfst.
RN suggested 6 bkfsts with 2 Cabinet members at each. Wilson suggested dividing up
Cabinet officials at tables with Members of their cognizant committees, or other
special interest in their departments. No firm decision reached on House procedure.
COMMENT: RN idea good except in double billing one will always outshine the other.
As to Wilson's idea, who's going to assign tables? Committee members will get to know
their Cabinet guy soon enough -- it's actually other MCs that need to get acquainted
with them at the take-off. I think each Cabinet chief should get his own breakfast, to
which whole Conference is invited. At one per week this would take until April; at two
per week it could be finished in February, if we started right off Jan. 3.
RN introduced John Whitaker (sp?) who will be Secty. to the Cabinet, not yet announced.
Bryce said Eisenhower practice of White House leadership meetings would be followed;
almost every Tuesday morning, 8:30 to 10 a.m. and said ideal number would be not more
than 3 or 4 from each body. RN said attendance by his staff people would be limited
to Harlow and his 2 assistants for legis. liaison plus Herb Klein, and that other WH
staff would not attend except to give presentations. GRF said he thought as many of
the Congressional leadership as practicable should take part because their special
contacts needed to round up Demo. votes, etc. RN added that, of course, ranking GOP
members will be added when subject matter warrants. Said he would "leave it to Ev and
Jerry to determine who you want to bring -- you take the heat if you don't invite 'em
and the credit if you do." COMMENT: This leaves you right where you didn't want to be,
but RN did concede that the House presents a rather different problem from the Senate
and left the inference that Ev and you need not necessarily use the same yardstick or
numerical total. As a practical matter, since all the House leadership (except H. Allen)
was present, it is going to be extremely difficult to exclude anybody and, as RN clearly
left it up to you, I don't see any reason why you should. As for staff, it is simply a
question of saving your time and that of the other members of the House leadership. If
no staff from the Congressional side is present, it will be necessary for you and/or
other members of the leadership to sit down after each meeting and brief your staff or,
in the alternative, for Bryce and his assistants to take up each step of the follow-thru
personally with the Members. This of course heavily weights the scales in favor of the
Executive Branch. I do not for a moment believe that the differences of attitude and
political interest between the Administration and the Congress are going to disappear
just because a Republican occupies the White House. I do not think two additional staff
people, one from the Senate and one from the House, sitting quietly on the sidelines are
going to clutter up these meetings; on the contrary, I believe they will enable them to
accomplish their intended results more rapidly and efficiently. (Since the emphasis is
on limiting bodies, I can foresee the suggestion that John Fisher could sit in for both;
but I think we need go no further than today's press conference to prove that the diff-
erences between Senate and House leadership are not going to disappear either on Jan. 20
and that both bodies must be independently represented at the staff level, or not at all.)
222
I don't intend to push myself personally here, but I think there is a sound prin-
ciple involved. Over the past 3 years, by listening in to the exchange of views and
the decision making process at the House leadership, Policy and Conference sessions,
at the Joint Leadership meetings and the Coordinating Committee meetings, those few
key staff people involved were able to translate these ideas and issues into action
and spread them throughout our particular staff circles immediately and without wait-
ing for further marching orders from our immediate principals. The result has been a
degree of consistency and harmony among Republican voices which, while not 100% perfect,
has been unparalleled in my political memory. This whole Republican apparatus on the
Hill still exists, and those voices are still going to speak. It seems to me if the
Nixon administration, whether through Bryce's organization or Herb Klein's, doesn't
take those of us who have set this up into their planning and take advantage of what
has already been done, they are going to spend several years doing it all over again.
Surely they know that you and Ev, and the other Senators and Congressmen who are in
the leadership, are not going to have the time to spend personally running around and
following through on all these details. And they ought to know that no staff guy on
the hill is going to take their WO rd that his boss has agreed to something in a meet-
ing at the White House without checking it out, all of which chews up precious time.
But they have, through a long and painful process, come to accept my word that this is
what Jerry Ford wants and it isn't even necessary -- and sometimes won't be advisable --
to say that the President also wants it. I guess all this adds up to my conviction that
you, as Republican Leader in the House, are going to have to stand up for certain pre-
rogatives vis-a-vis the Semate Leader and vis-a-vis the Executive Branch, right from
the start, not because of pride or anything like that but because you know, better than
anybody downtown can ever know, how to make this institution work, and what we are really
interested in is results. It is a whole new bailgame, but we don't need to start from
scratch. What has worked ought to be adapted and incorporated rather than discarded,
and as the initiator of much of this Republican teamwork in the House you can best plead
the case for collaboration and continuity.
GERALD FORD 1188811
- bleship mtgs
wk 27 Jan -Pres Dim for
3 be or 1
purer Comy
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Pres Gopconn wk -H/5 Sp
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good. men for long
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they WA what 202 there
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there are good gales
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leave it to Eob
milchell
1-2X your
for
Jerry to det who you
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take the Reat of you dont
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futtor m now have 21
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that
mo to credit of you do
em up at tables
marke 2/3 more - over
are to interests
by early Jan -
RN
bing armitant
sep those feasilice
To
in
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under execting author
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2. alert to Ewards
gives a hand On Only officers
Secty to Cab - notamed
or Harmiles - mion
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contracts, etc,
am
3, define attentions
be
a
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10/ mel - something u
out to story out
RN- Roy and - Pres
BN - agree - our
ton had - studyng
feeling hate be Rep
indiator times
functions of good - dev
Change - done male
some plans pronties
him a manty
Photos - block out
abil Man
future programs when
letter solicate advised
grads available
Cramer 1 part 73
RN- know who bad
eary prog - water pall-
apples are no
don't need more money,
dut reorg
It you know, them
Kuchel - an water pull
of programs
go right to Cab of
Reorg auth lapse
perm continue
Dec 3/ -
RN ( d think we
process Bol madian (
need it - will they
it -
and naph
members
seo one of 49 good
more auth
To 395-6915
A chilland
slawer Durger
also who shld
who's our man 7
Calm
GERALD LIVERIT 4. FURD
VH net up- NSC why
we are reorg an whate ak
Laid Lipsomb to Sand
napes may state
RN need souther
Curbaffo.-
9/. GRF- Pay mercase
Hardew 5 test
Pres, VP+ to Ephr out
let go of any one
/ Im
of com
bal budy
LBD, told Rappell, not
RN- would submit
mayo/i continues of V.N + in
must be app by cong before
hold your breach be
Jan 20
Sugglf LBJ truel
Committees have
prop for Pres vr / Sphr )
been made, no f
other 2 covered by Const
70 a little more,
under purposion of miles
have to start 72
1100- 200,000 for Pies
night now Each
67,500 for VPZ Sphr
mander arked for
prouties Can at
Cummit D will or not any
an enliest non
in or wt
- let' not forget
compl out 7 it
red as one of on
Rule 22 - leave to San
goals - lets not and
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Powell ? Hant pleased
record - Have funds
that gres up even L
Bondley can
RN- Great Che Bank
Hept of I whatwast cheld
Been medical twice
195
185
Cont sustor
no n
write stand
HR 62020 /100 member
assumes cont
of VN at r and
Zup et now Lohen
don't want to get t
furned of appeal
into then hundred
Wilson reathin
with deduction of fends
KORD + LIBRARY 07V839
samply 2 wa
over 2gr period
which theyne not a
hold spend
-
underest in welfare
875 million
8) 8 St of a
also pro
coming in fan
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RN- all Cab are able
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to paint for compl
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Apin while learning
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want antile
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on mess we have
wants thy ective
no houseme
inventor 7 where
Left - got 7
are stand on budst
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etc
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Confermation Start / not
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RICHARD H. POFF
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
6TH DISTRICT, VIRGINIA
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
COPYRIGHTS AND PATENTS
HOME ADDRESS:
POLICY COMMITTEE
RADFORD, VIRGINIA
Congress of the United States
JOHN T. WHITE II
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Douse of Representatives
Mashington, D. C.
February 3, 1969
pick Okinth memor days.
Honorable Gerald R. Ford
Thanks
U. S. House of Representatives
MR7.
Washington, D. C.
Dear Jerry:
Enclosed is a draft of the minutes of the first meeting of the
Leadership meeting at the White House on January 28.
Pardon the omissions and inaccuracies. Next time, knowing in
advance that the minutes should be formalized, I will take more
precise notes.
I am sending a copy to Bob Hartmann.
With kindest regards, I am
Sincerely,
Re RICHARD H. POFF
Copy to Bob Hartmann
Enclosure
LIBRARY GERALD ? FORD
SUGGESTIONS FOR WHITE HOUSE AGENDA, January 28, 1969 (Phoned to Timmons 1/24)
MR. FORD (No particular order of priority)
1. Timetable of upcoming legislative requests from President.
2. Urge President to push for reorganizational authority renewal.
3. Will President Nixon appear for second State of the Union?
4. What are Administration views on Electoral College reform?
5. Machinery for personnel and patronage recommendations.
6. Machinery for Congressional liaison with Minority and Majority.
7. Advance notification of Republican Members on awards, press releases, etc.
MR. ARENDS (No particular order of priority)
1. Administration views and stragegy on Pay Increases.
2. National Emergency Strike legislation and related Labor law policy.
3. Hoover-type Commission and renewal of Reorganizational Authority.
4. Administration plans to elect a Republican 92nd Congress.
5. Timing of legislative requests, with emphasis on winning the first one.
MR. ANDERSON
1. Routing of Presidential Messages and Executive Communications
2. Administration views and strategy on Pay Increases.
MR. RHODES
1. Hoover-type Commission and renewal of Reorganizational Authority.
2. Congressional (GOP) participation in process of setting Priority Goals.
MR. TAFT
1. Guidance on the community self-determination problem.
2. Administration policy on Foreign Aid.
3. Co-ordination of Research procedures.
MR. WILSON (No recommendations)
MR. SMITH
is
FORD
1. Problems and procedures within the House Rules Committee.
GERALD
MR. CRAMER (Sick abed, left message with Mrs. Cramer.)
LIBIT
MR. POFF
1. Electoral College reform; advocates go-slow attitude on specifics.
RTH
THE WHITE HOUSE
1/28/69
THE WHITE HOUSE
2
mr. Ford
Suphis Property disposal-
be partison legeslation on
I
Feb. 18 Th - (tentative)
book (ant specific) basis.
Bi - Partisan
Personal certing 2
Do NOT nevise - live with
LIBRARY GERALD ? FORD
muting Honse at White
2
Cony Reception Feb 19 th I + 20th
Budget - not document a whole new R.
GERALD :
no major surgery -
3
muting with senior mustings Y
supplementals -
manking substantative members - when?
/ new ideas - new directions -lesscont
hald down
-
THE WHITE HOUSE
3
THE WHITE HOUSE
4
Rhodes / Taff - response
Atate of 9/mon - no final decesion but
Howaing
programs will be crowing.
Permissible legal certing
anti - crime - banc tools on statuk borks
Pay -
LIBRARY GERALD R. FORD
aj. appointments -
Reviganmation - message this week
suift/fair Swift fair
new attatude
Fegislative propam -
Task Frees - items /no commettements
Cabmet - 2 weeks
SEAL i 03 LIBRARY
Beenes ,160 operation P. plattrom
2). Tash 70mm Accommendations -shething
3). cabnet
4/. Commers