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White House - Congressional Leadership Meeting, 2/5/69 (includes minutes and Ford notes)
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1550966
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White House - Congressional Leadership Meeting, 2/5/69 (includes minutes and Ford notes)
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Robert T. Hartmann Papers
House of Representatives Subject Files
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U.S. Postal Service. 7/1/1971-
Agriculture
Electoral college
Federal budget
Legislation
Legislative liaison
Nuclear nonproliferation
Postal matters
Treaties
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1550966
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1969-02-28
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2
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1969
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1969-02-01
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2
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1969
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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
February 5, 1969
8:30-8:45 a.m.
I. Advance Payments, Feed Grain Diversion
Program
8:45-9:30 a.m.
II. Congressional Advisory System, Postal
Service
FORD LIBRARY
semal
mindetory
DIARY OF WHITE HOUSE LEADERSHIP MEETINGS -- 91st CONGRESS
suggetions
February 5, 1969
prey
The President entered the Cabinet Room at 8:40 a.m. and
suggested an agenda of two items, 1) the question of
advance payments to farmers under the Feed Grains Program,
to
and 2) the Congressional Advisory System of Postal Person-
nel Appointments.
RMN said that the FY69 budget presented by President
Johnson was balanced only because it, purposefully omit-
ted a few items which must be restored. He introduced
Mr. Hardin, who explained that in his last budget message,
President Johnson had a paragraph which stated that the 50%
advance payments scheduled to be made to farmers now for
FY69 would be reduced to 25% and those for FY70 would be
terminated altogether. Farmers planning for the crop
season had no advance warning, and morality dictates
indequete
that these payments be restored to the 50% level. A news
release has been prepared in which RMN instructs Hardin
to make the 50% advance payments under the FY69 budget but
serve notice that they would not be made for FY70. This
means that $168 million will be added to the FY69 budget
rather than to the FY70 budget. RMN said that he had also
told Hardin to make an effort to save an equivalent amount
elsewhere in the FY69 Department operations.
Ford suggested that the news release make no specific
comment concerning 1970 but leave the President the flexi-
bility, if circumstances at that time dictate, to continue
advance payments at the 50% level.
Mavo asked if it would not be better to say in the news
release that the FY70 payments would go to zero and then
in the spring of 1970, restore payments to 25%.
RMN said he did not see the need to bite the 1970 bullet
yet.
Hardin suggested that it might be feasible simply to post-
pone the Johnson schedule for one year so that advance pay-
ments would go back to the 25% level one year hence and zero
two years hence.
BENALD #:
2
Senator Young said that this action will help the farmers
who are borrowing money at twice the level of a year ago.
Wilson said that he was anxious that the farmers know who
was the hero and who was the villain. He suggested that
as a matter of timing, we allow the awful impact to occur
and then rush out to rescue the farmers.
Rhodes said that there was no yearly net savings effected
by reducing advance payments.
RMN announced that he was sending a message to Congress
recommending early consideration of the Nuclear Non-
proliferation Treaty. With respect to missiles and arma-
ments treaty negotiations, it would be healthy to require
Russia to understand that such negotiations could not begin
until they had made an effort to defuse the Mid East time
bomb. Said differently, the Russians should understand
that we feel that arms reduction cannot achieve peace unless
there is first progress on the settlement of political
disputes. Dirksen said he will support NPT with some
reservations.
Tower, just returned from Germany, said that NPT is extremely
unpopular in Germany. RMN said in response that the leaders
should say at the news conference that the President was
concerned that one of the troubles about the NPT was that it
was negotiated without prior consultation with our allies,
and that with respect to future bilateral negotiations with
Russia on any subject, our allies will be advised in advance.
RMN introduced Blount, paid high tribute to his ability and
his willingness to make the sacrifice inherent in the job he
has undertaken. Blount said that Mr. Nixon as a candidate,
the Republican Platform, the House Republican Policy Committee,
and a number of Republican patrons of bills in Congress had
put the Republican Party on record in favor of taking politics
out of the Post Office. For that purpose, he will send
legislation to Congress to abolish the requirement of Senate
confirmation of Postmasters. The Congressional Advisory
system, under which postmasters have been appointed by both
parties, will be abolished, and postmasters will be appointed
from a civil service register according to merit. In advance
of that, 2,150 acting postmasters appointed under the old
system will be removed and new acting postmasters will be
3
appointed on a merit basis. To determine merit, Blount
will establish a Task Force headed by Niles Jackson.
Ford said that he will support legislative action but
cautioned that strict adherence to the Blount proposal
will frustrate rather than promote career appointments
in some cases. He cited a specific example in his own
Congressional District.
Arends inquired if the Task Force would consider people
outside the Post Office Department as eligible for appoint-
ment as action postmaster pending the establishment of the
new register. Blount replied in the affirmative. Scott
wanted to know if Members of Congress would be consulted
concerning those appointments of acting postmasters.
Blount replied that PL89-554, Section 3303, permits the
Postmaster General to accept recommendations from Members
of Congress only as they pertain to the character or resi-
dence of the applicant. (Editor's Note: That statute does
not apply to the appointment or acting postmasters but only
to permanent postmasters and those covered by civil service.)
RMN suggested to Mr. Blount that it would be extremely help-
ful to get the Congressman's evaluation of a candidate
before a final decision is made.
It was also agreed that Blount would consult with the Leader-
ship concerning appointments to the Task Force. The Vice
President suggested that the Blount system might cause a
political backlash if, when the new register is finally
established and the permanent Postmaster is appointed, the
man appointed acting postmaster is replaced.
Cramer called attention to the fact that Democrats in the
closing days of the last Administration placed a number of
patronage positions under civil service. These include
savings bonds directors, state directors of SBA and several
others. Cramer asked who would make the appointment of
permanent Postmasters after the register was established.
Blount said, "The Department."
Blount named those he has named as top lieutenants. These
include a deputy who was formerly president of American Can;
for finance, the former senior vice president of a Texas
corporation; and for personnel, a former official of Union
Carbide.
4
Blount said that unless something is done to improve service
and restore personnel morale, this Administration may be
faced with the first general postal workers' strike. He
also said that he plans to emphasize the importance of
improved Congressional liaison.
RMN said that he was backing Blount in what he realized likely
would be an unpleasant task and one that would cause some
friction with Congress.
Taft inquired about the timing of the announcement. RMN
said that the announcement would be made this afternoon.
Blount said that it was not planned today to announce that the
2,130 acting postmasters would be removed. Wilson favored
the term "review" rather than "remove."
RMN said that he had decided to resubmit for Senate confirma-
1
tion the nominations of hold-overs from the previous Admini-
stration.
RMN called attention to the need for prompt action on the
Reorganization Act. He said that a number of reorganization
plans have already been drafted.
RMN said that he hoped that his Secretary of Labor and the
Head of the Conciliation Service would be able to settle the
Longshoremans' Strike by the end of the week. If not, he
would be obliged to send it to the Congress. Taft-Martley
has already been exhausted. RMN said that he would also make
legislative recommendations on public emergency strikes.
RMN said that he planned to send a message to Congress con-
cerning Electoral College reform; that he is opposed to
abolishing the Electoral College; that he is opposed to a
direct popular plan; and that he favors a proportionate plan.
A asked the President to leave himself more flexibility
between the proportional and district plans. Republican
Members of the House Judiciary Committee have not made any
decision among themselves. Most Republican Members of the
Senate who have introduced legislation have introduced the
district plan. RMN responded that he could accept either the
district or the proportional plan, and he asked Harlow to make
certain that his message to Congress reflects than sentiment.
5
RMN said that he plans to submit legislative recommendations
for tax reform in full detail.
He announced that he will be leaving for a visit abroad,
possibly sometime during the week of the 17th, and that
there will be a bipartisan meeting of the Leadership before
and after the trip abroad. Following that, RMN will brief
the Joint House-Senate Leadership.
RMN noted statistics showing the high intensity of narcotics
dependents in the federal penitentary population and said
pm
that he intended to underscore the need for action in the
narcotics area. He inquired with 2 smile if D did not have
such a program. P/T said that # had a few random thoughts in
the area. RTATIS response was that Thad written all of his
campaign speeches for him. [That was something of an over-
statement per RHP.]
We adjourned at approximately 10:45.
RICHARD H. POFF
THE WHITE HOUSE
/
Feed Armin Program
50% advance payment
$168 million - difference
between 25%50%
1969- 25% JBJ ]
50% RN.
1970 - 0 - LBG
flepble - R.N.
FORD is LIBRARY CERALD
THE WHITE HOUSE
2
Non prohpination Treaty
RN. to ask Senate by
message for approval.
non Musins
sample message
TODAY to Congress
Do not desarm unless settle political
problems.
Better to move alowly + delivated
7wll consultation in advance with allers
Missile negotiations - held in abayance
pending full preluming consultations,
FORD is LIBRARY DERALD
THE WHITE HOUSE
3
Post- office - -
Postmasters + rural carners
MERIT
2/64 tempony PM+ RC.
2130 removed adving + system approved
by merit mystem
I
R. FORD
THE WHITE HOUSE
4)
Legalation -
Tabes - reform proporals- -
Dock Street -
-
\
LIBBARY GERALD ? FORD
Electrol Reform - message
no aldistment of electival college
proportional distribution
of electronal votes