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White House - Congressional Leadership Meeting, 2/18/69 (includes minutes)
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White House - Congressional Leadership Meeting, 2/18/69 (includes minutes)
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Robert T. Hartmann Papers
House of Representatives Subject Files
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U.S. Postal Service. 7/1/1971-
Office of Economic Opportunity. 1964-1981
Civil service
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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 18, 1969
8:30 - 8:45 a. m.
I. Progress Report, Post Office Department
8:45 - 9:00 a.m.
II. Restructuring of Office of Economic
Opportunity
9:00 - 9:20 a.m.
III. Upcoming Presidential Messages
9:20 - 9:50 a.m.
IV. Consolidation of Departmental Field
Regions
9:50 - 10:00 a.m.
V. Bipartisan Meetings
February 18
March 5
FUSO
DIARY OF WHITE HOUSE LEADERSHIP
MEETINGS -- 91st CONGRESS
February 18, 1969
RMN entered the Cabinet Room at 8:40 and presented the
attached agenda. He introduced Blount as the man scheduled
to attend the Republican Conference "barbecue" tomorrow.
Blount made a progress report on his proposal to take the
Post Office out of politics. He said that the principal
criticisms had concerned the failure to remove political
appointees in the Regions, union complaints that the new
system would discourage promotion of career employees to
Postmaster and complaints concerning a number of Democrats
already frozen into the system who would become the bene-
ficiaries of a nonpolitical system.
Blount reported that there were 68 Schedule C posts and 30
Schedule A posts in the Department. All but 4 of the former
are to be replaced. Hopefully, all but 2 of the latter will be
replaced on the basis of voluntary resignation, retirement or
attrition.
Under a proposed plan of reorganization, the 15 Regions
would be converted into management regions. The directors
currently have Civil Service protection. They will be asked
to retire, resign, or step down to a lower post. In each of
the 15 Regions, there will be a Management Selection Board
for postmaster appointments. For the 400 postmasters in the
Nation who hold a grade of GS 14 or above, appointments will
be made by a National Management Selection Board. In con-
nection with all postmaster appointments, career employees
will be given preference. If there are none qualified, then the
Boards will be privileged to invite candidates outside the
postal service to take the Civil Service examinations, and the
boards will make appointments from a 3-man register. Career
employees will have similar preferences in rural carrier appoint-
ments. The Postmaster will make these appointments from
the 5 best qualified senior postal workers serving the office
2
where the route originates. The Postmaster will be required
to give written reasons for selecting the man he chooses and
reasons for refusing the other candidates to a local review
board. If there are no qualified career employee candidates,
then the appointments will be made from a civil service
register of 3 names. The Congressional Advisory System
will be abolished insofar as in-service promotions beneath
the level of Postmaster are concerned. Congressional
liaison, currently conducted individually among the 15
Regions, will be centralized as a more responsible and
responsive system. Members of Congress will be advised
24 hours in advance of appointments and contract awards.
Rhodes inquired if it would not be better to provide that
career employees and public candidates be considered con-
temporaneously. Otherwise, he suggested that should it
become necessary to select a candidate from outsiders,
postal employee morale would be impaired. Blount said that
he would consider this suggestion. Ford agreed. Cramer
said that if employees knew they had potential competition
from outside, they would do a better job in order to earn a
promotion. Taft inquired what parts of the reorganization
would require legislation. Blount said that only removal
of Senate confirmation would require legislation. Taft said
that Gross would offer a resolution to the Conference tomor-
row, the central point of which is that since what can be
accomplished by Executive Order can be undone by Executive
Order, it is better to make whatever reorganization is accom-
plished by legislation. Blount said that he wants to avoid
the unwise course of legislating piecemeal and withhold
requests for further legislation until he is able to present a
full reform package.
Ford said that the Gross resolution called upon Blount to
suspend implementing his program pending legislative action.
RMN says that he backs Blount in his determination to go
ahead without further delay.
FORD & GENALD LIBRARY
3
RMN introduced Moynihan to explain the OEO changes which
will be announced tomorrow. Moynihan said that OEO will
be made the initiator of ideas rather than the operator. Head
Start has not been as effective as hoped and will be trans- -
ferred to HEW. Job Corps will go to the Labor Department
but will not disrupt operations now conducted by the Depart-
ment of the Interior and Agriculture. Comprehensive Com-
munity Health Centers and Foster Grandparents programs
will be transferred to HEW. Later in the spring, RMN will
send a message to Congress announcing a longrange poverty
program. CAP can be involved in the economic and business
development effort. ("Black Capitalism" will be converted
to "Minority Enterprise. ") Young and Dirksen inquired what
changes these transfers would require in the appropriations
process. Moynihan said appropriations would continue to
go to OEO and would be allocated by OEO to the agencies
to which the programs have been delegated. Agnew said
that the chief problem of the poverty program had always been
in CAP, which has been used too often for political projects
which favor one political party and that any change should
encourage local control and more active supervision by
governors. RMN said that he would welcome suggestions for
a man to head OEO. He said it is difficult to find a man who
is qualified in the field and still holds the credentials which
make him acceptable to the intended beneficiaries of the
program. He said we must be cautious about abolishing
programs suddenly and outright. This creates a focal point
for protest which is always led by those who have lost their
jobs.
RMN said that he was meeting later today with 3 Democrats
principally responsible for OEO legislative oversight. He
anticipates that the position of the Democrats will be that
the program should be left as it is. This is the only way
they can prove that the program has been a success.
Young said that the program had been badly administered on
Indian reservations.
CENATH FOND LIBRANT
4
Rhodes suggested that the black capitalism concept would
work well with Indians. Somsone suggested the slogan
"Red Capitalism."
Wilson said that the chief defect of the poverty program was
the proliferation of training programs making it possible for
a trainee to go immediately from one program to another.
He says he knows several people who can only properly be
called "professional trainees "
RMN said that he would send to Congress messages on crime,
the debt ceiling, Post Office legislation, OEO and Electoral
College. With respect to OEO, the message will concern
tax incentives in the poverty area.
With respect to Electoral College, he said that the message
would call for reform, sketch in broad gauge the general
objectives to be achieved and stop short of recommending
any choice among the district, proportional or popular plans.
He asked me if that was the best approach. I suggested that
if the message is so worded as to give even implied endorse-
ment to the popular vote plan, it would greatly influence the
attitudes of Members of the Judiciary Committee in favor of
the popular plan, that the popular plan cannot be ratified even
if the 2/3 vote in each House can be achieved and that it
would be better for the message to call for a Constitutional
amendment which would "preserve the Federal concept and
better reflect the popular will. = RMN said that he liked this
phrase and suggested to Mr. Harlow that this sentiment should
be written into the message.
RMN said that a bipartisan leadership meeting would be held
tomorrow and later the full Republican Leadership would be
given the benefit of the briefing concerning the projected
overseas trip.
Mr. Cramer inquired what figure would be requested in the
debt ceiling message. Burns said that no figure had been
decided upon. Rhodes suggested that the figure be made
5
high enough to reflect fairly the debt problems that have
been created by the previous Administration and just now
passed along to the Nixon Administration.
The meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m.
RICHARD H. POFF
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 18, 1969
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
PRESS CONFERENCE
OF
SENATOR EVERETT MCKINLEY DIRKSEN
AND
CONGRESSMAN GERALD R. FORD
AT 10:25 A.M. EST
SENATOR DIRKSEN: Generally speaking, this is what
we discussed this morning:
Number one, sort of a restructuring in the Post
Office. That deals with personnel and some other matters.
I am not going to try to give you any details and in the
interest of the economy of time you will save your questions,
because you are going to hear about this later this afternoon
and tomorrow when there will be a message and also a
statement by the Postmaster General.
The second thing we discussed was the Office of
Economic Opportunity. That is the Poverty Program. Generally
speaking, we talked about the possibility of making it --
and I think this is important -- an initiatory agency instead
of an operating agency. In other words, it is kind of an
incubator, if you don't mind the term, where they can
initiate programs and then in proportion, as they make them
feasible, they can then farm them out to other agencies and
departments of government.
That is about all the details I care to give you
there, except to say there will be improved management of
OEO and a community action aspect of OEO will be retained,
those are the Community Action Programs. But, obviously,
at both a regional, local and national level, they are going
to have to be improved.
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I might add this about the Post
Office Department. The Postmaster General is coming up to
meet with the Members of the House on the Republican side
tomorrow morning to explore in greater detail and depth
what these proposals are. And then, as I understand it,
subsequently tomorrow he will have a full-blown press conference
to explain to the press what he has in mind.
The point about the OEO: There are further consul-
tations going on between the Executive Branch and Members
of the House and Senate, both Democratic and Republican, but
there is anticipated to be a message, probably tomorrow or
the next day, outlining what the White House has in mind after
this consultation.
Now, the messages this week: one will be on the debt
ceiling; one will be on the OEO, the proposed changes after
the consultation; there will be one on the Post Office
Department, we hope, by the end of the week; and also one
on the Electoral College Reform.
LIBRARY GERALD ? FORM
Those are contemplated this week from the White House
to the Congress.
MORE
(OVER)
- 2 -
Q
What form will the Electoral College proposal
take?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I wouldn't pre-empt what the
President is going to say. But I think he will re-emphasize
his great interest in Electoral College reform, pointing out
that he believes that the Electoral College vote should more
closely reflect the popular vote. But he does believe,
basically, in the integrity of the Electoral College.
Q
He talked, Mr. Ford, in terms of dividing each
State's Electoral votes proportionate to the State's popular
vote. How do you think that would go over in Congress?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: The House and Senate Committees
on the Judiciary are currently holding hearings on the whole
subject matter. I think it is more important, and I believe
the Congress feels this way, to get reform than to have any
specific plan at this point frozen in. We have got to avoid
the possibility of a Constitutional crisis in 1972, which
means we have to get a plan that will get two-thirds of the
votes in the House, in the Senate, and three-quarters of the
State legislatures to approve. Therefore, rather than tie
ourselves down at this moment to a particular plan, we have
got to give some broad recommendations and get the votes in
the House and Senate and also the State legislatures.
Q
Do you think there is enough objection to the
President's thoughts on this where it would not be practical
to assume that?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I am not sure that there has been
any solidification of House and Senate views on this matter
as yet. I think there is a high degree of unanimity
that we must have reform. After the hearings, we will be in
a better position to actually focus in on one plan that can
get the necessary votes.
Q
Mr. Ford, what is the thinking behind making
OEO, what you call it, as an initiatory agency? What do you
gain by that?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I think the public generally has the
feeling that 020 has done a good job in bringing to the surface
the problems in the area of poverty and coming up with some
new ideas for the solution. But, at the same time, the operations
under OEO have not been as satisfactory as the public expects
them to be.
If there is to be any restructuring, transferring
functions from OEO over to the old line agencies, it is
hoped that a better management and improvement in efficiency
and economy can be achieved.
2
Mr. Congressman, could the President do any
of this transferring before the Executive Reorganization
Act is extended?
MORE
LIBRARY GERALD GERALDR. FORD
- 3 -
CONGRESSMAN FORD: Yes, it is possible for the
President to delegate certain of the functions of OEO to
some of the old line agencies.
On the other hand, you can't make a physical transfer
under the law. So these exploratory meetings with House and
Senate Committee Members is aimed at emplaining what they
intend to do on a temporary basis, the delegation with the
long-range improvements coming by actual legislative action
in the area of transfers.
&
Senator Dirksen, could you tell us, please,
whether or not the visit of Ambassador Dobrynin came up and
what was said and what the Republican Leadership said about
it?
SENATOR DIRKSEN: No, it wasn't discussed.
a
Senator, what about the debt ceiling?
SENATOR DIRKSEN: We didn't get a figure this
morning. But being on the Senate Finance Committee I did
raise the question concerning whether or not it would be one
of these temporarily temporary debt ceilings. But it is not
going to be. We are going to put it in a package so that
they don't have to come back to the Congress in the future.
Q
Senator Dirksen, did you discuss the ratification
of the Non-Proliferation Treaty?
SENATOR DIRKSEN: No, the Treaty was not discussed.
Q
How about tax reform?
SENATOR DIRKSEN: Tax reform, only to the extent that
there will be a message on tax incentives, particularly with
reference to the poverty areas.
Q
When might there be a message?
SENATOR DIRKSEN: Probably within the next
two or three weeks.
One other thing: There will be a bipartisan leadership
meeting here tomorrow morning at 8:30. I can't give you details
on it.
Q
Is that concerning the President's trip?
SENATOR DIRKSEN: Yes, it will have much to do with
the trip.
Ω
Senator, do they plan to reclassify the national
debt not to include securities?
SENATOR DIRKSEN: We didn't discuss it. But Arthur
Burns has been working on it and is cooperating with the
Treasury. I think they have been doing a good job in making
some real progress in that field.
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END
AT 10:35 A.M. EST
FORD LIBRAR,
THE WHITE HOUSE
Past offer - Press Couf Repan
Z OEO - tommon (message)
consentation
delegations + transfer - new
congrehenouse recommendations
Ev
Management Improvement
Manager -This wuk results.
(1)
Debt Cerling I message on tax incentives
Thiouh
Post affect 1
Electrol Reform I federal system retained.
O.E.D. H
Dectived Note meflict popular Note.
it
FORD
Tax Mensage stemulate brainess investment
tal were Two
2
OEO-
/
/dendstart - H.EW
delegate
Job delegate - Inton
LIBRARY SERALO ? GERALOR. FORD
Comprehensive Health Centras - -
transfer (H.E.W.)
Footer -
Transfer (H.E.W)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 19, 1969
Office of the White House Fress Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
Section 309 of the Vocational Education Amendments of 1968 directed
the President to make a special study of whether responsibility for
administering the Head Start program should be left with the Office of
Economic Opportunity, or whether it should be delegated or transferred
to another agency. Congress asked that a report of this study be submitted
by March 1, 1969.
I am submitting the report herewith.
This report has been prepared in consultation with the heads of the
Executive departments and agencies concerned.
The study concludes that Head Start should be delegated to the
Department of Health, Education and Welfare. It leaves for later deter-
mination the question of whether the program should eventaully be trans-
ferred. As I have indicated in a message to Congress today, I will
present a set of recommendations before the end of the current fiscal year
on a permanent status and organizational structure for the Office of
Economic Opportunity. At that time, I will make a recommendation on
whether Head Start should be transferred, or whether it should remain
a delegated program.
Section 308 of the same Vocational Education Amendments of 1968
directed the Commissioner of Education to make a special study of the
means by which the existing Job Corps facilities and programs might, if
determined feasible, be transferred to State or joint Federal-state operation.
The Commissioner was directed to report his findings to Congress by
March 1, 1969.
As my message today indicated, responsibility for administering the
Job Corps will be delegated to the Department of Labor effective July 1.
The question of State or joint Federal-state operation is a complex one
which may well be affected by the over-all manpower-development proposals
now being prepared by the Secretary of Labor. In light of these develop-
ments, and in order to comply with the intent of Congress, I have asked the
Secretaries of Labor and of Health, Education and Welfare, along with the
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Manpower, and the Director of OEO,
to work ,with the Acting Commissioner of Education in preparing a report
responsive to the Congressional directive to be submitted at the earliest
possible time. As directed by Congress, the Acting Commissioner will also
consult with other Federal officials, with State officials and with
concerned individuals.
In its request for these studies, I recognize the interest of Congress
in a constant evaluation and review of the way in which new, experimental
programs are being administered, and in the measurement of their results.
I welcome that interest, I share it, and I will attempt to be responsive to it.
RICHARD NIXON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 19, 1969.
FCR RELEASE UPON DELIVERY TO THE
FEBRUARY 19, 1969
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
Economic Opportunity Act
The blight of poverty requires priority attention. It engages our hearts
and challenges our intelligence. It cannot and will not be treated lightly or
indifferently, or without the most searching examination of how best to
marshal the resources available to the Federal Government for combatting
it.
At my direction, the Urban Affairs Council has been conducting an
intensive study of the nation's anti-poverty programs, of the way the anti-
poverty effort is organized and administered, and of ways in which it might be
made more effective.
That study is continuing. However, I can now announce a number
of steps I intend to take, as well as spelling out some of the considerations
that will guide my future recommendations.
The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 is now scheduled to expire on
June 30, 1970. The present authorization for appropriations for the
Office of Economic Opportunity runs only until June 30, 1969. I will ask
Congress that this authorization for appropriations be extended for another
year. Prior to the end of the Fiscal Year, I will send Congress a com-
prehensive proposal for the future of the poverty program, including
recommendations for revising and extending the Act itself beyond its
scheduled 1970 expiration.
How the work begun by OEO can best be carried forward is a subject on
which many views deserve to be heard both from within Congress, and
among those many others who are interested or affected, including especially
the poor themselves. Ey sending my proposals well before the Act's 1970
expiration, I intend to provide time for full debate and discussion.
In the maze of anti-poverty efforts, precedents are weak and knowledge
uncertain. These past years of increasing Federal involvement have
begun to make clear how vast is the range of what we do not yet know, and
how fragile are projections based on partial understanding. But we have
learned some lessons about what works and what does not. The changes I
propose will be based on those lessons and those discoveries, and rooted
in a determination to press ahead with anti-poverty efforts even though
individual experiments have ended in disappointment.
From the experience of OEO, we have learned the value of having in
the Federal Government an agency whose special concern is the poor. We
have learned the need for flexibility, responsiveness, and continuing
innovation. We have learned the need for management effectiveness. Even
those most thoroughly committed to the goals of the anti-poverty effort
recognize now that much that has been tried has not worked.
The OEO has been a valuable fount of ideas and enthusiasm, but it has
suffered from a confusion of roles.
LIGHT BERALD ? FORD
MORE
- 2 -
OEO's greatest value is as an initiating agency - devising new programs
to help the poor, and serving as an "incubator" for these programs during
their initial, experimental phases. One of my aims is to free OEO itself
to perform these functions more effectively, by providing for a greater
concentration of its energies on its innovative role.
Last year, Congress directed that special studies be made by the
Executive Branch of whether Head Start and the Job Corps should continue
to be administered directly by OEO, or whether responsibility should be
otherwise assigned.
Section 309 of the Vocational Education Amendments of 1968 provides:
"The President shall make a special study of whether
the responsibility for administering the Head Start
program established under the Economic Opportunity
Act of 1964 should continue to be vested in the Director
of the Office of Economic Opportunity, should be
transferred to another agency of the Government, or
should be delegated to another such agency pursuant
to the provisions of section 602(d) of the aforementioned
Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, and shall submit
the findings of this study to the Congress not later than
March 1, 1969. "
I have today submitted this study to the Congress. Meanwhile, under the
Executive authority provided by the Economic Opportunity Act, I have
directed that preparations be made for the delegation of Head Start to the
Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Whether it should be
actually transferred is a question I will take up in my later, comprehensive
message, along with my proposals for a permanent status and organizational
structure for OEO. Pending a final decision by the Secretary of HEW
on where within the department responsibility for Head Start would be
lodged, it will be located directly within the Office of the Secretary.
In order to provide for orderly preparation, and to ensure that there
is no interruption of programs, I have directed that this delegation be
made effective July 1, 1969. By then the summer programs for 1969 will
all have been funded, and a new cycle will be beginning.
I see this delegation as an important element in a new national
commitment to the crucial early years of life.
Head Start is still experimental. Its effects are simply not known --
save of course where medical care and similar services are involved.
The results of a major national evaluation of the program will be available
this Spring. It must be said, however, that preliminary reports on this
study confirm what many have feared: the long term effect of Head Start
appears to be extremely weak. This must not discourage us. To the
contrary it only demonstrates the immense contribution the Head Start
program has made simply by having raised to prominence on the national
agenda the fact known for some time, but never widely recognized --
that the children of the poor mostly arrive at school age seriously
deficient in the ability to profit from formal education, and already
significantly behind their contemporaries. It also has been made
abundantly clear that our schools as they now exist are unable to overcome
this deficiency.
In this context, the Head Start Follow-Through Frogram already
delegated to HEW by OEO. assumes an even greater importance.
FORD
MORE
LIDNARY
- 3 -
In recent years, enormous advances have been made in the understanding
of human development. We have learned that intelligence is not fixed at
birth, but is largely formed by the environmental influences of the early
formative years. It develops rapidly at first, and then more slowly; as
much of that development takes place in the first four years as in the next
thirteen. We have learned further that environment has its greatest
impact on the development of intelligence when that development is proceeding
most rapidly that is, in those earliest years.
This means that many of the problems of poverty are traceable directly
to early childhood experience -- and that if we are to make genuine, long-
range progress, we must focus our efforts much more than heretofore
on those few years which may determine how far, throughout his later
life, the child can reach.
Recent scientific developments have shown that this process of early
childhood development poses more difficult problems than had earlier been
recognized but they also promise a real possibility of major breakthroughs
soon in our understanding of this process. By placing Head Start in the
Department of HEW, it will be possible to strengthen it by association with
a wide range of other early development programs within the department,
and also with the research programs of the National Institutes of Health,
the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development.
Much of our knowledge is new. But we are not on that ground
absolved from the responsibility to respond to it. So crucial is the matter
of early growth that we must make a national commitment to providing
all American children an opportunity for healthful and stimulating
development during the first five years of life. In delegating Head Start
to the Department of HEW, I pledge myself to that commitment.
The Vocational Education Amendments of 1968 directed the Commissioner
of Education to study the Job Corps in relation to state vocational education
programs. I have directed the Secretaries of Labor and of Health,
Education, and Welfare, and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Manpower,
to work with the Acting Commissioner of Education in preparing such a
report for submission to Congress at the earliest opportunity.
One of the priority aims of the new Administration is the development
by the Department of Labor of a comprehensive manpower program,
designed to make centrally available to the unemployed and the under-
employed a full range of Federal job training and placement services.
Toward this end, it is essential that the many Federal manpower programs
be integrated and coordinated.
Therefore, as a first step toward better program management, the
Job Corps will be delegated to the Department of Labor.
For the Department, this will add another important manpower service
component. For the Job Corpsmen, it will make available additional
training and service opportunities. From the standpoint of program
management, it makes it possible to coordinate the Job Corps with other
manpower services, especially vocational education, at the point of
delivery.
The Department of Labor already is deeply involved in the recruitment,
counseling and placement of Job Corpsmen. It refers 80 percent of all
male and 45 percent of all female enrollees; it provides job market
information, and helps locate Job Corpsmen in the areas of greatest
opportunity.
MORE
LIBRARY GERALD FORD
- 4 -
This delegation will also be made effective on July 1, 1969; and the
Departments of Interior and Agriculture will continue to have operating
responsibility for the Job Corps centers concerned primarily with
conservation.
I have directed that preparations be made for the transfer of two other
programs from OEC to the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare:
Comprehensive Health Centers, which provide health service to the
residents of poor neighborhoods, and Foster Grandparents program. In
my judgment, these can be better administered at present, or in the near
future, within the structure of the Department.
In making these changes, I recognize that innovation costs money --
and that if OEO is to continue its effectiveness as an innovating agency,
adequate funds must be made available on a continuing basis. Moreover,
it is my intent that Community Action Agencies can continue to be involved
in the operation of programs such as Head Start at the local level, even
though an agency other than OEO has received such programs, by delegation,
at the national level. It also is my intent that the vital Community Action
Programs will be pressed forward, and that in the area of economic
development OEO will have an important role to play, in cooperation with
other agencies, in fostering community-based business development.
One of the principal aims of the Administration's continuing study of
the anti-poverty effort will be to improve its management effectiveness.
When poverty-fund monies are stolen, those hurt most are the poor --
whom the monies were meant to help. When programs are inefficiently
administered, those hurt most again are the poor. The public generally,
and the poor especially, have a right to demand effective and efficient
management. I intend to provide it.
I expect that important economies will result from the delegation of
the Job Corps to the Department of Labor, and we shall continue to strive
for greater efficiency, and especially for greater effectiveness in Head Start.
A Concentrated Management Improvement Program initiated in OEO
will be intensified. Under this program selected Community Action Agencies
will be required to take steps to devise improvements in such areas as
organizational structure, financial and accounting systems, personnel
training and work scheduling. Standards will be applied under the
"management improvement program'to evaluate the operations of Community
Action Agencies. We intend to monitor these programs actively in order
to ensure that they are achieving high-level effectiveness and that they are
being administered on an orderly basis.
In the past, problems have often arisen over the relationship of State,
county and local governments to programs administered by OEO. This
has particularly been the case where the State and local officials have
wanted to assume greater responsibility for the implementation of the
programs but for various reasons have been prevented from doing SO.
I have assigned special responsibility for working out these problems
to the newly-created Office of Intergovernmental Relations, under the
supervision of the Vice President.
I have directed the Urban Affairs Council to keep the anti-poverty
effort under constant review and evaluation, seeking new ways in which
the various departments can help and better ways in which their efforts
can be coordinated.
My comprehensive recommendations for the future of the poverty
program will be made after the Urban Affairs Council's own initial study
is completed, and after I have reviewed the Comptroller General's study
of OEO ordered by Congress in 1967 and due for submission next month.
LIBRARY GERALD YORK
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Meanwhile, I would stress this final thought: If we are to make the
most of experimental programs, we must frankly recognize their
experimental nature and frankly acknowledge whatever shortcomings they
develop. To do so is not to belittle the experiment, but to advance its
essential purpose: that of finding new ways, better ways, of making
progress in areas still inadequately understood.
We often can learn more from a program that fails to achieve its purpose
than from one that succeeds. If we apply those lessons, then even the
"failure" will have made a significant contribution to our larger purposes.
I urge all those involved in these experimental programs to bear this
in mind -- and to remember that one of the primary goals of this
Administration is to expand our knowledge of how best to make real
progress against those social ills that have so stubbornly defied solution.
We do not pretend to have all the answers. We are determined to find as
many as we can.
The men and women who will be valued most in this administration
will be those who understand that not every experiment succeeds, who do
not cover up failures but rather lay open problems, frankly and construc-
tively, so that next time we will know how to do better.
In this spirit, I am confident that we can place our anti-poverty
efforts on a secure footing -- and that as we continue to gain in understanding
of how to master the difficulties, we can move forward at an accelerating
pace.
RICHARD NIXON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 18, 1969.
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LIBRARY GERRED ?
FOR RELEASE AT 12 NOON, EST
February 25, 1969
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
Reform of the postal system is long overdue.
The postal service touches the lives of all Americans. Many of
our citizens feel that today's service does not meet today's needs, much
less the needs of tomorrow. I share this view.
In the months ahead, I expect to propose comprehensive legislation
for postal reform.
If this long-range program is to succeed, I consider it essential,
as a first step, that the Congress remove the last vestiges of political
patronage in the Post Office Department.
Accordingly, I urge the Congress promptly to enact legislation
that would:
eliminate the present statutory requirement for Presidential
appointment and Senatorial confirmation of postmasters of
first, second, and third-class post offices;
provide for appointment of all postmasters by the Postmaster
General in the competitive civil service; and
prohibit political considerations in the selection or promotion
of postal employees.
Such legislation would make it possible for future postmasters to
be chosen in the same way that career employees have long been chosen
in the other executive departments. It would not, however, affect the
status of postmasters now in office.
Adoption of this proposal by the Congress would assure all of the
American people -- and particularly the more than 750, 000 dedicated
men and women who work in the postal service -- that future appointments
and promotions in this important department are going to be made on the
basis of merit and fitness for the job, and not on the basis of political
affiliations or political influence.
The tradition of political patronage in the Post Office Department
extends back to the earliest days of the Republic. In a sparsely populated
country, where postal officials faced few of the management problems so
familiar to modern postmasters, the patronage system may have been a
defensible method of selecting jobholders. As the operation of the postal
service has become more complex, however, the patronage system has
become an increasingly costly luxury. It is a luxury that the nation can
no longer afford.
In the past two decades, there has been increasing agreement that
postmaster appointments should be made on a nonpolitical basis, Both
the first and second Hoover Commissions emphasized the need for such
more
GERALO
FORMS
LIBRARY
2
action. So did the recent President's Commission on Postal Organiza-
tion, headed by Frederick R. Kappel. President Harry S. Truman and
many members of Congress from both political parties have proposed
legislation designed to take politics out of postal appointments. In the
90th Congress, the Senate, by a vote of 75 to 9, passed a bill containing
a provision that would have placed postal appointments on a merit basis.
Forty-two such bills were introduced in the House of Representatives
during the 90th Congress.
The overwhelmingly favorable public comment that followed my
recent announcement of our intention to disregard political consideration
in selecting postmasters and rural carriers suggests that the American
people are more than ready for legislative action on this matter. The
time for such action is now at hand.
The benefits to be derived from such legislation are, I believe,
twofold.
First, the change would expand opportunities for advancement on
the part of our present postal employees. These are hard-working and
loyal men and women. In the past, many of them have not received
adequate recognition or well-deserved promotions for reasons which
have had nothing to do with their fitness for higher position or the
quality of their work. For reasons of both efficiency and morale,
this situation must be changed.
Secondly, I believe that over a period of time the use of improved
professional selection methods will improve the level of competence of
those who take on these important postal responsibilities.
I would not request this legislation without also presenting a plan
which insures that the new selection process will be affectively and
impartially administered. The Postmaster General has such a plan.
He is creating a high level, impartial national board to assist
him in the future selection of postmasters for the 400 largest post
offices in the country. Regional boards, also made up of exceptionally
well-qualified citizens, will perform a similar task in connection with
the selection of other postmasters. First consideration will be given
to the promotion, on a competitive basis, of present postal employees.
The Postmaster General has also initiated action to improve the
criteria by which postmasters are selected. The revised criteria will
emphasize managerial competence, human relations sensitivity,
responsiveness to customer concerns, an understanding of labor relations,
and other important qualities.
Proposals for additional legislation dealing with the selection
process will be included in the broad program for postal reform that the
Postmaster General is now preparing.
Some of the needs of the Post Office clearly require extensive
study before detailed solutions can be proposed. Other problems can
and should be dealt with now. One objective which can be met promptly
is that of taking politics out of the Post Office and I strongly recommend
the swift enactment of legislation that will allow us to achieve that goal.
Such legislation will be an important first step "towards postal excellence."
RICHARD NIXON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 25, 1969.
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PERIOD - February 5 to February 17, 1969 (inclusive)
HOUSE ACTION
Wed. Feb. 5 - Lincoln Birthday Adjournment Resolution
The House passed H. Con. Res. 124 by roll call vote of 241 yeas to 125 nays.
Wed. Feb. 5 - Investigative Resolutions
The House also adopted by voice vote seven house resolutions relating to
investigative authority for the following committees: Small Business,
Judiciary, Armed Services, Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Foreign
Affairs, Interior and Insular Affairs, and District of Columbia.
Thurs. Feb. 6 - Boy Scouts
The House passed H. Con. Res. 133 commending the Boy Scouts of America.
Thurs. Feb. 6 - Supplemental Appropriation
The House passed by voice vote H. J. Res. 414 making 1969 supplemental
appropriation, providing $36 million for employment compensation of
federal employees.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17
The House passed by voice vote the following:
1. H. R. 4622 - To insure preservation of all disability compensation
evaluations in effect for twenty or more years.
2. H. R. 3689 - To cede to the State of Montana concurrent jurisdiction
with the United States over the Veterans' Administration
Center, Fort Harrison, Montana.
3. H. R. 648 - To make certain technical corrections in Title 38,
United States Code.
PROGRAM AHEAD
H. Res. 89 - To change the name of the Committee on Un-American Activities
to Committee on Internal Security.
To:
Minority Leader
From: Minority Clerk
PERIOD - July 14 to July 20 (inclusive)
HOUSE ACTION
Rivers & Harbors Authorization
The House passed by voice vote H.R. 7634 - Omnibus River &
Harbor, Beach-erosion Control, and Flood-control Projects
Authorization.
Confereme Reports Adopted
D.O. Appropriations
The House adopted the conference report on H.R. 5676 -
Dist. of Columbia Appropriations 1960 and sent it to
the Senate.
Bank Reserves
The House adopted the conference report on S. 1120 -
Reserves required by member banks of the Federal
Reserve System, and sent it to the Senate.
Bankruptcy Act
The House agreed to Senate amendments to H.R. 4693 -
Amending the Bankruptcy Act 80 as to consolidate
referees' salary andexpense funds, clearing it for
Presidential action.
Government Employees' Pay Periods
The House agreed to Senate amendments witha House
amendment to H.R. 6134 - Rela tive to allocating
portions of fiscal yearend payroll periods to proper
fiscal year accounts and returned 1t to the Senate.
MONDAY, July 20
The House passed by voice vote and under suspension of the
Rules the following bills:
1. H.R. 968 - Vale Federal Reclamation Project, Oregon.
2. H.R. 804 - Spokane Valley Federal Reclamation Project.
3. 7125 Providing for study of the Presient Adams
Parkway. Hoss demanded Rollcall
PROGRAM AHEAD
will late well gily 22
(See next page)
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PROGRAM AREAD
H.R. 8283 - Atomic Energy Commission Appropriation Bill
for 1960.
H.R. 3460 - TVA Financing Bill (agree to Senate amendment a
if rule is reported).
H.R. 3216 - Writs of Habeas Corpus. Open rule, 1 hour.
H.J.Nes.115 - Franklin Delano Rmsevelt Memorial Site.
Open rule, 1 hour.
you objected when
July Davin adapt wanted 14 s. and To
To:
Minority Loader
From: Minority Clerk
PARIOD - July 21 to July 27 (inclusive)
HOUSE ACTION
AEC Appropriations
The House passed by voice vote h.'. 8283 (without acendment)
Atoxic convission Appropriations, fiscal 1960.
Total appropriations - $2,629,114,000. This 10 $50,186,000
less U.a The ;et request, and $15,526,000 b 88 than 1959
appropriations.
President Adams Memorial Highway
The House passed by voice vote, 10ml r suspension of the Rules,
1.1. 7125 - Providing for study of feasibility of establish-
inc the President Adams Hemorial Highway.
Garnishment of Wages
The house a reed to Senate amendments to H.T. 836 -: Modifying
provi sions of garnishment in District of Columbia, clearing
bill for residential donsideration.
TVA Power inancing
The House by roll call vote of 244 yeas to 166 hays, adopted
H. 05, 326, providing for House concurrence in Senate amend-
ments to E.C. 3400 - Amending IVA Act of 1933 relative to
financing its power program with proceeds from re enue bonds,
clearin: the bill for Presidential consideration.
Franklin oosevelt Temorial
the Uruse adopted by voice vote H.J.Nes. 115 - deserving site
in for the erection of memorial to Franklin Delano
cosovelt.
Conforence Reports
Nutual Security Authorization
The House passed by roll call vote of 257 yeas to
13 nays H.9. 7500 - the Conference Report relating
in the Mutual Security Authorisation for 1960.
total authorized - $3,556,200,000. This 18 $352,200,000
loss than resident's equost, and 13,000,000 more
than passed House.
(See next page for continuance Conference Reports)
GERALD K. FORD
Conference Reports (continued)
Independent Offices ropriations 1960
the House adopted by v ice vote Conference sport on
H. 7040 - Independent Offices Appropriations fiscal
1960, and sent it to the Senate.
Total 1 impropriated in Confere.c e Report jo, 502,152,000.
This is $4.44 4,400 more than passed by House.
FONDAY. JULY 27
The linuse passed by voice vote the following bills (3):
1.
8186 - Armed Forces, Amendments to Reserve fificer
Personnel Act.
2. 27. 8189 - And Forces, Promotion of Air Force officers.
3.
7244 - holding Company Control of Federal Savi a B
and Loan Insurance Corporation.
Inter-Anerican Devolopment Bank
The House passed by roll call vote of 230 yeas to 7 hays 1.1.7072
(without and - Providing far proticipation of 5.0.
in the Inter-American Development Bank.
PROGRAM ALEAD
I.
8385 - Nu.ual Security Appro riation Bill 1960.
3216 - Writs of haleas Corpus. Open rule, one hour.
i
FORD
CERALD
/
717
To: Minority Leader
From: Minority Clerk
PERIOD - July 28 to August 3 (inclusive)
HOUSE ACTION
Mutual Security Appropriations
The House passed by roll call vote of 279 yeas to 136 nays
H.R. 8385 (amended) - Appropriations for Mutual Security and
related agencies for fiscal 1960.
Total appropriated - $3,191,782,000, of which $3,186,500,000
is for Mutual Security and the remainder for civil funestions
of Army and Export-Import Bank. This is $1,244,495,000 less
than Budget request, and $365,700,000 less than authorized in
H.R. 7500 - Mutual Security Authorization conference report
as passed by House July 22.
NOTE:
$18,000,000 for Ryukyu generating plant was stricken from
the appropriation on a point of order by Bow (Chio).
The following amendments were adopted:
1. Deleted language that earmarked $50 million defense
support for Spain.
2. Barred trais fer of funds for overseas projects that
do not meet feasibility requirements of U.S. public
works projects.
3. Withhold funds of agencies and departments that do
not comply, within 20 days, with GAO requests for
information.
4. Removed the limitation on use of funds for World
Refugee Program.
Habeas Corpus
The House passed by voice vote H.R. 3216 (amended) - Amending
U.S. Code relative to applications for writs of habeas corpus
by persons in custody pursuant to judgment of a State court.
National Bank Laws Revision
The House passed by voice vote H.N. 8159 - Amending the national
banking laws to clarify or eliminate ambiguities, and repeal-
ing obsolete laws.
LIBRERY
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National Banks
The House passed by voice vote H.R. 8160 - Amending lending
and borrowing limitations applicable to national banks, and
authorizing appointment of an additional Deputy Comptroller
of the Currency.
Federal Credit Unions
The House passed by voice va e H.R. 8305 - Amending the Federal
Credit Union Act,
Conference Reports
Military Construction Authorization
The House by voice vote adopted conference report on
H.W. 5674 - Authorizing construction at military
installations, and sent it to the Senate.
Labor-HEW Appropriations
The House adopted by voice vote conference report on
H.R. 6769 - Approprimions for Departments of Labor,
and Health, Education and Welfare and related agencies
for fiscal 1960, and sent it to the Senate.
MONDAY - August 3, 1959
The House passed by voice vote and under suspension of the Rules
the following (5) bills:
1. H.J.Res. 113 - Sairt Ann's Churchyard, (New York ).
2.
H.R. 6940 - Alaska, Acreage Limitation, Mineral
Leasing Act.
3.
S. 1512 - Federal Land Banks.
4.
H.R. 6861 - Agriculture, Feed, Seed and Roughage
Programs.
5.
S. 1289 - Agriculture, Milk Program, Extend.
Final action on H.. 7740 - Agriculture, Acreage History and
Allotments was put over to Wednesday after Cooley demanded a
roll call vote.
PROGRAM AHEAD
Final vote on H.R. 7740.
R.R. 8342, - Labor Bill, and conference reports.
MRS
for
Minoriey 53 Leader
From: shority Stork
XICD - in ust 11 to August 24, 1959 (inclusive)
HOUSE / ACTION
DAY* Dak) Labor Form La islation
The House cassed 0342 amended) Landrum- Bill by
roll all vote of 303 year to 125 hays instead of .. 8400,
the Condittee 3111, shan vacated H.. 342 and 12 lieu passed
3. 1.59 and entreasure to conserence.
AC\103 If AL ASSACE
Prior :- passage £ the Lan rum- viffin substitute the Fouse,
wile in the Committee of the While DEPEASED
1. The Shelley substitute,
8490, by teller vote
of 132 yeas to 245 hays.
2. the swall accistment to prevent discrimination, by
teller vao of 100 yeas to 215 nays.
AND ADDRED
3.
The Landra 16fin amendment (amended) by toller
vot: of 11 yeas to 200 nays.
4.
When
the Cormittee rose the House by roll call vote
o. yeas to 201 nays substituted the Landrum-
rithin agendment (amended) for the Committee Bill
$400.
(A)
By voice vote the following amendmonts were
adoped to the Landrum-Chiffin substitute:
1. Loser amendment - educed enalty for depriva-
tion of rights of Union members from $10,000
and 2 years in prison to $1,000 and 1 year
in prison.
2. Mitener amendment prohibiting cortain
discipline by Labor or anizations.
Suspensions
Under suspension o, the ules the House passed 8 bills:
.00 fk llowing (u) by voice upto:
THE GERALD R. in
409 - Extend oat Agreement 00 of 1949.
4697 - Equalization of Allotments, Agua Caliente
IGlm Springs) Reservation in California.
-2-
C. 5992 - "inute an ational distorical ark, Massa-
chesetts.
D. 1.7. 5068 - Shipping Act, For e1 Flag Affiliations.
3. .... 8238 - Providing for a Study of Motor Vehicles
Exhausts.
2. R.J.Nes.283 - Perliamentary Conferences with Mexico.
And thefollowi 23 2 by roll call vote:
G. B... 6904 - Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental
Relations, yeas 335 to 31 nays.
H. H.Con.Res.369 - China, Sense of Congress Against Seating
in the United lations, yeas 368 to 2 nays.
Century 21 Exposition Seattle, wash.)
The lieuse passed by voice vote I. 8374 - Clavifying P.L.85-880,
and authorized funds ($12,500,000) for Federal overnment
partici; ation in the Century 21 Exposition in beattle, Wash.1961.
clitical readcasting
the lieuse by Vt: ice vote passed 5.4. 7985 - (5.2424) (amended) -
Amending the Communications Act of 1934 with respect to equal
time for candidates for public office.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Anticultural Surplus Commodities
The H we passed by roll call vote of 305 year to 53 mays
H. 8009 (amended) - Amending the vicultural Trade De-
velopment and Assistance Act of 2954 - extending authorities
of Title I and II and strengthenin the program of disposals
through barter.
NOSE:
Prior to firal passage the House adop cod by roll call vote
of 232 yeas to 127 mays Sullivan (N.Y.) amendment authorizing
initiation of a food sta plan for distribution of surplus
commodities to needy persons in the 7.8.
Also adopted Hoeven amendments to Colete lan uage to expland
barder program - and also the Laird amendment renut the
provision of funds for programs by Appro riation to mittee.
LIBRARY GERALD ? FORD
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MONDAY, August 24
Depressed Domestic Mining Industry
The House passed by voice vote H.Con.Res. 177, stating it is the sense
of Congress to encourage the maintenance and devo opment of the domestic
mining industry.
Safety Standards - Government Vehicles
(Vote Wednesday on recommittal and final passage)
The House sus ended further consideration of H.P. 1342 - Providing Safety
Standards for passenger carrying Government motor vehicles when Pennett
of Michigan objected to division vote on recomittal because quorum was
not present.
PROGRAM AREAD
A. H.R. 2236 - Limiting Taxes and Pankruptcy. Open rule, 1 hour.
B. H.R. 7242 - Bankruptcy Act, Statutory Liens. Open rule, 1 hour.
C. R.L. F121 - Assistance for Construction of Fishing Vessels.
Open rule, 2 hours.
WORLAND
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
February 25, 1969
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Republican Leader, U. S. House of Representatives
I have long personally advocated making advancement in the postal system
a matter of merit and opening the top job in each Post Office to career employes
on that basis.
For that and other reasons I wholeheartedly support President Nixon's
legislative proposals aimed at taking politics out of the Post Office Department.
Delivery of the mail is a government service which touches the lives of
all Americans. It is a service which must be improved or it will break down under
the steadily increasing weight of demands placed upon it.
Enactment of the President's recommendations for reform of the postal
system will benefit the Nation. That is the clearest indication of their merit.
In addition, conditions in the Post Office Department place a mark of greatest
urgency on the actions proposed by the President.
I urge that the Congress approve the President's proposals as soon as
possible after thorough examination of the legislation required to implement them.
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LIBRARY GERALD ? FORD