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White House - Congressional Leadership Meeting, 5/13/69 (includes minutes and Ford notes)
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White House - Congressional Leadership Meeting, 5/13/69 (includes minutes and Ford notes)
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This file includes informamtion regarding Core, Whitney Young, Ralph Abernathy, and Abe Fortas.
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Robert T. Hartmann Papers
House of Representatives Subject Files
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Civil rights
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1969
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REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP MEETING
May 13, 1969
AGENDA
after heavings
8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
I. Status of the Surcharge
next week probablety
9:00 - 9:30 a.m.
II. Draft Reform
6 W/H milting.
Frind-
Byones, Williams
Walker w
Presidents' Vut nam spuch
GERALD LIBRARY ? FORD
DIARY OF WHITE HOUSE LEADERSHIP
MEETINGS -- 91st CONGRESS
May 13, 1969
At 8:35 a.m., the President recognized Byrnes, who
reported "real trouble" on the surtax extension.
Government witnesses will be heard beginning Tuesday.
The Administration needs to dramatize the urgency of
extension. Otherwise, Members on the Committee and
on the Floor will justify negative votes for a variety of
reasons, including high military expenditures, debt ceil-
ing increase, spending ceiling, repeal of the 7% invest-
ment tax credit, and SQ forth. RMN asked if this means
that something must be "tacked on" such as a spending
ceiling. Byrnes answered that the most important thing
now is to mobilize a sense of urgency. He suggested
that the President might want to call a bipartisan leader-
ship meeting at the White House after the hearings have
been completed.
Ford said that he had read in a Cleveland newspaper that
Vanik, a member of the Ways and Means Committee
and a member of the DSG, had predicted the surtax
extension would fail. Williams said that the bill would
be in even more trouble in the Senate. Two Senators
will attempt to attach expanded Social Security riders.
He said that too much emphasis on a $5 billion surplus
in the Nixon budget was creating opposition to the surtax
extension. As a matter of fact, Williams said that if
he were convinced that there wasn't a surplus, he would
vote against the extension. RMN said, "But you know
better?" Walker expressed the confidence that in the two
Committees, things are in "pretty good shape. There
will be a "satisfactory resolution of the spending ceiling
question.' Mayo said that Mills and Mahon have talked
and apparently agreed on the ceiling. Mayo called attention
to the problems created by a ceiling which permits no
exceptions whatever. It is difficult to accommodate
unanticipated increases in uncontrollable items such as
Social Security and veterans pensions.
BERALD FORD LIBRARY
2
Laird reported the thrust of the presidential message
recommending draft reform is to be delivered to the
Congress today. Currently, we are drafting about
300,000 a year and 400,000 are volunteering as a
matter of draft motivation. In addition, there are
300,000 genuine volunteers. The draft will remain
high for the next 12 months because we are now in
one of the peaks in the cycle. Under the new plan,
all 19-year-olds will go into a pool subject to random
selection for the draft. Each will be given an oppor-
tunity to choose military service before or after
college. This will give the young man an opportunity
to control his optimns and make certain what is now
uncertain. A one-ymar period of transition will be
necessary. During that period, those now classed 1-A
will be treated as a part of the pool. Essentially the
same plan passed the Senate last year. Russell, Stennis
and Mansfield have said that they will oppose efforts to
attach amendments. If amendments are added in the
Senate, the House will not consider the bill. Tower
inquired if the plan preserves college deferment. Laird
replied that the young man has his option on under-
graduate school. There will be no graduate deferments
except for medical and clerical students, for each of
which there is a special draft law. Wilson asked if this
plan intends a 4-year college term after which the
student would assume an "artifical 19-year-old status. "
Laird replied in the affirmative. RMN asked why it was
necessary to have any exceptions and if one exception
would opentthe door to more. The reply was that the
change would not provide any exceptions which are not
already provided in present law. Laird said that
objections had already been raised by Members of the
Senate and House Armed Services Committees; that the
new plan would make it possible for too many college
students who have already been deferred to escape
service altogether. He litted other possible objections.
& FORD LIBRARY
3
RMN said that some inequities are bound to crop into any
reform effort. Ford shid that the change involves some
political denger. Parents of boys who have gone to Vietnam
and fought and bled and died will be incensed if they feel
that the new plan will make it possible for college students
who have been deferred and immunized during the period
of heavy fighting to avoid service altogether. Mrs. Smith
said she thinks the reforms proposal is timely because the
people are "in the modd for a change." She has doubts
about the details but is prepared to yo along and resist
amendments. Taft said he feels that a change is right
but that the mood of the country about Vietnam raises
some questions about timing. He believes the message
should make some mention of the possibility of later
developing an all-volunteer force. RMN said that the
message will go down on Tuesday and that on Thursday,
he will meet with Tom Gates, who heads the Commission
to study that question. Scott said that the message will
likely increase agitation for lowering the voting age. Arends
said he hoped the time table could be arranged so as not to
interfere with more important Committee business. Latal
said that Stennis had told him that this measure would be
deferred until the procurement bill had been completed,
possibly the last of June. RMN inquired what amendments
might be anticipated. Laird called attention to amendments
concerning conscientious objectors, length of draft service,
the power of the President to commit troops abroad. Tower
added graduate deferments and other exemptions. Further
with reference to the time table, Laird indicated that the
message would go forward as soon as the President had
signed it. RMN said, "Whatever you send over, I sign. If
it's all right, I signed it. If it's wrong, you signed it." He
then closed the meeting on this point and suggested the
Secretary might want "to get back to his military-industrial
complex.
RMN reported on the policy which had been fixed concerning
the visit by Rev. Abernathy. At the conclusion of this meeting
GERALD LIBRARY P. FORD
4
at 10:00 a. m., he will be received by the Urban Affairs
Council in the Cabinet Room. The members will listen,
and if they choose to do so, express views. He inquired
how the matter is being handled in the House and Senate.
Dirksen said that last year he received a wire requesting
a meeting with Senate leaders. A meeting was arranged
in Mansfield's office, where "he droned along, not
prepared in his subject." This year, in reply to the
telegram, Dirksen said that there is a leadership meeting
today and that he wouldn't be able to grant a special
audience. Ford said that it will be handled much the same
as last year. The meeting is scheduled this afternoon
at 2:30, and it will be bipartisan as before. RMN said
that the movement is badly split in a leadership fight
among CORE, Whitney Young, Mrs. King, Rev. Abernathy
and others. He suggested that we should not become
involved in a family fight. Scott said that 17 Senators
met yesterday and heard their demands. The meeting
was low key. They requested further meetings with
individual Cabinet members. No promises were made.
A "very wrathful Indian" included in her demands that
the Capitol and White House be moved to the middle of
the country so that the poor people could walk to it
conveniently from all sides.
The President asked for a report from the House and
Senate. Dirksen said that several treaties are under
consideration. Ford said that this is a very light work
week. Next week the supplemental appropriations bill
will be considered.
RMN sketched briefly the message he expects to deliver
Wermesday night by live television. It will not be one
recommending withdrawal of forces. He met yesterday
with Abrams to discuss military proppects and particu-
larly the status of the program of training of the South
Vietnamese. The response was encouraging. They also
LIBRARY GERALD R. FORD
5
discussed possible future contingency actions. RMN
first considered calling a bipartisan leadership meet-
ing. He decided not to do so because he feels the need
to clear with the South Vietnamese in such matters. It
is important to win their confidence. It is difficult to
make peace in company with the South Vietnamese; it
is impossible to make peace without them. The speech,
which will be principally in the nature of a report to the
nation on the Vietnam War and the Paris negotiations,
will be delivered Wednesday: Ambassador Lodge will
be in Washington to meet with the National Security
Council Thursday; on Friday, the Paris meeting. which
is usually closed, will be open. In the telecast, the
President will make it plain that he does not look with
favor upon the enemy's tactic of launching a new military
campaign at the same time ft is allegedly launching a
peach campaign. He warned that he would not raise false
hopes. The war will not be over by summer. We will
explore every effort to win peace by negotiation. Panic
will nbt promote peace. Neither will total intransigence.
The President said that he did not intend to criticize the
critics but that he would be unaffected by them. He intends
to "plow ahead on the program and policy that have been
planned. 11 Those who criticize today may look bad in two
months.
The President then said that it was time to clear the room
for Rev. Abernathy.
RICHARD H. POFF
VERY
LISNAMA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 13, 1969
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
PRESS CONFERENCE
OF
CONGRESSMAN GERALD R. FORD
THE ROOSEVELT ROOM
AT 10:01 A.M. EDT
CONGRESSMAN FORD: First I should explain why
Senator Dirksen is not here. He has to go up and introduce
Don Rumsfeld to the Senate Committee involving the confirma-
tion of Don as the new head of OEO.
The meeting with the President this morning was
shorter than usual. There was a limited agenda because the
President has another meeting in the Cabinet Room, I think
with Dr. Abernathy.
The subject matter primarily involved the decision
of the President, which he made this morning, to firm up
his message which is going to the Congress today on draft
revision. The message will primarily urge that the Congress
amend the present law sufficiently to give him the authority
to select nineteen-year-olds for the draft and to remove
some of the uncertainties that presently exist for young
men who come of draft age, and then from nineteen to twenty-six,
have the problem hanging over their heads.
Under the proposal by the President there will be
random selection in the nineteen-year-old category each year.
If a man is selected under this random process and it is
estimated it would be about one in six or one in seven, he
still gets the benefit of his educational deferment, or any
other deferment. However, he knows at the age of nineteen
that he is in that category, which means he will be selected
when he concludes his temporary deferment.
I think the uncertainty of all young people from
nineteen to twenty-six that they are going to be drafted has
created a great deal of concern and apprehension and this
proposal, which to a large degree is comparable to what the
draft bill was that was passed by the Senate a year or two
ago, would be a step in the right direction.
Other than that there was no discussion, except
in broad outline of the President's speech tomorrow night.
GERALD
FORD
2
How soon would this new draft proposal go
into effect?
LIBRARY
CONGRESSMAN FORD: The message is coming up today.
Hearings will be held, it is hoped, in the Senate first.
As I understand it, Senator Stennis is currently conducting
hearings on the procurement proposals. I assume this
would follow those hearings in the Senate.
MORE
(OVER)
- 2 -
?
But I mean if it was approved and passed?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: Probably if it is approved in the
form recommended by the President, it would go into effect
January 1.
?
What do you think of the prospects?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I hope they are good, but at the
moment it might be a little hasardous to be categorical.
I think the removal of the uncertainty for young people
going into the draft age is a very, very important problem.
I think the public wants it. I think the Congress wants it.
The Senate approved it basically two years ago. I would
hope that we can do it this year so that young people who
become nineteen next year will be affected by the change.
Q
Did the President discuss the timing of his
speech and why he is making his speech now, what he is
trying to accomplish?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: He said that approximately three
and a half months had passed and he felt that it was desir-
able that he lay out the Administration's views on the
situation in Paris and elsewhere?
0
Did he tell you what he was going to say?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: No, he did not.
Q
Will it be a sort of State of the Union Message?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I would not say a State of the
Union Message. It is a summary of the situation in Paris
and related areas.
Ω
Did he talk about troop withdrawals?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: No, there was no discussion about
troop withdrawals, but it was said that the speech tomorrow
night would not involve troop withdrawals.
0
I was going to ask you whether it was just a
summary or will there be proposals of one kind or another,
specifically diplomatic proposals?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: This detail was not discussed.
Cr
Did you discuss the Fortas affair at all?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: The Fortas matter did not come up.
a
You were quoted yesterday saying that you had
cautious optimism about peace in Vietnam. Were those views
reinforced today?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: My observations of yesterday
about cautious optimism were reinforced by the general
is
summary the President gave us.
RALED
i
MORE
)
- 3 -
Q
Did you see the speech?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I have not.
?
Are you familiar with the disclosures on
Justice Fortas that the Justice Department has? Have you
been told about those and what they are?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I know nothing about the details.
I hear the rumors and read the stories, but I don't know
the details.
Q
Have you been given a report by the Justice
Department?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I have not.
0
Have you asked for it?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I have felt that under the circum-
stances, with the possibility of some action in the House,
that it was not advisable for me to know at this stage any
of these additional charges, if they do exist.
0
What took place in your meeting this morning
with the President to reinforce your cautious optimism about
Vietnam?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I think it was an accumulation
of what we have heard heretofore, that the Administration
has a deliberate plan and program, not only involving the
Paris negotiations, but military operations. I have a great
deal of confidence in the President and I think that knowing
he has such a plan and a program gives me additional hope
that we can expect some results.
Q
Is it a plan that is in force now, that is proceeding?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I assume all of the steps taken
by this Administration since January 20 in this regard are
predicated on a coordinated plan, military and diplomatic,
and I think they are.
Q
Will the public be advised about such a plan
tomorrow night?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: We did not get into these details,
but I assume that this speech is a part of the desire on the part
of the President to bring the public up to date on what he has
been able to do and what his future aims and objectives are.
?
Does this plan regarding military operations
include a cutback in U. S. forces in Vietnam?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: That was not discussed.
MORE
(OVER)
V..
GERALD
FORD
LISSA
- 4 -
0
Is the plan now at the stage that the President
anticipated it would be when he took office? I imagine
he had a timetable.
CONGRESSMAN FORD: We did not discuss that aspect
of it. I had the feeling the President believes things
are moving along as he hoped for or anticipated, but that
aspect was not discussed.
Ω
Did the President discuss at all how the other
side is behaving with respect to a settlement?
CONGRESSMAN FOPD: I think the President feels
some progress, from the point of view of the enemy, is
being made, but we did not get into the details as to what
specifically he thought was a change in their attitude.
?
Mr. Ford, was there any discussion of any other
messages to come or any other items on the legislative
agenda?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: There were not. The draft
message was the only specific legislative matter that
came before the group this morning.
MORE
GERALD = 100
- 5 -
0
Mr. Ford, under the present draft system the Army
gets many of their junior officers from the colleges who are
in effect sidestepping the draft. Under the system where the
ROTC is being removed from the campuses, where would the Army
get the officers from, if you remove the uncertainty?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: Ron tells me the details of this
will be given in a briefing here later. I would say that very
few, however, of the colleges, have actually eliminated the
ROTC, some, but a limited number. It will be interesting to
see what happens if they ever demand the removal of ROTC from
land grant colleges. You know there is a specific requirement
that a land grant college, if they expect to get Federal funds
under the Morrill Act, have ROTC. Now, to my knowledge, none
of those colleges where this problem has arisen fall in that
category, but I would be interested to see just what the
attitude will be of some of these college presidents when that
problem gets on their agenda.
2
Mr. Ford, you are not going along with his premise
that a man who goes into ROTC as a volunteer is sidestepping
the draft, are you?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: Personally, I do not, because
in most cases where the ROTC exists, they volunteer. I might
say I have a son who is a ROTC volunteer and I don't think he
is sidestepping the draft by taking such action.
Q
Has random selection ever been done before?
Wasn't it sort of turned down the last time?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I think in World War II, when
some of us here had our numbers drawn out of the lot, that
was pretty random, and that was in effect for some four
years and some of us were affected by it.
Q
Is that the way it will work this time?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: Within age categories, starting
at age nineteen.
2
Was there any report this morning or any dis-
cussion of the prospects of the ABM?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: None whatsoever.
Q
Did you discuss campus unrest and any possible
legislation?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: No, sir.
0
Did you get the impression that the President
is going to make any new announcements tomorrow night?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I think the mere fact that he is
making his first nationwide speech implies there will be something
of public interest in this matter.
MORE
(OVER)
GERALE R. FORD 1
- 6 -
2
Did you discuss the job corps?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: We did not.
0
How long did the meeting last?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: It started at 8:30 and we quit
at 9:45.
2
Did the President say why he decided to rush this
message through today?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: There was no specific reason. The
Secretary of Defense was there and took 45 minutes, or there-
abouts, to answer a great many questions raised by some of the
members. This was the real core of the meeting this morning.
Ω Were you briefed by Attorney General Mitchell
last week on the Fortas affair, at the Leadership meeting?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: No, he was there for the purpose
of talking about one of the crime messages and someone raised
the Fortas matter, inasmuch as it appeared in the Life Magazine
article the day before, but he did not brief us as such on the
Fortas matter then and the matter did not come up today.
c
Did he indicate that there was something more
on the Fortas affair other than what has been said?
CONGPESSMAN FORD: I always felt those meetings, other
than what either Senator Dirksen or I give you, are executive
session, SO I don't think I should go beyond what you have read
and heard the last few days.
THE PRESS: Thank you.
(END)
(AT 10:10 A.M. EDT)
LISTER SEBALD R. in
HOUSE ACTION, PERIOD MAY 6 THROUGH MAY 12, 1969
Tuesday, May 6, 1969
MILK PROGRAM
The House by record vote of 384 yeas to 2 nays passed H.R. 5554,
CO provide a special milk program for children.
THE FINDLEY AMENDMENT
Prior to passage the House by a division vote of F veas to
85 hays rejected the Findley (T11.) Amendment specifying
that milk only be available to low income children.
RECOMMIT
Also prior to passage the House by a voice vote rejected the
straight recommit motion of Teague of California.
Tuesday, May 13, 1969
Eleven Bills from Committee on Ways and Means (by unanimous consent)
Wednesday and Balance of Week
H.J.Res.677, to authorize the President to reappoint as Chairman
of the Joint Chiers of Staff the officer serving in that posi-
tion April 1, 190). (by unanimous consent)
H. Con.Res.207, relating to General Omar N. Bradley. (by unanimous consent)
11. R. 8020, to provide round trip transportation to home port for
a member of the Naval service on permanent duty aboard a ship
overhauling away from home port. (by unanimous consent)
H.R. 6790, to authorize an increase in the number of Marine Corps
Reserve officers who may serve in active status in comined
grades of Brigadier and Major General. (by unanimous consent)
H.R.8018, to Amend Title 10, U.S. Code, to include a foster child
within definition of dependent. (by unanimous consent)
S. 1011, to authorize appropriations for the saline water conversion
program, FY 1970. (subject to rule being granted)
H. R.4152, to authorize appropriations for certain Maritime Programs
of the Department of Commerce. (subject to rule being granted)
FORD
GERALD
LIBRARY
Jerry EXECUTIVE - 3.3600 attached Per ROBERT onr am T. copy BORTH versation of a arize letu
- to Byee Harlow summ
the main points GENERAL 777-14TH
ELECTRIC COMPANY
STREET, N. W.
Partir
WASHINGTON 5, D. C.
GENERAL
ELECTRIC
COMPANY
570 LEXINGTON AVE., NEW YORK, N.Y. 10022
May 5, 1969
Honorable Bryce Harlow
Assistant to the President
The White House
Jom on Unimployment
Washington, D. C.
compensation
Dear Bryce:
In case it hasn't come to your attention yet, you may be interested to
know about a proposal of considerable concern to the business community which
has been cooking for a long period at the Labor Department and is about to be
/
submitted to the White House for endorsement. The proposal is an omnibus
unemployment compensation measure which was outlined by the Labor Department
2
to the U.S. Chamber and other business representatives last week in Washington.
While the measure does cover the waterfront and includes some items that are not
too controversial, it does resurrect federal benefit standards for the state unemploy-
3
ment system.
4
The last time this was a major issue was in 1966 when the House passed a
modified version of the Johnson Administration's federal benefit standards bill
H.R. 8282 - without benefit standards. This modified bill was H.R. 15119. The
Senate then added benefit standards which would have increased gradually the
b
maximum weekly benefit to 66-2/3% of state average weekly wages. The bill died
7
in a joint House-Senate Conference.
General Electric and many in the business community supported the House
version (H. R. 15119) including the concept of a recession extended benefit program
but opposed the federal benefit standards saying that the case had not been made that
8
the state programs were generally inadequate - while admitting that some states
were lagging a bit.
It would seem a shame for the new Administration to endorse this remnant
9
of the Johnson era, especially without at least having all the pertinent facts to judge
the quality of the state programs.
While it would be logical for the new Administration to urge improvements
10
in the unemployment compensation program, it would not seem desirable to endorse
the program of the prior Administration for federal benefit standards or federal
financing of extended benefits.
GERALD LIDRARY ? FORD
May 5, 1969
Page Two
We have long supported the former Eisenhower Administration idea that
11
a generally responsible program was one which permitted the majority of the
beneficiaries to receive 50% of their pay. The Labor Department, after being
prodded for years, has now agreed to provide essential state by state data on
this by year end. The best available but still inconclusive data suggests this
goal is being met in most states although there are unfortunately a few notable
exceptions such as in Indiana and Ohio. Until better evidence is shown, I wonder
why the White House should endorse the Labor Department's long-standing program
in
3
leading to the federalization of the state systems which for many years have been
working quite satisfactorily.
Incidentally, you should know that we, together with others in business,
are currently supporting the Administration's proposal which would raise additional
14
revenue now through advancing the payment of federal unemployment taxes by
changing from annual to quarterly payments. This is a worthwhile measure.
At any rate, I thought this information might be useful and also perhaps
serve as an advance indicator of the employer interest in and feeling on the subject.
Best regards.
Sid Sincerely,
E. S. Willis, Manager
Employee Benefits
ESW/cm
LIURARY GERALD ? 10%
MINORITY LEADER
United States
house of Representatibes
Draft -
1). Change in
War,
2). ABM.
FORD LIBRARY is OTHER
conflict.
3). Mini change
open up subject.
\
MINORITY LEADER
United States
house of Representatives
Pay for U.P.
& Apeaker.
GERALD LIBRARY ? FORD
-
MINORITY LEADER
United States
house of Representatives
How about
Clahly Hunter?
Rommy suggested
Having him for exec
director (?) of Comsat-
type Housing Corp.
under Karser.
nothing has happens
sence
X
WHITE HOUSE LEADERSHIP NOTES
RHP:MJ
May 13, 1969
At 8:35 a.m. the President recognized Byrnes, who reported "real
trouble" on the surtax estension. Government witnesses will be
heard beginning Tuesday. The Administration needs to dramatize
the urgency of extension. Otherwise, Members on the Committee
and on the Floor will justify negative votes for a variety of reasons,
including high military expenditures, debt ceiling increas, spending
ceiling, repeal of the 7% investment tax credit, and so forth. RMN
asked if this means that something must be "tacked on" such as a
spending ceiling. Byrnes answered that the most important thing
now is to mobilize a sense of urgency. He suggested that the
President might want to call a bipartisan leadership meeting at
the White House after the hearings have been completed.
Ford said that he had read in a Cleveland newspaper that
Vanik, a member of the Ways and Means Committee and a member
of the DSG, had predicted the surtax extension would fail. Williams
said that the bill WÓ uld be in even more trouble in the Senate.
Two Senators will attempt to attach expanded Social Security riders.
He said that too much emphasis on a $5 billion surplus in the Nixon
budget was creating opposition to the surtax extension. As a matter
of fact, Williams said that if he were convinced that there wasn't
a surplus, he would vote against the extension. RMN said, "But
you know better ?" Walker expressed the confidence that in the two
Committees, things are in " pretty good shape. " There will be a
"satisfactory resolution of the spending ceiling question. " Mayo
said that Mills and Mahon have talked and apparently agreed on the
ceiling. Mayo called attention to the problems created by a ceiling
which permits no exceptions whatever. It is difficult to accommodate
GERALD FORD
2
uncontority be
unanticipated increases in controlled items such as Social Security
and veterans pensions.
Laird reported the thrust of the presidential message to be
delivered to the Congress on today Wednesday recommending draft reform.
Currently, we are drafting about 300, 000 a year and 400, 000 are
volunteering as a matter of draft motivation. In addition, there are
300, 000 genuine volunteers. The draft will remain high for the
next 12 months because we are now in one of the peaks in the cycle.
Under the new plan, all 19-year-olds will go into a pool subject to
random selection for the draft. Each will be given an opportunity to
Service
choose military before or after college. This will give the young
man an opportunity to control his options and make certain what
is now uncertain. A one-year period of transition will be necessary.
During that period, those now classed 1-A will be treated as a part
of the pool. Essentially the same plan passed the Senate last year.
Russell, Stennis and Mansfield have said that they will oppose
efforts to attach amendments. If amendments are added in the
Senate, the House will not consider the bill. Tower inquired if the
plan preserves college deferment. Laird replied that the young man
has his options on undergraduate school. There will be nodeferments Graduate
except for medical and clerical students , for each of which there is a
special draft law. Wilson asked if the plan intends a 4-year college
term after which the student would assume artifical 19-year old
status. 11 Laird replied in the affirmative. RMN asked why it was
necessary to have any exceptions and if one exception would open
the door to more. The reply was that the change would not provide
any exceptions which are not already provided in present law. Laird
FORD
said that objections had already been raised by Members of the Senate GERA
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3
and House Armed Services Committees; that the new plan would make
it possible for too many college students who have already been
deferred to escape service altogether. He listed other possible
objections. RMN said that some inequities are bound to crop into
any reform effort. Ford said that the change involves some political
danger. Parents of boys who have gone to Vietnam and fought and
bled and died will be incensed if they feel that the new plan will make
it possible for college students who have been deferred bzz and
immunized during the R eriod of heavy fighting to avoid
service altogether. Mrs. Smith said she thinks the reform proposal
is timely because the people are in the mood for a change. She has
doubts about the details but is prepared to go along and resist amend-
ments. Taft saif he feels that a change is right but that the mood
of the country about Vietnam raises some questions about timing.
He believes the message should make some mention of the possibility
of later developing an all-volunteer force. RMN said that the
message will go deaw down on Wednesday Tusday and that on Thursday,
he will meet with Tom Gates, who heads the Commission tostudy
8.
FORD
that question. Scott said that the message will likely increase
033870
agitation for lowering the voting age. Arends said he hoped the
time table could be arranged so as not to interfere with more important
Committee business. Laird said that Stennis had told hem that this
the
measure would be deferred until procurement bill had been completed,
possible the last of June. RMN inquired what amendments might be
anticipated. Laird called attention to amendments concerning
Service
conscientious objectors, length of draft the power of the President
to commit troops abroad. Tower added graduate defenments and other
exemptions. Further with reference to the time table, Laird indicated
that the message would go forward as soon as the President had signed it.
4
RMN said, "Whatever you send over, I sign. If it's all right, I
signed it. If it's wrong, you signed it. 11 He then closed the
meeting on this point and suggested the Secretary might want "to
get back to his military -industrial complex."
RMN reported on the policy which had been fixed concerning the
visit of by Rev. Abernathy. At the conclusion of this meeting at
10:00 a. m., he will be received by the Urban Affairs Council in the
Cabinet Room. The members willisteen and if they choose to do
so, express views. He inquired how the matter is being handled
in the House and Senate. Dirksen said that last year he received
a wire requesting a meeting with Senate leaders. A meeting was
arranged in Mansfield's office, where "he droned along, not prepared
in his subject. " This year, in reply to the telegram, Dirksen said
that there is a leadership meeting today and that he wouldn 't be
able to grant a special audience. Ford said that it will be har dled
much the same as last year. The meeting is scheduled this afternooo
at 2:30, and it will be bipartisan as before. RMN said that the
R.
GEEAT
FORD
movement is badly split amoung in a leadership fight among CORE,
LIBERA
Whitney Young, Mrs. King, Reverend Abernathy and others. He
suggested that we should not become involved in a family fight. Scott
said that 17 Senators met yesterday and heard their demands. The
meeting was low key. They requested further meetings with individual
Cabinet members. No priomises were made. A "very wrathful Indian"
ENXXX included in her demands that the Capitol and White House be
moved to the middle of the country SO that the poor people could walk
Conveniently
to it, from all sides.
The President asked for a report from the House and Senate
5
Dirksen said that several treaties are under consideration. Ford
said that this is a very light work week. Next week the supplemental
appropriations bill will be considered.
RMN then sketched briefly the message he expected to deliver
Wednesday night by live XXXXXX television. It will not be one
recommending withdrawal of forces. He met yesterday MXXNXENS
with Abrams to discuss military prospects and particularly the
status of the program of training of the South Vietnamese. The
response was encouraging. They also discussed possible future
contingenciesxy action RMN first considered calling a
bipartisan leadership meeting. He decided not to do so because he
feels the need to clear with the South Vietnamese in such matters.
to
It is important to win their confidence. It is difficult At make peace
in company with the South Vietnamese; it is impossible to make
peace without them. The speech, which will be principally in the
nature of a report to the nation on the Vietnam War and the Paris
negotiations, will be delivered Wednesday; Ambassador Lodge
GERAID
will be in Washington to meet with the National Security Council
Thurdday; XXN on Friday, the Paris meeting, which is usually closed,
will be open. In the telecast, the Prewident will make it plain
that he does not look with favor upon the enemy's tactic of launching
a new military campaign at the same time it is allegedly launching
a peace campaign. He warned that he would not raise false hopes.
The war will not be over by summer. We will explore every effort
to win peace by negotiation. Panic will not promote peace. Neither
will total intransigence. The President said that he did not intend
to critizize the critics but that he would be unaffected by them. He
intends to "plow ahead on the progam and policies that have been
planned.
"
Those who criticize today may look bad in two months.
6
The President then said that it was time to clear the room for
Rev. Abernathy.
Richard H. Poff
15.3 10 STATE LIBRARY
FOR RELEASE AT 12 NOON, EDT
May 13, 1969
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
For almost two million young men who reach the age of military
service each year and for their families the draft is one of the
most important facts of life. It is my conviction that the disruptive
impact of the military draft on individual lives should be minimized
as much as possible, consistent with the national security. For this
reason I am today asking the Congress for authority to implement
important draft reforms.
Ideally, of course, minimum interference means no draft at all.
I continue to believe that under more stable world conditions and
with an armed force that is more attractive to volunteers, that ideal
can be realized in practice. To this end, I appointed, on March 27,
1969, an Advisory Commission on an All-Volunteer Armed Force.
I asked that group to develop a comprehensive plan which will attract
more volunteers to military service, utilize military manpower in a
more efficient way, and eliminate conscription as soon as that is
feasible. I look forward to receiving the report of the Commission
this coming November.
Under present conditions, however, some kind of draft will be
needed for the immediate future. As long as that is the case, we
must do everything we can to limit the disruption caused by the system
and to make it as fair as possible. For one's vision of the eventual
does not excuse his inattention to the immediate. A man may plan to
sell his house in another year, but during that year he will do what
is necessary to make it livable.
Accordingly, I will ask the Congress to amend the Military Selective
Service Act of 1967, returning to the President the power which he had
prior to June 30, 1967 to modify call-up procedures. I will describe
below in some detail the new procedures which I will establish if
Congress grants this authority. Essentially, I would make the following
alterations:
1. Change from an oldest-first to a youngest-first order of call,
so that a young man would become less vulnerable rather than more
vulnerable to the draft as he grows older.
2. Reduce the period of prime draft vulnerability -- and the
uncertainty that accompanies it from seven years to one year, so
that a young man would normally enter that status during the time he
was nineteen years old and leave it during the time he was twenty.
3. Select those who are actually drafted through a random
system. A procedure of this sort would distribute the risk of call
equally by lot -- among all who are vulnerable during a given year,
rather than arbitrarily selecting those whose birthdays happen to fall
at certain times of the year or the month.
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2
4. Continue the undergraduate student deferment, with the
understanding that the year of maximum vulnerability would come
whenever the deferment expired.
5. Allow graduate students to complete, not just one term, but
the full academic year during which they are first ordered for induction.
6. In addition, as a step toward a more consistent policy of defer-
ments and exemptions, I will ask the National Security Council and the
Director of Selective Service to review all guidelines, standards and
procedures in this area and to report to me their findings and recom-
mendations.
I believe these reforms are essential. I hope they can be implemented
quickly,
Any system which selects only some from a pool of many will
inevitably have some elements of inequity. As its name implies, choice
is the very purpose of the Selective Service System. Such choices
cannot be avoided so long as the supply of men exceeds military re-
quirements. In these circumstances, however, the Government bears
a moral obligation to spread the risk of induction equally among those
who are eligible.
Moreover, a young man now begins his time of maximum vulner-
ability to the draft at age nineteen and leaves that status only when he
is drafted or when he reaches his twenty-sixth birthday. Those who
are not called up are nevertheless vulnerable to call for a seven year
period. For those who are called, the average age of induction can
vary greatly. A few years ago, when calls were low, the average age
of involuntary induction was nearly twenty-four. More recently it has
dropped to just about twenty. What all of this means for the average
young man is a prolonged time of great uncertainty.
The present draft arrangements make it extremely difficult for most
young people to plan intelligently as they make some of the most im-
portant decisions of their lives, decisions concerning education, career,
marriage, and family. Present policies extend a period during which
young people come to look on government processes as particularly
arbitrary.
For all of these reasons, the American people are unhappy about
our present draft mechanisms. Various elements of the basic reforms
which I here suggest have been endorsed by recent studies of the
Selective Service System, including that of the Marshall Commission
of 1967, the Clark panel of that same year, and the reports of both
the Senate and the House Armed Services Committees. Reform of this
sort is also sound from a military standpoint, since younger men are
easier to train and have fewer family responsibilities.
My specific proposals, in greater detail, are as follows:
LIBRATTY GERALD R. FORM
1. A "youngest-first" order of call. Under my proposal, the
government would designate each year a "prime age group, " a different
pool of draft eligibles for each consecutive twelve-month period. (Since
that period would not necessarily begin on January 1, it would be referred
to as a "selective service year. ") The prime age group for any given
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3
selective service year would contain those registrants who were nineteen
years old when it began. Those who received deferments or exemptions
would rejoin the prime age group at the time their deferment or
exemption expired. During the first year that the new plan was in
operation, the prime age group would include all eligible men from
nineteen to twenty-six, not deferred or exempt, so that no one would
escape vulnerability simply because of the transition.
2. Limited vulnerability. Each individual would experience maxi-
mum vulnerability to the draft only for the one selective service year in
which he is in the prime age group. At the end of the twelve-month
period which would normally come sometime during his twentieth
year he would move on to progressively less vulnerable categories
and an entirely new set of registrants would become the new prime age
group. Under this system, a young man would receive an earlier and
more decisive answer to his question, "Where do I stand with the draft? "
and he could plan his life accordingly.
3. A random selection system. Since more men are classified as
available for service each year than are required to fill current or
anticipated draft calls, Selective Service Boards must have some way
of knowing whom to call first, whom to call second, and whom not to
call at all. There must be some fair method of determining the sequence
of induction for those available for service in the prime age group.
In my judgment, a fair system is one which randomizes by lot
the order of selection. Each person in the prime age group should
have the same chance of appearing at the top of the draft list, at the
bottom, or somewhere in the middle. I would therefore establish the
following procedure:
At the beginning of the third month after Congress grants this author-
ity, the first of a sequence of selective service years would begin. Prior
to the start of each selective service year, the dates of the 365 days to
follow would be placed in a sequence determined by a random method.
Those who spend the following year in the pool would take their place in
the draft sequence in the same order that their birthdays come up on this
scrambled calendar. Those born on June 21st, for example, might be
at the head of the list, followed by those born on January 12th, who in
turn might be followed by those born on October 23rd. Each year, a
new random order would be established for the next year's draft pool.
In turn those who share the same birthday would be further distributed,
this time by the first letter of their last names. But rather than system-
atically discriminating against those who come at the front of the alphabet,
the alphabet would also be scrambled in a random manner.
Once a person's place in the sequence was determined, that assign-
ment would never change. If he were granted a deferment or exemption
at age nineteen or twenty, he would re-enter the prime age group at the
time his deferment or exemption expires, taking the same place in the
sequence that he was originally assigned.
While the random sequence of induction would be nationally established,
it would be locally applied by each draft board to meet its local quota.
In addition to distributing widely and evenly the risk of induction, the
system would also aid many young men in assessing the likelihood of
induction even before the classification procedure is completed. This
R.
GENKED
FORD
would reduce uncertainty for the individual registrant and, particular
in times of low draft calls, simplify the task of the draft boards.
LIBRARY
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4
4. Undergraduate student deferments. I continue to believe in the
wisdom of college deferments. Permitting the diligent student to complete
his college education without interruption by the draft is a wise national
investment. Under my proposal, a college student who chooses to take a
student deferment would still receive his draft sequence number at the
time he first enters the prime age group. But he would not be subject
to induction until his deferment ended and he re-entered a period of
maximum vulnerability.
5. Graduate Student Induction. I believe that the induction of men
engaged in graduate study should be postponed until the end of the full
academic year during which they are first called to military service. I
will ask the National Security Council to consider appropriate advice to
the Director of the Selective Service to establish this policy. At present,
graduate students are allowed to delay induction only to the end of a
semester. This often means that they lose valuable time which has been
invested in preparation for general examinations or other degree
requirements. It can also jeopardize some of the financial arrangements
which they made when they planned on a full year of schooling. Induction
at the end of a full academic year will provide a less damaging interruption
and will still be consistent with Congressional policy.
At the same time, however, the present policy against general graduate
deferments should be continued, with exceptions only for students in medical
and allied fields who are subject to a later special draft. We must prevent
the pyramiding of student deferments undergraduate and graduate into
a total exemption from military service. For this reason the postponement
of induction should be possible only once for each graduate student.
6. A review of guidelines. The above measures will reduce the
uncertainty of young men as to when and if they may be called for service.
It is also important that we encourage a consistent administration of draft
procedures by the more than 4, 000 local boards around the country. I am
therefore requesting the National Security Council and the Director of
Selective Service to conduct a thorough review of our guidelines, standards
and procedures for deferments and exemptions, and to report their findings
to me by December 1, 1969. While the autonomy of local boards provides
valuable flexibility and sensitivity, reasonable guidelines can help to limit
geographic inequities and enhance the equity of the entire System. The
25, 000 concerned citizens who serve their country so well on these local
boards deserve the best possible framework for their decisions.
Ultimately we should end the draft. Except for brief periods during
the Civil War and World War I, conscription was foreign to the American
experience until the 1940's. Only in 1948 did a peacetime draft become
a relatively permanent fact of life for this country. Now a full generation
of Americans has grown up under a system of compulsory military service.
I am hopeful that we can soon restore the principle of no draft in
peacetime. But until we do, let us be sure that the operation of the
Selective Service System is as equitable and as reasonable as we can
make it. By drafting the youngest first, by limiting the period of
vulnerability, by randomizing the selection process, and by reviewing
deferment policies, we can do much to achieve these important interim
goals. We should do no less for the youth of our country.
R.
RICHARD NIXON
VERALD
FORD
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 13, 1969.
####
NEWS
CONGRESSMAN
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--
May 13, 1969
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., placed in the body of the Congressional
Record of Tuesday, May 13, 1969.
In wartime -- and we are at war -- there is no issue more important to a
young man and his parents than the draft.
The draft is necessary as long as the Vietnam War continues. It is vital,
therefore, that the draft be made as fair as possible. It is also vital that
the uncertainty which clouds the lives of young American men under the present
Selective Service System be eliminated.
To make the draft fair and to wipe out uncertainty the Congress must
reform the present draft law.
President Nixon today has outlined for the Congress the reforms needed to
achieve equity and certainty.
The only way to make the draft fair is to spread the risk of induction
equally among all who are eligible. The President's proposals would do this.
The only way to eliminate uncertainty is to let it be known at an early
age whether or not a man has been chosen to serve sometime during his draft-
eligible years. The President's reform plan also would do this.
The most important feature of the President's suggested reforms is the
plan for choosing by lot those who are actually drafted. Actually, this is the
only change which the President does not now have the power to make on his own.
It is essential that this power be restored to him, for without this change the
others he suggests would not be feasible.
LIBRARY GERALD FORD
Why not? Imagine for a moment that the President has set up a system in
which the prime age group contains younger men and in which each man stays in
that vulnerable status for only a one-year period, when he is 19 or 20. How do
you then decide who will be called first and who will be called last? Who will
be at the top of the draft list and who will be at the bottom? The present law
would force the government to list men for this purpose in the order of their
birthdates.
Now, suppose that there were 500,000 men available in 1970 but that we
only needed 250,000. The only way we could pick out those who would be inducted
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would be to start with those born on January 1, go next to those born on January 2,
then take those who were born on January 3 and so on. Everyone born in January
and February would always be taken. And no one born in November or December
would ever be taken. Those who were born in March and April would run a much,
much greater risk each year than those born in September and October.
Now someone will say, "No! We can do it on a month-by-month basis." But
once again the same problem arises. And all those born on the first, the second,
or the third day of each month would always be called up. Nobody whose birthday
is on the 28th or the 29th or the 30th would run a very great risk ever. Moreover,
since draft calls are almost always higher in some months than in others, those
who happened to have their birthdays in high-call months would be systematically
discriminated against.
In the present oldest-first system, these problems are somewhat obscured
because everyone who is passed over by the draft during one month or one year
moves higher and higher on the list as time passes. But that system has the
overwhelming disadvantage of prolonging the time of vulnerability and uncertainty.
A youngest-first, limited vulnerability system corrects this evil and, in addition,
it provides more easily-trained personnel.
But the only way such a system can work sensibly is if the risk of
induction is equally distributed among all who are eligible. This cannot be done
unless we change from the order of birthdate system to a random system, as the
President proposes.
The draft as it presently operates is terribly disruptive of a young man's
life. It generates tensions and divisions within our society. I believe reform
of the present Selective Service System as proposed by President Nixon is an
absolute necessity.
# # #
LIBRARY GERALD R. FORD