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White House - Congressional Leadership Meeting, 6/17/69 (includes minutes)
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White House - Congressional Leadership Meeting, 6/17/69 (includes minutes)
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Robert T. Hartmann Papers
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Office of Economic Opportunity. 1964-1981
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These documents were scanned from Box 106 of the Robert T. Hartmann Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP MEETING
JUNE 17 - 8:30 a.m.
AGENDA
8:30 - 9:00 a. m.
I. Surtax Status
9:00 - 9:25 a. m.
II. Supplemental Appropriation - Senate
a. Riders -
ABM and MIRV
b. Expenditure Ceiling
9:25 - 9:50 a.m.
III. Voting Rights Act
LIBRARY GERALD FORD
DIARY OF WHITE HOUSE LEADERSHIP
MEETINGS -- 91st CONGRESS
June 17, 1969
Promptly upon entering at 8:40, the President asked
Byrnes to discuss the status of the surtax extension.
Byrnes said the President should give some thought
of "going to the country" to force action. The situation
has deteriorated since the bipartisan Leadership meet-
ing. The Democrats have been procrastinating. The
Committee may reach policy votes today.
Ford agreed about the situation in the Committee but
said that on the Floor the situation has improved. We
can count 130 Republican votes. Byrnes said that the
major problem is that Mills has lost control in the Com-
mittee. Many of the new Democrats are revolting for
different reasons, and Mills does not want to lead until
he knows which way most of his tropps are going.
Kennedy agreed that the liberals are solidifying. Mills
approached him about a compromise wherein the tax
would be extended at 10% until January and then allowed
to expire. Psychologically, such a short extension
would be useless in the fight against inflation. Demo-
cratsuare also trying to bargain for exceptions to the
7% tax credit repeal. RMN inquired about the prospects
in the Rules Committee. Smith said that it is difficult
to predict. After being reported from the Ways and
Means Committee, it must lay over one day. Thereafter,
mischiefmakers could filibuster for a few days, but
eventually, the Rules Committee could report a closed
rule by a week from Mednesday. Byrnes expressed the
fear that the Committee might report a much watered-
down bill. Ford raised the possibility of bargaining
with some of the Democratic members of the Committee
who may be intensely interested in other legislation and
cited Watts's interest in the tobacco bill as an example.
He said some Republicans could be very flexible in decid-
ing how to vote on this legislation.
SEURLD LIBRAST FORD
2
RMN said that it would be better to wait on "going to the country"
until the bill reaches the Floor. Summarizing the impact of the
so-called "poverty exemptions, he said that 5 million taxpayers
below the poverty income level would be exempted completely;
12 million altogether would be benefitted; and the total revenue
loss would be in the neighborhood of $700 million.
Williams said the Democrats are pursuing a two-fold political
strategy. First, they plan to procrastinate until the Johnson
surtax has expired and then allow the sentiment in the country
to build up enough to require re-imposition, realizing that this
would convert it into a Nixon surtax. Secondly, their plan is to
please liberals by showing support for the 7% tax credit repeal
while at the same time advocating individual exemptions from
the repeal, thereby attracting the support of the individual
industries concerned. He recommended to forget about a
continuing resolution concerning the withholding tax tables
because this will take too long. Instead, Secretary Kennedy
should make a public announcement that employers should
continue to withhold at the same rate. In this connection, he
said that the President should not worry if the bill is defeated
because the public reaction later will force the Congress to
revive the surtax.
The President asked Attorney General Mitchell to discuss the
testimony he plans to give on the Voting Rights Act. Mitchell
said that his information is that no matter what position the
Administration takes, the House Committee and the House itself
likely will pass a simple 5-year extension of the Act. This is
contrary to the position the President took in the campaign that
all bigislation should be universally applicable in the country at
large and not targeted against any section of the country. In the
shadow of the Gaston County case, the only viable alternative to
the Committee bill and the only approach that will translate the
President's campaign position into legislative action would be a
repeal of the literacy test ban nationally. Formerly, the thought
has been that the ban should be permanent. Since many Republicans
favor a literamy test, the Justice Department is now proposing that
ban be temporary only and that during the period of suspension, a
commission be appointed to study the possibility of further electoral
BERALD FORD LIBRAHY
3
reform. That commission would be able to act with the benefit
of the new census data which will be available by the end of 1971.
McCulloch disagreed. He said that the Administration should
champion a simply extension of the Act. He said that it has been
demonstrably successful in registering Negro voters in the south
and making it possible for Negro candidates to be elected. He
said that the leaders of the civil rights movements have taken a
firm position in support of a straight extension and would oppose
a national ban of literacy tests, whether it is permanent or
temperary. He also said that vote fraud reform legislation should
be considered separately. Scott agreed. He said that the "barons of
the civil rights movement" would treat the commission proposal
with contempt. He recommended that the Administration endorse
a simple extension and then recommend separate legislation for a
commission. Hruska agreed that the function of the Voting Rights
Act should be maintained but that it was important to keep the
pledge the President made in the campaign to extend its reach to
the nation at large. The President recognized me (Poff), and I
attempted to explain what is actually involved when we talk about
extension of the Voting Rights Act. The Act has 19 sections.
Seventeen of those sections are permanent legislation. Only two
expire in August 1970. So, when we talk about extension of the
Voting Rights Act, we are talking about extension of those two
sections. The first of these, Section IV, contains the dual trigger
mechanism. That mechanism is an artificial, mathematical
formula geared to the 1964 election. If less than 50% of the voting-
age population of a state is not registered or if less than 50% voted
in the 1964 election, then the state is automatically covered and its
literacy test is suspended. The second section, Section V, requires
any state covered by the trigger to obtain prior approval from the
Attorney General or a 3-judge court in the District of Columbia
before it can implement any statute passed by its legislature which
modifies in any part the state's voting laws. I then pointed out
FORD & LIBRARY GENALD
that the Voting Rights Act had indeed been effective, and southern
states had made dramatic progress in eliminating the evil of racial
discrimination in voting. By way of example, Mississippi registra-
tions have increased from 6% of the voting age population to 60%.
With the temporary national suspension of literacy tests, Mississippi
and all southern states will improve materially in the next few years.
4
I suggested that the best policy would be rewarding southern
states when they make progress in this important area and that
a simply extension is not a reward but a further humiliating
penalty. The President asked me if I accepted the idea of a
Federal repeal of state literacy tests. I replied that instinctively,
philosophically and conceptually, I rejected it. At the same time,
I would be prepared to accept a temporary suspension if that were
the only mechanism possible to make the application of the Act
universal. (As an aside, the President asked me if "philosophically
and conceptually" I disagreed with the Powell decision handed down
yesterday. With a pause intended to convey the fact that I do not
disagree with all parts of the Powell dicision, I simply replied,
"Mr. President, I believe that is a fair statement. ") Dirksen
said that he agreed with Dick Poff that the best policy is to reward
states who show progress after the Congress has legislated. He
favors a literacy test, but he feels that a temporary suspension
nationwide is justified in light of the Gaston County decision and
in keeping with the Presidential campaign statement. Mundt
said that he agreed with Dick Poff about the inappropriate target
date for the automatic trigger. He inquired why that date could
not be adjusted from 1964 to 1968. I said, "Senator, this was the
first suggestion I made when the subject first arose this year.
However, I must be candid to add that this approach would have
the effect of removing 6 of the 7 states now covered by the auto-
matic trigger, and this would be resented by the civil rights
leaders as much as any other change that might be made. " The
President asked if the, Attorney General had received the guidance
he needed. And with a smile, Mr. Mitchell withdrew.
RMN said that the lawyers around the table would be interested
to know that Chief Justice Burger would be sworn in Monday
morning about 10:00 a. m. at the Court and invited all to be present.
The President will make a few comments following the ceremony.
Reporting on the riders to the Supplemental Appropriations bill now
in the Senate, Mundt said that in light of Committee action so far,
there is not likely to be a MIRV or an ABM rider. Mrs. Smith
said that the Committee would begin marking up the bill today.
Hughes explained the difference between the House and Senate
FORD i GERALD LIBRARY
5
versions of the expenditure ceiling. The House ceiling
is set at $192. 9 billion with no exceptions other than
those written by the Congress. The Senate ceiling is
set at $107. 9 billion but allows exceptions in certain
uncontrollable items which will total about $3 billion,
leaving a net reduction of $2 billion below the House
version. Young said that he favors the House version.
Williams agreed. Bow said that he believes Mahon
would be adamant in support of the House version, but
Bow believes the Administration needs some flexibility
on uncontrollables. Otherwise, the Administration
would be compelled to come to the Congress later this
year and ask for specific exemptions, which will be a
little embarrassing.
Rumsfeld was invited to discuss OEO. He reviewed
his testimony in support of a 2-year extension. An
extension of this length is necessary in order to give
him a fair opportunity to make an intelligent review of
contracts and grants. He believes comprehensive changes
can be made, but thtat they should not be attempted until
the new officials know what the present structure is about.
Toward that end, task forces have been established and
investigations are in progress. Changes have already
been made in the Job Corps and in the Head Start programs.
Certain objectionable comments in the OEO newsletter have
been discontinued. The purpose will be to move the states
into a broader role in the operation of the program.
Anderson inquired if the bloc grant approach has been
considered. Rumsfeld replied that no governors are asking
for bloc grants in this area. In this particular case, bloc
grants would be like adding another faucet rather than
replacing old faucets. Quie and Green want to abolish
regional offices, but Rumsfeld cannot see why this should
be done in his agency and not in all agencies. Bow told
about riots in Alliance, Ohio, which he said were incited
by pamphlets printed by VISTA employees using VISTA
equipment. Tower said that in the last Presidential election,
6
VISTA people were registering voters in Houston, then
carrying them to the polls on Election Day and helping
to count the votes against Nixon that night. RMN said
that he agreed to the 2-year extension only because
Rumsfeld is the head of OEO. He paid high tribute to
Rumsfeld's dedication and talents and offered him his
full support. He said that Rumsfeld's job is more diffi-
cult than most because OEO has "perhaps the worst
collection of creeps to be found anywhere in government."
The meeting adjourned at 10:25 a. m.
RICHARD H. POFF
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
HOUSE ACTION, PERIOD JUNE 3 THROUGH JUNE 16, 1969
Tuesday, June 3, 1969
CONSTRUCTION SAFETY
RULE (Opin)
H.Res.427 was adopted by voice vote, providing 1 hour debate
open for amendment.
Wednesday, June 4, 1969
CONSTRUCTION SAFETY
PASSAGE
The House passed H.R. 10946, to promote health and safety in
the building trades and construction industry in all Federal
and federally financed or federally assisted construction
projects, by a voice vote.
The only amendments adopted were clarifying and technical
amendments.
MEDICAL FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION (AMENDMENTS TO HILL-BURTON 1969)
RULE
H. Res. 428 was adopted by voice vote, providing 2 hours debate
under open rule.
PASSAGE
The House passed H.R. 11102, relating to the construction and
modernization of hospitals and other medical facilities, by a
record vote of 351 yeas to 0 nays.
Prior to passage, the House rejected a motion to recommit
(Edwards, Alabama) by voice vote.
Rejected the following amendments:
By a teller vote of 51 yeas to 75 nays, an amendment that
sought to alter the Hill-Burton formula to bolster funds
to urban States. Prior to the teller vote, the amendment
was rejected by a division vote of 42 yeas to 57 nays.
LIBRARY GERALD R. FORD
- 2 -
By a division vote of 25 yeas to 64 nays, an amendment that
sought to establish an emergency fund for hospitals in
critical need.
By voice vote, an amendment that provided for a transposi-
tion of funding for "new construction" and "moderniza-
tion".
By voice vote, an amendment that provided that applications
for assistance under Hill-Burton programs would have to
be consistent with areawide or Statewide programs.
By a division vote of 8 yeas to 68 nays, an amendment that
sought to provide $15 million to build diagnostic or
treatment centers for depressed urban areas.
By voice vote, an amendment that would provide for Federal
assistance for persons displaced by construction or
expansion of Federal facilities.
Tuesday, June 10, 1969
NASA AUTHORIZATION
RULE (open)
By voice vote, H.Res.413 was adopted, providing 2 hours debate.
PASSAGE
The House passed by a record vote of 328 yeas to 52 nays, H.R. 11271,
to authorize appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration for research and development, construction of
facilities, and research and program management.
Prior to passage, the House adopted by voice vote:
An amendment that cancels $327 million authorized for fiscal
years 1967, 1968, and 1969, for which appropriations have
not been made.
An amendment that authorizes the implanting of the American
flag on the surface of the moon as a symbolic gesture of
national pride.
is
FORD
LIBERTY
4
- 3 -
Wednesday, June 11, 1969
LIMITATIONS ON USE OF D. C. PUBLIC PROPERTY
RULE
H.Res.436 was adopted by voice vote, providing 2 hours of
open debate.
PASSAGE
The House passed without amendment, H.R.1035 by a record vote
of 327 yeas to 51 nays, limiting the use for demonstration
purposes of any federally owned property in the District of
Columbia, requiring the posting of a bond.
RECOMMIT
Prior to passage, the House rejected by voice vote a recommit
motion of Mr. Frelinghuysen of New Jersey.
Monday, June 16, 1969
SUSPENSIONS (4 BILLS)
The House passed under suspension of the rules, by voice vote, the
following Bills:
H.R.11235 - Older Americans Act Amendments of 1969
H.R.265 - To amend the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, relating
to construction-differential subsidies
H.R.11069 - To authorize the appropriation of funds for
Padre Island National Seashore, Texas
H.R.9946 - To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to quit-
claim certain land in Lee County, South Carolina
Tuesday and Balance of Week
H.R.6543 - Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act of 1969 (Open Rule,
3 hours of debate)
S.742 - To provide for the Construction, Operation, and Maintenance
of the Kennewick Division Extension, Yakima Project, Washington
(Subject to a Rule being granted)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 17, 1969
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
PRESS CONFERENCE
OF
SENATOR EVERETT M. DIRKSEN
AND
CONGRESSMAN GERALD R. FORD
THE ROOSEVELT ROOM
AT 10:45 A.M. EDT
CONGRESSMAN FORD: Good morning.
We had a rather lengthy, as you know, discussion
on three or four very important matters, the first of which
I will comment on because it is on our agenda in the House
of Representatives, the status of the surtax.
The President has had the firm assurance of the
Democratic and the Republican Leadership in the House, and
I believe in the Senate, that they would go sled-length
in getting the extension of the surtax package which is
right now, this morning, before the House Committee on Ways
and Means.
It is a three-pronged package for the extension of the
surtax through January 1 and the phase-out, the decision
of the seven percent investment tax credit, and the inclusion
of the President's proposal for removal of about 5 million
taxpayers from the Federal Income Tax rolls.
We certainly hope, in light of the support given
by the Speaker, by the Democratic Majority Leader, and by the Dem-
ocratic Whip, and the full support of Wilbur Mills, Chairman
of the Committee, that that legislation will come out of the
committee and be approved, and I think it will be approved
in the House of Representatives, certainly with overwhelming
Republican support.
GERAL
?
It would be catastrophic, in my opinion, if this
tax bill was not approved. The economic consequences at home
and abroad are almost unbelievable. And when the chips are
down, in my judgment, the Congress will approve the legislation.
SENATOR DIRKSEN: I might add to what Jerry had to
say, that I was tremendously impressed with the statement
made by Arthur Burns some weeks ago to the Leadership. He
tried to sketch out the impact it would have in Europe on
the bankers over there who are in the world scheme of things
and who might finally conclude that we refused to face up to
the fiscal problem that we have here in the country. That
was implemented, of course, by Secretary Kennedy.
So this is a must. This is highly important. And I
point out, also, that for those who are always interested in
projects and in spending that if this revenue is not
generated, obviously, you are just going to have to curtail
the expenditure budget by that much and sometimes that
becomes rather painful. So this is a very, very important
matter and I am pretty sure that when the time comes that
both branches of the Congress will rise to the occasion and
they will meet the challenge.
MORE
((VER)
- 2 -
Perhaps I should add that one other item that we
discussed this morning was the supplemental appropriation
bill which is presently before the Senate.
There was a good deal of rumor and speculation
as to what kind of riders and amendments might be offered.
In fact, there was broad speculation as to whether something
relating to ABM might be offered in the form of a limitation
that none of the funds provided in the second supplemental
could be used for that purpose.
I prefer not to mention the names of any Senators,
but one Senator who had in mind just such a thing has decided
not to offer it. As for the so-called MIRV amendment, which
was first contemplated by another Senator, he stated very
categorically yesterday that that would not be offered either.
So insofar as I can tell there are two and possibly
three amendments to the bill. One will deal with an exemption
for the Veterans Administration; one will try to hike the
amount that has been appropriated or authorized for the
Peace Corps by 55 million; and then it remains to be seen
whether or not someone will want to amend the so-called
expenditure ceiling in order to make it more effective.
The enactment of the bill may not take too long.
I thought we would be on it for some days, but it is conceivable
that it could be finished today.
CONGRESSMAN FORD: There was one other item on the
agenda. The Attorney General was at the meeting and we discussed
the proposed extension of the Voting Rights Act. It will
be recommended for extension by the Attorney General in an
appearance before the House Committee on the Judiciary tomorrow,
a minimum of three years and the possible extension to five years.
There may be some proposals involved in the substance of the
Act, but I think the Attorney General is the man who ought
to speak to those.
SENATOR DIRKSEN: Probably one other fact might
be noted and that is, actually, the Act does not expire
until late 1970, so there is ample time in order to give
that matter full consideration.
We had Don Rumsfeld, the Director of the Office of
Economic Opportunity, to give us a kind of a rundown
R.
and report on what he has accomplished thus far.
GEFALD
He was sworn in only three weeks ago, but already
he has moved in like a regular professional. His touch is
deft; it is very good. He has brought in some advisers and
some accountants and some engineering talent that will stand hin
in very good stead. There is a lot of re-vamping, I am sure,
that has to be done in that agency, but I think, all in all,
he has made a very, very promising start.
MORE
- 3 -
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I would certainly like to supple-
ment or endorse fully what the Senator said about Don Rumsfeld.
We miss him up in the House, but I don't envy his job. I am
confident he will do a first-class job and we will try to get
a first-class extension of the poverty program through the
House.
We may have to have a 90-day continuing resolution
because I doubt if we can get the bill for a two-year extension
through both the House and the Senate by June 30. I think there
is a great deal of renewed or additional faith in the program
because of Don's first-class job as the new administrator.
SENATOR DIRKSEN: One other thing was alluded to --
and I say alluded, not discussed, because I brought it up.
The Majority Leader is interested in following the supple-
mental appropriation bill with Senate Resolution 85, which is
a sense of the Senate resolution dealing with the so-called sub-
ject of national commitments.
I have done some work on it. I have conferred at length
at the State Department and with staffers and others and today
when we have our policy luncheon I will take some time to
discuss it because I think there is a residue of mischief in that
resolution that has to be brought to the attention of the members.
So, this will be rather preliminary today and then,
when we get to the Floor, if it is called up,and I fancy it will
be, then, of course, there will be a full discussion.
Q
Congressman, considering the importance of the tax
bill which you outlined to us earlier, could you profile for us
the President's attitude on suggesting that an interim extension
be granted rather than the one he has asked for?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: The President feels there should be
no compromise beyond the three-pronged bill that we proposed. He
is very, very, deeply concerned about any temporary extension.
I think the Secretary of the Treasury feels, and he is joined by
all others who know the facts that a temporary extension or a
limited extension would just add fire to the situation now
in the area of inflation.
We have got to get the bill through by June 30th
if we possibly can in order to meet the challenge of inflation
at home and the economic consequences world-wide.
Q
Did you tell the President you were absolutely
certain that you could get that bill through by June 30th?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I said that we can get a bill
through the House of Representatives and will get an
GERATE
S
overwhelming Republican support, and I hope it will come up
in the House next week so that we can get it over to the
THE
other Body in time for them to pass it by June 30th.
Q
Congressman, just to avoid any confusion, I
am sure it is not just semantics, you said "a" bill and we
are asking about "the" bill, the one that has been proposed
by the President. You say there can't be any further
compromise. Have you assured him that you can get his
program as it is outlined now through the Congress?
MORE
(OVER)
- 4 -
CONGRESSMAN FORD: If the Committee on Ways and
Means, which is controlled by the Democrats 15 to 10, reports
out the President's bill, we can get it through the House
of Representatives. There will be all ten Republicans voting
for the bill that was agreed on between the Democratic
Leadership and the Republican Leadership and if there is any
compromise it will come from the other side.
We think the agreed-upon proposal between the
Democratic and the Republican Leadership is the bill that
ought to pass the Congress and if it gets out of the
Committee there will be votes in the House.
Q
Then you are not sure of your voting strength
in that Committee. You have an agreement with the Leadership
and an understanding but not a count of votes?
CONGRESSMAN FORD: I am firm on what the ten
Republicans will do. I just hope we can get a sufficient
number of Democrats so that the bill agreed upon by the
Leadership will be approved by the Committee so we can get
it on the floor and get it over to the other Body.
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END
AT 10:55 A.M. EDT
GERAL R. FORD TRANTY