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November 4, 1975 - Ford, Senator Gale McGee, Representatives Donald Fraser and John Buchanan
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1553286
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November 4, 1975 - Ford, Senator Gale McGee, Representatives Donald Fraser and John Buchanan
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Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Ed
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
CONFIDENTIAL
WASHINGTON
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
The President
Senator Gale W. McGee
Congressman Donald M. Fraser
Congressman John Buchanan
Max Friedersdorf, Counsellor to the President
Lt. General Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant
to the President for National Security Affairs
DATE & TIME:
Tuesday - November 4, 1975
2:00 p.m.
PLACE:
The Oval Office
SUBJECTS:
Byrd Amendment; IFAD
President: Well, I guess we are supposed to talk about the Byrd Amend-
ment.
Fraser: We made a run at it and appreciate the letter of support by the
NEC 11/24/08, DEPT. GUIDELINES. 3/11/04
stateliview
Administration, but we fell 20 votes short. The problem is the perception
of the U.S. failing to live up to its obligation. We are very restrained in
Southern Africa and here is one place we have a legal obligation. We would
like to discuss how we could mobilize the strength to repeal it.
E.O. 12968, SEC. 3.5
NARA, DATE 6/4/04
McGee: The symbolism of this issue up at the UN is the strong issue.
The legal case is clear, but when we have this around our necks it is
difficult to split the 77.
DECLASSIFIED
Fraser: [Hands out list]
STATE
McGee: Some specialty steel companies oppose repeal, but Labor has
generally swung around.
FORD
&
BY
GERALD
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP SECRET XGDS (3)
CLASSIFIED B.Y. HENRY A. KISSINGER
CONFIDENTIAL
- 2 -
Buchanan: I don't know whether we can bring it up and win. I don't
know whether a maximum effort would have won, but it certainly would
take that. I must say that especially DOD but Commerce and Treasury
also couldn't have been worse in their testimony had they been opposed.
They were less than enthusiastic. That is water over the dam. Now I
don't know if it can be done, and if we fail again it would be worse than
not trying.
President: I would start from this point of view. It is very hard to turn
people around in the same session on the same issue. How about the 37
absentees?
Fraser: They split about even.
President: If you could get the "pro" absentees back and get some negatives
to stay away, you might make it.
Buchanan: There are other issues -- like Turkish aid -- which diluted the
White House effort. I would like to know we were going to win before we
try.
McGee: There is no time bind. The President has a point -- we might be
better to wait until next year.
President: Max, run a check on the 37. [Discussion of the names]
Buchanan: Rhodes is strongly against repeal -- as is Michel.
President: Did you catch flak in your district?
Buchanan: I really caught hell -- I still won in '74 but I took a lot of flak.
You can make a strong argument on national security if you don't know the
facts. We could end up with chrome in very unfriendly hands.
President: There is no backing off of my support. Kissinger will stand
fast and Max will check that list.
McGee: The Senate won't start it again. They are afraid of being left
by the House again.
Fraser: We could redraft the bill to leave it to the President's discretion
on the basis of national interest and security.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
- 3 -
President: That might be attractive.
McGee: Some might argue against that on grounds of power of the President.
President: It might be a good idea for the President to have that flexibility.
We'll go ahead on checking it.
Fraser: Can you test this alternate approach? It gives people a chance to
shift positions.
President: Let's look into it. Gale, you wanted to mention IFAD.
McGee: There is some snipping away going on in the Senate. I am not sure
that we may not have some problems. Just wanted to let you know.
CONFIDENTIAL
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DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES stateloviewo/11/04
BY. taln
NARA DATE 6/4/04
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