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July 23, 1971 Ray Price MEMORANDUM FOR: DAVE GERGEN FROM: JIM HOGUE RE: American Trial Lawyers Proclamation As we discussed, yesterday the Senate passed a resolution designating the week of August 1, 1971, as American Trial Lawyers week. The Association will be meeting in Portland, Oregon the week of August 1, and we would like to have a presidential proclamation which can be read at their meeting. Attached is the resolution which has been passed by the Congress and suggested language for the proclamation which was prepared by the Justice Department. CC: Bill Timmons Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON Post Office Department report for Wednesday, April 8. Congressional Relations notified all Members of the Georgia delegation of plans to issue a stamp commemorating Stone Mountain. Senate presently debating S. 3690, a bill reported by Senate Post Office & Civil Service Committee yesterday, to provide for a 6% pay increase for classified employees, D.C. judges, Congressional employees and staff, and former Presidents' of the U.S. It is expected to pass the Senate this afternoon or evening. House Post office & Civil Service Committee has scheduled special meeting Thursday, April 9, to consider similar action to be acted on that same afternoon. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library MEMORANDUM THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON April 9 - 10:50 a.m. PAUL CARLIN CALLED TO SAY House P.O. & C.S. reported out the 6% pay increase bill with three minor changes: 1. extends coverage to the Corps of Engineers floating plant operators. 2. extends coverage to remote work sites 3. provides premium pay for border guards, etc. (hazardous positions). The bill is going to Rules at 11:00 a.m. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library MEMORANDUM THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON April 6, 1970 - 4:30 p.m. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT LEGISLATIVE REPORT 1. The Postmaster GEneral today presented testimony before the Senate P.O. & C.S. Committee on Federal pay legislation. 2. Negotiations on postal reorganization continued today between representatives of the Post Office Department and major postal unions. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library June 2, 1970 MEMORANDUM FOR BILL TIMMONS From: Dick Cook Quick reading is that substantial postal rate increases, as proposed in connection with the Postal Reform agreement, don't stand a chance in the House. The Post Office and Civil Service Committee submommittee on rates concluded its hearings today, with A1 Johnson chairing the hearing due to the absence of all Democrats. As a matter of fact, the 2 ¢ increase billhhasn't ever found a sponsor for introduction; the subcommittee has been holding hearings on last year's proposal. Further, most members on both sides do not link rate increases with reform; they want to pass the buck to the Rate Commission called for in the Reform bill. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Post Office November 3, 1971 MEMORANDUM FOR: JOHN DEAN FROM: DICK COOK SUBJECT: Postal Service's proposed under- writing of its first bond issue. Referring to your memorandum of October 29 to Clark MacGregor, contacts on the staff of the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service indicate that there is very little likelihood of hearings being held during this session of Congress in connection with the Udall Subcommittee "staff print" regarding the Postal Service's proposed arrangements for underwriting its first bond issue. We will continue to watch carefully for any future develop- ments. cc: Clark MacGregor. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library THE WHITE House WASHINGTON Date Oct. 29, 1971 DICK COOK TO: FROM: CLARK MacGREGOR Please Handle FYI Hold File Comments Suggestions ? Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON 1971 OCT 29 PM 2 48 October 29, 1971 MEMORANDUM FOR: CLARK MAC GREGOR FROM: JOHN DEAN X Could you give me an up date on the status of the House Subcommittee hearings regarding the Postal Service's proposed arrangements for underwriting its first bond issue. Is Udall still pursuing this matter, and can we expect more publicity on the subject? Thank you, Clark. outer Remend me to Call munty Staff of Committee. Post 0 flued H.R. Bross 3301 Bill Ironne X 3695 Ted Kargy 3695 Tony Raymond 9225 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE POSTMASTER GENERAL WASHINGTON, D.C. 20260 October 6, 1971 Dear Bill: Thanks for your kind note of congratulations on my appointment. My only regret in Congressional Affairs was that I did not have a chance to work more directly with you, since I have always had a great respect for your personal integrity and ability. I hope that just because I am no longer involved in the day-to-day Congressional activities, our friendship will not cease. With kindest regards, Sincerely, Paul Paul N. Carlin Mr. William E. Timmons Assistant to the President The White House Washington, D. C. 20500 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library THE white HOUSE washington September 27, 1971 MEMORANDUM FOR: ALL STAFF FROM: JOHN E. NIDECKER SUBJECT: Congressional Relations Staff Change Post Office Mr. Paul Carlin has been named Assistant Postmaster General-Planning. Mr. Henry Albert is acting Executive Assistant to the Postmaster General - Congressional Relations. The changes are effective as of September 25, 1971. note we offime to eongats nice send of bot is Bui "Acturing ahld whatery. w his yea! Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library September 29, 1971 Dear Paul: Congratulations on your promotion to Assistant Postmaster General for Planning. I enjoyed working with you in the Congressional area and know you 11 perform as diligently in your new position. Good luck! Sincerely, William E. Timmons Assistant to the President Mr. Paul Carlin Assistant Postmaster General for Planning U. S. Postal Service Washington, D. C. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library PO September 27, 1971 MEMORANDUM FOR: PETER FLANIGAN FROM: DICK COOK I am advised that Mr. John Nash (formerly a partner with Tom Tucker & Associates) was hired as a consultant to the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service in connection with its report entitled "A Report on the Cir- cumstances Surrounding the Proposed Sale of United States Postal Service Bonds." Upon learning this, I recalled that Tom Tucker wrote to me here at the White House last June (see attached). After checking with my files and reviewing the letter, it would appear Mr. Nash's recent participation in the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee report may have been affected by his failure to receive favored treatment in behalf of his clients last June. My Secretary, Mrs. Neta Brown, further confirms that I did not answer Mr. Tucker's letter, even though he was (and is) a personal friend of mine. Furthermore, I did not mention his June letter to you inasmuch as I questioned the propriety of doing so. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library misc T TOM TUCKER & ASSOCIATES, INC. Financial Public Relations & Public Affairs Consultants Washington / New York / Brussels Suite 751 2000 K Street NW Washington, DC 20006 Telephone 202-338-7040 Cable Address TTAINC June 16, 1971 Mr. Richard K. Cooke Special Assistant to the President The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Dick: Per our conversation of yesterday, what follows is a description of our evolving relationship with the Post Office Department. As I indicated, we have a good relationship there but I would like to "tie the Knot". Last January I met with Mr. James Blair, Assistant to Deputy Post- master General Hargrove on behalf of a client, First National Bank in Dallas, to discuss the proposed initial bond offering of the Postal Service Corporation. As a result of that meeting with Mr. Blair, discussions occurred which resulted in the suggestion that my firm submit a proposal outlining a Financial Public Relations Program to complement the proposed bond offering. During this time we also met with Blair and other department officials on behalf of another client, John Nuveen & Co., Inc. which continued our involvement at the Department. On April 19th., we sent the attached proposal to Hargrove at Blair's suggestion and received the attached response. Subsequently, but unrelated, Jeff Warren, Special Assistant to Post- master General, Blount, contacted my firm to discuss the possibility of our being retained as Speech Writers for Postmaster General Blount. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Mr. Richard K. Cooke --2-- June 16, 1971 These discussions led to a meeting we had several weeks ago and our suggestion, that while we would be both honored and happy to serve the Postmaster General, we believed he would be better served by a full-time speech writer and suggested several indi- viduals (see letter attached). In the meantime, John Falvey, former Secretary Treasurer of the Investment Bankers Association, was appointed Director of Finance for the Postal Service Corporation beginning June 15th. As you know, both John Nash and I are alumni of the I.B.A. and John Falvey in addition to having been a co-worker, is a close personal friend. We have some relationship with the four investment banking firms and one commercial bank selected as the underwriters (see attached) in particular, we are close to Bill Simon, Partner of Salomon Brothers, the senior underwriter. Bill recommended our firm to John MacKinnon, Treasurer of the Postal Service Corporation. We know of no other Public Relations firms that have been approached or that have submitted a proposal concerning this program. Peter Flannigan, because of his investment banking background and his overall familiarity with this area, may be the person to dis- cuss this matter with at an appropriate time. The main purpose of this letter is to familiarize you with the events that have occurred to date and not to ask you to intervene on our behalf since as I indicated, we know of no competition. However, we are concerned that with all of these various relationships, the matter may become confused and require some clarification, I will appreciate it if you will simply retain this letter in confidence and should the occasion warrant clarification, I will discuss the matter with you. It seems that we end all of our conversations with the phrase, we must get together, but never do. Let's set a date and the four of us have dinner. Cordially, Tom John T. Tucker President JTT/mm Enclosure ToM TUCKER & ASSOCIATES, INC. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL BUREAU OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20260 April 22, 1971 Mr. John T. Tucker President Tom Tucker & Associates, Inc. 2000 K Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006 Dear Mr. Tucker: This is in response to your letter to Mr. Hargrove of April 19 in which you enclose your proposal entitled, "Financial Public Rela- tions - Public Affairs Program for the Postal Service Corporation." At the present time we are not in a position to determine the finan- cial public affairs/public relations requirements of the Postal Service and, therefore, those programs which we may need in the coming months. We do greatly appreciate your well-presented research paper, and we shall keep your proposal at hand for consideration of your firm should a future date show that we will need services of this type. Thank you for your interest in the U.S. Postal Service and in our forthcoming bond financing activity. Sincerely, John MacKinnon Deputy and Treasurer Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE POSTMASTER GENERAL WASHINGTON, D.C. 20260 June 7, 1971 Dear Tom: I am enclosing the release on the five underwriting firms, which I'm sure you already have seen. I also thought you might be interested in seeing a speech Mr. Blount gave yesterday. There are some good thoughts you might personally enjoy, and it also will give you an idea of the kind of material he's been using. The lunch was great, and I hope we can get together again soon. With kindest regards, Sincerely, DH Jeffrey C. Warren Deputy Executive Assistant Mr. Tom Tucker Tom Tucker & Associates 2000 L Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Enclosures Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library June 9. 1971 Mr. Jeffrey Warren Deputy Executive Assistant Executive Assistant to the Postmaster General Post Office Department Washington, D.C. Dear Jeff: I thoroughly enjoyed our lunch and thanks for the release concerning the five underwriting firms and Mr. Blunt's speech before the Seattle Pacific College. I did enjoy the speech. It has that - circuit rider ring - to it. I have taken the liberty of enclosing a resume on Michael L. Lazare, who has been a speech writer for top I.B.M. corporate executives. He comes to me highly recommended by I.B.M. and as you may know, I was a consultant to that firm in Washington for five years. I have also taken the liberty of asking Mr. Ken Froslid, who is the current speech writer for the chief executives of Continental Can and had been Editor in Chief of the I.B.M. Internal House Program. He also was a speech writer for the Watsons, to forward you a resume. I would like to take you up on your offer to meet the Head of the Post Office Department's Public Information Office at your earliest conve- nience with regard to the Proposal we submitted on April 19th. (attached). We are anxiously awaiting the decision as to whether there will be a Financial Public Relations Program connected to the underwriting and if so, will the selected public relations firm be responsible to the underwriters or the Post Office Department. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Mr. Jeffrey Warren --2-- June 9. 1971 We have a long and good relationship with Bill Simon of Salomon Brothers, who is the Senior Underwriter for your issue. I prepared most of the Congressional testimony for Don Reagan, Chairman of the Board of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., when at the I.B.A. and my firm represented Kidder, Peabody & Co., Inc. during our first year in business. My Associate, John M. Nash, is well known to Frank Smeal at Morgan Guarantee, but alas, we have had little contact with Dillon, Read and Co., Inc. While you and I are slaving away in sweltering Washington, our good friend, Jack Cawthorne, is enjoying the pleasures of Paris -- we are obviously doing something wrong Look forward to seeing you very soon. Cordially, John T. Tucker President JTT/mm Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library hirman UNITED * For further information call: SERVICE * 202/961-8251 U.S.MAIL ******* FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GENERAL RELEASE NO. 59 THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1971 The United States Postal Service today announced its selection of managing underwriters for an issue of Postal Service Bonds scheduled for October. The managing underwriters, all from New York City, are Salomon Brothers, Dillon, Read and Co., Inc.; Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc.; Morgan Guaranty Trust Company; and Kidder, Peabody & Co., Inc. The details of the issue, expected to be approximately $250 million of bonds with a 25-year maturity, will be announced later, the Postal Service said. - 30 - Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library PROPOSED FINANCIAL PUBLIC RELATIONS - PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM FOR THE POSTAL SERVICE CORPORATION BY TOM TUCKER & ASSOCIATES, INC. WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, BRUSSELS Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library The Postal Service Corporation faces a unique and challenging future in that it is the only cabinet level department of government to become a quasi-public corporation. The current image of the U.S. Post Office Department will be carried over to the new Postal Service Corporation, and will influence the manner in which various publics view and treat the new entity. It is with the two areas mentioned above that Tom Tucker & Associates, Inc. is most concerned. That is, how the image of the U.S. Post Office Department - Postal Service Corporation - may benefit or retard the financing of the Corporation through the sale of bonds to the public. We believe the following program can be utilized to determine the current image of the U.S. Post Office Department and the future Postal Service Corporation, communicate to the varying publics which make up the constituency of the Postal Service Corporation and enhance the future image of the Postal Service Corporation. THE PROGRAM The program is composed of five principal elements: 1. A basic public opinion and market survey. 2. A public information program. 3. A research activity. 4. A public policy Board. 5. A strategic image building capability. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library -2- 1. Basic public opinion and market survey. The Postal Service Corporation, through Tom Tucker & Associates, Inc., should undertake a public opinion and market survey as soon as possible. This is necessary for a truly objective assessment of where the U.S. Post Office Department stands today with respect to the general public, investment, and other influential groups. There appears to be a considerable lack of knowledge by these three publics about the new Postal Service Corporation. It is important to know how much ignorance and misunderstanding there is and where it is. No one knows how much doubt and confusion actually exists as a result of the change over as well as misunderstandings caused by recent controversies such as the recent postal strike. It is important to find out -- to eliminate guesswork and to design the most effective public policy, informational, educational and marketing activities which can be directed to specific targets. Moreover, a public opinion and market survey provides a benchmark for periodically measuring the effectiveness of financial public relations - public affairs activities. The public opinion and market survey should be conducted in two areas: 1. A representative sample of the adult population of the United States, which is both the general market for the bonds of the new Postal Service Corporation, and the body of public opinion concerning them. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library -3- 2. Special surveys of groups important to the Postal Service Corporation -- such as the press, the financial community, the business community, and specific categories of the investing public which appear to offer the most diverse promising markets of the future. The broad sample of the general public would be designed to find out how much the investing public knows about the proposed Postal Service Corporation bonds, how it regards Postal Service Corporation bonds as investment media, what the relative strengths and weaknesses are, how public support can best be generated and how markets can best be expanded. The Gallup Poll, among several others, appears to be the most appropriate means of carrying out the broad public survey. Gallup maintains a representative sample of the U.S. adult public which it surveys every three weeks. Up to twenty questions can be included in the sample test. Thus, it should be possible to find out how much we need to know rather rapidly. Questions in the general public sample should be designed to fill gaps in present knowledge. Following the general survey, it is proposed that special surveys of specific groups be undertaken to elicit more detailed information. These surveys should not be designed until the results of the general survey are analyzed because significant clues to public opinion and market potential may develop which require further probing by in depth interviews. These interviews might well include selected groups within the investing public as well as among the press, the financial community, and the business community. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library -4- The special group surveys should be initiated as soon as the Gallup results are analyzed. At that point, the special groups to be covered can be determined and questionnaires developed. These questionnaires would be probing guides to develop a full expression of opinions among people most likely to be influential in terms of the Postal Service Corporation. These specific surveys may also be utilized by the Postal Service Corporation to determine service levels in conjunction with the on- going internal statistical review of programs. 2. Public information program. The public information program is designed to maximize the Postal Service Corporation's capabilities and to communicate effectively with constituent publics. These are, among others: 1. The general public 2. Selected categories of the investing public 3. Financial community 4. The business industry 5. The academic community 6. The internal publics of the Postal Service Corporation 7. Congress and its relevant committees. To communicate with these publics, the Postal Service Corporation must use both the outside media (nowspapers, magazines, television) and internally generated media (its own publication, speeches, inter- views, films, conferences). The outside media are generally most Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library -5- effective in reaching large dispersed publics and usually have an overlapping impact on other more specific publics. Consequently, there should be considerable emphasis on improving and expanding the Postal Service Corporation's relationship with the mass media and developing a continuous flow of useable material for these media. The director of the Public Information Office in conjunction with Tom Tucker & Associates, Inc. should systematically cultivate all newspaper, magazine, television, and radio editors and writers whose media are important to the Postal Service Corporation; determine the maximum extent of their respective interests in news and feature material about the Postal Service Corporation; and develop the optimum flow of information to them. To do so, we must make a comprehensive inventory (public relations audit) of facts, information and ideas about the Postal Service Cor- poration that could be used creatively and imaginatively to attract news media attention and, through the news media, the attention of the public. The raw material varies widely -- much already exists within the Postal Service Corporation, and a good deal more could be produced by imaginative ideas for creating news through speeches, interviews, studies, conferences and seminars, etc. While the overall public relations program should be oriented to the general public to enhance the image of the Postal Service Corporation, it should be simultaneously directed towards assisting the Postal Service Corporation and its bond underwriters in communicating to the Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library -6- investing publics which will be the ultimate purchasers of these securities. The bond public relations campaign should be initiated as soon as possible in order to prepare the financial community and the in- vesting public for the initial bond issue. It is of paramont importance that the initial bond issue be highly successful so as to encourage, assist and enhance future bond issues. It is the recommendation of Tom Tucker & Associates, Inc. that the Officers and Directors of the Postal Service Corporation address as many finance-investment groups as possible so as to create a strong and forward looking public posture. Specifically, Postal Service Corporation representatives should address, among others, the following: Society of Security Analysts of New York Society of Security Analysts of Chicago Society of Security Analysts of Los Angèles Society of Security Analysts of San Francisco Society of Security Analysts of Dallas Society of Security Analysts of St. Louis Society of Security Analysts of New Orleans Society of Security Analysts of Atlanta Special efforts should also be made to address Bond Clubs in the above mentioned cities as well as others and as many other financial groups as possible. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library -7- 3. A research activity. Research is a basic tool of any serious and effective corporate activity and should continually explore the needs and requirements of those it serves and how best to serve them. Major published research activities to date appear to be primarily directed towards electronic-mechanical mail speedup equip- ment, such as optical scanners, sorters, etc. We suggest that alternative types of mail services be explored and when the results are promising -- published. These efforts should be directed towards America Circa 1985. Such alternatives may be radical departures from mail, in letter form, as we know it today. 4. A public policy board. A special educational program, designed primarily for letter carriers and Post Office employees, but also directed towards middle and top management, should be implemented, based on the results of the initial survey and research derived from practical on-the-job experience. Carriers are the Postal Service Corporation's frontline contact with the public. Given proper training, they can do much toward enhancing the public image of the Postal Service Corporation. As the Postal Service Corporation loses its Federal government identity, it should become concurrently involved in establishing its public posture. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library -8- As the Postal Service Corporation has no competition, it must set high standards for itself and have the ability to look inwardly at itself to establish performance levels for its employees and operations. As efficiency increases to these established levels, the public policy board made up of the Board of Directors and Officers of the Corporation, should inform through all possible media those it serves and the Corporation's investors. 5. Strategic marketing capability. The Postal Service Corporation should, in conjunction with its financial advisors and managing underwriting group, establish a strategic marketing capability for its bonds. Financial public relations can play significant role in not only interpreting the mood and conditions of the investing public, but in communicating the advantages of investing in Postal Service Corporation bonds to those publics. The publics which should be more clearly defined, after the survey, may be isolated one from another and can be communicated to through the media appropriate to each public. It is of great importance that the Postal Service Corporation establish itself immediately as a viable private enterprise while retaining that which is best in Federal government. CONCLUSION While the preceding public relations program may seem broad in its scope it is the basis from which an enlightened, creative and Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library - -9- energetic financial public relations program may be designed. It is not the intent of Tom Tucker & Associates, Inc. to supplant the internal public relations activities of the Postal Service Cor- poration, but rather to strengthen them by bringing outside objectivity, experience and relationships to bear on the Postal Service Corporation's problems and objectives. Tom Tucker & Associates, Inc. is primarily a financial public relations - public affairs firm which has broad experience in the field of financial public relations as it relates to relationships between governments and the financial community and in structuring, designing and implementing financial public relations programs. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library P.O. 8/18/71 B.T. Talked to Dave Cantor and mail drop approved t being installed Talked to Fishis office toon credit, and asked them to let us know if boxient created quickly. 2. notified Downings office that Williamsling postmark will he retained, after checking it with Canton Downings office most appruistive of W. Hee. assistance max f. x Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library 8/13/71 MAX One more chore to leave you with: Thonday Please call Dane cantor (or Henry Albert) at Postal Service, 177-6216 and ash him about tuo outotanding items: 1. Rep. Ham Fish (R-NY) wanted a drop box on State Huy # 9 in Ulster tounship. Canter reported POD counddn't put it where Fish's friends wanted but would Fish agreed + I relayed to compronise 100 feet up hug. Cantor. I now need to know if this has actually been done so me can notify Fish + take some credit for it. 2. Rep. Tom Douning (D-Va)--and his AA Tiny Hutton --at 225-4261 called meehs ago to ash our help in stopping Postal Service from changing Williamsbing postmark to a number. Apparently a number of postal regious are eliminating city - town postmacks and moning to a number code emptem. Downing-Itutton feel a great Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library 2 mistake since Williams burg toulist athaction, she started is sympolic of U.S., Virgina it going, etc etc. Cantor gane me a preleminary report last much that it "loohed like" they could However, he ashed me not netain Williamsburg pos tmack to report to Downing until he was certain. If its now ohay, call Down my or Hutton help. & take credit for Thanx, BT Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library THE WHITE House WASHINGTON 4 B.T.- - CARLIN WANTED THis LETTER FOR THE official ,RECORD. HE will COMTINUE To SAMD waakly REPORTS in A REVISED FORMAT. gin JH, ok Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library STATES POSTAL UNITED U.S.MAIL SERVICE * * OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE POSTMASTER GENERAL Washington, DC 20260 July 6, 1971 Dear Bill: Yesterday the United States Postal Service officially commenced operations as an independent establishment within the Executive Branch, thus ceasing its role as a member of the President's Cabinet. Our charter, the Postal Reorganization Act mandates the Postal Service to remove political considerations from not only its day-to-day operation but also from the decision making process. It is our belief that to continue to report the weekly activities of the Postal Service to your office on a formal basis would create the impression that partisan factors still sway the decisions of postal management and would violate the spirit of the Act. This impression would be damaging both to the Postal Service and the Administration, which has strongly and actively supported total postal reform. We feel it appropriate that we cease submitting formal weekly reports to your office. We will, however, send you, on a confidential basis, a similar report prepared for top postal management. Sincerely, Pane Paul N. Carlin Honorable William E. Timmons Assistant to the President for Congressional Relations The White House Washington, D. C. 20500 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library POSTA UNITED STATES U.S.MAIL SERVICE * * ******* OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE POSTMASTER GENERAL Washington, DC 20260 July 6, 1971 Dear Bill: Yesterday the United States Postal Service officially commenced operations as an independent establishment within the Executive Branch, thus ceasing its role as a member of the President's Cabinet. Our charter, the Postal Reorganization Act mandates the Postal Service to remove political considerations from not only its day-to-day operation but also from the decision making process. It is our belief that to continue to report the weekly activities of the Postal Service to your office on a formal basis would create the impression that partisan factors still sway the decisions of postal management and would violate the spirit of the Act. This impression would be damaging both to the Postal Service and the Administration, which has strongly and actively supported total postal reform. We feel it appropriate that we cease submitting formal weekly reports to your office. We will, however, send you, on a confidential basis, a similar report prepared for top postal management. Sincerely, Paul N. Carlin Honorable William E. Timmons Assistant to the President for Congressional Relations The White House Washington, D. C. 20500 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library P.O June 28, 1971 MEMORANDUM FOR: GEORGE SHULTZ THRU: CLARK MacGREGOR FROM: WILLIAM E. TIMMONS SUBJECT: Postal Board of Governors As you know, Gale McGee and Hiram Fong refuse to move on our nominees for U.S. Postal Services' Board of Governors. They are serving an interim appointment which will expire, I believe, in August. Chairman McGee has always been close to the 3rd class users and was successful in getting a phased out appropriation schedule in the reorganization bill to provide postage relief for his friends. OMB apparently refused to request these funds. (See McGee's press release attached). It occurs to me that the $210 million might be "trading material" with McGee if our nominees are worth the price. Could you give me a signal if we are prepared to "cave" for our Board of Governors? cc: John Ehrlichman Bill Gifford Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library ILNNINGS RANDOLPH, W. VA. HIRAM L. FONG HAWAII QUENTIN N. BURDICK, N. DAK. J. CALEB BOGGS, DEL. ERNEST F. HOLLINGS, S.C. TED STEVENS, ALASKA FRANK E. MOSS, UTAH HENRY BELLMON, OKLA. DAVID MINTON, STAFF DIRECTOR AND COUNSEL ROD crowlie, ASSOCIATE STAFF DIRECTOR United States Senate COMMITTEE ON POST OFFICE AND CIVIL SERVICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20510 PRESS RELEASE 71-8 June 24, 1971 McGEE ANNOUNCES POSTAL RATE HEARINGS JUNE 28th Senator Gale McGee (D-Wyo.), Chairman of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, announced today that public hearings will be held Monday, June 28, 1971, to hear testimony from the Deputy Director of the Office of Manage- ment and Budget and the Postmaster General on the Administration's request for postal appropriations for fiscal year 1972. "This is an unusual procedure," Senator McGee remarked, "but it requires un- usual and speedy action to bring out the facts in this first few months of new operation for the U. S. Postal Service. The present Administration has inten- tionally violated the clear letter and spirit of the Postal Reorganization Act by failing to request adequate funds to carry out the intent of Congress, and the record must be set straight before the Congressional appropriation process is completed. We must also determine carefully and exactly what steps, if any, the Postmaster General intends to take to fulfill his responsibility to the Con- gress in carrying out postal policy." McGee's remarks stemmed from a refusal by the OMB to request adequate funds to finance the postal rate provisions of the Postal Reorganization Act because, according to the OMB, it disagrees with the law. The OMB cut postal funds by $210 million for fiscal 1972, which might result in additional postal rate in- creases recommended by the Postal Rate Commission if Congress does not re- store the funds. "We want to make the record clear," Senator McGee said. "It must be made known that the Budget folks are unwilling to honor the language of the law signed by President Nixon last August. The Congress should have a full explanation of the facts before a vote is taken on the appropriation of funds." The hearings, open to the public, will be held in Room 6202 of the New Senate Office Building at 10:30 A. M., June 28, 1971. # # # Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library June 18, 1971 MEMORANDUM FOR: DWIGHT CHAPIN THROUGH: CLARK MacGREGOR FROM: WILLIAM E. TIMMONS SUBJECT: POST OFFICE CEREMONY I would like to appeal your turn down of presidential participation in the ceremony trans- ferring the Post Office Department into the U. S. Postal Service. I understand it is scheduled for July 1st at 11:00 A.M. One hundred Congressmen will be present, all living past PMGs, etc., etc. The postal reorganization was one of the Presi- dent's greatest legislative accomplishments and he should continue to get some credit for it. Hope you'll reconsider. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library June 2, 1971 MEMORANDUM FOR: CLARK MacGREGOR FROM: WILLIAM E. TIMMONS Because of the firmness of PMG Blount in taking politics out of the Post Office and what appears to Members to be the insensitive nature of the postal service, I fear there is a possibility that Congress ---in a fit of pique --- could pass legislation returning the Post Office to Con- gressional-Executive control. As you know, virtually every Member of Congress, especially those on the Post Office and Civil Service Committees, feel the service has gone too far in eliminating basic courtesies. Perhaps, we should chat about this situation with Paul Carlin. To reverse the historic reorganization would, of course, be extremely embarrassing to the President. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE POSTMASTER GENERAL WASHINGTON, D.C. 20260 June 2, 1971 MEMORANDUM FOR BILL TIMMONS SUBJECT: Postal Rate Increase In our business we usually only hear from the complaints side of the House. The recent postal rate increase is probably the only time in recent history when it was achieved with virtually no Congressional flak. In order to get a tangible handle on the actual complaints that Congressional offices are receiving, we made a series of telephone calls late last week which specifically asked how much mail they were receiving relating to our rate increases. I thought you would be interested in taking a fast look at the enclosed results. Since your 7:30 a.m. meetings usually deal only with negative imputs regarding the Postal Service, maybe they might be interested in this type of a positive report. Paul Paul N. Carlin Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Total mail received from May 10 through May 25 248 pieces Number of pieces dealing with complaints of rate increase 8 Percentage: 3.2% Walter D. Harris Congressional Liaison Officer Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Congressman James T. Broyhill North Carolina Vincent Monzell Administrative Aide "I haven't seen one. It's hard to understand -- the issue seems to have escaped the conscious- ness of our people. Usually when there's some- thing cooking, our people are right on it." Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Cong. John Paul Hammerschmidt Arkansas Helen Kirkman Office Manager We haven't seen any at all. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Cong. William Hull Missouri Kim Clark Administrative Aide None. We have several letters complaining of poor mail service (including one which took one month to arrive at our office from the time it was postmarked) but none on the rate increase. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Cong. Fred Schwengel Iowa Allan Schimmel Administrative Aide I would say about 1%. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Congressman Robert Sikes Florida Alma Butler Administrative Aide Very very few. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Congressman Phil Landrum Georgia Delores Rich Personal Secretary We've had no complaints from down home. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Senator Howard Baker Tennessee Peggy Rapking Personal Secretary In the last several weeks we've received only one piece of mail concerning the rate increase. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Senator Bill Brock Tennessee Olive Hunt Staff Assistant Very small amount. I think I've seen 20 or 25 altogether. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Senator Everett Jordan North Carolina Bill Cochrane Administrative Aide Oh, we get from 2,00 to 4,000 letters each week, and I'd say that I've seen 4 or 5 letters complaining about the rate increase. So maybe that's 1/10 %. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Senator Lawton Chiles Florida Tom Fell Office Manager Practically none. Inconsequential. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Central Region Percentage for week of May 10 thru May 14 = 1.9 Percentage for week of May 17 thru May 21 = 10.7 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library 5/26/71 1:45 Member: Senator Milton R. Young State: North Dakota Contact: Neil Bjornson Comments: Approximately 5% writing specifically about the increase. About 20% mention it in passing. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library 5/26/71 12:15 Member: Senator Charles McC. Mathias, Jr. State: Maryland Contact: Mrs. Reverman Comments: About 16% this week. Prior to that have had very little. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library 5/26/71 12:20 Member: Senator Henry Bellmon State: Oklahoma Contact: Drew Mason Comments: Only about 1% of total mail. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library 5/26/71 12:50 Member: Senator James B. Pearson State: Kansas Contact: Margaret Izzard Comments: Have not received any complaints or inquiries. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library 5/26/71 1:20 Member: John Y. McCollister State: Nebraska (2nd District) Contact: Marsha Sheaks Comments: Approximately 15% Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library 5/26/71 12:15 Member: William H. Natcher State: Kentucky (2nd District) Contact: Catherine Hampson Comments: She has seen no inquiries. If they had come in, they would have gone to her. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library 5/26/71 12:35 Member: Frank E. Denholm State: South Dakota (lst District) Contact: Steve Anderson Comments: Has not had any complaints. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library 5/26/71 12:25 Member: Thomas L. Ashley State: Ohio (9th District) Contact: Liz Garner Comments: Less than 1%. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library 5/26/71 12:20 Member: Lee H. Hamilton State: Indiana (9th District) Contact: Mr. Redmond Comments: Only 1%. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library 5/26/71 1:05 Member: Ken Heckler State: West Virginia (4th District) Contact: Susan Broh Comments: None at all. Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT DATE: May 26, 1971 REPLY TO ATTN OF: Betty Hartley SUBJECT: Postal Rate Increase Complaints P.O. CL: TO: Mr. Henry R. Albert 5/10/71 5/17/71 Total Mail Received 149 190 Total Rate Increase Complaints 7 7 Percentages 046+ .036+ 4.6% 3.6% Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT DATE: May 26, 1971 REPLY TO ATTN OF: Betty Hartley SUBJECT: Postal Rate Increase Complaints P.O. CL: TO: Mr. Henry R. Albert 5/10/71 5/17/71 Total Mail Received 149 190 Total Rate Increase Complaints 7 7 Percentages .046+ .036+ Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Senator Richard S. Schweiker PA 5/26/71 1:10 p.m (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone Paul Cooksley Personal Contact (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT "About 1/10th of 1%. It's so little that we have not had to create a form letter on it. I'd say we get about 5 to 10 letters per week out of 3,000 total. "The only thing is that our mail has dropped off SUMMARY the last week but I don't believe the 1¢ or 2¢ difference 5 has anything to do with it." DISPOSITION (+) bjh (Time) (Date) (Initials) (-) Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Senator Thomas J. McIntyre NH 5/26/71 1:00 (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone Ken Burkhead Personal Contact (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT "It's so minute that we hardly don't count. Not more than 10 in the last week, out of a total of 1,000 per week. We're not getting very much. " SUMMARY DISPOSITION (+) bjh (Time) (Date) (Initials) (-) Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library ( ) Incoming ( ) Outgoing Sen. Jacob K. Javits - R/NY 12:55 5/26 (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone x6542 Personal Contact Daphne Brown (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT SUMMARY "I checked with case workers handling all our incoming mail. There are approximately 165 new cases generated each day, of which approximately 45 are related to postage rate increases." Daphne answers all of her own mail regarding all postal complaints (unless of a technical nature then she bucks over), SO it would be difficult for us to substantiate this high figure she has given us. DISPOSITION (+) (-) 1:00 mg (Time) (Date) (Initials) POD Form 192-X May 1969 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library ( ) Incoming ( ) Outgoing Sen. Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. R/Conn. 1:10 5/26 (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) x4041 Telephone Personal Contact Bob Herrema (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT SUMMARY "Percentage of such complaints is very small." Mr. Herrema said that on a daily basis, only 5% or less would be complaints about rate increases. Said out of about 30 cases a day, they would receive only 1 or 2 on rates. He does not ever remember receiving 3 in a days time. DISPOSITION (+) (-) 1:10 mq (Time) (Date) (Initials) POD Form 192-X May 1969 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Cong. Frank Brasco NY 5/26/71 1:35 p. (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone Judy Bobo Personal Contact (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT "We really have had very few - but in all fairness I will say it takes our district a little time to work up animosity toward these things." " SUMMARY DISPOSITION (+) bjh (Time) (Date) (Initials) (-) Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Cong. Robert T. Stafford VT 5/26/71 1:25 p.m. . (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone Laura Aidt Personal Contact (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT "Most complaints regarding postal increases are from older people and most of the letters are coupled with complaints about delivery service. SUMMARY "The numbers of pieces pertaining to rate increases is SO light I could not give you a figure on it." DISPOSITION (+) bjh (Time) (Date) (Initials) (-) Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library ( ) Incoming ( ) Outgoing Cong Fred Rooney D/Pa. 1:15 5/26 (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone X6411 Personal Contact Ray Huber (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT SUMMARY "There has been a steady trickle of rate complaints in the past two months. A large portion of these complaints originated in one County in their District - Poconos area, which were promotional mails for the resort area. " "There has been no significant increase in rate complaints for the two week period you are questioning. Out of approximately 600 letters a week, only 1% would pertain to postal rate complaints." DISPOSITION (+) (-) 1:15 mg (Time) (Date) (Initials) POD Form 192-X May 1969 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library ( ) Incoming ( ) Outgoing Cong. Robert H. Steele R/Conn. 5/26 1:15 (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone X 2076 Rosalie Personal Contact (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT SUMMARY "When the postal rate increase was announced, I made a separate envelope in my pending file to handle the volume. So far I have received 2 complaints!" In the two week period in question, she has received these two complaints out of a possible 200 cases a day. DISPOSITION (+) (-) 1:30 mg (Time) (Date) (Initials) POD Form 192-X May 1969 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Cong. Silvio Conte MASS. 5/26/71 1:20 p.n (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone Carole Beauchamp Personal Contact (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT "One or two SO far. Not many but I think as time goes on it will increase. We get an average of 500 letters per week total mail. " SUMMARY DISPOSITION (+) bjh (Time) (Date) (Initials) (-) Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Cong. James C. Cleveland NH 5/26/71 1:15 p.m. (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone Winifred Varble Personal Contact (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT "Actually, we've had very little. Maybe only 3 or 4 letters out of 2,000 in the past week." SUMMARY DISPOSITION (+) bjh (Time) (Date) (Initials) (-) Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON, D.C. 20260 REPLY TO Western Region DATE: ATTN OF: Jean Woolley 5/26/71 SUBJECT: Mail count for last 2 wks. percentage on rate increase TO: Mr. Albert Mail Received Letters on Rate Increases May 10 35 5 = less than 1% May 11 24 May 12 32 May 13 17 May 14 33 May 17 32 May 18 25 May 19 25 May 20 23 May 21 20 266 Total Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library ( ) Incoming ? ) Outgoing Sen. Philip Hart Mich. 5/26/71 (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone Personal Contact (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT Amt. of mail recd. referring to postage rate increases 5 to 10 in the last two weeks, if that many. SUMMARY DISPOSITION (+) (-) (Time) (Date) (Initials) POD Form 192-X May 1969 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library ( ) Incoming ( ) Outgoing Cong. Philip Ruppe Mich. 5/26/71 (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone Personal Contact (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT Amt. of mail recd. referring to postage rate increases LESS THAN 1 A WEEK SUMMARY DISPOSITION (+) (-) POD Form (Time) (Date) (Initials) 192-X May 1969 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library ( ) Incoming ( ) Outgoing Sen. JOhn Tunney Calif. 5/26/71 (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone Personal Contact (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT Amt. of mail recd. referring to postage rate increases VERY FEW --- Note: And this is the office from which most of our mail comes. SUMMARY DISPOSITION (+) (-) (Time) (Date) (Initials) POD Form 192-X May 1969 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library ( ) Incoming ( ) Outgoing Cong. Dick Shoup Montana 5/26/71 (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone Personal Contact (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT Amt. of mail recd. referring to postage rate increases NONE SUMMARY DISPOSITION (+) (-) (Time) (Date) (Initials) POD Form 192-X May 1969 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library ( ) Incoming ( ) Outgoing Cong. Donald Brotzman Colo. 5/26/71 (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone Personal Contact (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT Amt. of mail recd. referring to postage rate increases VERY FEW, VERY INSIGNIFICANT NUMBER SUMMARY DISPOSITION (+) (-) POD Form (Time) (Date) (Initials) 192-X May 1969 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library ( ) Incoming ( ) Outgoing Cong. John Moss Calif. 5/26/71 (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone Personal Contact (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT Amt. of mail recd. referring to postage rate increases only 3 - AA had answered them himself saying Congress no longer has jurisdiction over postage rates SUMMARY DISPOSITION (+) (-) POD Form (Time) (Date) (Initials) 192-X May 1969 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library ( ) Incoming ( ) Outgoing Cong. Bob Mathias Calif. 5/26/71 (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone Personal Contact (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT Amt. of mail recd. referring to postage rate increases NONE SUMMARY DISPOSITION (+) (-) POD Form (Time) (Date) (Initials) 192-X May 1969 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library ( ) Incoming ( ) Outgoing Cong. Harold Collier Ill. 5/26/71 (Member) (District) (State) (Date) (Time) Telephone Personal Contact (Name & Extension) (Name, Room No. & Building) SUBJECT Amt. of mail recd. referring to postage rate increases NONE SUMMARY DISPOSITION (+) (-) (Time) (Date) (Initials) POD Form 192-X May 1969 Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library