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EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 July 21, 1972 THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN MEMORANDUM FOR: THE CASPAR PRESIDENT W. WEINBERGER FROM: John Ehrlichman and I have discussed your concern with the sending of "ceiling letters" to the members of the Cabinet and heads of agencies. I understand that your feeling was that the ceiling letter would, if leaked, would reveal the fact that we were seeking a specific, overall budget total of $263 billion. At John's suggestion, I am attaching two sample ceiling letters from which you can see that the only number given the agency is their own number, and that the letter at no point refers to any overall budget totals. Therefore, there would be no way for anyone seeing one, or even two or three ceiling letters from computing the overall budget total. of course, if you wish, we could communicate even the agency ceiling totals orally, but the agency number is to be used by several people in the mechanics of making up of the agency budget by the agency itself. Under these circumstances, both John and I felt that the sending of the ceiling letters, of which the attachments are fair samples, would not cause any of the problems you are concerned with. If you wish any further information or discussion about this, I will be glad to try to furnish it. Approve sending ceiling letters in form attached Disapprove sending ceiling letters See me