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    "title": "Thursday, March 23, 1972, TV Statement re George Meany",
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    "ocrText": "5th Draft - TV Spot - Meany\n3/23/72\n-\nWhen I announced our new economic policy on August 15 I said\nthat fighting inflation must be everybody's job.\nYesterday, George Meany walked off the job. The decision\nto walk out came after the ruling on the longshoremen's contract.\nWhile other American workers are being held to a 5.5%\nwage increase, the Pay Board ruled against a 20.6% wage increase for\nthe longshoremen. Mr. Meany supported the increase.\nThe Pay Board was right, mr they was carry\npanelful\nI respect Mr. Meany as the for the nation's largest\nunion organizati on: the AFL-CIO. But only 17% of America's 80\nmillion wage earners belong to the AFL-CIO.\nIt is my responsibility to act and speak for all the people, and\nI shall meet that responsibility.\nAs President, I cannot permit any leader representing a\nspecial interest, no matter how powerful, to torpedo and sink a program\nneeded to protect the public interest.\nI have directed the Pay Board to continue, but as a single public\nunit, with those labor leaders who wisely wish to remain balanced by a\nreduced number of business leaders.\nI have directed thePrice Commission to proceed on course,\nworking alongside the Pay Board to cut inflation in half by the end of\nthis year.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\n- 2 -\nAll rules and regulations remain in full force.\nAll Americans, including the 80 million wage earners, have a\nstake in winning the fight against inflation. This is a fight to the finish.\nWith the support of the American people -- we shall win it.\n#####\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\n4th Draft - TV Spot - Meany\n3/23/72\nWhen I announced our new economic policy on August 15 I said\nthat fighting inflation must be everybody's job.\nYesterday, George Meany walked off the job. The decision\nto walk out came after the ruling on the longshoremen's contract.\nWhile other American workers are being held to a 5.5%\nwage increase, the Pay Board ruled against a 20.6% wage increase for\nthe longshoremen. Mr. Meany supported the increase.\nThe Pay Board was right in rejecting this increase and Mr.\nMeany was wrong L in supporting it.\naparmerful\nI respect Mr. Meany as the spokesman for the nation's largest\nunion organization: the AFL-CIO. But only 17% of America's 80\nmillion wage earners belong to the AFL-CIO.\nIt is my responsibility to act and speak for all the people, and I shall\nmeet that responsibility.\nAll Americans, including the 80 million wage earners, have a\nstake in winning the fight against inflation. We can win it only if we\nall pitch in together.\nLet those who will, drop out of the fight and criticize the rest\nof us who are doing what must be done to stop the rise in prices.\nBut as President, I cannot permit any leader representing a\nspecial interest, no matter how powerful, to torpedo and sink a program\nneeded to protect the public interest.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\n- 2 -\nI have directed the Pay Board to continue, but as a single public\nunit, with those labor leaders who wisely wish to remain balanced by a\nreduced number of business leaders.\nI have directed the Price Commission to proceed on course,\nworking alongside the Pay Board to cut inflation in half by the end of\nthis year.\nAll rules and regulations remain in full force.\nA\nThe fight against inflation will go on. This is a fight to the\nfinish With the support of the American people - - we shall win it.\n#######\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nA\nInespect mr meany as sha\nthe spoken for\nas the leaders the unitiew\nlargerst Unin arguinate: th tt Eh- Cio\nBut he xep\nBut only 17% of aming when\nthe 80 millio wager sawa\nbelng Ch to the F.F. C. . to .\nHis my requirement 500\nI\nactt speak for all the people\n# shall meet that required v.\nall amin, indualy the 80 millus\nwoger causes have a stabe\nin wining He the fight against\ninflation, They Hasw wage increases\nwhich ere eaten up by\nw.\nwe can win it andy if we\nall pitch in together\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nWritten Statement - March 23, 1972\nre George Meany\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nany\nButwhat\nprogram of controls will have its ups and downs, but it has\nis been insportant working, and it is will that succeed. -We rare have made moving considerable in the\nright director, The waget Prior ented system is working\nprogress but continued cooperation of all Americans is needed. neededing we\nare In to these win the bottle against inflated\nwalk off ok job of Joghtig inflate\ncircumstances the decision of three of the labor representatives\nto quit is totally irresponsible. Iknow that thei position concerning the\n4\ndisallowed a 20. 6 percent compensation increase which means labor\nWest Coast longshoremen's settlement did not prevail The Pay Phiseols Board\nsupported but approved a 14. 9 percent increase, even though it was more\nthan double the general limit which the Board had set.\nThe West Coast longshoremen's settlement was the only specific\nwrong\ncase referred to in yesterday's statement by the Executive Council of\nwas\nthe AFL-CIO, a statement which severely criticized the general pattern\nThe pay board was right + in mesor\nof Pay Board decisions.\ngeneral pattern of decisions/is one with\n#The\n9th Pag Board\nwhich the labor representatives have largely agreed. Of the 54 Pay Board\ndecisions to date, labor has agreed in 36 cases two thirds of the total.\nIt has disagreed with only 13 decisions - - or 25 percent. In one case\nlabor's representatives were split and in four cases they abstained. Over\nhalf of the Pay Board's decisions have been unanimous and, of the eight\ndecisions which have been the most controversial, labor has agreed with\nthe outcome in five. When the labor representatives say that this general\npattern is one of \"flagrant favoritism,\" they must recognize that the pattern\nis one to which they have generally agreed.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nIn a free s\nJna all the free Think society 4 no no are can are have is right his\nIfa free smaly\nwhy time\nIt is true, of course, that labor's representatives have not\nprevailed in every instance -- and that they did not succeed in their\neffort to uphold the full 20. 6 percent longshoremen's increase. But no ingl\ngroup should expect to evail in every test that is what bargaining\nis all about. All participants must be ready to accept a reasonable\namount of give and take.\norganized Labor's views have not been ignored by the Pay Board. In fact,\nthey have usually been accepted. But we cannot -- and we will not -\nallow any single group business or labor to be the exclusive judge\nof fairness in its own case. The public interest must\ncome before area any special intered.\nI know\neconomic policies will continue to require\ncertain sacrifices of the American people. But I am convinced that these\npolicies are also in the best interests of all the American people. I am\nespecially confident that they serve the best interests of our working\nmen and women. For wage earners know that inflationary wage increases\nStet\nare illusionary wage increases they are inevitably cancelled out by\nrising prices.\nInflation is adifficult enemy. We have set the course in the battle\nagainst that enemy and our decisions have won the overwhelming\napproval of the Congress and the American public. I am determined.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\n3rd Draft: TV Spot - Meany\n3/23/72 Safire\n(with President's additions and\nColson-Shultz changes)\nwhen I answed our wisaid examine\npolicy a on august 15\nEver since taking office, I have made it plain that fighting\ninflation must be everybody's job.\nYesterday, George Meany walked off the job. The decision\nto walk out came over the ruling on the longshoremen's contract.\nWhile other American workers are being held to a 5.5% wage\nagainta 20 Jocoage\nincrease, the Pay Board ruled that it was wrong for the longshoremen\nto receive a 20% increase. mr may supported the increase.\nI think some leaders profoundly\nPay union Boad was right underestimate in their\nfellow Americans 2\nin rejecting this increase +\n1m supporty it\nmeans week wroy\nThe wage earners of this country, 80 million strong, as well\nas the tens of millions of retired workers of this country, are deter-\nmined to call a halt to the rise in the cost of living. They know it can\nonly be done if we all pitch in together.\nI respect George Meany personally for his past contributions\nwatter how pointile\nto the nation, but now in the crunch he has let all his fellow Americans\ndown.\nLet those who will, drop out of the fight and criticize the rest\nrepresents\nof us who are doing what must be done to stop the rise in prices\nBalm any\nBut as President, I cannot permit one mistaken man, clinging\nsepentigaly To\ninterest, to torpedo and sink a program needed\nto protect the public interest.\n-2-\nI have directed the Pay Board to continue, but as a single public\nunit, with those labor leaders who wisely wish to remain balanced by a\nreduced number of business leaders.\nI have directed the Price Commission to proceed on course,\nworking alongside the Pay Board to cut inflation in half by the end of\nthis year.\nAll rules and regulations remain in full force.\nThe fight against inflation will go on until the American con\nsumer and the American worker win the fight.\nThis issa\nFight to the to finh!- the\noff.\nwith supplet prople 1\nwe shall win it .\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nThe President's Reading Copy\nTV Statement\nMarch 23, 1972\nWhen I announced our new economic policy on August 15\nI said that fighting inflation must be everybody's job.\nYesterday, George Meany walked off the job.\nI. The decision to walk out came after the ruling on\nthe longshoremen's contract.\n(1) While other American workers are being held\nto a 5.5% wage increase, the Pay Board ruled\nagainst a 20.6% wage increase for the\nlongshoremen.\nI. Mr. Meany supported the increase.\n(I) The Pay Board was right.\nI. Mr. Meany was wrong.\nI respect Mr. Meany as a powerful spokesman for the nation's\nlargest union organization: the AFL-CIO.\nI. But only 17% of America's 80 million wage earners\nbelong to the AFL-CIO.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\n- 2 -\nIt is my responsibility to act and speak for all the people,\nand I shall meet that responsibility.\nI. As President, I cannot permit any leader representing\na special interest, no matter how powerful, to torpedo\nand sink a program needed to protect the public\ninterest.\nI have directed the Pay Board to continue, but as a single\npublic unit, with those labor leaders who wisely wish to\nremain balanced by a reduced number of business leaders.\nI have directed the Price Commission to proceed on course,\nworking alongside the Pay Board to cut inflation in half by\nthe end of this year.\nI. All rules and regulations remain in full force.\nAll Americans, including the 80 million wage earners, have a\nstake in winning the fight against inflation.\nI. This is a fight to the finish.\n(I) With the support of the American people - --\nwe shall win it.\n######\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nThe President's Reading Copy\nTV Statement\nMarch 23, 1972\nWhen I announced our new economic policy on August 15\nI said that fighting inflation must be everybody's job.\nYesterday, George Meany walked off the job.\nI. The decision to walk out came after the ruling on\nthe longshoremen's contract.\n(I) While other American workers are being held\nto a 5.5% wage increase, the Pay Board ruled\nagainst a 20.6% wage increase for the\nlongshoremen.\nI. Mr. Meany supported the increase.\n(I) The Pay Board was right.\nI. Mr. Meany was wrong.\nI respect Mr. Meany as a powerful spokesman for the nation's\nlargest union organization: the AFL-CIO.\n/\nI. But only 17% of America's 80 million wage earners\nbelong to the AFL-CIO.\n108\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\n- 2 -\nIt is my responsibility to act and speak for all the people,\nand I shall meet that responsibility.\nI. As President, I cannot permit any leader representing\na special interest, no matter how powerful, to torpedo\nand sink a program needed to protect the public\ninterest.\nI have directed the Pay Board to continue, but as a single\npublic unit, with those labor leaders who wisely wish to\nremain balanced by a reduced number of business leaders.\nI have directed the Price Commission to proceed on course,\nworking alongside the Pay Board to cut inflation in half by\nthe end of this year.\nI. All rules and regulations remain in full force.\nAll Americans, including the 80 million wage earners, have a\nstake in winning the fight against inflation.\nI. This is a fight to the finish.\n(1) With the support of the American people --\nwe shall win it.\n######\n,45\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nMARCH 23, 1972\nOFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nSTATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT\n4:05 P.M. EST\nLadies and Gentlemen: At the conclusion of my\nstatement, Mr. Ziegler will issue a longer, written state-\nment, and also an Executive Order that I have just signed\nafter meeting with the Cost of Living Council.\nWhen I announced our new economic policy on August\n15 of last year, I said that fighting inflation must be every-\nbody's job. Yesterday, George Meany walked off the job. His\ndecision to walk out came after the ruling on the longshoremen's\ncontract.\nWhile other American workers are being held to a\n5-1/2 percent wage increase, the Pay Board ruled against a\n20 percent increase for the longshoremen. Mr. Meany supported\nthe increase. The Pay Board was right. Mr. Meany was wrong.\nI respect Mr. Meany as a powerful spokesman for the\nNation's largest union organization, the AFL-CIO. But only\n17 percent of America's 80 million wage earners belong to the\nAFL-CIO. It is my responsibility to act and speak for all the\npeople, and I shall meet that responsibility.\nAs President, I cannot permit any leader representing\na special interest, no matter how powerful, to torpedo and sink\na program which is needed to protect the public interest. Conse-\nquently, I have directed the Pay Board to continue, but as a\nsingle public unit, with those labor leaders who wisely wish\nto remain on it, balanced by a reduced number of business leaders.\nI have directed the Price Commission to proceed on course,\nworking alongside the Pay Board to cut inflation in half by\nthe end of the year.\nAll rules and regulations remain in full force. All\nAmericans, including particularly the 80 million wage earners in\nthis country, have a stake in winning the fight against infla-\ntion. This is a fight to the finish, and with the support of the\nAmerican people, we shall win it.\nEND\n(AT 4:07 P.M. EST)\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nMARCH 23, 1972\nOffice of the White House Press Secretary\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nSTATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT\nThe spirit of voluntary cooperation is the key to victory in the battle against\ninflation. I emphasized this point when I first announced my new economic\npolicy last August and repeated it last October outlining the price stabilization\nprogram. I described at that time some of the sacrifices which millions of\nAmericans were making in the fight against rising prices. And I indicated that\nour success in this struggle would ultimately depend on the willingness of all\nour people to \"put the public interest ahead of the special interest\" and thus\nto continue that good fight.\nThat is why the decision of three of the five representatives of organized labor\nto resign from the Pay Board is a disservice to the American people.\nSince it was established last October -- at the specific urging of organized\nlabor -- this tripartite Board has been a central part of the Phase Two program.\nThere has been much strong evidence that this program is succeeding. In the\nsix months from August, 1971 to February, 1972, the rise in the Consumer\nPrice Index was cut to an annual rate of 3. percent, down from a 4.1 percent\nincrease in the previous six months. Real, spendable weekly wages after\ntaxes rose 5.4 percent in the last six months, compared to a 1.3 percent\nincrease in the previous six months. In the last six months, seasonally\nadjusted employment rose 1, 123, 000, while unemployment declined by\n234,000.\nAny program of controls in a free economy will have its ups and downs. But\nwhat is important is that we are moving in the right direction. The Wage and\nPrice control system is working. But continued cooperation of all Americans\nis needed if we are to win the battle against inflation.\nIn these circumstances, the decision of three of the labor representatives to\nwalk off the job of fighting inflation is totally selfish and irresponsible.\nThe West Coast longshoremen's settlement was the only specific case referred\nto in yesterday's statement by the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO, a state-\nment which severely criticized the general pattern of Pay Board decisions.\nThe Pay Board disallowed a 20. 6 percent compensation increase which\nMr. Meany and his colleagues supported but approved a 14.9 percent increase,\neven though it was more than double the general limit which the Board had\nset.\nThe Pay Board was right and Mr. Meany was wrong on this issue.\nThe general pattern of decisions of the Pay Board is one with which the labor\nrepresentatives have largely agreed. Of the 54 Pay Board decisions to date,\nlabor has agreed in 36 of the votes -- two thirds of the total. It has disagreed\nwith only 13 decisions -- or 25 percent. In one instance labor's representa-\ntives were split and in four instances they abstained. Over half of the Pay\nBoard's decisions have been unanimous and, of the eight major wage cases\nvoted on by the full board which have been the most controversial, labor has\nagreed with the outcome in five. When the labor representatives say that\nthis general pattern is one of \"flagrant favoritism, they must recognize\nthat the pattern is one to which they have generally agreed.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\n-2-\nIt is true, of course, that labor's representatives have not prevailed in\nevery instance and that they did not succeed in their effort to uphold\nthe full 20. 6 percent longshoremen's increase. In a free society no one\nis right all the time and no one can have his way all the time. All\nparticipants must be ready to accept a reasonable amount of give and\ntake.\nOrganized labor's views have not been ignored by the Pay Board. In fact,\nthey have usually been accepted. But we cannot and will not allow any\nsingle group -- business or labor to be the exclusive judge of fairness\nin its own case. The public interest must come before any special interest.\nOur economic policies will continue to require certain sacrifices of the\nAmerican people. But I am convinced that these policies are also in the\nbest interests of all the American people. I am especially confident\nthat they serve the best interests of our working men and women. For\nwage earners know that wage increases which are inflated are illusionary\nwage increases they are inevitably cancelled out by rising prices.\nAlthough a few labor leaders have chosen to reject their public responsibility\nand have sought to justify their action with standard political rhetoric,\nthis Administration will not accept an \"anti-labor\" label. On the contrary\nthere can be no more \"pro-labor, \" pro-workingman stand than a firm\ndecision to protect the buying power of the wage earner's dollar.\nInflation is a dangerous and difficult enemy. We have set the course in\nthe battle against that enemy -- and our decisions have won the overwhelming\napproval of the Congress and the American public. I am determined to\nstay that course; I shall not be deterred by the disaffection of a few union\nleaders who represent only 17% of America's 80, 000, 000 wage earners.\nMy obligation is to serve the public interest -- and the public interest will\nbe served.\nI have directed the Pay Board to continue, but as a single public unit, with\nthose labor leaders who wisely wish to remain balanced by a reduced number\nof business leaders. All will be public members with the special\nperspectives of labor and business represented in their deliberations.\nI have directed the Price Commission to proceed on course, working\nalongside the Pay Board to cut inflation in half by the end of this year.\nAll rules and regulations remain in full force.\nThe fight against inflation will go on until the American consumer and the\nAmerican worker win the fight.\n#\n#\n#\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum"
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