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    "ocrText": "SENIOR STAFF MEETING ACTION ITEMS (2-26-82)\nITEMS\nACTION\n1.\nSchedule: No photo opportunity today.\n2.\nC-PAC: Speech has been finalized and will be circulated. Press\nGergen\noffice will release text prior to event. Speeches by Cabinet\nDarman\nofficers have been reviewed.\n3.\nNatural Gas: President has not made a decision yet; he will do so\nMeese\nsoon, though. Due to need for more consultations on the Hill and\nDuberstein\nwith industry, it is recommended that President not make a decision\nDole\nuntil late Monday.\n4.\nCBI: Suggestion made that we emphasize positive foreign media reac- Gergen\ntion. Such information can be pulled from USICA summary. Enders\nwill meet with Gergen to discuss steps aimed at continuing positive\nmedia comments.\n5.\nBob Jones: DOJ briefed press yesterday afternoon on our position\nFielding\nin the Supreme Court. Guidance is that this is not a \"shift in\nFuller\nposition, but instead is a result of an appeals court decision.\nGergen\nAction should remain at DOJ, with copies of their statement circu-\nlated to senior staff.\n6.\nHHS Refugee Regulations: Some states are objecting. Also, HHS has\nFuller\nnot done a good job of explaining the change; Murphy and Gergen to\nMurphy\nwork on this, with Fuller talking to Schweiker. Details should be\nGergen\nadequately covered, with regulations circulated in WH before publi-\ncation.\n7.\nWatt Contempt Citation: Committee vote was 23-19. If we are con-\nDuberstein\nfident of votes, we could move to reconsider. This issue will not\ncome to the floor for awhile; time will be used to explore options.\n8.\nStockman Testimony: Testimony has not been reviewed yet; will touch\nGergen\non entitlements and COLA freezes. Guidance is that \"we are review-\nSpeakes\ning freeze proposals in general to see if they'd have unintended\nadverse impact. Should continue to portray issue as a bipartisan\ncongressional initiative.\n9.\nCBO Figures: Controversy between budget figures hinges on different\nGergen\neconomic projections; CBO predicts higher interest rates and faster\nSpeakes\nDefense spendout than our budget. OMB and Treasury have done\nanalysis on CBO data. Guidance is to respond to questions only, and\nto use the OMB paper or refer to Stockman's testimony.\n10. Libyan Oil Embargo Story: NSC will provide guidance by 10:00.\nClark\n11. Congress: Both houses are out today.\n12. Social Security Task Force: Draft letter is done, and will be put\nout tomorrow. No need to circulate.\nSenior Staff Meeting Action Items (2-26-82)\nPage 2 of 2\nITEMS\nACTION\n13. Voting Rights Act: DOJ is developing language to amend the House\nFuller\nbill; it has been agreed that an alternative bill would not fly.\nBrad Reynolds is due to testify Monday.\n14. California Trip: Suggestion made that news story is needed during\nFuller\ntrip; Peter Grace may fly out to be announced as chairman of the\nGergen\nPrivate Sector Survey.\n25\nSENIOR STAFF MEETING ACTION ITEMS (2-20-82)\nITEMS\nACTION\n1.\nSchedule: No photo opportunity today. Decision to be made after\nGergen\nsenior staff on whether President should drop by meeting with\nSpeakes\neditorial writers and with columnists.\n2.\nMichel/Baker Meeting: Guidance on purpose of meeting is that it is\nGergen\nto discuss a wide range of legislative topics; meeting is not on\nDuberstein\nbudget.\n3.\nWays and Means Meeting: Guidance is that this is part of consul-\nGergen\ntation process, and that meeting was scheduled over a week ago.\n4.\nCabinet Meeting: Agenda is PSI, Private Sector Survey on Cost Con-\nFuller\ntrol, and natural gas.\n5.\nCBI: President to send personal notes to key players on subject.\nClark\nNeed to get Congress behind security assistance portion of program.\nDuberstein\nAlso need to disseminate information on positive foreign and Con-\nGergen\ngressional reaction.\n6.\nBob Jones: News story mentions \"about face\" in our position before\nGergen\nthe Supreme Court. Guidance is that our position is consistent;\nFielding\nDOJ brief says IRS does not have authority, but also says First\nAmendment does not protect racial discrimination. Most information\non this should come out of DOJ; WH was apprised, and President was\ntold this morning.\n7.\nDomenici Budget Plan: Need to avoid straying from guidance on this\nGergen\nsubject.\nSpeakes\n8.\nHart Nomination: Press conference scheduled today by opposition.\nDole\nNomination should not be sent up yet; need to make certain there\nGergen\nare no new surprises. Guidance is that we are not pulling back\nfrom this nomination.\n9.\nSocial Security Task Force: Neither President nor Vice President\nGergen\nwill drop by meeting, but Presidential message will be sent.\n10. Indian Claims: Matter is out of OMB process; now at DOJ, Interior\nFuller\nand OMB for comment; DOJ still has serious problems. If concerns\nare not resolved, matter should be discussed in Cabinet Council.\n11. Standby Petroleum Allocation Act: Earliest this issue will come up\nDuberstein\nin Senate is Tuesday or Wednesday; suggestion is to oppose confer-\nence report and see how we do in the House; then gauge next step\nfrom that vote.\n12. CPI: Up 0.3%; indicates sustained progress on inflation. Accom-\nWeidenbaum\nplishments on this issue need to be pushed harder.\nGergen\n13. Watt Contempt Citation: Committee will probably vote contempt\nGergen\ntoday. We have a good case, however, and could win a legal fight.\nFielding\nMeeting to be held next week to discuss subject. Gergen to get\nDuberstein\nfacts from Fielding for press purposes.\nSenior Staff Meeting Action Items (2-26-82)\nPage 2 of 2\nITEMS\nACTION\n14. National Year of Disabled Persons: Moving forward, but needs to be Dole\nplanned with sensitivity to issue.\n15. Economy: Sprinkel and Jordan testifying today.\n16. Voting Rights: Testimony set for Monday; Legislative Strategy\nDarman\nsession needed soon.\n17. Welfare-related News Stories: Negative stories on the subject in-\nAnderson\nclude accusations that incentives to work are removed; rebuttal\nsuggested.\n18. Budget: CBO figures are due out, and are $10B over ours.\n19. Secretary Bell: Quoted as being uncomfortable with budget cuts in\nFuller\neducation; linked subject to Pentagon test scores. Suggestion\nmade that someone speak with him on this.\n20. C-PAC: Political office is examining all Cabinet speeches to group\nFuller\n(Fuller will see that copies are forwarded); NSC will look at DOD\nRollins\nand State's remarks.\nClark\nSENIOR STAFF MEETING ACTION ITEMS (2-24-82)\nITEMS\nACTION\n1.\nSchedule: Meeting with Haig cancelled. No photo opportunity today.\nSpeakes\n2.\nFederalism/Governors: Commitment made to move forward on proposal\nWilliamson\nwith overall reaction positive. Pro and con positions are being\ntaken on specific parts, however.\n3.\nBipartisan Leadership Meetings: Being held for purposes of brief-\nDuberstein\ning on CBI. Statements of strong support from bipartisan leaders\nGergen\nare expected after speech. CBI fact sheet is being printed for\ndistribution at 9 a.m. Enders and Brock are to brief press. ABC\nwill carry the speech live.\n4.\nDomenici Budget Plan: Guidance available after the meeting with\nBaker\nPresident; Weidenbaum, Regan and Stockman should not comment since\nplan has just been received.\n5.\nConservative Political Action Conference: Draft of speech will be\nGergen\nready for circulation shortly. Fuller is to check on what Cabinet\nFuller\nofficers intend to say in their remarks.\n6.\nVOA Visit: NSC has prepared remarks; Speakes suggests sending\nSpeakes\nremarks to VOA in advance.\n7.\nEconomic Testimony: Weidenbaum to testify today, followed by\nStockman. Economic growth figures in budget may be challenged.\n8.\nHHS Refugee Regulations: Williamson has information; he will\nWilliamson\nexamine it and report back.\n9.\nStandby Petroleum Allocation Act: Certain House members are urging\nDuberstein\nveto. Bill will not come up this week, but there is a need to\nsignal strong opposition to the conference report at this point.\n10. Destroyers Off E1 Salvador: Guidance from NSC by 10 a.m.\nClark\n11. Virgin Islands Airport: Lewis has agreed to $5M this year for\nWilliamson\nTruman Airport ($45M overall); this may solve our problem with\nthe Virgin Islands re CBI.\n12. Hart Nomination: Specter and Heinz meeting with Hart this morning.\nDuberstein\n13. Afghanistan Day: Scheduled for March 21; resolution is pending in\nDole\nCongress. Bill Rogers is heading the private sector committee;\nGergen\nrequest made that President meet with Rogers and his committee\nnext week.\nSuggestion made to include line on Afghanistan in President's VOA\ntalking points today.\n14.\nPrivate Sector Survey: Meeting with Grace requested; suggestion\nGergen\nmade to schedule on Monday, but preference is to hold it in Calif.\nFuller\nJames\nExecutive Committee names being finalized; should go through Per-\nsonnel processing.\nLetter to Congress should not be sent until after chairman and com-\nmittee are named.\nSENIOR STAFF MEETING ACTION ITEMS (2-23-82)\nITEMS\nACTION\n1.\nSchedule: No photo opportunity with Congressional leaders.\nSpeakes\nDuberstein to join 10:15 briefing in advance of leadership meeting.\nDuberstein\n2.\nFederalism: Governors' meeting with President was positive despite\nWilliamson\npress reports to the contrary; they are still of a mind to work\nwith us toward an acceptable proposal. NGA will appoint a \"consult-\ning team\" for this purpose.\nSuggestion made that Williamson be available at today's briefing.\n3.\nCBI Speech: President has draft and is working on it. Time and\nGergen\nplace of speech to be announced today. Gergen to assemble group\nDarman\nto coordinate various aspects of this event.\n4.\nStandby Petroleum Allocation Act: Earliest this issue will arise\nDuberstein\nis on Thursday in Senate; Duberstein is now canvassing the House\nand will report back.\n5.\nLeadership Meeting: Agenda includes briefing on CBI by Haig and\nBrock, then budget discussion.\n6.\nCCFA: Meeting today with President on agricultural export policy\nFuller\nstatement. Main question involves necessity of issuance.\n7.\nForeign Travel Directive: Signed and issued. Subject to be placed\nFuller\non Cabinet agenda so that President can reiterate.\n8.\nDefense Surtax: Guidance on this and other budget alternatives is\nGergen\nthat we do not comment piecemeal since new proposals are coming\nSpeakes\nout daily.\n9.\nDOD Manpower Testing: Guidance is to leave comments to Defense\nGergen\nexcept to point out the obvious contribution of Blacks to the\nmilitary.\n10. Prime Rate: Still at 17%, but there are some indications the rate\nmay begin to drop.\n11. Japanese Loans: As suggested, this could involve $10B and would\nallow governors to package development projects. Idea has not yet\nbeen fleshed out.\n12. Economic Testimony: Harper is coordinating this to make certain\nHarper\nall are saying the same thing.\n13. Highway Funding Testimony: Has been postponed.\nHarper\n14. Mine Safety: Testimony today concentrating on statistics.\nHarper\n15. Air Controllers: Lewis reversed decision of Helms on docking of\nGergen\npay; guidance is to refer question to DOT.\nSenior Staff Meeting Action Items (2-23-82)\nPage 2 of 2\nITEMS\nACTION\n16. Indians Claims Legislation: DOJ still has serious reservations\nFuller\nabout proposed bill, though they have not yet issued an opinion.\nUhlmann to stay on top of issue.\n17. START: Re news story of a \"radical new proposal\", guidance is that\nClark\nthis is not true. Further guidance will be provided by NSC.\nGergen\n18. Social Security Task Force: Suggestion made that President drop-\nby first meeting on February 27; however, consensus is against\ndoing this before we have a feel for how the group will shape up.\n19. Tax Bill: Guidance re Charls Walker testimony is that it does not\nGergen\nsignal any change in Administration's position.\nSpeakes\nSENIOR STAFF MEETING ACTION ITEMS (2-22-82)\nITEMS\nACTION\n1.\nSchedule: Briefing set for 3:30 in advance of meet-\nWilliamson\ning with Governors.\n2.\nFederalism: Proposals have been receiving endorse-\nWilliamson\nments from several groups. The Governors intend to\nGergen\nuse Federalism as leverage on the budget; our strategy\nis to deal with the 2 issues separately. Many points\non our proposals remain negotiable. Williamson to be\navailable for press briefing after NGA session tomor-\nrow.\n3.\nDOD Manpower Testing: Questions should be referred\nGergen\nto DOD as much as possible; suggestion made to empha-\nSpeakes\nsize that this is a study requested in 1979; before\nany WH statement is made, DOD guidance should be\nchecked.\n4.\nCBI Speech: Comments due by noon today with final\nGergen\nrevisions to President tonight. Working group will\nClark\nmeet this afternoon to go over final draft and fact\nsheet.\nTime and place for speech to be announced tomorrow.\n5.\nTestimony: Regan, Stockman and Weidenbaum testifying\nHarper\nthis week on economy and budget. Official guidance\nFuller\non forecast being prepared.\nTax loophole proposals will also come up this week\nand will be circulated in advance.\n6.\nConservative Political Action Conference: Meeting\nFuller\nFriday; Fuller to find out what Cabinet officers\nintend to say.\n7.\nStandby Petroleum Allocation Act: Now in Congress\nDuberstein\nwith vote this week on conference report; we have\nopposed this and question of veto must be discussed.\nDuberstein to take a reading in Congress. Meeting\nwith Baker and Michel also suggested.\n8.\nHHS Refugee Regulations: Changes proposed effective\nHarper\nMarch 1. Governors have concern; need to reexamine\nFuller\nissue, with report to senior staff later this week.\n9.\nSmoking: New Surgeon General report due out with\nfurther evidence of harmful effects.\n10. HHS Family Planning Regulation: Now being published\nin Register.\nSenior Staff Meeting Action Items (2-22-82)\nPage 2 of 2\nITEMS\nACTION\n11. Private Sector Survey: Effort will be made to get\nFuller\nGrace here when he is named as Chairman. Object is\nto bring favorable media attention to this issue as\nsoon as possible.\n12. POWs/MIAs: Official mission now in Hanoi; guidance\nClark\nto be provided shortly.\n13. Habib: Effort will be made to have Ambassador see\nClark\nthe President prior to departure for Middle East.\n14. Romania Credit: Application rejected; one-page fact\nClark\nmemo available for guidance. Need to emphasize this\nGergen\nwas President's decision made over the recommenda-\ntions of State and Agriculture.\n15. Foreign Travel: Directive to be presented to Presi-\nClark\ndent for consideration today; contains some change\nin policy, and should be circulated.\n16. Soviet Nerve Gas/Chemical Weapons: Question arising\nClark\nconcerning release of evidence; guidance by 10:00\nfrom NSC.\nSENIOR STAFF MEETING ACTION ITEMS (2-19-82)\nITEMS\nACTION\n1.\nSchedule: Mini press conference with editors set for noon; charts\nGergen\nshould not be used; advance briefing to be held at 10 or 10:30.\nClark\nAlso, corrections of Vietnam misstatements made yesterday should\nbe available to President.\n2.\nCBI: NSC meeting set for 1:30 to discuss policy points and speech\nClark\ndraft.\n3.\nStatement on Volcker: Guidance is that this is not a switch but,\nGergen\ninstead, is evidence of an evolving relationship.\n4.\nPrivate Sector Survey: Follow-up suggested re DOD portion of sur-\nFuller\nvey; this can be stressed again when a chairman is named.\n5.\nLoans from Japanese Businesses: News story noted re $10B loan pro-\nposal. Report is that this has been previously discussed with\nState Department, USTR and DOC.\n6.\nAfghan Refugees: Report is that 29 Afghans flew into San Francisco\nFuller\nwithout papers; probably preplanned with refugees being taken ad-\nvantage of. Options being examined, but return to Afghanistan has\nbeen ruled out.\n7.\nEconomic Recovery: Guidance is still that modest upturn will occur\nGergen\nin late 2nd quarter; we will start seeing \"signs of recovery\"\naround then. Gergen to circulate precise guidance to all senior\nstaff.\n8.\nDED: Legislation on reorganization is being prepared, but there is\nMeese\nnot yet a definite date for submission to Congress.\n9.\nDOE: Legislation will be submitted after meeting with McClure.\nMeese\n10. Gas Deregulation: WH meeting will be held Monday to discuss all\nMeese\naspects of issue (including political). Also, EM will sit in on\nPresident's meeting with Governor Clements next Tuesday in case\nissue is raised.\n11. Economic Figures: Personal income is up 0.2%; disposable income\nis up 0.5%.\n12. CCNRE: Meeting today on Clean Water Act.\nFuller\n13. Foreign Policy News Stories: Haig story--WH reaction is \"no com-\nGergen\n\"\nment.\nEvans and Novak story--guidance is that there are some new direc-\nGergen\ntives, but nothing new in the system.\nM-16 regulations story--guidance from NSC by 10 a.m.\nClark\nSENIOR STAFF MEETING ACTION ITEMS (2-18-82)\nITEMS\nACTION\n1.\nPress Conference: Weidenbaum to update economic\nWeidenbuam\ntalking points in President's briefing book; he will\nalso attend briefing lunch after testifying.\n2.\nCBI: NSC meeting tentatively set for 1:30 Friday to\nClark\nfinalize policy paper; Clark to coordinate. New\nGergen\nspeech draft to be produced reflecting comments;\nimportant to retain flexibility. Gergen to coordinate\nassembly of speech.\n3.\nPrivate Sector Survey: Meeting to be held in JAB\nBaker\noffice after senior staff to discuss this matter.\nMeese\n4.\nNYC Loan: Koch and Regan have announced loan guaran-\ntee decision.\n5.\nEconomic Testimony: Weidenbaum to give highlights of Gergen\nEconomic Report. Guidance is still that recovery\nWeidenbaum\nwill start either late in 2nd quarter or early in\n3rd. Gergen to circulate guidance on timing of re-\ncovery, making sure Treasury agrees and that language\nretains some degree of flexibility.\n6.\nCIA Documents: NSC has drafted response to Rosenthal, Clark\nwill consult with Duberstein and then circulate for\nFuller\ncomment.\n7.\nStockman Testimony: Some media reports wrongly in-\nGergen\nterpreted testimony as calling for compromise on\nbudget; however, testimony in actual context simply\nrestated the President's position.\n8.\nFraud, Waste and Abuse: News piece questioning\nHarper\naccuracy of figures in our report may run tonight.\nSENIOR STAFF MEETING ACTION ITEMS (2-17-82)\nITEMS\nACTION\n1.\nSchedule: Photo opportunity is with Belgian P.M.; Treasury is\nSpeakes\nforwarding briefing paper on currency; question of press briefing\nClark\nafter meeting to be discussed.\n2.\nCIA Documents on OPEC: President does not agree with request for\nClark\ndocument release, and has sent letter to Rosenthal. Clark to dis-\nDuberstein\ncuss with Casey question of whether documents must remain classi-\nfied due to \"possible harm to national security.\"\n3.\nCBI: Comments on speech draft to be distributed to Bakshian and\nDarman\nworking group. Legislative Strategy group to discuss matter at\nDuberstein\n10 a.m. Duberstein to talk with Congressman Murtha re his post-\nvisit statement that El Salvador merits further assistance.\n4.\nPress Conference: Set for EOB 450; Rosebush to check again on\nRosebush\nwhether use of East Room is possible, though.\n5.\nNYC Loan Guarantee: Material from Koch has been received; William-\nWilliamson\nson to discuss matter with JAB.\n6.\nEconomic Figures: No change in housing starts, but permits up 6%.\nIndustrial production down 3% in January, but weather was a\nfactor.\n7.\nHousing: Secretary Pierce met with President; decision is that\nFuller\nsomething needs to be done for the industry. It was noted that\nhousing industry leads us into and out of recessions. Cabinet\nCouncil working group formed to study options on expedited basis.\n8.\nStockman: Testifying today on economic forecast; will lay out\nHarper\noptimistic and pessimistic scenarios as well as Administration\nforecast. Harper, JAB and EM to discuss further.\n9.\nBudget Savings: GAO is looking at our report on program savings\nHarper\nwith view to question our figures. OMB has discovered one in-\nstance of double-counting, but no others.\n10. Labor: Kirkland statement re \"Jonestown economics\" noted; VP\nGergen\nresponded strongly, and consensus is that we should continue to\nRollins\nrespond similarly. Rollins to handle matter of Labor Council\nformation at RNC.\n11. First Lady: Response to recent trip has been excellent.\n12. Tax Exemption: Mississippi case (in Supreme Court) discussed; per\nFuller\nAG, case is not directly related to school tax exemption issue,\nbut Fuller to follow up.\nBriefing paper on issue also needed prior to President's press\nFuller\nconference.\nSENIOR STAFF MEETING ACTION ITEMS (2-16-82)\nITEMS\nACTION\n1.\nSchedule: No photo opportunity today.\n2.\nPress Conference: Scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday.\nGergen\nNeed to keep President's schedule as clear as\nClark\npossible for preparation time. Suggestion made for\nstrong opening statement on budget. Suggestion also\nmade to mention Bud Nance task force if it has been\nfirmed up.\n3.\nAgents Identities Bill: Will come up on Senate\nDuberstein\nfloor next week. Chafee amendment is the one we are\nClark\nsupporting. Bill has already passed the House in\nform we like.\n4.\nHart Nomination: Moral Majority supporting this now.\nDuberstein\nDuberstein to call Heinz and Specter; at this point,\nneed to quiet speculation that nomination will be\nwithdrawn.\n5.\nUnitary Tax: Issue is potentially volatile; EM to\nMeese\nsee that it is considered in Cabinet Council.\n6.\nRefugees: HHS has postponed regulations to cut\nWilliamson\nrefugee reimbursement period from 36 months to 18\nMeese\nmonths. This requires a second look; Williamson to\nget facts to EM.\n7.\nThomas Nomination: This has been well received by\nDuberstein\nCongress; we are trying to keep this separate from\nthe Hart nomination.\n8.\nNYC Loan Guarantee: Additional material from Koch\nWilliamson\nis due today.\n9.\nCBI Speech: Draft now being circulated for comment\nDarman\non \"hold close\" basis. Timing on speech has not\nClark\nyet been decided; may be posponed until next week.\n10.\nIsrael: Suggestions will be made this morning re\nClark\nresponse to latest Israeli statements; press guidance\nwill follow.\n11.\nClean Air: Need report from Boyden Gray on status\nMurphy\nand next step.\n12. Labor Relations: Unions upset concerning shutdown\nof Pullman plant; questions should be referred to DOL.\nSENIOR STAFF MEETING ACTION ITEMS (2-12-82)\nITEMS\nACTION\n1.\nSchedule: Radio correspondents meeting is off. No\nGergen\npress coverage of Administration spokesmen meeting.\nSpeakes\nPhoto opportunity is walk to helicopter. Suggestion\nalso made for budget-related letter to be sent this\nweekend to all GOP Senators and Congressmen.\n2.\nBudget: Guidance is essentially the same as yester-\nGergen\nday; when Congress looks at the budget in detail,\nthey will face the same difficult choices the\nPresident faced.\n3.\nNYC Loan Guarantee: Williamson called Koch, who is\nWilliamson\nsending new information by Tuesday; decision on\nFuller\nguarantee to be made on Wednesday.\n4.\nHart Nomination: Duberstein and Rollins to work\nDuberstein\nwith James re political aspects of nomination (Sen.\nRollins\nHeinz has asked that it be put on hold). In particu-\nJames\nlar, check should be made on what previous clearances\nwere given on Hart. Decision could be made not to\nsend up nomination.\n5.\nEEOC Nominee: Work should be done on clearances for\nJames\nThomas (from DED).\n6.\nIndian Claims: Congressional front is quiet for now.\nDuberstein\nDOJ, DOI and OMB are studying bill for clearance\nFuller\npurposes. Issue to be discussed again next week.\n7.\nTaiwan: If further questions arise, should refer\nGergen\nback to January 5th Q&A.\n8.\nEl Salvador: Question has arisen re the carrying of\nClark\nweapons by advisors. Speakes will not view CNN film\nGergen\nportraying this. Question seems to revolve around\nwhether weapons are for self-defense or are offensive\nin nature; DOD will have statement ready later today.\n9.\nProducer Prices: Up 0.4%; lowest rate of increase\nsince April '77. Further evidence that the fight\nagainst inflation is making progress.\n10.\nFood Stamps: Questions arising about budget cuts;\nFuller\nDon Moran will put together a fact sheet on issue.\nSENIOR STAFF MEETING ACTION ITEMS (2-11-82)\nITEMS\nACTION\n1.\nSchedule: Photo opportunity today during meeting\nSpeakes\nwith county officials.\n2.\nBudget: Congressional leaders to speak with press\nGergen\noutside after meeting. Guidance is that meeting has\nSpeakes\nbeen scheduled for 1½ weeks and is not related to\nthe Hollings proposal.\n3.\nMX Silo Hardening/Change in Israel Policy News\nClark\nStories: NSC will forward guidance to press office\nthis morning.\n4.\nNYC Loan Guarantee: Williamson to call Koch.\nWilliamson\n5.\nIllinois Medicaid Waiver: WH agrees with HHS deci-\nFuller\nsion to grant waiver.\n6.\nVolcker: Meeting with President tentatively set for\nDeaver\nFebruary 23 due to Regan's absence; should be recon-\nsidered, though, since suggestion was for a one-on-one\nmeeting.\nGuidance re Volcker's report to Congress is that\nGergen\nthere is a consistency with our Economic Report;\nSpeakes\nFed report sets forecast ranges and our figures are\nwithin their ranges (albeit on the optimistic end).\n7.\nFurloughs: Proposed as alternative to deal with\nFuller\nbudget cuts; OMB and OPM to discuss guidelines on\nGergen\nwhen, how to use. Fuller to provide more informa-\ntion in advance of briefing.\n8.\nCivil Rights Commission: Hart's public discussion\nDuberstein\nof his views causing problems; nomination has not\nJames\nyet gone up. Duberstein to check sentiment on Hill;\nnomination on \"hold\" pending further checks and con-\nfirmation of Pendleton. Hart was not offered chair-\nmanship.\nSENIOR STAFF MEETING ACTION ITEMS (2-10-82)\nITEMS\nACTION\n1.\nMeeting with Female Appointees: Briefing on budget and other\nDole\nissues to prepare them as spokesmen; future briefings set with\nGergen\nBlack and Hispanic appointees; briefing book on budget, Federalism\nwill be available soon.\n2.\nEconomic Report: Decision is that no signing ceremony will be held.\n3.\nIllinois Medicaid Waiver: JAB has signed off on memo; Fuller to\nFuller\ncheck on Meese sign-off.\n4.\nIndian Claims Settlement: Problem is that D'Amato/Thurmond/Lee\nFuller\nwere led to believe Administration supported bill, yet bill had not\nbeen cleared by WH or DOJ; appears to have been back-channeled by\none individual; bill itself is potentially embarrassing. Fuller to\ntake up matter with Stockman and Harper.\n5.\nCombined Federal Campaign: Need final paper on changes being pro-\nFuller\nposed; inclination is to leave order unchanged.\n6.\nWatt Contempt Citation: Vote occurred in subcommittee; must still\nFielding\nbe approved by full committee and by House. Executive privilege\nclaimed, though large amount of documents has been voluntarily\nprovided. Could be a good test case.\n7.\nTax Exemption: Administration position is that we are still push-\nDuberstein\ning and supporting our bill, not trading.\n8.\nNYC Loan Guarantee: Recommendation will be coming through the\nAnderson\nsystem soon.\n9.\nMiami Crime Task Force: Has met once; will meet again Friday. VP\nMurphy\nto speak in Miami next Tuesday on problem. There are initiatives\nwe can take. Press inquiries should be referred to Teeley; other\ninquiries should go through Fuller.\n10. Job Training: Quayle has scheduled hearings for Feb. 22 on his\nAnderson\nbill; he wants Administration testimony on his bill and our own\nFuller\nproposal. Hearings could be postponed two weeks if Cabinet Council\nhas not completed its work.\n11. Binary Weapons: Statement released Monday; initial reaction from\nGergen\nEurope is mild.\n12. Proposed Budget \"Freeze\": Guidance is that Howard Baker supports\nSpeakes\nthe President's budget; questions on his \"freeze\" comment should\nbe referred to him.\n13. Federalism: Once decision has been made, no comments undercutting\nDuberstein\nthe President should occur.\nSenior Staff Meeting Action Items (2-10-82)\nPage 2 of 2\nITEMS\nACTION\n14. Budget: Need open congressional support for our budget: Duberstein\nDuberstein\nto work on this. Support from business and other groups also\nDole\nneeded: Dole to handle. Suggestion made that agreement by congres-\nsional leaders on the basic principles represented by our budget\ncould be an acceptable middle ground.\n15. ICC Vacancy: Meeting will be held today to discuss. Teamsters will Dole\nbe in on this issue shortly.\nJames\n16. HHS Family Planning Regulation: Schweiker testified yesterday on\nFuller\ngeneral concept. Consensus is that we are already committed, and\nthat proposed regulation is sound. Decision is that HHS can go\nahead with proposal.\n17. Science Advisory Council: Proposed by Keyworth. Group would advise James\nKeyworth (not the President); membership is not broadly based. Con-\nsensus is that proposal can go forward, but (a) group should not be\ncharacterized as a \"White House\" council; and (b) no announcement\nshould be made from WH.\nSENIOR STAFF MEETING ACTION ITEMS (2-8-82)\nITEMS\nACTION\n1.\nSchedule: 9:30--Bipartisan Congressional Leaders; 10:00--Dropby\nGOP Congressional Leaders; 10:30--NSC briefing; 11:00--Budget\nSigning Ceremony.\nPhoto opportunity during budget signing, with Stockman, Regan and\nSpeakes\nWeidenbaum present.\nBakshian has statement prepared; Darman to set up short briefing\nGergen\nprior to signing.\nDarman\n2.\nBob Jones: Nothing to be done on court case unless all senior\nFuller\nstaff are aware; Legislative Strategy Group to discuss question\nDuberstein\nof briefs for case, and resolution introduced; also to discuss\nGrove City case.\nMeeting set for 1:30 today with McNamar, Schmults, and Bell.\nDarman\n3.\nRegulatory Reform: Must discuss with DOJ in Legislative Strategy\nDarman\ntomorrow since bill may come up Wednesday.\n4.\nRight to Life: Anderson will report this week on draft DOJ letter\nAnderson\nnow circulating.\n5.\nMine Safety: Hiring freeze lifted; commitment to restore funds;\nFuller\nwill work with the union in looking at the inspection requirements.\nHarper\nNotifications made on Friday and Saturday; release went out Saturday.\n6.\nIsrael: Statement in German paper quotes President that Israel is\nGergen\nonly reliable US ally in Mideast; guidance is that story is not\nClark\naccurate and consists of cut-and-paste of campaign statements. ICA\nhas some history on this statement.\n7.\nTax Cut: Guidance is that we would only consider making the tax\nGergen\ncut retroactive if it is not linked to the 3rd year cut, and if we\nDuberstein\nconclude it would speed up the recovery without adverse impact.\n8.\nCombined Federal Campaign:\nOPM memo arguing for changes has been\nDarman\ncirculating since October.\nConsensus is that issue needs to be\nbrought to some resolution.\nKey points of memo should be summarized\nfor JAB and EM.\n9.\nBudget: Campaign to \"sell\" our budget should be accelerated in\nGergen\norder to avoid being put on defensive. Important to get some\nDuberstein\npositive statements out of our Congressional people today.\nDisagreement on economic forecast within CEA also raised, especially Weidenbaum\nregarding the velocity assumptions.\n10. Education Block Grant: Report is that regulations have been suc-\nHarper\ncessfully whittled down. The new regulations will probably generate\nopposition from poverty groups and others due to absence of some\nSENIOR STAFF MEETING ACTION ITEMS (2-3-82)\nITEMS\nACTION\n1.\nSchedule: Mubarak arrival ceremony moved to East\nCanzeri\nRoom.\n2.\nSenior Staff: No meeting tomorrow due to Prayer\nBreakfast; also, no meeting Friday.\n3.\nTax Exemption Bill: Legislative Affairs is still\nDuberstein\nchecking with Senator Dole's staff re suggestion\nthat resolution be introduced in lieu of bill.\n4.\nRight to Life: Paper now circulating on proposed\nAnderson\nconstitutional amendment; Anderson to report Monday\nDarman\non issue.\n5.\nSuperfund: Issue of state versus federal superfund\nHarper\nraised by Fielding; Harper to check and report back.\nFielding\n6.\nAppointments: SBA and EEOC appointments ready to\nJames\nmove. Two nominations to be resubmitted, including\nVan de Water. Re ICC vacancy, suggestion is to talk\nwith Teamsters and get someone they like for slot;\nthey might then be able to support Van de Water.\n7.\nCuba: Concerning statement about MiGs in Cuba,\nClark\nguidance is that this does not represent a declassi-\nSpeakes\nfication of info--instead it is an acknowledgement\n(or general statement) consistent with what the\nPresident has already said. NSC to provide usual\nguidance by 10 a.m.\n8.\nBudget Message: Comments are in, message complete.\nHarper\nNote that health program changes are reflected in\nmessage.\n9.\nNYC Loan Guarantees: Next installment being con-\nDarman\nsidered (Treasury to make decision) ; could be close\nFuller\ncall. WH comments due by February 10.\nAnderson\n10.\nEOP Agencies: Will all meet 16% cut with exception\nHarper\nof Office of Administration (due to level of support\nit is required to provide).\nSENIOR STAFF MEETING ACTION ITEMS (2-2-82)\nITEMS\nACTION\n1.\nSchedule: No photo opportunity today.\n2.\nVolcker: Meeting with President set today at 11:15\nFuller\nas prelude to Volcker meeting (tentatively set for\nDarman\nThursday, but not yet firm). Regan has questions\nconcerning necessity of meeting and timing.\n3.\nEl Salvador: Haig testifying today in House. State\nClark\nDepartment is forwarding press guidance re possible\nGergen\nquestions.\n4.\nSBA: Question raised concerning public testimony\nHarper\ntoday on Davis-Bacon by head of agency's advocacy\nsection. This person may not have to clear testimony\nwith OMB; thus, Administration viewpoint will need to\nbe made clear at hearing.\n5.\nTax Exemption: \"Sense of the Congress\" resolution\nDuberstein\nbeing considered on this matter, and will need to\nFielding\nbe examined further. Question as to what specifically\nis being suggested.\n6.\nEnterprise Zones: Questions and concerns expected\nAnderson\non sub-minimum wage portion of proposal. Guidance\nDole\nis that we will not make decision on this until we\nhear those views from private groups.\n7.\nRegulatory Reform: Bill will not come up this week;\nDuberstein\ntalking points for President being prepared, but no\nneed to call Senator Schmitt yet.\n8.\nMubarak Visit: Press plan is for background brief-\nClark\ning, then on-the-record briefing by the Secretary.\nGergen\nGuidance is that policy on number of visits with\nPresident has not changed, and where a second meet-\ning is called for it will be held. So far, only\nSadat and Begin have met twice with President during\nvisits.\n9.\nBudget: Guidance continues to be \"no comment\" on\nGergen\nbudget until it has been released.\n10. Fee Cap Bill: Proposal is to limit fees paid to\nHarper\npublic interest lawyers who sue the government. Limit\nFuller\nwould place fees close to rate government pays to\nprivate lawyers it retains. OMB to include proposal\nin publication it is preparing, but matter should be\nheld for full discussion in new Cabinet Council on\nLegal Policy.\n11. Binary Weapons: Guidance re statement to be provided Clark\nby noon.\nSenior Staff Meeting Action Items (2-2-82)\nPage 2 of 2\nITEMS\nACTION\n12. Prime Rate: Stock market dropped in reaction to rise Weidenbaum\nin prime rate; it is expected that other banks will\nfollow suit. As a result, the Fed may soon feel\npressure to raise its discount rate.\n13. CCEA: New employment training program to be discussed\ntoday at 8:45.\nSENIOR STAFF MEETING ACTION ITEMS (2-1-82)\nITEMS\nACTION\n1.\nSchedule: Meeting with Dick Wirthlin added for 3:15.\n2.\nFederalism: Photo opportunity during meeting at\nWilliamson\n11:00. Williamson or Anderson to brief President\nAnderson\non financial aspects at 10:45.\n3.\nBudget Message: Final draft will be circulated by\nDarman\nDarman this morning. Comment deadline is 7:00 p.m.\nHarper\n4.\nTax Exemption Bill: Testimony being offered today\nFuller\nin Senate. House testimony is scheduled for 2-4-82\nFielding\nin Ways and Means.\n5.\nCabinet Councils: Meeting this week to discuss new\nFuller\nemployment and training program to replace CETA;\ntelecommunications policy in aftermath of AT&T\ndecision; thrift industry; and position on private\nexpress statutes (Baxter testimony on hold).\n6.\nFamily Planning Regulation: Differences in Cabinet\nFuller\nCouncil over whether to notify parents re provision\nAnderson\nof birth control devices, or whether to question\nentire law. Decision memo is being written.\n7.\nVolcker: Meeting with President Wednesday or Thurs-\nMeese\nday; prior meeting being handled by Meese; Darman\nDarman\nto forward memo on subject to Meese. Guidance is\nnot to be seen as blaming our economic problems on\nthe Fed.\n8.\nLegislative Veto: D. C. Circuit Court has declared\nDuberstein\nlegislative veto to be unconstitutional. Effect\nFielding\nthis will have on certain legislative proposals to\nbe explored. Duberstein should draft new talking\npoints for President to use in calling Schmitt.\n9.\nEl Salvador: President to receive update on situa-\nClark\ntion, including recent deaths as reported in press.\n10.\nEnterprise Zones: Kemp and Garcia to discuss minimum Anderson\nwage provision with Anderson.\n11. DOL Supplemental: OMB has proposed $2.3B to cover\nHarper\nunemployment compensation, a sum already assumed in\nSpeakes\nour most recent FY '82 estimates. This should be\nDarman\nannounced in the briefing today; Harper to provide\nfact sheet.\n12.\nUnemployment: Guidance is not to use 10% figure\nGergen\n(which was mentioned yesterday by Regan).\n13. Van de Water: Teamsters now officially oppose nomi-\nJames\nnation. In light of this, extra care should be taken\nwith ICC appointments.\nSenior Staff Meeting Action Items (2-1-82)\nPage 2 of 2\nITEMS\nACTION\n14. Supplementals: Will be proposed for guaranteed\nHarper\nstudent loans, BATF, and Merit System Protection\nBoard.\n15. Minority Business Enterprise Regulations: Purpose is Dole\nto encourage and increase participation by minority\nHarper\nfirms in government contracts, etc. However, regu-\nlations may be misinterpreted. Dole to check into\nmatter with Harper, and will attempt to sort it out.\n16. Clean Water Reauthorization: Only testimony now\nHarper\nslated on this matter concerns a supplemental. Cabinet\nCouncil will review any package EPA comes up with on\nreauthorization.\n17. Flicks and Flacks: Report is that 500 USDA publica-\nHarper\ntions have been abolished; \"user\" policy applied to\nGergen\nothers. Announcement of this should be made by WH\nfor additional news play.\n18. Poland Film: Criticized in advance, but reviews\nGergen\nfollowing showing have been good; film seems to have\nbroad public appeal. Suggestion that a screening be\nset up for certain reporters.\n19. Prayer Breakfast: To be held Thursday, 2-4; senior\nstaff meeting that day may be cancelled.\n20. Ralph Abernathy: Holding breakfast to honor Adminis- Dole\ntration officials; should be checked into."
}