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Correspondence – 03/16/1982-03/31/1982 (1)
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Correspondence – 03/16/1982-03/31/1982 (1)
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Records of the White House Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff (Reagan Administration)
Michael K. Deaver's Correspondence Files
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MKD
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 16, 1982
Dear Charlie:
Thank you for your February 15 letter about Herbicide
Orange. I understand that you also sent your ideas
to Secretary Weinberger and that his staff is reviewing
your proposals in-depth. I will ask Cap to keep me
apprised of the status of that effort.
Herbicide Orange is certainly an emotional issue with
many sectors of our population, and I think your ideas
may be of great help in ensuring that the real issue is
understood and solved.
Thank you for your letter and for your continuing support
in important matters of national security.
Keep in touch.
Sincerely,
MICHAEL K. DEAVER
Assistant to the President
Deputy Chief of Staff
The Honorable Charles J. Conrad
346 Camino Dos Palos
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
BCC: Sety Weinhunger
1
CHARLES J. CONRAD
346 Camino Dos Palos
Thousand Oaks, California, 91360
805 / 492-6006
MEMORANDUM:
New approach to the AGENT ORANGE controversy
DATE:
February, 15, 1982
The Administration should insist EPA quickly issue a final
ruling on the use of 2,4,5-T in the United States. Since 2,4,5-T
is one of the two components of Agent Orange, EPA's indecision
only encourages additional stories alleging that herbicides are
responsible for many health problems among Vietnam veterans.
The Administration must realize few, if any, environmental-
health issues have received the sustained national interest that
has been focused on Agent Orange; interest kept alive by "investi-
gative" reporters, environmental extremists, peace groups and
lawyers who file suits on behalf of Vietnam veterans. The Adminis-
tration no longer can afford a game plan that seeks to avoid con-
troversy. It is time to take the offensive.
Such an offensive may even help sell the Reagan program to
the American people. The charge often made by the opposition is we
are manufacturing B-1 bombers and neutron warheads at the expense
of the school lunch program and medical care for the aged.
The time and money DoD has spent seeking answers to the Agent
Orange problem adds not one bit of fire power to our military hard-
wear. It does demonstrate (along with efforts by the VA and HHS)
the Reagan Administration's concern for the well being of the
Vietnam veteran and his family.
Charles J. Conrad
2
Here are a few items that should be fed to the news media;
DoD is bending over backwards to get the facts on Operation
Ranch Hand. Thousands of man/hours are being spent looking over
40,000 feet of records of the Vietnam war, matching troop move-
ments with the 6,000 herbicide missions, in an attempt to pinpoint
possible exposure to Agent Orange.
At long last (after delays caused, in part, by law suits by
such organizations as Agent Orange Victims International) the Air
Force has begun a medical study, that may last for at least twenty
years, into the health records of the 1,264 pilots, navigators and
equipment operators who flew the Ranch Hand missions, hence are
known to have been exposed to Agent Orange. At the same time a
"control group" has been formed of 1,264 individuals who are as
close as possible in physical characteristics to the Ranch Hands
but never have been exposed to herbicides. If Agent Orange does,
indeed, create medical problems in Vietnam veterans it will be
indicated as, year after year, health records of those two groups
are compared.
Cost for each Ranch Hand examination is estimated at between
$2,500.00 and $3,000.00. This study has been funded, for the first
five years, at somewhere between $25,000,000.00 and $30,000,000.00,
another indication of the Administration's concern for the Vietnam
veteran.
While DoD is spending that amount on a study that can provide
answers to the Agent Orange controversy, Congress has directed the
VA to adopt a doubtful program, already costing millions, that
Charles J. Conrad
3
will not, in my opinion, produce enough worthwhile information
to justify the expense.
This mandate may have resulted from such statements as the one
made on the MacNeil-Lehrer Report by Frank McCarthy, then President
of Agent Orange Victims International. Speaking of the Vietnam vet-
eran McCarthy declared "we are all poisoned," a preposterous remark
but one never challenged by the news media.
Under this Congressional mandate, any man who served in Viet-
nam can claim he was exposed to Agent Orange. The VA must process
this claim, unless the problem resulted from activity after service
in Vietnam. The veteran then receives a physical examination; not
as complex as that given a Ranch Hander but estimated to cost be-
tween $300.00 and $400.00 per veteran. Then he is asked to complete
a questionnaire about his service in Vietnam and his name is enter-
ed in the Agent Orange Registry. 73,000 examinations already have
been completed costing somewhere between $22,000,000.00 and
$29,000,000.00.
At first glance this program might appear to be the best way
to assure fair and honest treatment of the Vietnam veteran. How-
ever, the regulations under which this study is being carried out
will not produce accurate information as to whether a veteran has
suffered injury to himself or his children through exposure to
Agent Orange and simply may encourage attorneys to file additional
suits against the United States government.
There is a fatal flaw in bcth the examination and the question-
naire. No inquiry relating to the use of drugs or alcohol may be
Charles J. Conrad
4
asked of the veteran.
One argument against the claims of such groups as Agent Orange
Victims International is they list 150 different ailments allegedly
resulting from contact with Agent Orange. No chemical, or mixture
of chemicals, known to science produces so many and so varied af-
flictions. On the other hand, some diseases blamed on exposure to
Agent Orange also result from excessive use of drugs or alcohol.
Yet the VA is prohibited from asking questions on those two subjects
when examining a Vietnam veteran. Thus, disability benefits may be
awarded a veteran and charged to Agent Orange when the problem
actually resulted from a drug habit or excessive use of alcohol.
Another flaw: Since there is no criterion for filing a claim,
except the veteran actually served in Vietnam, it will be a self
selected group, likely to include an inordinate number of chronic
malcontents plus those who have filed suits against the government.
However, one extremely interesting and important statistic
has developed; 73,000 examinations produced not one case (repeat,
not one case) of cloracne, the hallmark symptom of exposure to the
dioxin TCDD. TCDD is the contaminant found, in minuscule amounts,
in Agent Orange. I have yet to see this fact mentioned in the news
media.
Caution: Any attempt by the Administration to publicize this
fact will bring on a wave of propaganda from those broadcasting
falsehoods about Agent Orange. They will point out between 400 and
500 of those 73,000 veterans have been granted disability payments.
While such payments resulted from the examinations, the disabilities
Charles J. Conrad
5
cannot be directly related to Agent Orange. Rather, it was 11100
veteran's medical records that substantiated the claim by Indi-
cating he had complained of the problem while serving in vietnam.
To keep this paper within reasonable length, I will not
mention other studies on Agent Orange that will cost millions of
dollars without adding to our military strength.
It is time for the Administration to remind the American
people of the reason for Operation Ranch Hand, a fact that has
been down played by the news media. When, for example, environmen-
talists complain of damage to the mangroves in Vietnam, DoD public
relations should recount the story of how the Vietcong literally
built cities on boats concealed by the mangroves. Each night they
would lay down boards, steal through the swamps to infiltrate our
positions, kill Americans and ARVN, then retreat to their boats,
pulling in the boards that gave them footing.
Agent Orange, very effective against the mangroves, removed
those sanctuaries, just as it removed the jungle cover that concealed
snipers. No longer should DoD avoid controversy but "tell it from
the mountain" that Operation Ranch Hand saved American lives.
I must, however, point out one instance where the Administration
has ordered a reduction in a program that provides invaluable in-
formation.
This is the site monitoring program at such places as Eglin
Air Force Base in Florida, Gulfport, Misissippi and Johnson Island
in the Pacific. These places were heavily contaminated with herbi-
cides, such as Agent Orange, when they were used as test sites,
Charles J. Conrad
6
storage and disposal facilities. This program has been cut from
$150,000.00 to $10,000.00. This is false economy.
As stated in my paper The Agent Orange Hoax, the Eglin Air
Force Base is the most heavily contaminated area on the face of
the earth, as far as Agent Orange is concerned. There, on an area
only 3 miles square, 160,000 lbs. of 2,4,5-T and 170,000 lbs. of
2,4-D were sprayed during the period 1962 to 1970.
Site monitoring programs have been going on at Eglin Air Force
Base since 1973. Hundreds of biological samples have been analyzed
for the dioxin TCDD, including 30 species of animals. Those tests
indicate it is highly unlikely veterans could suffer ill effect
from the amount of exposure to Agent Orange that might have occurred
during their service in Vietnam.
Site monitoring should, at least, be continued at the former
level, perhaps even be expanded. In addition, a top level member of
the Administration could suggest to the broadcasting industry that
the networks, always ready to dispatch television crews all over
America to record the statements of a handful of Vietnam veterans
who claim they are suffering from cancer or have produced children
with birth defects as a result of exposure to Agent Orange, have yet
to do a program on studies of animal and plant life at Eglin Air
Force Base.
For years, newscasters and broadcasting executives have ignored
requests from individuals like myself. They might act differently
if the suggestion came from someone high in the Administration and
if it were made on the CBS Evening News, Good Morning America or
NBC Reports.
Charles J. Conrad
7
Additional site monitoring will be needed for the armed
forces program to produce electricity from burning refuse after
metals and glass have been removed. DoD has planned a large ex-
pansion of this program, in the next few years, for ecological
as well as economic reasons.
However, some years ago, Dr. Emil Mrak, Chancellor Emeritus
of the University of California at Davis, in discussing the trace
of TCDD found in 2,4,5-T, pointed out that burning wood or trash
also creates negligible amounts of dioxins.
The same ecologists who seek additional sources of energy as
alternatives to nuclear power are the first to file law suits over
dioxins produced by trash burning. This already has happened on
Long Island.
There the Hampstead Resource Recovery Center, a $42,000,000.00
facility, capable of handling 1,000,000 lbs. of trash a day, has
been shut down for over a year because environmentalists claimed
dangerous amounts of dioxins were being released into the atmos-
phere. As a result that trash now is used for land fill or towed on
barges and dumped into the ocean, actions also producing ecological
problems. This despite the fact that the State of New York's moni-
toring systen shows no downwind deposition of dioxins.
Thus, a DoD site monitoring system is absolutely necessary
to record the safe performance of the military's trash burning
program and prove, in a court of law, if not to the environmental
extremists, that such infinitesimal amounts of dioxins pose no threat
to living things, just as the small amount of TCDD present in Agent
Charles J. Conrad
8
Orange did not hearm the Vietnam veteran.
My final suggestion for a public relations program is to
dispel the notion there has been little study or research into
the effects of herbicides on humans.
Statements, such as the following made by a radio talk show
hostess, "the one thing we know about Agent Orange is that we don't
know much about it," caused Congress, in Public Law 96-151, to re-
quire the VA to prepare a recently completed compilation of world-
wide literature on Agent Orange and other herbicides used in Vietnam.
The public needs to be informed that this study, submitted to
the VA by JRB Associates, Inc. found a massive amount of literature,
the two volume report listing over 1,200 scientific papers on the
subject. There are, incidentally, many other articles not analyzed
in the JRB report, doubtless due to a lack of time and money.
Although copies of this report have been provided the Chairmen
of the Senate and House Veteran Affairs' Committees and distributed
within the VA, I have yet to see a discussion of its contents in
the news media. The public and, more important, the Vietnam veterans
and their families will be interested in conclusions reached regard-
ing birth defects and cancer.
Caution: Should the Administration launch a public relations
program, I want to emphasize the following statements represent
the independent assessments of JRB Associates, Inc. and do not
necessarily reflect the views and policies of the VA. Also, the
report admits, as with all medical problems, gaps still exist in
scientific knowledge on the toxicity of herbicides.
Charles J. Conrad
9
However, the following statements represent a view I have
been, for years, trying to get the news media to at least acknowl-
edge. Also it is a view held by many individuals with practical
experience in the use of herbicides as well as members of the
Ranch Hand Vietnam Association.
BIRTH DEFECTS - Page I-11 1.4.5
"No human reproductive effects have been verified
to date from male or female exposure to 2,4-D,
2,4,5-T, or TCDD."
CANCER - Page I-13 1.4.7
"Mortality studies of groups of human workers
exposed to TCDD has not revealed an increased
carcinogenic risk in these people."
The anxiety of the public and, especially, Vietnam veterans
and their families, as a result of the many falsehoods broadcast
about Agent Orange would, at least, be allieviated to some extent
if they were made aware of this report. Those who served in Amer-
ica's most tragic war deserve peace of mind as to their health
and their children's health, resulting from possible exposure to
Agent Orange, during the remainder of their lives.
Bsmar
5mar
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT
NOTE FOR Ms. Nancy Hodapp
Office of the Cabinet
Room 127, OEOB
Missy,
It seems Mr. Conrad (a friend of
Mr. Weinberger) sent us a similar letter
last month on Herbicide Orange--our
reply is attached.
I recommend the attached reply be
sent, indicating that Defense will
keep the White House apprised.
John John H. Storyord Stanford
Executive Secretary
Attachment
ID #
062254 CA
OFFICE OF CABINET AFFAIRS
ACTION TRACKING WORKSHEET
Action resulting from:
Document Date: 82 / 02 / 15
XXXX
document (attached)
telephone call
From:
Charles J. Conrad
meeting (attach conference report
if available)
Date Received: / 02 / 22
Subject:
Letter to Mike Deaver on Agent Orange
OK
ROUTE TO:
Date Sent
Name
Action FYI
Date Due
Action Taken
82/02/25
Missy Hodapp
XXXX
82/03/05
drapt attand
82,03 $
C. Fuller
PY
/ /
Draft OK to MKI
2
82,03,12
Mihe Deaver
/
/ /
/ /
/ /
/ /
/ /
/ /
draft
COMMENTS: Staff out for/response and then return to CLF.
Stapped to DOD $ Ann Tairbanks, OPD -- ann Mels
DOD attachd response is Muc JO appropriate, as Wernberger
Comad and friends als well.
2
Draft for MKD attached - copy should
be sent to Weinberger
Originator:
XXX
Fuller
Cribb
Hart
Hodapp
Gonzalez
Faoro
KEEP THIS WORKSHEET ATTACHED TO THE ORIGINAL INCOMING MATERIAL
AND WHEN THE ASSIGNED ACTION IS COMPLETE,
RETURN TO:
Office of Cabinet Affairs
Attention: Karen Hart (x-2823)
West Wing/Ground Floor
LTC Boots
CITY DIFENSE
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301
STATES O of AMERITA
FEB 26 1982
Hon
Mr. Charles J. Conrad
346 Camino Dos Palos
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Dear Charlie:
I want to acknowledge your letter of February 15, 1982 about
Herbicide Orange.
Your many ideas are food for thought and I will make others
aware of them. Members of my Health Affairs staff serve on the
Agent Orange Working Group (AOWG) and I will see to it that your
memo reaches that forum. The AOWG is acutely aware of the public
relations aspect of the herbicide issue and has a subcommittee
VIET
specifically tasked with that responsibility. Additionally, the
AOWG has representatives of all other involved agencies so that your
comments concerning them will reach an appropriate audience. You
may be sure that your input will be considered.
Insofar as toxins are concerned, biotoxins are specifically
included in the provisions of the Biological Weapons Convention to
which we are signatories and which was ratified in 1975. What you
propose cannot be accomplished by an Executive Order, but rather
would require changing or repudiating the treaty. We believe that
in such a process we might well lose more than we would gain.
Operation Blue Sky, to which you referred, was a project to
stimulate ideas in chemical defense. At this time, I believe we are
fulfilling this same goal through other means which are proving to
be very productive. These include annual meetings sponsored by the
American Defense Preparedness Association and research seminars
sponsored by the various military research offices and the Under
Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. The industry,
academic, and non-profit institution response has been very good and
a number of new ideas in detection, decontamination, materials, and
medical defense are now being pursued.
Thanks for your continuing interest and support. I appreciate
your good wishes. I trust that you are finding the California Fair
Political Practices Commission an interesting and worthwhile
challenge.
Sincerely,
By Copy shis letter Iam Sup suggeting That Mrs Hosher, one
03788
9 the Army's specialist The fired, set in Touch with
you cap.
1982 FED 24 AM e 16
JH
(IF DEFENSE
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
THE SECRETARY DIFE
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20301
UNITED STATES 01 SMIRICA
FEB25 1982
DEP SEC HAS SEEN2 S FEB 1982
HEALTH AFFAIRS
SEC DEF
HAS SEEN
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
FEB 26 1982
SUBJECT: Herbicide Orange--ACTION MEMORANDUM
Mr. Conrad's letter of February 15, 1982 (TAB B) basically
proposes a media campaign on the government's part concerning
Herbicide Orange. His letter and enclosure also cover a diverse
range of topics which involve a variety of agencies within and
without DOD. The reply thanks Mr. Conrad for his input and
assures him that his thoughts are being conveyed to various
responsible and interested officials for consideration,
including the Agent Orange Working Group and the USDR&E. We
reassure him that we are very conscious of the public relations
aspects of herbicides. PA will be involved in the Working
Group's media activities. The additional topics of biotoxins
and Operation Blue Sky are replied to based on input from
OUSDR&E. The letter closes with a personal note.
No further coordination is required.
Recommend that you sign the letter at TAB A.
John Beary
John F. Beary, III, M.D.
Acting Assistant Secretary
Attachments
TAB A--Proposed reply to Mr. Conrad
TAB B--Mr. Conrad's letter, February 15, 1982
Place Sand a wh in to asking Conrol us Hosher 1 (an the any cell see m. / is whois in he all can mother to
Prepared by Capt. Flynn, X78973, 3E349, 23 Feb 82
03788
Salcor
1982 FEB 18 AM 9 46
OFFICE
THE SECRE MARY OF DEFENSE
CHARLES J. CONRAD
346 CAMINO Dos PALOS
THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF. 91360
805 492-6006
February 15, 1982
Honorable Caspar W. Weinberger
Secretary of Defense
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301
Dear Cap:
I am taking you at your word, or rather your letter of
December 14, 1981 and inclose a new memorandum on the
continuing Agent Orange controversy.
Since your staff will want to review this material be-
VIET
fore bringing it to your attention, I am sending a copy
to Henry Catto, Jr. Your letter of December 14, 1981,
also mentions the Agent Orange Working Group, so I
inclose an extra copy for them.
I note the Reagan Administration plans to bring our
chemical warfare posture in line with Soviet activities
in that field. As you know I have held to this position
for many years so will take the liberty of adding two
suggestions:
1: Toxins The Administration should remedy a serious
error made by President Nixon and correctly reclassify
the toxins in view of alleged Russian use of biotoxins
in Laos and Cambodia. I am sure this can be done by
Executive Order.
2: The Administration should consider a program similar
to Operation Blue Skies initiated by Eisenhower and
continued during the Kennedy years.
If you or anyone on your staff want to contact me, I am
usually home except for two or three days a month spent
in Sacramento. A few months ago George Deukmejian
appointed me to the California Fair Political Practices
15 15 til o2
Commission.
Grace sends her love to you and Jane.
As always
Chale
03242
DIFENSE
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
of
DEC 14 1981
Mr. Charles J. Conrad
346 Camino Dos Palos
Thousand Oaks, California 91360
Dear Charlie:
This is in reply to your letter of October 31, 1981, with
further comments about the Herbicide Orange issue.
Your letter arrived at a tumultuous time in the history of
our recent involvement with Orange. This reply has been delayed,
in part, due to the preparations necessary for testimony on
November 18 before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Further,
we may be at a fork in the road in the nature of our scientific
investigation into herbicide exposure. The pace of activity has
quickened considerably; we are delving deeper into the records
and we are getting a firmer idea of what the records will and
will not allow us to do. I feel some major decisions about our
future will be forthcoming in the next few months, although I
would be clairvoyant in trying to predict what these decisions
will be.
We would be delighted to have regular input on these matters
especially from one such as you who has studied the subject so
long. We badly need answers to the questions being asked and we
are not prejudging the answers we will get. The recent testimony
before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee was well received
and the Chairman, Senator Simpson, was listening carefully to what
was said and was clearly reflecting upon it. Subsequent contact
with the committee staff has been useful and also dedicated to
getting answers. The Agent Orange Working Group serves as a
fine forum for the exchange of views of the various agencies here
in Washington wrestling with the problem. They would also be
glad to get your ideas and I'll let them know they should consider
your views too.
Insofar as the Ranch Hand study goes, everything I have said
above applies here also. Further, I know that Lt General Paul
Myers, the Air Force Surgeon General, maintains close personal
contact with the Ranch Hand Vietnam Association and, in fact,
spoke at their recent convention. We hope that there are no
health effects from herbicide exposure but of course need to
know that there are no effects, or, if there are effects, exactly
what they are. We are committed to that inquiry.
in
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 4, 1982
NOTE TO JOHN STANFORD
As discussed, please have your staff draft
a suggested response to the attached and
return to me.
Many thanks, once again, for your willing
assistance.
N. Nice A. HODAPP
OFFICE OF CABINET AFFAIRS
Somine , "perect" " !
CHARLES J. CONRAD
346 CAVINO Dos PALOS
THOUSAND CAKS, CALIF. 91360
805 492-6006
February 15, 1982
Michael K. Deaver
062254
Assistant to the President
Deputy Chief of Staff
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mike:
In the past you have indicated an interest in my
writings on the Agent Orange controversy, SO I am
sending you my latest memorandum on the subject.
Since your staff will want to review this material
before bringing it to your attention I include an
extra copy.
I note the Reagan Administration plans to bring our
chemical warfare posture in line with Soviet activities
in that field. As you know I have held to this position
for many years so will take the liberty of adding two
suggestions:
1: Toxins The Administration should remedy a serious
error made by President Nixon and correctly reclassify
the toxins in view of alleged Russian use of biotoxins
in Laos and Cambodia. I am sure this can be done by
Executive Order.
2: The Administration should consider a program similar
to Operation Blue Skies, initiated by Eisenhower and
continued during the Kennedy years.
If you or anyone on your staff want to contact me, I
am usually home except for two or three days a month
spent in Sacramento. A few months ago George Deukmejian
appointed me to the California Fair Political Practices
Commission.
Grace joins me in all the best.
Charles As ever,
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 5, 1982
NOTE TO ANN FAIRBANKS
I indicated to your staff that I would be
forwarding the attached material on
Agent Orange, received by MKD and sent to
us for suggested reply.
Would you please draft a response, and
return to me. Craig will get it to MKD
directly.
Many thanks.
N. A. HODAPP Miny
OFFICE OF CABINET AFFAIRS
CHARLES J. CONRAD
346 CAMINO Dos PALOS
THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF. 91360
805 492-6006
February 15, 1982
Michael K. Deaver
062254
Assistant to the President
Deputy Chief of Staff
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mike:
In the past you have indicated an interest in my
writings on the Agent Orange controversy, so I am
sending you my latest memorandum on the subject.
Since your staff will want to review this material
before bringing it to your attention I include an
extra copy.
I note the Reagan Administration plans to bring our
chemical warfare posture in line with Soviet activities
in that field. As you know I have held to this position
for many years so will take the liberty of adding two
suggestions:
1: Toxins The Administration should remedy a serious
error made by President Nixon and correctly reclassify
the toxins in view of alleged Russian use of biotoxins
in Laos and Cambodia. I am sure this can be done by
Executive Order.
2: The Administration should consider a program similar
to Operation Blue Skies, initiated by Eisenhower and
continued during the Kennedy years.
If you or anyone on your staff want to contact me, I
am usually home except for two or three days a month
spent in Sacramento. A few months ago George Deukmejian
appointed me to the California Fair Political Practices
Commission.
Grace joins me in all the best.
Charles As ever,
MKD
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 16, 1982
Dear Mr. Magill:
I am in receipt of your letter of March 1, in behalf
of the workers of Safeway #951, regarding the status
of the Holdrege, Nebraska facility as a result of the
termination of the Omaha Division of Safeway's operations.
The initiatives of your co-workers and the community
support of the Holdrege Safeway customers serviced
by the facility are meritorious. Regretfully, the
determination to terminate operations of Safeway's
Omaha Division is a private business decision in
which it is inappropriate for the Administration to
intervene.
My office, however, has discussed your correspondence
with Congresswoman Virginia Smith, whom you had also
contacted about this situation. Mrs. Smith has been
in touch with the government affairs office of Safeway's
Washington operations to explore the prospects of
consideration being given to transferring the Holdrege
facility to the Denver division. I know Congresswoman
Smith will keep you advised of the results of her inquiry
in your behalf.
While I can only hope this matter can be resolved satis-
factorily, I do appreciate the opportunity to try to be
of assistance to you and the members of Safeway #951.
Sincerely,
MICHAEL K. DEAVER
Assistant to the President
Deputy Chief of Staff
Mr. Michael Magill
419 Logan Street
Holdrege, Nebraska 68949
BCC: Kar Dulinteen
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 11, 1982
MEMORANDUM TO: Mike Deaver
FROM:
Ken Duberstein trD. For
SUBJECT:
Suggested reply to March 1 letter from
Michael Magill for the workers of
Safeway #951
Per your request, a suggested reply to the correspondence
you have received from Michael Magill is attached.
Attachment
419 Logan Street
Holdrege, Nebraska 68949
March 1, 1982
Mr. Michael Deaver
Assistant to the President
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Deaver:
As you might have learned, the Omaha Division of Safeway
Stores, Incorporated is closing effective March 27. This means
that our store in Holdrege, Nebraska will close, and I, along
with several others will become unemployed. What we are trying
to do is to persuade Safeway to transfer our store to the Denver
Division so that we may continue in business. We would like to
ask the administration's help in this matter.
We have sent several petitions and letters to the division
headquarters in Denver. A copy of the cover letter to the
petitions is enclosed with this letter. We have also notified
Senators Zorinsky and Exon along with Representative Smith and
Governor Thone of our problem.
Although this is not a national problem, it is a serious
problem for the people of Holdrege and the surrounding area. We
would deeply appreciate any help that the administration could
give us.
The division manager for the Denver district is Mr. Pete Martin.
His address is:
Safeway Stores, Inc.
P.O. Box 5927
Terminal Annex
Denver, Colorado 80217
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. We
truly appreciate it.
Sincerely yours,
Michael magier
Michael Magill for
or Enclosure
the workers of Safeway #951
(gone. Smiths appear)
February 26, 1982
Mr. Bob Greene
Safeway Stores, Inc.
P.O. Box 5927
Terminal Annex
Denver, Colorado 80217
Dear Mr. Greene:
We, the employees of Safeway in Holdrege, Nebraska, are asking the
company to please reconsider the decision in closing our store. We ask that
you consider transferring our store to the Denver division so that We may
continue in business.
Enclosed with this letter is a petition signed by our customers. The
petition has one purpose -- to ask that you transfer our store to the Denver
division. We at the store did not instigate the petition -- our customers
did. When the news of our closing was released to the public, our customers,
who were very upset, began to ask for an outlet to petition Safeway to keep
the store operating. This continued all day Thursday and on into Friday and
Saturday. By Sunday afternoon, the demand was so great that a public petition
was set up in the store. The petition was never promoted or advertised in
the manner that happened at the Kearney store. The petition was removed
Friday morning. We feel that we have a large number of names, considering
the short time span and the lack of advertising.
Also enclosed with this petition is a statement of support from the
Holdrege Chamber of Commerce. Holdrege feels that Safeway is an integral
part of the local economy and community and want to keep it so. Safeway
has been located in Holdrege at various sites for well over 50 years and we
feel that we have some of the most loyal customers to be found anywhere.
Safeway, to many families, is a good friend -- a friendship that needs to
be preserved.
The future of Holdrege is a thriving one and we feel that Safeway should
be a part of that future. There are several reasons for local optimism.
Highway 6 and 34, which runs in front of the store, is being updated and
widened to bring new traffic into the city. Safeway is the first store of
any type that a person coming into Holdrege would see.
Less than five blocks north of the store is located the Methodist
Memorial Homes. The Home is in the process of expanding, thus bringing
the store new customers. Located nearby is a retirement village which
provides the store with a good market. Also, in the works is a planned
retirement condiminium in the central area of the city, just seven blocks
from Safeway.
Page 2
Safeway is the only store in our community that is located in the
central or eastern sections of the city. Our competitors are located in the
far north and far west sections of the city. In other words, Safeway is
much more strategically located in Holdrege. It is the only store that is
close to the downtown area.
We feel that the local economy is on the upswing. Becton-Dickinson
and Artistic Woven Labels, our two main manufacturing plants, are both in
the process of expansion. Several new doctors have opened practices in
Holdrege, thus bringing new citizens and customers to the city. There
are several new housing projects and developments springing up to the east of
the store, thus opening up new markets. Also, the local farm economy
is doing well which continues the prosperity of the area.
Beside Holdrege citizens, we also have a good following of customers
in several of the outlying smaller towns. Holdrege is strategically located
in respect to several of these towns -- we are the hub of the wheel with
several of the outlying roads leading to Holdrege. Several of these outlying
roads merge less than a block from our store. Bertrand, Loomis, Elm Creek,
Alma, Republican City, Wilcox, Funk, Axtell, and Minden all provide us with
considerable business. Many of the persons from these smaller towns work
in Holdrege. Our store is located so that many stop and purchase their
groceries in our store as they go to and from their jobs.
Sales in our store during 1981 have increased some 18 to 25 percent
over the same period a year before. The sales for the week of the Fourth
of July holiday this past year were a record breaker. The beginning of
1982 also looks bright as we have recorded one of our best Januarys ever.
Our profit and sales picture looks very bright indeed.
We feel that our store is strategically located on the trucking route
of the Denver division. The trucks going to Hastings and possibly even
Kearney would travel within one block of our store. In other words, we
are not located in an area that would require special routing. We feel that
Holdrege would provide a fine balance between stores in Hastings and Kearney
to the north and east, and McCook and Norton to the south and west.
In closing, we feel that Holdrege and its Safeway store has much to
offer: strategic location, a good economy, excellent customer backing, and
a good sales and profit picture. We would again, please ask you to consider
transferring us to the Denver division of Safeway Stores, Incorporated.
We thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely yours,
The Employees of Safeway #951
Enclosures
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 17, 1982
Dear Bill:
Thank you for your February letter.
I'm delighted that efforts to protect the integrity of
California's offshore waters were successful; and that
the Soviet factorship application no longer threatens
that valuable marine resource. I also share your con-
cern about the need for better biological data to guide
future decisions regarding foreign fleet access to the
fishery.
Your point about giving the affected States a greater
role in managing marine resources is well taken and
merits consideration. Accordingly, I've sent copies
of your letter to Secretary Baldridge and Interior
Secretary Watt, who heads the Cabinet Council on Natural
Resources and Environment.
I appreciate your taking the time to keep me posted.
Sincerely,
MICHAEL K. DEAVER
Assistant to the President
Deputy Chief of Staff
Mr. W. A. Nott
President
The Sportfishing Association of California
555 East Ocean Boulevard (Suite 700-A)
Long Beach, CA 90802
062658
ID #
CA
OFFICE OF CABINET AFFAIRS
ACTION TRACKING WORKSHEET
Action resulting from:
Document Date: 82 / 02 / 05
X
XXdocument (attached)
telephone call
From:
W. A. Nott, President
meeting (attach conference report
if available)
The Sportfishing Association
of California
Date Received: 82 / 02 / 10
Subject:
Type see attached letter
ROUTE TO:
Date Sent
Name
Action FYI Date Due
Action Taken
82 / 02/ 26
Missy Hodapp
XXXX
82/03/08 Dieft resorver attchd
82,03,09 C. Fuller
/ /
Draft OK- - send to MKD
82,03,12
Mihe Deaver
/ /
/ /
/ /
/ /
/ /
/ /
/ /
COMMENTS:
Please staff to Interior for response for MKD signature.
(Return to Fuller -- not directly to Deaver)
1
Attached is draft response for MKD signature
Originator:
XXX
<Fuller
Cribb
Hart
Hodapp
Gonzalez
Faoro
KEEP THIS WORKSHEET ATTACHED TO THE ORIGINAL INCOMING MATERIAL
AND WHEN THE ASSIGNED ACTION IS COMPLETE,
RETURN TO:
Office of Cabinet Affairs
Attention: Karen Hart (x-2823)
West Wing/Ground Floor
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 2, 1982
NOTE TO DOUG BALDWIN
As discussed, would you please have
your staff draft a response for
Mike Deaver's signature and return to
me.
Many thanks, once again, for your
willing assistance.
N. A. Hodapp
Office of Cabinet Affairs
SAC
ASSOCIATION
SPORTFISHING ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
062358
555 [. OCEAN BOULEVARD SUITE 700-A
LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA 90802
(213) 432-2316
February 5, 1982
OF
CALIFORNIA
W. A. NOTT. PRESIDENT
PHILLO TOZER, VICE-PRESIDENT
FRANK HALE, SEC'TY-TREASURER
Mr. Michael J. Deaver
Assistant to the President
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Deputy Chief of Staff
AREA 1: W. E. POOLE
FRANK LO PRESTE (ALT.)
The White House
DON SANSOME (ALT.)
Washington, D. C. 20500
RALPH MILLER
BOB MILLER (ALT.)
CATHY MILLER (ALT.)
STEVE GIFFIN
Dear Mike:
DAN SANSOME (ALT.)
DAN PALM
LINDA PALM (ALT.)
First, let me thank you SO much for your efforts
PORT OF SAN DIEGO
in properly directing our efforts, the result of
AREA 2: J. W. MCHOLLAND
JAMES MULLINS (ALT.)
which was the defeat of the application to allow a
BOB PELLMAN (ALT.)
Soviet factoryship to operate in Southern California
IMPERIAL BEACH MISSION BAY
waters. Without the interest displayed by the White
AREA 3: DON HANSEN
House I'm sure the plan would have been approved by
DICK HELGREN (ALT.)
OCEANSIDE NEWPORT
Secretary Baldrige as his backups, NOAA and NMFS, did
AREA 4: FRANK HALE
not furnish him the criteria and recommendations for
SEAL BEACH LONG BEACH
a final intelligent decision.
A 5: FRANK HALL
JIM PETERSON (ALT.)
SAN PEDRO - L.A. HARBOR
We were all fortunate, in this instance, to have
AREA 6: GORDON MCRAE. JR.
the centerfold be a Soviet flag vessel. If it were a
BARNEY BARNES (ALT.)
friendly nation or domestic vessel, the Lord help us!
SANTA MONICA BAY
AREA 7: JACK C. WARD
FRED BENKO (ALT.)
Forgetting the nationality of the factoryship and
SANDY VERNAND (ALT.)
catcher vessels, the fact is that neither NMFS or CAL
PT. DUME MORRO BAY
F & G biologists have a handle on the biomass of the
CHARTER BOATS: GARRY BLACK
BOB FLETCHER
jack mackerel or squid. The anchovy biomass has been
ROGER HESS
studied by 45 biologists over the past 20 years and
they are still at a loss as to how to assess the bio-
mass creditably. As recently as last week, as a member of the Anchovy
Subpanel to the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC), I attended
a briefing session conducted by the Planning Team to the PFMC and the
biologists on the team honestly admitted that the anchovy biomass could
be between 100,000 and 1,000,000 tons!
The bottom line to this is that until the biologists can develop a
creditable biomass assessment on the jack mackerel, squid and anchovy
resources in Southern California waters no sophisticated factoryships
accompanied by spotter aircraft and purse seine catcher vessels should
be allowed to exert these unusual pressures on these valuable Southern
California marine resources.
On a completely different subject but in line with the President's
-2-
recommendation towards a New Federalism, the time has come to return
the management authority over the marine resources to the qualified
states. The origination of the Fisheries Conservation and Management
Act of 1976 was caused by the need to control the intervention of the
foreign fishing fleets out to 200 miles offshore. This has been
accomplished and, in general, is controlled by the State Department
with policing by the Coast Guard.
The actual management furnished by the Federal government as
composed of the Department of Commerce - NOAA-NMFS has been woefully
inadequate due to budgetary constraints and lack of expertise. Also,
for NMFS, that 10 short years ago was the Bureau of Commercial Fish-
eries, to be charged with both the exploitation and conservation of
the resources is a case of the major portion of NMFS being the fox
watching the chickens. It is a ludicrous situation contributing to
either overexploitation or stagnation or both.
The management of the resources is best left to the states that
have aggressive marine resource management programs with State fund-
ing via licenses, fines etc. Up-close policing, say to 12 miles,
could be accomplished by the States, and the "bluewater" would be
patrolled by Coast Guard which would assist in reducing their budget-
ary requirements.
Actually, in retrospect, the commercial and recreational fishing
industries were caught up in a fervor of patriotism in order to control
the foreign fishing fleets in our 200-mile waters. Never did we real-
ize that this patriotic zeal would lead us down the primrose path to
management of the marine resources by the Federal government.
Many of the states have managerial and upclose policing and fund-
ing capabilities. I suggest, with industry endorsement, that immed-
iate steps be taken to return the management of the marine resources
to the states as part of the New Federalism program and the sooner
the better.
Your valued opinions and leadership are eagerly awaited.
Sincerely,
Bill
W. A. Nott, President
The Sportfishing Association of California (SAC)
WAN:wn