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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Blackwell, Morton: Files
Folder Title: White House Regulations - Staff
(1 of 4)
Box: 28
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection.
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
December 2, 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR WHITE HOUSE STAFF
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
11
COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT:
Holiday Season Reminder on Gift Policy
With the advent of another Holiday season, it is especially
important for you to review White House policy regulating the
receipt of gifts. This memorandum summarizes and supplements
material contained in the Staff Manual. Please take the time to
familiarize yourself with this.
Gifts that may not be accepted
No member of the White House staff may accept a gift from a
person who --
has or is seeking to do business with any part of
the Executive Branch,
is involved in activities which are regulated by the
Executive Branch,
has an interest which would be substantially affected by
the staff member's performance of official duties.
If such a gift is received by a staff member either at the
office, or at home, the staff member has the obligation to return
it to the donor with the explanation that it cannot be accepted.
A copy of the letter returning the gift should be retained in
your files with a copy to this Office. If for some reason you
feel you cannot return the gift (donor unknown, the address of
donor unknown, or other) you should advise this Office. If,
after analysis, it is confirmed that return is not possible, the
gift should be turned over to the Counsel's Office for disposal,
with an accompanying memorandum explaining the rationale for not
returning the item. Of. course, these prohibitions apply to your
spouse and immediate household as well.
-2-
Gifts between Staff Members
Federal law expressly prohibits gifts from a subordinate employee
to his supervisor or others in the office whose pay status is
higher than the employee's. This does not prohibit customary
exchange of gifts of nominal value between co-workers, but any
lavish gifts or gifts to superiors which are not part of a
traditional exchange are prohibited.
Gifts that may be accepted
Gifts from family and relatives may, of course, be accepted.
Gifts from friends may also be accepted, but only if it is clear
that the motivation is personal and the circumstances are such
that no appearance of conflict of interest is created. Thus, for
example, if you have traditionally exchanged gifts with a neighbor,
you may continue to do so even though he happens to be a lawyer
with occasional cases involving the government or he is a banker
subject to federal regulation. It would be imprudent to accept
such a gift, on the other hand, if the neighbor has a specific
interest in an issue which is under review in your particular
office. While perhaps totally innocent, a gift in these latter
circumstances might create the appearance of conflict of interest.
Unsolicited advertising and promotional materials of nominal
value may be accepted even if they come from individuals or
businesses having business with or regulated by the government.
This only extends to such customary items as desk calendars,
pens, pocket diaries, etc.; however, by way of example, this rule
would not permit acceptance of a case of cognac, a piece of
furniture, or other items of substantial value.
Reporting Requirements
In addition to the recordkeeping set forth above, those staff
members required to file financial disclosure reports (SF 278)
are reminded that they have an obligation to report certain gifts
received from persons other than relatives. Any gift over $100
in value must be reported. Also gifts over $35 in value must be
reported if the aggregate of such gifts received from the same
source within a year totals over $100. Thus, it would be prudent
to make a record of all gifts valued over $35 which you receive
so that you can determine, at reporting time, whether there is a
reporting requirement. The Gift Unit can supply forms for such
use. Please note that the $35 reporting limit is not related to
the issue of whether a gift may be accepted. The propriety of
accepting any gift must be determined without regard to its
value, except as provided herein.
-3-
Gifts from Foreign Governments or Officials
The United States Constitution and a federal statute generally
prohibit government officials from accepting gifts from foreign
governments or from foreign multinational organizations. The
following general guidelines obtain:
Gifts valued at under $140 may be accepted and retained by
the official, unless the acceptance would otherwise violate
the regulations pertaining to domestic gifts. These gifts
must be reported as any other gift.
Gifts that are valued at $140 or more become the property of
the United States. They should be turned over as soon as
possible and within sixty (60) days to the White House Gift
Unit for recording and the necessary reporting to the
General Services Administration.
Gifts for the President or First Lady
Under no circumstances should a staff member accept such a gift
intended for the President or the First Lady without first
checking with this Office. Any member of the staff who receives
a gift intended for the President or the First Lady should ensure
that it goes through the security unit before entering the
complex. It should then be immediately delivered to the White
House Gift Unit so that it can be properly recorded and a decision
made as to its disposition.
A Word of Caution
It is an unfortunate, but necessary, reminder that staff members
should be particularly cautious about gifts of consumables, and
about packages delivered at home. The Secret Service makes it a
practice to destroy consumables received at the White House
unless both the donor and the source are personally well known.
Likewise, all packages and letters received at the White House by
mail or delivery are scanned to make sure they are not hazardous.
If you receive a package at home from a source not personally
known to you, please take it to Room 45 OEOB for scanning before
opening. Under no circumstances should you bring it into the
Executive Office/White House complex without such screening.
Additional Questions
This memorandum is necessarily summary and does not deal with all
questions that may arise. If you are in doubt about the propriety
of accepting any gift, please consult with the Counsel's Office.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
November 2, 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR THE WHITE HOUSE STAFF
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT:
Bonuses or Discounts from Official Travel
You are reminded that any reduced fare coupons, bonuses,
discounts, or similar items of value received by you
incident to or on account of official travel must be
accounted for and should never be used in connection with
private travel. Such items, when obtained on the basis of
travel paid for by the Government, are the property of the
Government and should be turned in to the Travel Office.
Any questions on this subject should be referred to the
Counsel's Office.
Martan
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
October 27, 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SENIOR STAFF
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
Millin
COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT:
Receipt of Political Contributions
It has come to my attention that several offices within the
White House have received letters containing political con-
tributions to Reagan-Bush '84. It is a violation of Federal
law for a political contribution to be received in a Federal
building occupied for the discharge of official Government
duties. Accordingly, it is the policy of this Administration
to return all political contributions sent to the White House
to the sender; such contributions should not be forwarded to
the campaign committee.
Attached is a standard reply form that I recommend be used
when returning political contributions sent to your offices.
Please make sure the appropriate members of your staff are
instructed to use the language in this form in responding to
any letters containing political contributions. If you or
your staff have any questions regarding this matter, please
contact Sherrie Cooksey at 456-7803.
Attachment
Dear :
This will respond to your letter of (date) enclosing a contri-
bution to Reagan-Bush '84.
I regret to inform you that as a matter of Federal law, we are
prohibited from receiving your contribution for purposes of
transmittal to Reagan-Bush '84. Section 607 of Title 18 of
the United States Code prohibits the receipt of any contribu-
tion, within the meaning of 2 U.S.C. § 431 (8), in any Federal
building occupied for the discharge of official Government
duties. The only exception to this prohibition relates to
receipt of contributions in offices of members of the House of
Representatives or the United States Senate. Accordingly,
your contribution is returned to you for direct forwarding, if
you so desire, to Reagan-Bush '84. For your information that
address is 440 First Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause for you.
However, I am sure you understand that we must adhere to our
policy of strict compliance with all Federal laws.
Sincerely,
Movion
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 27, 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR OPL STAFF
FROM:
JONATHAN VIPOND, III Prathin
SUBJECT:
Official Signatures on OPL Letters
A recent request was made by Linas Kojelis for an auto-
pen to sign a substantial number of Pulaski Day and
Columbus Day proclamations. I advised Linas that while
I had no conceptual opposition to his use of an auto-
pen rather than manual signatures, I would remind him
that it is usually more appropriate to utilize the
signature of the President or of Faith Ryan Whittlesey
when official communications such as proclamations or
messages are being sent out. After all, Faith is the
head of the office and we are all here to serve the
President. Therefore, I would request that you use
their signatures in such mass communications as opposed
as to in your own routine correspondence.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
July 19, 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR ANNE HIGGINS
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
AND DIRECTOR OF CORRESPONDENCE
FROM:
COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT 1
FRED F. FIELDING
SUBJECT:
Correspondence Relating to the 1984 Elections
This will respond to your request for guidance on various
questions arising from correspondence to the President about
the 1984 elections.
First, you noted that you are receiving an increasing number
of letters from individuals who are volunteering to work on
behalf of the President's re-election in 1984, and provided to
us for review and comment, a proposed response to such letters.
We have no legal objections to the text of that proposed
response, however, we are concerned that the signature line on
this standard response appears to be for the President; we
recommend that all letters of this type that you receive be
forwarded to Ed Rollins for signature.
Second, you requested guidance as to the appropriate response
to letters expressing interest in becoming involved in or
supporting House or Senate campaigns. In our opinion, the
appropriate response to such inquiries is to refer the writer
to either the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee or the
Republican Congressional Campaign Committee.
Third, you asked for guidance as to the appropriate response
to inquiries seeking "partisan replies" (e.g., "Why should I
support you or Senator X for re-election?") We note that in
response to these questions asking why should an individual
support the President for re-election, it should be noted that
the President is not, at this time, a candidate for re-election.
In our opinion, the most appropriate response to such letters
is either (a) to thank the individual for his views; or (b) to
respond to specific partisan questions by referring to public
statements of Adwinistration positions.
Finally, you requested guidance on the appropriate response to
letters seeking a Presidential response to statements made by
candidates, particularly Democratic Presidential candidates.
All letters of this type should be answered by referring to
public statements of Administration positions; partisan
-2-
responses should not be made; additionally, such letters
should not, as a general rule, receive Presidential responses.
Please note that if you have any questions regarding the
appropriateness of a response to any particular letter or
letters regarding the 1984 elections or "partisan" issues, you
or your staff should contact both the Political Affairs Office
and this Office for guidance before the response is sent out.
CC: Ed Rollins
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
To:
Correspondence Staff
From:
Anne Higgins Dine
Re:
Handling of Political Mail
The following guidelines should be adhered to for the handling
of mail discussing the 1984 elections and other mail of a par-
tisan nature. As noted, any and all questions regarding mail
of this kind should be directed to Duncan Clark for referral
to White House Counsel and/or Political Affairs.
Mail from Individuals Volunteering to Work
in a Reelection Effort in 1984
a)
AVH Form Reply Attached (AVH-285)
b)
CC of Form Reply, or any draft
letter incorporating its substance,
w/copy of incoming to Political
Affairs
c)
Letter is restricted to Duncan
Clark: CODE and refer to Room 94;-
do the same for any letter bearing
a fragment of AVH-285.
Mail Supporting the President and Urging Him
to Run in 1984
a)
Good support and VIP - consult
P-102 and refer to Phil Nicolaides,
Room 94. Where P-102 with altera-
tion fits, send to PN also.
b)
Support where a Presidential reply
is not warranted - send to SLR for
use of RR3 paragraph selection.
Issue Mail Including References to 1984
a)
If reference to 1984 is in passing,
treat as issue mail and code or
refer as appropriate.
b)
If both issues and discussion of
1984 are prominent, refer to SLR
for combination of RR3 or AVH-285
with appropriate issue language.
P-102 can be used for good support
with some discussion of issues when
a reply to issue discussed is not
expected by the writer.
c)
Agency mail with reference to 1984:
c)
if 1984 reference is in
passing, code for agency and
send on; if reference is sub-
stantive, refer to SLR for
RR3/AVH285 combination with
AVH20/40 style agency referral
language.
d)
Issue mail with offers of help
in 1984 go to SLR for AVH-285
and issue response: all such
letters are then cc'd w/copy
of incoming to Political Affairs.
Mail Discussing House and Senate Campaigns
and Writer's Desire to Assist in Electing Republicans
a)
These should be rare; writers
should be advised to contact
the National Republican Con-
gressional Committee or National
Republican Senatorial Campaign
Committee as appropriate. No
form reply will be prepared unless
volume justifies. SLR to execute.
Mail Discussing Partisan Matters And/Or Democratic Candidates
a)
White House Counsel advises that
replies should either 1) thank the
writer for his views, or 2) respond
to partisan questions by "referring
to public statements of Administration
positions." This is mail which men-
tions a candidate for office by name
and requests a reply to arguments/
statements a candidate has made.
b)
Letters of this kind, should not, as
a general rule, receive a Presiden-
tial response.
c)
Responses should not be partisan or
advert to candidates or characteriza-
tions of their views. Replies should
be limited to stating the Administra-
tion's publicly-enunciated positions.
d)
Questions in this category, as in
others, should be referred to RDC.
Please note:
Mail which discusses exclusively political affairs/
tactics/organizations should be referred directly to
Political Affairs when active Republicans/VIP/et al.
are writing. Routine mail with such suggestions may
be answered in Correspondence with a "thank-you" for
views and cc'd to Political Affairs if merited.
July 19, 1983 Memo from FFF Discussing Correspondence
Relating to 1984 Elections
Standard Replies:
AVH-285
P- 102
RR3
CC:
Robert C. Hill
R. Duncan Clark
Chuck Donovan
Pat Gleason
Charley Shepherd
Sharleen Volpe
Lillie Bell
Connie Mackey
Linda Frick
Room 191
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
November 3, 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR WHITE HOUSE STAFF
FROM:
JAMES A. BAKER, III JAB
SUBJECT:
Political Activity
By now each of you should have received a copy of a memorandum
from Fred Fielding on the above-referenced subject. On Monday,
November 7, 1983 at 2:00 pm in Room 450 of the Old Executive
Office Building there will be a briefing on this subject. Every
member of the White House Staff ("Hatched" personnel included)
should attend this briefing.
It is incumbent upon each of you to read the memorandum and
understand its contents. Please have any questions on this
subject ready for presentation at the November 7 meeting. As
will be explained in the briefing, it is most important that all
members of the White House Staff be familiar with all aspects of
prescribed and proscribed conduct with regard to the upcoming
campaign.
Please make the necessary arrangements to attend.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Morton Blackwell
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
November 1, 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR ALL WHITE HOUSE STAFF
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT:
Political Activity
On October 17, the President authorized the formation of a
campaign committee to work on behalf of his re-election. The
purpose of this memorandum is to advise you of the legal and
policy limitations on your individual political activity on
behalf of Reagan-Bush '84.
First, only those employees in the Executive Office of the
President who are paid from the appropriations for the White
House Office may engage in political activity. You should
check with your supervising officer to ascertain whether you
are paid from White House Office appropriations; do not assume
that because you have a White House pass you are paid from
White House Office appropriations. If you are not paid from
appropriations for the White House Office, you are subject to
the provisions of the Hatch Act and may not engage in any
partisan political activities. For a discussion of the
permissible and impermissible activities of "hatched" employ-
ees, please turn to pages 8-11 of this memorandum. You will
be expected to adhere strictly to the guidelines set forth on
those pages.
Second, you should be aware that Federal law (18 U.S.C. S 603)
prohibits any employee of the White House Office from contributing
to the authorized campaign committee of the President, i.e.,
Reagan-Bush '84.
USE OF LEAVE
(1) White House staff members must perform their official
duties for a minimum of 40 hours per week or 80 hours per two
week pay period in order to receive their full Federal salary.
If a staff member does not complete 40 hours of official duty
in any week, the difference between the number of hours
completed and 40 hours must be covered by annual leave, leave
without pay, official holidays or made up in the second week
of that pay period. The difference cannot be made up in a
subsequent pay period.
(2) Those White House staff members who complete a
-2-
minimum of 40 hours of official duty during any full week
(Monday-Sunday) may be absent from their official duty station
for no more than one weekday (Monday-Friday) for the purpose
of engaging in campaign activity without taking annual leave
or leave without pay. If a staff member desires to be absent
for campaign purposes for more than one weekday in any week,
each additional weekday must be covered by annual leave or
leave without pay, regardless of the number of official hours
worked during that week. In other words, it is not permissible
for a staff member to put in 40 hours of official duty in the
first three days of the week and then take the remaining two
weekdays off for campaigning without using annual leave or
leave without pay.
(3) Sick leave cannot be used to cover an absence from
official duty for the purpose of engaging in campaign activity.
(4) Any White House staff member not subject to the Hatch
Act is permitted to take leave without pay to cover absence
from official duties for the purpose of engaging in campaign
activity.
(5) Some White House staff members are entitled to specific
amounts of annual leave. Such leave may be used for campaign
purposes; however, one cannot take an "advance" on annual
leave to work on the campaign. Those White House staff not
entitled to annual leave (e.g., commissioned officers) may use
a ceiling of 15 days of paid leave (i.e., the equivalent of
vacation time) for political campaign purposes.
(6) The following procedures will be followed when annual
leave or leave without pay is used for campaign purposes:
(a) Staff members must submit, in advance of the
leave period, a request for leave to their White House unit
supervisor. Following approval by the supervisor, the request
should be forwarded to the White House Administrative Office
for approval and bookkeeping purposes.
(b) Supervisors must forward, in advance of a leave
period, a report of their intended use of leave for political
purposes to the White House Administrative Office.
USE OF VEHICLES AND MESSENGERS
White House vehicles may not be used for campaign purposes.
This means that White House cars may not be used to transport
staff members or materials to or from any campaign committee
office or event. Nor may White House vehicles be used to
transport staff members or campaign materials to airports or
any other location if the purpose of the trip is primarily
-3-
campaign-related. Exceptions may be made to this rule only in
those limited instances where time is of the essence and no
other transportation is readily available. Because of the
special requirements surrounding departures and arrivals from
Andrews Air Force Base, White House vehicles may be used to
transport White House staff members to that facility when they
are accompanying the President, Vice President or First Lady
on a campaign-related trip. Additionally, where the President
is participating in a campaign event in the Washington, D.C.
area or other location where White House cars are available
for official purposes, White House cars may be used for the
Presidential motorcade; however, the campaign committee must
reimburse the Government for the fair market rental value of
such transportation to the extent that it is not essential to
the security and support of the President.
White House messengers should not be used to deliver or
pick-up materials from the campaign committee.
USE OF COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS AND COPYING MACHINES
(1) In those limited circumstances in which government
communication systems (telephone, telegraph, teletype, or
radio) are used for campaign-related purposes, appropriate
reimbursement or payment must be made by the campaign
committee.
(2) Because of the need for liaison between limited
numbers of White House staff members and the campaign committee,
telephones may be used for local calls to the principal cam-
paign office. However, White House telephones must not be
used, even locally, for regular committee activities such as
recruiting volunteers or fundraising.
(3) Government credit cards must not be used for campaign-
related calls, whether made from within or without the White House.
(4) Government operators should not be used to place
campaign-related long distance calls.
(5) Campaign-related long distance telephone calls made
from the White House may be made only if charged to a credit
card issued by the campaign committee or on telephones installed
and maintained by the campaign committee for exclusive use in
dealing with campaign committee matters.
(6) The incoming WATS System (800 #) should not be used
to call into the White House on campaign matters.
(7) White House Communications Agency (WHCA) facilities
provided outside the White House in connection with travel may
-4-
continue to be used during mixed and wholly campaign trips.
These facilities must be used exclusively for communications
relating to trip planning and arrangements and not for direct
campaign purposes such as fundraising and crowd building. The
government will be reimbursed for the use of these facilities.
(8) Except in limited instances approved by the White
House Counsel's Office, Government copying machines may not be
used to reproduce materials for transmittal to the campaign.
TRAVEL
Government funds are not to be used for the political
travel of staff members. Specific guidelines relating to
campaign travel by Senior Administration officials will be
circulated by a separate memorandum.
Any political or "mixed" travel by White House staff must
be approved in advance by Margaret Tutwiler and John Rogers.
No reimbursements will be made for non-approved travel
expenses.
MEETINGS IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
(1) Government buildings, including White House offices
and meeting rooms, should not be used for meetings or events
organized by the campaign. Informal meetings involving small
numbers of campaign officials and White House staff members
may occasionally be held in a White House staff member's
office or, if it is a luncheon or breakfast meeting, in the
White House Mess, provided that such meetings do not interfere
with the conduct of Government business.
(2) Campaign fundraising activities of any kind are
prohibited in or from Government buildings.
(3) Campaign-sponsored activities (receptions, dinners,
meetings, but not fundraisers) may be held in the Executive
Residence at the White House, provided that either the Presi-
dent, Mrs. Reagan, or some other family member attends the
event. Campaign events (other than fundraisers) may also be
held at the Vice President's Residence so long as the Vice
President, Mrs. Bush, or some other family member attends the
event. The cost of campaign events at either residence must
be paid by the campaign in accordance with the guidelines
which have been established for the use of these residences
for non-official purposes.
USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS
(1) White House photographers may continue to photograph
-5-
all Presidential, First Lady, and Vice Presidential activities
for the purpose of creating an archival record of this
Administration. However, as a general rule, photographs taken
by White House photographers at campaign events may not be
used for distribution to individuals attending such events or
for any other campaign purpose.
(2) Photographs taken at events in the Executive Residence
(other than campaign-sponsored events), at West Wing and East
Wing meetings, and at non-campaign events outside the White
House may be distributed as in the past.
(3) The campaign committee will be expected to provide a
photographer at all campaign events for which it desires to
distribute photographs to the participants. White House photo-
graphers will not photograph receiving lines or greetings at
campaign events, except to the extent necessary for archival
purposes.
(4) The campaign committee may purchase for its use photo-
graphs taken by White House photographers in those limited
circumstances where those photographs provide the only source
for a particular picture. All photograph purchase requests
from the campaign committee must be directed to the Director
of the White House Photo Office. A record of all campaign
photo requests will be maintained by the Director of the White
House Photo Office who will be responsible for billing the
campaign committee for all photo orders on a monthly basis at
the normal rate and according to the procedures established by
the government for the purchase of pictures.
(5) Photographs of appropriate quality which are produced
by campaign photographers may be forwarded to the White House
for signature.
CORRESPONDENCE
(1) Campaign-related correspondence must not be produced
at the White House, nor can White House stationery, stamps or
related supplies be used in the preparation of such correspon-
dence at another location. Campaign-related correspondence,
prepared elsewhere, may be brought to the White House for
signature.
(2) These guidelines will be followed in handling campaign-
related correspondence received at the White House:
(a) Correspondence expressing general suppport for the
President and his policies may continue to be answered as at
present. Letters of response may include whatever substantive
response is appropriate as well as thanking the writer for his
-6-
or her encouragement. Note well, however, that no references
should be made to the 1984 elections or the political prospects
of the Administration or the Republican Party.
(b) Correspondence which primarily relates to the
1984 campaign should not be answered by White House staff
members or other government employees. All such correspondence
should be forwarded to the campaign committee. However, if
you receive resumes of individuals offering their services to
the campaign, you may send an acknowledgement to the sender
advising of the referral of his or her resume to the campaign
committee.
(c) Correspondence that primarily deals with governmen-
tal issues and refers to the campaign may be answered in the
White House as to the governmental issues raised but no refer-
ence should be made to campaign-related comments. The original
of the correspondence can be forwarded to the campaign committee
for response to the campaign-related matters.
(d) Federal law prohibits the receipt of contributions
in federal buildings. Occasionally, contributions intended
for the campaign committee may be addressed to the White House
and delivered with other mail. Such contributions should be
handled as they have in the past, by returning the contributions
to the sender with an explanation of the applicable Federal
law and a statement of the appropriate recipient's address.
(Appropriate language may be obtained from the White House
Counsel's Office.) There should be no acknowledgement of
receipt of a contribution from the White House to the contri-
butor. If the contribution is accompanied by a letter that
deals primarily with governmental issues, a response dealing
with those issues may be prepared and sent from the White
House; however, there must be no reference to the contribution.
(e) The White House or EOB address should not be
suggested as a place where any communication relative to the
campaign should be addressed. All such communications should
be sent to Reagan-Bush '84, 440 First Street N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20001.
(f) In responding to incoming mail and preparing
outgoing correspondence, staff members should be guided by the
following:
--
No reference should be made to the writer's,
the recipient's or any other individual's
future support, role or interest in a political
campaign;
--
No reference should be made to any past,
present or future political contributions;
-7-
---
Outgoing correspondence should be prepared with
a view toward possible interpretations by a
third party reader: Your intentions are not
the only criteria by which your words are
judged.
CRIMINAL STATUTES
A number of criminal statutes prohibit the use of Federal
programs, property, or employment for political purposes.
Violation of these criminal statutes are punishable by imprison-
ment and/or the payment of a substantial fine. Certain staff
members may also be subject to investigation and possible
prosecution by a Special Prosecutor in connection with alleged
violations of these statutes.
Solicitation of Campaign Contributions: Solicitation of
campaign contributions from or by Federal employees is prohi-
bited, as is the solicitation or receipt of contributions in
Federal buildings or on Federal property. Unless specifically
approved by the White House Counsel's Office, no White House
staff member shall sign a fundraising letter on behalf of any
Federal candidate.
Use of Official Authority: Criminal statutes also
prohibit a Federal employee from using his or her "official
authority for the purpose of interfering with, or affecting,
the nomination or the election of any candidate." There is,
however, no definitive interpretation as to what types of
activities constitute interference with or affecting the
results of such an election. If you have any question as to
whether any action you may take would be precluded by these
laws, do not do it; seek guidance from the White House Counsel
before taking any further action.
The following types of activities are prohibited by these laws:
-- One Federal employee directly or indirectly soliciting
another Federal employee for a campaign contribution.
-- Solicitation or receipt of campaign contributions on
federal property or in federal buildings. This means that
fundraising events may not be held in the White House; that no
fundraising phone calls or mail may emanate from the White
House or any other Federal buildings; and that no campaign
contributions may be received at the White House or any other
federal building.
-- Soliciting or accepting a campaign contribution or
campaign support in exchange for a promise to appoint someone
to a Federal job.
-8-
-- Promising or withholding Federal benefits (jobs,
grants, contracts, etc.) based on political support or non-
support.
-- Penalizing employees or withholding employment in
order to induce someone to make a political contribution or
otherwise participate in political activity.
The White House Counsel's Office is available to answer any
question on the legality or propriety of activities falling
within the statutes discussed above. You should call Sherrie
Cooksey at 456-7803 if you have any questions concerning
proposed campaign activities.
HATCH ACT
The Hatch Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 7321-7327, covers all EOP employees
except those:
a)
paid from the appropriations for the White House
Office;
b)
appointed to their current positions by the
President by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate;
c)
serving as head or assistant head of an executive or
military department.
All other government employees, including Schedule Cs and
detailees, are covered by Hatch Act prohibitions. Thus,
employees in the Office of the Vice President (other than
those paid from Senate appropriations) and the Office of
Policy Development, are, among others, "hatched" under the Act
and must abide by its provisions.
The restrictions of the Hatch Act are applicable to covered
employees 24 hours a day, regardless of whether such employees
are on annual or sick leave or leave without pay -- as long as
a covered individual is on the employment rolls of the Govern-
ment, he or she is subject to the restrictions of the Hatch
Act.
Employees covered by the Hatch Act may not:
1)
take an active part in the management of a political
campaign;
2)
be a partisan candidate in an election for state or
national office;
-9-
3)
serve as an officer of a political party, a member of
a national, state or local committee of a political
party, or an officer or member of a committee of a
partisan political club;
4)
organize a political organization or club;
5)
solicit, receive, handle, otherwise account for, or
disburse political contributions;
6)
sell tickets to, organize or actively participate in
any political fundraising activity;
7)
solicit votes for or against a candidate;
8)
serve as a party or candidate challenger or
pollwatcher;
9)
drive voters to the polls for a candidate or party;
10)
endorse or oppose a candidate in a political
advertisement, broadcast or campaign literature;
11)
serve as a delegate or alternate to a political
convention;
12)
organize or actively participate in the activities
of a political convention;
13)
serve on a standing committee of a political
convention;
14)
circulate a candidate nominating petition;
15)
address a convention, rally, or similar gathering of
a political party in support of or in opposition to
a partisan candidate for public office.
Employees covered by the Hatch Act may:
1) register and vote;
2) make financial contributions to a party or candidate,
except that 18 U.S.C. § 603 precludes employees of
the White House Office from contributing to the
authorized campaign committee of the President;
3) express their opinion on political subjects;
4) wear campaign buttons or display bumperstickers;
-10-
5) be a member (but not an officer or committee member)
of a political party or organization, so long as they
do not actively engage in campaign activities;
6) attend (but not as a delegate) a political convention,
fundraising function or other political gathering, so
long as they do not organize or participate in the
program of such an activity;
7) sign a nominating petition.
The "hatched" support staff of an exempted Administration
official may perform their normal clerical and ministerial
functions in connection with the political travel and appear-
ances or activities of their principal provided that the
functions they perform are related to their official responsi-
bilities. Such employees, however, may not perform tasks that
are purely political in nature and which relate solely to
their principal's political activities. Hence, a "hatched"
employee may make the logistical arrangements for his or her
principal's political travel or appearances and even accompany
the principal on such travel 1/, but, such employee may not
write a purely partisan speech for his or her principal or
engage in any of the "management" activities of a political
event or convention, e.g., plan or sell tickets to a political
event or work on the activities of a committee, such as the
Platform or Rules Committees, of a political convention.
Additionally, the Special Counsel of the Merit Systems Protec-
tion Board has taken the position that "hatched" employees,
may write briefing materials on official Administration
activities for use by Administration officials, even when such
materials will be included in partisan political statements;
however, such employees may not write or prepare any materials
that will be used only for political purposes, e.g., materials
for the platform of the Republican Party, nor may they prepare
any materials containing statements of political advocacy.
Again, if you have any questions with respect to these matters,
please call the White House Counsel's Office before you act.
1/ The travel expenses of a "hatched" employee accompanying
his or her principal on political business must be paid from
appropriated funds.
W.TT Personnel
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
September 27, 1982
The President today announced his intention to appoint William
Henkel to be Special Assistant to the President and Director of
Presidential Advance. He will succeed Stephen Studdert, who will
serve as a consultant to the White House and to the Republican
National Committee.
Since 1981, Mr. Henkel has been a Corporate Financial Services
Marketing Representative for the Merrill Lynch White Weld Capital
Markets Group in New York City. He was Manager of Corporate
Financial Services for the Capital Markets Group between 1977 and
1981. He served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
Economic Development Operations in 1975-1977.
Mr. Henkel served previously in the White House in several related
positions. In 1970, he joined the White House staff as a Staff
Assistant to the President, serving as a Presidential Advance
Representative. In November 1972, he was named Director of the
White House Advance Office. He was appointed Special Assistant to
the President and Director of Advance in 1973 and served in that
position until January, 1975.
From 1965 to 1970, Mr. Henkel served as an account executive in a
Merrill Lynch New York City branch office. He joined Merrill Lynch
in 1963 as a Junior Executive Trainee.
During the 1980 Presidential campaign, Mr. Henkel served as an
advance representative of Ronald Reagan and in 1982, he coordinated
logistical arrangements for the President's participation in the
Economic Summit at Versailles Palace.
Mr. Henkel graduated from St. Lawrence University (B.S., 1963). He
is married to the former Alice O'Brien, has six children and resides
in Arlington, Virginia. He was born June 19, 1941.
###
\\
Whate House
DOCUMENT NO.
090896
PD
Staff
OFFICE OF POLICY DEVELOPMENT
STAFFING MEMORANDUM
DATE:
8/31/82
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
FYI
SUBJECT:
Office of Policy Information Deputy Director
ACTION FYI
ACTION
FYI
HARPER
DRUG POLICY
PORTER
TURNER
BARR
D. LEONARD
BOGGS
OFFICE OF POLICY INFORMATION
BRADLEY
HOPKINS
CARLESON
COBB
DENEND
PROPERTY REVIEW BOARD
FAIRBANKS
OTHER
FERRARA
See list
GALEBACH
GARFINKEL
GUNN
B. LEONARD
LI
MONTOYA
SMITH
UHLMANN
ADMINISTRATION
REMARKS:
Edwin L. Harper
Please return this tracking
Assistant to the President
sheet with your response
for Policy Development
(x6515)
White House
THE WHITE HOUSE
Personnell
WASHINGTON
August 31, 1982
MEMORANDUM FOR SPECIAL ASSISTANTS TO THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
EDWIN L. HARPER
N
SUBJECT:
Office of Policy Information Deputy Director
I am happy to welcome Joe Cobb to the Office of Policy Information
staff. As Deputy Director of OPI, Mr. Cohh will report directly to
Kevin Hopkins.
Joe Cobb comes to OPI from the Interstate Commerce Commission, where
he served as Staff Advisor in Economics for Commissioner Frederic
Andre. Prior to joining the ICC, he worked as ani economist and
issues manager with the Sabre Foundation, the Council for a
Competitive Economy, and the Choice in Currency Commission in
Washington, D.C. He has worked as an economist on the staff of the
Vice President for Public and Government Affairs, Standard Oil
Company (Indiana) in Chicago, and moved to Washington in 1979 to
take a more active role in politics.
Mr. Cobb served as Chief Budget and Fiscal Officer of the Industrial
Commission of Illinois from 1970 to 1977, and before that as an
economist with the Illinois Commerce Commission. He received his
A.B. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Chicago, where he
specialized in finance, monetary theory and industrial
organization. He was editor-in-chief of the New Individualist
Review at Chicago and has been published widely on economic issues
over the past three years.
Mr. Cobb worked actively in local Chicago politics from 1962 through
1979, as well as holding a number of off:ces in College Republicans,
Young Republicans, and the Republican party. He was coordinator for
the Reagan Presidential Campaign in Chicago's 1stc Congressional
District in 1976.
Mr. Cobb's office will be in Room 234 of the Old Executive Office
Building.
MARY D. SHORTLEY
RM 191 EOB
THE WHITE HOUSE
W hite House
WASHINGTON
June 10, 1982
regs
MEMORANDUM FOR ALL DETAILEES WHITE HOUSE OFFICE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
Counsel to the President
SUBJECT:
Participation in Political Activities--
Hatch Act Restrictions
As the November elections approach, I remind you that you
are subject to the Hatch Act, 5 U.S.C. 7321-7327, which
places specific restrictions on your partisan political
activities.
Generally, the Act prohibits you from taking an active part
in political management or in political campaigns, and using
your official position to influence, interfere with or affect
the result of an election. You are covered by the Hatch Act
at all times, 24 hours a day, whether on duty or not. You
cannot avoid the requirements of the Act by taking time off
or a leave of absence.
Below are the general guidelines applicable to you as a
detailee. This list is not intended to be exhaustive. When
particular questions arise, feel free to give me or anyone on
my staff a call.
As an employee covered by the Hatch Act, you may not:
1) take an active part in the management of a
political campaign;
2) be a partisan candidate in an election for state
or national office;
3) serve as an officer of a political party, a member
of a national, state or local committee of a
political party, or an officer or member of a
committee of a partisan political club;
4) organize a political organization or club;
5) solicit, receive, handle, otherwise account for,
or disburse political contributions;
6) sell tickets to, organize or actively participate
in any political fund-raising activity;
7) solicit votes for or against a candidate;
2
8) serve as a party or candidate challenger or
pollwatcher;
9) drive voters to the polls for a candidate or
party;
10) endorse or oppose a candidate in a political
advertisement, broadcast, or campaign literature;
11) serve as a delegate or alternate to a political
convention;
12) organize or actively participate in the activities
of a political convention;
13) serve on a standing committee of a political con-
vention;
14) circulate a candidate nominating petition;
15) address a convention, rally, or similar gathering
of a political party in support of or in opposition
to a partisan candidate for public office.
As an employee covered by the Hatch Act, you may:
1) register and vote;
2) make financial contributions to a party or candidate;
3) express your opinion on political subjects;
4) wear campaign buttons or display bumperstickers;
5) be a member (but not an officer or committee member)
of a political party or organization, so long as you
do not actively engage in campaign activities;
6) attend (but not as a delegate) a political convention,
fund-raising function or other political gathering,
so long as you do not organize or participate in the
program of such an activity;
7) sign a nominating petition.
None of the above guidelines is intended to prohibit you
from participating in an election or campaign regarding a
question which is not specifically identified with a national
or state political party or candidate, such as constitutional
amendments, referendums, or approval of municipal ordinances.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 23, 1982
MEMORANDUM FOR:
ALL WHITE HOUSE COMPLEX PERSONNEL
FROM:
JAMES A. BAKER, III JHB
SUBJECT:
TOUR CONDUCT IN WEST WING COMPLEX
Various staff members and their guests have been stopping
the President as he moves to and from his office in the
West Wing to engage him in conversation. This particularly
occurs along the West Wing colonnade. It is imperative that
all personnel realize the inappropriateness of this activity
and refrain from it.
Furthermore, it should be clearly understood that the
viewing of the Oval Office and Cabinet Room is a rare
privilege intended for staff and their families. Large
groups should not be brought in to view these areas. Unless
staff members abide by the restriction of touring only after
regular business hours (after 6:00pm), and never when
the President and Vice President are in the area, this
privilege will be discontinued.
If there are any questions regarding this policy, please
contact John Rogers, Deputy Assistant to the President for
Management.
file oz
THE WHITE HOUSE
White White House
WASHINGTON
March 24, 1982
MEMORANDUM FOR:
WHITE HOUSE AND EOB STAFF
FROM:
JOHN F. W. ROGERS
DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
FOR MANAGEMENT
SUBJECT:
THE PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE LOBBY,
OLD EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING
I hope that you will enjoy the new look of the Old Executive Office
Building lobby area and I believe the improvements will significantly
increase the attractiveness of our building for the many persons who
enter there.
The improvements have been designed in keeping with the particular history
of the OEOB. The building was constructed from 1871 - 1888 for the State,
War and Navy departments. The antique furniture in the lobby dates from
the era of the building's construction, and has been loaned to us by the
Treasury Department. The four portraits hanging in the lobby are of
the department secretaries who had offices in the OEOB.
Elihu Root (portrait by Ellen Emmet) - occupied room 231 as Secretary
of War and occupied room 208 as Secretary of State
- A native of Clinton, New York, served as a Senator
from New York 1909 - 1915
- Secretary of War 1899-1904
- Secretary of State 1905 - 1909
- Served in Cabinet of President McKinley and T. Roosevelt
- Headed Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 1910
- Won Nobel Peace Prize in 1912
Josephus Daniels (portrait by R.S. Meryman) - occupied room 274 as
Secretary of the Navy
- Born in Washington, North Carolina
- Secretary of the Navy 1913-1921
- Carried on the "Good Neighbor Policy" as Ambassador to
Mexico 1933 - 1942
- Served in Cabinet of President Wilson
- Admitted women to armed services for the first time
- Directed activities of American Naval forces during
World War I, from his offices in the OEOB
- Selected as his Assistant Secretary, Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
(office also located in the OEOB, later President of the U.S.)
Cordell Hull (portrait by Stapko and Edward Murry) - occupied room 208
as Secretary of State
- Born in Overton (now Pickett), Tennessee
- Secretary of State 1933 - 1944
- Served in Cabinet of President Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1945
- Received emisseries from the Japanese Government in Room 208 OEOB
on December 7, 1941 (Pearl Harbor Day)
James Francis Byrnes (portrait by Alfred Jonniaux) - occupied room 208 OEOB
as Secretary of State
- Born in Charleston, South Carolina 1879
- Served as Representative (1911 - 1925) and Senator (1931 - 1941)
from South Carolina
- Served as Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court 1941 - 1942
- Attended Yalta (1945) and Potsdam Conference (1945)
- Secretary of State (1944 - 1947) in President Truman's Cabinet
- Represented the United States at the Paris Peace Conference 1946
I will continue to keep you informed as we complete other projects in
the OEOB.
White
House
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
(Mencos
WASHINGTON
August 24, 1981
MEMORANDUM FOR THE WHITE HOUSE STAFF
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT:
Acceptance of Transportation
and Travel-Related Expenses
The attached memorandum replaces the memorandum on the
same subject dated August 4, 1981.
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 24, 1981
MEMORANDUM FOR THE WHITE HOUSE STAFF
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT:
Acceptance of Transportation and
Travel-Related Expenses
The following discussion is designed to provide general
guidance regarding the circumstances under which you may or
may not accept travel-related expenses (transportation,
lodging, food, entertainment), or reimbursement of same.
Since such situations are often unique, guidelines must be
general in scope. You are, however, strongly urged to seek
specific advice in regard to any proposed trip prior to
accepting the invitation or request.
A.
Official Travel
In each instance for which you will seek Govern-
ment payment of expenses, approval shall be
obtained from the Special Assistant to the
President for Administration prior to acceptance
of the invitation or request.
Whenever you are traveling on official business of
the Government, traveling to attend a function or
give a speech as the representative of the White
House or the Administration, all travel-related
expenses must be paid from appropriated funds.
These funds may be from the White House Office
appropriations, or the appropriations of a par-
ticular Department or Agency, depending on the
circumstances of your travel.
There is one major exception to this general rule.
If you are traveling to attend a training sem-
inar, meeting or conference sponsored by a non-
profit organization granted tax-exempt status
under the law (Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal
Revenue Code), that organization may pay for your
2
normal, reasonable travel expenses under most
circumstances unless the acceptance of such
expenses creates an actual or apparent conflict of
interest with your official duties. Such payment
shall never be solicited by a staff member. In
each instance where such an offer of payment or
reimbursement is made, you should check with the
Counsel's office before acceptance of the invitation
for a determination of (a) the tax exempt status
of the organization , and (b) the propriety of
accepting the proferred expenses.
You may, of course, accept food or refreshments of
nominal value in the ordinary course of your
meeting or while in attendance at functions where
you are otherwise properly in attendance. Likewise,
it is acceptable to stay at the private residence
of your host if this would be appropriate under
the circumstances of your visit.
Ordinarily, all official travel should be on
commercial transportation. In a very unique
circumstance, where private or chartered aircraft
or other means of transportation is the only
transportation available the individual or cor-
poration providing the transportation must be
reimbursed. In this regard, please bear in mind
that this restriction generally prohibits accepting
free transportation while on official business if
someone offers you a ride on a private plane that
is otherwise going to the same destination as
yours.
B.
Official Travel Abroad
Normally, the U.S. Government should pay the cost
of official travel abroad. However, the Foreign
Gifts and Decorations Act, 5 U.S.C. $7342, permits
a Government official to accept transportation and
lodging while abroad from a foreign government or
international governmental organization if
refusal to accept would embarrass the foreign
government or the United States. This does not
permit acceptance of travel expenses to or from
the United States.
The rules applicable to officials also apply to an
accompanying spouse except that Government funds
may not be used to pay for the spouse's transportation
to or from the United States nor may a foreign
government do so.
3
C.
Travel on Political Campaigns
If an official travels for a political committee
or on behalf of a particular candidate, Government
funds may not be used to cover travel or lodging
expenses. These should be paid by the appropriate
committee or campaign fund.
The Federal Election Commission has detailed rules
on allocating costs when a trip combines both
political and official activities. Staff should
consult the Counsel's Office before undertaking
such trips.
D.
Personal Travel
It is sometimes difficult to determine whether
travel to and attendance at a particular event
should be deemed to be "official" travel or
personal travel. Very often you may be invited to
attend a conference or meeting or to make a
presentation where the circumstances do not make
clear whether the invitation is being issued to
you in your private or-official capacity. Like-
wise, there are some instances where you may wish
to attend a meeting, but you would not normally be
officially requested or directed to attend.
As a rule of thumb, if your travel is in further-
ance of your official duties or the Administration's
policies, it should be considered as "official"
travel for purposes of determining whether you may
accept expenses. If not, your travel may be
deemed personal.
When your travel is not official, but for personal business
or pleasure, the law provides that you may not accept or be
reimbursed for normal, ordinary travel expenses from non-
Government sources if the individual or organization so
providing it:
1)
has, or is seeking to obtain, contractual
or other business relations with your agency;
2)
conducts business or activities that are
controlled or regulated by your agency;
3)
otherwise has interests that may be sub-
stantially affected by the performance or
non-performance of your official duty.
4
In the case of all White House personnel, these prohibitions
must be scrupulously observed. If there is any doubt as to
the appropriateness of accepting travel expenses or reim-
bursement, it must be resolved in favor of not accepting.
These limitations do not apply when the gift of transportation
or travel expenses is a result of an obvious friend of the
family or close personal relationship, and it is clear that
the relationship is the motivation for the gift. Again, any
doubt must be resolved in favor of not accepting. Remember
that the appearance of a conflict often creates far greater
problems and embarrassment than a true conflict.
Some other rules of thumb in regard to personal travel:
You may accept normal and reasonable expenses in
connection with travel to receive a personal award
or honor, if not otherwise proscribed by the
business activity of the individual or organization,
If you hold an official position in a professional
organization, or serve on a board or committee,
you may accept reimbursement for travel expenses
while attending meetings if reimbursement of such
expenses is customary for others in similar
positions, and the position is personal to you
rather than by virtue of your position in the
White House.
Except under the most unusual or special cir-
cumstances, travel on corporate aircraft shall not
be accepted. This is a constant and recurring
source of embarrassment to Government officials.
Questions of legality aside, you should not
accept any gift of travel expenses which you are
not willing to have discussed in the press.
E.
Travel Expenses of Spouse/Family Members
Except in the most unusual circumstances, Govern-
ment funds are not available to cover the travel
expenses for a spouse or other family member
accompanying a staff member on official business.
Such expenses may not be accepted from the sponsor
of the event you are attending, or from any third
party, except under those few circumstances where
a personal gift would be acceptable.
Other than on official Government-paid travel, in
evaluating whether travel expenses of your spouse
or other family members may be accepted, you must
be guided by the same restrictions that are
5
applicable to your acceptance of such expenses or
reimbursement. You must always be alert to avoid
embarrassing appearances and if you accept such
reimbursement, the amount must appear to be
reasonable.
F.
Honoraria
In connection with travel, it is the policy of the
Adminstration that White House personnel should
not accept an honorarium for any speaking, teaching,
writing or appearance, on a subject which is in
any way related to your official position, or to
the operations or activities of the White House or
the Administration. Further, you may not designate
a charity to receive such honoraria.
This restriction does not preclude the acceptance
of a personal award, honorary degree, etc., or
from accepting a suitable memento of a function in
which you were honored.
G.
Public Reporting Requirements (Not applicable to
all Staff Members)
Subject to certain exclusions you are required to
report, on Schedule C of your annual Financial
Disclosure Report (SF 278), "Gifts and Reimburse-
ments," the source, description and approximate
value of gifts of transportation, lodging, food,
and entertainment aggregating $250 or more in the
preceding year from one source which were received
by you, your spouse or dependent children, or the
reimbursement for the same.
H. Additional Information
If you have any questions regarding the propriety
of accepting transportation and/or travel-related
expenses, you are urged to contact the Office of
the Counsel to the President for further guidance.
Except in emergency situations, such consultations
and clearance should be obtained prior to accepting
an invitation or request to travel.
WIH
memos
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 25, 1982
MEMORANDUM FOR:
ALL WHITE HOUSE STAFF
FROM:
JOHN F. W. ROGERS
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
FOR ADMINISTRATION
SUBJECT:
STAFF CONTACTS WITH COMMERCIAL VENDORS
There have been situations recently where staff members have
been contacted directly by representatives of commercial firms
wishing to sell their products. This memorandum reiterates
the White House policy that direct contact between commercial
vendors and White House staff members may not occur without the
knowledge of and approval by the Administrative Office. This
applies both to solicitations by outside parties and contacts
initiated by staff members seeking products or services for
their office. Vendors who wish to sell their products to the
White House should be referred to the Administrative Office,
Room 1, ext. 2500 for registration of their offerings. Staff
members who require items which are not available from the Supply
Room should obtain such items through the Administrative Office,
as financial and legal requirements generally do not permit
unauthorized staff members to purchase material on behalf of the
White House Office.
The above restrictions should also be applied to service tech-
nicians who repair office machines in the White House. Broken
office machines should be reported immediately to the Supply
Room, ext. 2260, or the Administrative Office, ext. 2500, so that
the machine can be serviced promptly by the appropriate techni-
cian. Suggestions or recommendations by the service technician
that extend beyond the operation of the specific machine at hand
(e.g. attachment of additional equipment or change to a different
model of machine) should be referred to the Administrative Office.
Your cooperation in eliminating unauthorized vendor activities is
appreciated.
W H Regs
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
December 21, 1981
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE WHITE HOUSE STAFF
FROM:
JOHN F. W. ROGERS
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
FOR ADMINISTRATION
SUBJECT:
CHECK OUT PROCEDURE
The White House Personnel Office must be advised immediately
when a staff member is departing the White House staff.
This includes White House employees, detailees, other gov-
ernmental support and volunteers. The terminating employees
must complete the check out form and turn in all official
property including their White House or EOB pass.
For further information concerning this procedure please
contact:
White House Personnel Office, ext. 2260
Detailees contact: Jeanne Reed, ext. 2787
Thank you.
White House
Rega
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
December 8, 1981
MEMORANDUM FOR WHITE HOUSE STAFF
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
Counsel to the President
SUBJECT:
Holiday Season Reminder on Gift Policy
With the advent of the Holiday season, it is especially important
for you to review White House policy regulating the receipt
of gifts. This memorandum summarizes and supplements material
contained in the Staff Manual.
Gifts that may not be accepted
No member of the White House staff may accept a gift from a
person who --
o has or is seeking to do business with any part of
the Executive Branch,
o is involved in activities which are regulated by
the Executive Branch,
o has an interest which would be substantially affected
by the staff member's performance of official duties.
If such a gift is received by a staff member either at the
office, or at home, the staff member has the obligation to
return it to the donor with the explanation that it cannot
be accepted. A copy of the letter returning the gift should
be retained in your files with a copy to this Office.
If for some reason you feel you cannot return the gift
(donor unknown, the address of donor unknown, or other)
you should advise this Office. If, after analysis, it is
confirmed that return is not possible, the gift should be
turned over to the Counsel's Office for disposal, with an
accompanying memorandum explaining the rationale for not
returning the item. Of course, these prohibitions apply to
your spouse and immediate household as well.
-2-
Gifts between Staff Members
Federal law expressly prohibits gifts from a subordinate
employee to his supervisor or others in the office whose pay
status is higher than the employee's. This does not prohibit
customary exchanges of gifts of nominal value between co-
workers, but any lavish gifts or gifts to superiors which
are not part of a traditional exchange are prohibited.
Gifts that may be accepted
Gifts from family and relatives may, of course, be accepted.
Gifts from friends may also be accepted, but only if it is
clear that the motivation is personal and the circumstances
are such that no appearance of conflict of interest is created.
Thus, for example, if you have traditionally exchanged gifts
with a neighbor you may continue to do so even though he
happens to be a lawyer with occasional cases involving the
government or he is a banker subject to federal regulation.
It would be imprudent to accept such a gift, on the other
hand, if the neighbor has a specific interest in an issue
which is under review in your particular office. While
perhaps totally innocent, a gift in these latter circumstances
might create the appearance of conflict of interest.
Unsolicited advertising and promotional materials of nominal
value may be accepted even if they come from individuals or
businesses having business with or regulated by the government.
This only extends to such customary items as desk calendars,
pens, pocket diaries, etc.; however, by way of example, this
rule would not permit acceptance of a case of cognac, a
piece of furniture, or other items of substantial value.
Reporting Requirements
In addition to the recordkeeping set forth above, those
staff members required to file financial disclosure reports
(SF 278) are reminded that they have an obligation to report
certain gifts received from persons other than relatives.
Any gift over $100 in value must be reported. Also gifts
over $35 in value must be reported if the aggregate of such
gifts received from the same source within a year totals
over $100. Thus, it would be prudent to make a record of
all gifts valued over $35 which you receive so that you can
determine, at reporting time, whether there is a reporting
requirement. Please note that the $35 reporting limit is not
related to the issue of whether a gift may be accepted. The
propriety of accepting any gift must be determined without
regard to its value, except as provided herein.
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Gifts from Foreign Governments or Officials
The United States Constitution and a federal statute generally
prohibit government officials from accepting gifts from
foreign governments or from foreign multinational organizations.
The following general guidelines obtain:
Gifts valued at under $140 may be accepted and retained
by the official (note that this is a recent increase in
the definition of minimal value for these purposes), unless
the acceptance would otherwise violate the regulations
pertaining to domestic gifts. These gifts must be reported
as any other gift.
Gifts that are valued at $140 or more become the property
of the United States. They should be turned over as soon
as possible and within sixty (60) days to the White
House Gift Unit for recording and the necessary
reporting to the General Services Administration.
Gifts for the President or First Lady
Under no circumstances should a staff member accept such a gift
intended for the President or the First Lady without first
checking with this Office. Any member of the staff who
receives a gift intended for the President or the First Lady
should ensure that it goes through the security unit before
entering the complex. It should then be immediately delivered
to the White House Gift Unit so that it can be properly
recorded and a decision made as to its disposition.
A Word of Caution
It is an unfortunate, but necessary, reminder that staff
members should be particularly cautious about gifts of consum-
ables, and about packages delivered at home. The Secret
Service makes it a practice to destroy consumables received
at the White House unless both the donor and the source are
personally well known. Likewise, all packages and letters
received at the White House by mail or delivery are scanned
to make sure they are not hazardous. If you receive a package
at home from a source not personally known to you, please
take it to Room 45 OEOB, for scanning before opening or before
turning it over to the Counsel's office. Under no circumstances
should you bring it into the complex without such screening.
Additional Questions
This memorandum is necessarily summary and does not deal with
all questions that may arise. If you are in doubt about the
propriety of accepting any gift please consult with the Counsel's
Office.
White Personnel House
Los Angeles Times
Thursday, September 17, 1981
Little Known Aides
'Informers'
Keep Reagan
Up to Date
Unlike Baker, presidential Coun-
selor Edwin Meese III and Deputy
Obviously, a man's judgment can-
Chief of Staff Michael K. Deaver-
not be better than the information on
the so-called "Big 3"-Darman and
which he has based it.
Fuller have no collective nickname.
-the late Arthur Hays Sulzberger,
They could be called "the infor-
publisher.
mers," because it is their duty to
By GEORGE SKELTON,
keep the President and the Big 3
Times Staff Writer
abreast of what is happening
throughout the White House and in
WASHINGTON-Richard Dar-
the Cabinet. They could be called
man and Craig Fuller probably are
"the enforcers," because they also
not President Reagan's favorite au
try to ensure that the President's
thors, but they are the ones he reads
policies and decisions are being im-
the most these days.
plemented.
They provide the President with
most of the information he gets
Jobs Often Intertwine
about his government. To a signifi-
Unlike the Big 3, they do not have
cant degree, they determine what
an office on the same floor as the
he reads, what he is told-and,
President; they are in the White
sometimes, when.
House basement. But they com-
Access is power in Washington,
monly see the President several
and these two have it in extraordi-
times a day in the Oval Office or in
nary fashion-directly into the
the Cabinet Room.
President's mind.
Darman reports to Baker as an
They prepare the President's
assistant to the President, carrying
background memos, brief him be
the additional titles of deputy to the
fore important meetings, then
chief of staff, White House staff
usually sit in on the sessions. They
secretary and coordinator of the
also decide what information from
legislative strategy group. Fuller
Cabinet officers and White House
answers to Meese as an assistant to
officials should be passed on to the
the President for Cabinet affairs.
President (or passed over), serve as
Darman and Fuller are equals, as
presidential troubleshooters and
are Baker and Meese. Because their
coordinate a long list of government
jobs frequently intertwine and com-
activities.
ingle, they sometimes find them-
Known Only to Powerful
selves working for any one, or all, of
the Big 3.
You probably have never heard
Basically, Deaver said, "they're
of Darman and Fuller. Few people
responsible for the information the
have. They are not household
President gets."
words, except at the White House.
A good example of what they do
Generally, they are known only to
the most powerful in Washington.
We can phone anybody who is at
a certain level and get them called
out of any meeting. Below that lev-
el, they don't know who we are,"
Darman said.
"The less most people know
about what we do the better off we
are," Fuller said.
White House Chief of Stan James
A. Baker III declared: "They make
the system work.
'INFORMERS': Reagan Briefings
Continued from First Page
son, serving under him in five Cabinet departments
-and why it is so important-came last week when
(state; health, education and welfare; defense; justice,
Reagan faced a crucial decision on how much to cut
and commerce) in two Republican adminstrations:
from planned defense spending in the 1983 and '84 fiscal
Richard M. Nixon's and Gerald R. Ford's.
years. Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger was
In 1973, when Richardson resigned as attorney gen-
pushing for minimal cuts. Budget Director David A.
eral because he refused to obey Nixon's order to fire
Stockman was advocating substantial savings.
Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox, Darmar.
Preparing the President for a showdown meeting on
was one of four Justice Department officials who
Wednesday, Darman and Fuller collected and delivered
walked out the door with him in what became known as
to Reagan on Monday a bulky package of lengthy
'the Saturday night massacre."
opuses from each side. But they did their real work on
"We are all close friends," Darman recalled. "I quit
Tuesday.
the same moment Richardson quit out of respect for
Bedtime Reading
him."
Darman hooked up with Reagan through Baker, who
For the President's bedtime reading on the eve of the
was undersecretary of Commerce when Darman was an
big meeting, Darman and Fuller boiled the hundreds of
assistant secretary. Darman worked with Baker on the
pages of arguments and backup material into one six-
Please see "THE INFORMERS,' Page 11
page memo summarizing and comparing four basic op-
tions being offered to him: two from defense (Weinber-
ger), a third from the Office of Management and Budget
(Stockman) and a fourth from the Commerce Depart-
ment. They also mentioned a fifth option: do nothing.
"Everybody turned out to be an advocate on this,
Darman said, referring to Cabinet officers and key
White House officials, such as Chairman Murray L.
Weidenbaum of the Council of Economic Advisers, poli-
cy assistant Martin Anderson and national security ad-
viser Richard V. Allen. All of those officials submitted
written recommendations to the President. "We tried to
pull everything together into a presentation with more
fairness and balance."
"The nature of our role," Fuller said, "is to make sure,
the President is given information that is accurate and is
generally accepted throughout the Administration as
accurate. It is not our role to design policy options, but
to make sure the President is aware of all the policy op-
tions being suggested by his advisers, so that he acts
only when he has all the views of interested parties.
"We're careful not to inject our own personal views
on most issues," Fuller added. "When we do, we make it
clear those are our personal views."
In other words, Fuller and Darman-working under
guidelines laid down by the Big 3-are the principal ar-
biters of whether information given the President- is
fair, balanced, accurate and complete and whether he
should get it now or later. And occasionally they argue
for their personal views.
They interpret and withhold and shape information
for the President-a function that gives them immense,
if subtle, power. "We're in a position to either really
screw things up or be a constructive influence," Darman
noted.
President Pleased
The President and the Big 3 obviously are pleased
with their work because on Monday they gave the pair
fancier titles-"assistants to the President"-and pay
raises, from $55,000 annually to $60,600.
"The key was that those two guys, never having
known each other, came in and decided they were going
to work cooperatively together and not compete," Bak-
er said. "You know how staff tends to compete."
Darman and Fuller basically are opposites in person+
ality and background.
Darman, 38, tends to be introverted and idealistic. His
roots are in the Northeast (Massachusetts) and Ivy
League (Harvard MBA). His philosophy, for a Republi-
can, leans liberal. But the Reagan White House has had
its effect.
"The metamorphosis was -complete when I arrived
out in California (during Reagan's vacation) and Dick
Darman was there in cowboy boots,' Baker said.
For years, Darman was a disciple of Elliot L. Richard-
Cabinet member can have a private session with the
President any time he wants. What is not said publicly,
and only subtly implied privately, is that the Cabinet
member had better have a very good reason for re-
Continued from 10th Page
questing such a meeting-or there might not be another
debates between candidate Reagan and President Jim-
one.
my Carter last fall and later became executive director
The President generally does not like to be lobbied
of the White House transition team.
individually by Cabinet secretaries, or anyone else he
Fuller, 30, is an outgoing Southern Californian, raised
has appointed, and that is why Fuller and Darman play
in Los Angeles and educated at UCLA and Occidental
such an important role. Reagan likes to be briefed first,
College
then meet at the Cabinet table or Oval Office, listening
His first big career break came at UCLA when he
to all competing sides argue their cases, before he
tried to become a summer intern at the Capitol in Sac-
makes a decision.
ramento. He picked up the wrong application by mis-
Fuller's job is to orchestrate those events-collecting
take and filled out a bid to run the entire intern pro-
written material from the Cabinet secretaries, passing it
gram. Fuller got the job, to his surprise, and wound up
around to all interested parties, summarizing it in a
impressing Gov. Reagan's top two aides, Meese and
memo for Darman to deliver to the President, shaping
Deaver.
the Cabinet agenda and suggesting a timetable.
Later, Deaver recruited Fuller into his public affairs
Some Cabinet members initially resented the idea of
consulting firm and last January opened doors for him
having not only to go through Meese to reach the Pres-
at the White House, where he got three job offers in two
ident but quite often through a 30-year-old government
days.
neophyte as well.
System Broke Down
"Dick (Darman) is an extremely bright guy. So is
"People, particularly with experience in other admin-
Craig," Baker said. "Craig has not had the prior govern-
istrations, would like to have had the benefit of putting
ment experience that Dick has, but he catches on quick-
through their views to the President unchecked, but our
ly. You ask him to get something, he's back to you with-
system doesn't allow for that," Fuller said. "Once they
in minutes, not hours."
got used to that and realized the system was working
Although Darman and Fuller share the same office
the same for everybody, they dealt with it more com-
suite and often work in tandem, their duties are distinc-
fortably."
tively different. Basically, Darman's bailiwick is the
The system broke down once, everybody agrees, in
White House, Fuller's the Cabinet.
mid-May when Reagan proposed, cutbacks in some So-
Virtually anything that goes to or comes from the
cial Security benefits. The feeling around the White
President passes through Darman. But he is more than
House is that Darman and Fuller let the Big 3 and Rea-
an in-and-out basket. He exercises "quality control," as
gan get stampeded into moving too quickly because
he puts it, rejecting material from advisers if he consid-
Richard S. Schweiker, secretary of health and human
ers it "not of proper intellectual quality to go to the
services, insisted on adhering to an arbitrary congres-
President," asking for additional information and con-
sional committe deadline.
densing, always condensing.
The Big 3 did not learn details of the Social Security
"I read slightly more than the President," he said
proposals until the day they were presented to Reagan
wryly.
and approved by him. The political strategists were
never consulted.
A few extremely sensitive things he does not read or
"If I could do it all over, I would delay another couple
even see-such as super secret covert actions of the
of weeks-or a couple of months," Fuller said.
Central Intelligence Agency. But even then he would
Fuller has gotten involved in all kinds of things-
record the fact that the President has met with the Na-
from being the White House point man for the air traffic
tional Security Planning Group and approved a clandes-
controllers' strike, to talking with California's Gov. Ed-
tine activity.
mund G. Brown Jr. on the telephone about medflies,
Darman functions as a critical conduit between the
when Brown really wanted to talk with Reagan.
President and the wide-ranging areas of the White
Brown's Poor Timing
House supervised by Baker, such as political strategy,
Brown did not plan his call to Reagan very well-
legislative lobbying, personnel appointments, public
telephoning the White House switch board about 5 a.m.
liaison, intergovernmental affairs, the press office and
the White House legal staff.
EDT (2 a.m. California time). "Nobody woke up the
President," Fuller noted. Brown asked to speak with
Fuller serves the same coordinating role for areas
Reagan, but the only person he could talk with at that
watched over by Meese-notably the Cabinet and
hour was the operator.
domestic policy planning. Security matters go directly
to the National Security Council and Meese, essentially
That was Friday, July 10-the day the Reagan Ad
bypassing Fuller.
ministration was planning to announce a, statewide
The public position of the White House is that any
quarantine of California produce because the governor
had refused to allow aerial spraying of the medfly.
Brown called again four hours later, this time for Meese,
and Fuller and Meese both got on the phone.
"The governor was very upset," Fuller recalled. "We
put him (Brown) on hold and called (Agriculture Sec-
retary John R.) Block and asked him to put off the
quarantine until Monday because the aerial spraying
could not begin until then anyway
"Block said he'd give him 24 hours, that was all. We
got back on the phone with Brown and said he had 24
hours. He was somewhat frustrated but said fine hung
up and went out and held a press conference accusing us
of holding a gun to his head."
If Brown had placed his first call a couple of hours la-
ter, he probably could have talked to either Fuller or
Darman instead of the White House operator-the two
officials usually begin their -hour days about a.m.