Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
475678495
label
Veterans Briefing: National Veterans Service Organizations and Congressional Leaders -Walters Proposal - 02/04/1983
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
475678495
contentType
document
title
Veterans Briefing: National Veterans Service Organizations and Congressional Leaders -Walters Proposal - 02/04/1983
citationUrl
identifierLocal
47
collections
Records of the White House Office of Public Liaison (Reagan Administration)
Morton Blackwell's Veterans' Liaison Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
475678495
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
c12423fa00abcae4
ocrText
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Blackwell, Morton: Files
Folder Title: Veterans Briefing:
National Veterans Service Organizations and
Congressional Leaders -Walters Proposal - 02/04/1983
Box: 49
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
1/18/83
washington
monton -
FYI
Per EMIII instructions, VA
request for meeting with the
President was submitted Through
OCA. We will keep you advised
on any decision and fun then
action
BonDurly
2/4
/ : 30 P. M
allow mayor
5004
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SCHEDULE PROPOSAL
January 17, 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR BILL SADLEIR
FROM:
Craig Fuller
as
SUBJECT:
Meeting with leaders of National Veterans Service
Organizations and Congressional Leaders of Senate
and House Veterans Affairs Committees.
PURPOSE:
To give the President an opportunity to reaffirm
his commitment to Veterans.
BACKGROUND:
The new Administrator of the Veteran's Administra-
tion, Harry N. Walters, has requested this meeting
with the President to allow him to speak on behalf
of all Veterans regarding a number of issues
(Agent Orange, Female Veterans, Readjustment Counsel-
ing, Aging Veterans, and Veterans Employment). He
plans to emphasize the need for open and honest
communication between the White House, the Veterans
Administration, national Veterans service organiza-
tions, and Congressional leaders.
The meeting will give the President an opportunity
to reaffirm his commitment to Veterans and his
support of Administrator Walters.
DATE:
January
DURATION:
30 minutes
LOCATION:
Cabinet Room
PARTICIPANTS: National Commanders and Executive Directors of
American Legion, VFW, DAV.
Senators Simpson and Cranston
Congressmen Montgomery and Hammerschmidt
Messrs. Walters and Alvarez
OUTLINE OF
Harry Walters will present his views to the President.
EVENT:
The President will make a few comments and there will
be a brief roundtable discussion.
REMARKS:
Talking points will be provided.
MEDIA
None
COVERAGE:
PROJECT
Craig L. Fuller
OFFICER:
Veterans Administration
REFERENCE SLIP
TO (Name or title-Mail routing symbol)
INITIALS-DATE
1.
Dee Jepsen
2.
Special Assistant to the President
3.
Rm. 197. Old Executive Office Building
4.
Washington, DC 20500
5.
Telephone: 456-6585
REASON FOR REFERENCE
AS REQUESTED
FOR YOUR FILES
NOTE AND RETURN
COMMENTS
INFORMATION
PER CONVERSATION
CONCURRENCE
NECESSARY ACTION
SIGNATURE
REMARKS
The attached is for your information.
FROMDr. Nora Scott Kinzer (00B)
DATE
Special Assistant to the Administrator
2/3/83
VA Central Office
TEL. EXT.
810 Vermont Avenue, Washington, DC
389-5518
VA FORM
EXISTING STOCKS OF VA FORM 3230,
MAY 1980
3230
AUG 1976, WILL BE USED.
*U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1981-724-959
Veterans
Administration
Memorandum
Date: February 2, 1983
From: J. Kenneth Klinge,
to the Administrator JKK (00C)
Special Assistant
To: Becky Norton Dunlop,
Subj:
Special Assistant to the
Meeting with Heads of Veterans
President and Director,
Organization with President
Office of Cabinets Affairs
Friday, February 4, 1983
1. Attached, please find the following:
(a) Administrator Walters remarks
(See attachment A)
(b) Suggested topics to be covered by the
President
(See attachment B)
(c) Proposal for the Administrator of
Veterans Affairs to attend Cabinet
Meeting
(See attachment C)
2. If you should need additional information or additional
ideas, please feel free to contact my office at 389-5522.
I will be in contact with you on Thursday, February 3, 1983,
at noon.
Attachment
ADMINISTRATOR WALTERS REMARKS
Mr. President:
It is an honor to be invited to this historic site
to meet with you and to introduce to you the representatives
of those whose sacrifices have earned them a special place
in our Nation's history, America's Veterans.
In a meeting prior to your joining us, Mr. President,
we have discussed my role as Advocate for Veterans Affairs - -
which you charged me with at our initial meeting; the need
for teamwork and open and honest communications among all
concerned parties; the continuing need for adequate benefits
and programs which you have generously provided for in your
budget; and our collective responsibilities to address the
many complex issues confronting veterans and the Veterans
Administration.
Your interest and concern for veterans is well known
to each of us, Mr. President. Under your leadership, with
the advice and assistance of the advocates for veterans in this
room today, and the good works of the people who comprise the
Veterans Administration, we look forward to accomplishing our
mission of service to veterans in an even more effective and
efficient manner than has been true in the past.
Since coming to the VA, I have adopted a slogan which
you will hear often in the future. It is one which I am
sure you will agree
"AMERICA IS NUMBER ONE, THANKS TO OUR VETERANS. "
COMMITMENT TO VETERANS
Erroneous perception has existed during past several
years that the President is not concerned about
veterans or veterans issues
o Meeting with leaders of National Veterans Service
Organizations and Congressional leaders indicates
the President's support for veterans and veterans
issues
Nation's defense requires men and women who are
willing to serve in our Armed Forces and the nation
must never forget those men and women who served their
country in time of need
o The nation owes a special debt to veterans who have
become disabled while serving their country and
a special debt to the dependents of veterans who died
while serving their country
o The VA's proposed FY 1984 Budget represents a strong
statement of support for veterans
- The total requested for FY 1984 is $26.1 billion
which represents a $1.1 billion increase over
FY 1983
- The FY 1984 Budget will provide $10.1 billion
in compensation payments to 2.3 million veterans
with service-connected disabilities and
348,000 survivors of veterans who died of service-
connected causes
- The FY 1984 Budget provides for $3.8 billion in
pension payments to 775,000 wartime veterans
and 885,000 survivors of wartime veterans
- Tunding for VA's Medical Care Program will
be increased by more than $383 million
- VA's FY 1984 Construction program will increase
by $319 million to $868 million, and includes
plans for a 725 bed replacement hospital in
Minneapolis
RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICE PROVIDED BY NATIONAL VETERANS
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
o Every President since the VA was established as an
independent agency in 1930 has recognized and praised
the aims and objectives, as well as the accomplishments,
of National Veterans Organizations
Veterans Organizations are patriotic groups of veterans
dedicated to advancing the ideals of America
o Veterans Organizations are comprised of veterans who
are dedicated to the rehabilitation and welfare of
veterans and the welfare of their dependents
Veterans Organizations are made up of professional,
business and civic leaders who, in their communities,
volunteer their time, engery and resources on behalf
of their fellow veterans
The American Legion has approximately 2.6 million
members
o The Veterans of Foreign Wars has approximately 1.9
million members
o The Disabled American Veterans Organization has approx-
imately 700,000 members
o Every major Veterans Organization has a "Service
Program" which has the specific purpose of providing
information and assistance to individual veterans.
Service officers and accredited representatives serve
individual veterans at:home, in VA medical care
facilities, at VA regional offices and in their
communities. Thousands of America's veterans look
to Veterans Service Organizations for guidance,
understanding and assistance
CONCERN FOR THE NEEDS OF WOMEN VETERANS
0 The President and Mr. Walters met prior to Mr. Walters'
confirmation hearing and discussed the issue of
women veterans and the need for the VA to recognize
the special concerns of women veterans
o Mr. Walters has stated he will be an advocate for all
of America's veterans and this included women veterans
o Mr. Walters has appointed a Special Assistant on his
immediate staff who will be the VA's focal point on
women's issues
o Mr. Walters has also instituted action to establish
a Federal Advisory Committee on Women Veterans
PROPOSAL FOR THE
ADMINISTRATOR OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
TO ATTEND CABINET MEETINGS
BACKGROUND:
o On October 10, 1978, President Carter accorded the
Veterans Administration the status of a Cabinet agency
for the sole purpose of regularly attending meetings of
the President's Cabinet at the White House. (Attachment
1) This action, although largely symbolic, underscored
the President's respect and support for this nation's
approximately 30 million veterans.
During his term as Administrator of Veterans Affairs,
Mr. Nimmo was not invited to attend Cabinet meetings.
The result was a general perception among Veterans
Service Organizations, some members of Congress, and
many veterans that the President was unconcerned about
veterans and that the previous Administrator of Veterans
Affairs had little or no access to the President or
his top officials.
During the past several years, several members of
Congress have expressed support for having the Veterans
Administration accorded the permanent status of a
Cabinet Department.
National Veterans Service Organizations, including the
Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion,
Veterans of Foreign Wars. and Paralyzed Veterans of
America, have expressed support for the elevation
of the Veterans Administration to Cabinet status.
DISCUSSION:
The Administrator of Veterans Affairs heads the largest
independent Agency in the Federal government and employs
more employees than any other Federal Agency except
the Department of Defense.
Veterans, their dependents and survivors comprise
nearly 50% of the population of this country and the
programs of the Veterans Administration range from
one of the largest health care and medical systems in
the world to a multi-billion dollar compensation and
pension program; from G.I. housing and home loans to
burial benefits and the National Cemetery System; and
from the largest and most successful student assistance
program to a multi-billion dollar insurance system.
o The programs of the VA require extensive coordination
with other Federal Agencies in order to assure the best
quality delivery of services to this nation's veterans.
The attendance of the Administrator of Veterans Affairs
at the President's Cabinet meetings would accomplish
the following goals:
- Provide a visible and positive statement
of the President's interest in, and concern
for, veterans and veterans issues
- Provide a positive statement of support for the
new Administrator of Veterans Affairs in an effort
to ease national Veterans Service Organization
concerns that the Administrator of Veterans
Affairs does not have access to the President
or other top officials
- Promote an awareness of the need to have greater
coordination and cooperation of all Federal
Agencies which have programs affecting veterans
RECOMMENDATION:
O The President invite the Administrator of Veterans
Affairs to participate in the President's Cabinet meetings.
2
1/2
mrs.
x
THE WHITE HOUSE
N 10/10/ f.
WASHINGTON
October 10, 1978
To Administrator Max Cleland
I am inviting you to attend my bi-weekly Cabinet meetings.
As head of the largest independent agency in the Federal Government,
you employ more personnel (over 230,000) than any other Federal
agency except the Department of Defense.
As you know, Veterans and their dependents and survivors comprise
nearly 50% of the population of this country; your programs affect
nearly every family in the United States. Your programs range
from the largest health care and medical system in the world
to a multi-billion compensation and pension program; from G.I.
housing and home loans to burial benefits and the National Cemetery
System; and from the largest and most successful student assistance
program to a multi-billion dollar insurance system.
Your presence at Cabinet meetings will be useful for other departments
with overlapping responsibilities, for the Veterans Administration,
and for benefitting Veterans themselves. I look forward to your
participation of these bi-weekly meetings.
Sincerely,
Drug Certer
The Honorable Max Cleland
Administrator of Veterans Affairs
Washington, D.C. 20420
ATTACHMENT 1