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January 22, 1971 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT'S FILE FROM: DICK MOORE RAM SUBJECT: ANECDOTES - The President's Open Door Hour, January 22, 1971 Thoughtieren All but one of the visits involved persons who work for the President at a low or middle level. When anyone claims that the President is unconcerned and impersonal toward the people around him, a recital of today's visits, on the day of his State of the Union address, is a pretty telling response. Here are some details about the respective visits: 1. Seven staff members who had worked strenuously on the budget 1) Budet and budget message came in with George Schultz and Cap Weinberger 2) for a signing ceremony. They were somewhat awed and nervous, and WHSGless the President went to work immediately to put them at ease. They work in the EOB and he wanted to know if they got portal-to-portal pay. He joked about their hours, and then talked knowledgeably about the importance of their role in Government. When it came time to take a group picture some seemed to hold back and the President took charge, physically staging the picture and insisting that some of the men move in closer, etc. When he noticed that some weren't smiling, he said: "Look as if you found something to cut in the budget. 11 Laughter and a good picture resulted. In discussing the budget, the President explained that he hoped next year's would include reductions. Following the picture he presented each visitor with a replica of the pen with which he had just signed the budget message. Then he said: "How about your secretaries? They work even harder than you do. 11 He then presented each with a Presidential pin for his secretary, 3