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Election, 1976 - Common Cause Issue Profiles (1)
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Election, 1976 - Common Cause Issue Profiles (1)
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This file contains material relating to Gerald Ford, Carter, Reagan, Brown, Church, Udall, Wallace.
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Ron Nessen's Subject Files
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The original documents are located in Box 37, folder "Election, 1976 - Common Cause
Issue Profiles (1)" of the Ron Nessen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
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domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
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HOW THEY STAND/PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES' POSITIONS - EDITION III/MAY 1976
Issue Profile #1
GERALD R. FORD
INTEGRITY & ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT
LIBRARY
INTRODUCTION
1
ABUSE OF GOVERNMENT POWERS
31
Ford, Reagan, Carter, Church, Udall
ANTI-CORRUPTION ENFORCEMENT
8
Ford, Carter
GOVERNMENT SECRECY
9
Ford, Reagan, Brown, Carter, Udall, Wallace
SPECIAL INTEREST LOBBYING
12
Brown, Carter, Udall, Wallace
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
14
Ford, Reagan, Brown, Carter, Church, Udall, Wallace
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
17
Ford, Brown, Carter, Udall, Wallace
common cause
2030 M STREET NW. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036
Introduction
INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT
Abuse of Government Powers/Anti-Corruption Enforcement
Government Secrecy/Special Interest Lobbying/Conflicts of Interest
Campaign Finance Reform
Recent public opinion polls show that government integrity
and accountability are among the top concerns of the American
people -- ranking with inflation, jobs, crime and energy.
To examine candidate positions on this issue, Common Cause
has included their views on six subjects commonly associated with
integrity and accountability in government:
- Abuse of Government Powers. Included here are candidate
proposals for checking such abuses of power as the political use
of the Internal Revenue Service, spying by the FBI on political
opponents and journalists, and illegal domestic CIA activities.
- Anti-Corruption Enforcement. Under this heading are
candidate proposals for making the Justice Department less
vulnerable to political pressure and for strengthening government
capacity to enforce anti-corruption measures.
- Government Secrecy. This category contains candidate
positions on open meetings, the classification system and
freedom of information. It focuses particularly on the Senate-
passed "sunshine law" which would require open meetings in several
executive agencies.
- 2 -
- Special Interest Lobbying. The main issue here is the
candidates' positions on a proposed new lobby disclosure law.
This legislation would require individual lobbyists and lobbying
organizations to publicly report how much they spend and what they
do to influence government decisions.
- Conflicts of Interest. Included here are candidate views on
stringent regulations dealing with conflict of interest in the
executive branch, together with their views on proposed enforcement
procedures. Present practice has been sharply criticized, and
reforms have been proposed, including public financial disclosure
by government officials, limits on post-government employment in
regulated industries and stronger enforcement.
- Campaign Finance Reform. This category includes candidate
positions on the 1974 campaign finance act, the public financing
of Congressional campaigns and enforcement by an independent
commission. (The 1974 reforms upheld by the Supreme Court in
January include: limits on contributions, the partial public
financing of Presidential campaigns, disclosure of contributors,
and an independent enforcement commission if Presidentially appointed.)
***
In preparing these profiles, Common Cause compiled issue materials
released directly by the candidates, and records of their positions
as reported by major news media. Common Cause has communicated with
each Presidential campaign seeking cooperation in this project. In
addition, members of Common Cause in relevant states have monitored
Presidential candidates' positions as reported in local media or stated
in local campaign literature prepared by the candidates. All positions
ascribed to the candidates are attributed by source and date, and
all source materials are available for media use in the Common Cause
Washington office. The profiles do not purport to be inclusive, but
contain information gathered by Common Cause thus far in the campaign.
Listings are alphabetical by party.
ABUSE OF GOVERNMENT POWERS
Common Cause has found no campaign statements on this issue by: Brown
and Wallace.
FORD
Ford message
On February 18, 1976, Ford issued an executive order
to Congress,
which established a new chain of command and opera-
2/18/76
tional guidelines for the nation's intelligence agen-
cies. He believes the order "will eliminate abuses
and questionable activities on the part of the foreign
intelligence agencies while at the same time permitting
them to get on with their vital work of gathering and
assessing information. If
Executive Order
The executive order:
on U.S. Foreign
Intelligence
Gives the National Security Council responsibility
Activities
for overall policy direction of national intelligence
2/18/76
activities.
-Establishes a new Committee on Foreign Intelligence
to manage the intelligence community. The Committee
is chaired by the Director of the CIA and has juris-
diction over the budgets of intelligence agencies.
--Renames the Forty Committee as the Operations
Advisory Group and expands its membership to include
the Attorney General and Director of OMB. The Group
authorizes secret intelligence projects.
Creates a three-member Intelligence Oversight Board
to monitor the performance of intelligence agencies
and report periodically to the President and Attorney
General on its findings.
Sets limits on the physical and electronic surveil-
lance of American citizens and on the collection and
dissemination of information about them.
--Prohibits such practices as burglaries, drug tests
on unsuspecting humans, and illegal uses of tax
return information.
-Clarifies the responsibilities of executive agencies
involved in foreign intelligence activities and pre-
scribes rules of operation for them.
- 4 -
ABUSE OF GOVERNMENT POWERS
Ford (continued)
Ford message
In addition to the executive order, Ford has proposed
- to Congress,
legislation dealing with intelligence activities.
2/18/76
His proposals would:
Make "it a crime to assassinate or attempt to con-
spire to assassinate a foreign official in peace time." "
Create a special procedure for seeking a judicial
warrant authorizing the use of electronic surveillance
in the United States for foreign intelligence pur-
poses. If
Permit the opening of U.S. mail for intelligence
purposes "under proper judicial safeguards."
Ford also urged Congress to "centralize the respon-
sibility for oversight of the foreign intelligence
community" into one joint committee. He said this
would reduce "the risks of disclosure" and "facilitate
the efforts of the Administration to keep Congress
fully informed of foreign intelligence activities."
Washington Post,
The Ford administration has proposed legislation that
3/24/76
would require court warrants for domestic electronic
surveillances for national security purposes. Under
the legislation, warrants for wiretaps would be
issued if the government could convince a judge
that the target of the tap worked for a foreign
government or was acting "pursuant to the direction
of a foreign power" and was engaged or aiding someone
engaged in "clandestine intelligence activities,
sabotage, or terrorist activities." The taps could
not last over 90 days, at which time they would have
to be re-authorized by another court warrant.
Interview with
When asked whether he believed the President has
Northern Illinois
the right to break the law under certain circum-
Jewspaper Assoc
stances, Ford replied: "I don't agree with it.
8/12/76
I know of no experience that I have had that would
bring about any violation by me of either the
Constitution or the law, and I certainly don't
contemplate violating either one." "
ABUSE OF GOVERNMENT POWERS
REAGAN
Nashua Telegraph,
The Nashua Telegraph reports that Reagan has been
2/13/76
sharply critical of those who have attacked the CIA.
He has said that while "we are attacking our own in-
telligence agencies here," the Soviet Union has
"quadrupled espionage efforts in the United States."
CARTER
Jimmy Carter,
Carter proposes that "requests to the IRS for
Code of Ethics
income tax returns by anyone, from the President
Undated
down, should be recorded. Access to this essen-
tially private information should be strictly
circumscribed."
"Maximum personal privacy for private citizens
should be guaranteed. 11
Time,
Time reports that Carter does not want to break
3/8/76
up the CIA or curtail covert operations. However,
he pledges to enforce corrective action against
those who engage in illegal activities. "I will
know what is going on and if there is any wrong
doing, I will find out about it. I will tell the
American people about it and will see to it that
those responsible are punished."
Jimmy Carter,
"As President, I will be responsible for the conduct
Code of Ethics
of the Executive Branch of Government. Errors
Undated
or malfeasance will be immediately revealed,
and an explanation given to the public, along
with corrective action to prevent any recurrence
of such actions."
CHURCH
(Church chaired the Senate Select Committee on
Intelligence Activities, which recently proposed com-
prehensive reforms in this area.)
Announcement of
"The first priority on our political agenda is the
Candidacy,
restoration of the Federal Government to legitimacy
3/18/76
in the eyes of the people. The vast majority of
Federal employees are honest, law-abiding citizens.
But nobody--no matter how highly placed in the Gov-
- 6 -
ABUSE OF GOVERNMENT POWERS
Church (continued)
ernment--has the right to break the law; to open
our mail; to photograph our cables; to spread false
propaganda for the purpose of discrediting decent
citizens in their own communities; to open tax in-
vestigations against persons not even suspected of
tax delinquency but targeted for political harass-
ment, instead. These illegal and indecent practices
must stop! Runaway bureaucracy must be harnessed
once more to the reins of the law."
Column by Jack
Church has been quoted as saying: "People are
Anderson and Les
disillusioned with government. There's a sense of
Whitten, Washington
cynicism in the land, disgruntlement, disgust. That
Post, 3/15/76
attitude won't change until people feel there's
integrity in government. After having found crime
in the White House, after finding in my investiga-
tions that this corruption, this disrespect for
people's rights has infected our basic agencies
it's more than disturbing--it's outrageous. It's
down right scary to find the beginning of a secret
police in the FBI. All this isn't going to be stopped
by cosmetic action in Congress. It will take a Presi-
dent to bring government back inside the law and
restore the sense of legitimacy in government to the
people."
UDALL
Udall statement
Udall believes the CIA should have a new charter
on CIA, undated
setting limits on its activities and prohibiting
domestic operations. He also proposes the adop-
tion of a new executive branch committee to approve
intelligence operations and of a joint congres-
sional oversight committee on intelligence matters.
"The CIA needs a new, tightly written charter that
will spell out what it may and may not do. That
legislation must clearly and specifically exclude
domestic activities by the CIA while preserving
its capabilities in the fields of intelligence
gathering and analysis. In the executive branch,
an active committee to approve all intelligence
operations must be established with a membership
- 7 -
ABUSE OF GOVERNMENT POWERS
Udall (continued)
including persons whose concern is to protect U. S.
civil liberties, and the observance of U. S. laws.
Among others, the U. S. Attorney General should be
a permanent member of this Committee."
"On the Congressional side, the four existing
oversight committees should be abolished, and a
single House-Senate joint committee established.
The membership fo this Committee should rotate
regularly so that none of the cozy old relationships
can be built up. The scope of this committee should
extend to all U. S. intelligence agencies--including
the National Security Agency--and should include
detailed scrutiny of intelligence agency budgets."
* * *
- 8 -
ANTI-CORRUPTION ENFORCEMENT
Common Cause has found no campaign statement on this issue by: Reagan,
Brown, Church, Udall and Wallace.
FORD
FEAA Newsletter,
Ford has authorized the creation of a new Public
Feb. 1976
Integrity Section within the Criminal Division of
the Justice Department to handle all federal offenses
involving official or institutional corruption.
CARTER
Washington Post
Carter has proposed removing the office of Attorney
1/12/76
General from the Cabinet and making it an independent
office with a term of five to seven years. Removal
of the Attorney General could be had only for mal-
feasance in office. Congressional leaders must join
with the President to remove the Attorney General. The
aim of the proposal is to protect the Justice Department,
and the FBI in particular, from political influence.
Jimmy Carter,
Under the plan, says Carter, the Attorney General
Code of Ethics
would be as independent as a Special Prosecutor. "He
Undated
or she should be given the full prerogatives and
authority and independence that were recently given to
the Special Prosecutor."
Carter also proposes that "the Attorney General and
all his or her assistants should be barred from any
political activity."
***
- 9 -
GOVERNMENT SECRECY
Common Cause has found no campaign statements on this issue by: Church.
FORD
GERALD R. FORD
St. Petersburg
"Ford has said: "Basically, I agree with the
Times, 2/22/76
philosophy of the Sunshine Bill." The bill, which
has passed the Senate and is now before the House,
would require certain federal agencies to open their
meetings to the public. He added, however, that
"there may be some meetings held by agencies or de-
partments in the federal government where there would
have to be confidentiality maintained."
"To summarize, I'd simply say that any meetings (sic),
generally, I think, should be open to the public. But
I think there has to be some safeguard where you're
discussing classifed information that involves our
national security."
REAGAN
Reagan speech at
Referring to a SALT II agreement, Reagan said:
the Phillips Exeter
"Any agreement we do set out to make must not be
Academy, 2/10/76
secret under any circumstances. There is nothing
SO complex about these matters that would require
secrecy and withholding the facts from the American
public."
BROWN
San Francisco
If elected President, Brown would require full
Chronicle
public disclosure of all agreements arrived at
3/31/76
in such conferences as the Strategic Arms Limitations
Talks.
- 10 -
GOVERNMENT SECRECY
CARTER
Jimmy Carter,
Carter proposes the adoption of a broad open-
Code of Ethics,
meetings law which would cover both Congress
undated
and certain executive agencies. "An all-
inclusive 'Sunshine law,' similar to those
passed in several states, should be implemented
in Washington. Meetings of federal boards,
commissions, and regulatory agencies must be
opened to the public, along with those of con-
gressional committees. The only exceptions
should involve narrowly defined national
security issues, unproven legal accusations,
or knowledge that might cause serious damage
to the nation's economy."
He also believes there should be "broad public
access, consonant with the right of personal
privacy
to government files. Maximum
security declassification must be implemented."
If elected, Carter has promised to "propose to
the Congress that the members of my Cabinet
appear regularly before both Houses, preferably
in joint session, to answer questions from
senators and representatives. I will also request
that these sessions be available for live broad-
cast.
"
UDALL
Udall 76 Comm., On
"Believing that government functions best in
Strengthening the
the sunshine, he led the battle to open the
Political Process
most crucial steps in the legislative process --
Undated
committee markup sessions and House-Senate
conferences --- to the public (since he became
its Chairman, the Subcommittee on Energy and
the Environment has not held a single closed
session), and to increase legislative respon-
sibility by easing the procedures for obtain-
ing recorded votes on the House floor."
Congressional
Udall is co-sponsor of the Government in the
Record
Sunshine bill, HR 11701
2/4/76
- 11 -
GOVERNMENT SECRECY
WALLACE
Material pre-
"Except in those departments and divisions which
pared for Common
must maintain secrecy in order to protect the secur-
Cause, 3/76
ity of this country, we should have no governmental
secrecy. We should provide information for the people
about their government with no half truths or hiding
the facts."
***
- 12 -
SPECIAL INTEREST LOBBYING
Common Cause has found no campaign statements on this issue by: Ford, Reagan,
and Church.
BROWN
In 1974, Brown played a major role in initiating
and winning passage of Proposition 9, California's
political reform initiative. The measure requires
lobbyists, and those employing them, to publicly
disclose the type and purpose of their lobbying
expenses. It also prohibits lobbyists from giving
campaign contributions or gifts to state officials.
It establishes an independent enforcement commission.
CARTER
Jimmy Carter,
Carter supports implementation of a new lobby disclosure
Code of Ethics
law. "The activities of lobbyists must be more thor-
Undated
oughly revealed and controlled, both within Congress
and the Executive Department agencies. The new lobby-
ing law should apply to those executive agencies and
departments which are not now covered as well as to
the Congress. Quarterly reports of expenditures by all
lobbyists who spend more than $250 in lobbying in any
three month period should be required. The act should
include any lobbying expenditures aimed at influencing
legislation or executive decisions and should cover
those who lobby directly, solicit others to lobby, or
employ lobbyists in their behalf."
Carter also proposes that "all requests for special
government consideration by private or corporate in-
terests should be made public, and decisions should
be made only on the basis of merit."
SPECIAL INTEREST LOBBYING
UDALL
Udall 76 Comm.,
"Recognizing the continued threat of special
Morris Udall: The
interests unfairly undermining the democratic
Record of a Leader
process, (Udall) is a co-sponsor of the Public
Undated
Disclosure of Lobbying Act of 1975."
Udall 76 Comm., On
He testified on this bill in September 1975,
Strengthening the
before the House Judiciary Committee. His
Political Process
testimony supported "the public's right to
Undated
know who is spending on how much to influence
what legislation. "
WALLACE
Material pre-
Wallace favors stronger restrictions on "what huge
pared for Common
corporations can do in lobbying with unlimited funds"
Cause, 3/76
and broader disclosure. "Special interest lobbying
has resulted in too much legislation favoring the
super pressure groups. It's becoming a danger in
our society."
* * *
--- 14 -
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
FORD
St. Petersburg
Ford has indicated that he would sign a new law
Times, 2/22/76
requiring financial disclosure by federal officials.
"I would personally approve of such a requirement
by law, Ford said.
"I certainly believe in full disclosure. I've evi-
denced it by the very full disclosure of my finan-
cial situation."
REAGAN
Los Angeles
Although Reagan is philosophically opposed
Times, 2/26/76
to disclosure of personal finances, he was more
or less forced into his Feb. 25 personal disclosure
statement by President Ford's full disclosure
of Feb. 12. Until late February Reagan had
repeatedly said he would not disclose his income
for 1975.
Reagan's Feb. 25 statement was more informative
than the disclosure he made under California law
before leaving office, but it did not speal out
how much he earned from radio broadcasts, his
newspaper column or his paid speaking appearances
in 1975.
BROWN
In 1974, Brown played a major role in initiating
and winning passage of Proposition 9, California's
political reform initiative. The measure requires
state officials to publicly disclose their finan-
cial holdings and prohibits them from taking official
action on matters in which they have a personal
financial interest. It establishes an independent
enforcement commission.
- 15 -
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
CARTER
Jimmy Carter,
Carter supports public financial disclosure by government
Code of Ethics
officials. "Complete revelation of all business and
Undated
financial involvements of all major officials should be
required, and none should be continued which constitute
a possible conflict with the public interest. I have
released an audit of my personal finances and will do
so annually throughout my term of office. I will insist
that the same requirement apply to the Vice President
and to those appointed to major policy-making positions
in my Administration. As President, I will seek legis-
lation to make such disclosure mandatory.
"Everyone who serves in a position of policy-making
ought to reveal to the public his or her financial
holdings, where his or her riches are invested, and
where his or her special interests are so that no con-
flict with the public interest will exist."
"Absolutely no gifts of value should ever again be per-
mitted to a public official. A report of all minor per-
sonal gifts should be made public."
Carter also supports restrictions on the interchange of
personnel between regulatory agencies and the industries
they regulate. "The sweetheart arrangement between
regulatory agencies and the regulated industries must
be broken up, and the revolving door between them should
be closed. Federal legislation should restrict the
employment of any member of a regulatory agency by the
industry being regulated."
CHURCH
S.181, intro-
Church favors public financial disclosure by federal
duced 1/16/76
officials. He is a co-sponsor of S.181, which would
A.
require officials in all three branches of govern-
ment to file financial disclosure statements.
Church for Presi-
"Since 1964 Frank Church has made regular disclosures
dent Com., Frank
of his personal income and assets, and over the past
Church's Record
decade has made repeated calls for a regularized,
on the Issues,
formal requirement that all Members of Congress do
March '76
the same.' He "was the author of an amendment to the
- 16 .-
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Church (continued)
campaign reform bill which passed the Senate in 1973
to require such disclosures by every Member of Congress
and by their opponents at election time."
Church has said that "complete disclosure would allow
the voter to compare the Member's voting record in
office with his financial portfolio, and determine
for himself whether the Member has voted his private
pocketbook interest or the general public interest,
in the discharge of his official duties."
UDALL
Udall 76 Comm.,
Udall "resigned from his law firm upon election,
Morris Udall: The
and in 1963 was among the first Congressmen to
Record of a Leader,
make a complete disclosure of his financial
10/75
holdings -- a practice he continues with
annual disclosure of his tax returns."
Udall 76 Comm. /
"When the House of Representatives established
On Honesty in
a temporary Ethics Committee, he spoke out
Government, 12/75
sharply in favor of making it a permanent
institution, and also introduced legislation
to require complete financial disclosure by
Members of Congress."
Udall 76 Comm. ,
Udall also proposes the implementation of
On Consumer issues,
"new conflict of interest rules to stop
12/75
the shuffle of 'regulators' in and out of
industry. "
Keene Sentinel
He believes members of federal regulatory agencies
2/11/76
should be barred from practicing law before those
agencies for at least five years after leaving
their posts. "Many of the members, when they leave
the agencies, drum up expensive private practices
arguing before those very agencies, or actually
working for the industry they had been regulating, "
Udall reportedly said.
WALLACE
Material pre-
"Any candidate who has a conflict of interest or any
pared for Common
officeholder with a conflict of interest should
Cause, 3/76
either be removed or resign."
- 17 -
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Common Cause has found no campaign statements on this issue by: Reagan and
Church.
FORD
The Washington
Ford favors reconstituting the Federal
Star, 2/6/76
Elections Commission in line with the
Supreme Court's ruling so it can enforce
"clean and honest elections." The Court
has ruled that FEC commissioners must be
appointed by the President, subject to
Senate approval, in order for the
Commission to continue its major operations.
Ford is willing to name the current six
commissioners.
Presidential
When Ford signed the new campaign finance
Document,
bill into law in October 1974, he stated
Vol. 10
his reservations about the provisions for
No. 42, p. 1285
public financing of Presidential campaigns
10/15/74
and about possible constitutional problems
with contribution and expenditure limitations.
Nevertheless, he stated that "big money
influence has come to play an unseeming
role in our electoral process. This bill
will help to right that wrong.
At that time, Ford also stated his opposition
to public financing of congressional
campaigns.
Ford message
In view of the Supreme Court decision that the
to Congress,
Federal Election Commission was improperly consti-
Congressional
tuted by providing for Congressional appointment of
Record, 2/17/76
its members, Ford asked Congress to move quickly to
provide the FEC with members appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Senate.
"The American people can and should expect that
our elections in this Bicentennial Year, as well as
other years, will be free of abuse. And they know
that the Federal Election Commission is the single
most effective unit for meeting that challenge.
Noting his interest in amending the current law,
Ford asked Congress to extend the FEC's life only
through the 1976 elections so that "a full-scale
review and reform of the election laws" would
begin in 1977.
- 18 -
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
BROWN
In 1974, Brown played a major role in initiating
and winning passage of Proposition 9, California's
political reform initiative. The measure requires
public disclosure of campaign contributions, places
limits on spending and contributions, and estab-
lishes an independent enforcement commission.
CARTER
Jimmy Carter,
Carter believes that "public financing of campaigns
Code of Ethics,
should be extended to members of Congress." The present
Undated
law provides only for the partial public financing of
Presidential campaigns.
"Fines for illegal campaign contributions have often
been minimal. They should be at least equal to the
amount of the illegal donation."
UDALL
Udall 76 Comm. , On
"Mo Udall was one of the first office-holders
Strengthening the
to alert the public to the pernicious in-
Political Process
fluence of big money on the conduct of gov-
Undated
ernment. His 1967 article on "The High Cost
of Being a Congressman" helped focus public
attention on the magnitude of political spend-
ing and led to passage in 1971 of the Federal
Election Campaign Reform Act--co-authored by
Udall and Illinois Republican John Anderson--
the law under which a number of Watergate
participants were prosecuted.
"When the wholesale abuses of the Nixon team
spotlighted the need for more comprehensive
electoral reform, Udall and Anderson again
teamed up to spearhead the drive for the
landmark 1974 campaign act amendments. For
the first time, effective contribution and
expenditure limits were placed on House and
- 19 -
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Udall (continued)
Senate campaigns, and the hold of big donors
on presidential campaigns was broken by
federal financing of the general election and
matching funds for small contributions during
the primaries."
New York Times,
The new campaign finance law places a $1000
1/1/76
limit on the amount an individual can give to
any one candidate during the primaries. Udall
has pledged to abide by this limit, even if
the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional.
(The Court has subsequently upheld the consti-
tutionality of this contribution limit.)
Udall press
Udall has co-sponsored legislation reconstituting
release, 2/7/76
the Federal Election Commission. In its January
decision on the campaign finance law, the Supreme
Court ruled that the FEC had to be reconstituted
in order to retain its enforcement powers. Udall
said, "Independent enforcement is the key to estab-
lishing at long last an election system free of
the taint of big money and political influence."
WALLACE
Material pre-
"I believe we should have laws that will eliminate
pared for Common
all fraud, misrepresentation and unfairness to make
Cause, 3/76
our campaigns fair to all candidates. I support
the new campaign finance reform which helps to bring
a part of this about through matching funds." 11
* * *
HOW THEY STAND/PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES' POSITIONS - EDITION III/MAY 1976
Issue Profile #2
INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS & NATIONAL SECURITY
INTRODUCTION
1
OVERVIEW
3
Ford, Reagan, Brown, Carter, Church, Udall, Wallace
ARMS CONTROL & NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION
9
Ford, Reagan, Brown, Carter, Church, Udall
FOOD POLICY
13
Ford, Reagan, Carter, Church, Udall, Wallace
COVERT ACTIONS
15
Ford, Reagan, Carter, Church, Udall, Wallace
MILITARY SPENDING & MILITARY ASSISTANCE
18
Ford, Reagan, Brown, Carter, Church, Udall, Wallace
DETENTE
26
Ford, Reagan, Brown, Carter, Church, Udall, Wallace
THE MIDDLE EAST
30
Ford, Reagan, Brown, Carter, Church, Udall, Wallace
AFRICA
35
Ford, Reagan, Brown, Carter, Udall, Wallace
CUBA
39
Ford, Reagan, Carter, Udall, Wallace
PANAMA
41
Ford, Reagan, Brown, Udall
common cause
2030 M STREET NW., WASHINGTON D.C. 20036
Introduction
INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS AND NATIONAL SECURITY
Overview/Arms Control, Nuclear Proliferation/Food Policy
Covert Actions/Military Spending, Assistance/Detente/Middle East
Hot Spots--Africa, Cuba, Panama
It is an American tradition that conduct of the nation's foreign
policy is largely the responsibility of the President. Congress, even
in recent years, has played a secondary role. Foreign policy, national
security and defense spending intermesh to such an extent that on major
international problems they cannot be separated.
To gain insight into the Presidential candidates' views on inter-
national problems and national security, Common Cause has outlined their
positions on the following topics.
- Overview: Some of the candidates have issued comprehensive
statements in which they take a broad look at foreign policy, relating
one aspect to another.
- Arms Control, Nuclear Proliferation: The fate of the world may
depend on effective control of the arms race, yet no subject is more
tangled up in technicalities and national rivalries.
- Food Policy: In the winter of 1974-75 wide attention focused
on world hunger and the responsibilities of fortunate nations to those
facing starvation and malnutrition. This is the one aspect of foreign
2
economic aid on which most candidates have commented.
- Covert Actions: In all the controversy over the performance of
U. S. intelligence agencies, one of the most debated issues has been the
extent to which the U. S. should engage in covert or "dirty tricks"
operations abroad.
- Military Spending and Assistance: The size of the defense budget,
the new weapons that should or should not be developed, the amount of
military assistance the U. S. should provide to friendly nations generate
considerable controversy. The issue is linked at the local level to
jobs in defense plants and shipyards.
1
- Detente: It is a campaign cliche that detente should be a two-
way street. The candidates argue about the extent to which the United
States has given more than it got in return from the Soviet Union.
- Middle East: Support of Israel's right to exist in peace is
voiced by all candidates, but they differ on how as President they would
move toward a peace settlement.
- Hot Spots: Was secret aid to anti-Soviet factions in Angola a
forerunner of another Viet Nam entanglement? Candidates have debated
that issue, and some of them have also made U. S. relations with Cuba
and Panama an issue.
* *
In preparing these profiles, Common Cause compiled issue materials
released directly by the candidates and records of their positions as
reported by major news media. Common Cause has communicated with each
Presidential campaign seeking cooperation in this project. In addition,
members of Common Cause in relevant states have monitored Presidential
candidates' positions as reported by local media or stated in local
campaign literature prepared by the candidates. All positions ascribed
to the candidates are attributed by source and date, and all source
materials are available for media use in the Common Cause Washington
office. The profiles do not purport to be inclusive, but contain
information gathered by Common Cause thus far in the campaign. Listings
are alphabetical within party.
- 3 -
OVERVIEW
FORD
State of the Union
"Today, the state of our foreign policy is sound
message,
and strong.
1/19/76
* We are at peace -- and I will do all in my power
to keep it that way.
* Our military forces are capable and ready; our
military power is without equal. And I intend to
keep it that way.
* Our principal alliances, with the industrial
democracies of the Atlantic Community and Japan,
have never been more solid.
* A further agreement to limit the strategic arms
race may be achieved.
* We have an improving relationship with China,
the world's most populous nation.
* The key elements for peace among the nations of
the Middle East now exist.
"We should be proud of what the United States has
accomplished
I say it is time we quit down-
grading ourselves as a nation
The American
people want strong and effective international
and defense policies.
"In our Constitutional system, these policies
should reflect consultation and accommodation
between the President and Congress. But in the
final analysis, as the framers of our Constitution
knew from hard experience, the foreign relations
of the United States can be conducted effectively
only if there is strong central direction that
allows flexibility of action. That responsibility
clearly rests with the President.
"I pledge to the American people policies which
seek a secure, just and peaceful world. I pledge
to the Congress to work with you to that end.
New York Times,
At a news conference in Orlando, Fla., Ford said
2/14/76
his foreign policy would "keep our powder dry and
not put our finger on the nuclear trigger."
A.
Ford speech to
"Peace through strength has been my constant
Chicago Council on
goal as your President" as well as in his Con-
Foreign Relations,
gressional career, Ford said. Maintaining a
3/12/76
posture of unquestioned strength will permit
the U.S. to "work to reduce confrontations and
avoid nuclear catastrophe, but we must also
be prepared to meet challengers wherever and
whenever they occur."
- 4 -
OVERVIEW
Ford (continued)
Later in the speech Ford said, "I have warned
Castro's Cuba and its Soviet sponsors against
any further armed adventurism in either continent,"
Africa or Latin America.
In answer to a question, Ford said that if any
of the NATO countries were controlled by Com-
munist political forces NATO would be weakened.
He said that relations with the People's Re-
public of China were developing constructively
and "right on course" as prescribed in the
1972 Shanghai Communique.
REAGAN
N.Y. Times
"Despite Mr. Ford's evident decency, honor and
3/5/76.
patriotism, he has shown neither the vision nor
the leadership necessary to halt and reverse
the diplomatic and military decline of the United
States," Reagan declared in his first frontal
attack on the President, delivered at a press
conference in Orlando, Fla.
Reagan said he is as much for peace as anyone, "but
in places such as Angola, Cambodia and Vietnam,
the peace they have come to know is the peace
of the grave. He charged that under Kissinger,
"U.S. foreign policy has coincided precisely
with the loss of U.S. military supremacy."
Indicating that his policy as President would
be to deal with the Soviet Union from a posi-
tion of power, Reagan said "this nation must
trust less in the pre-emptive concessions we
are granting the Soviet Union and more in the
reestablishment of American military superiority."
BROWN
Washington Star,
In an interview Brown said the Ford-Kissinger
4/28/76
foreign policy is "sterile" and "reactive." "We
were No. 1 in Vietnam in planes and bullets and
napalm and all sorts of things. But we lost. We
lost because we didn't have the right idea at the
right place or the right time."
Brown favors a foreign policy based on "global
realities," recognizing not only military strength
but also "the true threat to the human species"
- 5 -
OVERVIEW
Brown (continued)
represented by nuclear proliferation, worldwide
hunger, ecological dislocation and depletion of
resources. He said the U.S. and other large powers
should make commitments to preserve the oceans and
environment.
Sacramento Bee,
Brown criticized U.S. foreign policy for trying to
3/30/76
"protect the export markets of a few multinational
corporations" and said he favored some kind of law
to prevent multinationals from "bribing other
countries."
He called for "increased normalization" of U.S.
relations with mainland China while maintaining
our treaty commitments to Taiwan.
Washington Post,
In a California speech Governor Brown said the U.S.
4/3/76
should break out of 25 years of sterile foreign
policy. America's place in the world is changing,
he said, "and we can't control every country in the
world."
Playboy, 4/76
In an interview Brown expressed doubts about some
of the agreements made by Kissinger, saying "I get
the impression that we're being pushed around a
lot and that America has become a big sap" in other
countries' opinion. He referred to the UN vote on
Zionism and OPEC's freedom to raise oil prices as
examples of lack of respect for the U.S.
CARTER
Carter, "Foreign
"We must never again keep secret the evolution
Policy Statement,"
of our foreign policy from the Congress and the
(undated)
American people. They should never again be
misled about our options, our commitments, our
progress or our failures
"Secretaries of State and Defense and other
cabinet officers should regularly appear before
Congress, hopefully in televised sessions, to
answer hard questions and to give straight
answers."
- 6 -
OVERVIEW
Carter (continued)
Carter stresses the need for close ties with
allies and friends, opposes unilateral inter-
vention in other countries, calls for better
mechanisms of consultation among governments
and cautions that "interdependence" among
nations requires mutual sacrifice, as in reducing
consumption of oil so that common stockpiles can
be assembled.
"It is likely in the near future that issues of
war and peace will be more a function of economic
and social problems than of the military security
problems which have dominated international rela-
tions in the world since World War II," he said.
Speech to Chicago
Carter emphasized the need for
Council on Foreign
open discussions of foreign policy options with
Relations
Congress and the American people. "In every foreign
3/15/76
venture that has failed -- whether it was Vietnam,
Cambodia, Chile, Angola, or in the ex-
cesses of the CIA -- our Government forged ahead
without consulting the American people and did
things that were contrary to our basic character,"
he said.
CHURCH
Announcement of
Church favors " a discriminating foreign policy
candidacy, Idaho
which recognizes that the post-war period is
City,
over; that we are no longer the one rich patron
3/18/76
of a war-wracked world." He favors continued
aid to Western Europe and the Middle East,
"where our stakes are large," but not to numerous
other countries, unspecified.
He says that U.S. foreign policy "must be wrested
from the hands of that fraternity of compulsive
interventionists who have involved us in so many
futile, foreign wars!"
Congressional
In his work in foreign affairs, according to CQ's
Quarterly,
analysis, Church reflects the interests of his
3/20/76
idol, the late Sen. Borah of Idaho, a leading
isolationist of the 1920s. Before 1966 Church
voted for the Gulf of Tonkin resolution auth-
orizing military action in Vietnam and spoke in
favor of U.S. intervention in the Dominican Re-
public. He began to oppose further U.S. military
action in Vietnam in 1966 and became a co-sponsor
of the leading anti-war amendments after that time.
- 7 -
OVERVIEW
Church (continued)
He has been consistently skeptical of the value
of foreign aid but favors close U.S. ties to NATO.
As chairman of the Multinational Corporations Sub-
committee of the Foreign Relations Committee he
publicized CIA and ITT intervention against the
Allende government of Chile.
UDALL
Congressman Udall.
Udall sees four key trends that will increasingly
"on Foreign Policy:
mold the course of international relations:
An Introduction,"
undated
1. "Power and national stature
will more and more
be determined by economic influence and strength. "
International economic arrangements must be strength-
ened. The U. S. "can no longer impose its will,
economic or political, on the international community."
2. The U. S.-USSR "bipolar axis" will lose some
of its importance as shifting alliances and tensions
develop on international issues.
3. "The growing needs and aspirations of Third
and Fourth World countries will increasingly in-
fluence global relations." These nations must
participate in decisions of the international com-
munity. "This will be a frustrating and unrewarding
effort at first, but I believe it is essential."
4. "The economic significance of natural resources,
both those which are owned and those--the oceans,
the air, the climate and others--which are shared
among nations, will more and more occupy center
stage in the years ahead."
"The economic reality of the future is that the
health of the U. S. economy will be tied ever more
tightly to that of the rest of the globe."
The future requires a foreign policy of innovation
that makes "profound changes in both the substance
and the structure of current policies." That makes
essential "a broad, open public debate" in which
opposing views of political factions are argued out.
- 8 -
OVERVIEW
WALLACE
Wallace
"History teaches a very clear lesson: Weak
campaign
nations never know true peace. Peace comes only
brochure,
through strength.'
"A Fresh
Approach to
Among Wallace's proposals are: "reform of the
Foreign Policy,"
United Nations"; "overhauling the State Department
undated
to end defeatism abroad"; reinvigoration of NATO;
no foreign aid to Communist nations; continued
support of Nationalist China; and increased
technological assistance for food production in
underdeveloped nations.
Describing Vietnam as a "no-win war," Wallace says:
"I oppose commitments of American troops in 'new
Vietnams, but he favors support for free people
who "prove a strong will to resist Communism
on their own. "
Washington Post
In two weeks in Europe Wallace visited five
10/24/75
European capitals, meeting with the Italian
president and premier but not the Pope, with
England's prime minister and Belgium's premier,
but not with the heads of government of West
Germany or France.
Asked by reporters what he was telling European
leaders, Wallace said repeatedly that his message
was that the U.S. supports NATO and that "what's
good for Western Europe is good for the U.S. and
vice versa." He told reporters that he had not
raised issues such as detente with the leaders
he talked to because he was only a visitor, not
a head of state.
***
- 9 -
ARMS CONTROL/NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION
Common Cause has found no campaign statements on this issue by: Wallace
FORD
Press Conference on
Ford reported progress toward a SALT II agreement
Air Force One leaving
in his talks with Brezhnev but hinted that the
Helsinki,
most difficult problems were still to be negotiated.
8/2/75
Asked if he thought the American people needed
much convincing about SALT, Ford said he was "con-
vinced the American people want their President,
their government, to make responsible and safe
agreements. On the other hand, I do not believe
the American people want their President to give
more than he gets." In the negotiations and com-
promises, "I can assure you we will not give more
than we get," he said.
White House
At this press conference Ford announced the
Press Conference,
replacement of Secretary of Defense James Schles-
11/3/75
inger with Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State
Henry Kissinger's relinquishment of his position
as National Security Affairs advisor to the Presi-
dent.
A questioner referred to Schlesinger's lack of
enthusiasm for Kissinger's SALT policies and asked
if there would now be an acceleration toward an
agreement. Ford replied: "We expect to pursue,
but not under any pressure, negotiations with the
Soviet Union in strategic arms limitations. We
have differences. But I think it is in the na-
tional interest for us to continue to work toward
a SALT II agreement. We are under no time pres-
sure to do so."
Ford speech to
Ford said details of SALT II are still being
Chicago Council
negotiated, "and I cannot say when or even
on Foreign Re-
whether this will be completed." If a good
lations,
agreement can be reached, "it will keep a lid on
3/12/76
strategic arms for the next 7 to 10 years. It
will compel the Russians to cut back on their
current strategic military capability," he said.
Full verification of the agreements reached, Ford
warned, will necessitate the U.S. maintaining
the finest intelligence capability in the world.
- 10 -
ARMS CONTROL/NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION
REAGAN
Speech at Exeter, N.H. "The Soviet Union seems most anxious to enter
2/10/76
into a SALT II agreement. They have reason to
be worried about a defensive weapons system in
which we hold a huge technological lead" -- the
cruise missile, which "could reverse our 25 year
dependence on nuclear weapons for security." The
U.S. must not "sacrifice" the cruise missile for
"cosmetic" concessions by the Soviets.
"In SALT I, we compromised our clear technological
lead in the anti-ballistic missile system, the
ABM, for the sake of a deal."
If a SALT II agreement is reached, Reagan said,
the Administration should make its tentative
terms public before it transmits the treaty to the
Senate. He repeatedly stressed the need for the
government to "confide in the people."
Issue summary by
Reagan has said: "If we are going to have a SALT II
Fla. Citizens for
agreement, the President should order his negotia-
Reagan,
tors to get real equality in every area."
1/5/76
Washington Post,
On ABC's "Issues and Answers" program, Reagan said
12/1/75
the U.S. "gave away too much at Vladivostok,"
where President Ford and Soviet General Secretary
Brezhnev met in 1974 to reach tentative agree-
ments as a basis for SALT II.
Congressional
Reagan has criticized the Vladivostok agreement
Quarterly
for failure to put equal size limits on each
11/29/75
nation's missiles while freezing the numbers. He
says this gives an advantage to the Soviet Union's
larger missiles.
BROWN
San Francisco
Instead of worrying about maintaining the status
Examiner, 4/3/76
quo abroad, "I think we ought to worry about
Germans selling a nuclear reactor to Brazil. As
in India, the reactor might be used to build a
nuclear bomb, he warned, and "10 or 15 years down
the road, your children may be facing a real threat.' H
San Francisco
In an interview on foreign policy Brown said he
Chronicle, 3/31/76
favored full public disclosure of all agreements
worked out at the SALT talks.
- 11 -
ARMS CONTROL/NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION
CARTER
AP feature,
Carter's ultimate goal is the elimination of all
Concord (N.H.)
nuclear weapons. "The first step is a concerted
Monitor,
effort to halt the spread of nuclear weapons.
1/27/76
The second is to begin to reduce the numbers of
"
nuclear weapons held by the major powers
he has said. He is a former nuclear submarine
officer.
Carter statement on
"The wild international atomic weapons race must
"Nuclear Weapons, 11
stop. " The U.S. should publicly propose to the
(undated)
nuclear powers "step-by-step, carefully monitored,
mutual reductions," with reduction to zero number
of nuclear weapons the ultimate goal, Carter said.
The Vladivostok agreement between Ford and Brezh-
nev did not reduce the number of strategic nuclear
weapons and did not apply to tactical weapons, he
pointed out. Carter said an appeal to world
opinion would reinforce U.S. efforts to reduce
the stockpile of nuclear weapons.
Carter "Foreign
"We should refuse to sell nuclear power plants
Policy Statement,"
and fuels to nations who do not sign the Nuclear
(undated)
Nonproliferation Treaty or who will not agree to
adhere to strict provisions regarding inter-
national control of atomic wastes. The establish-
ment of additional nuclear free zones in the world
must also be encouraged.'
CHURCH
Campaign
The document says that Church believes it is
document,
absolutely essential for the U.S. and USSR to
"Church on
reach agreement to limit arms production. It
the Issues, "
does not mention any proposals for reaching
3/76
such an agreement but says that Church led the
Senate fight for prompt passage of the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty in 1963.
ABC "Issues and
Church said the proliferation of nuclear capability
Answers", 3/21/76
in more and more countries is "very alarming
yet we are doing very little about it." The U.S.
and USSR are doing little to cool down the nuclear
arms race, he said, "the level of danger is rising
on both sides, and we are going to be the target
of mutual extinction. I would certainly put that
high on the agenda" of a Church Administration.
- 12 -
ARMS CONTROL/NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION
UDALL
Udall
Favoring a slowing down of the U.S. -Soviet arms
statement
race, Udall finds progress toward SALT II disap-
on Detente,
pointing and criticizes the Vladivostok agreement
3/76
for setting a so-called ceiling that allows the
doubling of "already oversized" strategic arsenals.
Udall position
"The worldwide trade in conventional arms is growing
paper on Foreign
at an intolerable rate: 6000% in 20 years. An
Policy, 1/23/76
international conference to address ways and means
of controlling the arms trade must be convened at
the earliest possible date."
Congressman Udall
Concerned about the increasing spread of nuclear
"on Foreign Policy:
materials and technology, and the increasing likeli-
An Introduction,"
hood of their diversion by nations or terrorist
undated
groups, Udall believes "a serious effort to strengthen
the Non-Proliferation Treaty and increase the funding
and the powers of the International Atomic Energy
Agency must be considered one of the top priorities
on the international agenda."
* * *
- 13
FOOD POLICY
Common Cause has found no campaign statements on this issue by: Brown
FORD
N.Y. Times,
Speaking in Louisiana on farm policy, Ford said,
4/28/76
"I would never use export of our agricultural
commodities as a pawn in international relations"
nor would he limit export sales to hold down U.S.
prices for food.
REAGAN
Anthony
On NBC's "Meet the Press" March 7, Reagan rejected
Lewis,
the idea of using food as an economic weapon
N.Y. Times,
against the Russians. "Selling gives us the ad-
3/8/76
vantage, he said. "We can't just stubbornly say,
'We won't sell.
CARTER
Carter answer to
Asked if he favored using U.S. food exports as a
Iowa Democratic
diplomatic tool, Carter replied: "Emergency
Party Poll,
food aid should not be used as a diplomatic tool.
1976
However, in trade discussion, like with the
Russians, we should strive to obtain some diplo-
matic concessions in return."
Carter "Foreign
There cannot be a stable world order "when people
Policy Statement,"
of many nations of the world suffer mass starva-
(undated)
tion" and there are no international arrangements
to supply the world's food and energy needs.
CHURCH
Church reply to
Church said, "It is seldom possible to use food
Iowa Democratic
as a diplomatic instrument" because the U.S. is
Party Poll, 1976
just one of many suppliers.
Congressional
Church, in a statement analyzing the grain deals
Record, 4/14/76
with Russia, accused the Administration of hurting
U.S. farmers by placing a ceiling on their exports.
Rather than a limit on how much grain the U.S.
would sell to the USSR, Church favored exchange of
information on crop production, port capabilities
and import requirements.
ABC "Issues and
Emphasizing that the U.S. no longer is "the one
Answers, 3/21/76
rich patron country in a war-wracked world," Church
urged a cooperative multinational effort to relieve
famine and improve living standards in the Third
World.
- 14 -
FOOD POLICY
UDALL
Udall answer to
Asked if he favored use of U. S. food exports as a
Iowa Democratic
diplomatic tool, Udall said yes, under certain cir-
Poll, 1976
cumstances and "within specified limits, so as not
to cause large price fluctuations to either the
American farmer or consumer."
Campaign committee
Udall says the U.S. should adopt "a long-range
AUFO
statement, 3/76
policy which seeks to maximize Soviet dependence
on us for grain. Thereby we would squeeze the
greatest leverage from our great agricultural
LISAARY
weapon."
WALLACE
Wallace
"We should deny aid and assistance to those
campaign
nations who oppose us militarily and those who
brochure,
seek our economic and military destruction by
"U.S. Foreign
giving aid and comfort to our avowed enemies.
Aid Giveaways,"
Nations seeking to embarrass us and those insisting
undated
on labeling our policies 'imperialistic and
'aggressive' should not receive our favor.
"
Foreign aid must become an instrument of
foreign policy.
At the present, our gov-
ernment takes money that should be used for the
people's interest and pours it down nearly every
foreign aid 'rat hole' around the world."
* * *
- 15 -
COVERT ACTIONS
Common Cause has found no campaign statements on this issue by: Brown
FORD
- Ford campaign
The President's program for intelligence agencies
response to
will give the U.S. a strong and effective
N.C. Common
capability to collect and analyze intelligence and
Cause,
to conduct necessary covert action in a consti-
3/17/76
tutional and lawful manner "never aimed at our
own citizens."
Ford Message to
Ford's message to Congress and his preceding
Congress on CIA,
press conference did not use the word "covert" but
2/18/76
in the message Ford said of his Executive Order
issued the same day: "I believe it will eliminate
abuses and questionable activities on the part of
the (U.S.) foreign intelligence agencies" without
hindering their legitimate activities.
He asked Congress for legislation authorizing
electronic surveillance in the U.S. for foreign
intelligence purposes, upon a judicial warrant,
and the opening of U.S. mail sent to or from sus-
pected foreign agents engaged in spying, sabotage
or terrorism, if a federal judge consents. Ford
also asked Congress to make it a crime to plan or
carry out an assassination of a foreign official
in peacetime.
Ford Executive Order
Section 5 of the Executive Order, entitled "Re-
on U.S. Foreign Intel-
strictions on Intelligence Activities,' said that
ligence Activities,
measures employed to get information about other
2/18/76
governments "must be conducted in a manner which
preserves and respects our established concepts of
privacy and our civil liberties."
It prohibited physical surveillance of U.S. citi-
zens and resident aliens except for specified ex-
ceptions; prohibited the CIA from performing*
electronic surveillance within the U.S. and said
other agencies must operate within procedures ap-
proved by the Attorney General; prohibited infil-
tration within the U.S. of organizations except
those composed primarily of foreigners believed to
be acting for a foreign power; and specified the
conditions under which information on domestic
activities of U.S. persons could be collected.
Anthony Lewis,
Except for the ban on foreign assassinations,
New York Times,
Ford's Executive Order proposes no substantive
2/19/76
limitations on the kinds of activities that U.S.
intelligence agencies may engage in abroad.
White House
Ford described U.S. actions in Angola as "a
Press Conference,
legitimate covert operation where not one
12/20/76
American military personnel was involved" and
said it would be inappropriate to give any de-
tails about a "covert action case.
- 16 -
COVERT ACTIONS
REAGAN
Reagan response
"As a general matter I am not favorable to
to N.C. Common
covert activities." A U.S. consensus on inter-
Cause,
national goals would reduce the need for covert
3/17/76
activities. In the meantime, they must be
"weighed one-by-one. " When they become public
knowledge, as in Angola, their objectives should
be thoroughly explained to the American people,
something the Ford Administration failed to do.
CARTER
Carter, "Foreign
"We have learned that never again should our
Policy Statement,"
country become militarily involved in the internal
(undated)
affairs of another nation unless there is a
direct and obvious threat to the security of the
United States or its people. We must not use the
CIA or other covert means to effect violent
change in any government or government policy.
Such involvements are not in the best interests
of world peace, and they are almost inherently
doomed to failure."
CHURCH
Announcement
Church attacked "crimes against freedom" committed
of candidacy,
under recent Administrations, saying: "It is
Idaho City,
a leadership of weakness and fear which insists
3/18/76
that we must imitate the Russians in our treatment
of foreign peoples, adopting their methods of
bribery, blackmail, abduction and coercion as if
they were our own. And it is a leadership of
weakness and fear which permits the most powerful
agencies of our Government -- the CIA, the FBI
and the IRS -- to systematically ignore the very
laws intended to protect the liberties of the
people.'
UDALL
Time
Udall flatly opposes covert action by the CIA,
magazine
though he does not mind, he has said, "having
3/15/76
spies in the Kremlin, in the P.L.O. and in the
Portuguese army. "
Udall "on
Udall says the nation needs "accurate, sophisticated
the CIA,
foreign intelligence and a competent, professional
3/76
CIA.
On the other hand, we do not need most
political covert activity (emphasis supplied),
assassinations, overthrows of foreign governments,
- 17 -
COVERT ACTIONS
Udall (continued)
etc. " He opposes secret funding of foreign politi-
cal parties and advocates open support to non-
communist and non-rightist governments and parties.
He favors a legislated charter for the CIA that
"will spell out what it may and may not do" and
will forbid domestic activities by the CIA.
Udall "on
Covert intervention in foreign nations is disas-
Angola, "
trous for the U.S., Udall says. "If we cannot
3/76
learn from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam,
Laos, and Chile, what will it take to teach us
this lesson?"
Udall response
He said "the one guideline" to follow was that the
to North Carolina
U.S. should never undertake "an action that we
Common Cause,
would find repugnant if exercised in the U.S."
3/17/76
WALLACE
CBS "Face the Nation"
Asked whether he thought the U.S. should spend
1/11/76
money for covert CIA operations to influence
political systems in foreign countries, Wallace
said that leading powers in the world had been
involved in covert operations since the dawn of
history. He added: "I am not against covert
actions on behalf of the defense of the United
States when the KGB, the Soviet Union, is in-
volved in covert actions themselves."
In response to another question Wallace said he
was against assassination of foreign leaders.
* * *
- 18 -
MILITARY SPENDING & MILITARY ASSISTANCE
FORD
State of the Union
"Only from a position of strength can we nego-
Message,
tiate a balanced agreement to limit the growth
1/19/76
of nuclear arms. Only a balanced agreement will
serve our interest and minimize the threat of
nuclear confrontation."
Budget Message,
"The amounts I seek will provide the national
1/21/76
defense it now appears we need. We dare not do
less. And if our efforts to secure international
arms limitations falter, we will need to do more.
Wash. Star,
Speaking at Wheaton College, Ill., Ford said:
3/13/76
"This country is second to none in the capability
that is required to protect our country. We do
have the best trained, the best equipped, the
best led, the most alert military force in the
history of the United States."
Ford speech
In answer to a question, Ford said the U.S. had
to Chicago
a declining capability in defense policy for 10
Council on
to 15 years, "spending a lesser and lesser
Foreign Re-
amount in real dollars. I think the time has come
lations,
that we must reverse that trend."
3/12/76
In the text of his speech Ford said he had sub-
mitted a "record peacetime defense budget request
of $112.7 billion" that represented an increase
in real dollars of $7.4 billion. That will
improve the strength and readiness of the armed
services "while trimming off all the fat that we
can," he said, adding:
"Funds are included for 16 new Navy ships and con-
tinued modernization of the fleet, including
nuclear-powered submarines and guided missile
frigates. I will ask for more in the way of Navy
shipbuilding if a current study shows we need a
faster buildup. Work will continue on the Trident
submarine, the B-1 strategic bomber, cruise missiles
and ballistic missiles, a new combat fighter for
the Army and for the Navy and the Air Force, and
advance tanks, amphibious and infantry vehicles for
the Army."
His budget, he said, would "maintain a position of
unquestioned strength" for the United States and
help promote peace.
Los Angeles
Speaking in Dallas and El Paso, without mentioning
Times, 4/11/76
Reagan by name, Ford warned against "hot words
or rash acts,' said that keeping the peace means
19 -
MILITARY SPENDING & MILITARY ASSISTANCE
Ford (continued)
avoiding "reckless confrontation" and weighing
words carefully, and that where military strategy
calls for "clear-cut superiority, the fact is we
are first." He referred to the accuracy of U.S.
ballistic missiles and the number of missile war-
heads, strategic bombers and aircraft carriers as
advantages the U.S. has over Russia.
N.Y. Times,
Speaking to the D.A.R., Ford denounced Reagan's
4/22/76
charges that the U.S. had slipped behind Russia
in military strength. The United States, Ford
said, "is the single most powerful nation on earth
-- indeed, in all history --- and we're going to
keep it that way."
Washington Post,
In a supplemental appropriation request to Congress,
4/27/76
President Ford, just before leaving on a campaign
trip to Texas, asked for $322.4 million to continue
production of the Minuteman III missile on an optional
basis, and to produce improved nuclear warheads and
build supporting facilities.
This reversed a tentative decision in the January
defense budget to halt production of Minuteman III.
The turn-around was ascribed by the White House to
the lack of progress at the SALT talks.
Wall Street
With the approval of the President, Secretary of
Journal, 5/5/76
Defense Rumsfeld asked Congress to increase Navy
shipbuilding funds by $974 million, to $7.3 billion,
so that the U.S. could retain its naval superiority
over Russia through the year 2000.
Message to Congress
In response to a 1974 law urging that the mili-
on the Foreign Assis-
tary assistance program be phased out quickly,
tance Act,
Ford said: "I firmly believe that grant military
1/20/76
assistance in some form will remain a basic require-
ment for an effective U.S. foreign policy for the
foreseeable future." He opposed "an arbitrary
termination date" for such assistance.
But in response to Congress he said he had made a
28% reduction in grants for military assistance in
fiscal 1977 but warned that in most cases these
cuts would have to be offset by increased credit
for foreign military sales.
I, 20 -
MILITARY SPENDING & MILITARY ASSISTANCE
Ford (continued)
N.Y. Times,
President Ford vetoes the $4.4 billion foreign
5/8/76
aid bill, which contains $2.2 billion for Israel,
citing constitutional problems and "unwise re-
strictions" on his ability to make foreign policy
Restrictions he objected to included: a $9 billion
ceiling on military sales, which he said limits U.S.
ability to help our friends and "obstructs U.S.
industry from competing fairly with foreign sup-
pliers;' a legislated end to military grants and
military advisory teams in two years; and Congres-
sional review and veto power over major arms sales.
REAGAN
Speech at Exeter, N.H. "I have said before that we can afford to be
2/10/76
second to no one in military strength, not
because we seek war, but because we want to
insure peace
The Soviet Union has now forged
ahead in producing nuclear and conventional
weapons.'
Interview in
Reagan said, "Russia is becoming more truculent"
Business Week.
because they see little backing in the U.S. for
2/9/76
adequate defense spending. Former Secretary of
Defense James Schlesinger was right "when he said
that by 1985, if we continue on our present course,
Russia will be in such a position of superiority
that if they march then, we won't be able to talk
about it" (i.e., negotiate).
Reagan advocated staying "at least even" with
Russia in military preparedness.
Issues summary,
Reagan, the summary said, "is for a strong defense
Fla. Citizens for
budget. Some reorganization may be necessary to
Reagan,
cut wasteful spending. 'You spend what you have
1/5/76
to spend to maintain superiority. If you're
second, you're last.
Boston Globe
Reagan urges major spending increases for offensive
editorial,
and defensive weapons systems and withholding of
2/10/76
military and economic aid from countries that vote
against the U.S. in the United Nations or criti-
cize U.S. policies.
A. Washington
Speaking in Orlando, Fla., Reagan said that under
Star, 3/5/76
Kissinger and Ford "this nation has become No. 2
in military power in a world where it is dangerous --
if not fatal -- to be second best."
Los Angeles
In a statement at a Seattle, Wash., press conference
Times, 4/11/76
Reagan cited a host of statistics that he said
showed "the Soviets' annual investment in
strategic and conventional weapons runs some
50% ahead of ours. It is buying them superiority."
- 21 -
MILITARY SPENDING & MILITARY ASSISTANCE
Reagan (continued)
St. Petersburg (Fla.)
On foreign aid, Reagan said it "makes people
Times,
dependent on us rather than making them inde-
1/11/76
pendent. We must go the other way," exporting
our agricultural know-how abroad.
BROWN
San Francisco
In a speech to the California Conference of
Examiner, 4/3/76
Machinists, Gov. Brown said, "I'm behind a strong
defense. I'm behind a strong conventional military
force." But he said the U.S. should "rethink" where
it needs to keep military bases abroad in order to
lessen anti-American sentiment.
Playboy, 4/76
When asked if he favored cuts in military spending,
Brown said "I'd be surprised if there were dramatic
savings to be made.
Military costs have gone
up and I don't realistically think the budget will
be cut."
Washington
Greeting black clergymen in Baltimore, Brown sug-
Star, 5/1/76
gested he would cut back on military spending to
help pay for the jobs program he favors.
CARTER
Speech to Chicago
"The prime responsibility of any President is to
Council on Foreign
guarantee the security of our nation with a tough,
Relations, 3/15/76
muscular, well-organized and effective fighting
force. We must have the ability to avoid the
threat of successful attack or blackmail, and we
must always be strong enough to carry out our legi-
timate foreign policy. This is a prerequisite to
peace, Carter said.
Manchester (N.H.)
Speaking at Portsmouth, N.H., Carter acknowledged
Union-Leader,
that there were probably many defense industry
1/8/76
employees in his audience and "you may not like
this but" as President he would cut $7 to $8 bil-
lion from the current defense budget. He said
there are too many top-brass in the armed ser-
vices, too many support forces in comparison to
fighting units, and too many overseas bases.
Cutting that kind of fat, he said, would produce
a stronger national defense.
He said that he, an Annapolis graduate, would be
the first President since Truman to control the
military bureaucracy.
- 22 -
MILITARY SPENDING & MILITARY ASSISTANCE
CARTER
Washington Post,
Asked in an interview if he was concerned that
3/21/76
the USSR was getting ahead of the U.S. in military
strength, Carter replied that U.S. strength com-
bined with that of NATO was still superior to that
of Russia and that U.S. economic and agricultural
production "gives us a decided edge."
His only. hesitation, Carter said, was the trend
in naval strength, where the number of U.S. ships
was shrinking while the Soviet fleet doubled.
However, he said, the U.S. Navy was still superior
but naval strategy, based on a war in the Far East,
was out of date.
In answer to a question about Ford's defense bud-
get, Carter said he would spend "about the same,
maybe 5% less," but he would work for a much more
efficient fighting force within that limit.
Carter reply to
Asked if he would terminate the B-1 bomber, which
Iowa Democratic
is reaching the end of the development stage,
Party Poll,
Carter replied that he was not in favor of produc-
1976
tion of B-ls but he "could not promise to elim-
inate all possible future bombers."
Carter statement,
In spite of the lessons learned in Cambodia and
"Troops Overseas,"
Vietnam, where the U.S. became involved in
(undated)
"unnecessary, expensive, embarrassing and unsuc-
cessful military engagements" within the internal
affairs of those countries, "we still have too
many military bases and too many troops overseas."
Noting that the governments of Thailand and the
Philippines have suggested removal of our troops
or a reduction in number, Carter said, "I would
certainly accomodate these requests and, in
carefully staged withdrawals, would remove most
of our troops from South Korea.
"Troop commitments to NATO territory in Europe
and Japan should be reduced more gradually to
a slightly lower number," with those countries
sharing more of the costs. "American treaty
commitments made by the President and Congress
and with the knowledge of the American people
must be honored."
- 23 -
MILITARY SPENDING & MILITARY ASSISTANCE
CHURCH
ABC "Issues and
Explaining why, as President, he would never order
Answers," 4/25/76
the first use of nuclear weapons, whether tactical
or strategic, Church said once nuclear weapons
are used, "you are asking for Armageddon." He en-
dorsed the theory of deterence, which is to build
up huge nuclear arsenals so that no nation would
dare to use a nuclear weapon against us.
Campaign
The paper quotes Church as saying, "The extent
document,
to which we can shape the future rests more
"Church on
upon our moral leadership than our military
the Issues",
might." It cites a number of Church votes in
3/76
the Senate to reduce military spending and U.S.
troops abroad.
According to the paper, Church has condemned
indiscriminate U.S. sales of arms to Third
World countries. It says that his consistent
support of military aid to Israel demonstrates
his selective judgment in assisting legitimate
struggles for self-determination. Church has
voted to terminate all military assistance to
military dictatorships or authoritiarian gov-
ernments, the paper says.
ABC "Issues and
Church said that global military aid continued be-
Answers,' 3/21/76
cause of "bureaucracy perpetuating itself;" he would
concentrate on "areas of vital interest to the
United States: Western Europe, the Middle East,
Japan
places where we must take strong stands."
Church reply to
Asked if he would support an approximate 10%
Iowa Democratic
cut in the $90 billion defense budget and
Party Poll,
terminate the B-1 bomber, Church replied that he
1976
had voted in the Senate for amendments that would
have brought about a 10% cut and said he believed
"a reduction of that size could be accomplished
without impairing our national security one iota. If
On the B-1 bomber, Church said the need for it
is "highly questionable" and "its astronomical
cost $100 million per copy -- far outweighs
any benefit it could confer in added fire power."
UDALL
ABC "Issues and
Udall said the 1975 announcement by former Secretary
Answers,' 4/25/76
of Defense Schlessinger that the U.S. did not rule
out first use of nuclear weapons was "madness. We
ought to show restraint." Deterrence is an impor-
tant strategy, Udall said, but the U.S. shouldn't
"brandish" its nuclear weapons.
- 24 -
MILITARY SPENDING & MILITARY ASSISTANCE
Udall (continued)
Udall
"We have real material defense needs. We must have
brochure
a lean, tough military force prepared to defend the
(undated)
national interest, however it might be threatened.
But we do not need gold-plated or duplicated weapon
systems, three new Army divisions, or back-up forces
S uited only for a ground war in Asia. And we do
not need more nuclear weapons in an arsenal which
already holds 2,000 times the destructive power
unleashed in all of World War II, or the waste
BERALD
FORD
which goes with a bureaucracy accustomed to an
ever-increasing military budget.'
LIBRARY
Udall "on
Udall has: "Voted to cut back or eliminate funds
defense issues,"
for Trident, the B-1 bomber, AWACS, and binary
12/3/75
nerve gases; called for removal of 6,000 of the
7,000 tactical nuclear weapons now stationed in
Europe, and all those stationed in South Korea";
advocated a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty;
and issued a comprehensive rebuttal of former
Secretary of Defense Schlesinger's policy that
included the possibility of a first strike against
the USSR by U. S. nuclear weapons. Udall described
that policy as one that "sees the utility of nuclear
weapons in fighting wars as well as deterring them."
Offering data to show that, dollar for dollar, gov-
ernment spending on defense programs produces fewer
jobs than spending on non-defense programs, Udall
said: "While there can be little question that
military cutbacks would pinch selected communities
and industries, it seems clear that the national
economy and employment situation will eventually
benefit from such cutbacks if these are coupled
to a positive program of compensatory policies. H
WALLACE
CBS "Face the Nation, " "In my judgment it is in the interest of the
1/11/76
United States for this country to be number one
in offensive and defensive capabilities in order
to have good negotiations with the Soviet Union
or to have successful negotiations with them,
because the Soviet Union is still intent upon its
will being imposed, not necessarily (by) armed
occupation, but economically in the whole world
"We are not going to be able to do what we ought
to do for the American working man unless we
have a strong national defense. 11
- 25 -
MILITARY SPENDING & MILITARY ASSISTANCE
Wallace (continued)
Interview with
"I do not want any cold war or confrontation,
Cronkite, CBS News,
and I think the best way to prevent it is to see
12/30/75
that this nation is number one" in defense ex-
penditures, Wallace said. If any power should
gain superior strength, he said, "I think that we
might lose everything -- our national existence."
Wallace
Wallace complains that the national defense
campaign
structure is "so fraught with misrepresentation and
brochure,
inconsistencies" that it is almost impossible for
"U.S.
the nation "to ascertain the true state of its
National
defenses." No specific reference is made to the
Defense
defense budget.
Policy,"
undated
He proposes intensive review of U.S. defense
policies, practices and capabilities and promises
that as President he will "insist that the
civilian authorities (in the Pentagon) work in
partnership and harmony with the splendid military
force with which this country is blessed."
He favors retention of the Selective Service
System on a standby basis, promises "the best
attainable" military equipment and weapons for
the armed services, more efficient reserve forces
and better pay and living conditions for military
personnel.
Boston Globe,
Campaigning in Massachusetts, Wallace pledged as
2/19/76
President to keep Fort Devens, an Army base, open.
Mary McGrory,
Wallace said in a Boston appearance that if he
Boston Globe,
were President he would reopen the Boston Navy
2/23/76
Yard.
***
- 26 -
DETENTE
FORD
White House
A reporter asked if the U.S. was getting as much
Press Conference
out of detente as the Soviet Union is and Ford
11/3/75
replied, after citing his strong national security
record: "I believe that in our attempt to ease
tensions between the Soviet Union and the United
States, we have achieved a two-way street." He
said he expected that policy to continue.
Year-end interview
According to Ford, "Angola is an example of where
with selected
I think detente has not worked the way it should
reporters,
work, and we strongly object to it." However, he
12/31/75
said the framework of detente had worked well in
SALT I and in the five-year grain agreement with
the Soviet Union, and in the long run would help
produce a settlement in the Middle East.
Ford Campaign flyer,
Early in 1975, the flyer says, President Ford told
"Foreign Affairs,"
about his efforts to cool the cold war:
"
De-
(undated)
tente literally means 'easing' or 'relaxing, but
definitely not -- and I emphasize not -- the re-
laxing of diligence or easing of effort. Rather,
it means movement away from the constant crisis
and dangerous confrontations that have character-
ized relations with the Soviet Union
It repre-
sents our best efforts to cool the cold war, which
on occasion became much too hot for comfort
To
me, detente means a fervent desire for peace - -
but not peace at any price. It means the preserva-
tion of fundamental American principles, not their
sacrifice."
N.Y. Times
In an interview with a Miami television reporter
3/2/76
Ford said: "I don't use the word detente any
more. I think what we ought to say is that the
United States will meet with the superpowers, the
Soviet Union and with China and others, and
seek to relax tensions so that we can continue
a policy of peace through strength."
REAGAN
Speech 2/10/76 at Exeter, N.H. "Detente, if it is a one-way street, will fail.
As a two-way street it may succeed.' Reagan
described the Ford-Kissinger policies as "contra-
dictory," speaking tough to the Soviets on Angola
at the same time Kissinger was packing his bags to
go to Moscow to negotiate on arms control.
- 27 -
DETENTE
Reagan (continued)
N.Y. Times
"There is little doubt in my mind that the Soviet
3/5/76
Union will not stop taking advantage of detente
until it sees that the American people have elected
a new President and appointed a new Secretary of
State," Reagan said in Orlando, Fla.
While the U.S. has given the USSR trade and
technology, the U.S. got in return, Reagan said,
Soviet-Cuban intervention in Angola, a Helsinki
agreement approving "the Soviet empire in Eastern
Europe" and "Soviet belligerence in the Middle
East.'
Washington Star,
Answering a question at Peterboro, N.H., Reagan
1/19/76
criticized Kissinger, declaring that "in many
instances, what is hailed as negotiations is turn-
ing out to be appeasement."
BROWN
San Francisco
While describing Russia as one of the world's
Chronicle, 3/31/76
principal "forces of destabilization" and
its arms buildup as dangerous, Brown said he
would as President try to "relax tensions"
between the two countries as much as possible.
CARTER
AP feature,
Carter says the U.S. should "continue our
Concord (N.H.)
friendly relationships with Russia -- maximum
Monitor,
communications and understandings with one
1/27/76
another --- because it would be very difficult
for us to have an ultimate settlement in the
Middle East or in the Korean area or a substantial
reduction in atomic weapons or conventional
weapons without the cooperation of the Soviet
Union and the People's Republic of China.
However, he says the U.S. must remian strong
militarily because "the Soviet Union would
naturally take advantage of our vulnerability
or weakness."
Carter "Foreign
Detente should be pursued on a mutually bene-
Policy Statement,"
ficial basis through a series of sustained,
(undated)
low-key and open discussions among the partici-
pants -- and not just dramatic or secret agree-
ments among two or three national leaders.
- 28 -
DETENTE
Carter (continued)
Carter said he strongly favors "the objectives of
Speech to Chicago
detente" but he would conduct harder bargaining
Council on Foreign
with the Russians than Kissinger has. He said
Relations
Kissinger "is giving up too much and asking too
3/15/76
little. He's trumpeting achievements on paper
while failing to insist on them in practice."
Carter added: "In places like Syria or Angola, in
activities like offensive missile development, the
Soviet seems to be taking advantage of the new
relationship (detente) to expand their power and
influence and increase the risk of combat.'
CHURCH
Campaign
The document quotes Church as saying: "What is
document,
troubling the American people about detente is
"Church on
the sense that it is a one-way street in favor of
the Issues,"
the Soviet Union, that the American leadership
3/76
does not hold the Soviet Union to commitments
solemnly undertaken, particularly where human
rights are concerned."
He said that the first goal of detente is to
produce greater security for the two countries,
which means a decrease in the arms race. Church
said he favored expanded trade with the Soviet
Union but opposed deals, such as helping finance
oil and gas production in the USSR, where the
primary benefits would flow to the Soviets.
UDALL
Udall "on
"Detente should be vigorously pursued, remembering
foreign policy,"
though that the relaxation of tension is not the
1/23/76
same thing as normal relations, and that there are
strong economic imperatives pushing the Soviet Union
along its current course. In future dealings with
Russia, our economic advantages should be exploited
to the fullest possible degree."
Campaign committee
Udall says the U.S. must continue to seek
statement, 3/76
detente because no sensible person would
deny that we "should seek agreements with
Russia and with China that are to our mutual
advantage." In negotiations he would use
"every kind of leverage economic, technological,
agricultural, but not as the Ford Administra-
tion has done.
- 29 -
DETENTE
Udall (continued)
Udall answer to
"I view the Helsinki accords as simply an official
EMPAC (Ethnic
recognition of 25-year-old European realities. I
Millions Political
do not think it can be regarded in any way as signify-
Action Committee)
ing approval of the Soviet seizure of her 'colonies'
11/75
(as EMPAC suggested). I deplore the repressive
policies of the Soviet Union Strong American dip-
lomatic pressure on the USSR for an easing of these
policies must continue, and this is only possible
with a continuation of strong East-West ties."
WALLACE
Wallace
"Detente has been a one-way street helping only
campaign
the Soviets. The Soviets have managed to break
brochure,
most of the agreements from trade to missiles to
"A Fresh
increasing tensions. 11
Approach to
Foreign Policy,"
Favoring a balance of power and strong national
undated
defense, Wallace calls for a "total reappraisal of
the causes of constant blunders that have led to
diplomatic defeats on SO many fronts."
Congressional
At a news conference with foreign journalists,
Quarterly,
where Wallace suggested the U.S. should have
11/8/75
allied itself with Japan against Russia and
Communist China in World War II, he said: "My
foreign policy, if I were President, would be based
on the fact you can't trust a Communist I don't
believe in confrontation. I believe in negotia-
tion, and I believe in detente. But while I'm
detenting, as they say, I wouldn't turn my back
on them. "
Boston Globe
Wallace says that as President he would demand
editorial,
more military and economic concessions from Russia
2/11/76
as the price of detente. He favors diplomatic
bargaining that emphasizes tangible results
rather than softening of tensions.
***
- 30. -
THE MIDDLE EAST
FORD
Congressional
President Ford hailed the Sinai agreement as an
Quarterly,
"historic" achievement and a "constructive con-
9/6/75
tribution" to peace in the Middle East. He told
Congress there would be "serious repercussions"
if it did not approve the stationing of U.S.
civilians as monitors in the Sinai.
White House Press
The military hardware that the U.S. has supplied
Conference,
to Israel over the years protects the survival of
9/16/75
that country but the secret agreement made in con-
nection with the Sinai arrangement does not indi-
cate a security treaty is in the works, Ford said.
Ford speech to
In answer to a question, Ford said he was optimistic
Chicago Council
that the difficult problems in the Middle East
on Foreign Re-
could be worked out with the help of the United
lations,
States, "bearing in mind that this country is
3/12/76
dedicated to the security and survival of the
government of Israel, that this country believes
that we have to work with some of the Arab nations
to convince them of our good faith, and they can
trust us."
Asked about restrictions Congress had placed on his
foreign policies, Ford cited the Jackson amendment
to the Trade Act as "a bad mistake." He said "the
net result" of the amendment "was a slowdown in
Soviet Jewish emigration to Israel."
Chicago Tribune,
White House press secretary Ron Nessen acknowl-
1/30/76
edged that the President's new budget calls for
$500 million less military aid to Israel in
fiscal 1977 than the $1.5 billion provided this
year. He said Ford believed his program "is
fully adequate to meet Israel's future security
requirements.
Congressional
Ford announced Nov. 20 that he was issuing regula-
Quarterly,
tions to prevent U.S. businessmen from complying
11/29/75
with foreign boycotts based on racial or religious
discrimination. He also directed that all assign-
ments of U.S. personnel to posts abroad be made
on merit and not on the exclusionary policies of
host countries.
- 31 -
THE MIDDLE EAST
Ford (continued)
N.Y. Times,
After a private meeting with the President, a
3/18/76
group of American Jewish leaders said that despite
their protests Ford intended to recommend lifting
the military embargo against Egypt. They said he
assured them that nothing more than the sale of
six C-130 military transport planes was contemplated
now.
The sources also said that Ford flatly denied a
statement in Edward Sheehan's article in Foreign
Policy magazine, based on briefings by Kissinger's
staff in part, that asserted that the President had
told President Sadat that the U.S. favored the
return to Egypt of all the land seized by Israel
in the 1967 war.
N.Y. Times
In a radio interview Ford said six C-130s would
3/9/76
not upset the military balance between Egypt and
Israel and that because Egypt had cut off military
relations with Russia, the U.S. should take a
responsible look at Egypt's military needs.
REAGAN
Congressional
Reagan is a firm supporter of Israel, viewing
Quarterly,
that nation as an enclave of democracy in the
11/15/75
Middle East.
Evans and Novak
Reagan is against sending U.S. troops to defend
column
Israel.
1/10/76
BROWN
San Francisco
In an interview on foreign policy Brown said
Chronicle, 3/31/76
as President he would continue close ties
with Israel as well as Kissinger's efforts to
work out a peace agreement. "This is the most
complex area on the globe, and I'd be very
slow to offer any purported magic solution,'
Brown said.
Sacramento Bee,
The U.S. should guarantee the "vital interests"
3/30/76
of Israel and try to diminish Russia's "de-
stabilizing influence" in the Mideast, Brown
said.
- 32 -
THE MIDDLE EAST
CARTER
Washington Post,
Appearing on CBS "Face the Nation," Carter
12/1/75
advocated a warning to Arab countries that a
future oil embargo against the U.S. would bring
an immediate "economic declaration of war. " By
that he meant a U.S. embargo on aid to Arab oil-
producing countries of food, weapons and parts,
oil rigs and pipes, he explained.
AP feature, Concord
Carter said Middle East negotiations so far "have
(N.H.) Monitor,
been fruitful and I think well-advised" (an
1/27/76
apparent reference to Kissinger's role).
Congressional
Carter is against any U.S. military role in the
Quarterly,
Middle East and favors improved relations with
11/29/75
Arab governments as well as Israel.
Carter, "Foreign
"Peace in the Middle East is of vital interest to
Policy Statement,"
us all
We must strive to maintain good rela-
(undated)
tions with the Arab countries as well as Israel,
and to recognizse Arab needs ans aspirations as
long as they recognize that the major element of
a settlement is the guaranteed right of Israel to
exist as a viable and peaceful nation. The rights
of the Palestinians must also be recognized as
part of any final solution."
Carter statement,
Regretting the United Nations' insistence that
1/13/76
"the terrorist PLO" be included in Middle East
discussions, Carter said: "Our commitment to the
maintenance of a viable Israeli state is unshakable
and unmistakable. I do not think any Palestinian
state should ever be recognized by Israel until
the Palestinians affirm Israel's right to exist in
"
peace.
NBC "Meet the Press,"
The Palestine Liberation Organization should not
1/11/76
gain diplomatic recognition unless "they recog-
nize the right of Israel to exist in peace in
their present location." As part of an ultimate
settlement the Palestinians' right to have their
own nation, possibly on the West or East Bank of
the Jordan, should be recognized.
Ultimately, Carter said, Israel may have to with-
draw in some areas toward their 1967 boundaries.
But if he were the Premier of Israel, he would
not cede control of the Golan Heights to the
Syrians or relinquish control of Jewish and
Christian places of worship in Jerusalem.
- 33 -
THE MIDDLE EAST
Carter (continued)
Carter press release
Speaking to the Union of American Hebrew Congrega-
on Soview Jewry
tions in Washington, D.C. Carter said the U.S. must
1/22/76
"make it clear to the Russians that their treatment
of Jews is unacceptable to us."
CHURCH
Campaign
In support of his pro-aid for Israel position the
document,
document cites a number of Church votes in favor
"Church on
of military aid to Israel and says that he was one
the Issues,"
of five Senate drafters of a letter asking
3/76
President Ford to supply Israel with whatever
material and financial support necessary to
protect her borders.
Campaign
The paper quotes Church as saying in May 1975
paper, "Church
that he was " a hawk on Israel" because that
Record on Israel",
country had the will to defend itself bravely,
undated
had steadfastly stood by the U.S. and was
situated in a strategic area where the American
interest needs " a reliable, stable democratic
state.
"
Speech to B'nai
Church declared that Arab recognition of Israel's
B'rith Anti-
right to exist is a precondition to negotiations
Defamation
in which the P.L.O. participates. Church criticized
League,
the Administration for its failure to stand firm
12/7/75
against the Arab boycott of firms that do business
in Israel.
UDALL
Udall Issues
"Israel is our only natural and wholly dependable
Statement
ally in the Middle East." U. S. history, tradition
undated
and values "and the vital strategic importance of
the area all argue for unshakable support for Israel."
Udall's plan for encouraging a Middle East settlement
includes: giving up the step-by-step negotiating
process in favor of a more comprehensive approach;
shifting the focus from territorial adjustments to
the dangerous spiraling of arms proliferation, an
issue that should be addressed by an international
conference as soon as possible; and ultimately,
"creation of some form of confederated state, in-
volving different degrees of economic and political
integration, among Israel, Jordan and the Pales-
tinian population." The U. S. must "remain firm
in refusing to deal with the PLO or any other gov-
ernment that uses terrorism as a diplomatic tool."
- 34 -
THE MIDDLE EAST
Udall (continued)
Udall is a co-sponsor of the Holtzman-Rodino bill
in the House "to impose civil and criminal penalties
on companies which use economic coercion to dis-
criminate against American businesses because of
religion, race, sex, national origin, or lawful
support for or trade with another country. The bill
also penalizes any company that participates in an
illegal boycott."
Congressional
Udall voted against an effort March 4 to cut $200
Record
million from the $1.5 billion in military sales
3/8/76
credits for Israel in the foreign aid bill. He
said the full amount was "vitally necessary" to
Israel's survival.
WALLACE
Wallace
Wallace says that America must continue as a
campaign
mediator for peace in the Middle East and that
brochure,
the Soviets have prodded the Arabs to intensify
"A Fresh
the conflict in hopes of igniting "uncontrol-
Approach to
lable" crises. He says that the region is vital
Foreign Policy,"
to Soviet expansion in the Mediterranean, Persian
undated
Gulf, Indian Ocean and for naval bases.
"America must not allow Communist goals to be
reached in this area." Through negotiations and
assistance to other nations (unspecified) it
must seek to thwart Soviet aims and reach a just
peace.
***
- 35 -
AFRICA
Common Cause has found no campaign statements on this issue by: Church
FORD
Congressional
The Ford Administration acknowledged on Dec. 9
Quarterly,
that the U.S. had been providing secret assistance
12/20/75
to military opponents of the Soviet-backed Popular
Movement for the Liberation of Angola. The Presi-
dent and Kissinger argued this was essential to
prevent the spread of Soviet influence beyond its
traditional areas. Ford announced Dec. 16 that
there was no thought of direct U.S. intervention
in Angola.
When the Senate began debate on an amendment to
forbid use of CIA or defense funds in Angola,
except for intelligence gathering, the White House
engineered a filibuster against the amendment. A
secret session of the Senate was held to hear de-
tails of U.S. actions in Angola. On Dec. 19 Ford
gave in and agreed to an adoption of the amendment
in order to free the defense appropriation bill to
which it was attached.
Washington Star,
At a breakfast meeting with reporters, Ford said
2/10/76
members of Congress "lost their guts" in failing
to back up U.S. resistance to to the Russians in
Angola. "I think it was a serious mistake and T.
think they 11 live to regret it," Ford said,
adding, however, that he thought if the Soviets
tried other adventures in Africa Congress would
have "learned a lesson" and be willing to stand
up against Soviet intervention.
In a formal statement signing the appropriations
bill with the Angola amendment, Ford said: "I am
deeply disappointed that the Congress has acted
in this bill to deprive the people of Angola of
assistance needed to resist Soviet and Cuban mili-
tary intervention in their country. I believe
this provision is an extremely undesirable pre-
cedent that could limit severely our ability to
play a positive and effective role in international
affairs."
N.Y. Times
In answer to a question from a student at Wheaton
3/13/76
College, Illinois, Ford said there should be
"more progress" toward a black majority govern-
ment in Rhodesia and also in Southwest Africa,
which is controlled by the white government of
South Africa.
-36 -
AFRICA
Ford (continued)
Warning Russia and Cuba against "international
adventurism" in Rhodesia or South Africa, the
President said, without amplification, that the
U.S. has "all kinds of contingency plans" if the
Communist countries move against those governments.
Boston Globe
In an interview with Illinois reporters, Ford
3/11/76
said the U.S. should "have a meaningful presence
in substantial parts of Africa. I do not believe
we should stand idly by while the Soviet Union
and Cuba seek control and dominate significant
parts of Africa."
He refused to rule out the use of U.S. troops in
Africa but pointed out that he did not recommend
their use in Angola and could see "no circumstances"
in any other part of Africa where they should be
used.
REAGAN
Washington Post
Asked at Moultonboro how he would deal with the
news story from
Russians, Reagan said "it's time for us to straighten
Moultonboro, N.H.
up and eyeball them." As an example, he cited
1/6/76
Angola and said he would tell the Russians: "Out!
We'll let them (the Angolans) fight it out among
themselves, or you're going to have us to deal with."
He declined to say what actions he would take as
President if the Russians refused to withdraw
their active support of one Angolan faction.
UPI news story in
If the Soviet Union can't be persuaded to withdraw
Lebanon (N.H.) Valley
its military aid from Angola, the U.S. should
News, 1/6/76
"keep on supplying material" to the anti-Soviet
factions, Reagan said. But he would not send
U.S. troops there.
St. Petersburg (Fla.)
Reagan seemed in doubt as to whether Angola
Times,-
was of strategic importance to the U.S. He said
1/10/76
that if Soviet-Cuban aid does "threaten our
national security," the U.S. should either cancel
detente, force the Russians out of Angola, or
let them know" the U.S. will outmatch them in aid
to the anti-Soviet factions. That would not be
necessary, however, he said, "if there is no
strategic importance or no danger to us in Angola."
Interview in Business
When asked if he thought Angola was of strategic
Week,
importance to the U.S., Reagan replied, "I did
2/9/76
at one time think it was more important than I
do now." He said it now seems to him to be a
war between tribal factions.
- 37 -
-
AFRICA
New York
Speaking in San Antonio, Tex., Reagan criticized
Times, 5/1/76
Kissinger's support of black rule in Rhodesia,
saying it "undercut the possibility for a just
and orderly settlement" and increased the risk
of violence and bloodshed in that region.
He added: "The great issue of racial justice
is as vital here at home as it is in Africa,
and it would be well to make sure our own
house is in order before we fly off to other
lands to attempt to dictate policies to them."
He also denounced Kissinger's call for repeal
of the Byrd Amendment, which permits the U.S.
to import Rhodesian chrome despite the UN
embargo against Rhodesia which the U.S. joined.
A ban on Rhodesian chrome, he said, would "make
us once more totally dependent upon the Soviet
Union" for chrome.
BROWN
Sacramento
Brown said the U.S. should give up the Dulles
Bee, 3/30/76
theory that if one country shifts from demo-
cracy to communism, it upsets the international
balance of power. Each development should
be judged on its merit SO that the U.S. doesn't
"have to jump into Angola just because the
Russians are there," he said.
San Francisco
Brown said the U.S. should take the initiative
Chronicle, 3/31/76
away from Russia in assuring eventual black
majority rule of the governments of Rhodesia
and South West Africa.
CARTER
UPI news story,
"I don't think this nation should ever again get
Lebanon (N.H.)
militarily involved in the internal affairs of
Valley News,
a foreign country unless our own security is in
1/7/76
danger, Carter said, adding: "Our security is
certainly not in danger in Angola, so I don't
favor military involvement of this country in
Angola at all."
- 38 -
AFRICA
UDALL
Press release
Campaigning in Massachusetts, Udall called for the
1/76
Administration to heed the will of the American
people as reflected by the vote in Congress to
bar further aid to Angola.
"It isn't really in the U. S. vital interest which
one of these factions in the Angolan civil war emerges
as the winner, and the U. S. can no longer impose
its will on the international community after con-
sultation with a few allies. It is time to actively
work to improve our relations with the developing
world, which have suffered badly from eight years
of neglect," he said.
WALLACE
Washington Star
Wallace is the only Democratic candidate for
review of candi-
President who has spoken out in favor of aiding
dates' foreign policy,
the Angolan factions fighting the pro-Soviet
2/16/76
forces. He has said the U.S. should send sup-
plies to the forces fighting the Cuban mercenaries
but has warned against any U.S. commitment to
"another no-win war. "
***
- 39 -
CUBA
Common Cause has found no campaign statements on this issue by: Brown and
Church,
FORD
White House
Ford said that Cuba's effort "to get Puerto Rico
Press Conference,
free and clear from the U.S. (a reference to their
12/20/75
action in the United Nations) and the action of
the Cuban government to involve itself in a massive
military way in Angola with combat troops ends. as
far as I am concerned, any efforts at ali to have
friendlier relations with the government of Cuba."
Los Angeles Times,
Calling Fidel Castro an "international outlaw"
2/29/76
for sending Cuban troops to Angola, Ford said
at a naturalization ceremony for Cubans in
Miaimi that "this Administration will have
nothing to do with the Cuba of Fidel Castro.
It is a regime of aggression."
Ford speech to
Reviewing relations with other countries of the
Chicago Council
world, Ford said: "I have warned Castro's Cuba
on Foreign
and its Soviet sponsors against any further
Relations,
armed adventurism in either continent," Africa
3/12/76
or Latin America.
REAGAN
Reagan press release
Accusing the Ford Administration of inconsistent
on speech at Miami
policy toward Cuba, Reagan asked: Where is U.S.
Springs, Fla.
strategy when it comes to Cuba? I suggest if one
1/10/76
of our goals is to have Castro stop exporting his
revolution, we should let him know we aren't
going to talk business (on trade) until he does."
Among demands the U.S. "could discuss" with
Castro, Reagan said, were: curbing Soviet base
and landing rights in Cuba, reaffirming U.S.
rights to the Guantanamo naval base, restitution
for seized property, free movement between the
two countries and "renewed civil rights for their
own people.' "
- 40 ---
CUBA
CARTER
Milwaukee
Asked after a speech at Marquette University
Sentinel, 3/25/76
about Kissinger's hint that the U.S. might
take military action to prevent Cuba from
sending more soldiers to Africa, Carter said
it was an example of Kissinger not taking the
American people into consideration. "I don't
have the slightest idea, and neither do you,
what Mr. Kissinger meant. But I can't imagine
his wanting to go any further than a naval
blockade, which in my opinion would be in-
effective,' given the Russian airlift capa-
bility, Carter said. He added that he would
not be willing to go to war with Cuba or any
other country "unless our own security was at
stake."
UDALL
Udall "on
"U. S. relations with the developing world have
foreign policy,"
suffered badly from eight years of neglect. Through
1/23/76
a policy of de facto support for the white-
supremacist regimes of Southern Africa, the U. S.
has lost the friendship and trust of the emerging
black governments there.
"In Latin America, too, many policy changes--including
recognition of Cuba, and a new Panama Canal treaty--
are long overdue."
WALLACE
Boston Globe,
Speaking in Miami, Wallace termed Fidel
3/4/76
Castro a "bandit" and said, "he' never
be recognized by us as long as I'm President
of the United States."
***
- 41 -
PANAMA
Common Cause has found no campaign statements on this issue by: Carter, Churc
and Wallace.
FORD
Issue paper from
The paper quotes Secretary Kissinger as saying
President Ford
in March 1975 that a new treaty with Panama is
Committee, received
needed that will make the U.S. and Panama
3/17/76
"partners in the operation of the canal" while
protecting the essential national interests of
both.
The paper says the Administration will consult
closely with Congress on the treaty and that
"The President has no intention of proposing to
the Congress any agreement with Panama that
would not protect our vital interests."
Ford reply to
Ford said the treaty negotiations "are dead-
question in Fort
locked. I can assure you that I will not do
Lauderdale, Florida
anything that will jeopardize the defense of
2/13/76
the canal or the operations of the canal."
Washington
At a press conference in Dallas April 10,
Post, 4/15/76
Ford said: "I can simply say -- and say it
emphatically -- that the United States will
never give up its defense rights to the Panama
Canal and will never give up its operational
rights as far as Panama is concerned."
After Congressmen asserted that this statement
was contrary to secret testimony Ambassador
Bunker gave on U.S. negotiation objectives,
White House Press Secretary Nessen said that
if the President had spoken in more detail,
he would have referred to 1974 principles
agreed to by the U.S. and Panama that would give
Panama operational rights over the canal when
the new treaty under negotiation terminates.
New York
In an interview with Texas reporters, the
Times, 4/23/76
transcript of which was released in Indianapolis
Ford said a halt to negotiations with Panama
would provoke "bloody warfare" and "turn all
of South and Latin America against the United
States."
Baltimore
Speaking in Fort Wayne, Ind., the President
Sun, 5/3/76
promised that the U.S. will have "absolute
control" over the canal during its "economic
life," which he estimated at about 50 more
years.
- 42 -
PANAMA
Ford (continued)
Manchester, N.H.
According to the author, retired Navy Captain
Union Leader article
Franz O. Willenbucher, Ford as a Congressman
reprinted in Con-
took a firm position in 1967 strongly opposing
gressional Record
President Johnson's proposed Canal Zone treaties
2/26/76
which the author said would surrender the canal
to Panama.
REAGAN
Press release on
Asserting that some Americans had "guilt feelings"
speech at Miami
about the Panama Canal, Reagan said, "for 15 years
Springs, Fla.,
we have been propagandized by our own State De-
1/10/76
partment that our presence in Panama is a kind
of colonialism."
Noting that the 1903 treaty made the Canal Zone
U.S. territory, Reagan denounced Ford Administra-
tion negotiations for "a giveaway of the Canal to
a Marxist, military dictator." The Canal "is
essential to Western Hemisphere defense" and there-
fore must be retained in U.S. control, he said.
Speech at Exeter, N.H.
As an illustration of the Administration's re-
2/10/76
luctance to assert U.S. foreign policy interests
Reagan charged it with "bowing" to the military
dictator of Panama and signing a preliminary
memorandum signifying U.S. intentions to give
up control and ownership of the Panama Canal and
Canal Zone.
Washington
Reagan maintains that the Canal Zone "is
Post, 5/3/76
sovereign U.S. territory just the same as
Alaska is" and part of Texas and other ter-
ritory purchased by the U.S. He said the
Panamanians should be told that the canal
"is ours and we intend to keep it." Asked
whether he would be willing to go to war to
protect the canal, Reagan said, "I don't
think there's ever been a President who
wouldn't have had to say yes."
BROWN
Washington
Asked what his views are on retention of the
Star, 5/2/76
Panama Canal, Brown said, "I think we have to
negotiate.'
- 43 -
PANAMA
UDALL
Udall "on the
"We must renegotiate the 1903 treaty with
Panama Canal"
eventual return to Panama of jurisdiction over
3/76
the Canal Zone in exchange for assurances that
the U.S. will retain, for a reasonable time,
certain rights to jointly operate and defend
the canal. This is not a 'give-away' of U.S.
sovereignty because we have no sovereignty over
the Canal Zone. =
***
HOW THEY STAND/PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES' POSITIONS - EDITION III/MAY 1976
GERALD
R.
FORD
LIBRARY
Issue Profile #3
THE ROLE OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
INTRODUCTION
1
RIG GOVERNMENT
3
Ford, Reagan, Brown, Carter, Church, Udall, Wallace
AID TO CITIES
16
Ford, Reagan, Carter, Church, Udall, Wallace
REVENUE SHARING
23
Ford, Reagan, Carter, Udall, Wallace
REGULATORY REFORM
27
Ford, Reagan, Brown, Carter, Church, Udall, Wallace
TRANSPORTATION POLICY
33
Ford, Carter, Udall, Wallace
ECONOMIC PLANNING
38
Ford, Reagan, Brown, Carter, Church, Udall, Wallace
common cause
2030 M STREET N.W. WASHINGTON. D.C 20036
Introduction
THE ROLE OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Big Government/Aid to Cities/Revenue Sharing/Regulatory Reform/
Transportation Policy/Economic Planning
One of the major political battlegrounds of the 1976 campaign
is the role of the federal government -- its costs, benefits, strengths
and weaknesses.
Recent public opinion surveys indicate serious dissatisfaction
with government: red tape, facelessness, waste, non-responsiveness,
program ineffectiveness, delay, bureaucracy, size and impenetrability.
Many of the public's critical attitudes are suggested by the term
"big government." In attempting to digest candidates' positions on
big government, Common Cause has included their views on the size of
the federal government as an ideological issue, the extent to which
they would have the federal government assume new or additional
functions, and their proposals for dealing with government waste,
reorganization and bureaucracy.
Another important element of the role of federal government is
its relationship to the nation's states and cities. How should
programs, responsibilities and revenues be distributed among federal,
state and local governments? To gain insight into candidates' views
- 2 -
on this issue, Common Cause has included statements of their
positions on aid to cities (both generally, and as crystallized
by the New York City problem) and on general revenue sharing
(which is up for extension in 1976).
Candidates' views on the proper role of government with
respect to the private sector - particularly with business and
the free market economy --- are illustrated in three areas where
that issue is raised vividly: regulatory reform ( do we need more
regulation? less regulation? where?) ; transportation policy
(which transportation systems should we fund?) ; and economic
planning (should the government set goals that include the private
sector? what powers should it have to achieve such goals?).
***
In preparing these profiles, Common Cause compiled issue
materials released directly by the candidates, and records
of their positions as reported by major news media. Common
Cause has communicated with each Presidential campaign
seeking cooperation in this project. In addition, members
of Common Cause in relevant states have monitored Presidential
candidates' positions as reported by local media or stated in
local campaign literature prepared by the candidates. All
positions ascribed to the candidates àre attributed by source
---
and date, and all source materials are available for media
use in the Common Cause Washington office. The profiles do
not purport to be inclusive, but contain information gathered
by Common Cause thus far in the campaign. Listings are
alphabetical within party.
-3-
Big Government
FORD
State of the
"For many Americans the way to a healthy
Union Address
non-inflationary economy has become increas-
1/19/76
ingly apparent; the government must stop
spending so much and borrowing so much of
our money; more money must remain in private
hands where it will do the most good. To
hold down the cost of living, we must hold
down the cost of government.
Budget Message
"We must not continue drifting in the direction
of the President
of bigger and bigger government. The driving
1/21/76.
force of our 200-year history has been our
private sector. If we rely on it and nurture
it, the economy will continue to grow, pro-
viding new and better choices for our people
and the resources necessary to meet our
shared needs. If, instead, we continue to
increase government's share of our economy,
we will have no choice but to raise taxes and
will, in the process, dampen further the forces
of competition, risk, and reward that have
served us so well. With stagnation of these
forces, the issues of the future would surely
be focused on who gets what from an economy
of little or no growth rather than, as it
should be, on the use to be made of expanding
incomes and resources."
Ford points out that his budget for FY 77 cuts
the average annual rate of Federal budget
growth over the last decade (10%) in half.
Ford also proposes consolidation of 59 exist-
ing Federal programs in the areas of health,
education, child nutrition, and social ser-
vices as a step towards providing more program
flexibility and efficiency to state and local
units of government.
New York Times
According to the Times, while emphasizing his
2/24/76
desire to delegate more decision-making authority
to the states in fields such as health programs,
President Ford told the National Governors
Conference that he would "not dismantle programs
that really work, that reach the people and meet
their needs. " He added: "I will never irrespon-
sibly transfer serious problems from the federal
government to state governments without regard
for human needs and fiscal realities."
Big Government
Ford (continued)
Presidential
Asked about the federal bureaucracy as a campaign
News Conference
issue, Ford replied:
4/2/76
"I have done more than talk about trying to get
the bureaucracy under control. The first decision
I made when I became President in August of 1974,
was to insist upon a cutback in the projected
increase in Federal employment of 55,000. And
we achieved that reduction. "
"Number two, I ordered, about 6 months ago, the
Director of OMB to cut back on the number of forms
that are required by the American people to fill
out and submit to the Federal Government. I
ordered a 10 percent cutback. We have achieved a
5 percent cutback already, and by July 1 of this
year, I am assured that we will have accomplished
our record of a 10 percent cutback in the forms
that plague the American people, where they have
to fill out this, this, and this. It is a record
of performance, both as to a reduction of U.S.
Government personnel and a reduction in the red-
tape and bureaucracy in the Federal Government,"
Q. "How about the structure of the Federal
bureaucracy which Carter talks about completely
reorganizing?"
"The structure of the Federal Government is always
under review, and the Office of OMB is constantly
going into every Department to try and get rid of
functions and responsibilities in individual
Departments to improve their management. It is
a possibility that in the next administration,
that we would undertake something comparable to
the Hoover Commission, which was set up first in
1946 and came through with its recommendations,
and a second Hoover Commission in 1953 or '54,
as I recall. That is a possibility in the next
administration and, if I am the President, which
I think I will be, we will have something com-
parable to the first two Hoover Commissions. "
When asked if zero-based budgeting would be con-
sidered by such a commission, Ford avoided any
direct or explicit comment on the concept.
-5-
Big Government
REAGAN
Interview with
"I've described the fat in the federal
Reagan Today,
government as being so prevalent that if
Florida
you rendered it and made soap you could
2/1/76
wash the world. Business is bound by the
sales dollar. Government does what it
wants to do and then sends the bill to the
people. It isn't a case of just a one-time
hacking away at it. We found this out in
California. You've got to ride herd on it
constantly. One of the ways to get at this
we found in California was to put a freeze
on the hiring of replacements for those who
left government service."
Asked if he would try such a hiring freeze
at the federal level, Reagan responded: "I
sure think it's a practical thing to do.
Yes. 11
Reagan Press
"I believe the American people have had enough of
Release on
politics as usual. They want government off their
Ocala, Fla.
backs and out of their pocketbooks."
Remarks
1/9/76
Interview with
"The greatest dissatisfaction seems to be with Gov-
Cronkite--CBS
ernment at the highest level--Federal Government.
Evening News
Maybe some of that's been triggered by the events
11/24/75
of the last two years, but I think more of it is due
to the fact that Government--We'v centralized it so
much. We've moved so much to Washington that really
belongs at the local level
the people have a sense
that they can't influence government, that it is
too far away and too big, and it doesn't matter
whether they even vote or not."
Speech to
After asserting that in FY 1976 government at all
Executive
levels would absorb 37% of the GNP and 44% of total
Club of
personal income, Reagan continued:
Chicago
9/26/75
"This absorption of revenue by all levels of govern-
ment, the alarming rate of inflation, and the rising
toll of unemployment all stem from a single source:
The belief that government, particularly the Federal
Government, has the answer to our ills, and that the
proper method of dealing with social problems is
to transfer power from the private to the public
-6-
Big Government
REAGAN (cont'd)
sector, and within the public sector from state and
local governments to the ultimate power center in
Washington.
This collectivist, centralizing approach, whatever
name or party label it wears, has created our economic
problems. By taxing and consuming an ever-greater
share of the national wealth, it has imposed an in-
tolerable burden of taxation on American citizens.
By spending above and beyond even this level of
taxation, it has created the horrendous inflation
of the past decade. And by saddling our economy with
an ever-greater burden of controls and regulations,
it has generated countless economic problems, from
the raising of consumer prices to the destruction
of jobs, to choking off vital supplies of food and
energy.
As if that were not enough, the crushing weight of
central government has distorted our federal system
and altered the relationship between the levels of
government, threatening the freedom of individuals
and families."
Reagan Press
"To the executive, legislative and judicial branches.
Release on Keene,
a permanent structure has been added--a bureaucracy
N. H. Remarks
which cannot be removed from office by our votes.
1/15/76
It invades every facet of our lives. It covers our
nation with a multitude of regulations, and it robs
us of our liberties."
Reagan continued, describing his $90 billion Federal
budget cut proposal:
"Last September I proposed that a half-a-dozen functions
now being performed by the federal government should
be transferred back to state and local governments
for administration and control.
I suggested that these programs were not properly the
province of federal government and could be more
efficiently and economically handled at levels of
government closer to the people.
In making this proposal I made it clear that such a
transfer should be systematic. It should also be
-7-
Big Government
REAGAN (cont'd)
I also made it plain that with the transfer of authority
there should also be a transfer of resources, meaning
the federal taxes presently used to fund these services.
Those half-dozen programs are education, housing,
community and regional development, manpower training,
welfare (including food stamps) and revenue sharing."
Business Week
"There is nothing that says the federal government
Interview
could not instead of grants earmark a percentage
2/9/76
of the federal income tax which, when collected, would
remain at the state level. If a state should choose
not to do some of these programs and some might very
well so decide--that would be all right.'
Boston Globe
Reagan was reported as saying, opening his first
1/6/76
campaign swing through N. H., "The people of New
Hampshire, I understand, are worried that I have some
devious plot to impose the sales or income tax on
them, and believe me, I have no such intention and I
don't think there is any danger that New Hampshire
is getting one. " This response was given to charges
by Ford supporters that Reagan's $90 billion budget
cut scheme would result in either the elimination
of many necessary programs, a hike in the local
property tax, or the need to institute N. H.'s first
state sales or income taxes.
St. Petersburg
Responding to a question about his transfer program
Times
in terms of the South's history of discrimination
1/17/76
against blacks, Reagan said it was possible that
some blacks would be forced by necessity to leave
states that refused to take over or substitute social
welfare programs abandoned by the federal government.
Reagan said that state residents unhappy with the
situation could "vote with their feet..." Reagan
asserted, however, that the South had surpassed the
North in its race relations.
St. Petersburg
Reagan asserted at a press conference that the
Times
specific list of program cutbacks issued with his
1/29/76
$90 billion proposal last September did not necessarily
reflect his thinking. Reagan said "I didn't pay any
attention" to the breakdown, which he said was
prepared by advisers. I myself saw some items that
I disagreed with" on the list, he added.
-8-
Big Government
BROWN
Wall St. Journal
2/24/76
According to the Journal, Brown argues that it is
vital to "lower expectations" of what government
can do because "demands on government are far
outrunning the willingness of people to invest
(through taxes) in government."
Washington Star
Campaigning in Maryland, Brown attacked Carter's
5/2/76
zero-base budgeting proposal, asserting:
"The concept that you can start with ground zero
and reorganize every department just isn't so."
Brown said Carter's position was an example of
oversell, particularly when projected onto the
federal government.
Brown also stated: "I often think the best way
to change government is to slow it down."
Washington Star
Brown endorsed the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment
4/29/76
Bill, which seems to indicate an acceptance of a
larger role for the federal government in at least
one area.
L.A. Times
Brown stated:
4/5/76
"Questions about whether government should be
organized in a particular way or whether the boxes
on the organizational chart ought to be changed -
those are relatively superficial adjustments that
will not affect the drift and development of where
the country goes.
Playboy Interview
After arguing that Democratic Party programs have
April, 1976
worked, Brown continues:
"I do say this: The social programs we're em-
barked on now cost much more than we thought ten
years ago and we have to recognize this."
-9-
Big Government
Playboy: "Are you for less government or more
government?"
Brown: "It depends upon the situation. I am
very concerned about the increasing centralization
of social services. Too often the intended
beneficiaries get only what is trickled down through
the increasingly powerful bureaucracies. I see a
new class growing in political power. Instead
of trickling the wealth down through the corpor-
ations, you trickle it down through the public
bureaucracies, but the people at the bottom are
still getting drops. 11
Thoughts
"I think there is a sense in America that it is
Edmund G. Brown Jr.
a democracy. The whole Jeffersonian ideal was
CityLights
that people are temporarily in government.
(Publisher) 1976
Government is not the basic reality. People are.
The private sector. And government is just a
limited power to make things go better. Now
we're inverting that, and government is all-
pervasive. Every time you turn around, there's
government. I think that's not part of the
American character. I'd like to reverse that
(process). I think it's an uphill battle, given
technology, mobility and information flow. To
put government on a smaller scale and still make
it work is a pretty good trick if you can do it. "
"The federal government is taking onto itself
more and more power for local matters for every-
thing from family planning to criminal justice
to health service. Clearly, national issues
are not being addressed in a straightforward
way while everyone on the other side of the Potomac
starts meddling in local and state affairs be-
cause of the lack of faith in the ability of
people to govern themselves. Decentralization of
power -- that is important to me. All those
things that can be left at a lower level of
political organization ought to be. "
-10-
Big Government
CARTER
Carter statement
"Our government in Washington now is a
on Bureaucracy and
horrible bureaucratic mess. It is disorganized,
Government
wasteful, has no purpose; and its policies --
Inefficiency
when they exist -- are incomprehensible or
(undated)
devised by special interest groups with little
regard for the welfare of the average American
citizen."
"We must give top priority to a drastic and
thorough revision of the federal bureaucracy,
to its budgeting system, and to the procedures
for analyzing the effectiveness of its many
varied services. Tight businesslike management
and planning techniques must be instituted
and maintained, utilizing the full authority
and personal involvement of the President
himself.
"
Carter proposals include zero-
base budgeting and executive branch reorgani-
zation.
Manchester
Referring to zero-based budgeting, Carter said
Union Leader
at a Manchester, N.H. press conference:
12/20/75
"It is obvious that an examination of this sort
is needed at the federal level. It would allow
government to reduce expenses by cutting out
unneeded programs. It would ensure the people
that funds are being protected from wasteful
and inefficient programs. Most of all, it is
a crucial planning tool which enables govern-
ment to establish broad policy."
Washington Post
Although he has pledged to reduce some 1900
1/13/76
federal agencies to about 200 in a move pat-
terned on his Georgia executive reorganiza-
tion, Carter has refused to be specific.
Asked for specific agencies he would abolish,
the Post reported Carter replied that it was
'impossible to say now" because he hadn't
been able to take a close enough look at the
federal agencies. "I'm not being evasive,"
Carter says. "For instance, there are 42
federal agencies in education. I don't
know now which could be cut. It would just
be conjectural. It would just be a guess on
my part. "
Interview with
"I would say that the most wasteful bureau-
Cronkite -- CBS
cracy in Washington is the Pentagon.
11
Evening News
11/18/75
-11-
Big Government
CARTER (cont'd)
Change
"I will not hesitate to propose and support
2/76
such basic and controversial changes as:
The creation of a separate Department of Educa-
tion." Describing some of the programs he would
consolidate, Carter concludes, "The result would
be a stronger voice for education at the federal
level. "
Carter Interview
Asked whether his reorganization plans would
"Face The Nation"
result in more, less or the same number of federal
3/14/76
bureaucrats, Carter responded:
"I can't say they would be exactly the same or
more, but the portion of our federal budget that
goes to administrative costs will be cut
substantially.'
Pressed for specifics on his reorganization plans
and asked how voters could judge him without
specifics, Carter replied:
"Well, whether or not they can, they'll have to,
because there is no way I can take off from
campaigning, do a complete and definitive study
of what the federal government is and what it's
going to be three or four years in the future,
even if I was in the White House now, with all
the prerogatives. I couldn't do it, but let me
give you one other point. We now have 72 agencies
responsible for health. I can't say which of
those 72 might survive, but we certainly don't
need that many. I would say two would be a
gracious plenty. "
Business Week,
Asked why Georgia had 30% more employees and a
Interview with
50% bigger budget after he reorganized the state
Carter
government, Carter replied:
5/3/76
"The last year I was in office total employees
increased only 2.4%. We were able to cut admin-
istration costs and shift people to more productive
jobs. I promised state employees that no one would
be discharged as a result of my reorganization.
But I did reserve the right not to fill vacancies
as they occurred. And I would do the same thing
as a President."
Business Week: "You're talking about more efficient
government, not necessarily smaller government?"
Carter: "That's right."
-12-
Big Government
CHURCH
Church announcement
"
we must strive for better, not bigger,
of Candidacy
government. There is no excuse for having
3/18/76
to wait six weeks just to get a reply from a
federal agency
Decisions delayed are decisions
denied, and the people have a right to demand
timely and efficient response from those whom
they pay to serve them.
"The problem lies not with the refusal or
reluctance of Federal employees to do their
best, but rather with a system grown too remote
and complex. Today there are more than a
thousand Federal grant-in-aid programs, run
from Washington. Together, they account for
more than $50 billion in annual expenditures.
Nearly all of these programs centralize decision-
making at the top, and operate on uniform,
national standards that frequently do not fit
the localities intended to be served
Far
more flexibility in managing these programs must
be given to state, county and municipal officials.
Church Campaign
Brochure-undated
"All decisions need not be made in Washington.
But we cannot go to the other extreme either.
Federal money remains essential. When mixed
with state and local matching funds, it can
provide jobs for the unemployed, housing for
the elderly, rapid public transportation, improved
education and other necessary programs. But
the administration of these programs, the
decisions as to how the shared revenues should
be spent, the search for creative applications
suited to local conditions, should be passed
down to the lowest feasible level of government-
that closest to the problem and to the citizens
being served. "
UDALL
The Capital Times
Asked about candidates playing upon disenchantment
(Madison, WI)
with Washington, Udall responded:
Interview with
Udall
"You stop and ask a bricklayer going home tonight,
3/22/76
do you dislike Washington? Do we need somebody
there to shake them up? He'll say, sure. Do you
hate big government? Yes. Do you think government's
too damn big? Of course?"
-13-
Big Government
UDALL (cont'd)
"Then you say, just a minute. Let's talk about
some other things. Should we break up these
companies and conglomerates and get some competition?
You're damn right we should. That's going to be
done in Washington. Do you think we need a national
health insurance system? Would you pay a few more
bucks in taxes for that? You bet I would. Let's
do that. Well, how about doing something about
inflation. Do you think the government ought to
provide jobs for everybody who wants to work and
not have them on the dole? You're damn right. I'd
go for that. Well, he's talking about action in
Washington."
"It is superficial to run against Washington. I
find a good response to my argument that people
are not really against Washington or against govern-
ment. They're against crooked government, wasteful
government, unresponsive government, government that
can't deliver the mail or process your Social Security
application. I'm not running to dismantle govern-
ment. I'm running to make it work."
Interview on
Udall's support for the federal government
Meet the Press
guaranteeing jobs and providing national health
1/18/76
insurance was recounted, with the question,
"How do you square this with the claim that
the American public wants a smaller federal
government?"
Udall replied, "I don't think the public wants
a smaller federal government. I think people
are angry about crooked government, dishonest
government, unresponsive government, wasteful
government. I get angry when people have a
Social Security claim and can't get it processed.
I think people want national health maintenance;
they want the federal government playing a role
to see that people get jobs, but they want it
done in an efficient way
I'd like to see the
federal government try to do fewer things and
do them well
People will support this. What
they will not support is a continuation of
wasting money on old programs that have failed.'
Udall Interview
"MR. MONROE: Congressman Udall, there is a
Meet the Press
perception, right or wrong, that voters these days
11/30/75
want to get away from big government and big
spending. Aren't you talking in favor of big
government and big spending when you advocate a
full employment act, nationalized welfare,
nationalized health insurance?
- 14 -
Big Government
UDALL (continued)
MR. UDALL: Yes. You show there are two cross-
currents out here. People want the government to
solve their problems, but they also want to get
rid of waste and bureaucracy and government that
doesn't work, and I think we have got to show the
American people that government can work. We
have also got to change some priorities, this old
cliche, or get rid of it. We are spending too
much on national defense. We could safely cut 10
or 15 percent of the fat out of that defense budget
and be better off, but I think the American people
are willing to support programs, government programs
that are going to work. "
WALLACE
Wallace Advertisement
"Big government must go home and get out of
Tallahassee Democrat
the lives and happiness of our people. We
3/7/76
must have integrity and honesty in our
government. We must return to common sense and
stop all these blunders that are weakening
our country. These bureaucrats have got to
respect the people and stop harassing them on
their jobs, in their business, in their schools
and homes, and in their unions."
Interview with Wallace
Asked how much he would cut the federal bureau-
"Face the Nation"
cracy, Wallace responded: "Well, at least ten
3/7/76
per cent
in my judgment that in itself
would be a great step in the direction of getting
the bureaucracy cut down to size."
Wallace added: "Everyone recognizes that you
need people in the federal government. But
HEW, for instance, has 400,000 people working
for it. I would daresay that's 200,000 more
than they need." Wallace goes on to argue that
money wasted on the bureaucracy could be used
for the elderly, social security, new water and
sewage systems, and housing.
Later, after asserting that cuts would have to
take place throughout the federal government,
Wallace states: "I'm not sure exactly (which)
agencies are more bloated than others, but I
can assure you that when I become elected
President, I'm going to find out very quickly
11
- 15 -
Big Government
WALLACE (cont'd)
Congressional
CQ cites a Wallace speech to the National
Quarterly
Legislative Conference in the summer of 1974.
11/8/75
Wallace said that Americans are tired of "a
faceless, aimless government that today has
more authority and power over our lives than
we do ourselves. " He continued, "The average
citizen has already found tht the answer is not
in a big national government. But this local
control can be restored in a strong, viable,
responsible state government that knows the
needs and the wishes of the people it serves
and is responsible to them."
***
- 16 -
Aid to Cities
Common Cause has found no campaign statement on this issue by: Brown.
FORD
Congressional
Asked his position on short-run assistance to
Quarterly re-
New York City, President Ford replied:
print of 10/9/75
Ford Press
"I do not think it is a healthy thing for the
Conference
Federal Government to bail out a city, and I
mean any city, that has handled its fiscal
affairs as irresponsibly over a long period of
time ans New York City has. Now, I have great
sympathy for the people of New York, the 6 or
8 million people there. They have a terrible
program. Their government expenditures are out
of control. Unless they come in with a balanced
budget, unless they get some state aid from the
State of New York by some means or other, I
just am very reluctant to say anything other
than 'no' until I see what New York City has done. "
Congressional
In a prepared statement President Ford detailed
Quarterly re-
the steps New York officials had taken to place
print of 11/26/75
the city's finances on a sound basis. He
Ford Press
commended New York officials, but acknowledged
Conference
that short-term operating expenses would still
require NYC to borrow funds over the next two
years.
Ford then presented his "seasonal" assistance
plan:
"I have decided to ask Congress
for
authority to provide a temporary line of credit
to the State of New York to enable it to supply
seasonal financing of essential services for the
people of New York City.
"There will be stringent conditions. Funds
would be loaned to the State on a seasonal basis,
normally from July through March, to be repaid
with interest in April, May, and June, when the
bulk of the city's revenues come in. All Federal
loans will be repaid in full at the end of each
year.
"There will be no cost to the rest of the
taxpayers of the United States.
11
New York officials must continue to
accept primary responsibility. There must be
no misunderstanding of my position. If local
parties fail to carry out their plan, I am
prepared to stop even the seasonal Federal
assistance.
"
- 17 -
Aid to Cities
FORD (cont'd)
In December, with Ford's backing, Congress
cleared legislation authorizing a $2.3
billion federal loan program for the city.
Ford remarks to
Noting that he was proposing a $446 million
U.S. Conference of
increase for community development in his
Mayors and League
FY '77 budget, President Ford added:
of Cities
3/15/76
"The success of the community block grant
program, like the success of the general revenue
sharing program, points to one central fact--
you know what to do to improve your cities and
you know how to do it, and with the proper tools
and the necessary resources, you can do the job
that needs to be done. I have faith in you and
I think your constituents have faith in you.
REAGAN
Business Week
Interview
In response to the question, "If you had been
2/9/76
President in 1975, what help would you have
given to New York City?
Reagan responded: "On the basis of what I
know now, and with the caveat that there may
be other factors in the field of high finance
involving other sectors of the country that
I may not be aware of (I don't think there
are, but there could be): No. I think New
York's problem had to be settled by New York."
"Governor Reagan's
"New York City has given us a picture on the
Stand on the Issues"
wall of where the nation is heading if we don't
Florida Citzens for
quit following the same path they followed. I
Reagan
think it is wonderful that the Democrats
1/5/76
are holding their convention there. They'd
better take a look and see that this is what
their philosophy has brought about. New York
City for the last twenty (20) years or so has
been increasing its revenues by about eight
percent (8%) a year. Before anyone talks
about bailing out New York City, we'd better
wait and find out if New York City will revamp
its style and set up a program to live like the
rest of us and get themselves out of trouble."
- 18 -
Aid to Cities
CARTER
New York Times
"I don't think these local governments ought to
Interview with
pay any portion of welfare costs. And as President,
Carter
I'll encourage that change. I think all revenue-
3/31/76
sharing money should go to local governments
"
"There needs to be, perhaps above all other things,
a fair delineation of a national policy on urban
problems, so there's some predictability of what
they re sharing, what future responsibility ---
fiscally and otherwise - among the city, among the
local, state and Federal levels of government.
That relationship
...
has now been almost completely
destroyed
"
"Also, a good many of the costs need to be shifted
rapidly to the Federal Government. I favor a
nationwide mandatory health insurance program,
which I think would relieve the local governments,
including NYC, of some of the costs involved now.
"There are other aspects of the problem which need
to be resolved. There needs to be a tighter fiscal
management of NYC's problems, a more honest approach
to estimating income and expenditures, a re-
organization of the Government, zero-based budgeting,
long-range planning. The same sort of principles
that apply to the Federal Government ought to apply
to local governments."
Washington Post
Speaking of urban problems, Carter said:
Interview with
Carter
"I would not favor the federal government ever
3/21/76
injecting itself between a state and a local
government. In the New York City problem, which
is illustrative, I did not favor guaranteeing
New York City's bonds. I would have favored keep-
ing New York City and the state bound together
with a mutual responsiblity and requiring only
two things--that the budget be balanced some time
in the future as assessed and monitored, and that
the bonds that have already been sold or to be
sold be sound. Under those circumstances I would
have guaranteed New York State's bonds from the
federal government under which circumstances they
would not have been taxed any further."
- 19 -
Aid to Cities
CARTER (cont'd.)
Asked to elaborate on the prospects of balancing
the New York City budget, Carter replied:
"Well, I don't know how long it would take. I'll
say this. As soon as I'm President, if I'm elected,
I would ask Mayor Beame and Governor Carey to
come to the White House, and I would say, look,
I'm willing to join you as an equal partner to
work out New York City's problems. And I would
try to discern a time schedule during which that
could be consummated. It would probably take, I
would just guess, eight years. If
CHURCH
Church speech to
"I submit to you, that even if the American
California League of
people liked the government in Washington,
Cities,
they couldn' make much sense of it. Why
10/20/75
should our own cities be of less concern
to the Federal government than the preserva-
tion of some faltering foreign principality?
If, during the past demented decade, the
Federal government had spent a tenth as much
salvaging our own biggest city as it squandered
on Saigon, New York would not be teetering
on the brink of bankruptcy today."
Pointing out that many local governments and
some states are in "desperate straits, " Church
proposes a federal guarantee for municipal bonds
and elimination of the "bureaucratic maze-
which complicates the federal government's
efforts to help the cities. Church states:
"Perhaps the best way to cut the Gordian knot
is to move from specific, strings-attached,
Washington-administered grants-in-aid programs
toward more general bloc revenue sharing. That
would accomplish two goals: (1) It would give
the cities the flexibility to buy what they
need, rather than what Washington decides they
need. And (2) it would trim back administrative
expenses at both ends."
Finally, Church adds: "We must anticipate and
prepare for a reversal of the middle-class
flight from the central cities." The main
problem here, according to Church, is the
decay of housing--a problem he doesn't expect
HUD to handle effectively.
-20-
Aid to Cities
UDALL
New York Times
Asked about the fiscal crisis of the cities, Udall
Interview with Udall
responded: "My program would be in several directions.
3/29/76
I think you first have to get your priorities straight.
You can't be for the Pentagon and be for the cities.
We don't have enough for guns and butter any more.
We're going to have to make that fundamental choice,
and then 11 have some of the resources we need.
"My overall goal would be to give the cities a chance
to cope and to survive and to solve their own problems.
And I would do that through a three-point program.
" The first is to federalize the welfare system. I was
for that very early on. It ought to be federalized;
it's a national problem and it's a national obligation.
"Second is help in some employment act. So many of
the cities' problems are compounded by lower employ*
ment, less taxes, higher welfare and related causes.
"And the third is national health insurance. If we
had it, you wouldn't be closing hospitals and a billion
dollars or more would be provided for New York City's
budget.
"If the Federal Government did those three programs
and did them right, the cities could probably cope
with their problems. But I would give them additional
help in transportation. I've been in the forefront
of trying to break up the Highway Trust Fund and give
aid to mass transit. I would give them help with some
sensible housing programs and stop the rot and decay
and cancer that's spreading through the South Bronx
and Bedford-Stuyvesant and other areas."
Udall position paper,
To improve the market for state and local bonds,
"The Future of New
Udall would institute"a federal subsidy of 40% of the
England's Cities"
interest cost of taxable bonds offered by states and
(undated)
cities instead of tax-exempts. This program would
create a new market for moderate income investors,
and broaden the long term market to include investors
such as life insurance companies and pension funds
whose own tax exempt status has previously made
municipals unattractive."
-21-
Aid to Cities
Udall Statement to
Udall proposes several steps to "restore life
Democratic Governors
and fiscal health" to the cities:
Conference
12/3/75
The federal government should take over welfare
costs. "The duty of caring for the poor is a
national responsibility which cannot be adequately
dealt with at the local level without causing
insurmounted population shifts and overburden-
ing those local jurisdictions which attempt to
provide adequate levels of support."
A system of national health care. "I am tired
of apologizing as year after year we fail to
achieve it."
Full funding of existing housing programs,
especially Sec. 202 housing for the elderly.
Also, new programs to provide funds for main-
tenance and rehabilitation of existing housing.
A program of "emergency aid" (unspecified) to
cities and states.
Continuation of general revenue sharing, with
removal of ceiling that limits assistance to
biggest and neediest cities.
A Comprehensive Transportation Fund financed
from fuel and user taxes and existing highway
and airport trust funds, to rebuild railroads,
improve and expand mass transit, and complete
Interstate highway construction.
(Fuller discussion, including cost estimate, in
Transportation policy profile)
WALLACE
New York Times
The Times reported the following Wallace
11/12/75
remarks, made during his announcement of his
76 candidacy, regarding federal aid to
New York City:
"There are gray areas. I do think the default
of the city would have economic consequences
for all the American people -- and Western
-22-
Aid to Cities
WALLACE (cont'd.)
Europe. If that's going to happen, we can't
say absolutely no. But they have to get
their own house in order. That's a good exam-
ple of what liberalism can do for an American
city. You've got to live within your means,
pay for what you get. "
Wallace material
"I support aid to the cities to provide mass
prepared for
transit, to help to stop the decay and to
Common Cause
prevent the destruction of our cities. With
3/19/76
the present changes of citizens moving away
from the cities leaving only the poor and the
many burdens that go with crime, decay, etc.
/
in the inner city without adequate tax revenues,
our cities are faced with chaos. We must design
a new spirited program that will reinvigorate
our cities and without strings attached. Unless
we treat the problems of the inner city, we
will have to pay a far greater price in the
future.
"
Wallace brochure
"Problems of the inner city will have a high
"Problems of the
priority in our administration.
Inner City" undated.
We must first tackle the huge problem of over-
crowded housing, a major problem of the inner
city.
We must root out decay and provide modern
decent facilities for people as an important
step toward curbing crime.
Mass transit must be provided SO that those
who live in the inner city can move to and
from jobs in a modern orderly way.
National educational programs on the importance
of police and fire protection to law-abiding
citizens must be created and firemen and police-
men must receive respect and adequate compen-
sation and benefits.
Environmental improvements must be made
in the inner city. It is in metropolitan
areas where pollution is growing and living
conditions are often intolerable. These
environmental problems present the greatest
challenge that we must face head on.
A massive national program must be created
to attack the overall problems of illegal
drugs."
* * *
-23-
Revenue Sharing
Church. Common Cause has found no campaign statement on this issue by Brown and
FORD
State of the
Ford pointed out that he has asked for a
Union Address
five-year extension of the existing revenue
1/19/76
sharing legislation. He added, "This program
has been effective with decision-making
transferred from the Federal Government to
locally elected officials. Congress must
act this year or State and local units of
government will have to drop programs or raise
local taxes. "
Ford remarks to
"In the 4 years since the revenue sharing
U.S. Conference of
program began, State and local governments have
Mayors and League
proved beyond any doubt whatsoever the merit of
of Cities
local control over local concerns, and I con-
3/15/76
gratulate you
"Behind all of the rhetoric associated with the
growing Congressional debate over the renewal
of this program is a very fundamental issue--
whether or not to continue providing cities,
counties, and States with effective Federal
assistance now authorized by this program. It
is just too important to your cities;. it is just
too important to your States; it is just too
important to the United States of America; the
general revenue sharing bill must pass clearly
this year
"I deeply share your concern, and I stand firm
in my commitment to secure an extension of
general revenue sharing, which should no longer
be a partisan political issue, and I hope it
won't be in the months ahead. If you will work
with me we can meet that common commitment, and
we can do even more good with revenue sharing
in the future."
Revenue Sharing
REAGAN
The Daily Gazette
In response to a question on revenue
Sterling-Rock Falls, Ill.
sharing, Reagan responded that federal
2/25/76
funds come back to the states "with strings
attached". Reagan said it costs Illinois
$1.27 for every dollar returned to the state
by revenue sharing. "I propose that we
keep the funds at home in the first place
GERALD
R.
with no strings attached."
FORD
LIBRARY
New York Times
In a speech to the Executive Club of Chicago
1/9/76
on 9/26/75, Reagan proposed a $90 billion
reduction in federal outlays, using President
Ford's FY 76 proposals as the base. Reagan
included in his proposal the elimination of
federal revenue sharing.
Business Week
Reagan identifies revenue sharing as one of
Interview
the federal programs he would eliminate as
2/9/76
part of his $90 billion cut in the federal
budget, saying, "I throw in revenue sharing
because that would be taken care of by turning
back the revenue sources. 11
Reagan's position on revenue sharing as a
discrete federal program should be put in the
overall context of his (90 billion federal
budget cut proposal. A big assumption of this
proposal is that some federal sources of rev-
enue (e.g. some earmarked percentage of the
federal income tax) would be transferred
directly back to the states for them to use
as they see fit.
Reagan Press
"To the extent that we can systematically
Statement
transfer appropriate federal programs back
1/15/76
to the states and localities, we can:
1. increase the responsiveness of gov-
ernment to our needs,
2. save the 'freight charges' on the
money we send to Washington, and
3. make the programs more efficient.
-25-
Revenue Sharing
CARTER
Carter statement on
Carter is essentially in favor of continuing
Revenue sharing
the federal revenue sharing program: "It
12/3/75
should be continued because it is a mechanism
that combines effectively local needs and
decision-making processes with the federal
government's powers of coordination and
revenue-raising. "
Washington Post
This support is coupled with several crit-
12/3/75
icisms and/or suggestions for improvement.
Responding to the Democratic Governors in
Washington, D.C., on 12/2/75, Carter said that
federal revenue funds should go direct to
local governments: "There's no sense beating
around the bush, I think the money should
go to local governments. They're much more
deserving of it. " Carter also asserts that
revenue sharing has not really achieved its
goals because increases in revenue sharing
funds have been offset by reduction in
categorical grants to the detriment of social
programs of national concern. Carter said
the money that went into revenue sharing "was
stolen from the poor people, and too much of
it has been used to build dance halls, or
golf courses or jail-houses."
Carter Statement
Carter further observes that "Revenue sharing
on revenue sharing
actually violates a basic principle in govern-
12/3/75
ment fiscal management, in that the responsi-
bilities for raising and spending funds are
separated."
Carter also recommends achieving more effective
citizen input into the local planning and
spending process.
Revenue Sharing
UDALL
Udall position paper,
"On the whole, revenue sharing has been a successful
The Future of New
experiment. Reviewing criticism of the program, I
England's Cities"
find that much of it concerns goals that GRS was never
(undated)
intended to accomplish. Judged on the basis of its
original goals -- to relieve hard-pressed local
governments, to substitute the more progressive Federal
tax base for heavier state and local taxes, and to
give people at the local level the opportunity and the
resources to develop their own solutions to their own
problems -- the record has been good. However, there
are at least two crucial reforms that should be made
before the program is extended. First, both the 145%
per capita ceiling, and the 20% per capita floor should
be repealed. This will increase the funds going to
the big cities - the areas of greatest need, and would
decrease the flow to very wealthy communities. Second,
in the area of civil rights, the sanctions for non-
compliance need to be greatly strengthened, as does
the enforcement of these provisions."
WALLACE
Wallace material
"Revenue sharing is one of the best programs
prepared for
yet devised. I believe we should increase
Common Cause
revenue sharing. The best way to balance
3/19/76
the federal budget is to return control of
government to the local level wherever possible.
At the local. level, program can be administered
for much less than by a Washington bureaucracy." 11
* *
- 27 -
Regulatory Reform
FORD
State of the
"A necessary condition of a healthy economy is
Union Address
freedom from the petty tyranny of massive
1/19/76
government regulation. We are wasting liter-
ally millions of working hours costing billions
of consumers' dollars because of bureaucratic
red tape. " After citing the positive example
of reduced farm controls, Ford continues, "Now,
we need reforms in other key areas of our economy ---
the airlines, trucking, railroads, and financial
institutions. I have concrete plans in each of
these areas, not to help this or that industry,
but to foster competition and bring prices down
for the consumer.
The Ford Administration has proposed regulatory
reform legislation dealing with railroads, air-
lines, motor carriers and financial institutions.
Washington Star
9/5/75
In a speech to California business leaders, Ford
said American business is hamstrung by "a
mulligan stew of government rules and regulations
(that) has created a nightmare of red tape, paper
shuffling and new heights in counter-productivity.
Ford continued, "Starting from point zero not
quite a century ago, the federal government now
employs over 100,000 people whose sole responsibility
is the writing, reviewing and enforcing of some
type of regulation. One hundred thousand people
whose principal job is telling you how to do your
job. It's a bureaucrat's dream of heaven, but
it's a nightmare for those who have to bear the
burden.
"
Fact Sheet on
The principal objectives of the Ford Administration's
the President's
regulatory reform program were described as
State of the
follows:
Union Message
1/19/76 ---
"Benefit consumers by encouraging increased com-
petion. Competition fosters innovation, encourages
new businesses, creates new jobs, ensures a wide
choice of goods and services, and helps to keep
prices at reasonable levels. By eliminating
arbitrary barriers to entry and by increasing
pricing flexibility, the Administration hopes to
restore competition in the regulated sectors of
the economy.
Increase understanding of the costs of regulation.
Often the real costs of regulatory activities are
- 28 -
Regulatory Reform
FORD (cont'd)
hidden from public view. Inefficient and out-
dated regulation costs consumers billions of
dollars every year in unnecessarily high prices.
The Administration believes that these costs
should be subject to the same critical attention
devoted to the Federal budget.
Improve methods of achieving the objectives of
regulation. In many instances, regulation is
necessary, particularly in the health, environment
and safety areas. However, regulation can
impose a considerable cost burden on the consuming
public and on the economy. The Administration
is concerned that public protection be achieved
in the most efficient manner.
Substitute increased antitrust enforcement for
administrative regulation. In the past,
regulation has often been a substitute for com-
petition. The Administration is seeking to
reverse this pattern and believes that antitrust
enforcement has an important role in keeping costs
and prices down. 11
Washington Post
McCarthy reports President Ford telling hardware
Colman McCarthy
manufacturers in Chicago: "My objective is to
column
get the federal government as far out of your
9/20/75
business, out of your lives, out of your
pocketbooks and out of ycur hair as I can. "
And at the Iowa state fair, "I am trying to free
American business from the shackles of government
over-regulation to free the individual citizen
from the pressures of a faceless bureaucracy. 11
Wall St. Journal
The Journal reports that the Ford Administration
3/12/76
is strongly opposing proposed legislation to
merge the three federal bank regulatory agencies.
New York Times
Writing to Senator Kennedy in praise of a
2/22/76
Kennedy subcommittee report on airline regulation,
President Ford added that he "firmly believed
that fundamental changes are required in the
regulations governing our transportation system"
and that greater reliance on competition "should
assist our railroad, airline and motor carrier
industries in providing more efficient transpor-
tation services to the public."
- 29 -
Regulatory Reform
REAGAN
- Business Week
In response to the question, "Do you have
Interview
any specific ideas of how to get government
2/9/76
out of business activities?
Reagan replied, "Yes. That means that you
have to go to war with bureaucracy
I
think you've got to go at the regulatory
agencies. But again, I think you've also
got to go at business, because business is
guilty also. Business likes the regulatory
agencies that support them and that keep
competition from having too easy a time
getting in. They've got to believe in the
marketplace, too."
More generally, Reagan proposes ending
controls in the energy sector and decries the
"regulations and federal controls" that ac-
company federal programs such as welfare
and education assistance.
"Governor Reagan's
"In our regulatory agencies dealing with
Stand on Issues",
non-monopoly industries, we must set a date
Florida Citizens
certain for an end to federal price fixing
for Reagan
and an end to all federal restrictions on
1/5/76
entry."
Reagan Fundraising
"Reams of regulations flow from the Washing-
Letter
ton bureaucrats, designed to control every
11/20/75
aspect of our lives. We must stem this tide
of red tape before we lose all our individual
freedom."
BROWN
Playboy Interview
PLAYBOY: You have attacked Big Government; what about
April, 1976
Big Business? Are you for cutting back on Government
regulations of the large corporations?
BROWN: "No, I would like to make the regulators
more independent of corporate influence and I would
question how big corporations really have to be in
order to serve the economy."
- 30 -
Regulatory Reform
BERALD R. FORD
CARTER
Carter release
"
we need to review and change the complex
Highway Trust Funds
regulatory system with which our transport
undated
industries must contend."
Carter release
"Part of the problem facing the railroad industry
Railroad Reorgani-
has resulted from the haphazard pattern of regula-
zation
tion in the transportation industry. " Carter
undated
feels that government regulation has benefitted
airlines, barges and highways more than railroads.
"We must modify the present regulatory structure
to encourage better coordination among modes."
CHURCH
Church Announcement
"There are reasonable limits which should
of Candidacy
apply to the scope of government regulation.
3/18/76
The national government reaches too far when
it attempts to regulate the conditions of work
in every mom-and-pop store and every family
farm!
"Give free enterprise some breathing room.
That is what is needed. Retain those controls
essential to the public interest; up-date and
vigorously enforce the anti-trust lawa; but
abolish those regulations that stifle competition,
and dismantle the commissions that enforce them.
Many a vested interest survives today on the
protection given by regulatory agencies, which
have been pre-empted by the very industries
they are supposed to regulate, other than by
the needs of the people they were created to
serve. "
31 I I
Regulatory Reform
UDALL
Udall Statement on
"Federal regulatory agencies have too often
Consumer Interests
become the captive of the industries they were
(undated)
intended to regulate. Particularly in the
transportation sector, federal regulatory
agencies have more often prevented competi-
tion than promoted it. The ICC and the CAB
should be abolished and a new regulatory
agency should be established with substantially
reduced regulating authority for all modes of
transportation.
"
"On the other hand, Federal regulatory authority
to protect consumers from health and safety
hazards that exist in automobiles, food, drugs,
and other household products, needs to be
strengthened." Udall specifically mentions
FDA, CPSC, FTC and auto standards as bodies/
areas needing strengthening, and calls for
new conflict of interest rules and stream-
lining of regulatory procedures.
Udall Speech to 1976
"In the name of regulatory reform, the presi-
Consumer Assembly
dent has promised to get government off the back
1/22/76
of American business. By this, he apparently
means to put flamable pajamas back onto the backs
of American children; carcinogenic chemicals into
the bloodstream of American workers; unsanitary
food on American dinner tables; and the visible
hand of concentrated Big Business into the pockets
of American consumers
11
"So I think it is important that we clarify the
debate over government regulation--that we look
to the kind of regulation going on, and define
precisely what we want it to do
"
"Nearly a year ago, I called for abolition of the
rate-and-route making functions of the Interstate
Commerce Commission and the Civil Aeronautics
Board. However well-intentioned they may have
been at the outset, they have become classic cases
of captive agencies serving private rather than
public interests. If we wish to subsidize some
services, let us do it directly and honestly, not
by hidden cross-subsidies that keep competitors
out and inflate the cost to everyone else. I am
pleased that the President has made proposals
toward this end. But we must resist his efforts
to lump these kinds of invidious schemes with
much-needed efforts to protect our air and water,
to assure clean foods and safe products to prohibit
unsafe working conditions and unfair practices."
- 32 -
Regulatory Reform
UDALL (cont'd.)
In this speech, Udall also assigns a high priority
to reform of utility regulation, calling for
"lifeline" rates, peak load pricing, and termina-
tion of declining block rate structures and
automatic fuel adjustment clauses.
WALLACE
Wallace Material
"We must end all of this over-regulation that
prepared for
Common Cause
is destroying the happiness of our people, our
3/19/76
businessmen, our farmers and our unions. Big
government must go home and get out of the
lives and happiness of our people. The budget
can not be balanced so long as the bureaucracy
continues to bloat at the expense of the taxpayers. "
Business Week
2/23/76
According to Business Week, Wallace says, "I'm
opposed to government regulation that causes a
businessman to throw up his hands and say the
heck with it, the heck with spending all the
money he makes to hire people to fill out the
forms that government requires."
***
- 33 -
Transportation Policy
Common Cause has found no campaign statement on this issue by: Reagan
Brown and Church.
FORD
Boston Globe
On Feb. 5, President Ford signed the $6.4
2/6/76
billion Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory
Reform Act. The measure, a compromise between
the Administration and Congress, includes $1.6
billion to improve rail service in the Northeast
corridor and makes it possible to reorganize
bankrupt railroads in the Northeast and Midwest.
Ford said the measure "permits us to begin an
overdue program of improvements in rail pass-
enger service in the densely populated Northeast
Corridor. He also pointed out that the measure
will remove many unnecessary regulatory restrictions
which "for too long have hindered the ability
of our railroads to operate efficiently and
competitively. "
CARTER
Carter release
"The Highway Trust Fund has served as an out-
Highway Trust Funds
standing and successful mechanism for constructing
undated
an extensive and effective highway network in
the United States
"We need to reevaluate the Highway Trust Fund and
consider whether its past success might be extended
to other modes of transportation. What we need
most today is a balanced multi-modal approach to
maintaining and improving the nation's transporta-
tion system
"The concept of a total transportation trust fund
is especially appealing in that it would support
and facilitate this balanced approach. At the
same time, we need to review and change the complex
regulatory system with which our transport in-
dustries must contend."
New York Times
"I favor the allocation of Federal funds for mass
Interview with Carter
transit. In case the mass transit system has been
3/31/76
completed, then a city's allocation of their propor-
tion -- of its share -- could be used for operation
I think it's inevitable in the future that the
Federal Government increase its allocation of trans-
portation funds for rapid transit."
Transportation Policy
CARTER (cont'd.)
Carter release
Carter seems to approve in general the formation
Railroad Reorgani-
of Amtrak and Conrail. He continues:
zation
undated
"The problem of transportation services to
communities that are to be left without rail
service under Conrail makes evident that the
problem of railroad reorganization cannot be
analyzed in a vacuum but must be treated as one
part of a larger transportation problem. We
need a national comprehensive transportation policy
and it is obvious that the savings in fuel, oper-
ating, and pollution costs from intensive use of
railroads should provide them with a competitive
advantage over other forms of transportation
"The current transportation policy has been to
subsidize airports, highways and canals while
railroad roadbeds receive no subsidies for re-
construction. In addition, railroads pay a
greater proportion of their revenues in taxes on
their right-of-way facilities and have until
recently received little federal aid.
"It is no wonder then that the reorganization and
revitalization of our railroad system remains one
of the most important and pressing issues in
transportation today
"The key to success in railroad reorganization will
be establishment of a system which makes greater
use of inter-modal coordination and which provides
support for the substantial effort required to
put the system back in shape
Government policies
which provide a billion dollars a year for air
travel but demand that railroads pay their own
track and railbed expenses cannot continue."
- 35 -
Transportation Policy
UDALL
Udall Statement
I have proposed a Comprehensive Transportation
to Dem. Governors
Fund, financed by the revenue now going into
Conference
the Highway and Airport Trust Funds plus fuel
12/3/75
and user taxes on railroads and waterways.
The money would be used to rebuild our bat-
tered railroads, improve and expand mass
transit service, complete construction of the
Interstate Highway System, and for other
transportation needs.
Udall Statement
Udall elaborates on his CTF proposal project-
on the Highway
ing that revenues derived from transportation
Trust Fund
trust funds and user charges would amount to
(undated)
about $10 billion per year, and noting, "Most
important, highways, airports, railroads and
mass transit would all be subject to the
annual scrutiny of the appropriations process,
and would all take part in a healthy competi-
tion for the available funds. "
Udall continues, "Under the CTF, I would favor
adequate financing for completion of the es-
sential elements of the Interstate System, and
for urgently needed secondary roads. However,
I believe that Federal matching ratios for
non-essential highways should be substantially
reduced, and that funds for additional non-
essential roads be placed low on the list of
priorities.
"
"Funds should be made available for a variety
of programs to shift the current imbalance
in Federal support away from the automobile
and towards mass transit."
New York Times
Campaigning in New York City, Udall, according to the
3/24/76
Times, promised more Federal money for mass transit
systems such as the New York subways.
Udall Statement
"I believe that the best plan for attacking
on Railroad
this problem is that put forward by the New
Reorganization
England Regional Commission. Under the Com-
(undated)
mission's proposal, carriers would voluntarily
turn over their property to the government at
Transportation Policy
UDALL (cont'd)
no cost, in return for a long-term lease and
guaranteed maintenance. The economic benefits
of repaired railroad beds, the Commission
reasoned, would make this an attractive plan
for the carriers, as well as for the communi-
ties they serve. The government would lease
the property back to the companies and require
them, as a contractual obligation, to make all
the necessary repairs at government cost.
The railroads would maintain full control of
operations and employment and maintenance
workers would have to live up to the high
standards for maintenance spelled out in the
lease. 11
Udall continues: "The regional approach to
railroad structure cannot go on forever.
ConRail may result in a viable Northeastern
Railroad System, but many of the factors which
led to the Northeastern bankruptcies are
present, in a more subdued form, in railroads
all across the United States. Ultimately, I
believe that the best structure may well be
found in four to seven transcontinental
railroads, eliminating much (though not all)
of the redundancy and inefficiency of today's
largely regional systems. In the meantime,
we should not foreclose such future possibili-
ties by adopting a stringent anti-merger policy
or by locking in ConRail to a fixed set of
routes.
11
Udall also supports regulatory reforms in the
transportation sector: "Complete de-regula-
tion would lead to chaos, but expediting the
merger process somewhat, giving the railroads
the flexibility to raise or lower rates within
a moderate specified range without ICC inter-
ference, and preventing ICC blockage of promising
technological innovations, would all be good
policies.
"In addition, we need more equitable ICC regu-
lation of different transportation modes so
that railroads are not set at a disadvantage.
Most importantly, we need modification of
current ICC rate-setting policy which bases
prices on cargo value relative to weight,
and thereby unduly favors trucks over the more
fuel-efficient railroads. 11
- 37 -
Transportation Policy
WALLACE
Wallace materials
"I support the completion of our interstate
prepared for
highway system and the planning of new programs
Common Cause
that will improve this system. We must
3/19/76
prepare for increased population, increased
number of vehicles, and increased use of our
highways. The airline problems in our country
must be resolved. More and more Americans
use airlines for travel and it is urgent that
we expand the system and make it profitable.
We must not allow our airlines to go the way
of our railroads. The railway system must be
improved and can be improved with proper planning.
It is ridiculous that we allowed railways to
get in the state of affairs that they have.
The government should allow the free enterprise
system to operate completely in the transportation
field with as little governmental interference
as possible."
* * *
- 38 -
Economic Planning
FORD
Washington Post,
According to the Post, Ford rejects economic planning.
"Ford's Economic
In general, he sees such planning as just another
Views Pragmatic,"
intrusion of government in to the private sector.
5/2/76
REAGAN
Washington Post,
The Post quotes Reagan: "Planning scares the hell
"Reagan's Economic
out of me. It's the same thing that under Mussolini
Ideas"
they called fascism--or at least, it turns into
4/20/76
fascism.
"When the government plans--the more they have to
plan, the more they have to regulate."
BROWN
Thoughts
"The reason why everybody likes planning is because
Edmund G. Brown Jr.
nobody has to do anything."
City Lights
(Publisher)
...
1976
"All there is to planning is thinking ahead intel-
ligently. Planning has become a whole world by
which planners pad payrolls in the public sector
but do very little to provide a vision for where
we ought to be going.
They speak in the alphabet soup. Planning is just
wheel spinning. It proliferates options at the
highest level of abstraction such that no one can
perceive that very little is being said.
The thing that boggles my mind is when there's no
real clear thinking going on. I'm taking a hard
look at anybody who tells me he has a comprehensive
plan. I want to be able to read it and understand
it."
- 39 -
Economic Planning
CARTER
Carter statement,
Carter proposes that the federal government budget
"The Economy: An
on a three-year cycle, "rolling forward three
Economic Position
years at a time when the budget is prepared each
Paper for Now and
year," as a means improving both business and
Tomorrow, "
government planning.
April 1976
Carter continues:
"I oppose the type of rigid, bureaucratic centralized
planning characteristic of communist countries.
"But better general economic planning by govern-
ment is essential to insure a stable, sensible,
fair, humane economic policy, without the roller-
coaster dips and curves we have faced in the last
eight years. Government must plan ahead just like
any business
I favor coordinated government planning to attack
problems of structural unemployment, inflation,
environmental deterioration, exaggeration of economic
inequalities, natural resource limitations, and
obstructions to the operation of the free market
system.
I believe that this type of planning can be carried
out without the creation of a new bureaucracy,
but rather through well defined extensions of
existing bodies and techniques. I propose that
the role of the present Council of Economic Advisors
Advisors
be expanded to include this type of
coordinated planning and to deal with long range
problems of individual sectors fitted into an
overall economic plan for the economy as a whole,
as well as to deal with considerations of supply,
distribution, and performance in individual indus-
tries.
Many of the economic shocks of the past eight years
have come on the supply side of the economy. It is
imperative that we study ways to anticipate problems
rather than await their arrival and once again react
with ill-conceived solutions in a crisis environment.
Such detailed studies will be an important new task
for the Council of Economic Advisors.
- 40 -
Economic Planning
CARTER (cont'd)
We have no discernible economic goals. Goals must
be established and clearly enunciated, so that our
programs can be developed within a planned, orderly
context.
The techniques I have outlined can and will be
carried out within the framework of our present
private enterprise system, free market institutions
and administrative structures. 11
CHURCH
Issues and Answers
Church endorsed the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employ-
Interview with
ment Bill, which includes requirements for prepara-
Church
tion, by the President, of an annual economic
3/21/76
plan focused on reducing unemployment and maximizing
production potential.
UDALL
Udall Statement
Udall addresses planning in the context of
on Economic and
reaching full employment. He endorses the
Labor Issues
Humphrey-Hawkins bill, saying, "This bill
1/23/76
(the Equal Opportunity and Full Employment
Act of 1975) will establish the means to
reach full employment through planning,
stimulating the private sector, and public
employment."
- 41 -
Economic Planning
WALLACE
Wallace material
"Economic planning thus far has resulted in
prepared for
economic chaos. The government seems to be
Common Cause
fooled by its own statistics which are seldom
3/19/76
correct. For example, unemployment is higher
than statistics show and any citizen knows this.
The so-called rises and drops in food prices
are not accurate. When government says food
is going down, the housewife sees prices up.
And the increases are always more than the
government says. Washington economic planning
has failed because the government has played
games with its own figures. We need to get
back to common sense economic planning and end
this bureaucratic brain-washing program on the
economy that nobody really believes."
***