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- Része ennek White House Staff Member and Office Files (Nixon Administration), President's Office Files
Extracted text
OCR Page 1 of 29THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
"The Long War: Congress Vs The President"
CBS Special Report - 10-11 Monday, March 19, 1973
Rather and Mudd anchored show which had several major themes:
1) The historical battle between WH and Hill for power -- a battle
insured by founder S in deliberately setting the branches roughly equal
and all but ordering them to come out fighting -- which they have
done since 1789; 2) The serious talk on Hill of constitutional
crisis a "catastrophe, 11 Ervin called it in discussing what he
views as unprecedented WH grasp for power -- while RN's WH
says Hill attempts to create such an atmosphere because it's
opposed not to a strong exec per se, but to a strong GOP Pres
who, as JDE emphasized, is in tune w/public in urging cuts and
preventing tax rise; 3) Conflict over impoundment featured by
Muskie's sharp attack on Admin for taking advantage of flexibility
written ito the waterway cleanup act. 4) Conflict over Exec Priv.
w/RN said to have expanded to broadest degree ever. 5) Hill's
unequal status in staff and research capability as opposed to the
Exec. Branch.
After Mudd detailed reasons for growing belief on Hill that
this Pres has too much power, Rather presented WH view: US
still likes a strong Pres -- most of his life RN has seen strong
execs receiving applause and Hill objects now because this Pres
is trying to take US as far to right as FDR took it to left -- on
grounds that public wants that. WH thus feels problem w/Hill is
more political than constitutional.
Rather reviewed impoundment case now in courts -- the Mo.
hwy funds which both LBJ/RN held up as idle equipment and unfinished
bridges testify. Case is likely on way to Supreme Court tho it has
traditionally sidestepped such WH-Hill controversies.
Mudd then told of "another victim¹ of impoundment half of funds
for waterway cleanup called for in most comprehensive such act ever.
Roger emphasized how WH was given flexibility by Hill -- and it seized
on it. Muskie clip at length charging Admin w/using "tiny precedents
to build great houses" and taking flexibility SO far that Hill will be
more inflexible in future and force Admin to squirm for any leeway --
Ruck pointed out Hill had that chance before. Scott clip as he
pointed out there's not some great dam of greenbacks just waiting
to be exploded. Impoundment is thus misleading word and as for Hill
Relations
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