Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
118567540
label
[JGR/Appointee Clearances - 05/01/1985-06/30/1985]
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
118567540
contentType
document
title
[JGR/Appointee Clearances - 05/01/1985-06/30/1985]
citationUrl
identifierLocal
485
collections
Records of the Office of Counsel to the President (Reagan Administration)
John Roberts' Subject Files
thumbnailUrl
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
118567540
coverageEndDate
logicalDate
1986-12-31
year
1986
coverageStartDate
logicalDate
1982-01-01
year
1982
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
859465c1c323a345
ocrText
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Roberts, John G.: Files
Folder Title: [JGR/Appointee Clearances -
05/01/1985-06/30/1985]
Box: 3
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
Ronald Reagan Library
Collection Name ROBERTS, JOHN G.: FILES
Withdrawer
CAS
8/25/2005
File Folder
[JGR/APPOINTEE CLEARANCES - 05/01/1985-06/30/1985
FOIA
F05-139/01
Box Number
3
COOK
19 KDB
Doc
Doc Type
Document Description
No of
Doc Date Restrictions
No
Pages
1
MEMO
J. ROBERTS TO RICHARD HAUSER RE
1 5/6/1985 B6
367
PROSPECTIVE APPOINTEE (THIS
DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RELEASED IN
WHOLE)
2 LETTER
CHARLES WRIGHT TO FRED FIELDING
3 4/22/1985 B6
368
(PARTIAL)
3
MEMO
ROBERTS TO FIELDING RE POTENTIAL
1 5/28/1985 B6
369
PROBLEM APPOINTEES (PARTIAL)
4
MEMO
ROBERTS TO FIELDING, RE:
2 6/24/1985 B6
1174
APPOINTMENTS TO THE
COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS (PARTIAL)
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
B-1 National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
B-2 Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
B-3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
B-4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
B-6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
B-7 Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
B-8 Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
B-9 Release would disclose geological or geophysical information concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
E.O. 13233
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed of gift.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 6, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR RICHARD A. HAUSER
FROM:
JOHN G. ROBERTS JJR
SUBJECT:
Rock Schnabel
I discussed by telephone with Mr. Schnabel his various
affiliations with the Republic of South Africa. Mr.
Schnabel advised that he served as "honorary consul" for
South Africa from 1968 until he resigned in late 1980. His
duties consisted of representing South Africa and South
Africans, primarily in trade matters. According to Schnabel,
he would typically arrange introductions in the area for
companies from South Africa, and, less frequently, obtain
introductions for American companies interested in exports
to South Africa. Schnabel reported that this activity was a
volunteer one for which he received no compensation. He
stated that he accepted the role in 1968 in the hope that it
would generate investment banking business for him (although
it never did).
By 1980, according to Schnabel, much of the consulate
business was going to the official consul in San Francisco,
and so he resigned. An official consulate was opened in Los
Angeles shortly thereafter.
Schnabel was named a Commander in the South African Order of
Good Hope in 1981, a purely honorific post, in gratitude for
his years of service as an honorary consul. He is listed as
a Consul Emeritus solely to indicate for social purposes
that he served as an honorary consul. Schnabel has no
current active role for South Africa.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 6, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR ROBERT H. TUTTLE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING FFF/RAIA
All necessary clearances have been accomplished with regard to
the following individual and he is ready for formal nomination
by the President:
Edward J. Perkins - to be Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia
CC: Nancy Perot
Jane Dannenhauer
Richard Hauser
John Roberts
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 6, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR ROBERT H. TUTTLE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING FEFIRATA
All necessary clearances have been accomplished with regard to
the following individual and she is ready for appointment by the
President:
Naomi D. Zeavin - Member, John F. Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts Advisory Committee on the Arts
CC:
Nancy Perot
Jane Dannenhauer
John Roberts
Susan Borchard
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 8, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR FRED F. FIELDING
FROM:
JOHN G. ROBERTS $822
SUBJECT:
U.S. Institute of Peace
The U.S. Institute of Peace was established by Title 17 of
Public Law 98-525, the Department of Defense Authorization
Act for 1985. Pursuant to Section 1706 of that Act, codi-
fied at 22 U.S.C. $ 4605, the powers of the Institute are
vested in a Board of Directors. The Board consists of the
Secretary of State (or another State PAS designated by the
Secretary), the Secretary of Defense (or another Defense PAS
designated by the Secretary), the Director of the Arms
Control and Disarmament Agency (or another ACDA PAS design-
ated by the Director), the president of the National Defense
University (or the vice president, if the president so
designates), and eleven individuals, appointed by the
President, who are not U.S. Government officers or em-
ployees. Of the 15 Board members, no more than eight may be
of the same political party. Pursuant to Section 1706 (e) (3),
the President was to have submitted the names of the eleven
nominees no later than April 20, 1985. The law was enacted
on October 19, 1984, so this deadline was not unreasonable.
In the meantime, however, OMB has cleared and submitted to
the Hill a bill to amend the provisions governing the
Institute Board of Directors. Under the Administration
proposal, another ex officio member would be added -- the
Director of the Foreign Service Institute (or the Deputy
Director, if designated by the Director). The number of
Directors nominated by the President would be reduced to
ten, and the bipartisanship requirement would apply only to
those ten. I.e., under the proposed bill no more than five
of the ten nominated members may be of the President's
party, while under the existing statute no more than eight
of all 15 members (including those serving ex officio) may
be of the same political party.
Presidential Personnel has submitted a list of eleven
prospective nominees, six Republicans and five Democrats.
This means that, to comply with existing law, no more than
two of the four ex officio members (or designees) may be
Republicans. Since we are already violating the law by not
having submitted nominations by April 20, I think we must
form the Board under existing law and not delay any further
in the hope that new legislation will pass.
- 2 -
Before we can clear these nominees, then, it will be
necessary to determine the party affiliations of the ex
officio members, or the designees who will serve in their
place. I assume Democrats or Independents in PAS positions
can be found at State, Defense, and ACDA, and if at least
two are designated to serve on the Board the current list of
nominees can go forward. It is unusual to be worrying about
the political affiliations of ex officio members, but the
existing statute requires this. The proposed bill would
delete this requirement, but I do not think we can wait for
it to pass (if in fact it ever does).
Attachment
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 8, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR ROBERT TUTTLE
DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
DIRECTOR, PRESIDENTIAL PERSONNEL
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING F3/RAH
COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT:
U.S. Institute of Peace
Pursuant to 22 U.S.C. § 4605, the powers of the new U.S.
Institute of Peace are vested in a Board of Directors. The
Board is to consist of 15 members: four specified officers
of the U.S. Government (or their designees) and eleven
individuals nominated by the President who are not Federal
officers or employees. Of the 15, no more than eight may be
members of the same political party. Nominations were to
have been submitted by April 20, 1985.
The Administration has proposed legislation to amend these
provisions, increasing the number of ex officio members to
five, reducing the number of nominated individuals from
outside the Federal Government to ten, and applying the
bipartisanship requirement only to those ten. I am advised
that there is little reason to suppose that the Administration
bill will pass any time soon, if at all. Since we are
already in violation of the statute because of our failure
to submit nominations by April 20, it is my view that we
should submit a list of nominees consistent with existing
law. Since the bipartisanship requirement applies, under
existing law, to all 15 members of the Board, it will be
necessary to determine who will be filling the four ex
officio slots, and their party affiliations. If the current
list of eleven nominees from outside the Government is to go
forward, no more than two of the four ex officio members (or
designees) may be Republicans.
FFF:JGR:aea 5/8/85
CC: FFFielding
JGRoberts
Subj
Chron
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 8, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR ROBERT TUTTLE
DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
DIRECTOR, PRESIDENTIAL PERSONNEL
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT:
U.S. Institute of Peace
Pursuant to 22 U.S.C. § 4605, the powers of the new U.S.
Institute of Peace are vested in a Board of Directors. The
Board is to consist of 15 members: four specified officers
of the U.S. Government (or their designees) and eleven
individuals nominated by the President who are not Federal
officers or employees. Of the 15, no more than eight may be
members of the same political party. Nominations were to
have been submitted by April 20, 1985.
The Administration has proposed legislation to amend these
provisions, increasing the number of ex officio members to
five, reducing the number of nominated individuals from
outside the Federal Government to ten, and applying the
bipartisanship requirement only to those ten. I am advised
that there is little reason to suppose that the Administration
bill will pass any time soon, if at all. Since we are
already in violation of the statute because of our failure
to submit nominations by April 20, it is my view that we
should submit a list of nominees consistent with existing
law. Since the bipartisanship requirement applies, under
existing law, to all 15 members of the Board, it will be
necessary to determine who will be filling the four ex
officio slots, and their party affiliations. If the current
list of eleven nominees from outside the Government is to go
forward, no more than two of the four ex officio members (or
designees) may be Republicans.
FFF:JGR:aea 5/8/85
CC:
FFFielding
JGRoberts
Subj
Chron
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 9, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR ROBERT H. TUTTLE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
FFFIRALA
All necessary clearances have been accomplished with regard to
the following individual and he is ready for formal nomination
by the President:
Lannon Walker - to be Ambassador to the Republic of Senegal
CC:
Nancy Perot
Jane Dannenhauer
Richard Hauser
John Roberts
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 9, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR ROBERT H. TUTTLE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING FFF(RAIS
All necessary clearances have been accomplished with regard to
the following individual and he is ready for formal nomination
by the President:
Lewis A. Tambs - to be Ambassador to the Republic of Costa Rica
CC: Nancy Perot
Jane Dannenhauer
Richard Hauser
John Roberts
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 9, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR FRED F. FIELDING
FROM:
JOHN G. ROBERTS JJR
SUBJECT:
Charles Alan Wright
Charles Alan Wright, who recently completed a Personal Data
Statement (PDS) in connection with his prospective appoint-
ment to the Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S.
Constitution, has written to raise a question concerning the
interpretation of Question 8 of the PDS. Wright read the
entire question to be qualified by the last clause, "as a
result of any prior employment or business or professional
association, and therefore did not think that it sought
information about stock obtained in the usual way, i.e.,
through purchase. Wright's daughter contends the question
is not so qualified, but rather seeks information on all
stock ownership. Wright contends this is "grammatically
impossible."
Since I did not draft the PDS questions, I can be objective.
Wright's wrong; it is his reading that is "grammatically
impossible." For the final clause to modify anything other
than "other arrangement" there would have to be a comma
after "other arrangement." Even then, the most the final
clause could reasonably be considered to modify would be the
"including" language, not all of the sentence. The normal
reading of the sentence would view the "including" language
to describe "other arrangements," and the final clause to
modify "other arrangement" in the "including" clause.
Wright's reading is not only wrong but "gramatically im-
possible" because of the two "other arrangements" in the
sentence -- if the final clause modified all that precedes
it, rather than simply the last "other arrangement," it
would modify "other arrangement" twice. Just as statutes
should be interpreted to avoid an unconstitutional reading,
so too sentences should be interpreted to avoid a redundant
reading.
Out of respect the attached draft response notes the question
may not be a model of clarity, but goes on to offer the
above interpretation and concludes by noting, as Wright has
so often himself, that we should be guided by the intent of
the Framers.
Attachment
-2-
names of any other organizations with which you were
affiliated prior to the past three years that might
present a potential conflict or appearance of conflict of
interest with your prospective appointment. (Please note
that in the case of an attorney's client listing, it is
only necessary to provide the names of major clients and
those that might present a potential conflict or appear-
ance of conflict of interest with the prospective appoint-
ment).
Those organizational affiliations that you plan to
continue during your Government service should be noted
with an asterisk.
8. The names of all corporations, firms or other business
enterprises, partnerships, nonprofit organizations and
educational or other institutions in which you presently
have any continuing financial interest through ownership
of stock, stock options, bonds or other arrangements,
including a trust, pension or retirement plan, stock
bonus, profit-sharing or other arrangement as a result of
any prior employment or business or professional associa-
tion. Also supply such details as are necessary for a
thorough understanding of such continuing financial
interests. Any interests you plan to retain during your
Government service should be noted with an asterisk. (If
the position to which you are being appointed requires
the filing of an Executive Personnel Financial Disclosure
Report ["Standard Form 278"], you may omit this question.)
9. The names of any creditors (other than those to whom you
may be indebted by reason of a mortgage on property used
as a personal residence, or for current and ordinary
living expenses), setting forth the amount of such debt
and any additional information deemed relevant to explain
the transaction. (If the position to which you are being
appointed requires the filing of a Standard Form 278, you
may omit this question. Regardless of whether you are
required to file a Standard Form 278, however, please
include [and so note] any debts for which you are contin-
gently liable, loans on which you are a guarantor, etc.)
10. The names of any debtors, setting forth the amount owed
to you and any additional information deemed relevant to
explain the transaction. You need not include loans to
your spouse, dependents or siblings for non-business
purposes. Please exclude all debts under $5,000.
11. All your interests in real property, other than a
personal residence, setting forth the nature of your
interest, the type of property and the address.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 9, 1985
Dear Charlie:
Thank you for your letter of April 22, which put me in the
unenviable position of having to decide a family dispute
over grammar. I should begin by conceding that this office
has never received any compliments on the grammatical
clarity of the Personal Data Statement. The questions
evolved through a process of accretion as the need for
additional information became evident from time to time.
This process is, as you might imagine, not the most con-
ducive to clarity.
Having said this I must side with your daughter's reading of
Question 8. If the final words were to modify the entire
opening sentence, one would certainly expect a comma after
"other arrangement." Even then the words would probably
only modify the "including" clause. The clincher, in my
view, is the fact that the words "other arrangements" appear
in the sentence prior to the words "other arrangement" that
immediately precede the final words. If the final words
qualified the entire sentence, they would qualify "other
arrangement" twice. Just as statutes should be interpreted
to avoid an unconstitutional reading, so too sentences
should be interpreted to avoid such a redundant reading.
To the extent the intent of the Framers is pertinent in this
context, it was in fact our intent to solicit information
about all stock holdings, whether or not they resulted from
any prior employment or business or professional association.
That is, we intended the final words to modify "other
arrangement." The fact that we failed to convey this intent
clearly suggests that it may be time to consider revising
the questions. Thank you for alerting me to this possible
confusion, and for providing all the information we need in
response to Question 8.
Sincerely,
Orig. signed by FFF
Fred F. Fielding
Counsel to the President
Professor Charles Alan Wright
FFF:JGR:aea 5/9/85
School of Law
bcc: FFFielding
The University of Texas at Austin
JGRoberts
727 East 26th Street
Subj
Austin, TX 78705
Chron
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 9, 1985
Dear Charlie:
Thank you for your letter of April 22, which put me in the
unenviable position of having to decide a family dispute
over grammar. I should begin by conceding that this office
has never received any compliments on the grammatical
clarity of the Personal Data Statement. The questions
evolved through a process of accretion as the need for
additional information became evident from time to time.
This process is, as you might imagine, not the most con-
ducive to clarity.
Having said this I must side with your daughter's reading of
Question 8. If the final words were to modify the entire
opening sentence, one would certainly expect a comma after
"other arrangement." Even then the words would probably
only modify the "including" clause. The clincher, in my
view, is the fact that the words "other arrangements" appear
in the sentence prior to the words "other arrangement" that
immediately precede the final words. If the final words
qualified the entire sentence, they would qualify "other
arrangement" twice. Just as statutes should be interpreted
to avoid an unconstitutional reading, so too sentences
should be interpreted to avoid such a redundant reading.
To the extent the intent of the Framers is pertinent in this
context, it was in fact our intent to solicit information
about all stock holdings, whether or not they resulted from
any prior employment or business or professional association.
That is, we intended the final words to modify "other
arrangement." The fact that we failed to convey this intent
clearly suggests that it may be time to consider revising
the questions. Thank you for alerting me to this possible
confusion, and for providing all the information we need in
response to Question 8.
Sincerely,
Fred F. Fielding
Counsel to the President
Professor Charles Alan Wright
FFF: JGR:aea 5/9/85
School of Law
bcc: FFFielding
The University of Texas at Austin
JGRoberts
727 East 26th Street
Subj
Austin, TX 78705
Chron
VI'
LAW
STATE
OF
THE
TEXT
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
$23
AUS
NEW
727 East 26th Street Austin, Texas 78705 (512)471-5151
April 22, 1985
Mr. Fred F. Fielding
Counsel to the President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Fred:
This is by way of supplement to my letter to you of April 16th and my
response to the Personal Data Statement.
Although Republicans and Democrats differ on many things, it would not
have occurred to me that the differences between the two great parties extend
even to how the rules of grammar extend to the construction of an English
sentence. Apparently I was wrong.
I sent a copy both of the questionnaire and of my response to my
daughter. Before she went to law school she worked for two years at the White
House as assistant to Sarah Weddington, and I thought she would be interested
in seeing how these matters are handled by the present Administration. She
called me questioning why I had not listed any stock holdings in my response.
I said that I had thought I would be expected to provide that information in
question 7, but when I studied it concluded that it did not require a listing
of stock, unless a very small stock interest should be thought to make me the
"owner," which seemed unlikely. She says, however, that it was Question 8 that
she had in mind. It had never occurred to me that Question 8 reaches stock
bought in the public market. I thought, and still think, that the entire
opening sentence of 8 is qualified by its final words, "as a result of any
prior employment or business or professional association."
Neither my wife nor I have any stock as a result of any such association.
Henny contends, however, that the closing words modify "pension or retirement
plan, stock bonus, profit-sharing or other arrangement", but that they do not
qualify "ownership of stock." I insisted that that was gramatically
impossible, but she says that in dealing with government one must try to
fathom what it wants to know rather than what, as a matter of precise reading,
it has asked. (This sounds to me like exactly the "government knows best"
attitude against which the citizenry rebelled in vast numbers in the 1980 and
1984 elections.)
you
and
information
FOIA(b)(6)
FOIA(b)(")
I continue to hope,
however, that I was right and my daughter wrong in interpreting what it was
you were asking.
Sincerely,
Charlie
Charles Alan Wright
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
May 14, 1985
The President today announced his intention to nominate Lewis
Arthur Tambs to be Ambassador of the United States of America to
the Republic of Costa Rica. He would succeed Curtin Windsor, Jr.
Mr. Tambs served in the United States Army in 1945-1947 and in
1950-1951. In 1953-1954 he was an Assistant Plant Engineer at
Standard Brands, Incorporated in San Francisco, California. He was
in Venezuela as Pipeline Engineer at Creole Petroleum (1954-1957)
and General Manager of CACYP-Instalaciones Petroleras (1957-1959).
In 1960-1961 he was Cryogenic Small Piping Designer at AirReduction
Corporation in San Francisco. He was Teaching and Research
Assistant at the University of California at Berkeley (1961-1964)
and Instructor, then Assistant Professor of History at Creighton
University in Omaha, Nebraska (1965-1969). In 1969-1982 he was
with Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona as Assistant
Professor (1975-1982). Mr. Tambs was a Lecturer in Brazilian
History, American Graduate School of International Management at
Thunderbird Campus in Glendale, Arizona in 1973-1979; Visiting
Professor of Latin American History at the University of Arizona
Summer School in Guadalajara, Mexico in 1974-1976, and Lecturer,
Eighteenth Annual Institute for the Study of Comparative Politics
and Ideologies at the University of Colorado in Boulder, 1982. In
1972-1975 he was also Director of the Center for Latin American
Studies. He was a Consultant to the National Security Council at
the White House in 1982-1983, and from 1983 to the present has been
our Ambassador to the Republic of Colombia.
He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley
(B.S.I.E., 1953) and the University of California at Santa Barbara
(M.A., 1962; Ph.D., 1967). His foreign languages are Spanish and
Portuguese. He is married to the former Phyllis Greer and has five
daughters.
###
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
May 14, 1985
The President today announced his intention to appoint Naomi Zeavin
to be a Member of the Advisory Committee on the Arts (John F.
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts). This is an initial
appointment.
Mrs. Zeavin is President of UR Unique, a marketing and public
relations firm, in Falls Church, Virginia. She is a former author,
actress, producer and director and has worked for JBS Productions.
She served as a Member of the American Federations Television &
Radio Association (AFTRA), Screen Actors Guild, Women in Film and
Women's Committee in AFTRA. She produced, wrote and directed the
film Journey to Augustow in Poland for PBS. In 1980-1984 she was
appointed by Governor Dalton to serve on the Board of Visitors for
the two Deaf and Blind Schools of Virginia.
She attended Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. She is
married, has four children and resides in Falls Church, Virginia.
She was born March 12, 1933 in New Britain, Connecticut.
# # #
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 17, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR DIANNA G. HOLLAND
FROM:
JOHN G. ROBERTS DR
SUBJECT:
Appointment of Mildred Teas to the
Library of Congress Trust Fund Board
Pursuant to 2 U.S.C. $ 154 the Library of Congress Trust
Fund Board consists of the Secretary of the Treasury (or an
Assistant Secretary designated by the Secretary), the
chairman of the Joint Committee on the Library, the Libra-
rian of Congress, and two persons appointed by the Presi-
dent. The Trust Fund Board accepts, holds, and administers
gifts for the benefit of the Library of Congress. 2 U.S.C.
$ 156.
Mrs. Teas is a housewife, and a member of the Dallas
Historical Society and the Executive Committee of Texans
for the Republic. Although she does not appear to have any
particular qualifications for this post, I have no legal
objection to proceeding with the appointment.
Attachment
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 24, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR DAVID L. CHEW
STAFF SECRETARY
FROM:
ASSOCIATE COUNSEL PR THE PRESIDENT
JOHN G. ROBERTS
SUBJECT:
Nomination for Posthumous Promotion
of Major Arthur D. Nicholson, USA
Counsel's Office has reviewed the proposed nomination of
Major Arthur D. Nicholson for posthumous promotion to
lieutenant colonel, and finds no objection to it from a
this
legal perspective. Detailed statutory procedures do exist
for normal promotions, but the President retains authority
under the Constitution to submit nominations outside those
procedures. Precedent for the exercise of this authority
may be found in the routine promotion of astronauts after
4
their space flights. In those cases the constitutional
authority is cited.
Are you after sure 1
constitute
3
wg! power Recipied is
$
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 28, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR ROBERT H. TUTTLE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
All necessary clearances have been accomplished with regard to
the following individual and she is ready for appointment by the
President:
Mildred Teas - Member, Library of Congress Trust Fund Board
CC:
Nancy Perot
Jane Dannenhauer
John Roberts
Susan Borchard
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 28, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR FRED F. FIELDING
FROM:
JOHN G. ROBERTS J2R
SUBJECT:
Potential Problem Appointees
The following is in response to your request at this morning's
staff meeting for a list of potential problem appointees
currently in clearance:
FOIA(b) (6)
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 28, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR RICHARD A. HAUSER
FROM:
JOHN G. ROBERTS 882R
SUBJECT:
Prospective Appointment of Jack Edwards
to the Permanent Joint Board on Defense,
United States and Canada
Kathleen Buck advises that the Joint Board will make decisions
on specific defense procurement matters, particularly in the
missile, radar, and aircraft areas. It will not be merely
advisory, nor will it deal with solely broad policy matters.
Jack Edwards has several major defense contractors as
clients, and has expressed an unwillingness to cease repre-
senting them to serve as Chairman of the Joint Board. Since
the position is not as a member of a collegial body, Edwards
could not avoid conflicts problems by selective recusal.
Accordingly, this appointment may not go forward.
I have attached for reference the rather obscure enabling
documents for the Joint Board.
Attachment
VOL. I; p. 1040
PERMANENT JOINT BOARD ON DEFENSE, UNITED STATES AND CANADA
Department of State
AUTHORITY:
Board was established by the United States and Canada
in pursuance of an announcement by the President
and the Prime Minister of Canada, August 17, 1940
Letter dated February 26, 1954, from the President to
the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense
METHOD:
Appointed by the President
MEMBERS:
The Chairman only is appointed by the President.
The representative of the Department of State and
the representatives of the military departments of
the Department of Defense are appointed by the
Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense,
respectively.
CHAIRMAN:
Appointed by the President
TERM:
Pleasure of the President
SALARY:
Without compensation
80. Joint Canada-U.S. Defense Board
80 [White House Statement on Establishment
of Joint Board on Defense of Canada and the
United States. August 18, 1940
THE Prime Minister of Canada and the President have dis-
cussed the mutual problems of defense in relation to the safety
of Canada and the United States.
It has been agreed that a Permanent Joint Board on Defense
shall be set up at once by the two countries.
This Permanent Joint Board on Defense shall commence im-
mediate studies relating to sea, land and air problems including
personnel and matériel.
It will consider in the broad sense the defense of the north
half of the Western Hemisphere.
The Permanent Joint Board on Defense will consist of four
or five members from each country, most of them from the serv-
ices. It will meet shortly.
NOTE: The foregoing statement
ton, Halifax, San Francisco, Vic-
was issued after a conference be-
toria, B. C., and Vancouver, B. C.,
tween the Canadian Prime Minis-
New York, Montreal, and Buffalo.
ter, the Right Honorable W. L.
Various recommendations and
Mackenzie King, and myself in Au-
reports relating to defense plans
gust, 1940. I had invited him, while
have been submitted to the United
I was on an inspection tour of some
States and Canada by this board.
defense establishments near the Ca-
Obviously, these cannot be made
nadian border, to meet with me
public because of existing military
and discuss problems of defense
considerations.
common to Canada and the United
The adoption of these joint de-
States.
fense efforts is another proof of the
A few days later, the members
solidarity existing among the
of the Permanent Joint Board on
American Republics, which has
Defense United States and Can-
been even more closely cemented
ada, were appointed. They held
by the danger and threat which
their first meeting on August 26,
loom up from the swift movement
1940, in Ottawa; and thereafter
of events in Europe and in the Far
held meetings in Washington, Bos-
East.
COPY
February 26, 1954
ky dear Mr. Secretary:
The Secretary of State is authorized to make
necessary changes hereafter tc the United States
State Department Membership on the Permanent
Joint Roard on Defense, Canada-United States.
Py separate correspondence the Secretary of
Defense has been authorized to make necessary
changes to that Department's membership.
This change in trocedure will not affect the appoint-
ment by the President. of the Chairman of the U. S.
Section.
Sincerelv.
DWIGHT D. RISENHCEFE
The Honorable John Foster Dulles
The Secretary of State
Washington, D.
C.
cc: Commander Feach
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 30, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR ROBERT H. TUTTLE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
All necessary clearances have been accomp Lished with regard to
the following individual and he is ready for formal nomination
by the President:
George C. Montgomery - to be Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman
CC: Nancy Perot
Jane Dannenhauer
Richard Hauser
John Roberts
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
June 3, 1985
The President today announced his intention to appoint Mildred Lois
Nichols Teas to be a Member of the Library of Congress Trust Fund
Board for the term of five years from March 9, 1985. She will
succeed Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard.
Mrs. Teas is a member of the Kent Waldrep International Spinal Cord
Research Foundation. She serves on the Executive Committee of
Texans for the Republic and as a member of the Dallas Historical
Society.
She is married, has one child and resides in Dallas, Texas. She
was born October 8, 1935 in Cisco, Texas.
# # #
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 5, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR ROBERT H. TUTTLE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
The following individual is ready for designation by the Presi-
dent:
Peter H. Dailey - to be the United States National Chairman for
United Nations Day 1985
-
-
E
CC: Nancy Perot
Jane Dannenhauer
Richard Hauser
John Roberts
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Birmingham, Alabama)
For Immediate Release
June 6, 1985
The President today announced his intention to appoint Peter H.
Dailey to be the United States National Chairman for United
Nations Day, 1985. He would succeed Theodore Burtis.
Mr. Dailey is currently Chairman of Enniskerry Financial Company
and President of the World Business Council. Previously, he was
United States Ambassador to Ireland (1982-84) and Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Dailey International
Group in Los Angeles (1968-82). He was Senior Vice President and
Director, Western and Far Eastern Regions of Campbell Ewald
Company in 1964-68. He served as Vice President of Foote, Cone
and Belding in 1963-64.
Mr. Dailey served in the United States Navy in 1954-56. He
graduated from the University of California (B.S., 1954). He is
married, has five children and resides in Los Angeles,
California. He was born May 1, 1930, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
# # #
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 6, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR ROBERT H. TUTTLE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING FFF/dgm
All necessary clearances have been accomplished with regard to
the following individuals and they are ready for appointment to
the Commission on the Bicententennial of the Constitution:
Frederick K. Biebel
Herbert Brownell
Lynne A. Cheney
The Honorable Philip M. Crane
The Honorable William J. Green
The Honorable Cornelia G. Kennedy
Harry M. Lightsey, Jr.
Edward P. Morgan
Betty S. Murphy
Thomas H. O'Connor
Phyllis Schlafly
Bernard H. Siegan
The Honorable Theodore F. Stevens
Obert C. Tanner
Ronald H. Walker
The Honorable Charles E. Wiggins
Charles A. Wright
CC: Nancy Perot
Jane Dannenhauer
John Roberts
Susan Borchard
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 10, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR DIANNA G. HOLLAND
FROM:
JOHN G. ROBERTS
SUBJECT:
Appointments of David M. Walters and
Calvin M. Whitesell to the Franklin
Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission
I have reviewed the Personal Data Statements submitted by
David Walters and Calvin Whitesell in connection with their
prospective appointments to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Memorial Commission. Pursuant to Public Law 84-372, 69
Stat. 694 (1955), the President may appoint four members to
this Commission. The President of the Senate appoints four
senators and the Speaker of the House appoints four repre-
sentatives. The function of the Commission is to consider
and report on plans for an FDR memorial in Washington.
David Walters served as the President's Personal Representative
to the Holy See, 1977-1978, and is currently President of
the Miami Children's Hospital Foundation. Calvin Whitesell
is an attorney from Montgomery, Alabama. Both were active
in Democrats for Reagan. I have no objection to either
appointment.
Attachment
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 13, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR ROBERT H. TUTTLE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
All necessary clearances have been accomplished with regard to
the following individual and he is ready for formal nomination
by the President:
Thomas Anthony Nassif - to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of
Morocco
CC: Nancy Perot
Jane Dannenhauer
Richard Hauser
John Roberts
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 19, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR ROBERT H. TUTTLE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
x
All necessary clearances have been accomplished with regard to
the following individual and he is ready for appointment by the
President:
David M. Walters - Member, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Commission
CC: Nancy Perot
Jane Dannenhauer
John Roberts
Susan Borchard
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 24, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR FRED F. FIELDING
FROM:
JOHN G. ROBERTS
SUBJECT:
Prospective Nomination of John Blane
to be Ambassador to Chad
I have reviewed the SF-278 and related materials submitted
by John Blane in connection with his prospective nomination
to be Ambassador to Chad. Ambassador Blane is a career
Foreign Service Officer, and was confirmed in 1982 as
Ambassador to Rwanda.
The only issue raised by his materials concerns his decision
to join Amnesty International in 1983. My concern was not
that this organization issues reports highly critical of the
United States Government, but, more significantly, that it
could well issue reports critical of Chad during Mr. Blane's
tenure there as our ambassador. I would think such an
eventuality -- having our ambassador listed as a member of
an organization criticizing the host country -- could be
very embarrassing to our envoy and prejudicial to the
effective representation of the President and the United
States. I raised this concern with Mr. Hauser, who suggested
I share it with Ambassador Wes Egan in the Office of the
Deputy Secretary of State. Egan, in turn, expressed his
view that the matter should be raised with the State Legal
Adviser's Office.
I thereupon shared my concerns with Bill Gressman of the
Legal Adviser's office, stressing that we were not interested
in the private affiliations of Foreign Service Officers, but
that this particular affiliation might give rise to a
conflict of interest. Gressman discussed the matter with
Knute Malmborg, who concluded that State should do nothing.
Malmborg noted that Blane was a member only and not an
officer, and that established rules precluded use of his
title in organizational listings. I was not particularly
satisfied with this response, but am not inclined to pursue
the matter directly with Blane if State will not do so.
There is too great a danger that Blane will perceive the
White House as trying to inhibit his rights of free ex-
pression, which is not at all the case. I told Gressman
that we would rely on the judgment of his office that
nothing should be done. This will afford us some security
in the event of an embarrassment.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 24, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR FRED F. FIELDING
FROM:
JOHN G. ROBERTS JJR
SUBJECT:
Appointment of Edward Victor Hill
to the Commission on the Bicentennial
of the Constitution
My memorandum for you of April 25 (copy attached) reviewed
the statutory scheme for appointments to the Bicentennial
Commission. Reverend Hill is the pastor of a Baptist church
in Los Angeles. He has been active in the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference, the NAACP, and the Moral Majority.
The Reverend also has several real estate investments in the
Los Angeles area. He has served on the Private Sector
Initiatives Task Force, and is widely identified as a black
supporter of the President.
I have no legal objection to proceeding with this appointment,
although, as is true with respect to many other prospective
appointees to this Commission, I question whether Reverend
Hill has the sort of qualifications envisioned by Congress
when it established this Commission.
Attachment
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 25, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR FRED F. FIELDING
FROM:
JOHN G. ROBERTS JJR
SUBJECT:
Appointments to the Commission
on the Bicentennial of the United
States Constitution
Pursuant to Section 4 (a) of Public Law 98-101, 97 Stat. 719
(1983), the President is authorized to appoint 20 of the 23
members of the Commission (the Chief Justice, Speaker of the
House, and President pro tempore of the Senate are appointed
by statute). Of the 20 Presidential appointees, four are to
be chosen from recommendations submitted by the Speaker,
four from recommendations submitted by the President pro
tempore, and four from recommendations submitted by the
Chief.
Recommendations of the Speaker
Lynne Cheney, Senior Editor of The Washingtonian,
wife of Congressman Dick Cheney of Wyoming.
Thomas Henry O'Connor, Professor of History at Boston
College.
William Joseph Green, Philadelphia attorney, former
Congressman and Mayor of Philadelphia.
Congressman Philip M. Crane (R-IL).
The only difficulty with these appointments involves the
appointment of Crane, a sitting member of Congress. As you
know, the President stated when he signed the bill establishing
the Commission that "in view of the Incompatibility Clause
of the Constitution, any member of Congress appointed by me
pursuant to section 4 (a) (1) of this Act may serve only in a
ceremonial or advisory capacity." (This concern is distinct
from the concerns surrounding the role of the Chief Justice,
which did not involve the Incompatibility Clause but separation
of powers more generally.)
Recommendations of the President pro tempore
Harry M. Lightsey, Dean of the University of South
Carolina School of Law.
- 2 -
Edward P. Morgan, sole practitioner in Washington,
D.C.
Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).
Senator Wendell Ford (D-KY).
I have reviewed the Personal Data Statements submitted by
Messrs. Lightsey and Morgan, and have no objection to
proceeding with their appointments. I have received nothing
from the Senators. They would be subject to the same
limitations discussed above with respect to Congressman
Crane.
Recommendations of the Chief Justice
Charles Wiggins, U.S. Circuit Judge, Ninth Circuit.
Cornelia Kennedy, U.S. Circuit Judge, Sixth Circuit.
Herbert Brownell, Of Counsel to Lord, Day & Lord,
former Attorney General.
O.C. Tanner, founder and chairman of O.C. Tanner
Company, attorney.
I have reviewed Personal Data Statements submitted by all of
the foregoing and have no objection to the appointments.
Service of sitting Federal judges does raise separation of
powers concerns, but as those were overcome in appointing
the Chief as Chairman I see no purpose to be served by
raising them now.
Presidential Choices
Bernard Siegan, Professor of Law, University of San
Diego School of Law.
Fred Biebel, Executive Vice President of the Inter-
national Republican Cooperation Fund.
Betty S. Murphy, partner in Baker & Hostetler.
Phyllis Schlafly, President of Eagle Forum.
Ron Walker, partner in Korn/Ferry International.
Charles Alan Wright, Professor of Law, University of
Texas.
- 3 -
Russel Kirk, author.
D ?
Kirk has yet to submit a PDS. Of the others, some, such as
Schlafly, will obviously be controversial. Siegan's writings
on the Constitution advance a theory of economic liberty
that will be controversial to many constitutional law
scholars. Wright is an attorney for Tavoulareas in the
controversial Tavoulareas V. Washington Post case. Ron
Walker was a consultant in 1975 for Saudi Arabia. I tele-
phoned him to alert him to the prohibitions of 18 U.S.C.
§ 219, and he advised that he was not now registered as a
foreign agent and saw no likelihood that he would be in a
position to register in the future.
In sum, we can proceed with the appointments of Cheney,
O'Connor, Green, Crane, Lightsey, Morgan, Wiggins, Kennedy,
Brownell, Tanner, Siegan, Biebel, Murphy, Schlafly, Walker,
and Wright. We can add Senators Stevens and Ford if you
wish to dispense with PDS's from them. Kirk should not be
announced until he submits a PDS. Finally, there is still a
remaining slot on which I have no information.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 24, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR DIANNA G. HOLLAND
FROM:
JOHN G. ROBERTS Jrd
SUBJECT:
Appointment of Stanley M. Freehling
to the President's Committee on the
Arts and Humanities
The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities was
established by Executive Order 12367 (June 15, 1982) to
increase private sector support for the arts and the human-
ities. The Committee consists of several ex officio members
and "not more than twenty persons who are not full-time
officers or employees of the Federal Government ("non-Federal
members"), who shall be appointed by the President and shall
be selected from among private individuals and State and
local public officials who have a demonstrated interest in
and commitment to support for the arts or the humanities."
The Committee reports to the President, the National Endow-
ment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Mr. Freehling is a partner in a stock brokerage firm. He
has been very active in the arts, serving as trustee of the
Chicago Symphony, and chairman of the Goodman Theatre, the
Illinois Public Arts Commission, and the Art Institute Film
Center. He is also vice-chairman of the Art Institute. He
clearly satisfies the above-quoted criteria, and I have no
objection to proceeding with this appointment.
Attachment
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 12, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR ROBERT H. TUTTLE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
All necessary clearances have been accomplished with regard to
the following individual and he is ready for appointment by the
President:
Stanley Freehling - Member, President's Committee on the
Arts and Humanities
CC:
Catherine Bedell
Jane Dannenhauer
John Roberts
Susan Borchard
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 24, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR DIANNA G. HOLLAND
FROM:
JOHN G. ROBERTS JJR
SUBJECT:
Appointment of Donald A. Schwartz
to the Board of Directors, Federal
Prison Industries, Inc.
I have reviewed the Personal Data Statement submitted by
Donald Schwartz in connection with his prospective appoint-
ment to the Board of Directors of Federal Prison Industries,
Inc. The President is authorized by 18 U.S.C. § 4121 to
appoint the six members of this Board, representing (1)
industry, (2) labor, (3) agriculture, (4) retailers and
consumers, (5) the Secretary of Defense, and (6) the
Attorney General. The Board supervises penal employment
programs for Federal prisoners.
Mr. Schwartz is the President of Medallic Art Company, as
well as several other closely-held corporations. He is a
Past President of the Rotary Club of New York City. He
would serve on the Board as a representative of industry. I
have no objection to this appointment.
Attachment
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 24, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR DIANNA G. HOLLAND
FROM:
JOHN G. ROBERTS 870
SUBJECT:
Appointments of Steven A. Diaz and
William J. Tangye to the Architectural and
Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
Pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 792 (a) (1) (A) the President is
authorized to appoint eleven members to this Board from the
general public, of whom five shall be handicapped individuals.
Reappointments are authorized, but no member may be reappointed
more than once without a hiatus of at least two years in
Board service. It is the function of the Board to ensure
compliance with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 and
to explore and report on various issues relating to access
by the handicapped. See 29 U.S.C. $ 792 (b).
William J. Tangye is a professional engineer and Executive
Vice President of the Southern Building Code Congress
International. The Congress is a professional organization
that establishes construction standards for the building
industry. Steven Diaz was, until recently, Deputy City
Attorney of San Francisco, and is now a partner in a private
law firm. There is no indication that either Mr. Tangye or
Mr. Diaz is handicapped, so they cannot be counted toward
satisfying the handicapped quota on this Board. I have no
objection to either appointment.
Attachment
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 24, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR FRED F. FIELDING
FROM:
JOHN G. ROBERTS
8/26
SUBJECT:
Appointments of Carolyn Deaver, Roy Matz
Goodman, and Diane Wolf to the Commission
of Fine Arts
The Commission of Fine Arts was established in 1910 "to
advise upon the location of statues, fountains, and monu-
ments in the public squares, streets, and parks in the
District of Columbia, and upon the selection of models for
statues, fountains, and monuments erected under the authority
of the United States and upon the selection of artists for
the execution of the same". 40 U.S.C. § 104. The Commission
is also charged with giving general advise on questions of
art when directed to do so by the President or any congres-
sional committee. Id. The President is authorized to
appoint "seven well-qualified judges of the fine arts" to
the Commission, for terms of four years. Id.
Diane Wolf, 31, describes herself variously as "currently
self-employed" and "unemployed.
"
Bire was the founder and is the chairman of
the Metropolitan Museum of Art Junior Committee, and has
served as coordinator of special programs at the Brooklyn
FOIA(b)
5
Museum and on the Friends Council of the Whitney Museum.
Her parents are major benefactors of the Metropolitan
Museum of Art in New York.
B6
Roy Goodman has been a New York state senator since 1968.
He is Chairman of the State Senate Special Committee on the
Culture Industry (concerned with state support for the arts)
and a Fellow for Life of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
06
- 2 -
Carolyn Deaver is a consultant with Mary Pettus & Associates.
Her bachelors degree was in art, she served on the California
Arts Commission, is a Council member of the Phillips Collection,
and is a member of the Cafritz Foundation.
B6
As evidenced by the attached article, the Commission enjoys
an excellent reputation, and many familiar with its work may
object to the plans to purge it of its current members and
replace them with Reaganites.
BL
This is the first batch of replacements.
B6
We can clear these three, but I recommend
advising Personnel not to announce the appointments until we
can clear the next batch of names. We are awaiting PDS's
from them.
(FDIA(b) (6)
Attachment
WASHINGTON POST: May 18, 1985
Cityscape
Guardian of Grandeur
Root, another strong supporter of the McMil-
75 Years of the Commission of Fine Arts
lan plan, "I'll never let a memorial to Abra-
ham Lincoln be erected in that God damned
swamp." He lost that battle, too. In one of its
first acts the newly constituted Commission
By Benjamin Forgey
of Fine Arts argued persuasively for the iso-
Washington Post Staff Writer
lated site in then-swampy Potomac Park.
On May 17, 1910, under the sig-
cised such beneficent power-remains intrigu-
These two crucial victories set the stage
natures of J.G. Cannon, speaker of
ing. One large reason is the continuity of its
for the monumental core of the city as we
the House of Representatives, and
leadership-the commission has had but sev-
know it today-the one established the build-
J.S. Sherman, vice president of the
en chairmen-and its quality.
ing line for the stretch of the Mall from the
United States, a statute creating a
J. Carter Brown, the distinguished connois-
Capitol to 15th Street, and thereby permitted
permanent Commission of Fine
seur (he's also director of the National Gal-
the elm trees to be planted in the 1930s. The
Arts "to advise upon the location of
lery of Art) with the fine eye for architecture
other locked into place the western terminus
statues, fountains, and monuments
and urban design, has held the chairmanship
of the spacious, symbolic ensemble that ex-
in the public squares, streets, and
since 1971. When he stated recently that
tends from the equestrian statue of Gen.
parks in the District of Columbia"
"Washington is quite simply the most beau-
Grant in the east, past the Washington Mon-
became law.
tiful city in the world," he was carrying on a
ument to the Lincoln Memorial.
Sherman signed the measure in
notable tradition: Each of his predecessors
has held similarly educated, impassioned be-
The commission's great achievements in
his capacity as president of the Sen-
ate and as agent for President Wil-
liefs concerning the uniqueness and impor-
ensuing years, under the leadership of chair-
tance' of design to the reality and image of the
men Daniel Chester French (1912-1915),
liam Howard Taft, a strong support-
Charles Moore (1915-1937), Gilmore D.
er of the bill. Cannon's signature on
capital city.
The first commission chairman was none
Clarke (1937-1950), David E. Finley (1950-
the document is ironic-he had
fiercely opposed the legislation, just
other than Daniel H. Burnham, the Chicago
1963), William Walton 1963-1971) and
architect who, with the assistance of architect
Brown, have been accomplished with the
3S, in the preceding years, he had
Charles Follen McKim; landscape architect
same kind of high public spirit.
fought one by one the recommen-
Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and sculptor Au-
There have been notable defeats, of
dations of the 1902 Senate Park
gustus Saint-Gaudens, devised the McMillan
course, the most recent being the construc-
Commission Plan for the Improve-
plan. Burnham served officially for only two
tion of high-rise buildings on the Virginia side
ment of the Park System of the Dis-
years, but for eight years before the official
of the Potomac and the building of the Wash-
trict of Columbia, better known as
appointment he and McKim had acted as
ington Harbour complex on the Georgetown
the McMillan plan after its sponsor,
staunch guardians of the plan.
Waterfront, both of which are being done
Sen. James McMillan of Michigan.
These formidable talents were, in effect,
over the strenuous, principled objections of
"Uncle Joe" Cannon did not lose
commissioners before there was a commis-
the Commission of Fine Arts. There have
many fights during his powerhouse
sion. The McMillan plan was of course much
been famous architectural duds okayed by the
eight-year term as speaker, but for
more than a treatise on the city's parks. It
commission-the FBI building being the most
75 years the city of Washington has
was an exemplary, broad vision that foresaw
remarkable of recent vintage-and numerous
been the fortunate inheritor of this
the rescue of the nobility of L'Enfant's con-
fiascoes of lesser importance.
major defeat. In its advisory role as
cept from the destructive, predatory raids
The degree to which a design review com-
arbiter of the McMillan plan and, by
that had been conducted on it as the city grew
mission can affect architectural design for the
implication, of the original L'Enfant
during the 19th century, and it built upon the
better is of course a pertinent question. Such
plan for the city, the Commission of
L'Enfant scheme in important ways.
an agency can alter design, but it does not and
Fine Arts has had an extraordinary
The need for a commission to oversee,the
cannot initiate it. Its powers in some ways are
McMillan plan was apparent to its authors
negative, as Brown stresses: "That's the fun
hand in making Washington the
and supporters from the beginning. In 1903
of the Fine Arts Commission, the hidden part
rare and beautiful place it is.
the Agriculture Department proposed to build
of the process that you never see-all the
Even though the scope of its au-
a new structure on the south side of the Mall
half-baked proposals that don't get built."
thority has been expanded by pres-
near Independence Avenue and 12th Street.
But the commission's power to do good for
idential decree and congressional
This was fine, except that the building was to
the city has been far greater than this modest
legislation in subsequent years, how
be situated 300 feet from the center line of
assessment implies. Over the years it has not
a small body (the commission has
the Mall instead of the 400 feet envisioned in
proven inflexible in its judgments-Finley
seven: appointed members. and a
the McMillan plan.
and Walton, Brown's immediate predeces-
professional staff of four) with pure-
Today, with the magnificent greensward
sors, both effectively fought the demolition of
ly advisory responsibilities has for
and its bordering "panels" of elm trees in
the row houses surrounding Lafayette Park,
three quarters of a century exer-
place, it is not hard to appreciate the wise
which was a major feature of the McMillan
foresight of the planners. At the time, when
plan. And Brown's handling of the bitter fight
the Mall was a forest of trees and curving
over the design of the Vietnam Veterans Me-
pathways, obstructed by several buildings, it
morial was indisputably sagacious.
wasn't so easy to see the difference a hundred
With the exception of sculptor Frederick
feet can make. Burnham and McKim twice
Hart, the creator of the "three soldiers" stat-
had to intercede to get the building placed
ue for the memorial who was appointed last
correctly and at the proper height, each time
month by President Reagan to serve a four-
taking the case all the way to President The-
year term, the current commission members,
odore Roosevelt.
including the brilliant Brown, are lame ducks.
The bitterness of the struggle to maintain
Hart was an excellent choice. One hopes that
the plan can be gauged by a comment made
the president takes advantage of his oppor-
years later, during the House debate on the
tunity to give the commission a superb 75th-
bill to establish the commission, when an op-
birthday present by appointing (or reappoint-
ponent testified that "a future place will never
ing) members of similar, or even greater,
be hot enough to properly singe a man for the
stature.
present Agriculture Department constructed
The Commission of Fine Arts deserves a
as it is."
great gift. For 75 years it has acted, in the
"Uncle Joe" Cannon was much less polite in
apt accolade of Commission Secretary
a later fight over the location of the Lincoln
Charles Atherton, as the true "guardian of the
Memorial. "So long as I live," he told Elihu
quality of public spaces in this city."
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 24, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR ROBERT H. TUTTLE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
All necessary clearances have been accomplished with regard to
the following individual and he is ready for appointment by the
President:
Bernard A. Schriever - Member, National Commission on Space
CC: Nancy Perot
Jane Dannenhauer
John Roberts
Susan Borchard
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 25, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR ROBERT H. TUTTLE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
All necessary clearances have been accomplished with regard to
the following individuals and they are ready for appointment to
the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board:
Steven A. Diaz
Norman R. Hughes
William J. Tangye
CC: Nancy Perot
Jane Dannenhauer
John Roberts
Susan Borchard
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 25, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR ROBERT H. TUTTLE
FROM:
FRED F. FIELDING
All necessary clearances have been accomplished with regard to
the following individual and he is ready for appointment by the
President:
Donald A. Schwartz - Member, Board of Directors, Federal Prison
Industries, Inc.
CC: Nancy Perot
Jane Dannenhauer
John Roberts
Susan Borchard
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 26, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR RICHARD A. HAUSER
FROM:
JOHN G. ROBERTS DZR
SUBJECT:
Nomination of Malcolm Wilkey to be
Ambassador to Uruguay
I have reviewed the SF 278 and related materials submitted by
Malcolm Wilkey in connection with his prospective nomination to
be Ambassador to Uruguay. Judge Wilkey has taken senior status
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 371 (b), and will retire from the
judiciary altogther pursuant to 28 U.S.C. S 371 (a) upon
confirmation as ambassador. I have no objection to this
nomination.