March 8, 1983 Dear Mr. Themme: Thank You for Your Letter and the Infor
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THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON March 8, 1983 Dear Mr. Themme: Thank you for your letter and the infor mation on the Committee To Retire The National Debt. I have taken-the liberty of forwarding your letter to the Office of Management and Budget for their review and consideration. With best wishes. Sincerely, MICHAEL K. DEAVER Assistant to the President Deputy Chief of Staff Lloyd V, Temme, Ph.D. Executtve Director The American Way Commtttee to Retire the National Debt 1260 21st Street, N.W. Suite 801 Washington, DC 20036 The American Vi ay Committee to Retire the National Debt 1260 21st Street, N.W., Suite 801 Washingtpn, D.C. 20036 (202) 659-3876 February 28, 1983 Mr. Michael Deaver The White House Washington, D. C. 20500 Dear Mr. Deaver: I incorporated this Committee a year ago, acting purely out of belief that the time had come to bring attention to the role of an escalating public debt in inhibiting economic growth. Recent events propel me now to seek real support for this group, which is in no way related to any other organization. .Just before Christmas, the IRS granted tax-exempt status, as an advance determination. On December 31, 1982, the President announced he would donate his Social Security pension to help reduce the public debt. Furthermore, the face cover of IRS Form 1040 contains a paragraph describing how to make contributions to the Bureau of the Public Debt. Now that this Committee has gained credibility, I believe all the more that the credibility of the idea must be promoted. t . I have enclosed our initial brochure, and ask that you take a few minutes to review it and my own background. Finally, I want to meet with you to discuss how I might gain the backing this Committee needs to function effectively. Very truly yours, f}- . /} l .. ,<.L V ·;-f.'-: i ( 1 t. 4:.__ .iz.t.r Lloyd V. Temme, Ph.D. Executive Director Enclosure THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON March 8, 1983 Dear Cliff: Thanks for sending the newsclips about the Opinion Surveys you did on the President's 2 years. I certainly appreciate your thoughtfulness. Sincerely, -~. MICHAEL K. DEAVER Assistant to the President Deputy Chief of Staff Mr. Clifford Evans RKO General Broadcasting 1750 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washlngton, D.C. 20006 17SO PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE. N.W. •WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006 • AREA CODE 202 638-17SO CLIFFORD EVANS VICE PRESIDENT February 25, 1983 WASHINGTON NEWS BUREAU Dear Mike, Possibly you did not see coverage of the 3 Opinion Surveys I did on "Ptesident Reagan After 2 Years" ... with the Publishers, Editors and Washington Bureau Chiefs of the nation's largest daily newspapers ... circulation: 100,00 and over. I'm enclosing a few of the stories: i.e., United Press International, New York Times and Editor & Publisher. I know that special stories appeared in a number of dailies; also, on the AP national wire. Regards, Michael K. Deaver The White House NEW YORK: WORAM·TV·WXLOFM • LOS ANGELES: KHJAM·Tv.KRTHFM •BOSTON: WMACTV·WRKOAM-WROR FM SAN FRANCISCO: KFRC AM • WASHINGTON. D.C.: WGMS AM·FM • MEMPHIS: WHBO AM-TV CHICAGO: WFYR • FT. LAUDERDALE-MIAMI: WAXY -1 ) ·Editors rate Reagan's Vietnam press (Continued from page 9) } first two years search for some kind of pattern which made sense so they could exercise their \I craft," he explained. "This resulted in A poll indicates that editors of major cy instincts;" Jay Jenkins, Baltimore continuing confrontations between newspapers are widely divided in their Evening Sun, "An ability to create a U.S. official spokesmen and the jour appraisals of President Reagan's per sense of optimism;·· William D. Cotter, nalists which became increasingly bit formance during his first two years in Syracuse Herald-Journal, "Ability to ter as the fighting continued. It is the White House. continue convincing people of his sin doubtful that any conflict since the Forty percent of the editors respond cerity;" A. Paul Hogan, Tampa Tri Civil War fostered as much antagonism ing to the poll said Reagan had done a bune, "He's given a lot of people re between press and government." "fair" job; 34% said "good;" and 24% newed faith ih their country though Another panelist, Roger Hitsman, said "poor." Another 1% said "excel God only knows how and why;" and Assistant Secretary of State for Far lent" and 1% said "fair to good." Arnold Rosenfeld, Dayton Daily News, Eastern Affairs under President John The poll was conducted by the "He doesn't have Ronald Reagan in F. Kennedy, agreed the press didn't Washington bureau of RKO General opposition." understand the Vietnam War but still Broadcasting. Bureau manager Cliff In listing Reagan's greatest weak played a major role in bringing it to a Evarts sent questionnaires to editors of ness, numerous editors faulted him for close. He referred to the Tet offensive 107 newspapers with circulations of the stubborness and inability to select in which, he said, correspondents por more than 100,000 and received 67 re proper staff and appointees for the rest trayed the Vietcong as being "10 feet plies. of the executive branch. Others com tall," while the American military was The editors were cooler toward plained of shallowness in facing public describing the attack as a ''last gasp'' of Reagan's job performance than were issues. Said the New York Daily News' the enemy. publishers who responded to a separate Wieghart: "In foreign policy and "The view of the press prevailed and poll by RKO General (E&P Jan. 29). domestic policy he has not sat down had a profound influence on LBJ to Forty percent of the publishers said and worked out an across-the-board stop the bombing and begin negotiat Reagan had done a "good" job and 9% approach to our problems. He is a total ing," said Hilsman, who quit the gov said "excellent." flop." ernment in opposition to the war. The editors, in answering other ques Critics of Reagan's staff included Hitsman also claimed "tremendous tions submitted by Evans, were unani Robert H. Wills, Milwaukee Sentinel; press play" led to the Iranian militants mous in saying that the economy was James E. Jacobson, Birmingham holding the U.S. hostages for 444 days. the news topic of most concern to their News; John G. Craig Jr., Pittsburgh "The militants never intended to readers: 68% said Reagan would be re Post Gazette; and Neil Morgan, San hold the hostages for more than 24 nominated for the presidency in 1984. Diego Tribune, The Wall Street Jour hours," Hilsman declared, asserting The questionnaires also asked editors nal's Bartley said, "Inability to fire that media coverage taught the Iranians to describe Reagan's greatest strength people who oppose his instinct." the propaganda value of keeping them. and his greatest weakness. Other nominations for Reagan's The four-day conference, Vietnam Many answered, in one way or greatest weakness came from Joe H. Reconsidered: Lessons From a War, another, that the President's greatest Stroud, Detroit Free Press and the was sponsored by the USC School of strength was an ability to communi Atlanta Constitution's Teepan, who Journalism. Center for Humanities and cate. Supporters of this view included cited "ignorance;" Roger Wood, New the National Endowment for the James G. Wieghart, New York Daily York Post, "Too easy going;" Eugene Humanities.'' News; Anthony Marro, Newsday; C. Patterson, St. Petersburg Times, Murray B. Light, Buffalo Evening ··shallowness and disinterest in the News; William F. Thomas, Los job;" William G. Giies, Detroit News, Pulitzer shuts down Angeles Times; Dave Halvorsen, San "Inexperience;" Jack B. Tinsley, Fort Francisco Examiner; William H. Horn Worth Star-Telegram, ''Perceived lack States Ne\vs ~ervice by, Denver Post; James D. Squires, of intellect, causing bad press image;" Chicago Tribune; James P. Gannon, and Mark Murphy, Hartford Courant, Pulitzer Publishing Co. and Indian Des Moines Register; Milton R. Brit "Fading ability to lead." Head Inc., corporate owners of States • ten, Memphis Press-Scimitar; Jim Richard R. Campbell, Columbus News Service, Washington, D.C., said Hampton, Miami Herald; and Ralph Citizen/Journal, said Reagan's greatest this week they will fold the regional Langer, Dallas Morning News. Tom strength and weakness were the same: news service on March 11. Teepen, Atlanta Constitution, replied, "Ability to choose a course and stick to Founder Leland J. Schwartz prom "His glibness." it," Ralph Millett, Knoxville News ised (February 11) that he will continue Others citing Reagan's greatest Sentinel, also said the President's the operation, either alone or with new strength included: Harvey C. Jacobs, strength and weakness were identical: moneyed supporters. Indianapolis News, "Sincerity, stead "Stubborness." Pulitzer Publishing of St. Louis and fast philosophy;" Alfred L. Peloquin, Indian Head took over ownership a Flint Journal, "Public perception of his year ago. Their representatives told the personal integrity;" Robert H. Giles, Buford Boone dies SNS staff that they invested $500,000 Rochester Times Union, "Adherence into the operation and were still losing to beliefs:" William German, San Buford Boone, 74, longtime editor $1,000 a day. They saw little chance of Francisco Chronicle, "He has re and publisher of the Tuscaloosa (Ala.) a significant turnaround. mained relatively calm and unflappabl News,whowonaPulitzerinl956foran Schwartz, who founded SNS a de e;" David Lipman, St. Louis Post editorial decrying unrest over the cade ago. had to seek protection under Dispatch, "Persistence;" Robert Bart admission of the first Black to the Uni- the bankruptcy laws before Pulitzer ley, Wall Street Journal, "Sound poli- versity ..of Alabama, died February 7. and Indian Head took over. 10 EDITOR & PUBLISHER for February 19, 1983 ~..