INSIDE THE PRESIDENT'S INNER CIRCLE are old friends from Michigan, gathering around the new President. 'east Asia, but in favor of continued mili- TI former colleagues from Capitol The biggest jobs in the Ford Admin- tary strength as a prerequisite to any Hill, longtime aides and a sprinkling of istration, either in a Kitchen Cabinet or real detente with the Soviet Union. carryovers from the last days of the official titles, seem likely to go to three Goodell's influence will probably be Nixon Administration. But like any new of the President's closest associates from felt most in the tone and philosophic team moving into power in Washington, congressional days—the three, in fact, outlook of the hew Administration—and the men around the new President tend who helped set him on the path of perhaps in the areas of labor relations to reflect his own personality and style: leadership that ultimately led to the and judicial procedures. Also a con- middle-aged, Midwestern, low-keyed, Oval Office. They are Laird, Goodell servative in the House, Goodell, 48, slightly rumpled and invariably decent and Senate Minority Whip Robert Grif- swung sharply left after New York Gov. whatever their political stripe. And as fin, the architects of a Republican revo- Nelson Rockefeller named him to fill in past Presidential transitions, one of lution in the House el&en years ago out the term of assassinated Sen. Robert the biggest questions about the Ford that first made Ford chairman of the F. Kennedy. As a result, he was de- Administration is whether they are up House Republican Conference Commit- nounced as a "radiclib" by Vice Presi- to the job. tee and then Minority Leader, replac- dent Spiro Agnew and defeated in his Ford himself has clearly asked the same question. In the past, his staffers have mainly been men he was com- fortable with—and they were probably adequate to the demands made on Ford as a congressman, House leader and even Vice President. But they were clearly not sufficient, either in numbers or abilities, to run a White House bureaucracy. Even before he took the oath of office last week, Presi- dent Ford was expanding his circle of close aides and advisers to include some of the most sophisticated politicians in recent Washington history. In addition to retaining the services of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and . . . Interior Secretary NI-orlon . —for the time being, at least—White House chief of staff Alexander Haig, Ford was signing up men like former Defense Secretary Melvin Laird, ex- Sen. Charles Goodell and veteran lob- byist Bryce Harlow to play influential roles in his new Administration. And in his most significant staff move thus far, he recruited four former con- gressmen as a transition team to "form AP a bridge" between his own staff and the Bruce Buursma—Grand Rapids Press AP A new President's men : Laird ... sprawling executive branch: former . . Rev. Zeoli, law partner Buchen . . . Pennsylvania Gov. William W. Scranton, NATO Ambassador Donald M. Rums- ing mossback Charles Halleck of Indi- 1970 race for re-election by then Con- feld, Interior Secretary Rogers C. B. ana. All three moved on from the House servative candidate James Buckley, Morton and Ford's own staffer John 0. to careers of their own, but all have who enjoyed unmistakable White Marsh, once a Democratic congressman stayed in touch with Ford as well and House support. In the aftermath, Good- from Virginia. are thought to have the greatest influ- ell returned to private law practice and ence on his thinking. for a time was even part of Dr. Daniel AT HOME ON THE HILL Mel Laird, 51, has already been Ellsberg's defense team. That he In one sense, the President's early pegged as Ford's eminence grise, a should now stand closer to the pinnacle personnel problems may be something baldish Wisconsin Machiavelli whose of power than if he had remained in the of a blessing. His predecessor had en- return to public service would never- Senate is only one .of the minor ironies of tered the White House with an inner theless be applauded on both sides of the Watergate tragedy. Early this year, circle tuned and tempered in a hard- the aisle. Despite his conservative rec- Goodell and Ford walked arm in arm fought national campaign and, as it ord during nearly twenty years in the throUgh a party in honor of the former turned out, they were often unable to House, Laird is known as a moderate senator. "Although we've had our dif- shake the campaign mentality that with a bright and open mind. And he ferences," Goodell said later, "he's very places politics over policy and regards assumed an almost dovish role as Sec- open to different viewpoints." all critics as "enemies" to be undercut retary of Defense under President Nix- Griffin, 50, whose grim letter to Nix- or overcome. Ford's loose, low-key on, urging a swifter reduction of U.S. on a week and a half ago signaled the operation, on the other hand, has for troop commitments in South Vietnam final crumbling of his support in Con- years been geared to the compromises and an earlier shifting of responsibility gress, is an even closer associate of and concessions of Congressional poli- to the Vietnamese themselves. As a Ford. In fact, if he were not from the ticking. The ability to understand and prime counselor to the President, he new President's home state, Griffin work effectively with the powers on the might be expected to argue against any would probably be among his first Hill may be the critical factor in the men further military involvement in South- choices for Vice President. As it is, he

28 Newsweek NATIONAL AFFAIRS

might be in line for a Cabinet post; but on reorganizing the White House staff. counting firm who was called in last as a likable moderate whose relations President Ford himself moved to ease February to sort out and shape up ad- with his Senate peers are excellent, the shifting of gears by sending out ministration of the Vice President's of- Griffin can probably be far more helpful letters to staffers in the Federal agen- fice (to Hartmann's partially disguised to the President where he is—working cies, the White House and the Vice dismay). Bald, dapper, "a kind of from the inside to get Ford's legislative President's office. All were asked to health nut" much like the President, program through Congress. keep on working. according to one old acquaintance, Yet another alumnus of the 1963 Jerry Ford's "Michigan Mafia" will Seidman has also worked closely with GOP revolt who might end up on the stay on the scene, but in lesser roles, Michigan Governors George Romney Ford team is Rep. Albert Quie, 49, of with realistic limits on their authority and William Milliken and is credited Minnesota, a deeply religious man who and responsibility. For example, Rob- with devising a milestone program for played a large part in the Christian ert Hartmann, 57, Ford's Vice Presi- equitable tax reform in the state. His conversion of former Nixon aide Charles dential chief of staff, is valued for his accounting firm also seems to have sur- Colson. And the President is also ex- knowledge of politics and his knack vived its association with Equity Fund- pected to have the advice and expertise for timing, both garnered during a ing Corp. of America, the financial em- of lobbyist Harlow, 58, who served as a long career as reporter and Washing- pire that was the center of a major Capitol Hill liaison man for Presidents ton bureau chief for The Los Angeles Wall Street scandal last year. Eisenhower and Nixon before taking on Times. But the ruddy-faced Hartmann, Buchen, 58, is the President's original a policy role in the Nixon White House. a man who enjoys his bourbon, lacks law partner and probably his closest friend and confidant. Like Ford, he is a pipe puffer, but a boyhood bout with polio cut short his athletic career; he walks with a cane. Buchen was recruit- ed earlier this year by Ford to run a White House committee on the right of privacy, but he will undoubtedly take on a more substantive role in the near future. "Phil," said one admirer, "is one of a very few people who can call Ford and say, 'Jerry, what in the hell are you doing?' " He has already made some canny suggestions. It was Buchen who ... millionaire Seidman ... advised Ford not to take an advance peek at the "edited" White House transcripts before mounting his zigzag defense of President Nixon at the height of the Watergate controversy. 'GOD HAS A BETTER IDEA' Ford's own man on the new transi- tional panel, John Marsh, 47, has been a Pentagon lobbyist and is now the resident expert on military and foreign affairs. Marsh could well become a White House watchdog over President AP Ford's Secretary of Defense, whoever ... ex-Senator Goodell ... he may be. Another former congress- ... chief of staff Hartmann man, 61-year-old John Byrnes of Wis- UPI consin, once a ranking member of the Harlow is not looking forward to leav- style and sensitivity in dealing with House Ways and Means Committee ing his high-paying job as legislative people. "The fact is he's just plain, and a longtime crony of the President, representative for Procter & Gamble. damned offensive," said one Ford crony is expected to play a major role in the But like so many others who have come last week. And Hartmann is now ex- transition and later policy planning, to know and respect Ford over the pected to shift his focus from adminis- with an emphasis on economics. Milton years, friends say, if Harlow is asked trative duties to political advice and Friedman, 50, and no relation to the directly by the President he will be analysis as a counselor to the President. noted economist, may remain Ford's available. Another former newsman in the Ford principal speechwriter. But Friedman, retinue, Paul Miltich, 54, Ford'spress a 21-year veteran of the Jewish Tele- REVAMPING THE 'MICHIGAN MAFIA' secretary, has also been replaced—by graph Agency, will undoubtedly need Characteristically, Ford also turned Detroit News Washington bureau chief a large stable of other writers to handle to some former House colleagues to Jerry terHorst (page 78). A low-key, the expanded and specialized chores staff his transitional panel. But in each likable man, Miltich frequently failed to on a Presidential level. case they were men who had solid brief himself on such basics as his boss's The nation may also get to know the administrative experience as well. schedule or the kind of suit he was Rev. Billy Zeoli, a Grand Rapids 'evan- Rumsfeld, who headed up the Office wearing ("The boss would kill me if I gelist who has for months catered to of Economic Opportunity, was assigned asked him something like that," he once Ford's spiritual needs with a Monday- as over-all coordinator of the transition. explained). He will function henceforth morning prayer memo ("To: Jerry/ Morton, who previously headed up the as terHorst's deputy. From: Billy/ Subject: God has a better Republican National Committee, was to Two solid starters on the current Idea"). "I've never been one to be os- focus on the Cabinet and the executive Ford team are L. William Seidman and tentatious about my religious views," agencies. And Scranton, who served Philip W. Buchen, both old Grand Ford has said. "But I don't hesitate to with Ford in the House before becom- Rapids friends. Seidman, 53, is the mil- say that Billy has had an impact on my ing governor, was asked to concentrate lionaire head of an international ac- perspective."

August 19, 1974 29