The original documents are located in Box 15, folder “Nessen - Clippings: General (5)” of the Ron Nessen Papers 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. Ron Nessen donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Digitized from Box 15 of the Ron Nessen Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library THE SECOND MOST AGONIZING JOB IN THE WORLD

A White House alumnus explains the rugged life of a Presidential press secretary

By Herbert G. Klein If you can find a relatively young man United States is the most agonizing who will get up each morning prepared occupation in the world. But close be­ to walk with bare feet across a bed of hind is the position of press secretary red-hot coals, who feels little pain as to the President. blunt needles are injected into his body, On a typical day recently, Ron and who occasionally gets pleasure Nessen, press secretary to President from banging his head against a stone Ford, left his home at 6:30 A.M., read wall, you have a man who in today's the White House news summary and Washington world has some of the scanned The Washington Post as he qualifications to become a White House rode in a chauffeured vehicle to the press secretary. Mayflower Hotel. There he answered Anyone who falls short of ·those qual­ questions from 100 students brought to ifications need not apply. Washington by the Hearst Newspaper Beyond that,- you can debate whether Foundation. During the long day that he should have a background of news­ followed at the White House, he sur­ paper or television. reporting, a close vived the questions and barbs of the relationship with the President, political White House reporters at two press experience, articulateness and other briefings, attended half a dozen policy qualifications. meetings, met and telephoned several The Nation has accepted the .fact reporters, briefed his staff and talked that the job of the President of the with 20 or more government officials.

RonNessen · (with President Ford):

'They often start with the assumption I am not telling the truth.'

2 He was still studying Ronald Ziegler background papers (with President Ni~ton): as he returned home at 10 P.M. Fatiguing as it may 'Few remember sound, it is not the lhat we pioneered demanding schedule television film,' which makes the job of Presidential press secretary so difficult. The more serious problem, the thing that really makes the post a man-killer, is the intense conflict between the White House news office After a Camp David ' weekend of and the press corps. candid discussion by members of the The press had an early but short· President's press office, the incident lived love affair with President Ford, an produced some procedural changes. affair broken off not over news policy More important, behind the scenes, it but over an emotional issue, the Nixon brought Nessen a reaction of strong pardon. Many In the White House press support from the President and as­ corps took that as a personal affront. surances from senior White House staff This June the conflict broke into the members, including the national secur­ headlines when Nessen Interrupted a ity advisers, that they would give him . long round of questions. on John Con­ fuller information. That was an improve- nally to take on directly charges that ment. . he had been lying or was no longer John Osborne of The New Republic, credible. He accused· the White House one of the respected sages of the news press corps of "blind, mindless, irra­ corps, explains the growing conflict this tional suspicion and cyniCism." way: "Numerous reporters and com­ The outburst resulted directly from mentators forgot that the controlling intense questiOning over minor matters function of the White House press sec­ such as the release time for the Rocke­ retaries and other official spokesmen Is feller report on the CIA. Behind the not to tell the truth. It is to put the best headline spectacular, however. was a possible appearance upon what their longstanding hand-to-hand combat be­ principals do and say and, if necessary tween Nessen and a few antagonists in In the course of that endeavor, to con­ the press, primarily James Deakin of ceal the truth. What my brethren in the the St. -l-ouis f'ost-Dispatch; Sarah Mc­ White -Hoose press room were really Clendon of Texas Newspapers; les celebrating, during the halcyon interlude Kinsolving, a liberal minister with ra­ that ended with the pardon of Richard dio press credentials; and Adam Cly­ Nixon, was the departure of Mr. Nixon mer of the Baltimore Sun. It was the and the quaint illusion that conceal­ latter who jumped the bounds of pro­ ment and deception departed with him." fessionalism during a Nessen briefing The office of the ~ secretary has to utter, in amateur fashion, an opinion . become more visible in recent years, that Nessen was a "liar." Traditionally particularly since the emotional debates briefings are for reporters' questions, between Ronald Ziegler and the news not opinions, right or wrong. In this corps. As a result, Ron Nessen is today case, Clymer was wrong. Professionally the focus of some extremely careful and in fact. scrutiny. Nessen has made mistakes. -+ 1V GUIDE AUGUST 2. 11175 3 continued which are recounted more often than with the assumption I am not telling· his successes. But his successes are the truth. I think we deserve more the worth mentioning. benefit of the doubt." Nessen has made the White House a But today's newsmen are often in· lot more open than it was during the clined to take an adversary position.. Nixon years. He has been innovative On some days the encounter between in several ways. He has improved the the press secretary and the news corps format of the Presidential press con­ resembles more a debating society than . ference by providing a mechanism for a quest for information. The public Is follow-up questions. He has given tele­ the loser. visioft a full place in the pool on Air Typical was a press briefing on Feb. Force One when the President travels. 7 after Charles Colson had said Presi­ And it is probably due to Nessen that dent Nixon considered Secretary or -· the number of Presidential press con­ State Kissinger sometimes unstable (a ferences has increased. statement later denied) and Sen. Lloyd Through late June, President Ford Bentsen had been critical of the Sec­ had held 16 full-scale meetings with retary on the eve of a departure for . the press, 10 in Washington and the Middle East. Nessen read a state­ six elsewhere. The President has also ment expressing President Ford's strong given live interviews to all three net­ support of and faith in Kissinger. works. When a press conference is 0: Did Dr. Kissinger have any role held away from Washington, local re- · In writing this statement? ·.porters are given a chance to ask ap­ Nessen: That is a statement that the proximately half the questions. President wants made clear. · All of this helps, but a substantial 0: Ron, are you asking for a mora­ amount of bitterness remains. Nessen torium on criticism of Henry Kissinger said recently, In a public address, "The until the 1976 election? cloud of mistrust is beginning to lift, Nessen: I am just telling you how the but we have a long way to go." Private­ I President feels about Senator Bentsen's ly, Nessen says that "suspicion, distrust comments. and cynicism" In the press corps are 0 : Ron, where should the fitness of · his toughest obstacles. "They '!ften start th~ Secretary of State be discussed If not in the political Bill Moyen arena? Nessen: I think I (with President Johnson): will stick to what the 'The press President feels about secretary (has) to this particular criticism explain the of the Secr~tary . 0: Could I renew Mr. Inexplicable.' Fulsom's question, which you did not an­ swer, which was, did the Secretary of State have anything to do with writing that state­ ment? Nessen: It is a state­ ment that comes out of my office. 0: But did the Sec­ retary of State have James Hagerty (with President Eisenhower): 'Caught between two fire~, press and governmental.'

anything to do with it? Q: The other Ron [Ziegler] said eve- Nessen: It is the President's views. ning was at 4 o'clock. . Q: But did the Secretary of State Nessen: No. I think we will be back have anything to do with it? in the evening. Nessen: The. Secretary of State did Nessen works' with a total staff of not draft this statement. about 40, slightly smaller than the Q: Did he approve It? fluctuating staff of the Nixon White Nessen: It is a Presidential state­ House and larger than the staff of ment, and Presidential statements do President Johnson. Forty does not in­ not need to be approved by the Sec­ clude Mrs. Ford's mini-staff. retary of State. That 40 number includes 17 people Q: What we are asking is whether Nessen labels as professionals, mostly he looked at it or commented about It in pay brackets above $28,000. The or had any input into it? press secretary earns $42,500 and his Nessen: I think he probably looked deputies, William Greener and Jack at it. I did not show it to him, but I Hushen, are paid $36-39,000. Margita have a feeling he looked at it . . . White has recently been appointed Q: Ron, are you still seeing the assistant press secretary. The staff President daily? covers functions ranging from the daily Not every moment is hostile. Occa­ news briefings to the White House news sionally Nessen will joke or his .repartee summary and broadcast bookings. with a reporter will purposely relax Former press secretaries and myself, everyone, as did this discussion of a as Director of Communications, have presidential trip: an unwritten understanding. We are Q: When will he come back, Ron? able and indeed willing to criticize out­ Nessen: Tuesday evening he will be siders. But not each other. Most former coming back. press secretaries attempt to be helpful Q: What time is he leaving on Mon· to their successors, regardless of po­ day, just roughly? litical party. And they are among the Nessen: I would say mid to late after· Glosest observers of press secretaries. noon. In this small circle, James Hagerty, Q: When you say Tuesday evening, who served eight years as President do you mean after dark? Eisenhower's aide, is looked upon as Nessen: Yes. I think by definition the greatest of the breed. The select evening is after dark. group agrees clearly that the news -+ lV OUIDE AUGUST 2. 1175 5 continued secretary works for the President. not the when he was senator, Vice President press corps. But that doesn't make his and President. job easier. Like Hagerty, he believes the job Ron Ziegler, the controversial Nixon need not be so complicated if the news press secretary, hits the problem direct­ secretary is free to inform the media. ly when he says, "The degree of diffi­ Hagerty added that today'~ press secre­ culty for the press secretary leads di­ taries are not independent enough and rectly from the attitude of the Pres.ident today's reporters are too Independent, and his staff toward the news media. too free from direction by their editors In the field of television few remember and broadcast news directors. that we pioneered television film both Reedy decries the public relations in the newsroom and by satellite from efforts of press secretaries; their selling Peking and Russia. They more often of the White House concepts. recall the dislike on the part · of the "With the possible exception of Pres­ White House for the press corps." ident Eisenhower, most Presidents have On both sides there was strong felt they also were public relations hatred. experts," Reedy said. "Public relations has a place, but not in the OVal Office Press secretaries agree that the or the press secretary's spot. He adds, closer they were to the Presi&nt, the "The only thing really important is cred­ better they performed. Credibility is ali­ ibility." important, but as Bill Moyers. one of Ziegler learned the Importance of four Johnson press secretaries, once communications through television. He wrote: "Events make lies of the best now knows also that this can be mis­ promises; the President will sometimes used. But he feels news briefings should have to reach conclusions from incon­ not be open fully for television and film. clusive evidence, and when ali the facts He suggests an alternative: an oc­ are finally in, the press secretary, having casional open news conference for the justified the unjustifiable, will have to press secretary. explain the inexplicable." In Hagerty's view, the press secre­ Television is in the White House tary's role need not be impossible if he newsroom to stay, and every President is left alone to his professional instincts. must recognize its importance. For the "But he is caught between two fires, first time we now have a press secre­ press and governmental," he said. "He tary who comes from broadcast news must have independence and support experience. The next step should be to from his boss, the President." change his title from press secrefary to One of Ron Ziegler's most serious news secretary. problems ·was that he was not given A recent Nessen White House news that independence. He was constantly conference best describes the impos­ harassed by H.R. Haldeman and other sible position of a President's press senior White House staff members. secretary: "Our press and communications policy Nessen: I got off to a bad start today would have been more successful if we because I had my annual physical ex­ had attained the open administration amination and I did not arrive until Rep­ we announced in 1969. By open I mean resentative John Rhodes and Senator the willingness of the White House to Hugh Scott were here in the outer office. communicate with the communicators," 0: You forgot something. How was Ziegler said. your physical? George Reedy, now an author and Nessen: They ~ I need a complete Dean of Journalism at Marquette Uni­ body transplant. versity, serve_d with President Johnson 0: That is all? (laughter) ~ 6 1V GUIDE AUGUST 2, 11175 Wasn~ DC. Oct.11, 1975 \bl. 7 No. pages 1409-1438 Nessen vs. press corps 1409 Current services budget 1417 Monitoring of FTC 1418 Public jobs dispute 1419 Grain reserve plans 1427 NJ Focus Regulatory 1428/Presidentiai1429/Energy 1430/Economic 1431 NJ Checklist Executive 1432/Congressiona/1433/Votes 1434 NJ Indexes Names/Private organizations/Government organizations 1438 The entire issue is included in this folder, but only portions were digitized due to copyright restrictions. Please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library for access to these materials.

White House Report/Nessen still seeks EDITOR' 5 REPORT I separate peace' with press by Dom Bonafede Prior to the daily morning White 1409 House press briefing recently, presi.! 10/11/75 dential press secretary Ronald H. Nes­ NATIONAL Press secretary Ronald H. Nessen, a former television correspondent and now White sen glanced at the waiting reporters JOURNAL the west wing of the White House 1419 position. While conceding that the air problem of joblessness by stimulating the private sector of the economy of hostility that formerly existed has ing to shape the world toward ends he praise the press room atmosphere, to create jobs. eased considerably, they contend that considers worthy.... A newspaper­ Nessen said he believes his stand­ Grain reserve Export controls on agricultural products are included as an acceptable the level of credibility and the quality man, on the other hand, is one whose ing with reporters has improved technique to be employed during periods of short supply in the Ford of candor has not appreciably im­ job is to chronicle daily events and to and that the relationship between the by Daniel J. Balz Administration's plan for an international grain reserve system. Details proved, at least not to the point where place the facts before the public in press and the White House has re­ 1427 turned to a workable pattern. of the U.S. plan were presented Sept. 29 to the International Wheat Presidential press secretary Ronald H. Nessen reigns over "I realized, of course, that there was Council. a staff of 45 that performs a critical function for the a certain kind of aftermath or hang­ Regulatory Following his plan to reform federal regulatory agencies, President Ford White House -keeping its burgeoning press corps sensi­ over from Watergate," he said during an interview. "Yet, I was surprised at has nominated Roderick M. Hills to be chairman of the Securities and tive to President Ford's policies and positions on issues by Louis M. Kohlmeier the suspicion and cynicism. I guess I Exchange Commission. In selecting Hills, Ford rejected the recommen­ that range throughout the government. Nessen enjoys 1428 dation of the SEC's outgoing chairman, Ray Garrett Jr., on a successor. did not fully gauge the kind of carry­ a broader mandate than many of his predecessors. But over .... I was surprised and upset at Presidential President Ford's veto of an expanded federal school lunch program may although he has worked to improve the destructive rela­ not having my word believed. But I cause him serious harm politically by playing into the hands of critics tionship that evolved between the press and the Nixon must say that in the past three months by Dom Bonafede who accuse him of being insensitive to social and humanitarian obliga­ White House during Watergate, a residue of mistrust re­ or so a lot of this has settled down and 1429 tions of the federal government. Congress overrode the veto Oct. 7. mains. the relationship between the press of­ fice and · the press has improved a Energy A new organization, the Domestic Wildcatters Association, is working for the interaction between newsmen and some reasonable perspective. Events great deal-though I may be kidding by Richard Corrigan deregulation on behalf of gas producers while striving to disassociate its the press office has been restored to and facts have a life of their own. myself." 1430 members from major oil companies in the eyes of the public. its traditional adversary relationship. They are independent of the dreams William I. Greener, deputy White House press secretary, said he thought The European Community is warning about the possible collapse of the Describing the current relationship and desires of men .... On that basis, Economic as "pretty fragile," James M. Naugh­ it is obvious that there must be a it would take "a few years" before multilateral trade negotiations now under way in Geneva as a result of a ton, a White House correspondent for divergency of viewpoints between the total trust is reestablished. by RichardS. Frank recent series of U.S. actions that the Europeans have taken as an indica­ 1431 The New York Times, said, "There's political leader, who assesses public "It's dangerous to accept everything tion that trade protectionism is running rampant in the United States. a lot less bickering on both sides than communications in terms of help or as gospel-and equally dangerous to had been the case a while back. Still hindrance toward a worthy goal; and accept everything as a lie," he com­ National Journal © the press is pretty dubious of him the newspaperman, who assesses pub­ mented. Publisher: John F. Sullivan (Nessen). There are still challenges to lic communications in terms of their Editor: John K. Iglehart Milnilgins Editor: Richard S. Frank Senior Editor: Dom Bonafede St11ff Correspondents: Daniel J. Balz, Richard E. his accuracy and integrity." consonance with what he regards as Press secretary's role Cohen, Richard Corrigan, Linda E. Demkovich, Joel Havemann, Arthur J. Ma~ida, Michael J, Malbin, James W. Singer Contributlns Editors: Like most White House reporters, reality-however harsh." Next to the President, the presiden­ Louis M. Kohlmeier, Neal R. Peirce, Robert Walters Production Editor: Sara Fitz~erald Indexer: Jake Welch Editorial Assistant: Brian Collins Circulation Milnii!Jer: Joan Willingham Naughton recognized that some of the Personal view: Nessen today admits tial press secretary probably is one of trouble is endemic, growing out of the that his experience as White House the most visible officials in the govern­ National Journal, Oct. 11, 1975,Vol. 7, No. +1. Published weekly by the Government Research Corporation, 1730 M St., NW, Washington, inherently different roles and functions press secretary has at times been a ment. With the growth of the presi­ D.C. 20036. Telephone (202) 833·8000. Available by subscription only. Rates on request. Subscribers provided with quarterly and semiannual travail, that mistakes were made, that indexes. Binders available. Second class postage paid at Washington, D.C. of newsmen and public officials. dency, the advent of electronic com­ © 1975 National Journal Reedy statement: In that regard, misunderstandings arose and that the munications and the focal position of AI rishts reserved. Reproduction in whole or in pilrt without written permission is strictly prohibited. George E. Reedy Jr., former press situation was exacerbated by personal the United States in global affairs, he secretary to President Johnson, has and institutional problems. has become a household name, better Government Research Corporation obseJ'Ved, "A political leader is essen­ With the caution of one who was known than most Cabinet Secretaries Chillrman of the loilnl: Anthony C. Stout Vke President, Administr..alon: George .T. Klop VIce President, Edltori.ll: John K. Iglehart Vke tially an advocate-a man who is seek- burned for failing to correctly ap- and all but a few Members of Con- l'rftldenl, Publkations: John F. Sullivan Tre•urer: Grace Geisinger Assistilnt Tre•urer: lenie van B. Lawrence 1410 Nessen said that his staff has leveled 10/111'75 off to about 45, but expects soon to 1411 NATIONAL The Press on Nessen have it down to 35. Yet, as he noted, 10/111'75 JOURNAl NATIONAL A National Journal survey of Washington journalists who cover the his office remains "one of the largest @1975 in the White House." JOURNAL White House shows that the majority retains reservations about press sec­ ~975 retary Ronald H. Nessen's performance and that the climate in the press Recent innovation: Each President room has improved, but not nearly as much as might be expected in light perceives the role of his press secretary of the Ford Administration's claim of openness and candor. through the prism of his view of his Seldom at a loss for words in print, the newsmen, mostly White House own job. No law requires a President correspondents and Washington bureau chiefs, were equally expansive in to appoint a press secretary, hire a their opin~ons. Alt~ough the relationship between reporters and the press press staff, maintain a press office, secretary 1s often hkened to a family affair, it is of public interest since it hold press briefings or stage press may affect the amount and content of information released by the White conferences. Indeed, these are rela­ House and thus bear on the quality of stories that result. tively recent innovations. Following are exerpts from the remarks of some of the reporters polled: As James E. Pollard, author of The Dean E. Fischer, Time: "It's up and down. One hears a lot of complaints, Presidents and the Press (Public Af­ mostly critical of his (Nessen's) personality. He's a little prickly, but has fairs Press, 1964), relates, Presidents m~ted that somewhat. Over-all, it's an arms-length relationship, but that's have had dealings with the press be­ as 1t should be." ginning with George Washington, but Peter Lisagor, Chicago Daily News: "The situation is deteriorating at the "it was not until the time of Theodore mo~ent. ... I had high hopes for Nessen, he had been a reporter, but Roosevelt that a start was made in the nothmg h_as ch~nged. H_e looks at you with those soulful eyes as though direction of organized presidential what he 1s telling you 1s the truth.... It's all so obtuse, squishy and press relations." FOR, with an instinc­ tive sense of the dramatic, refined the sponge-like, it's difficult to find anything hard." Nessen (far left) and Greener (fourth from right) confer with President Ford and his aides in the Oval Office John Osborne, The New Republic: "Reporters I've talked to agree that art of presidential public relations. To­ his credibility and esteem is at an absolute low. Basically, it is a sense of day, in a society that recognizes the medium as the message, it is incon­ assist the press but to serve the Presi­ modern press secretaries figures of "Another aspect you don't see much a prog~essive lack of confidence in him. He is just not coming out with dent, who must attract popular sup­ public standing. from the outside is a kind of adminis­ everythmg he should, but some of the blame might be put on the senior ceivable that a President would at­ tempt to govern without such devices. port for the success of Administration Nevertheless, the extent of their trative function. There are personnel people in the White House who brief him." programs. Thus, it is in the President's authority and their involvement in matters, making sure things are run­ !"orton M. Koadracke, Chicago Sun-Times: "I think the relationship has No guideliReS: Nor is there any manual or blueprint to instruct a new White self-interest to retain a press secretary White House affairs is wholly depen­ ning smoothly, logistics for domestic Improved; he's now tolerated.... There's continual grousing and a lot of to promote his policies effectively and dent on the President they serve. and foreign trips, getting transcripts personality conflicts, but some of the animosity goes back to when he was House press secretary in the perform­ ance of his duties. to answer his critics. Throughout his turbulent tenure in the and speeches out on time, making a 'regular.' It is not an animosity I share. Things are reasonably Jess Mutual dependence: But just as the Nixon White House, Ziegler was schedules, that sort of thing." terrible than they could be." Nessen recalled that when Ford offered him the appointment, the two White House needs the press, and is viewed as a functionary who mechani­ Nessen also referred to his partici­ James M. Naughton, The New York Times: "I would say the relationship willing to provide its members with cally carried out instructions of his pation in the policy making area. is pretty fragile. There's a lot less bickering on both sides than had been talked over the President's concept of the job. "Out of that conversation I office space and tolerate their de­ staff superiors. His dealings with the "There are opportunities to reflect the case a while back. But still the press is pretty dubious of him. There mands, so the press needs the White press were, in a sense, programmed. my views or the things I detect among are s!ill challenge~ t.o h~s accuracy and integrity. Things have improved got the feeling of how he wanted the place to be run and how he wanted me House to carry out its function as the Under the present White House the public, in the editorials and margmally. The fnct10n IS not nearly so explosive, but nonetheless exists." collector, relayer and interpreter of organizational structure, Nessen is one columns or what people tell me. There Paul F. Healey, New York Daily News: "On the surface, things haven't to fit into the White House," Nessen said. He said he also spoke to several news. Each is mutually dependent on of nine senior presidential aides who are discussions of issues which don't changed too much. Underneath, there is a lot of unhappiness and the other, though their professional stand at the crest and are responsible necessarily involve advice regarding criticism .... He doesn't seem to be as conscientious or aware of things former presidential press secretaries, including Bill D. Moyers, Tom John­ objectives differ. Essentially, it is a directly to the President. In practice, the press, things that come up every as he should." marriage of convenience, devoid of however, he and seven peers rank be­ day-how to present the energy pro­ Martin Nolan, Boston Globe: "He has an ego problem as all those guys son, Reedy and Pierre Salinger. "Everybody kind of commiserated deep affection, but with wary respect low presidential assistant Donald gram, what stand do you take towards do .... They think that if they don't lie and cheat, they should be be­ for each other. Rumsfeld, who rates as first among Congress, do you see Solhzenitsyn or lieved in everything they say." with me," he said, "and had their own ideas about the necessity of being Elaborating on the equal but separ­ equals within the White House hier­ do you not see Solzhenitsyn?" _.~!~hough the survey _focused on Nessen, many of the reporters voiced in on the decisions; of sitting in and ate relationship between the reporters archy. As such, Rumsfeld exercises Counter view: Some Washington re­ cnt1c1sm of some of the1r colleagues. Most of the criticism centered on the and the press office, deputy press supervisory control over the press of­ porters feel that Nessen's rank and inordinate amount of time spent in quibbling on minor points at Nessen's watching policy discussed and de­ cided; of staying close to the President secretary John W. Hushen said, "We fice as he does over most White House status tend to reduce his effectiveness daily briefings and on the superficial reporting by many White House do have a responsibility to help them operations. in working with newsmen and estab­ correspondents. and having good access; to tell the truth, if you didn't know something or get information they seek; we both Mandate: Nessen, nonetheless, enjoys lishing rapport with them. On a separate point, Lisagor said that the Ford Administration's decen­ want to communicate to the American a broader mandate than many of his "He's become one of the senior tralization policy has resulted in the departments, such as State and couldn't tell the whole truth, say so and not try to skirt about it." public what the President is doing. But predecessors. officials, and has a sense of his own Defense, bemg a better source of news than they had been during the Nix­ they are never going to be our pals Describing his role, he said, "There self-importance," said Peter Lisagor on era. Many forms: A presidential press secretary is seen through the eye of the professionally, nor are we ever going are several aspects to it. In terms of of the Chicago Daily News. "As are­ beholder in any one of several forms: to be their pals. We don't view them dealing with the press at briefings, on sult, he has lost touch with grubby, gress. He never is far from the Presi­ from less than a dozen aides in the as an Administration flack, White as an extension of our office and they the phone or in private conversations, dirty-fingered reporters. His briefings dent. And seldom a day passes that he Eisenhower Administration to a House policy enunciator, pitchman for don't view us as working for them." I try to accurately reflect what the have turned into a debating society isn't mentioned in the press. record 56 during the Nixon years. the President, creator and protector of Expanded figure: Along with the President feels about the issues. And I and taken on a life of their own. There Growth of offiCe: As an integral Whereas Franklin D. Roosevelt could the White House image and caterer to physical growth of the White House always try to answer a question as the is no relationship to what the Presi­ branch of the modern presidency, with easily accommodate all the White representatives of the broadcast and press operation, the authority and President would answer it if he were dent is doing or feeling, only what Ron its increasing emphasis on public rela­ House reporters in his office during a print media. To a degree, he fulfills responsibility of the press secretary there. I think that is the most valuable Nessen thinks and feels. Who gives a tions as a tool of government, the of­ news conference, Gerald R. Ford re­ each of these roles. have been expanded. Media exposure service that a press secretary can per­ damn what Nessen thinks and fee.Js. I fice of the press secretary has grown quires an auditorium or theater. Yet, his primary obligation is not to and their identification as White form-to be an accurate reflector of want to know what the President House . spokesmen also have made the President's own yiews. thinks about things. Now, we report 1412 ment, but civilization itself. ... In all step, he has given 47 private inter­ Flare-ups: The breach between Nessen feet of clearing the air," Nessen said 1413 my public and private acts as your views to representatives of news or­ and the press troubles and puzzles 10/ 1117S 10/11/75 in recounting the episode. "Certainly, NATIONAL The Battle of the Briefing President, I expect to follow my in­ ganizations, ranging from family him. On several occasions, tension be­ I've done a lot of thinking about it, NATIONAL JOURNAL stincts of openness and candor with magazines to foreign newspapers. tween the two has erupted into heated and I believe the reporters have done JOURNAL Cl975 The emotional level has been lowered in the White House press room in full confidence that honesty is always Accordingly, some of Ford's press flare-ups, particularly when the re­ a lot of thinking about it; I know they C1975 recent months, but there remains a brittle edge in remarks made at the the best policy in the end." aides are concerned about overex­ porters felt he was withholding infor­ have done a lot of talking about it daily briefings. The colloquy between presidential press secretary Ronald Ford's declaration was received posure. Said one: "The problem in see­ mation on crucial issues, such as the among themselves and to me. I think H. Nessen and reporters at the Sept. 26 briefing is illustrative. hopefully by the public and the press. ing newsmen with the frequency that Mayaguez incident, the Rockefeller 99 per cent of the reporters who are Nessea: The President certainly stands by, completely, what he said As columnist James B. Reston pointed he does is that many answers restate Commission's report on its CIA in­ in the press room to ask questions and Monday night (a reference to Ford's statement that he did not intend to out in The Artillery of the Press previous answers. His predecessor had vestigation, and more recently, the get facts for writing stories began to reduce his public appearances because of threats against his life). (Harper & Row, 1966), "The Presi­ few press conferences or interviews, President's curtailed travel plans and express their displeasure at the I per Q. Who decided security should have greater weight in evaluating dent's attitude toward the press sets and when he did his statements hit tightened security arrangements fol­ cent who were there for other reasons. these things? the pattern for the rest of his Adminis­ like a bombshell. But Ford sees and lowing two assassination attempts. I think that had a good effect. They N. Don Rumsfeld. tration. If he reads the newspapers talks to so many newsmen that he Still other incidents have led to began writing stories and naming· Q. How can you say he (Ford) is standing by what he said Monday carefully, his aides will read them .... doesn't 'make news' every time he clashes between Nessen and the re­ names and that kind of thing.'' night when he obviously is not? If he likes, trusts and sees reporters talks about a particular subject." porters. Upon his appointment, he Changes: Nessen further listed several N. As far as I know, at this point, no firm commitment has been officially and socially, as President The aide noted, for example, that a proclaimed that he did not expect "to steps he has taken to improve relations canceled by the President. Kennedy did, then Cabil)et lllembers, television interview the. President gave be a salesman for the President"­ with the White House press corps Q. You have not been told, according to your own account, of all the foreign service officers, ambassadors recently in Omaha was not picked up yet he filled that role to the extreme members and facilitate their work. changes in his schedule? and top civil servants will tend to do by any of the three major networks. when he overstated President Ford's Among the changes: N. There have been no changes in firm commitments, as far as I the same .... If, on the other hand, "They claimed that virtually every­ contribution to the arms limitation • Routine announcements are posted know, Fran. the President is known to be hostile thing he said was a restatement of agreement with the Soviet Union in in the press room at about lO a.m. so Q•... The President is not going to the Michigan-Michigan State to the press or to certain of its leading what he had said in the past." November. Subsequently, he con­ as to reduce time spent on them at the football game is he? commentators, he does not have to tell Contrast: Meanwhile, Hushen, who ceded that the agreement was the daily briefing. N. The trips that we have announced are Chicago, Omaha and Knox­ his aides to be wary or to avoid what served as director of public informa­ culmination of efforts begun under • Briefings are scheduled to begin ville. he regards as his 'enemies' in the tion at the Justice Department under President Nixon. promptly at 11:30 a.m., to allow re­ Q. I know what you have announced, I asked you a question. Are you press." Attorney General John N. Mitchell, Then, on June 24, he told reporters porters to plan their working day declining to answer it? Respects press: Ford, said Nessen, noted the differences in attitudes of the that he was unaware of any meeting better. N.No firm commitments, as far as I know, have been canceled. "likes reporters as people, he sees Ford and Nixon Administrations to­ between Ford and former Treasury • Film crews no longer are required Q. I would like to get back to my question. some socially, he respects reporters ward the press. Secretary (1971-72) John B. Connally. to get special permission to take pic­ N. Bob, do you remember yesterday's briefing when I said from now on and is not afraid of them. He takes "Basically," he said, "the difference Nessen stuck to his claim under in­ tures on the White House lawn. the press office and others in the White House will talk only about firm criticism very well; I have never seen is in a positive versus a negative ap­ tense questioning. Not until an aide • A ban on coverage of White House commitments made by the President, and these are things that he is going him angry because of a critical story." proach. The 'we against them' syn­ confirmed that a meeting had taken social events has been eased. Under to or is not going to do. Reeves reports in his book that Ford drome which characterized the Nixon place a week earlier did Nessen sug­ the current system, a four-member re­ Q. If I said the President is going to the North Pole, you would say, "I has invited prominent journalists, such White House is absent in this White gest that it had slipped his mind. porters' "pool" will be allowed to can't answer that question." Is that right? as Reston, David S. Broder of The House. We put out as much informa­ On at least two previous occasions cover the affairs but is required to N. It is not a firm commitment. . Washington Post, and Howard K. tion as we possibly can-not as little at White House briefings, Nessen pro­ respect the privacy of White House At that point, the official White House transcript read "(Laughter)." Smith of ABC, to the White House for as we can get away with." fessed ignorance of unscheduled meet­ guests and not use tape recorders or lunch to discuss the state of the nation. Contradictions: Nonetheless, there ings in the Oval Office-on Dec. 12 cameras. Unlike Nixon, who professed a dis­ have been lapses that appear incon­ when Ford met with Sen. James 0. Earlier, the White House press of­ 'Nessen said this, Nessen said that.' of Congress for 25 years, gained a interest in print and electronic journ­ sistent with Ford's pledge of an open Eastland, D-Miss., to discuss a contro­ fice instituted a policy of allowing In that respect, things were different reputation as a friend of the press. alism, Ford enjoys the news. He re­ Administration. versial appointment, and on March follow-up questions at presidential under Ziegler; at least he didn't try to Other Presidents, notably Kennedy portedly reads eight daily newspapers, He vetoed a strengthened Freedom 14 when the President conferred with press conferences. project himself." and Johnson, had a keen, if exag­ some more thoroughly than others: of Information Act last year. Also, Defense Secretary James R. Schles­ The social ban was ordered last year An independent view was offered gerated, awareness of the power of the The Washington Post, The New York several questions concerning the U.S. inger. During the latter instance, Nes­ when a reporter-identified by a by Richard Reeves, author of the new­ press. Also, each suffered from an Times, New York Daily News, The military reaction to the Mayaguez seiz­ sen admitted he did not know the cri­ White House aide as Lester Kinsolv­ ly published book, A Ford. Not a Lin­ oversensitivity to it. Johnson, Walter Christian Science Monitor, The Sun ure in May remain wrapped in teria for omitting names from the ing, an Episcopal priest who doubles coln (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Lippmann once noted, was a "patho­ (Baltimore), Los Angeles Times. Chi­ mystery. Why, for example, were air President's schedule. "I probably as a journalist-interr~p~¢ ;,t. private 1975): "Nessen's job is to keep the logically secretive man," who created cago Tribune and The Washington strikes made against the Cambodian ought to check," he said. Presumably, conversation between Ford and Singa­ White House press corps occupied, a "credibility gap" by his attempts at Star. Early each morning, he looks mainland after the vessel's crewmen he did not, or the tempest over the pore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew dumb and happy. He runs an adult managing and manipulating the news, over The President's Daily News Sum­ had been released? Connally incident might have been and began asking questions. day care center. If he were not there thereby hastening his political demise. mary, which was started by Nixon and President's spokesman avoided. Format under re¥iew: Nessen said he doling out a daily ration of front page Nixon, during almost six years in is basically a compilation of the pre­ Retort: Shortly afterwards, at a June has "flirted" with the idea of revising headlines and 90-second television the White House, was unable to hide vious day's news developments. White House reporters are fond of 26 briefing, Nessen cited the "poison­ the format of the daily briefings, spots, all those reporters, many of his distrust and contempt for the press, Since Ford often is unable to watch recalling that when Nessen was named ous atmosphere" of the press room which have become a sort of sanctified them talented men and women, might and bequeathed Ford the chore of re­ the networks' evening television news­ press secretary Sept. 20, 1974, he and accused some of the reporters of ritual. Proposals have been made to be prowling around the government pairing a shattered relationship with casts, tapes of the shows are played promised never to "knowingly lie" or "blind, mindless, irrational suspicion limit them in time or restrict them to talking to people in, say, the State or the news media and restoring confi­ for his benefit over the White House purposely mislead them. Nessen, who and cynicism.'' This led to reports designated topics. The suggestion even Defense Departments, people who dence in the Administration's credi­ TV sets while he is having lunch the was appointed to the post after Jerald that Nessen would resign if it was felt has been made to dispense with them know what is going on." bility. next afternoon. F. terHorst resigned in protest over within the higher reaches of the White altogether except when a major story Pledges openness: Ford promptly set Presidential exposure: During the 14 Ford's grant of an unconditional par­ House that his effectiveness had been occurs. Ford and the press to the task, and in his inaugural ad­ months he has been in office, Ford don to Nixon, today maintains he has irreparably damaged. Later, he said A few reporters endorse the latter Few Presidents have entered office dress Aug. 9, 1974 he said, "I believe has held 18 formal press conferences, lived up to his commitment. But many that the situation had never quite proposal, but the great majority, those on a more amiable basis with reporters that truth is the glue that holds gov­ not including some scheduled out of among the White House press corps reached that point. who depend on the briefings for daily than Gerald Ford, who, as a Member ernment together, not only our govern- Washington. In an unprecedented remain unconvinced. "I think my statement had the ef- stories, are strongly opposed to it. Greener contends that daily brief­ press, which I don't intend to do be­ Top aides: Assisting Nessen in man- 1415 1414 ings should be held to give reporters cause I don't feel that way. aging the press office are Greener and 10; 11; 75 10/11/75 the opportunity to ask legitimate ques­ " What I'm trying to say in a very Hushen. NATIONAL NATIONAL Nessen: The Man with the Sisyphean Task tions. "It shouldn't be our prerogative gentle way is that I think it might be Greener, 50, former assistant secre- JOURNAL JOURNAL Ronald H. Nessen-in common with all White House 1 ©1975 to say there is no major story," he possible for reporters, even if they tary for public affairs of the Housing © 975 press secretaries-is like a quatter horse competing in said. have to be generalists, to take a little and Urban Development Department the I Yl-mile Belmont Stakes: there is no way he can more time to learn more about some and director of public affairs at the win over the long haul. The system of the issues that we handle. It seems Office of Management and Budget for Yet, each day he pits his intellectual and semantic Nessen believes that many of his to me to cover the White House you a )Jrief period, is Nessen's principal skills against a group of news-hungry reporters whose problems with the White House press need to know as much-or more if you deputy. Under the White House dep- appetites are insatiable. He is a modern Sisyphus con­ corps emanate less from personal dif­ can-as the people you are dealing uty system, he is considered inter­ demned to an impossible task. For every boast of ferences than from imperfections in with. changeable with Nessen and performs openness there is a charge of secrecy; for every instance the institutional system under which "One of the reasons that Kissinger virtually the same functions as the of professed candor there is a suspicion of manipulation both work. (Secretary of State Henry A. Kis­ press secretary. When Nessen does not and management. Built-in flaw: " By and large, the White singer) has such a good relationship conduct the daily press briefing, Regardless of which chief executive occupies the Oval House press corps is an extremely with his press corps is that they know Greener steps in for him. Office, the President's press secretary holds the one hard-working, dedicated group which almost as much as he does. Yet, if Hushen, 40, a former Detroit news­ White House job in which the occupant is assured of does a damn good job," he said. " But Frank Zarb (administrator of the paperman and press secretary to Sen. more brickbats than bouquets. there are institutional problems built Federal Energy Administration) or Robert P. Griffin, R-Mich., ranks Comic relief: Nessen, a former NBC correspondent, into it. The White House will come out one of the other specialists has a press immediately behind Greener. He is in nevertheless maintains a veneer of studied self-confi­ and announce a program. It has taken briefing over here, the White House charge of the "lower press office" just dence indigenous to television performers. Frequently, 20 people six months meeting four press corps just doesn't know as much off the White House briefing room and like an old-time vaudevillian, he will attempt to put his hours a day and occupied so many as they need to. handles the day-to-day operations. audience in a congenial frame of mind with a piece of hours of the President's time. There "Consequently, what the system Hushen also deals with daily press comic relief. is all the expertise and judgment any­ causes-and it is not the fault of the queries, helps prepare the morning For instance, while announcing arrangements for a one can put into it. individual- is a kind of oversimplifi­ briefing material and is in charge of recent presidential trip, he told reporters, "Check-in Not defenseless: But he has not been rendered defense­ "As a reporter, you have one min­ cation." travel arrangements for the press. time at Andrews is 3:30p.m. tomorrow." less. He does not hesitate to fault some members of the ute and 15 seconds on the air to sum­ Serving as aides to Hushen are J. "With bags?" a reporter asked. press corps for failing to learn about policy issues and marize it or 300 words in the newspa­ Administration William Roberts, Larry M. Speakes "You can bring whatever young lady you would like do their "homework." per. These are institutional problems; Much of Nessen's time is spent as and Thym Smith. to, Jim," Nessen replied. Warming up to the subject, he said, " When the I don't criticize or complain about it, an administrator. Under his jurisdic­ Cutbacks: Under Ford, both the com­ As imagined, the technique doesn't always achieve its energy thing first came up, I got asked the same I sympathize with it. I was in the same tion, in addition to the press section, munications office and the news sum­ intended purpose. questions every day, 'Is the President going to go for boat once myself." are the communications office headed mary operation have been remodeled Measuring each other: Ironically, after more than a gas rationing? Is the President going to go for higher Stories vs. news: Besides being general­ by Margita E. White; the news sum­ and cut back. year, Nessen and members of the Washington press gas taxes?' Why were those two questions asked? Be­ ists who are required to cope with spe­ mary operation directed by James B. Created by Nixon with Herbert G. corps with whom he deals almost every day have yet cause they were simple and easy and at that point it cialized issues, Nessen said, some Shuman; the press advance detail Klein as its first director, the com­ to take each other's measure fully. They remain wary was about all that they knew about energy." White House correspondents are con­ composed of Eric Rosenberger, Arnold munications office was envisioned as of one another, ever mindful of their respective territori­ Word playing: Nessen contended that there is "an awful cerned more with stories than with Noel and David Wendell; and the the White House's press-public rela­ al imperatives. They still are experimenting and at­ lot of fencing" and "playing with words" at his daily news. President's technical television adviser, tions coordinator with the executive tempting to adjust to each other's style in the hope of press briefings. "This is considered to be sort of the Robert Mead. branch and liaison with editors and finding a comfortable modus operandi. "A favorite question," he said, "is, 'Would you rule premiere beat in Washington and you Kennerly: White House photographer broadcasters around the country. Dur­ While talking with a visitor in his White House out that the United States will ever use nuclear force? have to produce a story a day. One of David H. Kennerly and his staff were ing the 1972 Nixon campaign, presi­ office, Nessen admitted to being puzzled by this lack Ever? Anywhere?' You'd be a fool and liar to say 'yes.' the things I've come to realize in this attached to the press section, but have dential ·consultant Charles W. Colson of rapport. If you say 'no, I wouldn't rule it out,' you'd get a head­ job is that there is sometimes a differ­ been transferred to Rumsfeld's oper­ took it' over for use as a White House "It even goes back to the kind of upbringing I had," line saying, 'Ford Threatens to Use Nuclear Weapons." ' ence between a story and news. I think ational division. political-propaganda arm. The section he remarked. "My mother taught her two kids that it is He said he now can spot loaded questions thrown at what is required every day of most Recently, Kennerly's photography had a similar assignment under Ken very important to tell the truth. I feel that way, not him by reporters. "I know where the 'land mines' are people who cover the White House is group was cut by one, bringing it to W. Clawson throughout the Watergate only because I was brought up that way but because planted and I can kind of walk around them. I think it a story. The real fact of the matter is seven members. "I wanted to cut three period. I made that promise when I took this job and because is a waste of everybody's time." that on every subject every day there more but then we all decided his office At present, the communications of­ I saw what not telling the truth had done to previous Physical toll: Nessen said that the one thing he did not is not that much news. Nevertheless, might be better off operating within fice is a subdivision of the press office, press secretaries. I guess I was surprised and upset anticipate in his White House job was the "sheer physi­ you have got to write a story. another division," Nessen said. performing support services. Mostly, not to have my word believed." cal work" involved. "This produces semantic juggling "The fact is his contribution to the these involve contacts with out-of­ Charges exchanged: The squabbles between Nessen "I leave home at 6:30 in the morning, get here at 10 and probing and pushing and seeing press office was relatively small in town newspapers and radio-TV sta­ and White House reporters already have become in­ to seven, read the papers both in the car and when I that something is said differently to­ terms of pictures fo r the press. His tions, answering requests by colum­ scribed in press room lore. At times they have reached get here and have a little breakfast downstairs and then day than it was yesterday. Again, it is pictures are mostly used for historical nists and specialized magazines, ar­ such a peak of emotional intensity that if they had read The President's News Summary. I have a staff not the fault of the reporter but the im­ purposes, the archives and congres­ ranging regional news for the Presi­ occurred out on Pennsylvania Avenue, participants meeting at 7:30, attend the senior· staff meeting at 8:00 perfection in the system. sional and public liaison people and dent, mailing out fact sheets and Ad­ from each side might well have been arrested for dis­ and visit with the President a couple of times. Most of Denies blast: Nessen made it clear that that kind of thing. Given the fact I ministration speeches and maintaining orderly conduct. the morning is pretty much spent getting ready for the he was not going out of his way to was given a certain number of people relations with professional press or­ On one occasion, Nessen was accused openly of 11 :30 briefing. criticize the reporters, particularly I could employ, I didn't feel I wanted ganizations. White has about 14 aides, "lying." On his part, Nessen has charged reporters "After that, I have phone calls, see reporters, grab the 50 or 60 " regulars" who cover the to use up seven of my slots for people less than half the number in the office with writing " bum stories" and "mangling" his words. some lunch, keep up with the paper work, attend to White House fulltime. who didn't really benefit the press during the Nixon Administration. As a public official who cannot run or hide and administrative functions and so forth. Normally, I get "I've had so many bad experiences office that much.-Rumsfeld agreed and News summary : The President's News whose every word is filtered, magnified and dissected, out of here anywhere between 8:00 and 9:00. It's a rich, with stories coming out looking like therefore took Ke]lnerly under his own Summary was originated by Nixon he is a natural quarry. long day, always six and frequently seven days a week." I'm sitting back here blasting the wing." aide Patrick J. Buchanan and con- Budget Report/New accounting technique

COU ld become· political tool by Joel Havemann

1416 The Administration is preparing a fts­ impulse to add money to those pro­ major uncontrollable changes." Other­ 1417 10/11/75 cal 1977 budget document that is cer­ grams. wise, he said, increased workloads will 10/ 11/75 NATIONAL The Government Vs. the Press tain to become one of the most widely For defense, where Congress in re­ be offset by growth in productivity. NATIONAL JOURNAL used sources of information on the cent years has cut the Administra­ However, federal salaries, which JOURNAL freedom of the press with a determina­ President in his right mind would surrender gladly current services budget in the budget exact science is inflation. In a bulle­ are considerably larger than the tion and malignity never before seen in the republic; the power he draws from this unique institution, which reform act, it was hoping to get a doc­ tin to the departments and agencies spending levels allowed by the con­ the inequities of past Presidents fade quickly in retro­ puts him, in a light that he selects for himself, on the ument that simply made mathematical explaining the preparation of the cur­ tiriuing resolution, and so their use spect." front page of every newspaper in the land and, as often projections of spending and revenue, rent services budget, Paul H. O'Neill, would fit a strategy of making the cur­ Wise: David Wise, The Politics of Lying (Random as not, in the world." without political judgments. deputy OMB director, said the impact rent services budget for defense ap­ House, 1973): "In my experience, most reporters make Reston: James B. Reston, The Artillery of the Press But that is not the way the cur­ of inflation should be estimated for pear as large as possible. But the a conscious effort to report the facts and to write the (Harper & Row, 1967): "One profession is quiet, the rent services budget is working out in some programs but not others. OMB official said the Administration truth.... Washington reporters must succeed in this other noisy; one slow, the other fast; one precise, the practice. The 0 M B budget official O'Neill said the effect of inflation might get in trouble with Congress if to a great extent, for if, as the Nixon Administration other imprecise. What makes their relationship said the best 0 M B can do is identify should be included in estimating the it relies on authorization bills in some has charged, they are preponderantly biased, liberal, even more difficult is that they are stuck with one an­ a range of spending that might be nec­ cost of maintaining current services areas but not others. and Democratic, it is impossible to explain why Presi- other." essary to maintain each fiscal 1976 for programs such as social security, Congress: The House and Senate program through fiscal 1977. He said which under current law provides in­ Budget Committees and the Congres­ the Administration can choose a fig­ creased benefits as the cost of living sional Budget Office are spending tinued by Ford, first under Philip L. suggested that he discontinue the sum­ staff, and spoke of future plans as the ure within the range in such a way as goes up. Major construction projects, most of their time on fiscal 1976. The Warden and now by Shuman, a for­ mary. This, they point out, would be President's press secretary. to influence Congress to increase such as the nuclear breeder reactor second 1976 budget resolution is sched­ mer writer and editor with Reader's in keeping with his plan to reduce the "My view is the press office is run­ spending for the program or to hold and the space shuttle, should include uled for passage in November. Digest and personal friend of Nessen. size of the staff employed by the ning better than ever before, at least it down, depending on the Administra­ an inflation factor only if appropria­ By law, the Joint Economic Com­ The news content is based almost White House. since I have been here; some people tion's policy. tions include amounts for future price mittee must provide the Budget Com­ exclusively on reports from the wire say it is running as well as it has in For human resources programs, he increases. Other programs, O'Neill mittees with an analysis of the cur­ services, the three television networks Outlook a great long time," he said. "I would said, the Administration can project said, "should not be adjusted for infla­ rent services budget by Dec. 31. In ad­ and the major newspapers. Since Ford With his baptismal year behind -like to have all the right people in all fiscal 1977 spending for current serv­ tion since this would require a change dition, the Congressional Budget Of­ watches the TV news shows and reads him, Nessen shows little indication of the right jobs by the first of the year, ices on the low side. That would make in existing law." fice intends to study the current serv­ the newspapers that provide most of bowing out now despite speculation because I think the campaign and congressional increases in such pro­ Employmeot:. O'Neill said federal em­ ices budget to see whether it is built the information used in the news sum­ in the press room. He said that there traveling and so forth is going to be a grams -look that much bigger, and it ployment will be held constant in the on assumptions that it feels are mary, some presidential aides have would be "minor" changes in his strain on the press office." D would tend to curb the congressional current services budget, "except for valid. 0 Oct.11, 1975 \Ol 7 No. 41 WE.EKLY INDEXES

Loomis, Philip A., Jr.-1428 American Federation of State, County Personal Name Index Lynch, Marjorie Ward-1432 and Municipal Employees-1422, Lynn, James T.-1421-22,1426 1424 Albert, Carl--1420 Madden, Ray J.-1434 American I nstltute of Architects-1421 Bartlett, Dewey F.-1436 Mansfield, Mlke-1419,1436 American Petroleum lnstitute-1418 Bell, Richard E.-1427 McCarthy, Eugene J.-1432 American Retail Federation-1418 Bentsen, Uoyd-1433 McCollister, John Y.-1433 American Textile Manufacturers Blouin, Michael R.--1434 McGovern, George-1429 I nstitute-1418 Soiling, Richard-1434 Mead, Robert-1415 Ashland Oillnc.-1428 Boren, David L.-1430 Mitchell, John N.-1413 Associated General Contractors of Brock, Bill-1422 Mosbacher, Robert-1430 America-1421 Broder, David S.-1412 Mott, Stewart R.-1432 Avon Products lnc.-1418 Brooks,Jack--1421 Moyers, Bill D.-1410 Bristol-Myers Co.-1418 Buchanan, Patrick J.-1415 Moynihan, Daniel P.-1427 Chamber of Commerce of the United Buckley, James L.-1432 Murphy, Charles H., Jr.-1430 States-1418 Bumpers, Dale--1436 Muskie, Edmund S.-1422 Chrysler Corp.-1418 Burns, Arthur F.--1419, 1425 Naughton, James M.-1409-10 Citicorp-1418 Califano, Joseph A., Jr.-1416 Nessen, Ronald H.-1409-16 Collier, Shannon, Rill and Edwards- Carlucci, Frank C.-1432 Neustadt, Richard E.-1416 1418 Carney, Charles J.-1434 Nixon, Richard M.-1409,1416,1428,1433 Covington and Burling-1418 Casey, William J.-1428 Noel, Arnold~1415 Cox, Langford and Brown-1418 Clawson, Ken W.-1415 Nolan, Martin-1410 Domestic Wildcatters Assn. -1430 Clusen, Ruth C.--1430 O'Brecht, Richard P.-1418 Exxon Corp.--1428 Colson, Charles W.--1415 O'Neill, Paul H.-1417 Feed Manufacturers Assn.-1418 Connally, John B.--1413 Osborne, John-1410 Ford Motor Co.--1418 Cook, G. Bradford--1428 Pastore, John 0.-1433 Franklin Natl. Bank (New York)-1428 Cronin, Thomas E.-1416 Pearson, James B.-1433 Gas Appliance Manufacturers Assn.- Daniels, Dominick V.-1424 Perkins, Carl D.-1425 1418 Deakin, James-1416 Pollack, Irving M.~1428 General Mills lnc.-1418 Dent, Frederick B.-1431 Pollard, James E.-1410 General Motors Corp.-1418 Dent, John H.-1431 Reedy, George E., Jr.-1409-10 Grocery Manufacturers of America Dunlop, John T.-1425-26 Reeves, Richard-1412 lnc.--1418 Durkin, John A.-1419 Reston, James B.-1412,1416 Gulf Oil Corp.--1428 Eastland, James 0.-1413 Rhodes, John J.-1434 Hearing Aid Industrial Conference- Eberle, Harold F.-1437 Roberts, J. William-1415 1418 Eckhardt, Bob-1434 Roe, Robert A.-1421 Independent Petroleum Assn. of Esch, Marvin L.--1424 Rosenberger, Eric-1415 Amerlca--1430 Evans, John R.-1428 Rosenblatt, Maurice-1430 Inti. Telephone and Telegraph Corp.- Fannin, Paul J.-1436 Rossiter, Ciinton-1416,1429 1428 Fischer, Dean E.--1410 Rumsfeld, Donald-1411-12,1415,1429 Inti. Union, United Automobile, Aero­ Ford, President Salinger, Pierre-141 0 space and Agricultural Implement current services budget-1417 Schlesinger, Arthur M., Jr.-1416 Workers of America-1421 , 1431 Defense DE!partment appropriations Schlesinger, James R.-1413 League of Women Voters of the U.S.- (FY 1976)-1433 Schlosstein, Ralph L-1422 1430 financial institutions revision-1433 Schmults, Edward C.-1422,1424 Miles Laboratories lnc.- 1418 job creating programs--1419-22, Shuman, James B.-1415-16 Munger, Tolles and Rickershauser-- 1424-26 • Simon. William E.-1422,1425-26 1437 Nessen press secretary performance Sisk, B. F.-1434 Murphy Oil Corp.-1430 -1409-16 Smith, Howard K.-1412 Natl. Assn. of Counties--1421, 1422, oil price controls-1436 Smith, Thym-1415 1424 school lunch program veto--1429, Sommer, A. A., Jr.-1428 Natl. Canners Assn.--1418 1433 Sorensen, Theodore C.-1416 Natl. Committee for an Effective spending projection (FY 1977)--1432 Speakes, Larry M.-1415 Congress--1430 tax cut proposals-1432 Sporkin, Stanley-1428 Natl. Governors' Conference-1424 tobacco price supports veto-1432 Sta9gers, Harley 0.-1433 Natl. League of Cities-U.S. Conference trade protectionism-1431 Ste1ger, William A.-1432 of Mayors- 1419,1421-22,1424 Turkey military arms ban-1433 Stevens, Ted--1436 New York Stock Exchange lnc.-1428 world grain reserves-1427 Stuckey, W. S., Jr.-1433 Peabody, Rlvlin, Lambert and Frizzell, Kent-1432 Taft, Peter R.-1437 Dennison-1418 From, Alvin-1422 Talmadge, Herman E.-1421 Phillips Petroleum Co.-1428 Garrett, Ray, Jr.-1428,1437 terHorst, Jerald F.--1413 Republic Corp.-1428 Gleason, Martin J.-1422 Thompson, Frank, Jr.-1434 Sears, Roebuck and Co.-1418 Greener, William 1.-1409,1415 Udall, Stewart L.-1430 Sidley and Austln-1418 Greenspan, Alan-1426 Van Deerlin, Uonel-1433 Stein, Mitchell and Mezines- 1418 Griffin, Robert P.-1415 Vesco, Robert L.-1428 Swift and Co.-1418 Hansen, Clifford P.-1436 Warden, Philip L.--1416 Timex Corp.-1418 Hawkins, Augustus F.-1425 Webber, Frederick L.--1437 U.S. Steel Corp.-1431 Healey, Paul F.-1410 Weintraub, Jon-1422 Well, Gotshal and Manges-1418 Hills, Carla A.-1428 Wendell, David-1415 Williams, Connolly and Califano- 1437 Hills, Roderick M.-1428,1437 Whitaker, John C.-1432 Ziegler, Ronald L.--1409 Hollings, Ernest F.-1433,1436 White, Margita E.-1415 Hughes, Emmet John-1416 White, Peter A.-1418 Hughes, William J.--1434 Wise, David--1416 Government Humphrey, Hubert H.-1425 Young, Kenneth-1422 Hushen, John W.-1411,1413,1415 Zarb, Frank G.--1415 Organization Index Jackson, Henry M.-1436 Ziegler, Ronald L.--1411-12 Johnson, Tom-1410 Johnson, Wallace H., Jr.-1437 Proposed organizations are listed In Kennerly, David H.-1415 Private Italics. King, Allan-1430 Kinsolving, Lester-1413 Organization Index Congress Kissinger, Henry A.-1415,1427 Appropriations Committee, House- Klein, Herbert G.-1415 AFL-CI0-1419, 1421-22,1424-25 1417 Kondracke, Morton M.-1410 Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld- Atomic Energy Committee, Jolnt-1433 Lee Kuan Yew-1413 1418 Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Lewis, Robert J.-1418 American Enterprise Institute for Public Committee, Senate- 1433 Llsagor, Peter -141 0-11 Policy Research--1430 (continuild on inside back co11er) THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON

November 5, 1975

MEMO FOR: RON NESSEN

FROM: JIM FALK

FYI. •.·

'<

"t:',

' ' ! - .(' • • MASSAGE PARLORS RUB WIVES WRONG WAY F'RE:•ONT, CALIF. -.-Declarillg war on massage parlors in this community', a group of house­ vives has started a campaign to embarrass men who frequent the establishments by notityin~ their wives. "Our goal is to drive every massage parlor out of Fre~ont before they ·ruin this ~c .' a Tahiti•, Only Engll1h ·o _ally spokesman for Citizens AgainSt Massage Parlors­ 1 DIS~Btn'BD FREE TO ALL G'lF.S'l'S I1( ~CH R>Ll!IESIA IIO'SU5 'lEL. 2.88.~ -CAMP-said, "We can t seem to get them out­ lawed, so we t we put_ some of them 1975 - VOL. 9 - No. 21)0 FORD AGAIN TELLS NEW YORK CITY "NO AID" ••• YET WASHINGTON--President :.'llllediately dropped stand: FoFd told New York City plans to debate a bill "The bail~ut Qill "no" again yesterday, aimed at helping· New now before the House of r-!nd refused to support ·York City avoid defaUlt, Representativea . is ir­ fe1eral help until a saying the measure does relevant because it special session of the not have a chance. does not address the New York State Isgisla- . Meanwhile , , White current situation, and tUre does more toward House News Secretary the President would ve- self-help. Ron Nessen gave report­ to i~. Members of Congress ers the President 1 s ~~ont. On Page 1?) U.S. pro league be seiged. by finandal crises , I t l'~~ - .., + ,l)hane nesia," Mr. :t-l8gr.

Jhe one Inexpensive For your MONEY ne ds wvay to see Tahiti while visiting Tahiti HENRY~ENT- DE. A :.. CAR TEL.2.70.81 French & Polynesian cusine. dancing • OLYN_ESIE ~ Fridays. closed Sundays TE'L. 2.82.52 for LOWEST RATES. Blvd. Pomare, rlght on the nice· car, good service ------AT THE END OF THE ISLAND, waterfront--tel. 2. 86.88 Open 7 AM_:-7PM Daily; Sun­ Moorea branch in Pao Pao days, 7-9 AM, 7-8 PM. No YOUR ~A 'PJLH: .Village at Cook's Bay pick up ~chcirge, full insurance ~ESTAURANTI~ ~-- ASSOCIATED BANKS on request. ., Habla Espanol French cuisine & 7.1~.~4 First Nati9nal City Bank, NYC .:. . special tou,tist rates local specialties cloaed Tuea~ Societe Geilerale, Paris - • " ~mrs • , Nov. 20, 1975. THE TAHITI BULLETIN : Ford again tells N.Y. 'no' dBUSII'i_E ss :riEWSk would ba ol'derly." (Cont. From Pag~ !) • .J.ult, if it occurs, · Stocks close lower· "The President is con­ I l vinced that if New York NEW . YORK--The New Volume on the New continues to move to­ York Stock Exchange, re­ York Exchange was 16.82 ward fiscal responsibil­ I~.S.NEWS) acting to President million shares. There ity, all parties con­ Ford '.s refusal to do were 1,000 declines and cerned can look forward ~yt~ yet about help­ 380 advances • The New to a satisfactory so1u­ LNEWS BRIEFS] ing New York City, clos­ York Stock Exchange In­ tion despite the appar- ed lower in moderate dex dropped • 53. The av­ .ent obsi;:&cles." trading yesterday. erage price of a share Nessen said President In other markets at a of common stock lost Ford will reassess ~ U.S..INCOME UP BUT ••• glance, bonds closed 34 cents. situation next week and mixed, U.S. government Volume on the .Ameri­ see if federal legis!~ bondS closed slightly can Exchange was 1. 67 tion is necessary then. WASHINGToN-Personal income in the U.s. rose higher in moderate trad­ million shares. There The President's prom- ing, the American Stock were 186 advances; 394 ' in October for the third straight month, the ise to veto the bill tovernment reported yesterday. But there was a Exchange closed lower declines and 363 stocks now· before Congress catch. in moderate trading, unchange. The average • brousht this reaction The latest figures on pers~nal income are London stocks closed price of a share of com­ from New York Gov. Hugh f10t particularly encouraging, no matter how slightly higher, cotton mon st6ck lost eight Carey: they look on the sUrface. The rate of increase futures closed higher cents. , "It (the legislation) last month was less than in September, and and gold futures closed Among the most ac­ is appropriate. If the that was lower than in August. higher. tive issues traded on bill came today we What is more important, Americans do not Prices on the New the New York Exchange, could act today. The know yet how much consumer prices went up last York Exchange took no Texaco was down l/4 at bill that he discusses. · month. It is quite possible that ~hose price special trend through 23; Xerox was · U.P 3/4 is a bail-out and he increases ate up most or all of the October the day until Presi­ at 50 5/8; liestinghouse calls irrelevant ·the rise in personal income. And if that is the dent Ford made his lat­ . Electric was down l/8· most relevant bill of case, it will be disturbing because the aver­ est ~tatem~nt on aid at 10 7/8; National our times right now. age American worker fell behind financially in to New York City. Then Semi-Conductor was down It's relevant to curir..g 1 September ~so. ·. prices dropped. 1 l/4 at 40 3/4; S.S. this condition. If he's More than anyth~ng else, the u.s. econom;i.c The Dow Jones indus­ Kresgee was down l/2 not satisfied with the recovery de~nds on the ability of consumerr; trial average of 30 at 33 3/4; General Mot- . bill, he's a fol'IOOr l.e~ · to bey more • And they cannot do this unless in­ ·stocks closed down .7 ora was down l l/2 at islator, he knows how come rises a lot faster than the cost of liv­ at 848.24. 54 7/8; Southern Com­ to get . the CoDgress to ing. The 20 transpartation pany was ~own l/8 at move this bill. But he issues closed down 2.42. 14 3/4; Polaroid was The 15 utilities closed down 5/8 at 35 3/ 8; pre'f"ers to defer." WA§HTNG'l'QN--THE HOUSE RULES COIOOTTEE GAVE FIN­ down .68. The 65 stockB Citicorp was down l l/4 ,. Gov. Carey then re­ al approval yesterday to a new tax cut package, turne1t 1eo -4:1 WPY, N.1'. , expanding next year's cuts. Bl.lt the bill does closed down .25. at 28 1/2. in the hope of pushing not contain President Ford's request for cor­ ,EXCHANGE RATES new taxes through the responding spending cuts. S_tate L&Bislature. I . . Although he still re­ SACRANENTO--A FEDERAL JUDGE HERE REFUSED YEST­ fused to give aid to BAN QUE DE roLYNESIE EXCHANGE RA'IES ON NOV. l,9. e~y to dismiss charges or declare a mistrial New York, President in the Lynette Fromme case. But Judge Thomas Travellers Checks Ford also praised "the Currenc;t ~ ~cBride criticized the prosecution for its 78.70 • seriousness of the at­ st$ ..1· 77.50 handling of a key witness in the case • I6I.20 tempt the city has al­ iSM I59.00 r $At5T : ready made · to avoid 97.50 99.30 WASHINGTON-FBI DIRECTOR CLARENCE KELLY TOLD A $NZ 81.50 82.90 \ankrUptcy." Senate committee yesterday that terrorist bomb­ In readint; r-tr. Ford's D.M. 30.00 30.40 i. ings in the u.s. are sharply increasing. He etatement, Nessen also F.S. 29.00 29 .70 said there were more bombings in the first six 26.30 said, "If tltey continue Y.JAP. 26.00 months of this year than 1n all of last year. to make progress, the BANK wCATF.D ON THE DOimTOWN WA'JERFRONT President will review s'T• . the situa.tion early . next week to see if any legislation is appropri­ ate at the feder al lev­ el. . ·. {Y~~[!~!:Foe~~~~~~ "In the mean time, I • should New York leaders ~ OPEN 8- 11 • .30 AM and 2-6 PM ~ NOW ON EXHIBIT fail to implement .their intentions, New York AT THE GALLERY City will still be forc­ ~J:ad Van Der Heyde - ed into legal default. ~erefore, the Presi­ Jan Day- Gemmaniclc- dent is asking Congress · Kihm - Mqurareau - once again to enact Ravel/o- tpecial amendm , to Rosine Temauri· Masson the federal tcu. v.ruot­ Lesven- ure laws which will en­ ALSO EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE·: culptures and llthortraphv sure that such a de- The entire issue is included in this folder, but only portions were digitized due to copyright restrictions. Please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library for access to these materials.

THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON

TO: Ron Nessen

FROM: Margita E. White . Assistant Press Secretary to the President

FYI mishandling public funds. ii:: Broadcast Journalism8 Lifesavers. Pete Rayner, reporter, wwoK(AMl·WIGLCFt:fl Miami, interrupted Nessen's ship is his morning fishing report from his out of shape airplane Dec. 6 to help save eight crew / members of sunken freighter who were in Several of his staff are departing; sinking lifeboat. Mr. Rayner called Coast reporters gripe about his operation Guard and alerted nearby boat for pick-up by dropping flares from his plane. Steve Life as President Ford's news secretary has Gill, reporter, wowK-TV Huntington, W. never been smooth for Ronald Nessen, Va., thwarted armed robbery attempt of the former NBC newsman. But in the past Charleston gas station Dec. 9. Pulling in couple of weeks it's gotten particularly lo station after spotting fire, Mr. Gill found rough. manager of station locked inside pay cubi­ One deputy news secretary has decided Back to bars. Clarence N. (Chuck) cle surrounded by fire started by two men tO leav-e the White House, while other Medlin, escaped convict who bilked trying to get manager to come out with Nessen aides are expected to depart-one CBS News out of $9,000 by promising to money. They were frightened away by Mr. possibly to the National Cable Television lead CBS newsmen to the body of Gill. who took part in chase after one. Association. And reporters and press of­ James Hoffa (BROADCASTING, Dec. 15), fice personnel both are reported to be was headed back toward jail last week. unhappy at the manner in which office is A U.S. magistrate's court in New Webster tells of weeks being operated. Orleans. where he was captured the Reporters and press office personnel week before. verified that he was an of terror in Angola returned from the presidential trip to escapee from a federal prison halfway China two weeks ago sharply cirtical of Mr. · Don Webster, CBS News correspondent, house in North Carolina, and his lawyer said that at one time while he and Nessen's performance. Reporters were said he would be returned to federal said to feel that the White House opera­ freelance cameraman Bill Mutschmann prison, probably in a few days. CBS were imprisoned in Luanda, Angola, he tion during the trip was inefficient. And News officials apparently have given up one White House aide agreed it had been was told he would probably die there. hope of finding either Mr. Hoffa's body or Mr. Webster, who with Mr . ..sloppy:• He said Mr. Nessen "seemed to the $9.000 that they had given to a feel he was part of the official presidential Mutschmann was released Dec. 11 after freelance writer, Patrick O'Keefe, who they had been held on unspecified charges party, and hung around with the Presi­ took Mr. Medlin to them. Mr. O'Keefe had denL" Yet, some of the complaints dealt for 19 days by the Popular Movement for agreed to return the money if Mr. Hoffa's the Liberation of Angola (BROADCASTING, with Mr. Nessen's alleged lack of informa­ body was not found, according to CBS tion when questioned by reporters. Dec. 8, 15), described their treatment in a News, but said Mr. Medlin demanded it report from Lisbon on the Dec. 11 CBS But President Ford apparently is not dis­ and he was afraid not to comply. turbed. Last week, in the midSt of stories Evening News With Walter Cronkite about trouble in the press office, he ex­ (above). . pressed his ..full confidence" in Mr. Schmidt, president' of NCTA, have dis­ "The living conditions," he said, "were Nessen. Mr. Ford was said to feel that Mr. cussed the possibility of Mr. Hushen join­ terrible. The sanitary facilities were un· Nessen is "fully professionally qualified to ing the association in a top administrative describable. The food was inedible. And do !he job." -- post. Mr. Schmidt is seeking someone to worst of all was the indecision as to what With Mr. Nessen on vacation in Florida, fill in for him when he is out of town as would happen to you. We were interrog­ that statement was given reporters by well as to assume the congressional liaison ated time and again, accused of being CIA Deputy News Secretary William Greener, duties of Charles Lipsen, who has been agents, not correspondents for CBS. And a former Pentagon spokesman who is leav­ dropped, and has talked to six prospects,· -on one occasion, the interrogator ended ing the White House to return to the Pen­ in all. the conversation by saying: 'Mr. Webster, I tagon as assistant secretary· for public . think you will die in Angola.' And it is that affairs. Journalism Briefs that hung over us the whole time." Others said. to be departing soon are Eric He said no charges were brought against Rosenberger, who heads the White House VIctor. Kcso-rv Lubbock, Tex., defended them because "they had nothing to charge press advance office, and John W. Hushen, itself successfully against $500,000 libel us with. They don't like Americans. At anOther deputy news secretary. There is no suit filed by two men who were subjects of word on where Mr. Rosenberger might 1973 investigative series broadcast by sta­ land, but Mr. Hushen and Robert tion. Two were accused in that series of

one time we were the only Americans at all in Angola and that was our only offense." Mr. Webster said he and Mr. Mutschmann were not harmed physically, Broker~onsulkuUs but that "every night without exception some prisoner W!lS taken out and beaten, 445 PARK AVENUE NEW YORK. N. Y. 10022 (212) 355-0405 sometimes savagely . . . We saw people after the. beatings, with scars and marks that I don't want to describe, but whatever you can imagine. it happened." THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON

TO: Ron Nessen

FROM: Margita E. White Assistant Press Secretary to the President

FYI Closed Circuii lns1der report behind the scene. before the fact

business in which President in televised meet with Senator Culver-who's not Seeking way out speech ripped pages off calendar to member of commission-on subject, but FCC is expected to begin fighting back underline impatience with slow pace of Angola vote intervened. today (Monday) against court decisions it Democratic Congress on energy problem Problem in Senate is said to be infinitely feels are forcing it into unconstitutional (''Closed Circuit," June 9). More more complex. In House, all speakers review of station formats. Under recently, it was presidential couns~l, Phil deliver their remarks from dais in front of consideration will be draft notice of Buchen, who gave what Mike Wallace. Speaker's chair. In Senate, each member inquiry which says those decisions-in took to be commitment for presidential speaks from his desk, requiring transfer cases in which citizen groups have appearance on 60 Minutes-and Mr. broadcasters to mix 101 mikes, and posing opposed proposals of purchaser to change Mead who was given job of expressing more difficult camera-lighting format-have raised two key questions: regrets when President's advisers decided, considerations. Policy problem is whether public interest requires close belatedly, Mr. Ford's schedule could not something else again. Resolution identical scrutiny of entertainment formats, and accommodate interview. to that on verge of adoption in House has whether First Amendment permits it. Mr. Mead, incidentally, had written been before Senator Robert C. Byrd's (D­ Draft notice is designed to determine memo expressing his view on how Mr. W. Va.) subcommittee (Standing Rules of whether commission should play role in Ford's 60 Minutes appearance could be the Senate) of the Rules and "dictating" selection of entertainment more effective than Ronald Reagan's and Administration Committee all year, formats. Draft is seen as designed to he opposed, as unprofessional, decision to without attention. provide commission with basis for cancel. Mr. Mead has indicated to friend coherent policy for dealing with format­ that glamour of job has worn thin since change cases. And such policy, Jerry terHorst hired him and promised Canadian confrontations commissioner's hope, will help free rein. commission persuade court to modify its Discovery of applications filed with position. Canadian Radio Television Commission for transfer of head-end locations of Commissioner Glen 0. Robinson is New territory understood to be drafting statement of his several Toronto cable systems to Hornby, own that would accompany notice. It Ambitious project to collect most Ont., seven miles away, is seen as would expand on legal issues raised in promising radio co-op advertising plans of indication that cable systems are seeking notice and express his known uneasiness American manufacturers has been means of circumventing plan of three undertaken by Radio Advertising Bureau. about thrust of courts' format-case network affiliates in Buffalo, N.Y., to jam decisions. It initiated survey of 10,000 their signals northward. Hornby location, manufacturers few weeks ago to according to Buffalo authorities, would determine which have radio co-op plans bypass expected jamming locations. and what plans are. From returns, now In Toronto last week were Ward L. Bad timing beginning to come in, RAB expects to Quaal, Chicago broadcast management If anv network TV advertisers think they collect at least 700 plans that hold most counselor, retained by Buffalo stations, can get price break by stalling around, potential for radio stations and publish and Frank U. Fletcher, counsel for WBEN they'd better think again. That was word them in detail in book form during first Inc., to survey situation prior to Jan. 13 at all three networks last week after half of 1976. meeting of U.S. and Canadian diplomats Donald Evanson of J. Walter Thompson Encouraging mood change has already on sensitive media problem Co. suggested publicly that week just been noticed. In past, RAB officials say, (BROADCASTING, Dec. 15). Canadian plan ended (Dec. 15-19) might be critical time manufacturers tended to be chary about to block flow of advertising to American for NBC-TV rates (BROADCASTING, Dec. giving out more than highlights, if that print and broadcast media had resulted in 15). Sources at all three said prices were much, of their plans. But this time they earlier decision of Time and Reader's holding everywhere and business was seem more willing to send details. Some Digestto terminate Canadian editions. booming. 150 plans have been received thus far. Cable edict would require systems to · Sources at NBC, whose rates had been Project is part of over-all RAB co-op drive. delete U.S. advertising from pro§ams singled out as subject to special pressures, Another feature: 18 co-op sales clinics purloined from u.s. stations, which reported sales for January best they've between Jan. 12 and March 5, conducted proposed jamming retaliation. ever seen and said orders were not for first by co-op specialist, Ed Crimmins, with quarter alone but for second and third as leading manufacturers offering case well. In addition, election night has been histories. completely sold. As for holdouts, NBC More action official said it's too late: Some advertisers Highly placed source at CBS-TV says . · · whose decisions were delayed have network will attempt to save MGM-TV's already discovered parts of packages they Other body on view? Bronk (Sunday, 10-11 p.m., NYT), · wanted were snapped up while they With outlook good for admission of starring Jack Palance, which just managed dallied. broadcasting to House of Representatives to squeeze onto CBS's second-season (BROADCASTING, Dec. 8), first overtures schedule, by making changes in the show. are being made on Senate side. CBS "The Palance character is too brooding Disillusionment Broadcast/Group President John A. and passive and stoical," source said. Schneider and Washington Vice President "We're going to take the pipe out of his President Ford's television adviser, mouth and make him more energetic and Robert Mead, ex-CBS News producer, is Bill Leonard met last Wednesday with staff director of Commission to Study demonstrative, get him right into the finding his turf crowded with what he action." Hope at CBS, this source regards as instant TV experts, and he's Operations of the Senate (so-called Culver Commission, named for Senator John C. concludes, is that these changes, plus not liking it very much. He feels top White thinning out of ABC's competitive House advisers have at times pre-empted Culver [D-Iowa], who authored resolution creating it). CBS President Sunday-night movie package, will turn his role, with adverse consequences for Bronk into a second-season survivor. President-as, for example, bit of stage Arthur Taylor went to Washington to

Broadcasting Dec 22 1975 Editorials~

The club WCN(TV) Charleston, S.C., are the properties directed by Mr. Stakes. There is, it seems to us, a fundamental misconception in the Na­ What happened here does not establish precedent. These days tional Press Oub's survey of White House relations with the it isn't unusual for newspapers and stations under the same top press. The survey, as reported here a week ago, assumes that ownership to take opposing positions on local issues or even on Presidents ought to be unfailingly candid and accessible and candidates for public office. Most newspaper ownerships have their press secretaries fountains of objective information to be completely separated broadcast operations from their turned on at the approach of any deadline. newspapers with separate corporate entities in separate buildings. Those conditions may prevail some day, but not while humans ings. inhabit the White House. That was not how it was two decades ago. While it is perhaps The press club, as noted, has conceded that Gerald furd and after the fact, it is now evident that whatever misgivings govern­ his administration are a welcome contrast to the Nixon regime ment might have had about concentrations of media in the same which engaged in calculated efforts to manage news and dis­ market have to a great degree been voluntarily dispelled. credit news media. Still, things could be much better, in the press club's eyes. A yearning is expressed for more "openness and Hardy perennials candor" from the President. Ron Nessen, the press secretary, is criticized for ignorance in foreign affairs and inadequate know­ Television soap opera was discovered all over the press last ledge of other subjects. week, as though it had suddenly emerged as a new quirk on the There is in all of this an addled idealism that ill suits profes­ cultural scene. Time had a cover story of unusual length of the sionals who are supposed to be telling the public what really whole genre. Newspapers coast to coast· were full of previews of goes on in Washington . .hurnalists are losing touch with politi­ Norman Lear's new Mary Hartman! Mary Hartman!, starting cal realities if they begin to hope that Presidents will answer ev­ in syndication. · ery question fully or that information officers in presidential If any significance can be read into this, it is that television it­ employ will suddenly begin acting like disinterested gatherers of self is always a dependable subject for journalistic treatment. In unadulterated news. However high minded a President or his a slow news week, how better to sell magazines than with a · press secretary, their perceptions of the public good will often cover piece headlined "Sex and Suffering in the Afternoon"? differ from the journalists'. It is often the conflict between those Almost as sure-fire as that sex-and-violence-in-prime-time perceptions that makes news. · speech that politicians have used so dependably in slow legis­ fur the National Press Oub's next study of White House news lative periods. coverage, things might usefully be turned around. How much hard grubbing are reporters doing in the White House outside the N for nothing oval office or Mr. Nessen's briefing room? Is television devoting enough time to the reporter's unillustrated report, based on Now that the laughter has subsided after the discovery that NBC sources that cannot be pictured? Is the abrasiveness of questions paid "well under $1 million" for a corporate symbol that a staff and answers at daily briefings distracting reporters from their artist ran up for the Nebraska educational television network basic job of getting at the facts? while working on company time, an accommodation must be Is the press club ready for that survey? reached. If the Nebras!

Broadcasting Jan 12 1976 58 KPIX(TV) San Francisco reporter; Jim Ar­ placed $345,000 order with Harris Corp. nold WBZ·TV Boston cameraman, and (Quincy, Ill.) for BT_D-361, 36 kw IF Tom'Fleming, independ~nt producer fo.r­ modulated TV transm1tter to replace pre­ merly with WJZ· TV Baltimore, who will EBS hardware nutker sent equipment at KOA·TV Denver. follow news stories with a documentary to blasts NAB's. position Bought for Boston. RKO ~eneral's WNAC· be cycled among the five Group W sta­ TV Boston will purchase e1ght RCA col?r tions. favoring delay in TV cameras-five TK-45A stud1o system implementation cameras, one TKP-45 studio-quality por­ [ Journalism Briefs table and two TK-76 electronic news por­ McMartin says It and other tables-from RCA Broadcast Systems, Pool arrangements. Television and radio manufacturers have equipment Camden, N.J; Total cost is in excess of pool arrangements are pl~ne~ for De!llo­ ready now and cheaper than-If $500,000. . cratic National Convention 10 Mad1son a postponment were granted Studio monitor. Robins/Fairchild, Com­ Square Garden, New York, beginning July mack, N.Y., has deve~oped c<;>mpact 25- 12. Foreign broadcast service for inte~a­ The National Association of Broadcasters watt solid-state stud1o momtor power tional use will also be available. Inqumes was rapped sharply last week for petition­ amplifier for broadcast use. Designated should be addressed to Robert Asman, ing the FCC to postpone for six months model F62500, it allows disk jockeys to NBC, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York the April 15 deadline broadcasters face for have more headset sound than provided by 10020. installing the new, two-tone Emergency lower-power units for monitoring records. Correction. ABC spokesman says the net­ Broadcast System equipment (BROAD· work's news division has total of 90 c~r­ CASTING Jan. 5). The rap was ad­ respondents, not just 52 reported m minister~d by Ray B. McMartin, president BROADCASTING Jan. 5 ("The network of McMartin Industries, Omaha, an asso­ evening news· ~howcase of electronic jour­ ciate member of NAB, which builds the General agreement on nalism"). Th~t n·umber included only TV equipment used in the new system. . ABC's push for FCC correspondents. Spokesman said ABC also Mr. McMartin, in a letter to ~AB's has 38 radio correspondents, some of general counsel, Joh1_1 Summers, sa1d that satellite grand design whom also work in television. postponing the effective date would be un­ fair to the broadcasters who have already Cable and broadcasters do argue, purchased the new equipment as well as .to however, over who gets what Switch of the week: the manufacturers (and associate mem­ ABC's petition to the FCC asking for a Nessen complimented bers of NAB) who "have already invested rulemaking on "the establishment of a huge sums in inventory buildup, anticipat­ basic over-all design for the development ing an orderly flow of systems to the of domestic communication-satellite ser­ National Press Club criticism broadcasters.'' Is countered by Cheney, 'Post' He also said there is no basis for the vices" (BROADCASTING, Oct. 20) has been argument that the necessary EBS equip­ recognized in comments to the FCC as White House news secretary Ronald ment is not now available to broadcasters. necessary by broadcasters as well as by ca­ Nessen, who has been drawing even more "At least 14 suppliers have now been cer­ ble TV and common carrier interests. criticism than usual of late, was defended There was however, disagreement over tified" by the commission, .he ~.ai~, "an~ a specific proposals suggested by ABC. and praised by the White House chief of heavy advertising campa1gn IS be10g staff in an appearance on CBS's Face the waged by the competing firms to reach ABC in its petition had said that Nation on Jan. 4. Mr. Nessen also got an broadcasters, who "are having no guidelines must be adopted soon <;>r editorial note of sympathy from the Wash- difficulty choosing the systems most ap­ "satellite capacity in the 4/6 ghz band w1ll ington Post. · · propriate to their needs. be depleted within the next five years on a Richard B; Cheney, in answer to a ques­ "There is no reasonable need to defer 'first-come, first-served' basis." ABC went tion from CBS's Phil Jones, said he and decision-making until NAB convention on to suggest that broadcasting be given President Ford feel that the former NBC time [March 21-24)," Mr. McMartin ad­ priority on the 4/6 ghz band and ex­ newsman has done "an extremely good ded. "While this might enhance the pressed concern over possible erosion of job in an extremely difficult ~ituat~on." He justification for attending and participating spectrum space if the commission allows earth station antennas smaller than the 10 also said the office of pres1dent1al news in the NAB convention, it does so at t~e secretary is one job-the Presidency is expense of associate members engaged 10 meter (33-foot) ones normally recom­ another-that serves as a "lightning rod," supplying EBS equipment." mended. These proposals were supported .,, drawing a great deal of criticism, regardless Mr. McMartin also warned that, contr­ by the National Association of Broad- '' casters and CBS. · ~~ of the work done. ary to what he said were sug~estions th~t a As for the National Press Club report The National Cable Television Associ- ,, postponement in th~ effe~t1~e date fl_llght ation did not go along with the antenna :\ that sharply criticized Mr. Nessen's perfor­ produce price reductiOns, 1t IS more hkely mance as news secretary (BROADCASTING, that further delays will cause prices to rise. proposal. It said that "questions regarding Jan. 5), Mr. Cheney noted that the Was~­ He said quantity buying has already oc­ the regulation of the design of ground sta­ ington Post had publish~d: an edit~rial cn­ curred and that labor costs after Jan. 1 will tion installation must be avoided. These ·· ticizing the club for fa1hng to g1ve Mr. reflect "the substantial higher minimum matters should be marketplace in nature." Nessen an opportunity to reply. The wage increases." He said the maximum The ban against smaller, less expensive editorial said it was disturbing that the re­ average cost for each broadcasters for the antennas, NCfA added, would have the effect of restricting "the use of the 4/6 ghz port did not provide for a rebuttal .. equipment will be $425. . The editorial also called attent1on to band to broadcast network uses and shift Two petitions seeking extensiOns of t?e other users ... such as CATV to the 12/14 what the Post considered another, more deadline are pending bef?re the co~~~s­ serious, "flaw." And that is that the White sion-one, by the Louis1ana Assoc1at10n ghz band." The result of ABC's proposal, House press corps seems, in the report, to said NCTA, Hughes Aircraft and Home of Broadcasters, seeking a on.e-~ear .delay, Box Office, would be to "remove the assume some things "good reporters" and the NAB's. The comm1ss1on IS ex­ should not-that "press secretaries are pected to act on those petitions this week. necessary flexibility from the development merely adjunct to good reporting," for of nonbroadcast services utilizing one. Reporters, the editorial said, should satellites." .. rely on their own digging to develop news, Technical Briefs A combination of these two pos1ttons not on press secretaries, whose job is to was taken by Eastern Microwave Inc., a promote or at least protect "the image of Replacement order. General Electric common carrier, which said that no anten­ those who pay their wages." Broadcasting Co., group broadcaster, has nas smaller than 10 meters should be

Broadcastln!! ~an 12 1976 fections charge (settled ou of court, al- Manchester ar , and incorporated it in Loeb Blow though Cash insists Loe as guilty), Delawai"e to rna e it harder for Loeb to In both front-pag~ editorials and and the day he pulled 9ut pistol and sue. s,ID, four Ne Hampshire printing news stories, the M~nchester, N.H., shot the office cat dead. L b later told firm$' would not touch the book, and Union Leader has sav~ged a long list of employees, through a .Apok man, that Ca~ had to go to ermont for a printer. public figures in the 1 years that it has the cat was suffering a tonv sion and he The Union Le er has refused to run been owned by Publis er William Loeb. wanted to put it out of'its mi ery. a,dvertisements fo the biography. It is The paper's target have included In one passage, Qish desf:ribes in de- no secret around ew Hampshire that Dwight Eisenhower Edmund Muskie, town where he gfew up, t induct him{ Kevin-he was a r al newspaperman," who was driven to ears-and a fatally during World Wfir ll; Loe finally wof says Jimmy Bres · , an old colleague poor showing--d g the state's 1972 his battle when pe found sympatheyc from Cash's Heral Tribune days, who presidential prima by a Union Leader Vermont doctor who bel d him win a encouraged him i the project. Cash description of his ife Jane as a heavy 4-F classificatibn for ulce s. "Loeb js a readily admits th t he was fired-for drinker with a fond ess for gamy jokes. bully," says ~onsignor P · ip Keailey, showing up drunk o cover a golf match Loeb and his pape , which is the only vicar of comn;iunity affaitj for the r,tan- -but swears he not had a drink in statewide daily (cir . 63,750) two years. Says he: "I gave up everything in New Hamps · e, have for this. I thou t it WIJS about time powerfully infl.uenc d every­ somebody stood u to this guy." thing in the state fi m elec­ What such e ontery will cost Cash tions to the slogan n its li­ is unclear. Cash se t Loeb a copy of cense plates ("Live Free or the book, ut th pu ·sher declines to Die"). As contender in next comment. ys : "The only re- month's New Ham hire pri­ sponse we rna · be in court." mary will probabl learn, William Loeb, 70, i a mean man to cross. Public President That fact has not aunted After Gerald Ford took his widely Kevin Cash, 49, a anches­ televised spill on .the ski slopes at Vail, ter native who has w rked as Colo., Press Secretary Ron Nessen be­ a reporter and rewrit man at rated reporters for neglecting the Presi­ one time or another a doz­ dent's accomplishments in office to spot­ en or so newspapers, includ- light his unfortunate footwork outside ing Loeb's own Unio~ Lead­ the White House. Last week syndicated er. Cash has writt n and Columnist Max Lerner, a liberal, added published a devastaf g 472- a complaint that the press has created an page biographyofhis ld boss undeserved "ordeal of ridicule" for Ford entitled Who the Hell S Wil­ that ''will affect not only his personal liam Loeb? (Amosk!f: Press, showing against Reagan, which isn't so $8.95; paperbound, $5.95). important for the nation, but also the The book sold 10, copies Administration conduct of foreign and in the first nine days Jlfter it domestic policy, which is." Americans, appeared in Novembel'; since said Lerner, "can afford to distinguish then, 20,000 more \copies between hard slugging on policy deci­ have been distributed~and a sions and unfair attacks of a personal third printing Of 20, came NEW HAMPSHitE PUBLISHER character.'' off the presses last eek. A Granite Sfbte Citizen Kane. Is the press being unfair to Ford? 1 Those are impressive~les · Not according to NBC Anchor Man John figures in a state that only 791,000 lot of people who Chancellor, who last week paused in his people (the book is no yet generally should read this newscast to comment that the Vail wipe­ available outside New H pshire). Says New Hampshire out that inspired Nessen's complaint oc­ Don Alper, a bookseller · Bedford (pop. Pt1teflloon, whose teen­ curred during a Nessen-arra.nged "photo 5,859) who sold 137 copi in two hours: emotional opportunity." When the President takes "Up here it is going faster n The Pen­ her for an a header, Chancellor said, "that's news, tagon Papers, The White "(louse 'ITan­ and we're going to cover it." Indeed, the scripts, Belter Skelter or an~ other book President can hardly expect journalists in my experience.'' . to do anything but report the tumbles Cash's tale reads like a nite State along with the triumphs-especially this Citizen Kane, a long, pica e account election year as Ford reaches for all the of Loeb divorces, extramari affairs, headlines and air time he can. His abun­ lawsuits, financial intrigues an editorial · drop of a pejorative: dantly reported China trip last fall pro­ vendettas. Cash says that in 1 46 Loeb I Boston Globe are ""~t-...,.tlv duced a bonanza of favorable exposure, borrowed $250,000 from his m ther, the i suits totaling $7.S ""'i'"vu. if little news. Last weekend Ford taped widow of Teddy Roosevelt's rsonal lishers shied away an interview with Chancellor for a net­ secretary, to buy into the Union ader, script, and three libel work documentary on foreign policy. but later became embroiled in a: co fused to underwrite Later this month he will sit for a 40-min. fight with her over use ofthe funds. defense costs. Cash interview with CBS's 60 Minutes, and has also recounts the story of the night that own publishing agreed to appear soon on both CBS's Face Loeb spent in jail on an alienation ofaf- Inc. (from an old the Nation and ABC's Issues and Answers.

34 TIME, JANUARY 12, 1976 fections charge (settled out of court, al­ Manchester area), and inCOI})Qrated it in Loeb Blow though Cash insists Loeb was guilty), Delaware to make it harder for Loeb to In both front-page editorials and and the day he pulled out a pistol and sue. Still, four New Hampshire printing news stories, the Manchester, N.H., shot the office cat dead. Loeb later told firms would not touch the book, and Union Leader has savaged a long list of employees, through a spokesman, that Cash had to go to Vermont for a printer. public figures in the 19 years that it has the cat was suffering a convulsion and he The Union Leader has refused to run been owned by Publisher William Loeb. wanted to put it out ofits misery. advertisements for the biography. It is The paper's targets have included In one passage, Cash describes in d~ no secret around New Hampshire that Dwight Eisenhower ("that stinking hyp­ tail how as a young man Superpatriot Cash once had a drinking problem and ocrite"), John Kennedy ("the No. 1 liar Loeb fought repeated attempts by the was dismissed by the Union Leader in in the U.S.A.''), Henry Kissinger ("Kis­ draft board in Oyster Bay, N.Y., the 1959. "Nobody ever drank more than singer the Kike") and Edmund Muskie, town where he grew up, to induct him Kevin-he was a real newspaperman," who was driven to ~d a fatally during World War II; Loeb finally won says Jimmy Breslin, an old colleague poor showing-during the state's 1972 his battle when he found a sympathetic from Cash's Herald Tribune days, who presidential primary by a Union Leader Vermont doctor who helped him win a encouraged him in the project. Cash description of his wife Jane as a heavy 4-F classification for ulcers. "Loeb is a readily admits that he was fired-for drinker with a fondness for gamy jokes. bully," says Monsignor Philip Kenney, showing up drunk to cover a golf match Loeb and his paper, which is the only vicar of community affairs for the Man- -but swears he has not had a drink in statewide daily (eire. 63,750) ARTHUI CillltACi: two years. Says he: "I gave up everything in New Hampshire, have for this. I thought it was about time powerfully influenced every­ somebody stood up to this guy." thing in the state from elec­ What such effrontery will cost Cash tions to the slogan on its li­ is unclear. Cash has sent Loeb a copy of cense plates (''Live Free or the book, but the publisher declines to Die"). As contenders in next comment. Says Loeb: ''The only re­ month's New Hampshire pri­ sponse we make will be in court." mary will probably learn, William Loeb, 70, is a mean man to cross. Public President That fact has not daunted After Gerald Ford took his widely Kevin Cash, 49, a Manches­ televised spill on the ski slopes at Vail, ter native who has worked as Colo., Press Secretary Ron Nessen be­ a reporter and rewrite man at rated reporters for neglecting the Presi­ orie time or another on a doz­ dent's accomplishments in office to spot­ en or so newspapers, includ­ light his unfortunate footwork outside ing Loeb's own Union Lead­ the White House. Last week syndicated er. Cash has written and Columnist Max Lerner, a liberal, added published a devastating 472- a complaint that the press has created an page biography ofhis old boss undeserved "ordeal of ridicule" for Ford entitled Who the Hell IS Wil­ that "will affect not only his personal liam Loeb? (Amoskeag Press, showing against Reagan, which isn't so $8.95; paperbound, $5.95). important for the nation, but also the The book sold 10,000 copies Administration conduct of foreign and in the first nine days after it domestic policy, which is." Americans, appeared in November; since said Lerner, "can afford to distinguish then, 20,000 more copies between hard slugging on policy deci­ have been distributed, and a sions and unfair attacks of a personal third printing of 20,000 came NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLISHER WILLIAM LOEB & FRIEND character." off the presses last week. A Granite State Citizen Kane. Is the press being unfair to Ford? Those are impressive sales Not according to NOC Anchor Man John figures in a state that has only 791,000 chester diocese. "A lot of people who Chancellor, who last week paused in his people (the book is not yet generally have been duped by him should read this newscast to comment that the Vail wipe­ available outside New Hampshire). Says book." Adds former New Hampshire out that inspired Nessen's complaint oc­ Don Alper, a bookseller in Bedford (pop. Governor Walter Peterson, whose teen­ curred during a Nessen-arni.nged "photo 5,859) who sold 137 copies in two hours: age daughter suffered an emotional opportunity." When the President takes "Up here it is going faster than The Pen­ breakdown after Loeb vilified her for an a header, Chancellor said, "that's news, tagon Paper8, The White Houu Tran­ innocent remark about marijuana use: and we're going to cover it." Indeed, the scripts, Belter Skelter or any other book "Kevin Cash has performed a signifi­ President can hardly expect journalists in my experience." cant public service." to do anything but report the tumbles Cash's tale reads like a Granite State That the book made it into print at along with the triumplls--apecially this Citizen Kane, a long, picaresque account all is a minor miracle. Loeb has a repu­ election year as Ford reaches for all the of Loeb divorces, extramarital affairs, tation for launching libel actions at the headlines and air time he can. His abun­ lawsuits, financial intrigues and editorial drop of a pejorative: New Times and the dantly reported China trip last fall pro­ vendettas. Cash says that in 1946 Loeb Boston Globe are currently facing Loeb duced a bonanza of favorable exposure, borrowed $250,000 from his mother, the suits totaling $7.S million. Eleven pub­ if little news. Last weekend Ford taped widow of Teddy Roosevelt's personal lishm shied away from Cash's manu­ an interview with Chancellor for a net­ secretary, to buy into the Union Leader, script, and three libel insurance firms re­ work documentary on foreign policy. but later became embroiled in a court fused to underwrite his possible legal Later this month he will sit for a 40-min. fight with her over use ofthe funds. Cash defense costs. Cash finally formed his interview with CBS's 60 Minutes, and has also recounts the story of the night that own publishing house, Amoskeag Press, agreed to appear soon on both CBS's Face Loeb spent in jail on an alienation of af- Inc.. (from an old Indian name for the the Nation and ABC's Issues and Answers.

34 TIME, JANUARY 12._ 1976 NEWS MEDIA as Science for the People protested that this research could prejudice parents against boys identified as XYY cases, and perhaps produce in such children the nadir" with perhaps "the most inept same behavior that is circumstantially Nessen's Report Card performance in modern times" by a associated with the defect. MIT biologist To White House press secretary Ron press secretary overseas. ·The report Jonathan King, a member of Science for Nessen, it seemed "the most uncon­ concluded: "It is difficult to see how the People, noted that some pregnant scionable misrepresentation of a Presi­ Nessen can be the Presidential spokes­ women whose male fetuses were found dent." Once again, Gerald Ford had man abroad unless he finds some way to by amniocentesis to possess the XYY been pictured in the media suffering one improve on ~is kind of disastrous non­ syndrome had become so alarmed when of his chronic tumble~s time on the performance. they were told that they were consider­ ski slopes at Vail, Colo.-and the quick­ Those harsh words were prompted by ing abortions, even though no conclusive tempered Nessen rose to his defense. the fact that on the China trip Nessen evidence has emerged to link the defect "This President is healthy," he protest­ kept himself even less available to the with abnormal behavior. ed. "He is graceful, and he is by far the press than the Chinese liaison officials. Activist critics such as Science for the most athletic President within memory." Then, on the Air Force One flight to People saw the NIMH's involvement in But if Ford's performance on the slip­ Indonesia, he let his long-standing feud the study as a political invasion of sci­ pery slopes was pardonable, Nessen's with Henry Kissinger pop into the open ence. Supporters of the experiments ar­ seemed less so. "To sensible people," when he angrily called reporters "pat­ gued that it was the critics who were editorialized The Wall Street Journal, sies" for changing a pool rej)Ort at the really politicizing the issue-and point­ "the whole idea of a Presidential press Secretary ofState's urging. After the trip, ed out that the treatable genetic ailment secretary bragging about his boss's The New Republic's John Osborne phenylketonuria is now routinely identi­ gracefulness makes the whole team look wrote: "It is intolerable that Ron Nessen fied by similar screening studies. De­ COmlC.. " should be kept by the President." In fact, spite these arguments, the pressure forced Walzer and Gerald to halt the program prematurely last May. Concern: Many scientists fear that simi­ lar political pressure is about to be applied from Washington. ''I'm afraid that what Kennedy is thinking about is legislation to conqol the kinds of experi­ mentation that can ~ done," says Balti­ more. "This is extremely dangerous be­ cause it may stop all sorts of things that are both safe and beneficial in the proc­ ess of stopping what is, at the moment, a very theoretical danger." Berg echoes that sentiment. "You don't stop basic research for fear that the information it will generate will be misapplied," he argues. "The concern should come at the point at which that information is ready to be applied to humans." The researchers' critics insist that they have no intention at the moment of writing new laws that control research. What they are asking is whether the public, which stands to be affected by any accidents in genetic experiments, should have some say in just what experi­ ments are conducted. "Scientific re­ search by its very nature has outside Nessen meets the press: High marks for Presidential ac~ess, low marks for China implications," says Harvard geneticist .. . Richard C. Lewontin, "and consequent­ It was not the first time Nessen had some of Ford's closest advisers-notably ly there is no inherent right to do any­ managed to seem maladroit in his boss's Melvin Laird-are known to believe that thing a scientist damn well pleases." behalf. The former NBC newsman took Nessen should be fired. And Ford's chief The issue really boils down to one of over as the President's spokesman with of staff, Richard Cheney, is said to be deciding when the risk of any piece of a promise to be candid and fair, but after deeply concerned about the situation. research outweighs the benefit. That sort fifteen months on the job, Nessen's low Some critics think that Ford's faltering of analysis will be a major focus of a standing with the press corps has be­ political image is largely the fault of his forthcoming conference of scientists and come a serious political issue in its own chief image maker. laymen that is bein& organized at the right. Last week, a six-man committee of Sandbagged: In fairness, Nessen's fail­ behest ofKennedy and New York's Sen. the National Press Club, including three ings are not all self-inflicted. As the Press Jacob Javits, the ranking Republican on White House correspondents, handed Club study notes, he has at times been the Senate health subcommittee. What Nessen an embarrassing report card, sandbagged by his superiors. Both Kis­ seems clear already, though, is that bio­ based on an eight-month study of White singer and former chief of staff Donald medical researchers, thanks in part to House press . relations. While the Rumsfeld have kept him shut off from their very achievements, face a future in study gave Nessen some points for effi­ key policy information, so that often he which they themselves-and perhaps ciency and openness--especially in has appeared evasive and unprepared in public officials ~will have to devote comparison with the stonewalling Nix­ news briefings. On other occasions, he more attention to the eventual conse­ on press office--it cited reporters' com­ was stuck with the loyal servant's chore quences oftheirwork. plaints ofhis "arrogance" and "irascibil­ ofofficial dissembling-insisting, for ex­ -PETER GWYNNE with STEPHEN G. MICHAUD in Washlng.. ity." And on the recent Presidential visit ample, that Ford's position on aid to New IDn, WII.UAMJ. COOK In San Francisco and bunlau ~ to China, it said, Nessen "plunged to his York City had not chal)ged ~hen report- 52 survive outside the laboratory. Most bio­ government. Budgetary stringencies medical researchers are satisfied with have already led to a cutback ofresearch. these guidelines, but their critics are But beyond these dollars-and-cents openly skeptical. problems, some scientists today are wor­ The most influential critic is Senator ried that certain lines of investigation Kennedy, who has declared that the may become hard to pursue because scientists' self-regulation is inadequate their results might prove :pOlitically em­ "because scientists alone decided to barrassing. Genetic research, with its impose the moratorium and scientists capacity for discovering differences be­ alone decided to lift it." Many research­ tween groups of people, is a particularly ers see in that statement a thinly veiled sensitive area. "The precedent ofbegin­ call for legislation that would put repre­ ning to censor research because of the sentatives of the public at .the elbows of knowledge it might lead to about genetic scientists in the laboratory-e prospect differences in people is extremely dan­ that sets off alarms in the scientific gerous," warns microbiologist Bernard community. They bridle understandably Davis ofHarvard Medical School. "Ifwe at the notion that the government--or want workable solutions to social prob­ anyone else--should declare some ave­ lem~, they ~ve to be built on a reality nue of research taboo. "If you're dedi­ that s there. WaJJ.y McNaro.ee-Hewnveek cated to the truth, you have to say that Link: In Boston last spring, public pres­ Kennedy: Bio-ethics is the new frontier there are no truths not worth seeking," sure forced cancellation ofone attempt to argues geneticist Robert Baumiller of~e investigate a reality that's there. At issue the University of California Medical Kennedy Institute's Center for Bioethics was a study of a genetic abnormality that Center in San Francisco· managed to in Washington. occurs in roughly one in 1,000 males-­ combine genes from a number of differ­ Faced with a perceived threat ofpoliti­ the presence of an extra sex chromo­ ent organisms, in preparation for genetic cal regulation, many geneticists invoke some, labeled Y, in addition to the transplants. "As soon as I saw that experi­ the memory ofTrofim D. Lysenko, who normal male complement of one X and ment," Berg recounted, "I knew the dominated the Soviet scientific estab­ one Y chromosome. Limited statistical whole issue would come up again." lishment under Stalin. Lysenko's view evidence has suggested that this "XYY Berg and other biomedical researchers that genes were unirilportant in heredity syndrome" may be associated with crim­ moved quickly to try to head off the became state policy . because it con­ inal or antisocial behavior. In the late hazard at the pass. Eighteen months ago formed to Marxist economic determin­ 1960s, child psychiatrist Stanley Walzer they issued an unprecedented call for ism-QDd thus stymied Russian agricul­ and geneticist Park Gerald, both of Har­ a moratorium on certain genetic-trans­ ture and genetics for decades. "One of vard Medical School, set out to investi­ plantation studies. Last February they the reasons they're buying so much gate the possible link. They obtained a followed that up with an international wheat today," observes MIT molecular grant from the National Institute of Men­ meeting at Asilomar in California that biologist and Nobel laureate David Bal­ tal Health's Center for Studies of Crime pondered the potential risks of the re­ timore, "is that Lysenko upset the whole and Delinquency, and began screening search (NEWSWEEK, March 10). As a scientific basis for their agriculture." boys born at the Boston Hospital for result of the meeting the National Insti­ There is no question that scientific Women for the XYY abnormality. They tutes of Health, which funds most bio­ research has become increasingly vul­ planned to monitor the XYY cases medical research in the U.S., appointed a nerable to government control simply throughout their childhoods. committee of researchers to decide the because so much of it is paid for by the But then a Boston-based group known safety procedures. neces­ sary for specific transplan­ tation experiments-a dif­ The rivals: Boston protesters stopped ficult task because, in the geneticist Gerald's XYY research words ofcommittee chair­ man DeWitt Stetten Jr., NIH deputy director for science, "We are assess­ ing the risk of a procedure that has never been done--QS far as we know." Risk: Early last month, after a series of meetings that featured arguments between advocates of strict and loose controls, the safety committee set­ tled on a series of guide­ lines to reduce the risk in transplantation experi­ ments to a minimum. Sci­ entists undertaking the experiments will be re­ quired to work in phys­ ically secure laboratories, similar to those presently used for experiments that deal with disease-carry­ ing organisms, and to use special strains of bacteria that are genetically weak­ ened, and thus unlikely to 51 .... ers knew it had days before. What's pushing his personal vendettas and ul­ who, as publisher of New Hampshire's more, while the Nessen press operation traconservative views in his news col­ only statewide daily, carries clout in both was bound to benefit in comparison with umns, and capping editorials with such local politics and the state's trend-setting that oftheN ixon era, it also inherited the tasteless headlines as JERRY IS A JERK Presidential primary. post-Nixon legacy of mistrust. With the and KISSINGER THE KIKE? It was aUnion The 49-year-old Cash, a Manchester aura of the Presidency dimmed by Wa­ Leader slur on Edmund Muskie's wife native who lives with his mother, is an tergate, the press corps no longer gives that brought those costly tears to Mus­ itinerant newspaper man who was fired the White House the benefit of the kie's eyes in the 1972 campaign-and from the Union Leader in the 1950s for doubt, and the baiting of Nessen during made Loeb a potentially awesome politi­ getting drunk while covering a golf tour­ briefings is sometimes relentless. cal force. This year, however, the side­ nament. "There was no doubt I was Still, Nessen's highest marks have show has spawned a sideshow, thanks to drunk-I have many witnesses who will come for improving contacts between the a man named Kevin Cash. testify to that," he says. But when some President and the press. He has encour­ Sue: Who the hell is Kevin Cash? He is New York newspaper chums talked him aged Ford to grant more personal inter­ the author of "Who the Hell Is William views, and last week he organized the Loeb?"-an unauthorized 472-page bi­ first in a series of by-invitation-only con­ ography that has become a best-selling versations with a small group ofreporters. succes de scandale in New Hampshire Turmoii:ButNessen's personal credibil­ supermarkets (a whopping 30,000 copies ity has failed on its own merits. En route sold to date). Loeb emphatically denies to Vail, he told reporters the President the book's allegations, but, as Cash tells had signed only minor bills during the it, the publisher's private life is only flight, though Ford actually had signed slightly less off-color than his editorial the decidedly major tax-cut­ extension bill. On Christmas Day, Nessen informed the press pool that a Gallup. poll to be released over the weekend would show a rise in Ford's pop­ ularity from 44 to 49 percent; the correct figures turned out to be 41 to 46 per cent and the poll had been released two days earlier. Meanwhile Nessen's press of­ fice itself is in turmoil. Chief deputy William Greener, who has commanded far more re­ spectthan Nessen, has departed to become Ru:msfeld' s press chief at the Pentagon. He has been replaced by the highly regarded assistant press secre­ tary John Carlson. But another deputy, John W. Hushen, is Loeb (left) and biographer Cash: A scheduled to leave soon to work full-length look at a far-out publisher in private industry and at least three other Nessen aides are known to be job hunting. into beginning the Loeb book in 1972, he Nessen acknowledges he is switched to drinking black coffee and not in high esteem among his began three years of intensive research, former colleagues. After there­ at one point gaining access to corre­ lease of the Press Club report, spondence between Loeb and his first he told NEWSWEEK: 'Tm disap­ wife. Unable to find a willing publisher pointed in myselffor not getting when the book was done, Cash formed higher marks. But I'm learning Amoskeag Press, Inc., and brought the as I go along, and I still hope to E llis HPrWlK book out himself, even using his own earn their respect." Even though he has style. Using documents, newspaper files truck to deliver copies to stores. at least one powerful supporter in the and gossip, Cash paints the thrice-mar­ "I came back to New Hampshire after President himself, Nessen knows he ried publisher as a womanizer who used a number of years and heard 9-year-old faces an uphill struggle with reporters. his relationships to finance his newspa­ kids saying, 'Kissinger the Kike'," says As The Chicago Daily News's Peter per ventures, and charges that Loeb was Cash, explaining why he wrote the book. Lisagor noted, Nessen's relations with once sued by his own mother over some "Bill Loeb might think that's funny, butl the press are "very venomous, low, hos­ missing securities. don't." Bill Loeb doesn't find the book tile--possibly reparable, but I'm not sure Loeb, according to Cash, is a gun-lover funny, at any rate. "He never inter­ of that." with a hair-trigger temper who once shot viewed anyone except people who are -DAVID GELMAN with THOMAS M. DeFAANK In Vail, Colo., the office cat and was drummed out of a hostile to me, like my ex-wife," Loeb and JEFF B. COPELAND In W8lll*lglon country Club for waving a weapon told NEWSWEEK. "We're quite sure it's a around. Cash says Loeb used the col­ non-book." Loeb threatens to sue, but umns of the Union Leader to bludgeon Cash, knowing Loeb's penchant for liti­ Cashing In on Loeb political opponents, once even launch­ gation, had armed himself with a lawyer Every four years, re:Porters covering ing an attack on the 15-year-old daughter before the book's publication and seems the New Hampshire Presidential prima­ of former New Hampshire Gov. Walter unintimidated. A suit, in fact, might ry are drawn to the one-man sideshow Peterson after she spoke approvingly of boost "Who the Hell ... ., into a third staged by William Loeb, publisher of the marijuana users. Much of the material is printing-nice work for a non-book By an far-right Manchester Union Leader. familiar, but it adds up to the first full­ unknown author, publisher, distributor. Loeb purveys a kind of blue journalism, length portrait of the flamboyant Loeb -DAVID GELMAN with TONY FULLER In Boston January 12, 1976 53 PEOPLE OF THE WEEK® .IMAGE MAKER WITH HIS HANDS

ROWING White House concern over Discussing the problem with news­ sen of "disastrous nonperformance" on G public portrayals of Gerald Ford as men on December 31, Mr. Ford said he the Ford mission to China. a bumbling, inept President is prompt· retains complete confidence in himself One newsman wrote that "Nessen's ing a counterattack-and it is Mr. although "some of the things you read conduct on that trip, in the opinion of Ford's press secretary, Ron Nessen, who or hear or see kind of hurt your pride. many correspondents who accompanied is leading the fight. . . . You have to have a sense of humor the presidential party, was distinguished Mr. Nessen is attempting to bat down (and) be a little thick-skinned." chiefly by long absences from the press what he considers to be an unfair and But Mr. Nessen and other White room and by the presentation of inad­ belittling image of Mr. Ford as a clumsy House officials have decided not to con­ equate information when he appeared." caretaker who is filling the job only ceal their dismay over what they feel to Mr. Nessen's reaction following Mr. until a President is elected. be unwarranted characterizations. They Ford's skiing fall also has come in for The latest episode involving Mr. Nes­ worry that such an image damages Mr. criticism. The Wall Street journal com­ sen and the press came after pictures Ford's positions on such important is­ mented editorially: "We think Mr. Nes­ were published of the President falling sues as the economy, taxes, energy and sen has shown the real clumsiness here. while skiing during his Christmas vaca­ He has taken what is es­ tion in Colorado. sentially a joke and The President himself laughed off the turned it into a serious fall. But Mr. Nessen complained that Nessen and "The Fall." matter, and, moreover, a Mr. Ford was being treated unfairly. The publicity given Presi­ serious matter on which The President, he said, is an excellent dent Ford's ski spill, often he cannot hope to win. skier whose rare slip on the slopes was accompanied by jibes about To sensible people, the blown out of proportion. his apparent clumsiness, whole idea of a presiden­ prompted a sharp blast at Earlier in the year the White House press coverage from the tial press secretary brag­ suffered through pictures of the Presi· White House riews chief. ging about his boss's dent falling down an airplane ramp at gracefulness makes the Salzburg, Austria. Then came other em­ whole team look comic." barrassments. Mr. Ford bumped his Interns/ troubles. Mr. head on the side of a pool while swim· Nessen has had his prob­ ming in Florida and banged the top of lems within the Adminis­ his head in boarding the presidential tration, too, particularly helicopter at the White House. with Secretary of State Laughter hurts. White House offi­ Henry Kissinger. Al­ cials say that real irritation set in after though it is largely re­ columnists, cartoonists, television per· garded as a personality sonalities and night-club comics began clash, Mr. Nessen be­ making l"ord the butt of their jokes. lieves the Secretary has Observed one key official: "Ridicule is denied him access to im· the most dangerous weapon you can portant foreign-policy in­ use against a politician." formation and thus ham­ Liberal columnist Tom Braden, after pered his effectiveness. repeating a story told by Johnny Carson Mr. Nessen says that he on television about Mr. Ford, wrote: is not a "salesman" for "It's a clear signal, more important Mr. Ford-a role he even tltan that Gallup Poll. When the vowed to shun when he nation's end men begin to treat a seri· took the job. But a grow­ ous politician as a joke, he is through. - ing number of reporters Gerald Ford is through." feel that he is a partisan In his counterattack, Mr. Nessen ar­ political advocate. gues that the press is concentrating too The press secretary much on trivial matters. The President, contends that he answers says Mr. Nessen, should be judged on u•'· usN•w• every question the way his policies and not on his co-ordination detente when he already is in trouble in he believes the President would answer on the ski slopes. public-opinion polls. it and puts his own beliefs behind him. In fact, declared Mr. Nessen in Colo­ Disputes with the press are nothing Even by many of his critics, Mr. Nes­ rado, Mr. Ford is probably the best ath­ new for Mr. Nessen, who took over the sen is credited with playing a part in J.te in recent White House history. He job as White House press secretary 16 improving White House relations with pelnted to the President's ability as a months ago. A former National Broad­ the press, including such things as more swimmer, golfer, skier and tennis play­ casting Company TV correspondent, presidential news conferences. er, along with his unusual stamina for a the 41-year-old Mr. Nessen is consid­ Mr. Nessen does not act like a man in t;2.year-old man. ered by many to be at a low point in his danger of being fired, despite frequent Particularly upsetting to aides is their job performance. rumors to that effect. The President, feeling that the press, especially those Much of the unhappiness stems from who is the final arbiter, seems satisfied members covering the White House, Mr. Nessen's handling of the President's with him. The press secretary's job, Mr. goes out of its way to point up the China trip. A National Press aub study Ford has told friends, is one of the foibles of the Chief Executive. group in Washington accused Mr. Nes- toughest in Washington.

U.S. NEWS So WORLD REPORT, Jan. 12, 1976 27 .,.• .,. ".C." z VJ

The Press Secretary Deflects Barbs Aimed at.His BOS$~ . ' Mr. Nessen was pleased. in a ptrVerse sense, wlllll the National Prest Club recently issued a report c:n!dltlnl. the President with restorin& civility to White House prest relations and chastisinJ Mr. Nessen for flaws In the White House eommunica­ tions prncen. The report, said one friend or Mr. Nessen'J. bolstered his confidence that he wu eaminl hia keep by "drawlna a certain amolL'It of fire and heat away from the PresidMassachusetts Avenue the other day while guffawing who quickly suggested that Ron Nessen, the Presi­ among the correspondents, some of whom would at a radio news account that Rogers C. B. Morton dential Press Secretary, had botcned the announce­ as soon bait him as question him now. They blame was being appointed White House counselor on ment by trying to persuade a Jkeptical White House Mr. Nesse11 for the evasions, obfuscations or. as domestic and economic issues. press corp!l that Mr. Morton would aive but "in­ in the case of the Morton announcement, the oc­ "Economic: policy!" the ~ampaip aide hooted a cidental" attention to politics. "You ha,·e to expect casional shams. day later, .recallin& his surprise. "Roc Morton on that from a girgin White House." said a Ford cam· Mr. Nessen more Ukely does what he does, hDW• economic policy!" palgn offi~ial. "The choice of the word 'lllcldental' ever well, on the basil of policy. An impression In fact. u the campaign official knew, the press was unfortunate," said a White HoUle atde. was current late last year that Mr. ford mi~ht bo suspected, departing Commerce Secretary Morton But the subject of Mr. Morton's sa1uy and how on the verp of replacing hiJ 1pokesman. Mr. Nessen conceded and. by week's end the White House was to IUbmerge his political function in a job cleacri~ has remained and probably will be at his lectern finally acknowledging, Mr. Morton's principal role in tion of White House "counselot" had been the topic in the foreseeable future. SO long as he is willi!1g ~ Executive Mansion was to &fve some belated of conversation among Presidential aides and had to bo the object of scorn that might othl!t"Wise be coordination to Mr. Ford's disjointed Presidenttai been deare4, it was sugated authoritatiVely, by direeted at his tlos~. Mr. Nessen admirably s~rves candidacy. Mr. FOrd himself. Only by lndi~ion did enyone the President'a purposes. 'Ibe flap oo;asit>ned by tbe Morton announce­ fly,~. to blame the President for the anafu. ment-Democrat• and even the Republlc:an chair· Mr. Nessen eccepted the blame. To beer his Jamn llf. Nau«hton ia a White House c:orr.• man of the federal Elections Commiuion opealy asJOCiates tell it. be did so willlnJiy. They Wd that rpondCIIt for TM New York Time.. essen Falsely Accuses A-CU of Breaking Law See story, page 6.

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION April-May 1976 Vol. X, No.4

Sen. Hnmphrey Sen. Proxmlre

Rep. Dellnms Rep. Schroeder

Spotlighting Big Spenders, Anti-Defense Liberals ACU Announces Budget-Busters Award, Ostrich Award for Congressmen ACU HAS INITIATED a new policy of dis­ ecutive Director, stated that ''recipients of the award have tributing "awards" to certain members of Con­ proven to be totally out of step with the majority of the gress who have voted irresponsibly on key American people who are fed up with unchecked, runa­ spending and defense. issues. Twenty-five Big way federal spending and the imposition of greater Big in Brother government interference in their lives. Spenders Congress were recently bestowed "There is no question," Roberts said, "that these Con­ the "Budget-Busters Award," while 20 anti­ gressmen are undeserving of another term in office and defense members were recipients of the de­ should rightly be denied the opportunity to continue their tente-plumed "Ostrich Award." budget-busting 'Yays in Congress." TheBudgetBustersAwardrecipients for 1976 are: Sen­ The Budget Busters Award was distributed to those ators John Tunney (D-Calif.), Vance Hartke (D-Ind.), Members of Congress who have consistently voted for pro­ Harrison Williams, (D-N.J.), Joseph Montoya (D-N.M.) grams ballooning the Federal deficit, generating infla- and Frank Moss (D-Utah); and Representatives Mark 1tionary pressures, and imposing a heavier tax burden on Hannaford (D), John Krebs (D) and George Miller the American people. (D-Calif.), Tim Harkin (D) and Ed Mezvinski (D-Iowa), In announcing the award, James Roberts, ACU's Ex- Martha Keys (D-Ks.), Abner Mikva (D-ID.), David Evans · (Continued on next ]Xlge) A Gallup Poll shows that the mood of the electorate this ACU Awards year is clearly one of fiscal conservatism, with voters' (Continued from front page) 'BELIEVE ME-THERE'S NOTHING How· ..·veQ..·.iOUI·····.a,apt TO WORRY ABOUT' views on government spending likely to assume major im­ portance in the post-convention campaign period. (D) and Ed Roush (D-Ind.), Bob Traxler (D-Mich.), Wil­ Tohelp .. u~ defra)'tfle~t .~~·~J~bl~~~ liam Clay (D-Mo.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Stephen Neal Li,ne~ we'd •P if, "'btc'o~~· Gallup Finds New Mood on Budget (D-N.C.), Henry Helstoski (D-N.J.), Bella Abzug (D) send us· a co ...· .··.. ··.· ...... ·. ·lfl~·elld~~ and Matthew McHugh (D-N.Y.), Thomas Ashley (D­ enyel9pe .. ~19ne; Wh~ gt~e;s ·.S:t~<~t m. To probe this new mood, Gallup asked a representa­ Ohio), Joe Fisher (D) and Herbert Harris (D-Va.) and ~ive, atno.a:flliP.on;"' co-;.. a co.py•f!f ;tb.e: tive sample of the public to vote on a proposed constitu­ Alvin Baldus (D-Wisc.). -Jt . . ...· ...... · ...... •!.·;~~·····.·· ...... ~·~ tional amendment that would require Congress to balance Ten Senate and House votes on important spending is­ . . ~J~ 'J'~; f].t~... /.ot. the federal budget each year. sues in 1975 were selected for judging the performance of the award recipients. On most or all of these votes the Democrats Want Balanced Budget, Too Budget Busters Award recipients voted contrary to ACU' s "Ignoring the growing Soviet military threat and re­ cent Communist gains in Southeast Asia and Angola,'' Of particular interest is the finding that nearly as large position, thereby increasing the Federal debt and fanning a proportion of Democrats as Republicans favor a law to Roberts added, "recipients of the Ostrich Award have inflation. balance the budget, despite the fact that Republicans have consistently voted to slash the defense budget and to These key Senate and House votes are: H.R. 2166, Tax traditionally been more conservative regarding fiscal undermine the United States' position as leader of the Reduction Act of 1975; H.R. 4481, Emergency Jobs Ap­ matters. The crucial bloc of voters who classify them­ Free World. It is evident that these Members of Congress propriations; Buckley amendment to S.Con. Resolution 32 selves as independents hold views similar to Republicans to cut the FY '76 Budget by $25 billion (Senate); Latta do not represent the majority of Americans who believe in a strong national defense and therefore, are not de­ and Democrats. amendment to H.Con. Res. 466, FY '76 Budget, to cut Following are the questions and results. As the re­ serving of another term in office." new budget authority by $12.5 billion and lower budget sponse to the second question indicates, only 6 percent be­ The Ostrich Award recipients for 1976 are: Senators outlays, the deficit and public debt by $4.7 billion (House); lieve it is not important to balance the budget. Long motion to table, and thus kill, the Buckley amend­ Edmund Muskie (D-Me.), Hubert Humphrey (D-Mn.), ment to H.R. 2166 which would introduce "indexing" William Proxmire (D-Wisc.); and Representatives Ronald Most States Require Balanced Budget into the tax structure (Senate); S. 200, Consumer Protec­ Dellums (D-Calif.), Patricia Schroeder (D-Col.), Andrew The results show as many as eight in 10 voters in favor tion Act of 1975; H.R. 4485, Emergency Middle-Income Jacobs (D-Ind.), Gladys Spellman (D-Md.), Bob Carr of such an amendment. Housing Act; H.R. 5237, Local Public Works Capital De­ (D-Mich.), Richard Vander Veen (D-Mich.), Donald All but three states currently have laws requiring a velopment and Investment Act; Veto override vote on Fraser (D-Minn.), Richard Nolan (D-Minn.), Helen balanced budget. The size of the Ford administration's H.R. 5901, Education Appropriation Act; H.R. 10585, Meyner (D-N.J.), Jerome Ambro (D-N.Y.), Robert Edgar proposed budget is $395.8 billion, with a projected deficit Debt Limit Increase (House); H.R. 10481, New York City (D-Pa.), Allan Howe (D-Utah), Harold Ford (D-Tenn.), of $44.6 billion. The last time the budget was balanced Les Aspin (D-Wisc.) and Robert Cornell (D-Wisc.). Se­ Aid; and H.R. 5559, Revenue Adjustment Act of 1975. Democratic early contenders have faded from the race. was in 1969, when a surplus of $3.2 billion was realized. ACU's Ostrich Award is being given to those members lection of the recipients for the Ostrich Award was based on their voting record on key defense and foreign policy Voters are no longer prepared to support the politics on Big Government a Major Issue of Congress who, taking a head-in-the-sand approach, which the New Deal was based. have consistently voted to weaken the United States' issues and membership on related committees. "In no other presidential election year in recent times Five Senate and four House votes on important defense Sixty-two percent of the nationwide cross section of has the issue of Big Government and big spending been military capabilities while ignoring the unprecedented 1,512 adults surveyed agreed "The trouble with most lib­ military build-up by the Soviet Union. and foreign policy issues in 1975 were selected for judg­ so widely debated as it is this year, with the near-bank­ ing the performance of the award recipients. On most or eral Democrats is that they think probleJD.S can be solved ruptcy of several major U.S. cities undoubtedly contribut­ In an April 20 press release, Jim Roberts states by throwing money at them, and that is wrong." ''There is mounting evidence that the balance of power, all ofthese issues the Ostrich Award recipients voted con­ ing to the public's current belt-tightening mood," says both nuclear and conventional, has greatly shifted in trary to ACU's position, thereby endangering U.S. mili­ No Free Lunch Gallup. favor of the Soviet Union over the past few years. Despite tary preparedness. Eighty-one percent agreed that ''the trouble with your Amendment to Balance Budget Favored this alarming trend some Members of Congress have suc­ Key Senate and House votes: H.R. 6096, South Viet­ getting special benefits and handouts from the govern­ cumbed to what former Defense Secretary James Schles­ nam Assistance Conference Report; McGovern and Aspin ment these days is that you will have to pay for them four "Would you favor or oppose a constitutional amend­ inger referred to as the 'ostrich syndrome.' amendments to delet~ funds for the B-1 bomber; Aspin or five times over in higher taxes." ment that would require Congress to balance the federal amendment to H.R. 6674, to cut $1.89 billion for weapons budget each year-that is, keep taxes and expenditures procurement (House); H.R. 6674, Department of Defense Over-Promisers Suspect in balance?" Authorization Act; Conference report vote on Aug. 1, Seventy-seven percent agreed that "the candidate for Percent 1975 (Senate); Culver amendment to H.R. 10029, to with­ President who promises one group something special from hold funds for Diego Garcia base (Senate); Kennedy No the government and another group something else will Favor Oppose Opinion'. • amendment to H.R. 9681, to dismantle Grand Forks ABM probably turn out to be a friend of no group if elected.'' ' ' ittiiDffiffi site (Senate); Slack amendment to H.R. 8121, to give up And 77 percent also agreed that "a candidate who says he AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION National 78 13 9 House opposition to Senate version of the bill which did can give the unemployed government jobs and not in­ Republicans 84 9 7 John D. Lofton. Jr., Editor not contain language prohibiting appropriations for U.S. crease federal spending just isn't being honest." Democrats 78 12 10 negotiations to conclude a treaty relinquishing U.S. con­ Inflation a Top Priority Independents 77 16 7 Battle Line is published monthly by the American trol of the Panama Canal Zone (House). Another Harris Survey shows that despite an improve­ Conservative Union, 422 First Street, S.E., Washing­ ACU will be working actively with its state afftliates in "How important do you think it is to balance the federal ton, D.C. 20003 (phone Area Code 202-546-6555) the upcoming elections for the defeat of the Congressmen ment in the economy, 94 percent of Americans think budget-very important, fairly important, or not so im­ and Senators receiving these awards. "keeping inflation under control" should be the chief portant?'' Meanwhile, three recent national public opinion sur­ priority of the next President. Addt?u all «tl or fed up with Big Government and inflation and believe that rNvrlopt" from J'"VIO.,s us11rl wit It lrp Codr 1111mbrr. to Battlr Lutr. 4}] Fu·sr Strrrt. S.C .. it is important that the Federal budget be balanced. Close behind the top issues of inflation and federal Very Fairly Not So No Opinion w,uJwrgtolf. DC. 10001. A Lou Harris Survey reveals that as far as most Ameri­ spending was reducing unemployment, which was men­ UNDELIVERED COPIES Srrrd ttot•u 011 Fr:mr )519 to AmrncGII Cot~Sf'f'IIQIIvr Uru011. tioned by 85 percent of those polled. Holding down federal National 69 21 6 4 (Btmlr L~nrl 4]} F1rJt S11vn. S E. WcultillfiOII. D.C. }()(}()] cans are concerned, the "old politics" are largely finished as a force in the 1976 election, indicating that many fac­ taxes was a major concern of 81 percent. Maintaining Republicans 74 20 3 3 COPYRIGHT. 1975 by !he Amenun Conwnat1ve Un1on. tors that weighed heavily in previous White House races United States military defenses is believed to be very im­ Democrats 69 21 4 4 SUBSCRIPTION PRICE Fornon·'"'"'lwrs o/ ACU- S/0 v,o,·h·_ fo' '"''""'"' ol ACV over the last 30 years now appear out of date. portant by 76 percent. Independents 67 20 9 4 - J 7 v.. arl\' hndau/,d 111 ann11a/ mf'miHrslup d11,d. This shift is one of the key reasons many of the liberal BATTLE LINE/April-May 1976 3 2 BATTLE LINE/April-May 1976 Independent Advertising Campaign a Significant Factor ITexan Denounces Reagan I ACU Effort Helped Reagan Sen. Tower, Kissinger: Trounce Ford in Texas A Real Odd Couple Although I realize the truth of the statement that poli­ The Gipper lives! former California Governor is an un-electable, right­ tics makes strange bedfellows, still-even for reasons of And we are proud to say that the American Conserva­ wing extremist who appeals only to a small minority political expedience-it blows the mind to see Texas Sen. within the Republican Party. In these states, Mr. Reagan tive Union played a significant,- independent role in Ron­ John Tower in the sack with Henry Kissinger. ald Reagan's smashing victory in Texas over Gerald Ford. captured not only the conservative GOP vote but also the White House press secretary, Ron Nessen, however, is votes of thousands of independents and Democrats, many Denies Kissinger a Soft-Liner not proud of ACU's role. Mr. Nessen seems to believe of whom formerly supported Alabama Governor George In an interview last month-, in which he bitterly criti­ that it is, if not ipso facto illegal to oppose his boss, it is Wallace. cized Ronald Reagan, Sen. Tower staunchly defended Dr. certainly immoral and unethical. Speaking of Mr. Nes­ Mr. Reagan's defeat of Ford in the Lone Star State was Kissinger calling him a ''brilliant secretary of state,'' and sen, it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell whether he truly astounding in its scope, surprising both Mr. Ford saying that he has "no major criticisms" of him during is speaking as the President's press spokesman, or if he and his backers and the Reagan people as well. Reagan the eight years he has served a Republican President. is merely trying out new material for a possible return won all 96 delegates, sweeping all 24 Congressional Denying what has now become the conventional wisdom SEN. TOWER AND HENRY KISSINGER engagement as the Guest Buffoon on the NBC Saturday districts and all but two of the nearly 200 counties which among conservatives and liberals alike-that detente with From victory over communism to victory over Reaganism ... Night TV show. But, we digress. For more on this, see the held a GOP primary. He carried by the overwhelming the Soviet Union has indeed been a one-way street-Sen. story on page 6. margin of about two-to-one- the county and home pre­ Tower told me: ''Unless it can be proven to me that Kis­ In statements before various Congressional commit­ In the Lone Star State, ACU spent over $30,000 on cinct in Wichita Falls of the man who headed President singer is a soft-liner toward the Soviets, I would say that tees, Dr. Malcolm Currie, the Pentagon's director of re­ hard-hitting radio and newspaper ads contrasting the Ford's campaign in Texas, Sen. John Tower. President Ford should keep him on.'' search and engineering, has repeatedly warned of the Reagan and Ford positions on key issues. We based our Commenting on Mr. Reagan's victory, which drew some "staggering growth" ofthe Soviet's military machine. Dr. Nuclear Superiority No Longer GOP Position advertising pitch on the presumption that, given the facts, 419,000 voters into the Republican primary, more than Currie says: "A study of all the trends leads one to the Republican voters would choose the no-nonsense con­ four times as many voters as have ever participated in a But one wonders just what kind of proof it takes to con­ inescapable conclusion that the balance of power is shift­ servatism of Reagan over the operational liberalism of GOP primary in Texas, Reagan co-chairman Ray Barn­ vince the Senator. Take, for example, the issue of Ameri­ ing to the side of the Soviet Union." Gerald Ford. hart told Battle Line: can strategic nuclear superiority over the Russians, some­ Soviets Seeking Superiority ACU placed 29 full-page ads and over 3,000 radio spots ''What this demonstrates is that Reagan has broad thing the 1968 Republican Party platform demanded, and in such cities as Austin, El Paso, San Angelo, Waco, support contrary to the garbage the Ford strategists are something Sen. Tower says he's still for. In a massive statement to Congress in February of this Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Beaumont, Lubbock and putting out. It shows just how shallow the President's sup­ year, Dr. Currie declared ominously: "I do not pretend Abilene. In addition, ACU chairman M. Stanton Evans port is. We got a lot of help from the Wallace Democrats Sold President Idea of Strategic Retreat to understand how the Soviets think. However, a valid held press conferences in Houston, Austin, and Dallas but not all of them crossed over. Wall ace still got about explanation of such thinking-and one to which we must announcing our independent campaign and criticizing the 20 percent of the Democrat vote." In the last Texas GOP In their 1974 biography titled Kissinger, authors Marvin respond in the absence of any proof to the contrary-is President for political double-talk on issues such as the primary in 1974, gubernatorial candidate Jim Granberry and Bernard Kalb report that it was Kissinger who sold that they plan not on maintaining equivalence, but rather Panama Canal, energy deregulation, aid to New York drew only 74,000 votes. President Nixon on the idea that something called "suf­ on achieving effective and useful superiority: the ability City, gun control, and forced school busing. The Reagan triumph, says Barnhart was a "people's ficiency" should be substituted for "superiority" as the to destroy us militarily while minimizing our capability to Under the auspices of ACU, Robert Carleson, former campaign" because most of the Republican Party big­ goal of American military policy. Characterizing this as a retaliate." U.S. commissioner of welfare, spent four days criss­ wigs backed Mr. Ford. "I'm convinced that most people "strategic retreat," the Kalbs write: crossing Texas for a series of radio, TV and newspaper voted for Reagan because of his stands on the issues, not ''The President was under considerable pressure from Tower Backed Victory Over Communism interviews on Reagan's record as governor of California. against Mr. Ford. It was a positive thing," Barnhart ob­ the Joint Chiefs of Staff to expand the country's strategic In 1962, a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed young fresh­ Four thousand copies of the book, Sincerely, Ronald serves. "Reagan carried the cities big and little, rural and arsenal. They recommended that the U.S. resume the man Senator wrote a book titled A Program for Con­ Reagan, were mailed to conservative Democrats through­ urban areas. You name it, he carried it. What we had was construction of ICBM's-frozen for several years at the servatives in which he declared that the purpose of the out the state. a November election in May, a general election where level of 1,054-and that the U.S. step up its production of foreign policy of the United States should be "victory ACU's advertising campaign was not the only inde­ people exercised their votes not on the basis of party af­ nuclear-powered submarines and long-range bombers. over Communism." Rejecting the idea of peaceful co­ pendent effort. ACU supporter J. Evetts Haley of Mid­ filiation but on the basis of what they believe." Kissinger realized that the Soviet strategic arsenal was existence or accommodation with Communism, this in­ land, author of A Texan Looks at Lyndon, ran his own Barnhart firmly believes that Reagan's win in Texas growing every day but, during an NSC meeting on dividual wrote: marks the demise of Mr. Ford's candidacy. "It demon­ March 5, 1969, devoted exclusively to a review of the version of ACU's newspaper ads and separate radio spots Denounced Peaceful Coexistence throughout the state. strates the fatal weakness of Mr. Ford," he says. "Ford ABM system, he argued strenuously against the JCS In Indiana, ACU: is not a leader but a product of Watergate. He was recommendations on the grounds that they would es­ "If we are to avert the disaster that all too clearly is ap­ •Had mailed to all Republican voters in Marion selected, not elected. He came from the Washington calate the arms race, thereby jeopardizing the long-range proaching, our foreign policy must be purged of the ele­ County-32,000 of them-copies of a Human Events sup­ crowd not because he was a leader but because he wasn't. prospects for SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) and ments that have put us on this road to defeat. America plement on Ronald Reagan's record, written by ACU He was chosen because he made no one mad about unnecessarily antagonizing the Russians." must declare for victory. And she must do so from the Chairman Stan Evans. Marion County, which includes anything." innermost fiber outward to the farthest extremity. A hand­ Indianapolis, was carried by Reagan by about 7,000 Knight newspaper reporter Saul Friedman quotes Refuses to Criticize SALT Talks some Dorian Gray 'image' of victory will not hide a flabby votes. University of Houston political scientist Richard Murray corpus, made so by incompatible desires to fight on the •Placed 400 one-minute spot ads for Reagan around as saying of Reagan's Texas victory: "Ford's weakness is So, what about that 1972 Kissinger-approved SALT one hand and to make peace on the other. The enemy is the state, and full-page newspaper ads in 10 newspapers. glaring. He campaigned hard here, but he ended up with agreement with the Soviets? Does Sen. Tower agree with not deceived.'' support only from the cotqttry-club Republicans. Reagan those critics-again liberals and conservatives alike-who In the Georgia primary, which Reagan won in a walk, Principles or Partnership? ACU placed radio spot ads on 10 stations. showed that he could draw votes from Democrats and in­ maintain that we were had because this pact halted the ACU began its independent campaign on Reagan's be­ dependents, blue-collar and middle-class." U.S. in the areas where we were ahead, and allowed the When I asked Sen. Tower about these ringing words half just prior to the Florida primary .March 9, and con­ The former Republican chairwoman from Harris Russians to advance where they were behind? Not at all. he had written 14 years ago, and how they square with tinued in North Carolina, Dlinois and Wisconsin. County, Texas, Nancy Palm, says: "Ford just doesn't The Senator says we had to have this agreement ''to ar­ the Ford-Kissinger policies of detente, the best he could Whatever else it may have demonstrated, Ronald realize how weak he is when he gets out among inde­ rest Soviet military growth." But this has not happened do was mutter something about a Democratic Administra­ Reagan's defeat of Gerald Ford in Texas and his win pendent and conservative voters." at all, and as a member of the Senate Armed Services tion being in power in 1962. in Indiana, have demolished the argument that the Well, he does now. Committee, Sen. Tower should know this is not true. Like I said: a real mind-blower.- john D. lofton, Jr. BATTLE LINE/April-May 1976 4 BATTLE LINE/April-May 1976 5 Refuses to Retract His Remarks Reagan Position on Panama Canal Basically the Same as Senator's Nessen Falsely Accuses Goldwater Attack on Reagan Bizarre, ACU of Violating Election Law Puzzling and Shocking A nasty, reckless smear campaign by White House Those of us who know and love Sen. Barry Goldwater­ "I hope and pray the President doesn't back down one press secretary Ron Nessen against the American Con­ and we say this sincerely-are by now used to his some­ inch. The Canal is ours .... The United States can't afford servative Union, in flagrant disregard of the facts, indi­ times eccentric behavior. But his attack on Ronald having governments take our property away from us .... cates just how panicky and desperate the Ford camp has Reagan's position on the Panama Canal-that is that it be­ We built it with their permission under a treaty that's six become in the wake of Ronald Reagan's recent primary longs to the United Statos and should not be surren­ decades old ....There is no reason to change it." victories over President Ford. dered-is both bizarre and puzzling. On February 6, 1964, while campaigning in Dover, In San Antonio, Texas, late last month, in a special LISTENING TO RON NESSEN talk it is becoming in­ In a press conference, Goldwater has blasted Reagan's N.H., Goldwater declared: "I thought at first Johnson press briefing' for journalism students at Trinity Uni­ creasingly difficult to teD whether he is speaking as the statements about the Canal saying they demonstrate was off on the right foot so I didn't say anything, but versity, Nessen complained that the ACU was one of sev­ President's press spokesman, or whether he is merely either "a lack of understanding ofthe facts" or they "re­ since then he has been diddling and doodling." Refer­ eral independent "side groups" spending "a lot of trying out new material for a possible return engagement flect a surprisingly dangerous state of mind." Now, what ring to the Johnson Administration's pledges to renegoti­ money" in Mr. Reagan's behalf but not filing reports with as the Guest Buffoon on the NBC Saturday Night TV is odd about these charges is that Reagan's position on ate the Canal treaty, he added: "You just don't renegoti­ the Federal Election Commission (FEC), as is required show. Nessen is shown here on the NBC set with actor the Panama Canal is, for all practical purposes, the same ate a treaty, particularly when it relates to things like by law. Chevy Chase, or maybe this is Nessen in the Oval omce, as Goldwater's, or at least the same as Goldwater's posi­ sovereignty.'' At a subsequent White House press briefing, Nessen but then again maybe ••• tion used to be. again raised this issue, charging that in some places 80 Most recently, Goldwater is one of 37 Senate sponsors Attacks LBJ's Stand on Canal percent of the ads for Reagan are being paid for by inde­ So, what is Nessen talking about? What is the basis for of Senate Resolution 97-presently pending before Con­ pendent groups who are "slipping through loopholes in his remarks in Texas? When I put those questions to gress-which states that sovereign control over the Canal This same month, in Reno, Nevada, in a general at­ the law" and not filing expenditure reports with the FEC. Nessen in a briefing, quoting Roberts' response, he re­ is "vested absolutely" in the U.S. This Resolution spe­ tack on LBJ's foreign policy, including his position on the Are you charging the Reagan people with doing some­ fused to answer directly, instead quoting at length from a cifically criticizes the Ford Administration's efforts to re­ Panama Canal, Goldwater criticized the President in thing unethical, Nessen was asked? Oh, no, perish the recent issue of Battle Line detailing ACU's efforts in negotiate the Canal treaty, which Goldwater now de­ language appropriate to the locality calling him "The thought, he replied, adding: "I just think this is some­ Reagan's behalf. Fine, Ron, I said, ACU is not denying it fends, as constituting "a clear and present danger to the Great Compromiser" who had "no stomach" for facing thing good reporters will want to look into.'' is for Reagan. But what about your charges that ACU has hemispheric security and the successful operation of the difficult problems at home and abroad, accusing him of Well, I'm a good reporter-and since I also happen to not filed with the FEC? Why did you say this when the Canal by the United States under its treaty obligations." being a man who had "just crapped out six times." He . be the editor of ACU's monthly publication, Battle organization has filed its first quarterly report and did so The Goldwater-sponsored resolution says: "The Gov­ Line-I've looked into Nessen's charges. And, to put it on April10? said Johnson was not acting in the national interest so ernment of the United States should maintain and protect that ''for a period of time no matter what happens to the bluntly, they are hogwash. "As I say," Nessen replied, "it is not required that its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Canal and It's no secret that ACU, in an independent effort allow­ these so-called independent organizations file monthly Nation, he can be all things to all people and thereby win zone, and should in no way cede, dilute, forfeit, negotiate, election as President of the United States." able under the Supreme Court's ruling on the Federal reports as the candidates and their official campaigns are, or transfer any of these rights, power, authority, juris­ election reform law, has been conducting a vigorous cam­ and any financial report filed will be filed now after the In his 1962 book titled Why Not Victory?, Goldwater diction, territory, or property that are indispensably ridiculed President Eisenhower's 1959 decision giving paign in behalf of Ronald Reagan. In the primary states primary season is over." So, you're not charging any il­ necessary for the protection and security of the United into the demands of Panamanians that they be allowed of Florida, North Carolina, Dlinois, Wisconsin and Texas, legality? No, said Nessen, not at all. He says this is not States and the entire Western Hemisphere." ACU has spent thousands of dollars on pro-Reagan ad­ for him to judge and he wasn't even implying any lawless­ to fly their flag along side the American flag in the Canal Furthermore, as far back as 1964, when he was seek­ Zone to symbolize Panama's "titular sovereignty" over vertising on the radio and in newspapers. But contrary to ness. Then did you mis-speak yourself in Texas? Incred­ ing the GOP Presidential nomination, Goldwater took a Nessen's allegations, ACU has filed an expenditure re­ ibly, he says: "No." the area. Making the point that the U.S. will never win hard-line position on the Panama Canal which by com­ over world opinion by begging for it, that the benefici­ port with the FEC. Those who have pursued Ron Nessen about his general parison makes Reagan look like a real sell-out artist. Back aries of our concessions and self-denials would soon con­ As ACU Executive Director Jim Roberts says in a press allegations that independent groups are working for when he was urging President Johnson to send in the strue these things as weakness and want more, he wrote: release demanding that Nessen retract his wild charges: Reagan but not reporting their expenditures, as the law Marines to turn on the water at our base in Guantanamo, ''The fact is that we have reported to the FEC and will requires, have been referred by him to Bob Visser, the "Does anyone seriously suppose, for instance, that our Cuba if Castro shut it off, Goldwater told a New York generous decision to permit the Panamanian flag to fly continue to do so." general counsel at the Ford for President Committee, for audience in January of 1964: (Continued on next page) over American territory in the Canal Zone will placate the Panamanian nationalists? The gesture is bound simply to whet the mob's appetite and transfer its sights to l)i~ger Nessen targets." /. Nessen Remarks Demonstrate Ignorance of Campaign Law (Continued from page 6) (The following is excerpted from an exchange be­ Nessen: And the next filing was after the details. But Visser tells me that Nessen "may have been Goldwater MaD Running Against Him tween Battle Line editor John Lofton, Jr. and primary season, as I understand it. July 10 is the confused" as regards this particular subject. He says he Presidential press secretary Ron Nessen at a next required filing. knows of no money spent by ACU in Reagan's behalf that Well, the Senator was right. Twelve years later, the White House news briefing on May 5, 1976.) Lofton: What specific states are you saying ... has not been reported. Visser adds, although he's not mob's hungrier than ever and President Ford seems Lofton: Ron, I just want to see if I can get spe­ Nesseu: Whatever primary states the so-called sure, that there probably have been independent efforts bound and determined to feed them by giving up the cific one last time here. What states are you say­ independent organizations have spent money in in Mr. Ford's behalf like those conducted by ACU for whole kit and kaboodle, the Canal and the zone. This, of 'ing ACU spent money in and did not file a report will not be reported until after the. primary Reagan. He says he'll talk to Nessen to see what he's course, is not surprising. But what is shocking is to see on the expenditures specifically? season is over. basing his charges on. Barry Goldwater now attacking Ronald Reagan and giv­ Nessea: As you say, yoU are the editor of the Thus, it is clear that Ron Nessen's problem is When Ron Nessen became President Ford's press sec­ ing aid and comfort to the mob. On this one, in our publication and you have laid it out in your o'Wn. that what he thinks is the law is aot the law. The retary he said he was "a Ron but not a Ziegler," referring hearts, we know Barry Goldwater is wrong, or to use his publication, so I don't know why I need to read law requires only that independent·· groups such ·.. · to President Nixon's press secretary. And indeed he isn't. phrase, maybe he just doesn't understand the facts. back to you from your own publication. as ACU file spending reports quarterly-which · .. · When he was caught in a lie, Mr. Ziegler at least had Footnote: Sen. Goldwater's office says that he has re­ IAJfton: k has been filed for those states, Ron, ACU has done-not that these reports be filed . ·.· ·.. ·. the courage to admit that his erroneous remarks should be ceived about 200 mailgrams in response to his criticisms April 10 filing. k is already on record. immediately after money is speut in a primary. considered "inoperative," which is more than Nessen has of Reagan and they are running about 60-40 against the . ~Li. done in this sordid episode.-John Lofton, Jr. Senator. 6 BATTLE LINE/April-May 1976 BATTLE LINE/April-May 1976 7 Strong Conservative Saying One Thing But Doing Another IJe* ;:('here Be L~ab*, Barry Appearlag on "Meet the Press" tecently, Sen. Elected in Texas Ford Not Candid On Panama Canal Negotiations B~rry Goldwater said he. s~s no ~ difference between Gerald Ford and Ronald. lteagan~ S1.fg· Aside from the issues of the economic and strategic gesting a sort of political M & M test, he de- With ACU Help 1 significance of the Panama Canal to the United States, fNow. How's That For Size? ~·~ :. 'Ifyou put Re. .in.~ne ~land and For~ . Texa~ conservativ~s ~re still crowing about their great President Ford's contradictory statements regarding this int .· erband~d .. ·'··· U eral Maritime Commission. to the Panama Canal and will never give up its operational see;,.a,differeace. But }'Our pointis well talt¢ri: bfa P~ul conducted a forthright conservative campaign on rights as far as Panama is concerned." dafk ~m it is difficult to tell Re,ag~ ll-nd F~d the tssues, geared to the slogan "Let's Put Government on But Rep. Gene Snyder, (R-Ky.), has released secret apart. ····. ··· ·• · ··· · · ··· · a. ~iet. '' In _line with that theme he stressed his oppo­ congressional testimony which shows that the President sttton to busmg and gun control, his support for right-to­ is planning to do exactly what he says he will not do. Ac­ Panama Canal work laws, the need for reducing taxes and balancing the cording to a partial transcription of testimony given to (Continued from previous page) budget, his opposition to land-use, OSHA and other Fed­ the House Panama subcommittee, the Ford Administra­ eral regulatory schemes. In the area of foreign policy he that he would never agree to any treaty that did not main­ spoke out for a strong national defense, and against the tion's chief Panama negotiator, Ambassador Ellsworth tain U.S. interest in the Canal. But the problem is that the Bunker, was asked by Snyder if the object of the nego­ weakness of detente and President Ford's proposed give­ Presi~ent ~as too precise in Texas. What was lacking tiations was to give up the Canal Zone to Panama. He away of the Panama Canal. was his telhng the truth about what his administration is replied: Although his opponents tried to depict Paul as a "rad­ "To give up the Canal Zone after a period of time, that planning to do as regards the Panama Canal. ical extremist" his big win proves that conservative In the final analysis, the President's position on the themes are popular with the voters. Paul is also an enthu­ is correct." Canal may prove irrelevant because there is little like­ Snyder then asked: "And the canal over a longer period siastic Reagan supporter and his win bodes well for the lihood that Congress will approve any treaty that sur­ California governor in the upcoming primaries. of time?" Bunker answered: "Over a longer period of renders the Canal, now or ever. Last March, 37· senators­ time." Snyder says that when the U.S.-Panama treaty ACU was the first national organization to endorse Dr. three more than are needed to block a treaty-cospon­ is concluded, the United States will abolish the current Paul and ACU's allied organization, the Conservative sored a resolution calling on the Federal Government not Victory Fl!nd, contributed $3,500 to his winning effort. Canal Zone government in six months, and will relinquish to transfer any of its rights over the waterway and the jurisdiction in the zone within three years. The canal Followmg Paul's victory, CVF Chairman Rep. John Canal Zone to Panama. Ashbrook stated: "The election of Ron Paul brings to would then be turned over in 25 to SO years. Last June, the House voted 246-164 to deny funds to Meanwhile at the White House, in an attempt to bail Washington a highly articulate spokesman for the conser­ "negotiate the surrender or relinquishment of United his boss out, presidential press secretary Ron Nessen has vative cause. His success proves once again that there is a States rights in the Panama Canal.'' Congresswoman said that Mr. Ford's Texas comments on the Canal lacked conservative tide running in the country today and it indi­ Leonor Sullivan, (D-Mo.), who chairs the House Com­ ''precision and detail,'' that what he meant to say was cates that in 1976 we have a chance to return sanity to the (Continued on next page) mittee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, which must Federal Government." report out the enabling legislation, declared: "I've told them (the State Department) again and again that the D~fense Asp.ects. of Canal A Vi,tal U.S. Con.OO:rn House will never enact a law to give away the zone ... canal's .teal .defense contribution tlle They'll be wanting to renegotiate the Louisiana Pur­ "Th~ national defense aspects of t\le Panama \s c~pability thatit .. affords to·positiOD forces ·quic~y and .to chase next." Canal~re more obviously a vital U.S~ conc~rn.Al· Just a word on the strategic importance of the Canal to thou.gh the canal's vulnerability in the missile age support .. comn:litted . major .. ,forces conveniently without WSl'lfPtion 9f internal transportation. net· the United States. Ambassador Bunker is now playing has din:tinished its. strategic value~. the.• ist~mus. is down this aspect of the subject, telling New York Times QUESTION works~··~ .. , . . . , . . ., .~ intpoi't~~t ~Dit~ a,ss~tin't)~t~.~~eand ~n· · "However unpalatablC:dt may. sound to some, columnist C. L. Sulzberger late last year that the Canal's OF THE ventiona.l war. lts (temonstrated :value during MONTH the facts are these: The United States is a great value, while of continuing importance, "is probably not World War II ha.s been by .its use in reinfo~ced power with great national· interests; it presently as great relatively as in earlier years." · .If, as President Ford the Korean War, the Cuban missile crisis and the But in November of last year, a State Department fact · sa1d following his 55-4S holds valid treaty rights from Panama; it opera.tes percent victory over Rea­ Vietnam War. For example, between 1964 and sheet on the Canal called it "an important defense asset, 1968, the military-sponsored cargo through the the canal on behalf of the world community; ga.n in the Wisconsin the use of which enhances U.S. capability for timely re­ pn":J~ry, this win "fully canal increased by 64() percent f9r. d1-}r cargo and Panama receives sqbstantial benefits fr9m the canal; and •. 'tinall~> the United States is wUling inforcement and resupply of U.S. forces." JU~tl!led his faith in Henry by 430 percent fO,r 90 K1ssmger, is Mr. Ford ,~lewn P~:U*· Sin~ to · the old treaty coasistent with its In 1970, Gen. George Mather, former commander-in­ percent of b,nlk t(>n~~ge to ~up~ commttted ret~~R9fill.te still a believer or has he vital. Dati(Jnal interests.· chief of the Southern U.S. Command, told a House sub­ . fOrce& moves ~y ,~ip. tJ:le can~ is anb~lportant , become somewhat ag­ committee that the Canal provides an important defense nostic about the good asset ·fOf national.. ttefease. · · · · '.'Vital iftteresf$

SEN. McGOVERN, N.Y. TIMES' TOM WICKER Opposed U.S. military aid to help Cambodians ... Gun Control Bill

A year ago last March, when ACU was s~~portin~ the Must Be Stopped Ford Administration's request for more m1htary a1d to Once again the gun control advocates in Congress are help the Cambodian government resist Comm~nist ag­ pushing legislation designed as the first step to~ard gression, opponents of this aid pooh-poohed the 1~ea that there would be a bloodbath if it was not forthcommg. eventual confiscation and control of handguns. On April13 New York Times columnist Tom Wicker wrote that the House Judiciary Committee voted 20-12 to report out there was "not much moral choice" between the non­ H.R. 11193, a bill that will ban the manufacture, importa­ Communist Cambodian government and the Communist tion and sale of so-called "Saturday Night Specials." Khmer Rouge. The Times itself editorialized that Ameri­ (Actually the "Saturday Night Special" really isn't a gun, can aid would "only extend Cambodia's misery," there­ it's usually a young tough between the ages of 18-30 who fore the "honorable course" was to halt this assistance. commits crimes using handguns.) Sen. Hubert Humphrey said the cut-off of U.S. aid would The bill is essentially the one proposed by President "alleviate the suffering" of the Cambodian people. And Ford and represents a major threat to all gun owners. Sen. George McGovern declared that the Cambodians Under its so-called "Saturday Night Special" provisions, would be "better off'' to work out political arrangements H.R. 11193 would outlaw the production of approximately "in their own way" without American help. SO percent of all domestically manufactured han~guns, including all revolvers with barrel lengths of four mches 'Honorable Course' Is Genocide or less. Moreover, the bill would disallow multiple pur­ Well, a year later, these arrangements are being chase of handguns and require a one-month waiting per­ worked out, and what is happening is genocide. Time iod before taking possession. Another major aim of the bill is to discourage and re­ magazine reports that the Communist takeo~er of Cam­ bodia has resulted in purges, mass evacuat10ns, forced strict commerce in all firearms, including rifles and shot­ IllS WI.L DO IT. labor and willful assassinations causing the death of an guns. The bill gives the Treasury Department open­ ended powers to regulate the transport of all guns by Ads to sell books are supposed to go into enormous estimated 600,000 people-one-tenth of the country's population. Time says at least 20,000 Cambodians have common carrier. Furthermore, by increasing licensure detail, lavish praise, long descriptions. We'll merely say To: Green Hill Publishers, Inc. , fees for retailers, the measure could eliminate many of r BL P.O. Box 738 fled across the border into Thailand. These refugees tell that Thomas and Richard Tedrow have done an exhaus­ the nation's small dealers of firearms. tive job of research, their book is well written, carefully Ottawa, Illinois 61350 of people being clubbed to death "to save ammuni­ Please write or wire your Congressman immediately presented, and what you've suspected all along is true. Yes. Send me the hard-cover Death at tion,'' and they say others have been bound to~ether a~d The 220 pages contain facts never before disclosed. It's a I Chappaquiddick for 10-day examination. buried alive by bulldozers, or suffocated by havmg plastic and urge him to vote against H.R. 11193. H this bill Check or money-order for $8.95 is enclosed. I book you must have on your own bookshelf, preferably bags tied over their heads. . . passes, the next step by Congressional liberals will be to Charge to 0 Mastercharge D BankAmericard ]....__] toward the front. ~-~ Time relates one typical incident in the provmc1al cap­ take your gun. Don't let this happen! We don't, of course, expect you to take our word Write to: I Account no. ______Expiration date ____ ital of Battambong where last year hundreds of officers for that. You're invited to examine "Death at Chappa­ I Your Congressman were assembled in a school building on the pretext they quiddick" for 10 days on an absolute, no-strings-attached name U.S. House of Representatives money-back guarantee. If you decide the book is not an were going to meet Prince Sihanouk. There, they were address•------bound hand and foot, loaded onto trucks, and machine­ House Office Building invaluable investment, just return it within the 10 days, I Washington, D.C. 20515 I gunned on the outskirts of the city. Whole families-and and we'll refund your $8.95 in full, no questions asked. P.S. Mary Jo Kopechne did not die from drowning. L c•ity·;.~-.-;.;~~-----.-;;.sta.te~---.-;;.zi.p__ -.-;;.;.J sometimes entire villages-have been massacred, accord­ Phone: ing to refugees who have escaped. (202) 224-3121, ask for your Congressman's extension. 10 BATTLE LINE/April-May 1976 BATTLE LINE/April-May 1976 11 Chairman's Comment cords a direct conversation with Kissinger which exactly duplicated the formula relayed by Reagan. The relevant passages are as follows: Kissinger on Athens "[Kissinger] feels that the U.S. has passed its historic high point like so many other civilizations. He believes By M. Stanton Evans the U.S. is on the downhill and cannot be roused by Chairman, American Conservative Union political challenge. He states that his job is to persuade In his test of strength with Ronald Reagan concerning the Russians to give us the best deal we can get, recog­ Athens, Sparta and related matters, it would appear that nizing that the historical forces favor them. Dr. came out second best. ''He says that he realizes that in the light of history he There is, up front, the will be recognized as one of those who negotiated terms question of what Kissinger favorable to the Soviets, but that the American people actually said on the sub­ have only themselves to blame because they lack the ject of declining American stamina to stay the course against the Russians, who are power. Reagan exploded Sparta to our Athens." the issue into the head­ As many people in Washington are. aware, such themes lines with his televised ad­ are commonplace with Kissinger. This writer was present dress March 31, sending a few years back when the secretary held forth on the Kissinger and President theme of American irresolution and the pattern of weak­ Evans Ford and other official ness this mandated in our diplomacy. Every concession spokesmen into paroxysms of denial. was explained in terms of deficient American will and the In his TV remarks, Reagan critiqued the Ford-Kis­ need for Kissinger to cut the best deal possible from the singer policy of "detente," and then touched off his resulting enfeeblement. bombshell. "Dr. Kissinger," he said, "is quoted as say­ Just this summer, Kissinger rehearsed a similar set of ing that he thinks the United States is Athens and the arguments at a private breakfast with a prominent con­ Soviet Union is Sparta. 'The day of the U.S. is past and servative. Again the constant theme was that the Ameri­ today is the day of the Soviet Union.' And he added: can people and the Congress lacked the will to stay the ' ... My job as secretary of state is to negotiate the most ac­ course, and that Kissinger therefore had to deal from ceptable second-best position available.' " weakness. (Never explained in all of this is what, if any­ Mr. Ford and Dr. Kissinger replied that this is not the thing, Kissinger has done to generate awareness of the official policy of our government, and the State Depart­ problem among the American people.) ment said Reagan's comment was a "false and irrespons­ Which leaves the question of Athens and Sparta. The ible invention.'' A spokesman for the department also re­ secretary is right in saying that Athens, after a fashion, layed a Kissinger statement, intended as an historical survived. But it did so only after it had been conquered putdown, that ''Gov. Reagan perhaps forgot that Athens by Sparta, saw its confederacy liquidated and replaced by survived Sparta by several centuries.'' a Spartan empire, had its democratic government re­ A false and irresponsible invention? If so, the inventor placed by an oligarchy, and had the terms of its internal wasn't Reagan. His source; ih fact, is one of the best politics dictated by its conquerors. One hopes the secre­ imaginable, former Chief of Naval Operations Elmo Zum­ tary doesn't envision a similar brand of "survival" for walt. In his forthcoming book, On Watch, Zumwalt re- the United States.

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ly JI-'WES DEAKIN ' sr. ~ • . /I!J ( 7 (d. WltSidustm Cor~ '81. -, of lbe Polt·D'.s,.tdl KANSAS CITY, Aug. 19- \\'bite House repone" waged-and won- Jn W.lprecedented revolt last night as President Gerald R. Ford watched the balloting tor . the Republican presidential nomination. Reporters for the Associated Press, l'nlted Presa International and major newspapers refused to take part in a press pool covering Mr. f'ord because · reporters for television and radio netwc;rks were excluded from the pool. Tlie refusal followed several months of steadily worsening relations ~ween press secretary Ronald H. Nessen and reporters assigned to the Whlte HOU!C. Last night's dispute began when Nessen announced that only one reponer. John Mashek of U.S. News anct World Report magazine, would be allowed In Mr. · Ford's suite at the Crown Center Hotel while the President watched the convention .balloting on televl. slon. ... Mashek was to be a ODe-perlllft pool reponing later to the rest of the Whlte House correspondents. Normally such pools consist of. reporters from both wire services, a newspaper, a mapzlne, a television network and a radio network. · Later It was learned that two other magazine reporters, Strobe Talbott of Time and Thomas Defrnnk ' t of Newsweek, would be admitted to Mr Ford's suite as ·"guests <'f the President" but would nut have pool responsibilities to report what they saw te; tbetr collea~. t; • After reporters protested heatedly that the wire 1 .:services, newspapers and TV and radio networks were being excluded, assistant press secretary William ·Roberts announced that AP and UPI reporters would be :added to the pool.

• However, the wire service reporters - Frank 'Cormier and Howard Benedict of AP and Helen

Broadcast, print riewsnien allies for the moment in battle with Nessen All-media boycott of President's relented, reporters would do stories charg­ suite on night of balloting ing discrimination. Is threatened when TV-radio Is Throughout this exchange. according to not Invited In for coverage CBS's Bob Pierpoint, there was no ex· planation for the White House's position. ;;. Broadcast and print reporters are normally But the White House charged its position a competitive bunch. and nothing brings to the extent of offering to include wire· .,. out the competitiveness as much as a po· service reporters in the invitation. Instead litical convention. But last week. White of mollifying anyone, th~ offer was taken House news secretary Ronald Nessen as attempt to split the reporters, and the managed to persuade a group of White wire-service reporters refused to accept. House correspondents to abandon their Mr. Pierpoint said the wire-service re­ hostility toward one another Ions enough porters were taking a stand not only in to focus their unified hostility on him. behalf of newspapers but, surprisingly, And in the process, he precipitated a broadcasting services as well. That elicited brouhaha of marvelous proportions-one what the reporters regarded as another reporter talked of "anarchy ... chaos." "divide-and-conquer" tactic-an offer to The incident involved White House re· include a newspaper reporter In the group. porter$' request for permission to visit Broadcast journalists were still being ex­ President Ford in his suite when he cluded. watched the nomination balloting on Finally•. at about the time Walter Wednesday night. Television corre· Cronkite was broadcasting a story on what spondents also asked to have a camera amounted to a press boycott of the Presi· present. Mr. Nessen's response, Wednes· dent's suite, and the reasons for it, the · day afternoon, was that one pool re· White House relented. The White House porter-from U.S: News and World Re· would allow a minicam crew, a broadcast port-and five still photographers would correspondent-it turned out to be be invited. No one and nothing more. Charles Gibson of ABC-two wire-service That was disturbing enough. But then reporters, a Washington Post reporter, and the reporters learned that the White the three magazine reporters and five pho· House had also invited two other re· tographers originally set to visit. porters-from Tune and Newsweelc-to Mr. Pierpoint was not entirely satisified. the suite. That set off an outcry, with The White House refused to bend on its warnings that unless the White House refusal to permit live television cov~e; the President's challenger, Rorrald· Reagan, had permitted such coverage. But the networks did use taped coverage made available by the minicam crew. And Mr. Pierpoint seemed to feel a point had been made... It isn't often you can get wire ser· vice reporters to stand up for broadcast journalists." he said.

Broadcasting, 8/23/76 28 •

AIMrNISTRATION ·. Nessen's bobble . "' .. . .. When a spokesman rnis.speaks himself, the Presidential Science ' result is almost certaili to be confusion. When . . • • •. that spokesman happens to be ~he White House The Senate's confinnation o( Dr. . H. Guyford Stever as press secretary, erroneous information then is science adviser to the President re-establishes a relation· transmitted nationwide. And when the garble ship that had . b.een scuttled when President Nixon . pertains to the North Korean leader's message f}lolished the o'mce · of science a.itd Technology whose ; of regrets over a major incident, the slip itself causes unfortunate repercussions. successive chiefs had advised Presidents since the late . 1950's. .: . . . · To his credit, Ron Nessen does not often make such bobbles. But when the President's Science has now returned to the. White House. Sym· · press secretary said the statement from Presi­ bolically, at least, the. high status of science i.n American · dent Kim n Sung was sent on Thursday - be-· fore the U.S. sbow of force on Saturday - it society has been reaffirmed. PractiCally, thera.1s a new constituted a distressing . display of White 'and potentially very useful institutional mechanism to House ineptness. · help the President deal with science components of many . The Nessen comment seemed to conflict hiib·priority issues. with the State Department version of what was It was under the Impact· of'.the. initi~ Soviet sputnik . happening and led to initial confusion over whether the Kim message_preceded or fol­ that President Eisenhower appainted . the first White lowed the American military responses. Dep­ HouSe ·science adviser in 1957~ Problems.. of military uty press secretary· John Carlson later ex· and space res~- of coune,. ~ntinue high on today's plaiDed that the Korean message was received agenda, but Dr. Stever is clearly right in. emphaaizinl some hours alter President Ford had· ordered that his contribution should he aimed primarily at non· out the Navy task force and said the offending defense areas. · ·· tree should be chopped down. Admittedly Mi-. Nessen's comment followed This view lives recognition to. the · fact that science closely on the heels of the Ford nom1:nation in is a key eomponent in current ec·ological, energy, .hfalth Kansas City, an event of prime concern for the and other major civilian concerns crucial. to the nation's White House. But the Panmunjom affray ·was tuture. The determination ot research p_riorities more· ; too importaDt and too delicate a matter to over also offers a fruitful area for Dr. Stever's ,Wdance becJoud. even so. It conceivably could have of the President and. his budgetary: .aides. especially triggered a major confrontation in Asia - in because these priorities are so reaOily distorted by those which case, being partly rtgbt is scarcely good in Government who see science predominantly as the enougD. - • - • inventor ot more powerful ~ents.

' TI}IE To·· T:'-\.I{E STOCK! Before the proposed massive swine-flu inoeu1a tion program actually beginS', the government ought to subject the scheme to ..a s.,arching reappraisal by·med. ical scientists. " _ . · _ · . . Professional differences h~ve left. the· public puzzled ·... and uncertain. There is an impression that the program is merely driftin!Z' forward on the original momentum imparted by President Ford. · ·The pending questions should be resolved by ex­ perts so that the immunization drive can proceed in an atmosphere of confidence, or be.scrapped if it is deemed of doubtful value. · ......

C.S.Monitor, 8/24/76 NeW York Daily News, 8/24/76 New York T~ s , 8/24/76