113–5

Conversation No. 113-5

Date: January 26, 1973
Time: 11:12 am - 11:59 am
Location: Cabinet Room

The President met with Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, George P. Shultz, Michael J. (“Mike”)
Mansfield, Robert C. Byrd, Hugh Scott, Robert P. Griffin, John L. McClellan, Russell B. Long,
Milton R. Young, Wallace F. Bennett, Carl B. Albert, Gerald R. Ford, John J. McFall, George H.
Mahon, Wilbur D. Mills, Elford A. Cederberg, Herman T. Schneebeli, John D. Ehrlichman,
Herbert Stein, William E. Timmons, Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr.,
 13

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)



Frederic V. Malek, Phillis Galanti, Darlene Sadler, and Helene Knapp; the White House
photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning of the meeting
[This is a continuation of Conversation No. 113-4]

Prisoner of war [POW] wives
-Introduction
-Efforts
-President’s remarks

Galanti, Sadler, and Knapp left at 11:15 am

[General conversation/Unintelligible]

Possible Congressional Resolution
-National Day of Prayer
-Bipartisan support

Vietnam cease-fire agreement
-Effect on budget
-Military withdrawal
-Economic aid
-North Vietnam
-Defense budget
-Vietnam War expenditures
-All-volunteer military
-Force levels
-Costs
-Background briefing book


******************************************************************************

Defense budget

[To listen to the segment (1m31s) declassified on 02/28/2002, please refer to RC# E-607.]

******************************************************************************


1973 Budget
-Unspent appropriated funds
-Congressional appropriations
 14

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)



-Deficit
-Presidential precedent
-Congress
-Targeted programs
-Reasons

1974 budget
-Program reductions
-Impoundment
-Balanced budget
-Congress
-Military
-Pay
-Program increases
-Aid to elderly
-Food stamps
-School lunches
-Veterans’ Administration [VA] care
-Environment
-Civil rights enforcement, minority assistance
-Crime assistance
-Pollution control
-Agriculture
-Farmer’s income
-Mass transit
-Housing
-Federally assisted
-Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD]
-Revenue sharing
-Briefing books
-Expenses controllable by Congress
-Congressional responsibility
-Tax increase
-Spending ceilings
-Inflation
-Harry S Truman
-Air Force
-Impoundment
-Precedent
-President’s responsibility
-Congressional appropriations
-Inflation
 15

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)



-Future budgets
-Spending ceilings
-Constitutionality
-Richard G. Kleindienst’s opinion
-Options and role of Congress
-Debt limit
-Impoundment
-Constitutionality
-Congressional action
-Deficit
-Taxes
-Airport construction bill
-Ceiling
-Controllables versus noncontrollables
-Joint Budget Committee
-Impoundment problems
-McClellan
-Congressional spending
-Ceilings
-Ways and Means Committee
-Mills’ view
-Appropriations Committee
-Mahon’s view
-McClellan
-Taxes
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Congress
-Taxes
-Spending
-Budget cuts
-Guaranteed loans
-Rural Electrification Administration [REA]
-Loans
-Compromise
-Bipartisan breakfast meetings
-President’s responsibility
-Defense
 16

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)



******************************************************************************

Defense budget

[To listen to the segment (12s) declassified on 02/28/2002, please refer to RC# E-607.]

******************************************************************************


-Congress
-White House staff
-Roy L. Ash
-Congress’s role
-Impoundment
-Spending level

President’s schedule

[General conversation/Unintelligible]

The President, et al. left at 11:59 am