Conversation No. 119-1

Date:  March 13, 1973
Time:  3:13 pm - unknown before 11:59 pm
Location:  Cabinet Room

The President met with Earl L. Butz, J. Philip Campbell, Claude S. Brinegar, Henri F. Rush, Jr., William E. Simon, John T. Dunlop, James W. McLane, Herbert Stein, Marina von N. Whitman, John D. Ehrlichman, Roy L. Ash, General Brent G. Scowcroft, Frederic V. Malek, Kenneth W. Dam, Philip A. Odeen, Tod R. Hullin, Richard M. Fairbanks, III, William Morrill, and Gary L. Seevers
[Recording begins while the conversation is in progress]

	Department of Transportation [DOT]
		-Stockpiles
			-Reporting mechanism

	Food prices
		-Butz=s briefing
		-Transportation of farm produce
			-Prices for produce
				-Existing stocks
			-Wheat
				-Exports
					-Japanese
			-Corn
			-Commodity Credit Corporation [CCC]
			-Prices
			-Method of shipment
		-Cattle prices
			-Increases
				-Concern
			-Beef production
				-Comparisons
					-Production
					-Prices
			-Demand for foodstuffs
		-Dairy farmers
			-Increase in production
		-Food prices
			-Import quotas
			-Controls
				-Presidential decree
				-Congressional action
		-Japanese purchases
			-Pork
		-Need for increased production
			-Lifting of restrictions
			-Soybean production
			-Wheat and corn
				-Amount of acreage
			-Changes in law concerning acreage
				-Farmers
				-Prices
		-Soybeans
			-Areas of increases
		-Legal aspects of control
			-Possible Presidential decree
		-Exports
			-Increases
			-Japanese purchases
			-Balance of payments
				-Inflation
		-Meat production
			-Previous White House meeting with producers
			-Factors in price increases
			-Exports
		-Vegetable production
			-Status
			-Problems
			-Effect of price ceilings
				-Inflation
		-Percentage to farmers
			-Labor costs
				-Meat cutters
					-Chicago
				-Drivers
					-Philadelphia
				-Union rules
				-Increases
				-Effect on food prices
				-Meeting with George Meany
					-Need to control labor costs
				-Influence on retail food prices

	Transportation
		-Effect on food prices
		-Railroads
			-Problems
			-Regional problems
			-Freight car shortages
				-Need for action
					-Winter wheat shipment
			-DOT action
				-Task force
					-Egil (ABud@) Krogh, Jr.
					-Priority needs
					-Alternative means of transportation
					-Long-term problems
				-Regulatory action by Interstate Commerce Commission [ICC]
			-Work with ICC
				-W. Donald Brewer and George M. Stafford
			-DOT cooperation with railroads
				-Use of idle coal cars for grain shipments
			-Opening of ports
				-Canada
				-United States= Coast Guard
			-Brinegar=s personal visits to grain areas
			-Long term problems
				-Use of freight cars
				-Current capacity of railroads
				-Problems of railroad industry
				-DOT action

	Food prices
		-Current problems
			-Need for action by Cost of Living Council [COLC]
		-Projected increases
		-Administration approach to increases
			-White paper
			-Work with labor leaders
		-Current prices
			-Labor costs
				-Minimum wage
				-Administration action
 				-Great Britain
					-Food prices
			-Federal government action
				-Minimum wage rate
					-Effect on food prices
				-Influence of labor negotiators
			-Proposals
				-White House meeting on March 12, 1973
					-Alternatives
					-Opposition from United States= Department of Agriculture [USDA] officials
						-Wall Street Journal article
						-Lack of impact of the President=s plan
		-World-wide problem
			-Brussels trip by Whitman
				-Europe and Japan
		-Credibility of administration
			-Statements by Administration
				-Price increases
		-Import quotas
			-Effect
			-Tariffs
				-Cheese
			-Beef
				-Current restrictions
				-Imports
				-Health restrictions

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	Strategic stockpiles

[To listen to the segment (7m42s) declassified on 02/28/2002, please refer to RC# E-613.]

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	Food prices
		-Increases
			-Projections over next year
			-Projected relief
				-Ehrlichman
		-Congressional reaction
			-Partisan demands for freeze
			-August 1971 economic action
		-Price freezes
			-Doubts
			-Arguments for freeze
				-Meat prices
			-Dependence on labor actions
				-Ehrlichman=s efforts
					-Labor cooperation
			-1972 efforts
				-Options for 1973
					-Effect on prices
					-Wages
					-Inflation
					-Controls
		-Phase II regulations on wages and prices
			-Implementation
			-Enforcement in food
			-Simon
				-Possible statement
					-Effect on prices, wages
				-Dangers of hoarding
		-Results of a freeze
			-Cutbacks in production
			-Hoarding
				-Refrigeration
		-Opposition to freeze
		-Dunlop=s reaction
			-George P. Shultz
			-Labor cooperation
				-Talk with labor leaders
			-Supplies
				-Effect on prices
				-Dangers of a freeze

	Food stockpiling
		-Accountability
			-Weekly reports
				-USDA
					-Carroll G. Brunthaver
				-COLC
				-Office of Management and Budget [OMB]
					-Malek
						-Strategic stockpile
		-Food committee
			-Updates for White House
			-DOT reports
			-USDA reports
			-Future meeting
		-Current supplies
			-C-rations
		-Armed forces
			-Amount

	Food prices
		-Housewife protests
		-Cutbacks in consumption
			-Effect
		-Hamburger
			-Stein=s speech in Charlottesville, Virginia
				-Press reports

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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Privacy]
[Duration:  1m 25s  ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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	USDA
		-Number of employees

	Food
		-Consumption of red meat
			-Future

	Instructions by President

The President left at 4:14 pm

	[General conversation/Unintelligible]

Butz, et al. left at an unknown time before 11:59 pm

Conversation No. 119-2

Date:  March 20, 1973
Time:  Unknown between 8:38 am and 11:59 pm
Location:  Cabinet Room

The President met with Herbert Stein, John T. Dunlop, Hugh Scott, Robert P. Griffin, John G. Tower, Norris Cotton, Wallace F. Bennett, William E. Brock, III, Gerald R. Ford, Leslie C. Arends, John B. Anderson, William J. (AJack@) Edwards, John J. Rhodes, Barber B. Conable, Jr., Robert C. (ABob@) Wilson, David T. Martin, Samuel L. Devine, George H. W. Bush, Roy L. Ash, John D. Ehrlichman, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., William E. Timmons, Richard K. Cook, Thomas C. Korologos, Ronald L. Ziegler, Clifford P. Hansen, Henry L. Bellmon, Marlow W. Cook, Dewey F. Bartlett, Delwin M. Clawson, Burt L. Talcott, Harold R. Collier, and Albert W. Johnson

	Briefing by Stein
		-Economy
			-Food prices
				-Latest report
			-International monetary crisis
				-Dangers
				-Exchange rates
					-Transition

	Domestic economy
		-Expansion
		-Unemployment
			-Reduction
		-Production increases
			-Strength
		-Expansion
		-Problem areas
			-Food prices
				-Farm income
			-World-wide inflation
				-United States= devaluation
			-Inflationary pressures
				-Expansion-oriented economy
				-Wage and price controls
		-Food prices
			-Increases
				-End
				-Administration=s efforts
					-Stabilization
			-Cattle and meat
				-Decline
		-Inflation
			-Prices
			-Attitude of labor
				-Cooperation
			-Standards of Phase III wage-price action
				-Wages
				-Cooperation between labor and management
			-System of controls
				-Advantages
		-Productivity
			-Gains in next year
			-Expansion
				-Moderation

	Food prices
		-Release of report
			-Statement on causes
			-Expectations
		-Decline of farm prices
			-Estimate of supplies
		-Meat supplies
			-First quarter
			-Fourth quarter
			-Changes
				-Pork production
			-Meat
			-Administration=s efforts
			-Increases
				-Public concerns
					-Supermarket prices
		-Consumer Price Index [CPI]
			-Release to public
			-Increase in food prices
				-Increases in next few months
				-Transitory nature
		-Impact on general inflation
			-Budget policy
				-Problems
					-Expansionary economy
					-Deficit
				-Importance
					-Compared to prices
		-Administration=s policies
			-Controls as option
				-Problems
					-Farmers
					-Later increases
					-Upward pressure
					-Price and wage controls
					-Rationing
						-World War II experience
				-Food prices
				-Later problems
			-Hansen and Bellmon
			-Handling of problem
				-Administration=s efforts
			-Control of marketing and processing
				-Political problems
					-Future
		-Milk
			-Wisconsin representatives
				-Imports of dairy products
			-Milk producers
				-Contributions to campaigns
					-Wilbur D. Mills
				-Bipartisanship
					-Wilson
				-Reducing imports
			-Imports
				-Need for action
			-Dairymen
				-Prosperity
		-Imported beef
			-Administration position
				-Repeal of tariff
		-Worldwide increase in demand
			-Beef
			-World-wide increase in consumption
			-Grain harvests in the People=s Republic of China and the Soviet Union
			-Impact on prices
			-Rising expectations
		-Supplies of food
			-High production
				-Effect of price controls
				-Inflation
			-Imports
				-US increases
		-Cause of high prices
			-Administration=s solution
				-Increasing supplies
				-Increasing imports
				-Increasing production
		-Importance of issue
			-Labor settlements
			-Phase III wage-price action effect on labor
				-Difference from Phase II
		-Labor settlements
			-Railroads
				-Amount of increase
				-Peter J. Brennan
				-Amount of increase
			-Administration action
			-Influence of prices
				-Labor demands
					-Escalation
			-Dunlop=s role
		-Administrations=s efforts
		-Solution to food price problem
			-Intractability
			-Interest groups
				-Farmers, milk producers, and cattlemen
					-Imports
			-Influence on wage settlements
			-Problem of demand
				-Inflation

	Inflation
		-Administration statements
		-United States= rate
			-Comparison with other nations
			-Great Britain
			-Japan
			-Germany
			-France
			-Italy
			-United States= economic performance
		-United States= dollar
			-Strength
				-International markets
					-Currency

	Wage settlements
		-Processes

	Stabilization program
		-Dunlop=s briefing
		-Legislative proposals
		-Agricultural products
		-Phase II
			-Problems
				-Distortion of economy
					-Prices
					-Wages
				-Transition
			-Domination of controls

	Wages
		-Influence of food price increases
			-Negotiations
			-Concern
		-Labor-management relations in 1973
			-Current state
				-Attitude toward work stoppages and strikes
					-Impact on imports
			-Strikes
				-Extended lay-offs
			-Need and desire for reform
				-Labor Management Advisory Committee
		-Negotiations
			-Impact on economy
			-Progress
				-Railroads
				-Teamsters
					-Importance
		-Railroad settlements
			-Ratification problems
				-Exaggerations
			-Tax reductions
			-Wage settlements
				-Percentage increase
				-Fringe benefits
				-Pay Board
			-Public statements
				-Sensitivity
		-Teamsters
			-Negotiations
				-National agreement
				-Escalation of demands
				-Chicago teamsters
					-Agreement with national office
				-Effect on food prices
			-Frank E. Fitzsimmons
				-Challenge from James R. (AJimmy@) Hoffa
					-Parole
					-Split in union
					-Richard G. Kleindienst
					-Enforcement of parole
		-Settlements
			-Fitzsimmons and George Meany
			-Source of problems
				-Level
				-Locals
					-Lack of control
			-Railroads
				-Ratification
				-Misunderstandings
					-Effect on other unions
			-Cost of Living Council [COLC] monitoring
				-Adherence to controls

	Prices
		-Food prices
			-Statements
			-Government action
				-Labor wages
				-Increase of supplies
				-Sense of concern
		-Controls
			-Monitoring by COLC
		-Productivity
		-Mandatory controls of wages
		-Food
			-Control
		-Industrial prices
			-End of Phase II wage-price controls
				-Circumstances
		-Food
		-Raw materials
			-Increase of demand
				-Lumber
		-Stockpile
			-Control
				-Effect
		-Rents
		-Fuel
			-Gasoline price freeze
			-Energy
				-Future
				-Veto of legislation
					-Natural gas prices
				-Possible solution
				-Natural gas

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	Stockpile

[To listen to the segment (5s) declassified on 02/28/2002, please refer to RC# E-613.]

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					-Increase in supply
					-Deregulation
						-Washington Post editorial
					-Need for action
						-Congress
					-Tennessee and Texas
						-Spending
		-Rents
			-Surveys
				-Increases
					-Washington, DC
					-New Jersey area
			-Roll-backs
				-Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
				-COLC action
		-Tower=s efforts
			-Legislation
		-Rent control
			-Avoidance of controls
			-COLC and IRS role
			-Impact on supply
		-Controls on food prices and agricultural products
			-Authority
				-Presidential discretion
			-COLC belief
		-Implementation of controls
		-Lumber
			-Senate Banking and Currency Committee hearing
			-Administration=s program
				-Expansion of supply
					-Environmental concerns
					-Work with Forest Service
						-Target levels
				-International trade

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	International trade

[To listen to the segment (45s) declassified on 02/28/2002, please refer to RC# E-613.]

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			-Violations of controls
			-Reduction of supplies
			-Conflicts between Budget Bureau and Forest Service
				-Allocations of funds
					-Purposes
					-Reforestation programs
			-Prices
				-Phase II
					-Increases
						-Impact
					-Future supplies
				-Export embargo in the 1960s
			-Japanese purchases
			-Increases

	Vocational Rehabilitation Bill
		-Congressional passage
		-Veto by the President
			-Background
				-Spending
			-Deficiencies
				-Fiscal irresponsibility
					-Inflationary expectation
				-Expansion of program goals
					-Medical programs
				-Lack of management and accountability
					-Department of Health, Education, and Welfare [HEW]
					-Statutory authorities
					-Categorical grants
						-Lack of coordination
					-Dispersal of authority
			-Support for veto
			-Built-in failures
			-Necessity of veto
				-Need for support in Congress
		-Budget allocations
			-Increases
		-Veto of bill
			-Statement of reasons
			-Democratic opposition
			-Problems of sustaining
		-Expenditures
			-Increases during administration
				-Amounts
			-New programs
			-Administration=s proposals
				-Compared to Congress
		-Barry M. Goldwater
		-Presidential statement
			-Veto of bill
				-Increased taxes
					-Publicity
				-Emphasis on prices and taxes
			-Vote in Senate
				-Number of Democrats
				-Tower

	Vetoes
		-Votes in Senate
			-The President=s conversation with Ford
			-Numbers to sustain
			-Impact on House
		-Veterans bill
			-Confusion of issue
			-Disabled and Vietnam veterans
				-Universal health coverage
			-House action
			-Need to clarify issue
		-Votes in House
			-Timing
		-Veterans
			-Organizations
				-Efficiency
				-Letters to congressmen
			-The President=s message on veto
				-Timing

	Bills in Congress
		-Preparation
			-Economic stabilization
		-Release of CPI
			-Timing
				-Problem
				-Lyndon B. Johnson Administration

	Vetoes
		-Senate support
			-Sustaining veto
			-Need to win first bill
			-Help from White House
		-Republicans
			-Party loyalty
				-Importance
			-Rural Electrification Administration [REA]
			-Agricultural constituents
			-Vocational Rehabilitation Act
				-Impact in 1974 election
				-Impact on future elections
			-Unity
		-Budget issues
			-British system
				-Importance
					-Votes of confidence
			-Importance
			-Democrats
				-Difference of priorities
				-Compared to Republican priorities
			-Need for party loyalty
				-Test of executive control and responsibility
				-Consequences of failure
					-Tax increase

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	Defense budget

	Arms talks

	Foreign policy

[To listen to the segment (14m13s) declassified on 02/28/2002, please refer to RC# E-613.]

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	Leadership meetings
		-Participation
			-Junior members
				-Usefulness

	Request for figures from Dunlop

The President left at 10:26 am

	[General conversation/Unintelligible]

Stein, et al. left at an unknown time before 11:59 pm

Conversation No. 119-3

Date:  Unknown between March 20 and March 30, 1973
Time:  Unknown between 10:26 am, March 20 and 1:00 pm, March 30, 1973
Location:  Cabinet Room

George H. W. Bush [?] met with unknown people

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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration:  6m 41s  ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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Bush [?] and the unknown people left at an unknown time before 1:00 pm, March 30, 1973

Conversation No. 119-4

Date:  Unknown between March 20 and March 30, 1973
Time:  Unknown between 10:26 am, March 20 and 1:00 pm, March 30, 1973
Location:  Cabinet Room

An unknown man met with an unknown woman

	Cabinet Room
		-Cabinet Officers
			-Positions held by George P. Shultz
		-Seating
			-Anne L. Armstrong
				-Position
			-John A. Scali
		-Cabinet Room table
			-Gift

	[General conversation/Unintelligible]

The unknown man and woman left at an unknown time before 1:00 pm, March 30, 1973