Arnold R. Weber
Arnold R. Weber served as the associate director of the Office of Management and Budget from 1970 until 1971. In 1971, he became the executive director of the Cost of Living Council, where he was responsible for administering President Nixon's 90-day wage and price freeze. He left government service to become the dean of the Graduate School of Industrial Administration at Carnegie Mellon University in 1973.
When Weber is on the tapes
What Weber talks about on the tapes
Economic policy 7Wage-price freeze 3Phase II 2Inflation 2Higher Education 2Government administration 2Foreign Policy 2Wage and price controls 1Vietnam War 1US-Soviet Relations 1Supersonic Transport 1Soviet Summit 1
Conversations (17)
President Nixon and his Cabinet met to discuss the ongoing military operations in Indochina and the development of the administration's national health reform agenda. Regarding the war, officials reviewed the progress of South Vietnamese incursions into Laos and Cambodia, noting that the strategy was successfully disrupting enemy supply lines while shifting the burden of ground operations away from American forces. The conversation then transitioned to a detailed proposal from Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Elliot Richardson regarding healthcare reform, with the group debating the costs, tax implications, and administrative feasibility of implementing Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and national health insurance standards.
President Nixon met with Vice President Agnew and Republican Congressional leaders to secure support for two of his primary initiatives: the Supersonic Transport (SST) program and a major government reorganization plan. Secretary of Transportation John Volpe advocated for the SST by addressing environmental, economic, and technological concerns, arguing that the project was essential for U.S. aviation preeminence and long-term economic growth. Subsequently, John Connally detailed the work of the Ash Council, urging the legislators to embrace a fundamental restructuring of the executive branch to improve government efficiency, accountability, and public trust. Nixon emphasized that these measures were critical for ensuring that his administration could effectively manage federal programs and maintain the nation's competitive edge.
President Nixon convened a meeting with Vice President Agnew and his Cabinet to discuss the upcoming joint announcement with the Soviet Union regarding strategic arms limitation talks (SALT). The core issue was breaking the deadlock, with the US seeking limitations on both offensive and defensive weapons, while the Soviets initially focused only on defensive ones. A breakthrough was achieved through a high-level communication in January, leading to an agreement to jointly announce that both sides would concentrate on limiting Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) systems this year, while also agreeing on certain measures for offensive weapon limitations. The announcement aims to create favorable conditions for further negotiations, with the understanding that the hard work of negotiation will continue in Vienna and Helsinki.
President Nixon, Vice President Agnew, and a large group of Cabinet members and senior staff met to establish a strategic framework for domestic policy, budget planning for the 1973 fiscal year, and the development of the 1972 Republican legislative and election platform. Participants reviewed polling data regarding national, community, and family concerns, noting that the economy, inflation, and unemployment are primary public priorities while other issues like pollution and consumerism are often driven by media visibility. The President and attendees emphasized the need for better communication to receive credit for administration accomplishments, focusing on a limited number of 'gut issues' rather than overextending on too many programs. Ultimately, the group discussed the necessity of coordinating policy initiatives and messaging to ensure visible progress on key economic and social concerns ahead of the 1972 election.
President Nixon met with his senior advisors and drug policy experts to address the escalating heroin crisis among servicemen returning from Vietnam. The discussion focused on establishing a comprehensive program to identify and treat addicted soldiers through urinalysis, detoxification, and expanded rehabilitation, while avoiding stigmatizing veterans in the civilian workforce. The group explored innovative bureaucratic and scientific strategies, including the potential for using biological agents or pests to eradicate opium crops at their source, and proposed holding law enforcement officials accountable for complicity in the drug trade.
President Nixon met with members of Congress and administration officials, including Joseph Blatchford and Arnold Weber, to promote a bipartisan volunteer initiative and discuss upcoming legislative priorities. The President emphasized the importance of non-partisan service, highlighting a new university program that integrates student service with academic credit and soliciting congressional support for these efforts. Additionally, the President shared personal anecdotes regarding military service and the Medal of Honor, while also briefly touching upon anti-drug initiatives and the White House Conference on Aging.
President Nixon met with United Transportation Union leaders and railroad management representatives to address the economic crisis caused by an ongoing railroad strike. Nixon emphasized his administration's preference for private-sector collective bargaining over government intervention, warning that continued labor stoppages could provoke negative public and Congressional reactions that would ultimately damage the industry. The discussion centered on the need for both parties to reach an equitable settlement quickly to protect the economy, with the President urging management to streamline their decision-making process to facilitate a resolution.
President Nixon met with departing administration officials George Shultz and Arnold R. Weber to discuss their experiences in government and their future academic endeavors. The group reflected on the challenges of managing federal programs like the Job Corps and the difficulties of balancing political objectives with administrative realities. Before concluding the meeting, the President expressed his gratitude for their service and presented them with official White House gifts for their families.
President Nixon met with economic advisors, including George Shultz and Paul McCracken, to discuss the implementation and public perception of the ongoing 90-day wage and price freeze. The group evaluated the challenges of enforcing economic policies across various sectors—notably teachers and professional athletes—while emphasizing the need for productivity-based bargaining and management strategies for the transition to 'Phase II.' Nixon praised the staff's morale and dedication, highlighting the importance of avoiding a permanent bureaucratic 'straitjacket' while ensuring the economy remained stable leading up to the November deadline.
On September 11, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and the Cost of Living Council, including John B. Connally, Paul W. McCracken, Clifford M. Hardin, James D. Hodgson, George W. Romney, Maurice H. Stans, George P. Shultz, Gen. George A. Lincoln, Virginia H. Knauer, Arnold R. Weber, Herbert Stein, Arthur Burns, and the White House photographer, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 9:29 am and 12:53 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 073-002 of the White House Tapes.
On September 13, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met with Cabinet officers and their wives, including William P. Rogers, Adele (Langston) Rogers, John B. Connally, Idanell ("Nellie") (Brill) (Connally), Melvin R. Laird, John N. Mitchell, Martha (Beall) Mitchell, Rogers C. B. Morton, Clifford M. Hardin, Martha L. (Wood) Hardin, Maurice H. Stans, Kathleen Stans, James D. Hodgson, Maria (Denend) Hodgson, Elliot L. Richardson, Anne Richardson, George W. Romney, Lenore L. Romney, John A. Volpe, Jennie (Benedetto) Volpe, David M. Kennedy, Lenora (Bingham) Kennedy, George P. Shultz, Helena M. ("Obie") Shultz, Robert H. Finch, Carol (Crothers) Finch, Joyce (Pierson) Rumsfeld, George H. W. Bush, Barbara (Pierce) Bush, Robert J. Dole, Dr. Arthur A. Fletcher, Robert E. Hampton, Dr. John A. Hannah, Thomas S. Kleppe, Virginia H. Knauer, Robert L. Kunzig, Gen. George A. Lincoln, Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Frank J. Shakespeare, Paul W. McCracken, Arnold R. Weber, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, Clark MacGregor, William E. Timmons, Peter M. Flanigan, Peter G. Peterson, Herbert G. Klein, Raymond K. Price, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, Herbert Stein, and Alexander P. Butterfield, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:01 am and 3:07 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 073-005 of the White House Tapes.
On September 14, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Republican Congressional leaders, including George P. Shultz, Paul W. McCracken, Herbert Stein, Charls E. Walker, Arnold R. Weber, Hugh Scott, Robert P. Griffin, Gordon L. Allott, Peter H. Dominick, Wallace F. Bennett, Milton R. Young, Jacob K. Javits, Gerald R. Ford, Leslie C. Arends, John B. Anderson, John J. Rhodes, Robert C. ("Bob") Wilson, H. Allen Smith, Robert T. Stafford, Richard H. Poff, Barber B. Conable, Jr., Frank T. Bow, John W. Byrnes, William L. Springer, John D. Ehrlichman, Clark MacGregor, William E. Timmons, Kenneth E. BeLieu, Patrick J. Buchanan, and Gerald L. Warren, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 8:09 am and 10:21 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 074-002 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon, Vice President Agnew, and members of his Cabinet met to coordinate a unified administration strategy ahead of critical International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings and ongoing global trade negotiations. The discussion emphasized the necessity of maintaining the recently imposed 10% import surcharge and a firm bargaining stance to address the nation's economic balance of payments and reshape the international monetary system. Nixon and his advisors agreed that while foreign partners would likely criticize U.S. policy, maintaining domestic political support and correcting long-standing trade imbalances remained the administration's primary objective.
President Nixon met with his Cabinet and key staff members to review the administration’s domestic and foreign policy priorities, primarily focusing on the economic transition to 'Phase II' and the announcement of a 1972 Soviet summit. Officials discussed the successful implementation of the wage-price freeze and the strategy for securing organized labor's cooperation on the newly formed Pay Board and Price Commission to curb inflation. Additionally, the President addressed the importance of linking economic policy to job growth through his pending tax proposals, while Secretary of State Rogers and the President emphasized that international diplomatic overtures toward the Soviet Union and China were part of a cohesive, long-term strategy for global peace.
President Nixon met with members of the newly formed Pay Board and Price Commission to discuss the administration's strategy for curbing inflation through the wage-price freeze. Nixon emphasized his preference for a system reliant on voluntary public support rather than the rigid, expansive government controls characteristic of the Office of Price Administration. He thanked the board members for their service and sacrifice, acknowledging that their mission to stabilize the economy without long-term government intervention presented a significant challenge. The President also contextualized these domestic economic efforts within his broader foreign policy agenda, highlighting the importance of managing relations with the Soviet Union and China to maintain global peace.
On October 13, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and the Pay Board, including George P. Shultz, Donald H. Rumsfeld, George H. Boldt, William G. Caples, Donald Cagle, Kermit Gordon, Dr. Neil H. Jacoby, Rocco C. Siciliano, Arnold R. Weber, and Robert P. Tiernan, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 10:06 am to 10:51 am. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 108-003 of the White House Tapes.
President Nixon met with members of the Pay Board and Price Commission to review the accomplishments of the Economic Stabilization Program's Phase II and discuss the transition into Phase III. The group evaluated the program's success in curbing inflation and managing the economy, while addressing challenges such as rising food prices, the global energy crisis, and the necessity of maintaining labor and business cooperation. Nixon expressed his appreciation for the board members' service and dedication, formally signaling the shift in responsibility for the next phase of economic policy.