Nixon, Ehrlichman & Morgan on Revenue sharing and Legislative strategy

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Thank you for your attention.

I would like to tell you that this is quite revolutionary.

She would have found that it's been extremely difficult to get the situation worked out the way that she wanted.

I think I would say the

The work that is done here, however, is an achievement of an honest man.

As a political statistician, it's supposed to go up to, we know there's going to be tough problems in Congress and so forth.

But we don't have pictures.

And we've gotten out the problem to Congress, the problem to support, frankly, really strong support from the agencies.

So we're going to count on all of you to help keep everybody in line and get people behind this.

But the important thing is that

that this reform is one that needs to be made.

It's one that must be made.

And it's one that will be made.

It's coming.

We're going to get part of the true of this Congress.

It's pieces, maybe pretty big bits of pieces in the end.

But whatever happens is that you have begun.

And years later, because your grandchildren

They say, what did you do when you were in Washington?

You say, I did rather than share.

They want to know what you're talking about.

They don't know what it means.

They don't know what it means in terms of the work and all that sort of thing.

Now, I think it's extremely important, therefore, that you convey that spirit to all of those people.

I know that those who prepared the program are here, those who are trying to sell it are here, those who are around the country, and those who are working for the Congress, working for the country, for all of you, your work, we are most grateful.

And I think the main, the main

The trust of my thought is this, that many, many times in government, people who are intelligent, people who work hard, people who, after they have studied a problem, know that it's right,

And then you say, well, why did that become so-and-so on the Hill?

That's an understanding.

Of course, he made the heat right, too.

We think we know more than they do about this, not because we're a writer, but because we studied it long enough.

And that's really what it takes down to.

So not in arrogance, but because we confidently believe, after looking at all the options, we have found the best way.

And that's why we stand very firmly with what we're doing.

And in that spirit, you should approach this problem.

And in that spirit, you must look at the day-to-day, the battle and the crisis on the floors of the House and the Senate and so forth, and you'll wonder, well, what are they doing?

They'll cut off this arm, that one, and this leg, and that one.

Remember, you know, even a paraplegic can walk sometimes.

The main thing is the body of it will be there.

and a body that we know is right and is correct.

There have to be changes, modifications, maybe, in order to get it through.

But we have yet to see, in the three months that it's taking, any really responsible alternative.

It's any good.

I'm sure we'll get down to it, whether it's the general revenue share or the special revenue share.

When I say any good, it offers anything.

I mean, it sounds very nice when I talk about tax credits.

Why doesn't your federal government pick up all the rest of the welfare?

And that'll solve it all.

But that really doesn't get at it.

You know, one is unrealistic, and the other simply adds more money to the program of failure.

So what we've finally come down to is that we've gone through the agony of creation here, and now the baby has been born.

The question is, will it walk?

Will it run?

And the real question is, will it fly?

We think it will.

It may not fly quite as soon as we expect.

I think it might fly even this year, but I have every confidence that it will fly because this is an idea of whose time has come.

It's an idea that you worked on.

I depended on your judgment.

I can't really honestly say.

I studied it all through and know whether every dollar should be done and this and that and so forth and so on.

Your judgment I had to depend upon.

I know that it's good.

And so with that in mind, I think you can tell that grandchild someday with very great pride, well, I was there to create you.

I was there when we started something new, something new, exciting, something that makes government perhaps cost less, work better, but most important, it's going to get people, people who are most affected by it, more of a voice in what they want from government.

It, therefore, demonstrates faithfulness, which, of course, is unusual.

You know, I've said attitude when you say take over.

More and more in this country, it seems to me that the owner, the intellectual, knows best what that important number five in the country wants, but what he needs, not what he wants.

He wants what he wants.

But it's the same people that is the cornerstone of this policy.

And you can be very proud.

I know that I am very proud of what you've done.

The product is an excellent product.

We're going to fight.

Just let me say, having been through many of these battles, don't be bothered with a day-to-day score, and don't be bothered if he has a, or he did too encouraged by victory.

In the end, what happens?

In the end, something's gonna happen, something better because of what you did.

And if you do that, just that much, you know, that's really more than happens to most people in government for life.

Because while you may take the old machinery and run it a little better, oil it up a little better, paint the body a little better, almost anybody can do that.

Here, you've taken that old machine and you put a new engine in it.

We've done more than simply paint.

We have put a whole new body on it.

And it's ready to go.

And that is an achievement.

And I'll be very proud of it.

So thank you.

And also, I have to say that what I had told John earlier,

Others who have been driving you so hard, they probably give you up in five minutes or so today that they say, that can't be done.

So we trust, though, that in this Easter season, perhaps, we can help.

How about that, John?

Any time.

Once they turn to work, speak for yourself, John.

Oh, let's see.

You're going to have some things to give to the judge.

Well, since you've been engaged in paper so much, and I know that I just get the allegiance to what you mentioned, so we've got a little gadget.

This is paperweight.

So each of you get the presidential paperweight to put on that.

I'm old too much.

And for your wives, this is a little gadget.

It's rather nice.

It's a presidential seal with a bow on it.

I was trying to say to you later, I was trying to say in that connection,

I told them that we were motion picture actors.

I said, give it to your wife.

They started to laugh.

All I could say to you is, if you give it to your wife, you tell her it's you.

If you give it to your secretary, tell her it's her, it's me.

One more.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

.

All right.

We have decided to give in to Hart.

It would be of great importance to him on the special order that you're sharing.

I told him that I would be bucking him to do an extension service.

It might be a good idea in terms of the future stocking trade.

He wanted to give him a call to say that it agrees to submit it to you on the basis of his argument.

that he would decide to go along with him.

His representation that he could not excel is, he doesn't know.

My representation that he now would sell his program, rural health and special education, together in Congress, as soon as he can.

That's his representation.

He hasn't told yet, but he's done it.

That's right.

We just made a decision with him.

So, what are you going to do with it?

Just leave it where it is?

We're going to, we're going to, we're going to change this out, out of the states, so that they will not reduce extension service below the present base.

In other words, they have to put a special ownership plan into it.

Maintain, yeah.

So, it's up to the General School to tell us what to do.

I never want one of our photographers ever shooting a picture after I start to talk.

You know, I didn't want those goddamn pictures staying taken, you know what I mean?

It irritates me.

And he was in here, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, and this other fellow that he has does the same thing.

And I told Steve, at least eight or 10 times, I said, now, now, now, there should be no pictures.

You get to all of them and say,

that he can take a picture and I said it, but never after I started to talk, you see.

Now, we've got other photographers in the room, we have no choice, but our own photographer doesn't have to tell me what to do with the damn picture, except when I want it, you see.

So you just give an order of never, not one.

I don't want any pictures of that.

You know, I don't want to record it.

I don't want to record it.

I just, I want the people, the people when they're there to not, I don't want to talk to them.

I just want to shoot it in and flash and irritate them.

You know what I mean?

They wonder what the hell's going on.

I mean, it's an irritation to the people that are there.

It is an irritation to me.

There would be no pictures on talking.

We have other press we can't control, but when we have our own, they are not to shoot one goddamn picture.

And I don't want any of our photographers, even when other press are there, ever shooting a picture on Press.com.

Just squat down.

I don't want those damn pictures.

Hello.

Hi, Glenn.

I, uh, just made a decision that I think will, uh, please you.

And, uh, I, uh, as a result of it, I, uh, uh,

so that you can have a little chance to sell our rural revenue insurance.

The extension service, I made the decision that we will follow your recommendation.

The maintenance record, you know, whatever it is required to, I think you know what the end would be.

Yeah.

Well, I understand.

I understand.

California, because you know how strong he was about this and that.

And I just told him, I said, no, the Department of Agriculture will be tough enough with the extension service.

We just cannot, cannot, you know, that thing is so part of the American that we just can't screw it up.

So I just wanted you to know that I just told her that Schultz has ways to be, so stop.

And I'll do it here.

Ma'am, I just hope you carry it out.

I appreciate it.

I know you had to argue for it, and you were right, and you pushed it out.

And you get the word with other people in the department that you and I chatted about the things that I, frankly, this is a good idea to the department, that I overruled the ODM staff and stood for the Secretary of Agriculture.

Fair enough?

Okay.

Uh-huh.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Oh, that's wonderful, wonderful.

One of those jokes that you don't stutter ever.

That's right, that's right.

You're always fast with the words.

Well, he's a great, great guy.

There's someone I'm just delighted with.

Very, very, very delighted to have you.

Sure, I will.

Sure, I will put you right on.

Well, I just wanted you to know that Cliff told me that he's trying to use his wiles to get you to come help us, and I couldn't endorse it more.

He'll be a wonderful asset to the administration to have you with us.

We need not only your support, but more your know-how, your way around, you know, the farming community, and it would just be a great help to us.

Yeah.

And we'll, we look forward to working with you.

I just gave clips that those here totally thought about the extension service, so we let them make your job a little easier.

Okay.

Tell the farmers not to give up on us.

It's going to come out all right.

Yeah.

All right.

Bye.

Okay.

Bye.

You betcha.

That's wonderful.

You go ahead now.

You work out the words, but I've made the general rule, and I didn't read it.

I don't know how to doubt you.

I just said, all right, Paul, we're going to do what you want on this thing, so let's work it out.

Nixon, Ehrlichman & Morgan on Revenue sharing and Legislative strategy

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Nixon Library Finding Aid

Also recorded on April 6, 1971

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