Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Foreign Economic Policy, Volume IV

257. Notes of the Legislative Leadership Meeting⁰

May 10, 1960, 8:30–10:25 a.m.¹

[Here follows a list of participants.]

The President opened the meeting with an expression of his desire to focus the discussion on the various items in his recent special message to the Congress.² He summarized the several groups of bills as to the characteristics and chances of enactment for each group. He then took up each individual item in turn, setting forth his understanding of its situation and requesting the comments of the Leaders. Discussion of significance was as follows.

Mutual Security—The President reported that he had talked with Speaker Rayburn,² who as usual promised support; but his tone was not very optimistic with regard to counteracting Rep. Passman. Sen. Bridges said the Senate opponents of mutual security will focus on the appropriation, letting the authorization go through relatively unscathed. Sen. Saltonstall added that 12 of the 27 members of the Appropriations Committee would vote in favor of every possible reduction in the program.

The President emphasized how the pipeline on the military side of the program had been reduced from $8 billion in 1953 to $2 billion presently. The Passman threat to reduce the program by $1–1/2 billion now, when the pipeline has been so reduced, would be disastrous if accomplished. The President thought that the Appropriations people should pay more attention to the judgment of the authorizing Committees, and he suggested that some Republican supporters of the program should demand to be heard by the Passman Subcommittee. Sen. Dirksen thought Passman, being irresponsible, would exploit to his own advantage any attempt by Republican Senators to influence a House action. Senator Dirksen thought the important thing was to marshall the facts that would refute irresponsible charges of waste and mismanagement. Sen. Bridges thought it important to avoid on the Floor of the Senate any “psychology of cutting,” for that would probably ruin any chances of subsequent restorations.

The President urged an intensive effort to make a factual showing of the good accomplished through the program. Mr. Harlow noted how members of the Armed Forces Committee testify before the Appropriations Committee in order to settle differences and avoid fights on the House Floor, and he thought the same might be done in the mutual security area. Sen. Bridges commented that much of the critical information is supplied by mutual security employees overseas. Then he added that the Senate Appropriations Committee would resent very much being told what to do by another Senate Committee, particularly if it meant having to listen to Sen. Fulbright’s crusade for the scholarship program which happened to bear his name when really it should be known as “American Scholarships.” Mr. Halleck also set forth reasons for independent judgment by Appropriations people, especially since the various legislative committees tend to become promoters of special interests.

Rep. Halleck and Sen. Bridges both endeavored to reassure the President that the program was in better shape than he expected. The President commented on how much the various candidates would dislike being called back to a special session this election year.³

[Here follows discussion of unrelated topics.]

LAM

0. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Legislative Leadership Meetings. Confidential. Drafted by Minnich.
1. The meeting was held at the White House.
2. See Document 256.
2. See Document 256.
3. On May 20, Dillon sent Harlow figures on fiscal year 1959 Mutual Security expenditures and programs, noting the President had requested this information at the legislative leadership meeting. (Eisenhower Library, Harlow Records)