57. Message From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to Secretary of State Kissinger in Rabat1

Tohak 75/WH42833. The Parliamentarian has informed the President that his scheme for getting rid of Jackson’s waiver provision in conference in favor of ours is not possible.2 The President told me to call Jackson, tell him that, and explain that the President thought he had done his best and he now recommended that Jackson accept his (the President’s) waiver procedure with a one-house veto.

Jackson said that he wanted to check the Parliamentarian’s findings but that he thought the President should accept his waiver procedures, with an 18-month initial period, and he proposed that he, Javits and Ribicoff meet with the President on Thursday.3

The President had departed on his campaign trip before I got this response from Jackson.

Warm regards.

  1. Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Trip Briefing Books and Cables of Henry Kissinger, 1974–1977, Box 1, Kissinger Trip File, October 8–13—Middle East, TOHAK (5). Secret; Eyes Only; Flash.
  2. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Ford called Lewis Deschler, the Parliamentary Consultant for the House of Representatives, at 5:31 p.m. on October 11. Scowcroft and Timmons were both in the Oval Office when the President placed the call. (Ibid., White House Office Files) No substantive record of the conversation has been found.
  3. October 17. They met the next day; see Document 59.