59. Editorial Note

On December 30, 1971, Under Secretary of State U. Alexis Johnson reported in a memorandum to the Chairman of the 40 Committee that Congress had adjourned “without taking action on authorizing legislation for Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty.” “Although both the House and Senate have passed bills,” he continued, “the Joint Conference Committee never met to reconcile them. We now hope that the Joint Committee will meet and take action shortly after Congress reconvenes on January 18, since the Continuing Resolution providing temporary financing for the radios expires February 22, 1972. It should be noted, however, that again on December 15 Senator Fulbright referred to the radios as a ‘product of the cold war’ which ‘should be terminated.’” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, RAD RFE)

On March 2, 1972, Theodore L. Eliot, Executive Secretary of the Department of State, wrote in a memorandum to Kissinger that “the problem of obtaining satisfactory authorizing legislation for grants to Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty is at a crucial point…. Some involvement by the President, in the form of a discussion with or a letter to key Congressional leaders may be required in order to achieve this.” (Ibid.)

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On March 11 President Richard Nixon stated in a White House press release that he was “deeply concerned at the imminent prospect that Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty may be compelled to shut down…. It would be a tragedy if their light should now be extinguished because of a parliamentary impasse between the two Houses.” (Department of State Bulletin, April 10, 1972, page 544)

On March 24 the Senate passed a revised version of S. 18, P.L. 92–264 (86 Stat. 114), which became law a week later. It authorized a grant of $36 million for fiscal year 1972 for RFE and RL, to be provided directly to the radios by the Department of State.