MEMORANDUM FOR CABINET OFFICERS AND HEADS OF MAJOR AGENCIES FROM LYNDON B. JOHNSON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000400190017-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 16, 2003
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: February 23, 1966
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2003/05/05 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R000400190017-2
February 23, 1966
MEMORANDUM FOR CABINET OFFICERS AND HEADS OF MAJOR
AGENCIES
It is imperative that in your dealings with the Congress,
the press and the public over the next several months
you strongly support the budget. recommendations I have
sent to the Congress -- the reductions as well as the
increases.
When I first discussed the 1967 budget with you on May 13,
1965, I said we had to make a major effort in two
directions:
First, formulating imaginative new ideas and
programs,
Second, carrying out hard-.hitting, tough-minded
reforms in existing programs.
The budget we submitted on January 24 did just that.
-- Expenditures for major Great Society programs
will rise $3.2 billion over 1966.
-- Interest costs, pay rai.ses,'and growing work-
loads will add another $2.1 billion of
expenditures, apart from the costs of Vietnam.
-- All but $600 million of these increases are
offset by proposed budget reductions.
These proposed budget reductions were not made on any
arbitrary basis just to hold down the totals.
They were made only after a considered and searching
examination of needs and relation to other programs --
private and State and local, as well as Federal.
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I know and you know that there are those who disagree with
the budget proposals. There is criticism
-- from some members of Congress;
-- from special interest groups;
-- from some parts of the press.
Some of these critics believe the budget should be reduced
still more. Others are saying certain reductions are, too
harsh.
I think it is a good budget -- the two kinds of criticism
demonstrate that it is a good budget.
We need to be certain that this budget lives up to its
promise.
Therefore, I will expect you and your staff to support the
budget proposals vigorously -- including those proposals
that contemplate reductions or holding-the-line.
Over the next several months, we will be asked to dilute
our proposals, to withdraw our support or to equivocate.
We cannot and shall not do so.
I expect you and your staff to do your utmost to obtain
favorable congressional action on all the budget proposals.
Earlier I asked you to be tough and hard-headed in identify-
ing lower priority activities. Now I am asking you to be
just as tough in securing action on proposals affecting
those activities.
You must also be diligent in opposing enactment of any pro-
posals that will require more spending than estimated in
the budget.
I ask you to cooperate fully in this effort.
Only in this way can we carry out the plan in the 1967
budget, and hope to achieve our objectives in an environment,
of sound, non-inflationary economic growth.
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Director
I read some excerpts from this memo-
randum at the morning meeting today and
think that you will want to review it person-
ally. We will, of course, comply with the
letter and the spirit.
STAT
FORM
AUGN 54 IQI WHICH REPLACES
MAYF BEM US10-101
ED.
25 February 1966
(DATE)
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