US Presidency
1969

For Members of Congress, I will recommend the basic compensation not of the $ 50,000 unanimously recommended by the Kappel Commission and the other distinguished Members, but I shall reduce that $ 50,000 to $ 42,500. I will suggest that Congress appropriate a very small additional allowance for official expenses, so that Members will not be required to use their salary increase for essential official business. I would have submitted the Commission's recommendations, except the advice that I received from the leadership- and you usually are consulted about matters that affect the Congress -was that the Congress would not accept the $ 50,000 recommendation, and if I expected my recommendation to be seriously considered, I should make substantial reductions. That is the only reason I didn't go along with the Kappel report. In 1967 1 recommended to the Congress a fair and impartial random selection system for the draft. I submit it again tonight for your most respectful consideration.