This Copy For __________

NEWS CONFERENCE

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AT THE WHITE HOUSE

WITH RON ZIEGLER

AT 11:00 A.M. EDT

OCTOBER 8, 1973

MONDAY

MR. ZIEGLER: As was pointed out in the remarks by the President and Dr. Kissinger, Dr. Kissinger has been in close touch, diplomatic touch, with both sides, the Egyptian side and the Israeli side, over the last few days. He has been in just about equal touch with both of the parties, the parties of the conflict, since the hostilities began on Saturday.

Also, as Dr. Kissinger pointed out, and I would repeat, we have been in touch with the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, and also in close touch with the Soviets. The President has exchanged personal messages with Chairman Brezhnev regarding the situation in the Middle East; the exchange took place yesterday evening.

The President, after he returned from Key Biscayne, spent some time last night on the Middle East situation in conference with Dr. Kissinger by telephone and also reviewing the exchange of the messages between the President and Chairman Brezhnev regarding this matter.

Q Was that on the telephone, that he talked to Brezhnev?

MR. ZIEGLER: No, it was a written message.

Secretary of State Kissinger has also been in touch, or has met with the Chinese Ambassador regarding the Middle East situation, the Indian Ambassador, and others regarding this matter.

Q With Huang Chen?

MR. ZIEGLER: The head of the liaison office, Huang Chen, yes.

Q He has seen him?

MR. ZIEGLER: Yes, he met with him.

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Q When?

MR. ZIEGLER: Saturday evening.

The objectives of the United States in terms of the Security Council meeting were spelled out yesterday in the briefing by Bob McCloskey. We are taking every step to mobilize all nations who have an interest to bring the fighting to an end. Our objective, of course, is to see the hostilities brought to an end, and also it is our objective to find a means to restore an atmosphere conducive to a settlement of the differences in the Middle East. So these are the objectives that we are working toward in our diplomatic efforts and initiatives relating to the Middle East.

The President intends to spend the day in his office here at the White House. The remainder of the week: The President on Tuesday will meet with the President of the Ivory Coast, Houphouët-Boigny; and then on Wednesday, the 10th, the President will meet with President Mobutu of Zaire.

Q Will that be a State visit?

MR. ZIEGLER: No, it is not a State visit. He is here and will meet with the President.

Q Neither one is a State visit?

MR. ZIEGLER: The Ivory Coast visit is a State visit. The Mobutu visit is not a State visit.

We had scheduled for this Saturday, October 13th, a trip to Carthage, Tennessee, where the President planned to dedicate the Cordell Hull Dam in Carthage, Tennessee. The President will now not make that trip to Tennessee. He wants to remain in Washington and decided today to cancel that particular appearance because of the developments in the Middle East. So I wanted to give you that information to fill in your stories for today.

Q You spoke of an exchange of messages with Chairman Brezhnev. Later you said the President has sent the Chairman a written message. But first you said an exchange of messages. Has he had a message of some sort from Brezhnev?

MR. ZIEGLER: Yes. There has been an exchange of messages, two ways.

Q Which was first, do you know?

Q Was the "hot line" used, Ron?

MR. ZIEGLER: No, the "hot line" was not used. The exchange of messages occurred through the Embassies, the diplomatic channels.

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Q Well, now, which one was first, can you tell us that? In other words, did he first get a message or letter from Brezhnev and then reply in this message that you referred to?

MR. ZIEGLER: Well, we have had a number of discussions with the Soviets since Saturday, which have taken place between Dr. Kissinger and Ambassador Dobrynin. The exchange of messages which took place grew out of those discussions. So who initiated it, I believe the message from the President was the first to be transmitted.

Q Ron, was there sufficient time -- I am just trying to get a clearer picture of this -- was there sufficient time after the President sent his message through diplomatic channels for the message from Brezhnev to be a direct response to his message, or were those crossings?

MR. ZIEGLER No, it was an exchange, yes, sir.

Q Ron, did you say that the exchange occurred last night after the President returned from Key Biscayne?

MR. ZIEGLER: The President received the message from Chairman Brezhnev yesterday evening after he returned from Key Biscayne.

Q Can you tell us what was in the messages?

MR. ZIEGLER: No, I am not in a position to do that.

Q One message each, Ron?

MR. ZIEGLER: It was an exchange of messages, a message from the President and a message from Chairman Brezhnev.

Q Ron, there was no notification of this briefing going on and some of us have come in late. Can we start on a kind of orderly basis so we all have an even advantage and start with your essential statement.

MR. ZIEGLER: Well, actually, I didn't provide anything before you came in and interrupted. I simply was pointing out the fact that the diplomatic contacts continued and stated the objective that we have in terms of dealing with the situation in the Middle East, really twofold, to see the hostilities brought to an end and secondly, to find a means to restore an atmosphere conducive to a settlement of the differences in the Middle East.

And then I made reference to the continued diplomatic contacts that we are having with the various parties involved, making the point that Dr. Kissinger, at the President's instructions; has been in touch with both sides to the conflict on an equal basis, the Egyptians and, of course, the Israelis.

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Q Ron, can you tell us if the President is satisfied that the Soviet Union is using its influence to urge restraint on its Arab allies in the Middle East?

MR. ZIEGLER: I don't think now is the time to characterize specifically the attitude of any particular country who has an interest in the situation. I think they have spoken to the subject.

Our interest, the United States interest, is to vocalize, or to bring together, as I said earlier, all nations who have an interest in bringing the fighting to an end for the purpose of ceasing the hostilities that are taking place. It is a serious situation obviously, in the Middle East, and we are doing everything we can, from the diplomatic side, to meet the objectives that I stated at the outset.

Q Can you tell us without going into the content of the two messages, whether the overall import of the Brezhnev message gave the President any ground for optimism in this particular situation?

MR. ZIEGLER: Well, let me just say before we get into any further questions on the personal exchanges between the President and Chairman Brezhnev, I cannot get into the details of that and I won't.

In terms of characterizing the situation, I would have to state that obviously it is a serious situation. I think the fact that we are in touch with both sides at this time, at this point during this conflict, perhaps provides us a better opportunity to achieve the diplomatic objectives or the objectives that we seek to stop the hostilities.

This is somewhat different, as you may recall, than the situation was in 1967.

Q What do you mean by both sides, Ron?

MR. ZIEGLER: Well, Dr. Kissinger is in frequent contact with the Egyptian side, the Arab side, and also the Israeli side.

Q At the United Nations?

MR. ZIEGLER: Through the Foreign Ministers, yes, sir.

Q Ron, you keep saying the Egyptian side and the Israeli side. Among the Arab nations, is he only talking to the Egyptian Ambassador?

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MR. ZIEGLER: As we have stated, Dr. Kissinger has been in close touch with the Egyptian Foreign Minister. I believe that we have had some contact with the Syrians, but I am not sure as to the degree of contact that has been able to be achieved there.

Q When you said about an equal amount of contacts, I think you said, have been made with both sides, you were speaking of the Egyptians versus the Israelis, is that it?

MR. ZIEGLER: Yes.

Q What about the other countries that have come in, Tunis and Iraq?

MR. ZIEGLER: I don't know that we have had any direct contact with the Tunisians or Iraq, but we, through our diplomatic efforts, are attempting to and have had diplomatic contacts with not only the permanent members of the Security Council, but also the rotating members, such as India, for example, and the parties to the conflict.

Q You made a significant statement there, you said it is different from 1967. Does that mean that he feels that the first actual combat was not Israel, or what does it mean, and I have another part of my question.

MR. ZIEGLER: My reference to the contacts with both sides was on a diplomatic basis, the diplomatic contacts.

Q But you said it was different from 1967. Now how does the President believe it is different?

MR. ZIEGLER: The diplomatic contacts are different.

Q Oh, I see.

The other thing is, I am fairly new, I started here in August, and I have never seen you before, and I just wonder, when was the last time you were with us? I am glad my friend Peter asked --

MR. ZIEGLER: I have never seen you. Maybe I have seen you in a pulpit, but I don't recall.

Q Ron, when were you last here?

MR. ZIEGLER: I don't recall.

Q Ron, when was the first contact by the President with Mr. Brezhnev? That is one of two questions I would like to ask.

MR. ZIEGLER: The specific date of the last contact?

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Q No, the first contact, that is by the President?

MR. ZIEGLER: I will have to check, but as I recall
it was yesterday that the exchange took place.

Q I have a second question, Ron. Firstly, why hasn't the President issued a call for either a truce or a cease-fire in place, and secondly, does the U.S. favor the removal of all Arab invasion pockets from this side of the 1967 cease-fire line?

MR. ZIEGLER: We have been at work since Saturday, as was pointed out by Dr. Kissinger, to take diplomatic steps which would meet the objectives that I referred to at the outset of the discussion here, and as Dr. Kissinger pointed out in the tape which you have just heard. We have moved in the United Nations in the Security Council, and we will see what develops there, to meet the objective which I stated, to create the atmosphere conducive to a settlement of the differences in that area, but at this point, I don't want to get into a discussion of the Security Council situation which is not really scheduled to meet until some time today.

I believe the Australians, who are chairman
of the Security Council, at this point, have requested the
meeting for 3:30 this afternoon. I don't know or haven't
heard precisely if that meeting will take place at this time.

Q Ron, there are two questions I would like to ask. Number one, is Henry Kissinger going up for the Security Council meeting?

MR. ZIEGLER: No, Dr. Kissinger intends to be
working here at the State Department and the White House.

Q The second question is, I know you can't get
into details of this message exchange between the President
and Mr. Brezhnev, but can you tell us generally whether it was
to determine what the Soviet posture would be regarding the
allied nations or whether it was sent in the context of this
May 29th agreement to avoid situations which could lead to
a direct confrontation between the two super powers, or
could you characterize it?

MR. ZIEGLER: I don't want to get into the specifics
of the message except in general terms to say that our desire
and the efforts that we are undertaking on a diplomatic basis is
to bring together all parties who have an interest in the area
to bring an end to the hostilities and that would be the
nature of the exchange.

Q Is it fair to say that we are trying to enlist the
help of the Soviet Union in bringing about the end of the
hostilities, and two, do we have a plan, have we circulated
anything in terms of a possible resolution to bring about
a cease-fire?

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MR. ZIEGLER: Now we are going back to the point I made before. I do not want to get into a discussion of the Security Council session this afternoon. I would refer you to the fact that Bob McCloskey of the State Department had a briefing yesterday afternoon relating to the Security Council and I don't want to move beyond that at this time. I simply wanted to give you a general rundown as to where we stand now.

Q Is it fair to say we are trying to enlist the help of the Soviet Union?

MR. ZIEGLER: I would put it this way, as I said at the outset, and I will repeat it again. Our diplomatic efforts are aimed toward the objective of mobilizing all the nations that have an interest in this area and who can have an impact on the situation in the area to bring the fighting to an end. That is the objective we are seeking.

Q Ron, you said the President has cancelled his Saturday visit to Tennessee because of developments in the Middle East. Does that mean that the President is rather pessimistic about developments in the U.N. Security Council, their resolving this situation?

MR. ZIEGLER: Well, at this stage it really would be -- I don't want to predict at this stage the developments in the Security Council, nor do I want to give an indication as to how things will develop in the hostilities in the Middle East. He simply felt this morning, as we were talking about this, that he would prefer to cancel the Saturday appearance because he wanted to remain here to follow these developments.

Q Could I follow that up, Ron. During the better part of the six days of fighting in June, the U.N. Security Council was pretty ineffective. What steps will you now take to see to it that the U.N. action is more effective in the early stages of the fighting than it was in '67?

MR. ZIEGLER: We are going to do everything that we can do, and we have been doing this, on the basis of diplomatic contacts, to bring an early end to the hostilities.

Q Ron, has there been any contact with King Hussein?

MR. ZIEGLER: I believe Henry has -- because his diplomatic contacts have been so broad, I would assume that the State Department has had some contact with Jordan, yes.

Q Is Dr. Kissinger going to keep his engagement to speak at the foreign policy conference tonight?

MR. ZIEGLER: Yes, he is.

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Q Ron, understanding that you don't want to discuss or try to predict the outcome of the Security Council meeting this afternoon, in other words, you don't want to speak to the point of what other nations and other members may do or say, what I would like to find out is whether you can speak for the American Government to the extent of telling us whether or not there will be any kind of specific plan or proposal or motion or resolution introduced by the United States in the Security Council?

MR. ZIEGLER: That is the point I was trying to get at before, and Bob McCloskey was asked that same question yesterday in the State Department briefing, and I really at this point do not want to get into the Security Council session.

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Q Ron, has the President been in contact with any other foreign leaders besides Chairman Brezhnev?

MR. ZIEGLER: He has had the personal exchange which I referred to, with Chairman Brezhnev. He has not been in direct contact personally with any other leaders. Of course Dr. Kissinger has been, at the President's request, in touch with a great number of leaders.

Q Ron, have they discussed the significance of the breaking out of this fighting on Yom Kippur, and if they have discussed it, are they contending that it is possible that the Israelis started it? I mean, isn't it apparent since it broke out on Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days in Judaism, that it was not the Israelis that started it, or have they discussed this?

MR. ZIEGLER: There has been discussion throughout the diplomatic community regarding that particular matter. Bob McCloskey addressed the United States view on this matter yesterday. I don't want to add to that from this particular room.

Q Ron, in the communication with Jordan has the U.S. urged King Hussein to stay out of the hostilities?

MR. ZIEGLER: I want to caution you on my response. I have not talked directly to Dr. Kissinger or the President regarding any contact with Jordan, but since the diplomatic contacts have been as broad as they have, I would assume that they have been in touch. I am not familiar with the exchange if it took place.

Q Has the contact with Syria been direct or via the channels?

MR. ZIEGLER: Again, I mentioned to you earlier in the briefing that I believe there have been efforts to have contacts with the Syrians, but I do not have first-hand information that those have taken place at this point.

Q Ron, has there been a discussion as to what extent the United States would go to ensure that the Israeli state exists?

MR. ZIEGLER: I am sorry, would you repeat that?

Q Have there been discussions as to what extent the United States will go to ensure that the Israeli state will continue to exist?

MR. ZIEGLER: I think I have just described those efforts to you.

Q I am speaking, if the fighting continues and the Egyptians and Syrians threaten the heart of Israel.

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MR. ZIEGLER: Well, that is projecting ahead in a way that would be contrary to the objectives that we are seeking to achieve, and that is bringing an end to the hostilities and to create the atmosphere I have referred to. I don't want to speak to the point which you are making in your question.

Q You certainly must have some contingency plans in case that happens.

MR. ZIEGLER: Our plan is as I have stated it to you.

Q What degree of apprehension is there, or what indication, if any, have we had that the Arabs might threaten to curtail oil shipments if the United States takes a position in this initiative that is counter to Arab objectives?

MR. ZIEGLER: Well, we have had none, but I want to again emphasize that we have been in close touch with the Arab side, the Egyptians and the Israelis to meet the objectives I have talked about, and we hope as a result of these contacts and as a result of the other diplomatic contacts that we have had, that we can see the fighting brought to an end and an atmosphere restored that will lead to a settlement of the differences.

So I would answer your question by saying that we, first of all, have had none and remind you that we are in touch with all parties.

Q Ron, there has been printed speculations that the United States, while it seeks an end to the hostilities doesn't want any sort of cease-fire in the Middle East until the Israelis have managed to recapture the territory they had before. Is this the case?

MR. ZIEGLER: There is all sorts of speculation, of course, that occurs, but I wouldn't associate myself with that sort of speculation.

Q Can one assume from the announcement about Tennessee that the President does not anticipate an end to this by Saturday?

MR. ZIEGLER: I attempted to answer that earlier. You should not assume anything other than the fact that the President said in his office this morning: I think we had better not plan on going to Tennessee Saturday, so let's move to cancel it and we will stay here in Washington and follow the developments on the Middle East and work here.

THE PRESS: Thank you, Mr. Secretary.

END

(AT 11:25 A.M. EDT)

Administration of Richard Nixon

PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS

Week Ending Saturday, October 13, 1973

The Situation in the Middle East

Remarks of the President and Secretary of State
Henry A. Kissinger on U.S. Diplomatic Actions
Following the Outbreak of Fighting in the
Middle East. October 8, 1973

THE PRESIDENT. We have nothing to add to the official pronouncements that have been made, or announcements, I should say, with regard to the Mideast situation.

Last night I had a rather long talk with Dr. Kissinger shortly before midnight, getting the late reports. This morning I was here around 7:30 or so, and studied all of the reports, both with regard to the military situation and the reaction to our diplomatic initiative.

Dr. Kissinger and I have been meeting for a good part of the morning here on particularly that diplomatic initiative, and having in mind the importance of getting strong support for the position that the United States will take.

It is very easy to think of this particular kind of a crisis simply in terms of a grandstand play, where the United States will go in and unilaterally make a move which then fails.

I can assure you that Dr. Kissinger and his colleagues have been very busy, and that we are developing support for a position which we hope and believe will be effective in stopping the fighting.

Doctor, would you like to add a word to that?

SECRETARY KISSINGER. No, I think you have summed up the situation, Mr. President. We have been in close contact, at the President's instruction, with all the permanent members of the Security Council, with the parties to the conflict and we have been doing this since Saturday afternoon in order to bring an end to the fighting and we will now see what develops at the Security Council session

Death of James S. Copley

Statement by the President. October 6, 1973

The untimely death of James S. Copley takes from us a noble American whose distinguished career in journalism and public affairs placed him in the direct line of descent from this country's great printer-patriots of the past—from Zenger to Pulitzer. His contribution to international peace and understanding was felt far beyond our Nation's borders through his selfless work with newspapers of other countries.

The same courage and heart which characterize Jim Copley's family of newspapers, serving communities from the Illinois prairie to the California coast, shone through in his long, brave fight against illness over the final years of his life. And it is a measure of the man's quiet humanitarianism that the room where he finally lost that fight was part of a hospital and clinic that his generosity had built.

Jim Copley has been a close friend and adviser to me for more than a quarter century. Thus it is with a special sadness that Mrs. Nixon and I join his family, friends, and countless admirers in mourning his death. But we are also grateful today that the message of liberty he most wanted to spread in this country and throughout the Americas will continue to be heard through his newspapers' "ring of truth."

NOTE: The statement was made available by the White House Press Office at Key Biscayne, Fla. It was not issued in the form of a White House press release.

Mr. Copley, 57, died at Scripps Memorial Hospital in San Diego, Calif. He was publisher of The San Diego Union and Evening Tribune and was chairman of the board, Copley Press, Inc., a newspaper chain comprising 15 daily and 32 weekly publications.

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this afternoon. Our intention is to move forward with the
broadest possible support that can be effected.

NOTE: The President spoke at approximately 10:15 a.m. in his Oval Office at the White House.

At his news conference later the same morning, Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler said:

"The President has exchanged personal messages with [Soviet Chairman Brezhnev regarding the situation in the Middle East; the exchange took place yesterday evening.

"The President, after he returned from Key Biscayne, spent some time last night on the Middle East situation in conference with Dr. Kissinger by telephone and also reviewing the exchange of the messages between the President and Chairman Brezhnev regarding the matter."

VISIT OF PRESIDENT FELIX HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY OF THE REPUBLIC OF IVORY COAST

*Exchange of Remarks Between President Nixon and President Houphouët-Boigny at the Welcoming Ceremony on the South Lawn. October 9, 1973*

PRESIDENT NIXON. Mr. President, and all of our friends from the Ivory Coast, and all of our friends here in Washington, D.C., from the United States:

Mr. President, I am honored to be the fourth American President to welcome you to Washington, D.C., and as you come on this occasion, I am also proud of the fact that both Mrs. Nixon and I have had the opportunity to visit and to know your country, and to know what an exciting country it is from the standpoint of its prospects for the future.

For those in America who do not know Ivory Coast, we can report that you have the highest per capita income in black Africa, you have the highest rate of sustainable growth in that part of the world, and you have established a record for leadership that is known throughout the world. We know that this could not have happened without that leadership. Because as we look to the secret of progress for Ivory Coast, we find it first in its wealth, the wealth in its resources. We find it second in its wealth in its people, a hard working devoted people who are determined to move forward in the areas of progress. And we find it third in leadership, leadership which you have provided since Ivory Coast became a nation, and leadership which has meant stability, which has meant private and free enterprise coming into your country, not to exploit, but to develop for the good of all of the people and leadership which, above all, has meant peace.

And, Mr. President, on this occasion when we meet, the last point is most important. We realize that fighting has again broken out in the northern part of your continent and in the Mideast, and I think all of our fellow Americans will be interested to note that our distinguished and honored guest today, just this year, received the Peace Award, the first Peace Award ever given by the organization which was set up for world peace through law. And that is why, Mr. President, in addition to talking to our bilateral problems, which incidentally are not very controversial, because our relations are excellent and have been for many years, we will today be talking about the problems of how we can create that same period of peace and stability for all of Africa that you have in your country, and how also, working together with other nations who want peace for the whole world, we can contribute to an end to the

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# Citizens' Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality

Announcement of Appointment of Six Members.

October 9, 1973

The President today announced the appointment of six persons as members of the Citizens' Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality for the terms indicated.

For the remainder of the term expiring May 3, 1974:

DR. JOSEPH L. HALLER, of Hollidaysburg, Pa., oral surgeon, Hollidaysburg. Dr. Haller succeeds E. Corinne Galvin, who has resigned because of ill health.

For the term expiring May 3, 1976:

DR. JOSEPH FRANCIS BOYLE, of South Pasadena, Calif., physician, Los Angeles, Calif., and member of the California State Pollution Control Board. Dr. Boyle succeeds Jean Fassler, whose term has expired.

ARTHUR GODFREY, of Paeonian Springs, Va., entertainer, and international trustee of the World Wildlife Fund. Mr. Godfrey is being reappointed.

LAURANCE S. ROCKEFELLER, of New York, N.Y., chairman, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and former Chairman of the Citizens' Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality (1969-73). Mr. Rockefeller is being reappointed.

WILHELMINE KIRBY WALLER, of Bedford Hills, N.Y., member of the board of governors of Nature Conservancy and former president of the Garden Clubs of America. Mrs. Waller succeeds Charles A. Lindbergh, whose term has expired.

PETE WILSON, of San Diego, Calif., mayor of San Diego. Mayor Wilson is being reappointed.

The Citizens' Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality was established by Executive order on May 29, 1969. It is composed of 14 members appointed by the President for terms of 3 years and a Chairman appointed by the President. Henry L. Diamond, commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, is the Chairman. The Committee is advisory to the President and the Council on Environmental Quality.

## Energy Conservation

Statement by the President Following a Meeting With

Energy and Environmental Advisers.

October 9, 1973

A meeting I held this afternoon with many of my top energy and environmental advisers has underscored once again the need for a full-scale effort to conserve energy.

It is now widely recognized that we may face fuel shortages for the next few years. The shortage of heating oil this winter could be as high as 400,000 barrels per day. If every household will lower its thermostat by just 4 degrees this winter, the total savings in heating oil alone will exceed that 400,000 barrel-per-day figure. This is what conservation by all our citizens can accomplish.

A more prudent use of energy must be made at all levels—by government, by industry, and by private citizens. This June, I directed that action be taken throughout the Federal Government to reduce anticipated energy consumption by a total of 7 percent, and I urged industry, State, and local government, and the general public to participate in efforts to reduce expected energy demands across the Nation by 5 percent over a 12-month period.

Our meeting today was to assess the progress made so far and to discuss plans for the winter phase of our National Energy Conservation Campaign. The most encouraging report came from Secretary Morton, who said that the Federal agencies have made an excellent start toward achieving their goal of a 7 percent reduction in energy consumption. Just as a single example, the General Services Administration in the District of Columbia has taken steps which should result in a savings of 164 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, reportedly enough electricity to supply the entire city of Washington for several days. Among the actions being taken by the Federal agencies are:

- a lowering of winter temperature settings to 70-72 degrees, compared to last year's level of 74-76 degrees;

- elimination of unnecessary lighting; and

- purchase and rental of vehicles which use gasoline more efficiently.

Also in today's meeting, Secretary Dent outlined to me his proposed program to encourage business and industry to save energy. As industrial use accounts for 40 percent of all energy consumption in the United States, our business leaders have a vital role to play in this effort.

Mrs. Knauer reported this morning on her efforts to provide consumers with the information they will need to use energy wisely.

Finally, I received a report on energy conservation from my Citizens' Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality. This Committee is chaired by Mr. Henry Diamond of New York and includes 15 of the Nation's leading citizens. Its report, which will receive wide distribution, makes extensive recommendations for citizen actions to cut back their energy demands.

Our campaign to meet America's energy needs is not confined, of course, to conservation. We are also pushing to increase supplies through both executive and legislative means. We have already taken a number of executive actions, such as accelerating the leasing of offshore oil rights, and if other steps should become appropriate, I will not hesitate to take them. On the legislative front, there are still seven major proposals awaiting passage on Capitol Hill, and I am anxious that at least four of these bills be enacted before the end of the year.

In addition, we are asking that all citizens be prepared to bear their share of possible shortages. To that end, the Administration has just announced its decision to estab-

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PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS: RICHARD NIXON, 1973

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lish a program of mandatory allocation for home heating oil and propane. It should be understood that this action will not increase available supplies, but will merely distribute supplies so that, insofar as possible, no areas will face critical shortages and any possible inconveniences will be shared equally by all Americans.

Our energy program is thus all-embracing. We must act to increase supplies, and we must insure a fair distribution of those supplies. But equally important, we must not consume more than we need. We must not waste energy.

Whenever Americans have been called upon to join together and work together in the national interest, they have responded. We need the united action of all Americans now to conserve the fuel we must have to meet our vital energy needs.

## Visit of President Felix Houphouët-Boigny of the Republic of Ivory Coast

*Exchange of Toasts Between President Nixon and President Houphouët-Boigny at a Dinner Honoring the Ivory Coast President. October 9, 1973*

PRESIDENT NIXON. Mr. President, it is a very great pleasure to welcome you and your very lovely First Lady at the White House on this occasion, and because I know that this company and all of those who will be listening in the press room below are more interested in what you will be saying than what I will be saying, my remarks will be brief.

But first let me say that perhaps my greatest expert on foreign affairs is not really Dr. Kissinger, but my wife. [Laughter] And after she was able to take a trip to Africa, which I have been wanting to take—and I, incidentally, Dr. Kissinger, intend to take before my term of office is finished, the first American President ever to visit Africa—Mrs. Nixon came back with very warm feelings for all the countries she had visited, but she had a very special feeling about Ivory Coast, and its President, and its First Lady.

She said that the President was a man who not only was handling the affairs of his country well, but who had a great grasp of the problems of the world. And she said that his First Lady was among all the first ladies she had met in the world, one of the most gracious, the most beautiful and—to a woman this is important, and to a man also—the best dressed.

Now, to be very serious for a moment, before introducing the President to this assemblage, people wonder what happens when the President of Ivory Coast and the President of the United States sit down for an hour and a

half and talk. Now we both agree that we talked about cocoa and coffee and reverse preferences, and international trade problems, and other bilateral matters, like whether Kaiser should or should not invest in Ivory Coast—and they should—but what, it seems to me, is particularly important about this visit is that while we covered all the bilateral problems very thoroughly and found that we had very little to disagree about, that the President was able to convey to me an understanding of not only the problems of his own country and the problems of the new African states, but an understanding of his view of the world.

In other words, we have in our company tonight—and I wish all of you could know him as I have known him, as my wife has known him—a world statesman of the first rank, a man who has demonstrated by his leadership capabilities that he knows what it takes to take a new country and to give it the stability, the drive, and the spirit that will make it a major force in that area of the world, but also a man who does not think of his own country as just an island, who is not parochial, as are too many of the leaders in the world today, but one who sees the whole world, as one who realizes that what happens 5,000 miles away in India and Pakistan affects him, as one who sees that what happens in the Mideast affects him and his people, as one who sees that what happens in any part of the world affects his country, although it is very easy to become obsessed with your own problems.

And for that reason tonight I know that all of you—not only because we admire our distinguished guest for his leadership of his own country, with the best record of national growth and per capita income of any of the nations of black Africa, but also because he has demonstrated that he has that rare ability to see beyond the problems of the moment, and look to the problems of the future, to see beyond the geographical problems that involve only his own island as it exists in the West Coast of Africa, and see beyond and see the whole world, because he is truly one whose views on the world scene can affect the world—it is for this reason that this house is honored for the third time to have him as our guest.

And so in presenting him to you, I present a man who represents his own country with great distinction, a man who is also one who understands and is a great advocate of the problems of the new Africa and where it must go, but also one who, when he comes to America, is able to speak with great understanding and great wisdom about those problems that, wherever they exist in this world, will affect the future of his country and the future of ours. To a world statesman of the first rank, the President of the Ivory Coast, President Houphouët-Boigny.

PRESIDENT HOUPHOUËT-BOIGNY. Mr. President, Mrs. Nixon, *Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen:*

In few words, Mr. President, but in particularly sensitive and well chosen words, you have said much about

Volume 9—Number 41

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 10, 1973

OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY

THE WHITE HOUSE

REMARKS OF
SPEAKER CARL ALBERT,
SENATOR MIKE MANSFIELD,
AND
SENATOR HUGH SCOTT
FOLLOWING A BIPARTISAN LEADERSHIP MEETING
WITH THE PRESIDENT

SPEAKER ALBERT: The President and the Secretary of State have just given us a briefing on the military situation in the Middle East and the diplomatic activities that have been engaged in and they have expressed the hope which we, of course, share, that the fighting will soon come to an end and that the long time problems of the Middle East, which threaten peace in that area from time to time, may be solved.

Q Mr. Speaker, was there any discussion of supplying
additional military aid to Israel?

SPEAKER ALBERT: No, I don't think so. Mike, do
you have any feeling about that?

SENATOR MANSFIELD: No, I assume though that the
matter is always under advisement as far as the situation in
the Middle East is concerned.

SPEAKER ALBERT: Hugh?

SENATOR SCOTT: Well, it is my feeling that that has
been correctly stated, that there is no change in our desire to
maintain contact with all the states in the area, that the
Mansfield-Scott resolution, which we initiated without prior
contact with the White House, as we pointed out today, is in
keeping with the general policy of the Administration and no
objection was found to it.

We have, of course, never lost our interest in those
countries in the Middle East, and that is historically particularly
true of Israel, but the purpose this morning was simply to
bring us up to date on the military and diplomatic developments
up to the very last minute, and we understand the Secretary of
State is keeping in immediate and close contact with all the
parties of interests and all of the major powers as well,
including also the members of the Security Council.

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(OVER)

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Q Are there signs of any cooperation from the
Russians in bringing it to an end?

SENATOR MANSFIELD: I would say that contact is
being established, as Senator Scott has said, with all parties
on both sides and all sides, and may I say furthermore,
that as far as the congressional element at the meeting this
morning was concerned, that we are unanimously behind the
position being undertaken by President Nixon and Secretary
Kissinger to try and bring about a cease-fire and a settlement
in the Middle East.

Q Any indication that the cease-fire will come
shortly, Senator?

SENATOR MANSFIELD: No.

Q How do you feel about the effort to bring about
the cease-fire?

SENATOR SCOTT: Well, the United States is the
principal power taking the initiative in looking toward
peaceful solutions, but all countries are being advised and
the Soviet government, so far as we are aware, is assuming
a very responsible position.

Q Senator Mansfield, did the subject come up of
whether or not the overnight reports that the Soviet Union
is encouraging other Arab states to support Syria and Egypt
and also the promise to resupply; did that come up today at the
meeting?

SENATOR MANSFIELD: I think that that was mentioned
in passing, not that particular incident, but only to the
effect that the Administration is in daily contact with the
Soviet Union, with the People's Republic of China, with
interested nations on both sides, and with the countries
of Western Europe.

Q Did the military assessment indicate this will be
a prolonged conflict?

SENATOR MANSFIELD: It indicated that it might not
be a six-day war.

END

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 10, 1973

THE WHITE HOUSE

SPEAKER ALBERT: Hugh?

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- 2 -

SENATOR MANSFIELD: No.

END