 Yes, yes, sir one moment, please for mr. Dick toadie of the Washington broadcast news all right Good morning dick haven't talked to you since our lunch at the White House That's right sir, and that was a great deal of good experience, and this will be to and I thank you very much for talking to us I'm pleased to do it this president You said you will launch a hard campaign to get Congress to pass your tax reform package when you and Congress return to Washington What will you do first? Well, we're working on the schedule of Appearances and so forth. I will be taking the this issue to the people I think they're the ones who have to show us exactly what they think and according to all the evidence We have so far the people are pretty much united that tax reform is exactly what we need I think they have been misinformed to a certain extent by some pressure groups that want one item or the other Taken out of the tax reform program, but we feel we have a Good reform there, and it'll be the first one literally that we've ever had in the income tax How do you plan to persuade Congress to accept both budget cuts and tax reforms particularly now that you're getting some negative reaction Not only from Democrats, but also from Republicans in both House and Senate Well, let me point out one thing Actually on tax reform there is no argument about whether we should have it or not in the Congress The approach is completely bipartisan The only areas of disagreement have to do with some features of the program whether it should do one thing or the other Now the same thing is true of the budget It is true that they have gotten together and before they went home They passed a a budget resolution in in the Congress. It's a non-binding resolution It is a compromise. I still think that the budget we originally submitted was the best for dealing with the deficit problem and reducing government spending But we now have this one and again if there is disagreement It would be over particular items where to cut for example and and how much I'm going to be watching it very carefully because each one of the features has to be augmented by legislation and appropriation bills and I'm prepared to veto at any time if they start to add in things that would increase the The deficit and I know that there are a number of spending bills that are still before the Congress President Harry Truman once kept Congress in session when the members wanted to go home Do you have any plans for keeping him in session perhaps through Christmas and New Year's in order to force tax reform with spending cuts? no and I think I'd have to tell you that if I did have any ideas of that kind I don't think I would mention them now, but no we haven't considered that We've just thought that we're going to do everything we can to aid the Congress in dealing with these and Getting the plate cleared this year Mr. President here in Washington the uproar over apartheid in South Africa is reaching something of a crescendo and There's talk of economic sanctions against South Africa if Congress passes such sanctions What will be your reaction veto or no veto? Well dick, I've always refused to say whether I was specifically veto something Before it gets to my desk because you never know just exactly what it's going to look like when it gets there I will tell you that I am basically opposed to the idea of Punitive sanctions. I think in this particular case in South Africa. They would hurt the very people. We want to help They would have an effect on the economy that would result in more unemployment setbacks in the games that have been made by Labor and by the blacks in South Africa and so I Can tell you I'm I'm standing back and looking with a kind of jaundice diet at what may come to me But then the final decision as to whether to veto or not will depend on exactly what does get my desk What do you plan to do about foreign footwear imported into this country leave it alone or cut it back? Well, I've it. That's a decision that I have to give an answer to in the next several days I'll answer that in a broad brush stroke. Also, I Am opposed to protectionism protectionism is a two-way street and You may help some particular industry with protectionism or some group of employees And you find that you've done it at the expense of other industries other employees and I Recall very well in the great depression back in the early 30s When this country did turn to protectionism With the mistaken belief that it might help somehow in the depression it was then the smooth holy tariff bill and all it did was Expand the depression more worldwide than it was and make it worse and prolong it so I have to tell you basically I Don't think that protectionism is the way to go We're trying to talk to our trading allies about a meeting to get trade more open more fair between all countries open markets in all countries Mr. President when you meet with Soviet leader Gubeshoff are there proposals that you'll make to him to ease US Soviet tension? Well, I'm looking forward to the talks with him and I hope That it won't be just a session of trying to make some agreements on Particular specific issues, but that we can get right down to Discussing problems between us and an agenda for the future so that we can eliminate the hostilities and the suspicions if that's possible There's no question, but the Soviet Union has made it plain that They are embarked on an expansionist program They believe in the one-world communist state the world revolution, but at the same time you have to wonder if This is not based on their fear and Suspicion that the rest of us in the world mean them harm now I Think that we can present evidence to show that we have no such intention and If we could discuss things from the standpoint that we're the only two nations in the world I believe that could start World War three We're also the only two nations in the world that could bring about world peace and I would think that That would be our task in history to deal with that problem and I'm going to do my best to Present the evidence that would show and prove that this country has no Intention of taking hostile action against them and Also, however that we believe we have good reason to believe to think that they do have hostile intent Their expansionism worldwide their invasion of Afghanistan and so forth, but I wish we could get that out on the table and hopefully Reduce the suspicions between us Thank You, Mr. President I best do your wife talk to you again, sir. Thank you Bob Mohan from WSB radio Thanks, go ahead ladies gentlemen Good morning, Mr. President. This is Bob Mohan with WSB radio in Atlanta, Georgia. Yes. Good morning, Bob Good to talk to you so very much. Mr. President for this opportunity to talk with you this morning since time is at a premium I have a three-part question regarding South Africa, sir in view of the increased unrest in South Africa, Mr President, do you anticipate any change in our policies in South Africa? No, not really because I have to look at what has been accomplished so far We have by our relationship with South Africa, which is always over the years been a friendly one We have made it plain in spite of that that apartheid is very repugnant to us and that they should go down the path of reform and bringing about a more perfect democracy in their country and Our present relationship has we believe resulted in some very substantial changes the the very fact that the now the the blacks of ability at Being in labor unions or even having their own labor unions The fact they can buy property in the here-to-forth white areas that they can own businesses in some 40 White-dominated business districts They have eliminated the segregation that we once had in our own country the type of thing where host hotels and restaurants Places of entertainment and so forth were segregated that has all been eliminated They recognize now interracial marriages Well, we believe that for us to take an action now such as some are suggesting Turning our backs and walking away would leave us with no persuasive power whatsoever We think that if we continue We can help the present administration there, which is a reformist Administration as evidence for the things that I have have just mentioned Mr. President what is your reaction to Reverend jury Falwell statement that Bishop tutu is a phony? Who does not represent the interest of South African black? Well, I was very pleased to see his clarifying statement Yesterday I believe it was and what he had to say about that and his apology to Bishop tutu It seems from what I could read That his original statements were based on more not his own judgment, but on quotations From those people that he had met with in South Africa both blacks and whites, you know, we must recognize that the black Majority in South Africa is a combination of minorities. There are at least 10 tribal divisions there And so he heard that some considered Bishop tutu a leader others rejected him as a leader This was what he was trying to say, but I was very pleased when he Went public and said that his use of the word phony was really an unfortunate choice of words And he certainly had never meant in any way To describe the character of the beliefs of philosophy of Bishop Bishop tutu He was trying he used mistakenly the word to describe The thing that he had found that he was not recognized as Quote a black leader of all the blacks The president you fear a pro-communist government may take power in South Africa if the president's government fails This is a fear that many people who call my talk show express. How do you feel about that? I have to say that for us to believe the Soviet Union is not in its usual style stirring up the pot and Waiting in the wings for whatever advantage they can take we'd be very innocent naive if we if we believed If we didn't believe that that they're there ready to do that Okay, the next question. I have a regards tax reform. Mr. President several members of the Georgia Congressional Delegate delegation are saying the tax reform will be the first order of business when Congress reconvene After all the gnashing of teeth debate and compromise can the American people expect any reform in the tax system this year I Have to be optimistic and believe they can because we're going to push very far hard for it You see if we don't do it this year, then we've got a way to hold Other year another year before this can be implemented I think there are such advantages to the program the tax reform program that we've presented the simplification The fairness the advantage to the family. I was greatly encouraged when a committee of the house Dominated by the opposing party came forth the other day with a statement that this tax plan as we've presented Offers the most advantages to the American family of any of the tax proposals that have been made So we're going to try very hard. I know that the with the Congress it isn't so much An outright opposition as it is their concern that they've got too much on the plate To get to this in time This president I have one more question. I've been allowed You have been very kind to allow me to ask you some questions Since my listening audience comprises about 36 states I would like to afford you an opportunity to ask them something that they can discuss with me during my show on Monday night Is there something you would like to ask them? Oh my I Wish I'd had some warning about that I could probably think of another of several things You'll probably think of a thousand things afterwards. I know that sort of slipping it in the back door I didn't check with two methods on that But I thought perhaps you would have something that you might like to ask them because they'll be talking to me on Monday night Well, there are a couple of things that I where I think there's a possibility of great misinformation one We've just been talking about the tax reform. I know that the people have been told where we're eliminating a number of so-called tax deductions and so forth In return for the much lower rates that if the people have any questions as to exactly How this would come out for them regarding what the fairness would be with their taxes be increased or Reduced they in fact will be reduced the only people who have to fear this are those people who've been avoiding their fair share of taxation By taking advantage of certain tax shelters and loopholes and so forth But if they would ask so that they would know and understand very much for this opportunity All right Thank you. Thank you Thomas Rick a lotto from WRHC radio station, Miami one moment Go ahead, please don't look good morning. Tomas. It's great to hear your voice again How do you feel I feel just fine? I really do as a matter of fact as Soon as you and I are finished here. I'm going over and saddle up a horse and take a ride Well, mr. President, we're very glad I ask you about the Kennedy-Khrushchev agreement and you said that as far as you are concerned That agreement has been abrogated many times by the Russians and Cuba my question sir Are you prepared to denounce that agreement publicly and officially are we talking about the agreement of Did I understand of the the Kennedy-Khrushchev agreement with after the missile crisis in Cuba? Well Actually, that was an agreement an informal agreement. It had no legal standing and It is true that the Soviet Union have observed the most important part Which was the not Replacing the nuclear missiles in Cuba or having any there they have observed that Almost from the beginning. However, there are other facets of that kind of informal agreement that have been violated the use of Castro's forces throughout the world such as in Angola and all his interference in Central America and Latin America and attempts to get overthrows of legitimate democratic governments and all so I Don't see where there's any need to Take any action with regard to that particular agreement, but simply to deal with each issue as it comes up and What they are doing and what they're not doing what they're doing with regard to stirring up revolution in Central America Is wrong for all the Americas and I think all of us should oppose it Yes, and I think we are in dealing with it where he is Attacking such as in right now in Nicaragua. We did it before that in El Salvador when we first came into this administration The whole question was whether Salvador was going to Go communist well now we have a democracy there there have been several elections and Supervised elections in which we know that they were free of any corruption Democracy is on the march and in other areas and the right now the sore spot is Nicaragua And we're going to continue our help and support of the freedom fighters We have And more than one occasion we have heard some Proposals from the present Cuban government about wanting a better relationship and wanting to discuss with us How that could come about we've responded and then we found that really they they had no concrete proposal They were offering nothing I Do not believe that armed overthrow is the answer But I believe that we should continue some of the restraints and restrictions that we have with regard to our relations with Cuba But at the same time Make it evident that any time that they want to prove by Dean not just word That they are willing and want to come back to the community of American nations And as they once were we'd be very happy to help and to help open the door for that but at the present time they are openly a satellite of the Soviet Union and taking their orders from the Soviet Union and we see no No opening For us to to be of help Mr. President, do you think that when you finish your second term among your legacy to history will be a Central America and a Caribbean free of Communism and tyranny I Don't know whether we can accomplish that entirely qualify that word but I think that the progress that is being made in Latin America with regard to the democracy is far More outstanding than many of us have realized Over these past couple of years right now about 90% of the people in Latin America Live in democracies or in countries that are rapidly moving toward democracy that has never been true before and We're going to continue helping in every way we can To keep that trend going, but I think great progress has been made One final question. Would you be discussing the situation on the activities of Cuba, Nicaragua with Mr. Gorbachev in Vienna? I I would think that that that subject could very well come up because as as I view this these talks with Mr. Gorbachev and our our effort to try and Lesson the hostility and see if we can't eliminate some of the suspicion and Exist between the two countries there. I've think very very much that we would point out to him the the contrast between our own conduct and What he is doing with regard to the Americas or what his country is doing with regard to the Americas by way of of Cuba principally and Get that out on the table as one of the facets of the relationship that we think stands in the way of of Any better relationship with the Soviet Union Thank you very much, Mr. President. Well, thank you and a pleasure