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Massimo.
SEPTEhBER 2h, 196h
NENSE PARTICIPATING: Robert W Delaney, ORLAKDO SENTINEL~8TAR3
Don Dughi, WOTV; James Gilleapy, URITED PRESS INTERAIIONAL;
John Hayea. UPGA, UTVW; Allen Norrie CRACKER POLITICS; Frank
Pepper, wcrv; Hattie Seabrook, JOHN {1. Penn! rams; Racert Sheri-ill,
ll 3335K; DOQS Starr. ASSOCIATED PRESS; Rn Starr, ABC Radio;
George Thurston, WJXE; Martin waldron 8T. one TIMES;
Everette Williard, FLORIDA was moi.
GOVERNOR: Good morning.
Juat as soon aa this meeting ia over and I finish one
other chore, I will be leaving for Jacksonville where at 11:00 I
meet with the Executive Committee of the World's Fair Authority to
consider the 3tatua.£t the moment they are in a regular session
and I am Just going to Join them; than at 2:30 this afternoon I
will meet with the Jacksonville §§Ereeawey Authority for a review
or their activities to date and a consideration of their plans,
contracts, and so forth, for the future. when I will return to
Tallahaeaee.
TBURSTON: Governor, is there any particular occasion for your
interest in the World's Fair Authority?
GOVERNOR: No unusual occasion. Just a continuing concern and
intereat, I should say. You may recall that the Cabinet the other
day agreed to assistance to the world's Fair activities and did not
specify the exact manner, and thie undoubtedly will be one of the
thinza that the World's Fair Authority will want to resolve.
1808510: Have you had recent information on whether we are gaining
on the deficit?
GOVERNOR: Ho, I have not.
SEABROOK: Where do you expect the ¥h00,000 to come from?
GOVEEROR: This I don't know at the moment. The Cabinet didn't
decide the other day.
SEABRJOK: I then they wouldn't decide in your absence, but I
thOught perhaps you might have -~---
GOVERNOR: Well. we had another meeting this last Tuesday and I was
here and no decision was made at that meeting.
DELAHIY: Governor, did you have an opportunity to talk to Mr.
Brawley or Moran?
GOVERROR: No, I did not.
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DELAKEY: Here you briefed at all on what they decided about the
Florida visit or Mrs. Johnson?
GOVERNOR: Only a preliminary discussion. Up to the time Hrs. Kidd
left I had had that briefing, but I haven't heard of their later
thoughts and I would rather not comment because I don't know what
they did after she left.
R. SIARR: Going back to this World's Fair Authority Just a moment,
did I understand hr. Kidd Tuesday at the I. I. Board to say that he
alreedy had s request from the Development Commission for that money?
GOVERHOR: The Development Commission will probably be the conduit.
We are anxious in general principles, first or all, that this money
be a loan, and I am not sure that if the money comes from s defio
cienoy appropriation, I don't know how we could loan money from that
appropriation. In such case, we would probably appropriate it to the
Development Commission and let the Development Commission make a
loan. But the Development Commission would be used as a conduit,
rather than an active agency in that regard.
SEERRILL: Governor, have you set down with the Democratic Executive
Committee and decided specifically how yo ere going to spend that
$180 or $113 thousand?
GOVERNOR: Well, not with the Democratic Executive Committee, but
with the members of the Cabinet in conference with several of the
candidates, and we have decided and spent it. $98,000 was sent to
the Democratic Executive Committee, With our recommendation to them,
to which they have agreed, that $25,000 be given to each of the
candidates for the Senate of the United States and the Governors,
and that $8,000 be given to each or the apposed candidates for
Congress. $10,000 has been held in reserve.
SEABROGK: Governor Bryant, do you agree with Barron Goodrich that
there are silent Republicans who are going to vote for Johnson and
Miller?
GOVERROR: I don't think there is any question about it at all.
SEAEROOK: Do you know any?
GOVERNOR: Yes, me'am, I surely do. I noticed in reading this
morning: paper that Senator Harry Kane has turned from s silent
Republican to a vocal Republican, but up until yesterday, as far as
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I know, he was a silent one. And I know or quite a few .. others
who feel the some way.
SEABROOK: Why do you suppose they remain silent instead of being,
as you say "vocal" Republicans?
GOVERNOR: I really don't know.
D. STARR: Will you go over those figures again,-- I don't add then
P Properly-
GOVERROR: There are two contributions of $25,000, and six con-
tributions of $8,000, and that is $98,000.
GILLEBPY: Right, and you all are keeping the $l0,000.
GOVERNOR: we are Keeping a reserve of $10,000, roughly.
HAYES: Are you in favor of the gas tax amendment?
GOVERNOR: Refresh me on that, will you?
HAYES: The amendment which will continue the allocation of secondary
road funds, or the gas tax funds to the counties, the 5th .67 cents.
GOVERNOR: I don't think I have really considered that and I am not
very fresh on it this morning. I would rather review it before
giving you an answer on it.
SEABROOK: Isn't that a kind of weekend thing, that they do every
so often . . ..
HAYES: This is going to be for 30 years.
D. STARR: That's only an extension,isn't it?
GOVEROR: It's my recollection, and you realise that these don't
come before the Governor and I didn't pay particular attention to
this one o it is an extension of the time of the gas tax allocation
for the purpose of permitting the counties to borrow against it for
a longer perioo of time and therefore raise more money to build more
roads. There are certain other considerations involved with reap-
portlonnent, shifting pepulstions and so forth, of which I have not
thought about actually, because I didn't have to make a decision on it.
R. STARR: Are some of these constitutional amendments going to he
in trouble when we get to November?
GOVERNOR: I don't know. The ones that I om interested in I think,--
as a matter of fact I am not sure which ones will be on the ballot
and I can't give you a fresh answer on that. I will hsve to review
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those and be sure that I an current on them.
PEPPER: (Question off mike)
00W: I read about it In the newspaper," It didn't surprise
me particularly.
PEPPER: (Question off mike)
eovmoa: I don't know, Hr. Pepper.
3. STARR: Governor, yesterday in mneville, Indiana, Senator
m talked about £13 and all of the polls taken throughout
the country, and he said that he and Hr. Johnson had seen all of
the polls. and he gave a llet of fifteen sure atetes that were in
the Johnson-maphrey colum. One of them was Arkansas and another
as Georgia. Florida was not included at all, and this poll that we
have been speaking or In nee: conferences and other, has this been
forwarded to the White Rouse or is it going to be forwarded to the
mute Rouse.
m It hasn't, and no for as I know, it won't.
HAIDROH: lovernor. nae Secretary of State from Adana been invited
to take part in the Johnson for President omega 1:: Florida?
omen: Oh, yes, he is pert of the total activitees.
mums: Has he at thle meeting Tuesday when Chairmen Goodrich -
man: he was invited.
"ALDROH: He Wee invited.
W: Have you heard anything about Senator moment! 52595135
at Gainewllle homecoming, October 16th weekend?
MOB: H0. I haven't
3mm: Governor.3ryant, you said in Palm Beach the other day I
believe, at leaat you were quoted as saying, that you would do all
in your power to at least get k2:
GOVERNOR: Right.
SEABROOK: Then you went on to say in an interview that you were
virtually powerless because you couldn't tell Circuit Judges about
right of ways... ..
GOVERROR: No.
SEABROOK: "hot in your feeling?
001188808: I said there are certain elements that nobody can control.
The mechanical details. If an engineering design Isn't approved in
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nothington, I can get on the telephone and I can do a lot. but I
can't draw it. If 0 Circuit Judge doesn't give us on order of taking,
and in this code it might not be necessary. I cen't make him order
it. I an convinced that we will do this, but I was merely enuncieting
a caveat, in effect thet certain things, no matter how much I went to.
I cannot control.
SEABBOOR: Then what can you do?
GOVERNOR: I could see to it that the maximum is put forward in the
eechelone or the ohein of command to have it done, but I can't control
the non-etete element or the productions. I can strongly influence
state orders.
SEABBOOK: Which aide do you think will win out?
GOVERROR: I think we will have it under conetruction.
H3288: Governor, the Turnpike Authority has tentatively agreed to
allow tandem trailers to be on the Turnpike, Do you feel private
or Turnpike fund: should he need to build staging areas for these
trucks?
GOVERROR: I think the Turnpike funds should be utilized to develop
the usefulness of the Turnpike. This might require the construction
of gasoline otetions or rest facilities or anything thet would be
productive forthe Turnpike. And if in their Judgment that would be
one of them, it would be e proper expenditure.
DELANEY: Governor, have you talked to any or the people of Sun Oil
Company about their rind of 011 down here?
GOVEEBOR: No, I hove not.
DELANEY: Have you talked to anyone about that?
GOVEEHOR: I have nothing authoritative on it, no.
8. SIARR: Chairmen Goodrich the other day at press conference
downstairs, raid that he picked two areas or the state which he
thought would put Florida solidly in the Democratic column. One was
Central Florida, and the other was Pinellno County. Have you any
feeling on this, Governor, from what you have seen end what you have
learned during this time?
GOVERNOR: Hell, I don't know exactly what he bed to any. or to what
he hed reference, no I could not comment.
THURSTON: Governor, e couple or members of the legislature have
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announced that they intend to support Goldwater, end no the figures
work out e single vote would reduce their loyalty percentage below
the.required 90 per cent. how do you feel about this at least
technical violation or the (Egyelgy) oath (Provision), and what do
you think ought to be done?
GOVERNOR: Hell, in the first place, I think that's one thing they
must consider because it does pose a problem that probably was not
intended by the euthort or the loyalty oath provision. I might
refresh your memory I have never favored the loyalty oath provision
myself, and I don't believe in this country that a hundred per cent
party line is a qualification for supporting any cause.
SEABBOOK: If you were back in the Hausa, would you vote to keep
Mallory Horne et the caucus?
GOVERROR: It would depend upon who the candidate -- I am not in the
House (laughter) I have get enough problems where I am. (laughter)
Are there any other questions? Thank you.
SEVERAL: Thank you, Governor.
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