|
NEWS CONFERENCE
GOVERNOR FARRIS BRYANT
TALLAHASSEE
APRIL 2, 196a
NENSMEN PARTICIPATING: Bill Bowen, WCTV; Barbara Frye, UNITED PRESS
INTERNATIONAL; John Hayes, WFGA, WTVJ; Budd Mellichamp, ABC RADIO;
Jerry Mock, JOHN H. PERRY PAPERS; Allen Morris, CRACKER POLITICS;
Don North, ASSOCIATED PRESS; Bob Sherrill, MIAMI HERALD-ST. PETERSBURG
TIMES SERVICE; Ray Starr, ABC RADIO; George Thurston, NFLA, WJXT;
Everett Hilliard, FLORIDA TIMES UNION.
GOVERNOR: Good afternoon.
FRYE: Good afternoon.
GOVERNOR: Do you have any questions?
SHERRILL: Governor, I noticed that the Associated Press was unable
to find out anything about your trip before you left. This means a
virtual blackout of all the daily papers in the state. I Just
wondered how the public benefitted by this typeuof blackout?
GOVERNOR: Well, first of all I don't adopt your word "blackout."
Secondly, if there were a blackout, I have no allegations that the
public benefitted by it. And, thirdly, I think your question was in
poor taste. If you would like to know more about the factual
situation, I'll be glad to deal with it, but I will request that you
do it in a different manner.
TNURSTON: Governor, will you tell us about the trip to Washington?
GOVERNOR: Yes. I had been planning for sometime to go to Washington
for several reasons. well, originally I had planned to be out of the
state at this time, but when that broke down and my calendar was clear
I then planned to go to Washington to take up several things that I
needed to do on behalf of the state. I, also, in making my engagements
made one personal errand on behalf of a friend. As the time approached,
it became apparent that because of absences from Washington of so many
people that I wanted to see that my errands on the part of the state
were more limited. For that reason on Tuesday I purchased a commercial
airline ticket -- I am sorry that the information was given out that
I was on a state plane. Mr. Johnson didn't know that I had changed
my plans. I went up by commercial airline at my own expense. I
arrived there a little after one. I visited the offices of some five
congressmen. I conferred with the staff of Secretary Udall. I spent
about fif een minutes in pursuit of the personal errand I mentioned a
moment ago. I took a five o'clock commercial airline south. This
really encompasses the trip for the day. My staff was somewhat
-10.
SHERRILL; Governor?
GOVERNOR: Yea, air.
SHERRILL: Assuming that you do have some rights of privacy and we
are not talking about every minute of the day and night, still a trip
to Washington is enough to stir curiOeity -- what is our Governor
going to Washington about? Ian't this a firly reasonable question --
what is Our Gayernor going to Washington for?
GOVERNOR: I have teld yOu.
SHERRILL: I mean when we come to your office before you get back and
ask -- you mean we don't have a right to know that?
GOVERNOR: You don't have a right. You have the privilege if granted.
You don't have the right.
SHERRILL: Well. call it what you want, but can't We get it?
GOVERNOR: That's what I Just did.
SHERRILL: all, cell it that then. Con't we get it? Cant we get
the information?
GOVERNOR: Ninety-nine per cent of the time, but only when I wish
to advise you of it. You have the privilege of being advised as we
have the privilege of sitting here together today, but I have no
right to have you here. If you don't want to come in here to this
press conference, you don't have to come. 0n the other hand, I don't
have to be here.
FRYE: But don't you think there is a little different situation -
we 1d not go before the people and ask them to put ue here and they
ar- not paying our salary. I mean don't you think that your life
has got to be more of an open book? I mean you have got more
responsibility?
GOVERNOR: I think it ie more of an open book. (laughter)
FRYE: Well, it should be. But it Just seems to me that it would
have been so simple for Mr. Johnson or somebody to have said the
Governor is on personal business today in Washington and let it go
at that.
GOVERNOR: I think probably it would have. I think probably it would
have, and might well have been done.
FRYE: He couldn't have said that if he didn't know. I mean that is -~
GOVERNOR: That's true.
FRYE: It seems like your office is more disorganized than it ought
to be.
-11-
GOVERNOR: Well, that is why they have campaigns every four years
and people can run and do a better Job of it, including newspaper
people, but I never see any of them run. (laughter) I don't believe
I ever saw a newspaper person run for office. I don't know why that
is.
mm b m: Eon about Pierre salinger?
GOWR: coed. You have broken the record.
BOW!!! Governor. when V111 you make your formal announcement as to
what your plans V111 be when you loaVe office.
GOVERNOR! I probably -- A formal announcement about it?
saves: Yes, what would you care to discuss relative to your plans
for the future?
GOVERNOR: I can tell yOu now that the only plans I have for the
future are to return to the private practice of law.
BOWEN: In Ocala?
GOVERNOR: I have not fully decided where I will practice.
BOWEN: Could it possibly be in Washington?
GOVERNOR: I have given no thought to that possibility at all.
FRYE: You are not the friend you went to Washington for are you?
GOVERNOR: No, I am not. (laughter) No, I have no thought of either
public or private activity in Washington after my term in office.
I plan to return to private practice of law in Florida and make the
decision at a time when it seems most advantageous to me to do it.
FRYE: Is this something, because didn't you tell the people in Ocsla
Just a few months ago when we were playing this game about whether
you were going to run or not -- that you would return to Ocala?
GOVERNOR; That I looked forward to returning to Ocala, yes. And I do.
SHERRILL: Governor, did you see or talk to Mr. Wirtz or anyone in
his office?
GOVERNOR: No, I did not.
SHERRILL: What is the latest on your efforts in the PEG problem?
GOVERNOR: I have made no progress in settling the strike or securing
submission of the issues to arbitration.
SRERRILL: Is there any further indication Mr. irts might be more
eager to give it back to you -- the problem, that is?
GOVERNOR: No. as a matter of fact there is not.
-12-
HAYES: Governor, getting back to the National Guard for one moment:
Do you feel that this was a precautionary step on the part of the
state as the result of the rift among the Negro leadership?
GOVERNOR: Let me tell you what I hava done in this and many, many
instances o- Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Ocala and many others:
The Governor, of course, is called by the Constitution "chief law
enforcement officer" -- those may not be the exact words but that
is his responsibility. However, he is given no tools with which to
perform this work of an everyday nature. The Highway Patrol is under
the Cabinet and the Governor can issue orders to them only more or
less either after a Cabinet meeting or by cooperation of the Direc-
tor -- incidentally, he always cooperates it has been my experience.
The only other tool I have of a direct nature is the ability to re
move sheriffs, which is not a very practical tool to be used on many
instances. Then I have, as you know, a couple of investigators who
do not have police powers. When an incident arises that indicates
local law enforcement officials may not be adequate to handle a
particular situation, several responses can and do take place. The
activity of highway Patrolman are shifted into the area. They con-
tinue to do their duties, but we can phase maybe an additional forty
highway patrolman into a particular area without taking them off the
Job for one minute and they come within a five minute or half-hour
time distance from the place that you might need them. Of course,
the sheriff can be requested to be more diligent. After that if those
are exhausted, the Conservation Department can be called in to help
the Highway Patrol. All of these officials have very limited authority
in prescribed areas. I can request the Sheriffs Bureau to assist
and if the local sheriff asks them to -- Joins me in the request --
they can do it. And then beyond that we have only the National Guard.
The National Guard tries to phase its activities so as to be most
readily available on any occasion when they might be needed. Their
slogan which they take very seriously, and I do, too, is: Sleep
well, your National Guard is awake." That's its Job, and we try to
see to it that it is awake and it is whenever there is any possibility
of its being needed. Now, there is a different situation in Jackson-
ville where you have got a thousand policemen, let's say, from
Tallahassee where you have 70. A different response is called for,
-13-
different numbers of highway patrolman and conservation agents are
available in the area. This kind of thing. But in each instance I
do whatever is called for to see that if the worse comes about we
will be ready for it, always hoping for and planning on the best.
Now, I do not feel that it is wise to talk about these things, because
normally they are emotional situations and an announcement that the
Gayernor has taken this, that or the other action can often, in my
judgment, induce a reaction which nobody would want. I, therefore,
prefer to take these ministerial activities in such a manner as not
to excite an emotional response on the part of the people.
SHERRILL: Governor, do you have any comment to make on Mallory
Horne's suggestion of reorganization --
GOVERNOR: Yes, I have only read -- I have not seen his report, which
I assume was written -- I have seen the newspaper report of it, and
I think I am in substantial disagreement with what he has to say.
I believe I can say that, because in 1965 I will not be here and,
therefore, what is done will not affect me personally. In my Judgment,
these last three years have shown the Development Commission to be an
extremely effective arm of government and to date has done an
extremely effective Job. By all indices that one could Judge by,
their efforts have been successful -- their advertising program, their
industrial promotion, their tourist promotion, their development of
the arts festival, their promotion of cooperative advertising, the
increased liaison with local chambers of commerce. So many things
that can be recited have been done effectively during these last
several years I think it would be a great mistake to tear up what has
been a real good team.. New, I am not speaking of Mr. Jarrard -- he
will undoubtedly leave the Development Commission, surely by January
and possibly before that time. I dont know - that, of course, is
up to him. But there is below him under the Merit System an extremely
effective team and I wonld certainly be reluctant to see that team
broken up.
THURSTON: Governor, during your early days in the administration you
referred to the Development Commission as a government within a
government and questioned at that time whether it would be wise to
leave this much power within an agency which is, I believe you said,
almost autonomous. Have you changed your mind?
-1u-
GOVERNOR: It is a very powerful agency and I think it would be wise
to put some restraint upon the use of some of those powers, but to
destroy its structure or to make it responsive to a committee would,
it seems to me, rob it of its vitality and its creative capacity.
I would hope that would not be done.
BOWEN: Governor, going along with Mr. Hornes statement: Do you
concur at all in any part of it and, in particular, the reference to
removing the bond selling authority from the Commission and possibly
putting the Hotel and Restaurant Commission under them. Wouldn't that
work more effectively? After all, they are dealing with tourists.
GOVERNOR: I think that consideration to the transfer of bond activio
and
ties could be considered/h better way might be found to do it. You
will recall that formerly the Road Department handled some bond issues
and the Development Commission handled others. You had to haVe two
staffs do one Job. Those have been combined. I think there is
greater efficiency because of it. There may be further efficiencies
that are possible. You ought not confuse, though, the activities of
the State Board of Administration with those of the Development Com-
mission. They are not identical. The State Board of Administration
is by and large an investment body and a good one, operating through
an investment advisory committee of bankers who make recommendations
to the Cabinet, the State Board of Administration -o a three-member
board - and that have done a real fine Job. Its personnel is good.
There is also a sales Job to be done. The State Board of Administra-
tion does some of this, but its staff is too limited to do all that
is required. Many people have the idea that in the selling of bonds
all you do is hold them up and people run and get them and give you a
fair price. There is a sales Job to be done. The market has to be
developed, the choices of investment have to be uncovered and the
particular features of the issue must be tailored to the available
market. All this is true. I think that subject can be given
profitable study .
BOWEN: How about the Hotel and Restaurant Commission?
GOVERNOR: The Hotel and Restaurant Commission, in my Judgment, ought
not to be combined. Now there is a possibility of cultivating some
educational functions in the Development Commission that are being
conducted by the hotel Commission, but they are doing such a good Job
of that now -- for the first time in their historyi I believe -- that
I would hesitate to make that change at least unti I was assured that
a better one would be made. I think an area of
L' I
-15.
Investigation and one that I began in 'h9 or '51 and we are beginning
to make some progress on is the area of overlapping inspections by the
State Board of Health and the Hotel and Restaurant Commission. We
have been trying very hard to resolve that. Dr. Rovetta of the School
or Business at Florida State University has been engaged in that study
and made recommendations relative to it. Mr. Riedel, Dr. Peek, Dr.
Sowder and others have been putting their mind to it and an experiment
is going on now in one district or the Hotel and Restaurant Commission
to ascertain if this can be done on a more efficient basis by the
Commission than by the State Board of Health as to some of its functions.
This, also, ought to be further studied.
BOWEN: Well, my thought was possibly having both agencies within
one building possibly separated maybe by one floor but the liaison
between their work maybe cut out some of the double expenditures?
GOVERNOR: Well, this ought to be eXplored. Now the Hotel and Restaur-
ant Commission is not a promotional agency. Its only promotional
activities are in the area of education.
30333: I was thinking in terms of working along with the tourist
division for instance? We are bringing 15 million people a year in
here. Maybe there could be some controls or checks.........
GOVERNOR: I can't be specific about that, because I havent reached
any firm conclusions about your specific proposal but I think this
is an area where we ought to combine activities rather than divide.
I agree with you.
MORRIS: Governor, would the reorganization of the structure or either
of those agencies not Jeopardize the Merit System protection enjoyed
by txe present employees?
GOVERNOR: Well, if it involved the abolition of their Jobs that would
be the case. Yes, sir. I would hope that in any reorganization the
same functions could be established even if by a lesser number or
people and the persons in the Job -- as a matter of fact it is awfully
hard to get competent people at the salaries that we do pay for those
Jobs.
MORRIS: Even if you change the name of the agency would it not be
necessary to re-oertity that agency to bring it under the Merit System?
GOVERNOR: Well, I suppose that is true, and that will devolve upon
the next governor to make that determination.
~16-
R.S!ARR: Governor, NASA informs us that next Tuesday the experimental
two-man Genesis space shots will start at the Cape. They hope to Get
two men in orbit by November or December. Do you have any ecument 0
this and how it affects Florida?
GOVERNOR: Well, of course, it affects Florida in the sense that we
are now getting into a size of missile that no longer can be practically
imported into the state. Increasingly, we are going to have to be
involved, industrially, in the production here in Florida -- trans~
portation-wise -- close to the Cape in missiles that we have not done
before. I think this is extremely significant for the industrial
development or Florida.
THURSTONx Have you had a chance to examine the purple pamphlet yet?
GOVERNOR: I have, but I havent done it. I haven't read the pamphlet
yet.
WILLIARD: Governor, do you know of any plans by any industry to set
up manufacturing plants for missiles in Florida?
GOVERNOR: Oh, yes, Aerojet for instance. And Just north of us Just
across the line in Georgia but in the Jacksonville market area a plant
is being established there.
WILLIARD: These are mainly engines aren't they? The rockets and not
the other?
GOVERNOR: That's correct. That, of course, is the bulk of the vehicle.
BOWEN: GOVernor, after the slight disagreement that arose in the
Cabinet meeting Tuesday morning over the awarding of the contract for
the 280 seats, do you anticipate Florida-180 game being played here
this year? Do you think they will be through in time?
GOVERNOR: They say they will.
BOWEN: How do you feel about it?
GOVERNOR: I feel fine about it. (laughter) I don't haye anything to
go on except their statement that their present schedule does permit
them to complete construction in time to do that. I would anticipate
that it would be done.
BOWEN: One other question, Governor, rumors have been circulating
that the new state office building sometime between now and January
will be named after Mr. Jarrard. Do you have any comment onthat?
GOVERNOR: This is the first I have heard of it.
BOWEN: Would you go along with it?
-17-
GOVERNOR: I would doubt that that would be true.
BOWEN: Would you concur in that thought or that rumor? I mean vauld
you like the idea?
GOVERNOR: Well, first of all the naming of state buildings is the
primary function or a committee of the Cabinet on which I do not
actively serve. And, secondly, there have been numerous suggestions
to name buildings after me during this administration - all or which
I have rejected. I think that would apply to everybody in my adminis-
tration that is everyone I appoint.
TKURSTON: GOVernor, speaking of appointment do you know or the use
of a state airplane by anyone for purposes of waging a campaign?
GOVERNOR: If you refer to the telegram from one of the candidates for
Attorney General, I received that telegram. I have written him for
specifics on it. I meant to ask Lieutenant Saunders this morning
whether or not he knew of any such instance. I showed the telegram to
Attorney General Kynes and he assured me that he had not so used it,
that in fact he hadn't been in a state airplane in about a month. I
Can't know that he has been in the airplane in about a month, and I
would think, therefore, that until I am furnished with specifics I
would have to conclude that it was not so.
ERIE: Well, anytime a man in public office takes a trip, it is
political?
GOVERNOR: It is. Mr. Kynes said, however, that he has not been in a
state plane in a month. I think that was the question whether or not
he was using state planes and his answer to me was that he hadn't
been in one, and, therefore, couldn't be.
FRYE: Well, I was Just thinking that with these two year terms next
time the Governor and all will actually be running every time they
take a trip.
GOVERNOR: That's right inseparable.
TEURSTON: Is there a possibility of confusion between a plane which
is not actually a state plane is there a possibility that the exact
identity or ounership of come plane was confused?
GOVERNOR: Oh, I am sure that is possible. Since I don't know the
specifics and he didn't spell them out in his telegram, I really am
not able to give you a very helpful answer there.
FRYE: Governor, do you feel any compulsion or enough of a compulsion
to do anything about it to defend your administration in the current
~18.
campaign for governor? It seems that some of the candidates are
running against you.
GOVERNOR: Only to the extent that and a very limited extent of
correcting mistaken factual statements. I have on one or two occasions
- a candidate will make some charge about this administration well
I begin to wonder if they are true and then I look into it and find out
if it is or not and make a statement about it. For instance, the
charge was made about not investing state money. Well, this worried
me if in fact we weren't doing so, it ought to be corrected. I did
check into it and found out that as a matter or fact in four banks in
the state we had overdrarts ~ one case running up to a million dollars
on one or several days during December and that our net balance in all
fifteen banks on December 20 was $200 and some odd thousand, which
or course is too little. As a matter of fact instead of not investing
monies that we should have invested, we did invest monies that we
shouldn't have invested. Now, I would say that Just the reverse was
true. But that is as far as entering into a campaign --
FRYE: But you don't plan to go on television or to publicly make a
statement about whether or not your one candidate said your adminis-
tration was a disaster?
GOVERNOR: If we could have a few more disasters like this, we would
have money running out of our pockets all over the state.
FRYE: Running out of 22£_pockets. (laughter)
GOVERNOR: Yes. There is an interesting thing, because the per capita
expenses for state purposes in Florida in '63 were less than they
were in 1960. The per capita expenses of your state government in
1963 were less than they Ware in 1960. Now it is true that some taxes
have been increased, but as a chart that I showed on television a year
or so ago reveals we have been year after year spending more money
than we have been taking in and exhausting reserves that we had.
For instance, if you sell lands or the Internal Improvement Fund and
then spend that money you haVen't increased taxes but you have
increased the expenditures of the state and a dissipation of the state's
resources. This is the kind of thing that I think ought to be pointed
out by whoever is the incumbent from time to time, not to become
-19.
involved in the campaign but so that the people will not be improperly
informed on it. However, I realise that a response to a charge like
this is not near as much news as the charge itself and it is difficult
to reach the people with a reasoned response to a statement or that
kind and I recognize that it is.
THURSTON: Do these expenditures figures that you mention include the
expenditures from bond sales?
GOVERNOR: These expenditures are taken from Ray Greens annual two-
page or one folded page statement on expenses of the state. After
reading the article I pulled some of those out I save them and
made some comparisons with a pencil myself I didn't have anybody
else to do it and it is from that data alone that I reached that
conclusion. I accept the validity of his reports.
THURSTON: I Just wondered whether the expenditures counted only
expenditures from tax sources or counted both tax sources expenditures
and bonded income or borrowed income?
GOVERNOR: Well, I Would have to look back. I do know this, it
included the amount of money that we give to school teachers although
their salaries have been greatly raised and the contributions to the
counties have been greatly increased. It includes the increases or
the gasoline tax distribution and all sorts of expenditures of the
state, including the increased expenditures for higher education in
the field of professors salaries and so forth.
SHERRILL: Governor, just an informal question you noted a while
ago that newspaper people who are critical of gOVernors never seem
to run for the office. YDu wouldn't be thinking of getting a news-
paper Job when you get out and showing us how to do it, would you?
GOVERNOR: Well, to tell you the honest truth I don't believe I could
hold down such a Job and that's one reason that I never ask you all
a lot of questions about how you are doing it. (laughter) I am not
trained as a newspaper man and I wouldn't try to be a newspaper man
because I don't have that bent.
FRYE: I don't want to ask you any more questions along that line.
(laughter) I don't want you to give us your reasons on why you don't
want to.
HOOK: It seems to me that you are not going to run on your accomplish-
ments either, Governor, --
-2-
confused about it because my plans Jelled at several different times,
were changed and they were not kept completely abreast of them.
PRYE: Well, Governor, if there had been an emergency in Florida and
you needed to be reached, could somebody have reached you?
GOVERNOR: Mrs. Rogers can always reach me, depending upon the degree
of the emergency. She has instructions not to reach me except -
depending upon the circumstances, but she can reach me if she needs
to do so.
THURSTON: Governor, could you tell us the nature of the state's
business that you were in Washington to conduct?
GOVERNOR: Yes. I said I made calls on five or six congressmen --
purely courtesy calls, and I conferred with Secretary Udall of the
Department of the Interior relative to Islandia, to be sure that they
were conscious of what we are proposing to do in Dade County and
that we don't run into any unnecessary conflicts. As you know, the
Secretary has informally and unofficially expressed the views that
this should be designated a national monument. We are proceeding in
a somewhat different direction. At some early date a resolution of
those differences must be reached, and I was anxious to keep them
abreast of what we are doing so that that resolution can be made in
the same cosperative fashion.
FRYE: You mean he wants Islandia to be a national monument?
GOVERROR: Yes, ma'am, that was his proposal that the entire key
island there -- does my term make sense "key island" -- the island
chain there which is known as Islandia or some portion of it, I am
not sure Just which, to be a national monument.
THURSTON: Was there any effort on your part or that of your office
to conceal the purpose of the trip in advance or during the time you
were out of the state?
GOVERNOR: No. The purpose changed so rapidly and so far as I know
there was not. However, if I had wanted to take a day off and go to
Washington and conceal it, I conceive that there is no particular
crime involved.
FRYE: No, but couldn't you have Just said you were on personal
business?
GOVERNOR: Well, that was partly true. I could have. I could have
done it quite differently than I did. Yes.
GOVERNOR: I beg your pardon.
MOCK: I say it seems to me that you are not going to run on your
accomplishments either if you are not going to run this time -- on
the basis of your oceanplishments -- the talk I think was about the
public being confident of what you have done you know.
GOVERNOR: I am afraid I don't quite follow you now. What is your
question?
HOOK: It wasn't a questiOn.
GOVERNOR: Oh, yes, excuse me.
Are there other comments? (laughter)
FRIE: No comment at this time.
-3-
SHERRILL: Governor, the Associated Press story that I am relying on
said that this has occurred several times, that is trips have been
made and it has been completely impossible to find out what the trip
was for from your office -- getting this information from your
office. Choose your own word, Governor, if you don't like blackout,
but I still don't see anything wrong in asking what purpose this serves?
GOVERNOR: It was not intended to serve a purpose.
SHERRILL: We come to you for a purpose, which is Just to let people
know what you are up to and what you are doing. I suppose there
must be a counter-purpose in not letting us know what you are up to
and what you are doing. There is no purpose to it?
GOVERNOR: I didn't feel any particular urge to let you know about
it, let's put it this way, and felt under no particular duty to do
so. Normally I do so and have nothing to conceal.
SHERRILL: Well, sir, I am not saying it is an overt act on your
part. I'm saying that the Ar came to your office for information.
It was an overt act on their part at which point they were blocked.
Why?
GOVERNOR: Well, you will have to talk with those who AP talked with.
Let me say this, if there have been other trips to Washington on which
they were not advised of the nature of the trips I am not aware of
them.
FRYE: What was your personal errand?
GOVERNOR: It was personal. (laughter) And it was for a friend, as
a matter of fact, and it was done at my own expense, including taxis.
FREE: You didn't see any congressmen did you?
GOVERNOR: No, I didn't. I called at as many offices as I could in the
limited time available to me -- really to express my gratitude to them
for the wonderful cooperation we have had out or the congressional
delegation.
FRYE: That was not the purpose of your trip?
GOVERNOR: No, I Just utilized that because I had to go up there
anyway.
R.STARR: Governor, how do you feel about a close relative of a
political figure injecting themselves into a situation in which they
have no direct concern?
GOVERNOR: Mr. Starr, I want to be cooperative, but you will have to
come again. (laughter)
-u-
R.STARR: I am speaking specifically of the Governor of Massachusetts'
mother?
GOVERROR: Oh, I am sorry. I don't know why it should have been so
remote from me. (laughter) I thought that Mrs. Peabody came to
Florida for the purpose of attracting publicity to a cause in which
she believed. I don't share her convictions. I thought we ought to
help her achieve her aims. But it is a free country. If she will
come to Florida and abide by our laws, I see no reason why she
shouldnt do it.
BOWEN: Governor, last week in Brunswick, Georgia a suit was filed by
three tobacco farmers relative to the tobacco out we spoke of several
news conferences ago and this is now pending in federal court. Has
anybody from Georgia -- the tobacco growers association or anybody -
been in touch with your office to solicit your support in this matter?
GOVERNOR: No, they have not. The possibility of legal action was
discussed among staff members during and pursuant to our conference
in Washington. I did not know it had proceeded to the Judicial stage
and I had no advance knowledge of their action, nor has anyone
contacted me for support.
BOWEN: Would you be willing to carry this matter further and even
go to Washington if necessary if it looks like prospects would be
optimistic?
GOVERNOR: Of course, if it is in the courts there is no point in
going to Washington. I would be willing to do anything proper and
within my ability to assist them in achieving what I thought to be
a proper resolution of that controversy. Yes, sir.
MORRIS: Governor, will the construction of the Islendia seawsy
require the issuance of bonds?
GOVERNOR: It is proposed to be done by tolls imposed upon the causeway,
itself, plus contributions by Monroe County as to that portion of
the highway within Monroe County,plus such benefits as can be derived
if a channel is dug and the proposal made is not dependent upon a
channel being dug -- it can or cannot be without significant difference
to the overall proposal.
MORRIS: Has some estimate yet been reached as to the amount of the
issue?
-5-
GOVERNOR: No, not with a sufficient degree of certainty. Wilbur
Smith has completed a feasibility study, based on a preposal for a
causeway, but it did not envision all the recreational benefits that
we had in mind. I should say one thing further if the Islandia
proposal that we have advanced is carried forward, in all probability
some money from the recreation bond issue will be utilized, not for
the causeway or for the development of Islandia, but to procure park
areas in the keys which will be usable as public parks in addition to
those others that will result from the construction of the causeway
and the keys highway itself.
FREE: Do you have any guess on the cost?
GOVERNOR: Yes, I think the cost of the construction of the highway
which will vary somewhat depending upon whether or not a high or low
level bridge is used -- and that will depend upon whether or not a
channel is built -- will be in the neighborhood of 10 or ll million
dollars.
FREE: Did you say it would require a bond issue?
GOVERNOR: Toll bond issue, correct. Only tolls would be pledged,
there would be no ad valorem or tax monies going into it.
FRYE: But this is not the total, of course, that 10 to ll is Just the
highway? Will there be other -- if there are other costs on the
channel that will be from other --
GOVERNOR: The only other costs beyond what would be financed by the
tolls revenue bonds would be those of acquiring park lands themselves,
and the construction by Monroe County tying into 0.8. l in Monroe County.
PRYE: What do you think the top amount of money from the recreation
bond issue might be?
GOVERNOR: I haven't any idea at all. It would depend upon -- actually,
there has been no specific preposal as to how much property be acquired,
nor where, nor at what cost, but merely the idea advanced that if we
do build the causeway to the island we should take advantage of that
opportunity not only to acquire the proper rights of way but also to
acquire the recreational facilities beyond that.
MORRIS: But you have insisted upon the free donation of the beach
land, haven't you?
GOVERNOR: Yes. The proposal is to build a causeway which would
provide some 12 or 1 miles of beaches itself and then to proceed
.6-
southward along the island from whatever point you hit the island
more or less in the center of the island with a four-laned limited
access facility, but to build also along the eastern shoreline of
the island a scenic drive which would be a low speed drive and not a
limited access facility and which would be the property of the toll
pike authority or the state from the western boundary of the right
or way of the scenic drive to the Atlantic Ocean, so that there would
be no construction and no private development for about oh ten or
twelve miles along the highway.
HAYES: Governor, on Monday you had no comment concerning the National
Guard unit here in Tallahassee being alerted last Friday. Do you
have any comment today?
GOVERNOR: Well, ask a specific question about it and I will be --
well, let me talk about the whole subject matter, I know to what you
are referring I am not quite in the dark as I was when Mr. Starr
asked me something a moment ago. In the problem of meeting violence
and threats of violence the response by this office has to be tailored
to each particular situation. There has been the National Guard
has not been called out in any situation in Florida involving racial
matters or other matters of violence. In any situation we try to set
ourselves so that if things go for the worse we will not be caught
unprepared, The National Guard is always alert. It is frequently
involved in exercises. Those exercises are frequently shaped to be
of maximum assistance in areas of potential need and that is what
has happened on several instances in Florida.
HAYES: Well, do you feel that there was a need for the National Guard
to be alerted last Friday?
GOVERNOR: Well, it had an exercise here last Friday as it had in
Jacksonville during the height of the racial disturbances there and
as it has from time to time in other parts of the state. It has not
been called out. It has not been alerted as it were for racial
violence. It has been called up on exercises from time to time,
including here last Friday.
HAYES: I understand that when the men from the National Guard came
to the Armory they were issued their weapons and helmets, instructed on
riot control and sat in the Armory all day long. Now, is this a
typical National Guard alert for people to Just sit in the Armory?
-7-
GOVERNOR: I am advised that there are several stages of the exercises
and that the first thing is to see how long and to exercise themselves
in calling the man up through the various means available to them.
In this instance, they used only the telephone. They did not use
radio, or television or any other available means. After they have
arrived the next part of the exarcise is to equip them and to see how
rapidly they can be equipped. The third part of any such exercise is
to direct them in the particular mission for which they are called up.
At this particular time it being such an occasion, I understand the
mission selected was for riot control and they were briefed for that
purpose. The exercise, incidentally, was successful.
HAYES: Did you call the National Guard unit here?
GOVERNOR: No.
THURSTON: Governor, do you feel that last week in discussing Mr.
Evans' role in making arrangements for the exercise that you were
able to discuss the subject frankly or completely openly?
GOVERNOR: I will ask you to rephrase that question.
THURSTON: Last week in response to my question you said --
GOVERNOR: You asked me if Mr. Evans handled the arrangements and I
responded to you that he did not. He did not.
THURSTON: Could you tell us what part he did have?
GOVERNOR: He played a part such as a number of other people played.
He ran and talked with interested people. He from time to time told
me the results of his conversations. On each occasion I thanked him
for his information and went through Mr. Terry Lee to make all arrange-
ments that the state had to make, Just as I frankly and openly told
you last week.
BOWEN: Governor, reports have reached our news department that several
state employees while on state time and also their personal time are
campaigning for different political office seekers. Would you comment
on this policy or this practice?
GOVERNOR: Well, if they are doing that I don't remember the exact
terms of the Florida act relative to it, but I am certain it prohibits
it and even if it didn't people who are being paid by the state ought
to be attending to state duties. Now, I think the frequent practice
for people who are in office to campaign, otherwise they could never
run for reoelection -- sheriffs and members of the Legislature and
-8-
others do that - but if there are individuals on the state payroll
campaigning for other persons it ought not to be.
FRYE: Governor, have you replied to Bob Saunders' telegram asking
you to intervene in St. Augustine?
GOVERNOR: No, it only came this morning and I have not had a chance
to frame a reply. I believe he asked me to intervene in St. Augustine.
I don't plan to do so.
FRYE: Have you talked to Governor Peabody lately about --
GOVERNOR: No, I talked with him the other day and assured him that
he need have no concern for the health or welfare or his mother. And
I have not had occasion to talk with him since that time.
FRYE: Have you talked to the officers in St. Augustine with reference
to her and how she should.be treated?
GOVERNOR: No, I never have.
FRYE: How did you know that you could reassure him?
GOVERNOR: I talked to the Highway Patrol -- you said the officers,
in St. Augustine, I assume you meant -- I talked to my Highway Patrol
side who called Captain Prater, who was the Highway Patrol official
on duty there who advised Lieutenant Saunders who advised me that
she was in good health and spirits.
FRYE: Is the Patrol keeping an eye on that situation?
GOVERNOR: On that situation? I assume that they are keeping an eye
on the local situation, though I don't know whether they are having
any particular reference to Mrs. Peabody.
FRYE: I Just wondered if the Patrol could give that assurance?
GOVERNOR: They could at that time. Lieutenant Saunders advised me
that Captain Prater was in or near where she was at that time -- in
her presence or very close to her at that time, and had personal
knowledge.
FRYE: what was Governor Peabody's reaction?
GOVERNOR: Re appreciated my assurance and I asked him if there was
anything further he wished for me to do -- He said that there was
not and that was about the size or it.
BOWEN: Did you call him, Governor, or did he call you?
GOVERNOR: I called him.
FRYE: Governor, this situation 0f your leaving town -- I Just went
to talk about it Just a minute. we have the impression that when
-9-
you -- or at least I have always thought that when you run for public
office that you do to a certain extent give up some of your rights
of privacy and we feel like that we have the right to know, when we
ask where you are at all time. Is this wrong?
GOVERNOR: No, I don't think it is wrong for you to ask or for you
to know. I don't think, though, that I have a duty to tell you where
I am every moment.
FRYE: You dont?
GOVERNOR: No, I don't.
FRYE: And you don;t think that somebody in your office should be
able to tell us even if it is to tell us this is none of your business,
or he is on personal business or something? I mean you are the Gover-
nor and we need to know sometimes where you are, and I Just wondered
why you feel that we aren't entitled to know?
GOVERNOR: Well, I don't understand why you think you are entitled to
know where I am every moment.
FRYE: You are the Governor --
GOVERNOR: And I am discharging the duties of my office twenty-four
hours a day, but I don't include in performing the duties of office
the necessity for telling everybody in Florida, which I would do
through you, where I am every minute of the day or night. I Just
dont feel that I have that duty.
FRYE: Well, you are hired by the people of Florida?
GOVERNOR: I am.
FRYE: You have the same duty to them that you would have to the stock-
holders if you were the head of a company? They are paying your
salary, they elected you?
GOVEENOR: Oh, yes, I have a greater one. I tend to their duties at
all times.
FRYE: But don't you think they have a right to know that you are
doing it?
GOVERNOR: They know.
FRYE: How do you know they do?
GOVERNOR: I have that assurance. I am confident that the people of
Florida know that I am working at this Job with all I have, even
though they now and again don't know everything that I do.
PAGE 1
NG: Bill Sovmn, Hayes, WFGA, WS PERRY PAPEF5; D PRESS; Bob 51Starr, ABC RADIC LORIDA TINES UN]
PAGE 2
-lRILLI Toenr 11'r~i' : .rin -i would have. I think probably it wouli done. .at if he didn't know. I mean that is e is more disorganized than it ought
PAGE 3
iONoo & ell, tANN NOs PNNNy Shy aON apaIsN veyfoOyer aNdN NNpl cN rFn n. d dNtN a better!jobNNNiN, ncldngNeNN pNpN NNNNNLF, NNu NNNNn-vrse ny FN the rnN .(au te)Id 'tb ie Ni NNe ONO, NNNwSpNNApe FesNNNNNNNNu NNn frof ,InNN t knNw Nhit NNNH ONIN I .NSN N FRYE: you are not the frie OVERROR: No, I am not. ( public or private activity I plan to return to private decision at a time ghen it FRYE: 15 this something, b jus t a few months BSc when you were gotng to ran or no GOVERNOR That I lockeZ fo SHERRIGL Governor, did yo ... ..: .... .dsigo ..r...y. SHERRILL What is the latest on your efforts in the PEC problem? GOVERNOP: I have made no progress la settling the strike or securin submission of the issues to arbitration. 5HERRILL: Is there any further indication Mr. WLrtz might be more eager to giva it back to you -the problem, tiat is? GOVERNOR: No, as a matter of fact there is not,
PAGE 4
Itht a 1t .e 13-h 11.t1 on heNgr eaeshp GIEM R e etl yuwa aedn i hsadmnmn 1.t-esaksnil, 7t uutne cl n mn te1
PAGE 5
jdfeetnibr fhgwyptomnadcnevt t, Aeasn1965 I "illno er tria~ promotion, their tourist promotion, their developuten rts festival, their proinotion of cooperative advertising, ased 11aLaon with local chambers of commerce. So many thi car, be reetted have been done effectively duririg these las -al years 1 thirk it would be a great mistake to tear up wh a real good team.. Now, I am not speak'.ng of Mr. Jarrard undebtedly leave the fievelopment Commission, surely by Ja ossibly before that time. I don't know -that, of course him. But there is below hini under the Merit System an ex tive team and I weald certainly be reluctant to see that t
PAGE 6
..EROR I.. .... ... ....... p ....... .....y .nd .. t ..n .twud t ...t ....... .et .. pn h s fsoeo hs pwr ttt destroy ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ". jt.tur r omk trspniet omite ud it ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~1 bem omrbi fisvtliyadiscetv aaiy
PAGE 7
If uins tF rI t e UnIrt Id e nggd n
PAGE 8
... IN .. IN .NINNIINN ....~l INN..
PAGE 9
..17.. GOVElUTOR: I would dot1bt that that wruir] to true. BONEN: Watild you concur tr tha". Graught or that rumer? I mean would you like the irJnal' GOVERNCR: WeU, I'frst of aU thre rplaag of state buj.l.dings is the pritr.ary function rJf a corrmittee of the Callinet er. vrhich I do not actively serve. And, secondly, there have beer1 balnerous M1Ggostioria to rts:ne building after me durin(E thiadmi-ilstratMn -a'.1 of 1:hich I havrejeted. I thlrik r.hat 'elould apply to everytody 1.It my Pd[r-i:lis-. tration -that la everyone I appoir.t. THUR3TOli: Governor, speakinr:; of Epoirstneitt .. do you kn:2 of the use rif a siste airplarte by anyone for purposes of imEirg a ampaign? {K.Vl~RNOR: If you refr:0 try tJte t.se:ral-t from one oi' the candidates for Atacn'ley General, I received that telegram. I have writtsn blEr. for specifica en it. I illeant to e-s]c Lieuterar.t SaunrJers Mils 'lernin6 W11ntheir or mi he knew 01' any sucili tra:tsnee .I showed the telegram to Attrarray Gereral Kyrtes ard he s.ssUrsd y tilat he had net sci --se ~ it, that in fact he hadn't been in a state airplale Ira gue.ut a merith. I 2001. Jamt that he bra bon in the airclane in about ce month, and I would think, therefore, that until I a:ra Du:Msher] viith specifies woulrl ha'2e t, eenr.:lude that it vias not are FBYE 1-Jell, artytime a man in public oi-Cice tc1km a trip, lo la political? QCVERII"'E; -t is. Mr. Kynes said, hetever, that he un not been ir. a state plsrae in a month. -think that was the Gum!ttori prhether or not he 1ms usirig state planes and his answer to rie was that he haddt beRE in one, and, thers Cors, could* t be. FEYE: 261-., I was hat thinking rhat with these tyr, year terms rayt the die GOVFyrry.tr Er:d all Will actual].y te rundhg r.ivery tirele they take et trip, 00VRENOP: That's right -irteeparab.le. THURGTON: Is then a 000stelij.t-y c.f conrusiort between. a plane which 1:a r.ot setually ti. stne plus -18 there a paraibility that. the exact identity or ownership of 30[!;0 plas was confuserl? GOVERNOR; Dh, I mii rsure that is; possible. Since I dr'n' t krtow tilP apecifies arA he diGMt spell threm out irt his telegrarre I really ma rat able r..o give you a very bolpful swer there. FRYE; Gnernor, do you feel ariy Co[rpulsion er enough r.f a compulsion to do aTiything about it to deferad your adniinistratan in the current
PAGE 10
11 t-l 11 1 1 *1 1 ......... ..
PAGE 11
-19... .....
PAGE 12
Fu FF I Fd F, F IF, myFF .n ... d t F Ieecagdadthe ..t nt. etcrpeey bes o hm F ...: ...l G..nr ftee a ena mrenyi lrd n d-u iete I.ececol oeoyhaerahdyu
PAGE 13
GOVERNR: I bg y (urpardOn
PAGE 14
3.. .... ..E..LL G ....o .h. ....ite .r.e ...r tht.... rlyng said ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ........ .hshsncre eea ims hti rp aeb U-, -nd t .10" -1e -np1eyLpssbet idou httet ..s ..r .... yu f et tin t. ....omto ..... y. ....... ...ic. Ch.s y. .... ...d ...hr i o er' ie luet
PAGE 15
.fAR ITf i p i yf the Gi rn f iu ifp e acif eve -ifam, u i ifi i ffe e ty if .h i
PAGE 16
teh.d kl. id. 11-1f.a n tigfute i h Iln Didosa thtw ivt .d-nd -iI barid rw di alprbblt somel manc d-mterceto odisu ilb tlzd o .t -: 166uw.y lor.or e o .. .. .-.. t6 p p 660as in0t060k6y. ... ...lb u p r I.on t th66666t0er6 ...t I. 06ul 'It 0 n tru6t6n 6666h666u66 6n 06h606 keys66i 606y 666itse66 66 666 0606
PAGE 17
sothw --d an heI.-n fa li haltee p1-n y-i -h Isl-Illy .r le1c, -i th11tro h sadwihafu-ae tte 1,tes 1.iiy11 o ul loaon -eeser.soeieo .... ..an .... Ie ....d .... .h ....d....w peddrv adno limied aees faclit andwhih wold e th prpert oTthetl pieatoity Ir the t rmtewsenb-nayo h ih f y fte cict dIvet h tti -rs ha hr o be n costrctin ad n priatedevlopentforabi t -en
PAGE 18
GOVERNOR: I am advised that there are sev and that the first thing is to see how lon in calling the men up through tt.e various In this instance, they used only the toler radio, or television or any other available Orrived the nnTP nart nf thPTerc4RP iA i
PAGE 19
others de that -but if there are individuals on the et campaig.iha for ather persons it ought not to be. FRYE: Goverror, have you replied to Bob Saunders' teles you to intervene in St. Augustine? GDVERNQR: No, it only came this mor.ing and I have not to frame a reply. I believe he asked me to intervene it I don't plan to do so. FKTE: Have yola talked to Governor Peabody la tely about GOVERNOR: No, I talked with him the other day and assui he nEEd havG DO Concern [Or the health Cr W&lfare Of hiE I have not han occasion to talk with him since that tin FFYE: Have you talked to the officers ir. St. Augustirle to har erd how she shruld be trear.ea? GOVERNOR: No, I never have. FFTE: How did you know that you could reassure him? GOVERROR: I talked to the Highway Patrol -you asid 2] in st, Augustine, I ass Ame you :neart -I calked to my ] aide who called Captein Prater, who was the Highway Pat: en duty there whD advised Lieutenant Saunders who adviGI she was in good baalth and spirits. FRYE; Is the Patrol reeping an eye on that situation? GOVERNOR: On that situation? I assume that they are ki .11, 1h1. itu.tin -f y
PAGE 20
... -.. .....stIhv lwy huhtta he o u frpb --yk -hr yu a yotl ie sthswog GOVRNR:No Ido'tthnkitlel w -on 1o t s r o o
|
