"For love of liberty," I said, in New York Harbor, "our forebears fought a war for independence. For love of liberty, those who came before us tamed a vast wilderness. For love of liberty, Americans championed and still champion the cause of human freedom in far-off lands." Tax reform may at first seem less dramatic, less inspiring, than the battle for independence or the settling of our continent. But in truth, it belongs on the same plane as those great efforts. For it involves nothing less than the reassertion of the will of the people, the reassertion, as I've said, of the people's interest against the special interests. And, my friends, for love of liberty, we must see it accomplished. Can I count on your help? [Applause] Now, I just mentioned simplifying the Tax Code a couple of times. But I can't quit without just giving you a little example. We all know when we sit down there before April 15th what we're up against. Lately I've had to have somebody else make out my tax bill. And you know something? Even after it's made out I can't understand it. [Laughter] The whole income tax started in the Constitution with 16 words-in the amendment. Now it takes a 57-foot-long shelf to hold all the tax books that have to do with all the rules and regulations of the income tax. So, before concluding, I just wanted to speak to you about something from the International-or the Internal Revenue Code. It is the last sentence of section 509A of the code and it reads: "For purposes of paragraph 3, an organization described in paragraph 2 shall be deemed to include an organization described in section 501C-4, 5, or 6, which would be described in paragraph 2 if it were an organization described in section 501C-3." And that's just one sentence out of those 57 feet of books. [Laughter] Well, it's time for me to head back to Washington and get to work, but before we leave I want to show you something that Jeremiah gave me the last time that I visited your good State. He-you can read it-he told me that it would help cut taxes down to size. And here it is: our original tax ax. [Laughter] Now, I've been sharpening this thing. Now let's get back to Washington and put it to use. Thank you, and God bless you all. Note: The President spoke at 12:27 p.m. at the Dothan Civic Center. He was introduced by Senator Jeremiah A. Denton of Alabama. United States Ambassador to Spain Nomination of Reginald Bartholomew. July 11, 1986 The President today announced his intention to nominate Reginald Bartholomew, of Virginia, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be Ambassador to Spain. He would succeed Thomas Ostrom Enders. Mr. Bartholomew was an adviser, Committee on International Relations at the University of Chicago, 1960-1962, and from 1961 to 1962, he was an instructor in social sciences at the university. From 1962 to 1963, he was a research fellow, Social Sciences Research Council in Paris, France. He returned to the University of Chicago in 1963, as an instructor in social sciences until 1964, when he became a lecturer in government at Wesleyan University. In 1968 he went with the Department of Defense and served in the following capacities until 1974: analyst, policy planning staff, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, 1968-1969; deputy director, policy planning staff, 19691973; director, policy plans for National Security Council affairs and task force on mutual and balanced force reductions, 1972-1974; and director of the policy planning staff, 1973-1974. In 1974 Mr. Bartholomew came with the Department of State and served until 1977 as the deputy director of the policy planning staff. In 1977 he became Deputy Director of the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs and then went on detail to the National Security Council at the White House until 1979. He then returned to the Department of State as director of the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs. From 1981 to 1982, he was Special Cyprus Coordinator in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs and in 1982 became United States Special Negotiator for United States-Greek Defense and Economic Cooperation (base) Negotiations, for which he was accorded the personal rank of Ambassador in December 1982. Mr. Bartholomew was then appointed Ambassador to the Republic of Lebanon, where he served 19831986. Mr. Bartholomew was born February 17, 1936, in Portland, ME. He received his B.A. in 1958 from Dartmouth College and his M.A. in 1960 from the University of Chicago. His foreign languages are French, German, Italian, and Spanish. He is married to the former Rose-Anne Dognin, and they have four children. Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation Appointment of Richard A. Hauser as a Member. July 11, 1986 The President today announced his intention to appoint Richard A. Hauser to be a member of the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation for the remainder of the term expiring October 26, 1986, where he would succeed Anne Wexler, and for a term expiring October 26, 1992. Mr. Hauser is currently a partner with the law firm of Baker and Hostetler in Washington, DC. Previously he was Deputy Counsel to the President, the White House, 1981-1986. Mr. Hauser graduated from the University of Pennsylvania (B.S., 1965) and the University of Miami School of Law (J.D., 1968). He is married, has five children, and resides in Washington, DC. Mr. Hauser was born February 26, 1943, in Litchfield, IL. National White House Conference on Small Business Appointment of Robert F. Killough as a Delegate. July 11, 1986 The President today announced his intention to appoint Robert F. Killough to be a delegate to the National White House Conference on Small Business. This is a new position. Mr. Killough is president emeritus and consultant to Killough, Inc., an engineering business in Ottawa, KS. He graduated from Kansas State University (B.S., 1944). Mr. Killough resides in Ottawa, KS, and was born September 9, 1922, in Gardner, KS. State Justice Institute Nomination of Nine Members of the Board of Directors. July 11, 1986 The President today announced his intention to nominate the following individuals to be members of the Board of Directors of the State Justice Institute. These are new positions: For terms of 2 years, from the date of the first meeting of the Board: Lawrence H. Cooke, of New York. Mr. Cooke is currently senior cousel (litigation) with Hall, Dickler, Lawler, Kent and Friedman in New York. Previously, he was associate justice, New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, 1969-1974; and associate judge, then chief judge, New York Court of Appeals, 1974-1984. Mr. Cooke graduated from Georgetown University (B.S., 1935) and Albany Law School (LL.B., 1938). He is married and has three children. Mr. Cooke was born October 15, 1914, in Monticello, NY. John F. Daffron, Jr., of Virginia. Mr. Daffron is currently chief judge, 12th Judicial Circuit, Chesterfield Circuit Court. Previously, he was U.S. Magistrate, Eastern District of Virginia, 1970-1973; and judge, General District Court, 1973-1981. He graduated from the University of Richmond (B.A., 1961; LL.B., 1964). Mr. Daffron is married and has four children. He was born January 25, 1939, in Richmond, VA. Daniel John Meador, of Virginia. Mr. Meador is currently a James Monroe Professor of Law at the University of Virginia Law School. Previously he was Assistant Attorney General, Office for Improvement in the Administration of Justice, Department of Justice, 1977-1979. Mr. Meador graduated from Auburn University (B.S., 1949), University of Alabama (J.D., 1951), and Harvard University (LL.M., 1954). He is married and has three children. Mr. Meador was born December 7, 1926, in Selma, AL. Rodney Alton Peeples, of South Carolina. Mr. Peeples is currently a resident judge with the Second Judicial Circuit of the South Carolina Judicial Court. Previously he was a State trial judge and practiced law with the firm of Blatt, Fales and Peeples, 1964-1974. Mr. Peeples graduated from the University of South Carolina (B.S., 1961; J.D., 1964). He is married and has two children. Mr. Peeples was born January 8, 1940, in Hampton, SC. Clement Clay Torbert, Jr., of Alabama. Judge Torbert is currently the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama. Previously he was a municipal judge in Opelika, AL. Judge Torbert graduated from Auburn University (B.S., 1951) and the University of Alabama (LL.B., 1954). He is married and has three children. Judge Torbert was born August 31, 1929, in Opelika, AL. For terms of 3 years, from the date of the first meeting of the Board: James Duke Cameron, of Arizona. Judge Came ron is currently a justice on the Arizona Supreme Court. Previously he was the chief justice, 1975-1980. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley (A.B., 1950), the University of Arizona (J.D., 1954), and the University of Virginia (LL.M., 1982). Judge Cameron was born March 25, 1925, in Richmond, CA. Janice L. Gradwohl, of Nebraska. Judge Gradwohl is the presiding judge of the County Court of Nebraska. Previously she was a judge of Municipal Court in Lincoln. Judge Gradwohl graduated from the University of Nebraska (B.A., 1951; LL.B., 1954). She is married and has three children. Judge Gradwohl was born May 4, 1929, in Norfolk, NE. Sandra Ann O'Connor, of Maryland. Mrs. O'Connor is a State's Attorney, Baltimore County. Previously she was an Assistant State's Attorney in Baltimore City. She graduated from Indiana University (B.S., 1964; J.D., 1966). Mrs. O'Connor is married and has two children. She was born February 4, 1943, in Louisiville, KY. Larry P. Polansky, of Virginia. Mr. Polansky is executive officer of the District of Columbia Courts. Previously he was Deputy State Court Administrator of Pennsylvania, 1976-1978. Mr. Polansky graduated from Temple University (B.S., 1985; J.D., 1973). He is married and was born July 24, 1932, in Brooklyn, NY. Board for International Food and Agricultural Development Appointment of Two Members, and Designation of Chairman. July 11, 1986 The President today announced his intention to appoint the following individuals to be members of the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development for terms of 3 years. William E. Lavery, of Virginia. He would succeed E.T. York, and upon appointment Mr. Lavery will be designated Chairman. Mr. Lavery is president, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, VA, a position he has held since 1975. Previously he was executive vice president, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 19731975. Mr. Lavery graduated from George Washington University (M.A., 1959) and the University of Wisconsin (Ph.D., 1962). He is married, has four children, and resides in Blacksburg, VA. Mr. Lavery was born November 20, 1930, in Geneseo, NY. Hugh O. La Bounty, of California. He would succeed Warren J. Baker. Mr. La Bounty is president, California State Polytechnic University at Pomona, a position he has held since 1978. Previously he was executive vice president, California State Polytechnic University, 1976-1977. Mr. La Bounty graduated from the University of Redlands (B.A., 1950; M.A., 1952) and the University of California at Los Angeles (Ed.D., 1961). He has five children and resides in Glendora, CA. Mr. La Bounty was born September 22, 1927, in Chicago, IL. Federal National Mortgage Association Appointment of Three Members of the Board of Directors. July 11, 1986 The President today announced his intention to appoint the following individuals to be members of the Board of Directors of the Federal National Mortgage Association for terms ending on the date of the annual meeting of the stockholders in 1987: Samuel W. Bartholomew, Jr., of Tennessee. This is a reappointment. Mr. Bartholomew is founder and principal of Donelson, Stokes & Bartholomew, a law firm in Nashville. Previously he was director of corporate development for the First American Bank Holding Co., 19731976. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy (B.S., 1966) and Vanderbilt law school (J.D., 1973). He is married, has three children, and resides in Nashville. Mr. Bartholomew was born July 6, 1944, in Columbus, GA. Henry C. Cashen II, of the District of Columbia. This is a reappointment. Mr. Cashen is a partner with the law firm of Dickstein, Shapiro and Morin. Previously he was Deputy Assistant to the President, White House Liaison with Public Sector, the White House, 1971-1973. He graduated from Brown University (A.B., 1961) and the University of Michigan (J.D., 1963). He has three children and resides in Washington, DC. Mr. Cashen was born June 25, 1939, in Detroit, MI. George L. Clark, Jr., of New York. He would succeed Dianne E. Ingels. Mr. Clark is vice president, George L. Clark, Inc., Realtors, a firm he started in 1962. He graduated from St. John's University (B.S., 1962). Mr. Clark is married, has four children, and resides in Brooklyn. He was born January 4, 1941, in Brooklyn, NY. Sentencing Guidelines Act of 1986 Statement on Signing H.R. 4801 Into Law. July 11, 1986 I am today approving H.R. 4801, but I do so with serious reservations. First, I am concerned by the extremely wide latitude allowed the United States Sentencing Commission in setting guidelines for offenses carrying a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment. The purpose of the Sentencing Reform Act, which I submitted to the Congress as part of the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1983, was to establish a determinate sentencing system with narrow sentencing ranges for criminal offenses. The range of up to 6 months provided in this bill is far in excess of what we visualized in 1983 and, if implemented by the Sentencing Commission, would restore an undue measure of discretion to judges that could threaten to undermine the core purpose of the Sentencing Reform Act to establish fairness and certainty in sentencing by confining judicial discretion within a relatively narrow range. Second, the bill contains a technical flaw that may create an ambiguity with respect to the permissible range limits for life sentences. The word "maximum" in the next to last line should be "minimum." This error should be corrected before the guidelines take effect. Third, I am concerned about this bill because it is only a small part of the much more comprehensive and much more important Senate bill, S. 1236, which would make dozens of needed technical and minor changes in the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984, Public Law 98473. I therefore approve this bill with the understanding that the Sentencing Commission does not expect to utilize the full 6month range for offenses carrying a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment and the expectation that the technical deficiencies will be corrected. The broad Senatepassed bill, S. 1236, which passed the Senate unanimously, unfortunately remains pending before the House Judiciary Committee. I hope the Congress will not abandon S. 1236, and I urge its prompt consideration by the House of Representatives. Note: As enacted, H.R. 4801 is Public Law 99-363, approved July 11. Department of the Treasury Nomination of William F. Nelson To Be The President today announced his intention to nominate William F. Nelson to be an Assistant General Counsel in the Department of the Treasury (Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service). He would succeed Fred T. Goldberg, Jr. Mr. Nelson is a partner with the firm of King & Spaulding in Atlanta, GA, a position he has held since 1978; and previously he was an associate with that firm, 1972-1978. He graduated from Mississippi State University (B.S., 1969) and the University of Virginia (J.D., 1972). He has three children and resides in Atlanta, GA. Mr. Nelson was born May 2, 1947, in Jackson, MS. Postal Rate Commission Nomination of Janet D. Steiger To Be a Commissioner, and Designation as Chairman. July 11, 1986 The President today announced his intention to nominate Janet D. Steiger, of the District of Columbia, to be a Commissioner of the Postal Rate Commission for the term expiring October 14, 1992. This is a reappointment. Upon confirmation she will be redesignated Chairman. Since 1980 Mrs. Steiger has been serving in the capacity of Chairman of the Postal Rate Commission. Previously, she was research associate to the National Academy of Public Administration from 1978-1980, and vice president of the Work Place, Inc., from 1975-1980. Mrs. Steiger has also served as a consultant on educational and public health matters in Washington, DC. She graduated from Lawrence University (B.A., 1961) and pursued graduate study in education at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She has one child and resides in Washington, DC. Mrs. Steiger was born June 10, 1939, in Oshkosh, WI. Federal National Mortgage Association Appointment of Vance C. Miller as a Member of the Board of Directors. July 11, 1986 The President today announced his intention to appoint Vance C. Miller to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal National Mortgage Association for a term ending on the date of the annual meeting of the stockholders in 1987. He would succeed Merrill Butler. Mr. Miller is chairman of the board of Henry S. Miller Co., a position he has held since 1980. He began with the company in 1959 as a salesman, and in 1970 he was named president. Mr. Miller has served as president of the Institute of Real Estate Management of the National Association of Realtors. He currently serves as a director of the National Association of Realtors and Texas Association of Realtors. Mr. Miller graduated from Southern Methodist University (B.BA., 1956). He is married, has four children, and resides in Dallas, TX. Mr. Miller was born October 19, 1933, in Seminole, OK. Digest of Other White House Announcements The following list includes the President's public schedule and other items of general interest announced by the Office of the Press Secretary and not included elsewhere in this issue. July 5 The President returned to the White House after participating in activities commemorating the centennial of the Statue of Liberty and Independence Day in New York City. July 7 The President met at the White House with: -members of the White House staff; -Judge Antonin Scalia, nominee for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. In the morning, the President telephoned Prime Minster Yasuhiro Nakasone of Japan to extend his congratulations on the Liberal Democratic Party's election victory. July 8 The President met at the White House with: -members of the White House staff; -the Vice President, for lunch; -Secretary of the Treasury James A. Baker III and Beryl W. Sprinkel, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, to discuss the economy. |