Memoirs
because there were so many things that the Corps could do for the future of this country. I
mentioned a few in passing. I wished him good luck with his program.
When I got to the office Monday morning, the letter was all prepared. I gave it to Bob
Marshall to read and asked for his comments. Bob said, "It's a great letter, Chief, but I
wouldn't send it." I asked why not. He said, "Well, you'll probably lose your job." It was a
tough situation, but the future of the Corps was at stake, and I felt that made the letter worth
the risk. I asked Ms. Velsmid to take the letter to the White House immediately before I
changed my mind. I signed it. I did not tell Secretary Alexander or the Chief of Staff. I knew
I could not clear the review process quickly and the iron was hot.
We got a call from Jack Watson of the White House staff saying the president would like me
to come over and talk to him. I was surprised and also happy. I prepared several talking
papers on the Corps' role in recreation, in environment, in water supply, et cetera. I also
made a list of things that the Corps could do: the strategic petroleum reserve, mass
transportation, improve recreation, the quality of life, conservation, things that-1 don't
remember the details because it's been so long ago now; but at any rate, I went over to see
the president well prepared to convince him of the value of the Corps to him and the country.
Mr. Watson was present and noted to me that we had about 15 minutes. Well, it took us an
hour and a half. Along the way, we got on to the Sprewell's Bluff project, which I knew was
the knotty issue underlying his concept and problem with the Corps.
When I was director of Civil Works, Sprewell's Bluff was authorized for a new construction
start and carried million in the budget. The U.S. congressman from that area was Jack
Flynt.
While governor, Carter had come out strongly in opposition to the project. As was the
practice, the Corps did not start new projects if the governor opposed them. If it was under
construction we'd continue, but we would not start. So as director of Civil Works I
personally called OMB and asked Don Crable [or Tom Berry] to put that money on another
project or distribute it elsewhere.
Then Congressman Flynt wanted a resolution prepared which, if passed by the legislature of
Georgia, would override the governor's position. So he asked me if the Corps would draft
it for him. I said, "No," because it was not a federal activity and I didn't want to become
involved. He then asked if I would review a draft if he prepared it. I said, "I'll read it but only
for one
to see if it conflicts with any federal regulations." So he drafted it and sent
it over. I read it and responded that if it passed, the Corps could perform its role.
So then Flynt sent that down to Georgia. They introduced it in the Georgia legislature, and
the majority of the people voting supported overriding Governor Carter, but because of
absentees the number who voted did not represent the required majority of the total
membership. So the motion failed to carry.
Governor Carter had gotten the idea that the Corps was the bad guy in this, that we had put
in the million, that we had written the legislation, and that we were lobbying against him.
So during our meeting I explained all this to him. He indicated he thought I had written the
legislation. I said, "No, Sir, I refused to write it." I said, "I'm also the fellow that took the
money out of the budget because as soon as I heard you were against it, I didn't want to push
this new start against your wishes as an executive. That's our policy and we used it."
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