The Nation: Gerald Ford: They Will See Something Is Being Done

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A. Not unless we have an oil embargo. I don't see rationing unless something of that magnitude takes place.

Q. Can you foresee wage and price controls?

A. I certainly see no wage and price controls in the offing, period. We have found that the wage settlements have been fairly moderate, so I just don't foresee controls as any proper remedy under any circumstances that we can see.

Q. Would you sacrifice some of the environmental controls for the sake of energy policy?

A. There has to be responsible reconsideration of some of the extreme standards that were set. Let me give you an illustration.

On auto emissions, the Secretary of Transportation can extend for one year the present standards. But that means that those other standards [a 40% increase in efficiency of gas per mile] have to be met, I think, in three or four years. The automotive people tell us that they can't achieve those standards [unless] they get some relief on emission standards.

I think the [new] emissions standards that will be agreed upon are thoroughly defendable, but they will be somewhat less than the standards that were set in the law four or five years ago. So there will be a reconsideration based on better data and hopefully it will be a better balance between the environment and energy.

Q. Regarding the problems of leadership with a heavily Democratic Congress, would you think in terms of some kind of coalition approach to solving problems?

A. Obviously the Congress and the White House have to work together. I obviously have to work with Republicans most of the time, but there is a floating coalition up there.

This is the way I worked when I was in the minority leadership post: on some issues we would have a sizable group of Republicans and we would go to Segment A of the Democratic Party. On foreign aid, for example, until recently I could work with the more liberal and more internationally oriented members of the Democratic Party.

On another issue, fiscal affairs, I would work with another element of the Democratic Party. On defense, it would be with even a third or a mixture.

So I think there is a coalition that has to be put together, but it might not be identical in every issue. That has to be a very fluid, floating coalition.

Q. Could this be more formalized in the issues of the economy and energy?

A. I hope there will be a very broad consensus. I think it has to be, primarily because speed is essential in both cases.

Q. How about a coalition Cabinet?

A. Well, Levi is an independent and I guess he has been an identifiable Democrat,* if not an active one, most of his life, and we are certainly going to stand firm on his nomination. I wouldn't rule out another Democrat in the Cabinet, but we are moving slowly.

Q. Back to the economy. Have you come to a set of decisions on what kind of stimulation is required?

A. Yes, we have. There has to be a sufficiently large tax reduction to really have an impact on public confidence. People and business have to feel that there is something meaningful.