And for too many years this process has come to easily for us. Weve lived beyond our means and then financed our extravagance on the backs of the american people. The clear message i received in the Election Campaign is that we must gain control of this inflationary monster. Let me briefly review. American people what weve already done within moments of taking the oath of office. I placed a freeze on the hiring of civilian employees in the federal government. Two days later. I issued an order to cut down on Government Travel reduce the number of consultants to the government. Stop the procurement of certain items and called on my appointees to exercise restraint in their own offices. Yesterday i announced the elimination of remaining federal controls on us Oil Production and marketing. Today im announcing two more actions to reduce the size of the federal government. First im taking major steps toward the elimination of the council on Wage And Price stability. This council has been a failure. It has been totally ineffective in controlling inflation and its imposed unnecessary burdens on labor and business. Therefore im now ending the Wage And Price program of the council. I am eliminating the staff that carries out its Wage Pricing activities, and im asking congress to rescind its budget saving the taxpayers some one and a half million dollars a year. My second Decision Today is a directive ordering key federal agencies to freeze pending regulations for 60 days. This action gives my administration time to start a new regulatory Oversight Process and also prevents certain lastminute regulatory decisions of the previous administration the so called midnight regulations from taking effect without proper review and approval. All of us should remember that the federal government is not some mysterious institution composed prized of buildings files and paper. The people are the government what we create we ought to be able to control. I do not intend to make wildly skyrocketing deficits and runaway governments simple facts of life in this administration. As ive said our ills have come upon us over several decades and they will not go away in days or weeks or months. But i want the american people to know that we have begun. Now ill be happy to take your questions helen. Will your Policy Part Iran be one of Revenge Or Reconciliation . And will be right on the recently since you approved of most of them during the campaign. Well, im not certainly not thinking of revenge. And i dont know whether reconciliation would be possible with the present Government Or Absence of the government in iran. I think that the United States. Will honor it the obligations as a matter of fact the most important of those were already put into effect by the preceding administration in negotiating the release. We are however studying because there were four major agreements and there were nine executive orders and we are studying thoroughly. What is a pretty complex matter we discovered. With regard to whether they are in keeping with international and national our own. National laws and so i wont be able to really answer your questions on specifics until weve completed that study. Terry said monday that your budget cuts will be of a much higher magnitude than most people thought they would be you said there would be across the board now that youve had some time to study the budget. Can you say where these where these cuts will be made what program will feel the cuts the most . Theyll be made every place what we meant by maybe across the board with the wrong decision. Although it describes it what i meant was that no one is exempt. From being looked at for areas in which we can make cuts in in spending and yes, they probably are going to be bigger than anyone has ever attempted because theres this administration did not come here to be a Caretaker Government and just hope we could go along the same way and maybe do it a little better. We think the time has come. Has to be a change of direction of this country and its going to begin with reducing government spending. And mr. President in your welcoming address to the freedom americans you sounded a warning of swift and effective retribution in future terrorist situations. What kind of action are you prepared to take to back up this hard rhetoric . Well thats a question that i dont think you you can or should answer in as to specifics. This is a big and its a powerful nation. It has a lot of options open to it. And to try and specify now just particularly what you should do. I think is one of the things thats been wrong. People have gone to bed in some of these countries that have done these things to us in the past confident that they can go to sleep. Wake up in the morning in the united States Wouldnt have taken any action. What i meant by that phrase was that. Anyone who . Does these things . Things violates our rights in the future is not going to be able to go to bed with that confidence. Well mr. President you campaigned brother most sypherously against the salt too treaty saying it was slanted to get slanted toward the soviet union yet. I noticed your secretary of state mr. Hague now seems to suggest that for the time being at least the United States will abide by the limits of the salt to treat any hopes the soviet union will too. How long you intend that the United States should abide by the terms of assault agreement, which you consider inequitable and what do you consider its greatest inequities to be . Well the Soul Trudy for treaty. First of all, i think permits a continued buildup on both sides of strategic nuclear weapons, but for in the main thing authorizes and immediate increase in large numbers of soviet warheads. There is no verification as to the number of warheads on the missile no method for us to do this. I dont think that a treaty sought means strategic arms limitation. That actually permits a buildup on both sides. Of strategic nuclear weapons is can properly be called that and i have said that when we can and i am willing for our people to go into negotiate or let me say discussions leading to negotiations. That we should start negotiating on the basis of trying to affect an actual reduction in the numbers of nuclear weapons. That would then be real strategic arms limitation and i happen to believe also that you cant sit down at a table in just negotiate that unless you take into Account And Consideration at that table all the other things that are going on in other words. I believe in linkage. Family this president what do you see as the longrange intentions of the so union do you think for instance the kremlin is bent on World Domination that might lead to a continuation of the cold war or do you think that under other circumstances . They taught is possible . Well so far daytona has been a oneway street and soviet union is used to pursue its own aims. I dont have to think of an answer as to what i think their intentions. Are they have repeated it. I know of no leader. Of the soviet union since the revolution in including the present leadership that has not more than once repeated in the various communist congress as they hold. Their determination that their goal must be the promotion of World Revolution and a oneworld socialist or communist state whichever words you want to use now as long long as they do that. And as long as they at the same time have openly and publicly declared that the only morality they recognize is what will further their Cause Meaning they reserve under themselves the right to commit any crime to lie to cheat in order to attain that and that is moral. Not immoral and we operate on a different set of standards. I think when you do business with them even at a day taught you keep that in mind. Let me take someone young lady mr. President. Whats your opinion of american companies that now want to resume business with iran . My opinion of american companies that want to resume business with iran. I hope theyre going to do it by long distance. We wouldnt want to. Go back to having just a different cast of characters, but the same show going on. And i can understand that particularly in the field of energy. Theyre wanting to do that but we are. Were urging. And the people think long and hard before they travel to iran because we dont think theyre safety can be guaranteed there. And then three americans are still incarcerated in vietnam. Can you tell us the status of their cases and whether the administration is doing anything to get them back . I have told our people about those three they knew about them, of course, but have told them that yes, we continue and we want to get them back also now, i know ive been staying down front here too much. I got to prove i can look at the back rose there too. Sorry. Okay, mr. President some administrative officials have Promise Adherence to the civil rights laws, which are on the books, but there has been considerable discussion about this mantling the affirmative Action Aspect of that. Those laws to some people greater meaning and im wondering mr. President if there will be a retreat in the federal government on the governments of vocacy and perform the vaccine programs, generally and in federal hiring of blacks and hispanics specifically no, there will be no retreat. This administration is going to be dedicated to equality. I think weve made great progress in the civil rights field. I think there are some things however that have that may not be as useful as they once were or that may even be distorted in the practice such as some affirmative action programs becoming quota systems, and im old enough to remember when quotas. Existed in the United States for the purpose of discrimination and i dont want to see that happen again. Plan and how will you seek . He control of natural gas prices. Well, we havent dealt with that problem yet. We thought oil would do for a starter, but i cant really answer your question. That will be a matter for discussion in future Cabinet Meetings, lou and mr. President during the campaign you repeatedly talked about the unfairness of the Grain Embargo as you saw if you have second thoughts now or will you lift the Grain Embargo . But with the Grain Embargo my quarrel with it from the first was that i thought it was. It was asking only one group of americans and to participate the farmers. It was not you only have two choices with an embargo you either lift it or you broaden it. And we have not made a decision except that at the request of secretary of agriculture john block. I have taken the matter of the embargo out of you might say the discussions of the national Security Council and it next week is going to is on the agenda for a full Cabinet Meeting as to what our course will be. So i Cant Answer what we do about it until next week it as i say it was asking one group of americans to bear the burden. And i have always thought was. More of a kind of gesture than it was a something real. Yes, maam. Right. What do you do to honor the request by federal officials while from atlanta officials for you and the federal government to intervene in the atlantic . Case of 17 missing or black children just a few minutes before i came in here. That message was handed to me that the atlanta mayor wanted to talk and we are going to get someone in touch with him immediately. Now you recognize of course that possibly a civil rights would be the only basis upon which we could have any jurisdiction down there in this it for fbi for example on any other thing. Theres been no evidence of crossing state lines or anything. And yet we want to be helpful because that is a most tragic case and so we will be meeting on that very shortly. When the jamaican prime minister was here Yesterday Mr. Ciaga. He suggested publicly that now might be a good time for you as the new president to have a foreign Policy Initiative for latin america. And for the caribbean do you intend to follow that suggestion and if so, how would your policies differ from those of former President Carter . But i think weve seen a great reverse in the caribbean situation and it came about through prime minister cias election. It was the turnover or turn around. Of a nation that had gone. But it certainly in the direction of the communist movement. Kind of a was a protege of castro. And his election was great. Greeted by me with great enthusiasm because it represented the people by their vote having experienced that kind of government turned another direction and i think this opens the door. For us to have a policy in the mediterranean. Of bringing them back in those countries that might have started in that direction or keeping them. In the western world on the free world and so we are looking forward to cooperation with prime minister siaga. President i think you met caribbean in that last answer. Oh, im in caribbean. Im sorry. What are you intend to do mr. President about the Draft Registration Law that was passed during President Carters administration and in view of your opposition to it and the campaign. How is that consistent with your about intention to strengthen our national defenses . Well to answer the last part first. I just didnt feel that the Advance Registration on all the evidence we could get. Materially speed up the process if an emergency required the draft. It did create a bureaucracy. It caused certainly some Unrest And Dissatisfaction and we were told that it would only be a matter of several days if we had to call up an address that we could do that several days earlier with the registration then we would be able to if there was no registration at all. We is one Thats Something to be looked at further down. Ive only been here nine days and most of these nine days have been spent in Cabinet Meetings on the economy getting ready to send our package up to the hill and so i i just have to tell you that we will be dealing with that meet with that and make a decision on what to do with it down the Road Someplace gary the president speaking of your economic package. Can you give us your thoughts on an effective date for the tax cuts that you plan to recommend and your economic Recovery Plan Plan and specifying whether you prefer one effective date for business and another for personal cuts or whether youd like to combine them. Id like to see it all go forward all at once as to date. I know theres been talk about whether it should be retroactive back or whether it should be as of that minute that to me isnt as important as getting for individuals the principle of a 10 cut for each of three years. And the business taxes also so that we can all look forward with some confidence of stability in the program and were going to strive for that and i cant really answer you about what the date will be until we submit the package and maybe the president i know you said earlier that you are not thinking of revenge toward iran, but does that preclude any punishment whatsoever for what they do . Well again, i have to ask your forbearance and wait until weve finished our study of this whole situation as to what were going to do. I i dont think that any of us have a friendly feeling toward the people that have done they have done. But i think its too complex for me to answer until weve had time to really study this are you . You go so far as to encourage american businesses to resume. Commercial trade in the ram at this point no. And the president you intend to follow through with your campaign pledges to abolish the department of energy and education. I have not retreated from that at all. Yes the process however that i have asked for is for both the Secretary Bill of Education And Secretary Jim Edwards of of energy to reorganize to produce the most effective streamlining of the department of their departments that they can in education to look at the appropriate role of the federal government in education if there is one and to report back and then we will decide making our recommendations. Much the same thing holds true with the department of energy. The reason for this being that they while they were new Cabinet Level agencies, they incorporated Government Functions and programs that had been going on. In them and they came under that umbrella and we have to find out. Which of those functions that have been a federal Government Function continuing where they would best fit but yes, im determined that and i believe that it was wrong to have created the two agencies to begin with now there mr. President during the campaign your chief times spokesman, but you on record as favoriting for the time being continuation of the Dairy Price Support level where it had been within the last couple of days your Budget Director and your secretary of agriculture. Ive indicated that the Dairy Program is too expensive and should be cut back. Could you reconcile those differences of approach for us . Well, i could only tell you that this again something to wait for the next cabinet. All of these things that are worked out between the appropriate cabinet members and our director of office and although mb and then they come to the cabinet for full discussion. So that others who have an interest in this and can have their input and so i Cant Answer because that has not yet. Come to the cabinet a young lady Jesus Stability of the world given the antietam sentiment there. How do you best think the United States can ensure this to ability at the region . Of the you you said iran the border between iran and soviet union . Well, i think one of the first things that has to happen is for stability has got to be in iran itself to establish a government that can speak as a government for Iran And Part of our problem in all these long 44 days has been the inability of anyone seemingly to speak for that nation to have a government now. I think that any country would want to help another if they really showed an intent to have a government that would abide by international law. And do what they could to help them in that regard, but until such a thing appears apparent there. I dont know that Theres Anything we can do. And now no i young lady mr. President if its your intention to signal the world that this country will respond with swift retribution in cases of international terrorism in the future. Why is it your policy not to retaliate against iran . But what good . Just revenge due and what what . Form, would that take . I i dont think revenge is worthy of us. On the other hand i dont think we act as if this never happened. And id rather wait until as i say we complete this day who said i know ive been in this side too long, but someone said Por Favor and but with the president. Yes still i got impressed when i listen the other day viva la roja la blanca. Yasul mr. President isnt true that when hispanied are giving the opportunity to serve this country. They start the country with billions and his heart. In view of these on this beautiful are you going for point hispanic american to serve in your Administration Policy making policies . We are definitely recruiting and definitely trying to do that. I want an administration that will be representative at the country as a whole. And please dont judge us on the fact that we have only picked a hundred. There will be 1,700 positions to feel in the executive branch in the white house senior Staff And Staff and the personnel committee. In our administration that is Talent Hunting and looking for these people contains. Members of the minorities hispanics and even a majority of women and we we want that very much. So dont judge us now by the tip of the iceberg wait till its all in. Federal Reserve Board has been implementing policies that are exactly opposite in basic thrust from what you recommend. He has been squeezing the productive sector of the economy in favor of the speculative sector now. I mean franklin mr. President , there are important sections of the american economy that are about to go under and wont even have an opportunity to benefit from the programs that youre putting forward because of the Federal Reserves policy. I have two part question. First of all, do you think that objective economic conditions justify the Interest Rate levels that we now have and i dont mean for your answer to imply criticism of the fed. Its just objective questions and the second question is are you concerned that there might be a sabotage so to speak of your policies by programs that the Federal Reserve might be putting forward. No, im not concerned that there would be sabotage. Ive met with mr. Volker and not with the intention of trying to dictate because it is an independent and i respect that but i think that we have to face the fact that Interest Rates are not in themselves a cause of operation there are consequence. And when you have as we have had double Digit Inflation back to back for two solid years now that last time that happened was in World War one. And when you have double Digit Inflation there that way there is no question that Interest Rates are going to have to go up and follow that inflation rate. And so the answer to the Interest Rates is going to be our program of reducing government spending. Tied to the reduction of the tax rates that we spoke enough to bring down Inflation And Youll follow a fine that Interest Rates come down. We do want from the fed and would ask for a moderate policy of Money Supply increasing relative to legitimate growth. All of these things have to work together. But i i dont think that the fed just deliberately raises Interest Rates. The reason that weve got to tie taxes and we have to cut. Tie spending together is we for all these decades weve talked and weve talked about solving these problems and weve act as if the two were separate. So one year we fight inflation and then unemployment goes up and then the next year we fight Unemployment And Inflation goes up. Its time to keep the two together where they belong and thats what were going to do. Yes, sir. The president. Of conservative leaders among them some of your conscious and most durable supporters such as very concerned about some of your appointments the basis of the concern is that many people who have been long time reaganites and supporters of yours. Do not seem to be able to get jobs like Bill Van cleave who played a key role on your defense transition team. Whereas other individuals who have not supported you throughout the years or your philosophy like mr. Terrell bell the secretary of education who was for the establishment of the department, which youve said youre going to abolish and mr. Frank Carlucci Secretary of defense who was not a of yours that they have gotten jobs. My question is why are these individuals in your administration . Why isnt mr. Van cleave and how much of a problem do you think this conservative dissatisfaction with . Your appointments is . The only problem that ive had that is more difficult than knowing which hand raised a point to here and believe me it bothers me. I go home feeling guilty and all the hands that i couldnt point to. The only problem greater ive had is in the selection of personnel now in many instances some of the people that have been mentioned whos knowing has been mentioned by others did not want to position in the administration helped work very hard and wanted nothing for it. But you also have to recognize there arent that many positions . After all, look, how many votes ahead you cant reward them all, but thank you. All right. Thank you over it. Dont feel guilty. Okay, right. Those are the fantastic question like the new system who didnt hate. And american History Tv on cspan 3 every weekend documenting Americas Story Funding comes from these television companies and more including comcast. Are you think this is just a Community Center . No, its way more than that. Comcast is partnering with a thousand Community Centers to create wifi enabled lift zones. So students from lowincome families can get the tools. They need to ready for anything. Comcast along with these television companies supports american History Tv on cspan 3 as a public service. Thursday on american History Tv will feature a first Ladies Symposium cohosted by the white house historical association and american universitys first ladies initiative. That begins at 8pm eastern on american History Tv. Former minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin was convicted in the murder of George Floyd and is scheduled to be sentenced this friday. His defense has asked for probation prosecutors are seeking 30 years in prison watch the Court Proceeding live friday at 2 30 pm eastern on Cspan Online at cspan. Org or you can listen on the free cspan radio app. President Ronald Reagan addressed a joint session of congress in february of 1981 shortly after his inauguration up next on the presidency. We hear the new President Talk about the economic health of the country from inflation Interest Rates and unemployment to taxes and the national debt. This was his first speech to members of the house and senate. Us will be an otter. Mr. Speaker the chief justice in the United States the Associate Justice of the supreme court admit the chief justice and the Associates Justice of the supreme court