European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 11, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Paring costs of the Imperial former presidency new York times like so wan y other areas of government the Cost of supporting former presidents steadily. But with Congress acutely conscious of the cat for deficit reduction Lormer presidents May be about to face Tenner times. Sen. Lawton Chiles has Long argued Lor lighter limits on financing what he Calls thai Imperial former presidency.". When Harry s. Truman received i he first congressional stipend the Florida Democrat says in Cost taxpayers $64.000 a year the 19b6 Bill Lormer presidents is expected to reach almost $26 million. By Law Farmer presidents Carter Ford and Nixon each can now gel up to $1.1 million a year combined Lor their pensions and office and inv cd expenses. In addition they arc on Iliad to Protection by the secret service which this year is unofficially estimated to Cost s3 million each Lor Carter and Ford. Since last july. Nixon has been paying Lor his Protection himself the Agency declines so say How Many people it assigns to the Job or what the Protection costs. The government also pays to operate and maintain presidential libraries built with private funds which i his year will Cost a bout $ 1 a. 6 million. Chiles has in reduced legislation in each o the last four congresses to hold Down costs in office allowances Secrel service Protection a and Library operation and maintenance. Thus far. Only the Library provision seems to be on its Way toward becoming Law because that provision seemed to have the greatest Chance for passage an aide said Chiles split his package into two allowing members to support Library limits without having to address the More sensitive area of secret Sei Vico pre Lection. As a result both the House and Senate have adopted legislation to limit the size of Tulare presidential libraries and to require Hal former presidents raise an endowment to help pay Lor Library maintenance. Although minor differences remain Between the two Chambers Bills an aide to the chief House sponsor rep. Glenn English 0-okla. Says he expects a Bill to come before president Reagan soon to secure Reagan s support the Bill specifically exempts the Reagan Library scheduled to be built at Stanford University from the space and endowment restrictions although some members of Congress have encouraged the president to voluntarily comply with the Bill. According to Chiles the need to limit the size of libraries stems from the steady increase in the_si2e of the slur clues built to House former presidents documents and Memorabilia. Franklin d. Roosevelt who occupied the presidency Lor Mare than 12 years has his documents housed in a 51 000-Square-foct Library Gerald r. Ford who held he office Tor less than two years has a 7b,000-Square Root facility. I s just gotten Oul of Chiles said. But while the Teflon to restrain the size of libraries appears close to succeeding prospects for legislation of restrict office allowances and Secrel service Protection Are cloudier. The new Federal deficit reduction Law is expected to reduce the office allowances to e certain extent and few members express serious reservations about 9t0200trimming the office allowances says Robert Coakley a legislative aide to Chiles. But Many have raised doubts about the Wisdom of sunday May 11, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 17 reducing former leaders Security. Under current Law All Lormer presidents and their spouses Are entitled to around the clock Secrel service pre Lection for As Long. As they live or in the Case of a spouse until he or she remarries. Children May also be provided with Protection until they turn 16 years of age. Chiles proposes to end Protection lot a president after he has been out of Ollice Lor live years and for his wife and children Afler two years protect ton could is ill be provided if Theio was a special risk to the family. Nixon Ford and Carter would be covered by the Bill but their terms would be considered to have ended upon the legislation s enactment so they would retain their Protection for five years from that Dato. Coakley Points out thai even alter the Protection had been discontinued ii could be arranged again in the need arose. Nonetheless members worry about the former president Richard Nixon teen behind a secret service agent continues la be guarded but now pays for the service himself. Former president Jimmy Carter has an office and staff in Atlanta that Are paid with taxpayer Money. Here he warts at his haute computer. Potential consequences of supporting legislation to curtail it. Members Are always asking. What in i Vole Loril. Find then some Lhrig happens " Conkley . The three former presidents currently ulivo have treated their secret service Protection differ Nelly. Though All say they need some Protection whether paid for by the government or by themselves this Protection thing is Sotl of Tricky said Bob. Barrett a spokesman for Ford. Ford continues to receive Secrel service Protection but would support cutting Down on the number of agents assigned i o guard Lormer president Send their families Barrell said. Carter is also accompanied by Secrel service agents though to asked that Protection for his daughter. Amy be stopped before she reached 16, Whan it would normally have been discontinued Nixon gave up his secret service Protection last july 31. He continues to be guarded according loan aide. John h. Taylor bul now pays for the Protection him Soll. Or. Ninon believes that former presidents should nol be a Burden on the Federal Taylor said. Taylor also said that in addition to releasing his Secrel service guards. Nixon had ordered Small and travel costs Cut at least 10 percent this year Aboul 5 percent More than would be mandated of the budget balancing Law. Defending the continued secret service Protection Barrett notes that cuts could endanger people around the former presidents especially at a time when americans Are frequently the argot of terrorist activity. Barrel asked do you. Under current circumstances want to get onto a plane with president Ford knowing that he s nol protected1?"
