University of Virginia Library

Supports President Nixon

The senator has supported
Nixon in Indochina. In fact
he has been called "rather
hawkish" for his frequent
support. He said in August
1972 that he believed the
President to be "on the right
track" in Vietnam.

He did, however, support
Mike Mansfield's 1971
amendment calling for U.S.
military withdrawal upon the
release of American prisoners
of war within nine months.

"Vietnam has shown the
futility of going to war without
the clean-cut, prior support of
the American people," he said.
Now, Byrd is optimistic about the
"Peace" agreement announced
Jan. 23, and he believes that it
can be "a lasting peace."

"I have supported the
President's policy in Indochina.
I am hopeful about the peace
agreement. I think it is a peace
that can work, depending upon
the intent of the North
Vietnamese," he pointed out,
"specifically if they would
resist from further aggression,
and if all the major powers will
exercise proper restraint."

***

In light of his exceptionally
good relations with the White
House, Byrd offered some
analysis about recent
speculation that relations
between Congress and the
executive branch of
government are "strained,"
more precisely over the issue of
"separation of powers."

"I think the relations
between Congress and the
executive branch have been
strained to some extent,
mainly because of the issue of
the 'separation of powers'." He
quickly added, "I think,
however, that they are
basically good."

Furthermore, he told NBC
in early January that he
expected a struggle in Congress
early this year over the
"separation of powers" issue.
He said, however, that he
expected the Congress, based
on an historical perspective, to
win.

"I think the Congress will
be more assertive of its rightful
place in the system of checks
and balances. The struggle will
take place in many areas, for
example, in the area of war
powers, impoundment of
funds, executive privilege and
reorganization of the executive
branch."

Along these lines, Byrd is
critical of the administration's
restrictive $250 billion ceiling
placed on spending, and of the
recent impoundment by the
President of funds
appropriated by Congress.