James McIntyre

Oral History detailed view.

Speakers: James McIntyre, Hubert Harris, Van Doorn Ooms

Date: October 28, 1981

Description:

James McIntyre joins two of his associates at OMB, congressional liaison Hubert Harris and chief economist Van Ooms, to discuss the administration's economic policy and some general thoughts on the Carter presidency. Each of the three officials participates equally in the interview, which takes the form of a roundtable discussion with the interview team serving as moderators.

It begins with the early months of the presidency; how the OMB was organized and the policy issues immediately facing the new economic team (1978 amended budget, 1979 budget, reorganization plans, etc.). For the remainder of the first day, the interviewees examine various issues (inflation, balanced budget), processes (budget task force, Carter's role in policymaking, interactions with Congress and the public), and OMB's role in setting the administration's policy agenda. Also covered is how the rest of the White House apparatus (organization of the White House Staff, decision-making structure, coordination of policy, and relations with Congress) affected economic policymaking. Day Two of the interview steps back from economic policy and focuses on broader topics regarding the Carter presidency. A variety of issues — Carter as a politician, the domestic policy staff, the "malaise" speech, and what a second Carter term would have looked like — are covered in detail.

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