Bethpage-Tribune_1972-12-21

              BETHB^GE
OLDBETHB^Gf
also serving I S L A N D T R E ES
PLA1NV1EW RAINEDGE SEAFORD
Vol. 7 No. 6
Thursday, December 21, 1972
Long I s l a n d 's
Republican Congressional
Delegation has called for a
meeting with the
President and a unifying of
the entire New York State
Congressional Delegation
as a starting point in the
fight to bring about the
Defense Department's
renegotiation of the F-14
contract with Grumman.
"The Defense Depart-jwent's
position, which
%ottra-requirei Grummar
to produce 48 additional F-
14 aircrafts at 1968 con­tract
prices, is ill-advised,"
said Rep. John
W. Wydler (R-Garden
City) who requested a
meeting with the
President in a telegram
signed by himself, Rep.
Norman F. Lent (R-East
Rockaway), Rep. James
R. Grover (R-Babylon),
and Rep.-elect Angelo D.
R o n e a l i o . . ( R -
Massapequa).
"An uncompromising
attitude on the issue,"
Wydler added, "would
create a crisis on Long
Island and severly hurt the
national defense." He
explained that if forced to
produce the F-14 at the
1968 price, Grumman
would have to close its
doors putting about 20,000
Long Islanders out of work
and the defense system of
J^!|!»$ed, .£ta^?.wj3M|sL
suffer by being denied the
F-14.
"There is no question
that a renegotiation is
absolutely necessary,"
Wydler said during a
recent press conference.
"I believe the best solution
is a no-loss, no-profit
contract price."
Also attending the
conference and supporting
Wydler's statements were
L.I. Congressmen Fight
For Grumman
10 cents per copy
Plans to launch a major drive to bring about renegotiation of the Defense
Department's F-14 contract with Grumman are announced at a recent Press
Conference held by, from left, Rep.-elect Angelo D. Roncallo, Rep. John W.
Wydler, Assemblyman Joseph M. Margiotta and Rep. Norman F. Lent.
Lent, Roncallo and
Assemblyman Joseph M.
Margiotta, Chairman of
the Nassau County
Republican Committee^
Lent poinl^'ouTtfiatlie"
felt he could gain enough
support in Congress to
bring about a just solution
if Congressional action is
still required by the time
Congress convenes.
"Congress supported
government action to aid
the failing Lockhead
Corporation because it
ws"econTnnfcaliy~wtse7irr
this case, it is not only
economically wise but
important to our defense
system," Lent noted.
Roncallo pointed out
that, while everyone was
prepared ^to take im­mediate
action upon the
opening of the next session
of . Congress, "we are
hoping now to persuade
the Executive Branch to
act to bring about a fair
solution."
Margiotta noted that he
had had been in touch with
the Governor on the F-14
proWem ^-dai4nj*—the
summer "and he has been
and wtff'^otrlteuer to iiebjr
bring about a just coiv
tract."
The following is the
telegram sent by the
Rep^iira^TTiengressioftai-
Delegation:
Richard M. Nixon,
President
White House
Washington, D.C.
We most respectfully
request an appointment to
meet with you at the
earliest possible date to
discuss, the crisis which
has-been created on Long
Island by the Department
of Defense action in an
attempt to exercise an
option for the F-14 at a
price that would destroy
the Grumman Cor­poration.
The results of
this action would not only
disaster to Long
Island and its economy but v
also to the national defense
of the United States: We
support the position of the
Grumman Corporation
whicJi^ wexheJieveJ^is.™ „
reasonable. We believe
that new terms for the
aircraft are essential and
can be worked out. We
believe it is inconsistent
for the Unites States
Government to provide
jsjdjiLofmiuions of
*yt3t'aitiii'misave' ug"1"
Lockheed Corporation of
California on the one hand -
and to deny Grumman a
renegotiation of a contract
to protect it from losses
that would destroy the
company.We'"fullyintend
to take action in Congress
as a delegation and
through legislation that
will reverse the decision to
try to enforce a contract
which is unfair and
unenforceable. We fully
believe that this matter
has always been subject to
fair""negotiations rand—
reasonable settlement and
we wish to discuss this at ~"
the White House with you
and your representatives. 5T^e^atteTWimp5r^ntto^rra'
the Congress, to the
Executive Branch and to
the future defense of our
nation.
Congressman John W.
Wydler
Congressman Norman F.
Lent
Congressman James R.
G r o v e r , VJ r .
- CojigrfissmanJEtect *
Angelo Roncallo
Best Wishes For A Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year From the Stiff of the Bethpage Tribune