Moyers with LBJ (Courtesy of Moyers & Co.)
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
WITH BILL MOYERS
11:50 .M. [sic] EDT
AUGUST 2, 1966
TUESDAY
MR. MOYERS: In relation to the tragedy in Austin yesterday, I have the following statement from the President:
"The shocking tragedy of yesterday's event in Austin is heightened because it was so senseless. While senseless however what happened is not without a lesson: that we must press urgently for the legislation now pending in Congress to help prevent the wrong persons from obtaining firearms.
"The bill would not prevent all such tragedies. But it would help reduce the unrestricted sale of firearms to those who cannot be trusted in their use and possession. How many lives might be saved as a consequence!
"The Gun Control Bill has been under consideration in Congress for many months. The time has come for action before further loss of life that might be prevented by its passage.
"I know there are many in Congress who share this view. In sorrow and hope, I urge them to join in passing this legislation."
This is S 1592 and the Judiciary Subcommittee approved it in March 22, 1966. In the House it is HR 6783. The House Ways and Means Committee completed hearings on it July 28, 1965.
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Q: When was that introduced?
MR. MOYERS: Early 1965. I think it was March or April, but I am not sure.
Q: Is this the bill that bans mail-order sales?
MR. MOYERS: Yes.
Q: The Dodd Bill?
MR. MOYERS: Yes.
Q: As the bill was approved by the Judiciary Subcommittee, it now applies only to the mail-order and inter-state sale of hand guns. After the assassination of President Kennedy, the Johnson Administration asked that the bill be amended to include and bar the inter-state and mail-order sale of long guns, that is rifles and shotguns. This amendment was accepted by the sponsor, Senator Dodd, but was later removed by the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee in the version as reported out.
My question is: Now will the Administration press for reinclusion of the prohibition affecting long guns?
MR. MOYERS: Yes
Q: Bill, wasn't the President personally acquainted with one of those who was killed?
MR. MOYERS: Yes. One of the boys killed was Paul Sonntag. He is the grandson of Paul Bolton, who has been a life-long friend of the President ever since he was a reporter for INS in Austin. He is now, and has been for a number of years, the News Editor of KTBC-AM-TV in Austin. The boy was 18 years old.
Q: The President knew him?
MR. MOYERS: Yes.
Q: He was a student at the University of Texas?
MR. MOYERS: Yes.
Q: Can we say that the President talked to the Boltons yesterday?
MR. MOYERS: Yes, he called Paul Bolton, the boy's grandfather.
The President sent the following telegram to Chancellor Harry Ransom at the University of Texas:
"Mrs. Johnson and I know the heavy burden so many are bearing as a result of the tragedy yesterday. We are deeply grieved, and our hearts go out[4 ] to the families involved and to all who are suffering. We want to assure you of any personal or official assistance that would in any way be helpful."
Q: I ask this simply out of ignorance of State rules. What is the situation? People within a certain State can buy firearms without restriction?
Q: It varies State by State.
Q: Bill, there are a couple of practical questions here. One, Deakin referred to long guns and you said the Administration wanted that amendment put back.
Does this apply to rifles of any description and shotguns, too?
MR. MOYERS: Yes.
Q: Except those used for legitimate sporting purposes.
MR. MOYERS: I want to make it clear, as the statement said, on a BACKGROUND basis, this law will not make it impossible for things like this to happen. It just makes it harder for people to acquire guns.
Q: Does the White House have any reason to believe that Whitman acquired any of the weapons that he acquired by mail order?
MR. MOYERS: We have no evidence of how he acquired his guns.
Q: Is it correct that this would apply to most rifles, because most of them move in inter-state commerce?
MR. MOYERS: Yes.
HR 6783 was contained in the message on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice sent by the President to the Congress March 8, 1965.
Q: Bill, how would you go about seeking to have that provision on long guns reinserted in the bill? Does the President have any idea of sending up a few messages on this subject or will it just be consultation with the sponsor?
MR. MOYERS: I haven't talked with him about that. That will be worked out.
Q: Does the President feel it might be helpful to push mental health programs?
MR. MOYERS: Yes. This kind of thing will never be prevented until mental illness is conquered and how you do that is of great importance.
Q: Is there any chance of extending this to take in mail-order sales such as Sears?
MR. MOYERS: That was in the original bill. It moved in that direction.
The bill was introduced March 22, 1965[,] by Senators Dodd, Douglas, Hartke, and Kennedy of New York.
Q: Since the White House is becoming and has been involved in this legislation, what is the test for weapons used for legitimate sporting purposes?
MR. MOYERS: Smitty, my memory of that legislation is very, very fuzzy. I haven't had a chance to study it this morning. I don't know.
Q: The bill bans the sale of mail-order hand guns; is that correct?
MR. MOYERS: As it is now. As it was originally proposed, it applied also to long guns, rifles, shotguns, submachine guns.
Q: Would the President want that reinstated?
MR. MOYERS: We would like to have that amendment put back in.
Q: Has he been in touch with any of these sponsors this morning?
MR. MOYERS: No.
Q: Did the girls or any other members of the family know any of the victims personally?
MR. MOYERS: They knew young Sonntag, but I don't know about the others.
Q: Did the president know him personally?
MR. MOYERS: Yes.
Q: Is there any chance, Bill, that he will go to the funeral?
MR. MOYERS: I just don't know.
Q: Will we get toasts for the dinner tonight in advance?
MR. MOYERS: Yes. We will have ours this afternoon, but I don't know about the others.
Q: Could we have a guest list?
MR. MOYERS: I will check on that.
Q: Will the President of Israel stop and talk to us as he comes out?
MR. MOYERS: I haven't asked him. I will have to check, Carroll.
Q: Bill, the presidents of the four machinists' locals on the West Coast have apparently sent out a flock of telegrams to the various labor leaders asking for the formation of a third political party which they say would serve the best interests of labor.
Is there a White House reaction to such a proposal?
Inherent in the proposal is that the best interests are not now being served.
MR. MOYERS: I haven't seen it and I have no reaction, Smitty.
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END
