ABSTRACT
State and Hill staffers first developed a list of differences between the two bills, and the former then began to formulate proposed executive branch positions on desired outcomes. In a critical choice, Jim Leach decided to support the administration counteroffer on pay, to announce this at the beginning of the conference discussion of the issue, and authorized State to tell others of his decision. The conference was called to order by Senator Pell shortly after 3:30 p.m., in room S-116 of the Capitol, the traditional conference site. Also in keeping with tradition, he nominated Congressman Dante B. Fascell to be conference chairman. When the conference turned to the final category of contentious issues, there were some surprises. Given William D. Ford's threats at the House preconference meeting, State had been assuming that the only possible outcome was the limited Ford version contained in the House bill, or something very close to it.
