Throwback Thursday: In 1975, White House Goes on Spending Spree

In 1975, the White House was acting with such privilege in spending about $5,849,200 additional in taxpayer money — $31.8 million in 2022 dollars — that it earned a Golden Fleece Award from Sen. William Proxmire. Proxmire, a Democrat from Wisconsin, gave awards to wasteful and nonsensical spending, eventually handing out 168 Golden Fleece Awards between 1975 and 1988.

The White House had proposed or received funds for hiring more consultants from $250,000 in 1968 to $3.85 million in 1975, and had requested a 100 percent increase for the discretionary contingency fund called “unanticipated needs,” from $500,000 in 1975 to $1 million in 1976.

In 1975, the White House also increased its travel funds for staff from $40,000 to $100,000, a 150 percent increase.

The White House also in 1975 had 54 aides earning between $37,800 and $44,600 a year — between $205,367 and $242,312 in 2022 figures — and requested authority from Congress to hire an unlimited amount of these high-paid staff.

While Congress denied the request, it allowed a total of 95, an increase of 41 positions, a 76 percent increase. “While the White House may not add to the total number of employees, there is every reason to believe they will push 95 of their staff to fill fat supergrade salary status jobs as fast as they can,” Proxmire wrote in awarding the dishonor.

To make matters worse, the White House proposed a bill that travel funds, funds for official receptions, entertainment and more would be exempt from audit by the General Accounting Office.

It also insisted on amending the Hatch Act to exempt all office of White House personnel from the provision in the bill that prohibits government employees from engaging in political activity while on duty, in a government building or wearing a uniform.

“What we have here is a burgeoning proportion of the big shots at the Office of the White House, whose travel and entertainment is exempt from audit by the GAO, and for whom the White House is now seeking freedom to engage in unlimited political activity.”

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