Debbie Hill Brent Goppe Celeste Jensen Kenneth Jensen Alan Jenson Edward S. Johnson Brenda Jones Clark Kidd Shauna Kimbell Barbara Layton Norma Laws Wendy Leavitt Donald Lloyd Bob H. Lodder Marianne Lund Allan Lykins Wallace J. McDonald Cathrine McGill Pauline McReary Debra Memmoth President Nixon and his top aides in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare have had to face the issue (of desegregation in schools) early in their terms of office. Mr. Nixon, in his second press conference after taking of-fice, appeared to give strong support to the use of the ultimate federal weapon to force an end to school segregation - withholding of federal funds to school districts practicing segregation. However, he sufficiently qualified his re-marks to permit a less vigorous policy of enforcement by his administration if he chose to do so. Finch, HEW Secretary, was faced with the issue immediately on taking office. Orders cutting off federal education funds to five Southern school districts because of their failure to desegregate their schools were scheduled to go into effect. Jan. 29, a legacy bequeathed by the outgoing Democratic Administration. Finch was strongly pressured by Southerners to delay the termination orders and by Northerners to let the orders take effect. He compromised by cutting off the money but permitting the districts 60 days to regain the money if they came into compliance with HEW desegregation regulations. Southern school officials often accuse HEW of forcing them to bus students or to close schools to achieve school desegregation. Schools which were closed were almost always Negro. HEW officials say that they do not force any particular desegregation plan upon school districts but that districts may decide that busing or closing a school may be the best way to achieve integration. HEW is prohibited by law from requiring districts to bus children or to close schools to achieve "racial balance." from CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY Weekly Reports