July 17, 1974

President Nixon, reversing position he took in June, yesterday approved a bill prepared by the White House Office of Telecommunications Policy for the long‐range financing of public broadcasting by the Federal Government.

New Discrepancies Found In Controller's Accounts

Rabbi Baruch M Korff, pres of Natl Citizens Com for Fairness to the Pres, says on July 16 that Nixon believes that conviction of John D Ehrlichman is 'a blot on justice' and that it would be 'extremely difficult' for any Watergate figure to get fair trial in Washington; says that Nixon said that 1 of reasons that Watergate affair has been written about so heavily in press was that 'I am not the press's favorite pin-up boy'; says Nixon said that 'pendulum' of power has swung too far in favor of 'big media' and against rights of individuals, particularly public officials and that if one good thing could come out of Watergate it would be greater sense of responsibility on part of press, on part of investigators and rest for rights of individuals (M)

Acting NYC HRA Admr Howard S Stein discloses $7.5-million in welfare checks were sent erroneously to closed cases between Apr and June '74 because of computer programming error, which has been remedied; Stein hopeful that city can recover many of checks; notes some of beneficiaries are dead and some have moved out of town; says some checks have been returned voluntarily; says city will 'pursue recoupment'; about 21,000 cases were involved; 53% of cases were in home relief category and 47% in aid to families with dependent children program (M)

Pres Valery Giscard d'Estaing appts writer Francoise Giroud, leading feminist, to new post of Sec of State for Condition of Women (S)