Initial Presidential Decisions

Richard Nixon was scheduled to meet with John Ehrlichman and George Shultz on December 1 for an initial discussion of the NASA budget. The issues identified by OMB as requiring presidential decision were: whether to continue lunar exploration through Apollo 17; whether to start space shut­tle development or just begin engine development and defer an airframe commitment; whether to cancel Skylab; and whether to cancel the NERVA (nuclear rocket engine) effort. Other NASA issues would be decided without direct presidential involvement.