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Vetoes by President Richard Nixon

President Nixon vetoed forty-three bills.

 

93rd Congress, 2nd Session (1974)
Bill No.    Subject    Veto Date    Presidential Message    Status
S.2589    National Emergency Petroleum Act    Mar 06    S.Doc. 93-61    The Senate sustained the veto on Mar 6 by vote No. 58 (58-40).
H.R.15472    Environmental and Consumer Protection Appropriation Act    Mar 06    H.Doc. 93-331    unchallenged

93rd Congress, 1st Session (1973)
Bill No.    Subject    Veto Date    Presidential Message    Status
H.R.10511    To amend the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 1       119 Cong.Rec. 43328    Veto overridden
S.7    To amend the Vocational Rehabilitation Act to extend and revise the authorization of grants to States for vocational rehabilitation services, to authorize grants for rehabilitation services to those with severe disabilities    Mar 27    S.Doc. 93-10    The Senate sustained the veto on Apr 3 by vote No. 77 (60-36).
H.R.3298    To restore the rural water and sewer grant program under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act    Apr 05    S.Doc. 93-77    The House sustained the veto on Apr 10 by vote No. 82 (225-189).
S.518    A bill to abolish the offices of Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to establish the Office of Director, Office of Management and Budget, and transfer certain functions thereto, and to establish the Office of Deputy Director, Office of Management and Budget    May 18    S.Doc. 93-16    The House sustained the veto on May 23 by vote No. 156 (236-178).

Veto overridden by the Senate on May 22 by vote No. 151 (62-22).
H.R.7447    Making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973    Jun 27    H.Doc. 93-125    The House sustained the veto on Jun 27 by vote No. 300 (241-173).
S.504    To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide assistance and encouragement for the development of comprehensive emergency medical services systems    Aug 01    S.Doc. 93-31    The House sustained the veto on Sep 12 by vote No. 449 (273-144).

Veto overridden by the Senate on Aug 2 by vote No. 367 (77-16).
H.R.7935    To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the minimum wage rates under that Act, to expand the coverage of that Act    Sep 06    H.Doc. 93-147    The House sustained the veto on Sep 19 by vote No. 465 (259-164).
S.1672    To amend the Small Business Act    Sep 22    S.Doc. 93-39    The Senate sustained the veto on Sep 25 by vote No. 417 (59-36).
S.1317    To authorize appropriations for the United States Information Agency.    Oct 23    S.Doc. 93-41    The Senate sustained the veto on Oct 30 by vote No. 474 (54-42).
H.J.Res.542    Concerning the war powers of Congress    Oct 24    H.Doc. 93-171    Veto overridden by the House on Nov 7 by vote No. 563 (284-135).

Veto overridden by the Senate on Nov 7 by vote No. 478 (75-18).

Veto overridden
92nd Congress, 2nd Session (1972)
Regular Vetoes
Bill No.    Subject    Veto Date    Presidential Message    Status
H.R.13918    To provide for improved financing for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting    Jun 30    H.Doc. 92-320    unchallenged

H.R.15417    Making appropriations for the Department of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973    Aug 16    H.Doc. 92-343    The House sustained the veto on Aug 16 by vote No. 333 (203-171).
H.R.15927    To amend the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937 to provide a temporary twenty per centum increase in annuities and to simplify administration of the Act    Oct 04    H.Doc. 92-372    Veto overridden by the House on Oct 4 by vote No. 407 (353-29).

Veto overridden by the Senate on Oct 4 by vote No. 518 (76-5).

Veto overridden
S.2770    To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act    Oct 17    S.Doc. 92-93    Veto overridden by the House on Oct 18 by vote No. 459 (247-23).

Veto overridden by the Senate on Oct 17 by vote No. 571 (52-12).

Veto overridden
Pocket Vetoes
Bill No.    Subject    Veto Date    Presidential Message    Status
S.635    Mining and Mineral Policy Act of 1970       118 Cong. Rec. 37203    unchallenged

S.889    To restore the postal service seniority of Elmer Erickson       8 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1305    unchallenged

S.3755    To provide for a moratorium on State taxation of the carriage of persons in air transportation       8 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1578    unchallenged

S.4018    Authorizing the construction, repair and preservation of certain public works on rivers and harbors for navigation and flood control       8 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1578-1579    unchallenged

H.R.56    To amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, to provide for a National Environmental Data System       8 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1549, 1550    unchallenged

H.R.8395    To amend the Vocational Rehabilitation Act to extend and revise the authorization of grants to States for vocational rehabilitation services and to those with severe disabilities       8 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1579    unchallenged

H.R.10880    To amend title 38 of the United States Code to provide improved medical care to veterans; to provide hospital and medical care to certain dependents and survivors of veterans; to improve recruitment and retention of career personnel in the Department of Medicine and Surgery       8 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1579    unchallenged

H.R.12674    To amend title 38 of the United States Code in order to establish a National Cemetery System within the Veterans' Administration       8 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1579    unchallenged

H.R.13895    To amend title 5, United States Code, to revise the pay structure for non-supervisory positions of Deputy U.S. marshals       8 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1579    unchallenged

H.R.14424    To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment of a National Institute of Aging       8 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1605    unchallenged

H.R.15657    To strengthen and improve the Older Americans Act of 1965, and for other purposes.       8 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1604-1605    unchallenged

H.R.16071    To amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965       8 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1578    unchallenged

H.R.16654    Making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, and Health, Education, and Welfare, and related agencies, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973       8 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 1578    unchallenged

92nd Congress, 1st Session (1971)
Regular Vetoes
Bill No.    Subject    Veto Date    Presidential Message    Status
S.575    To authorize funds to carry out the purposes of the Appalachian Development Act of 1965, as amended    Jun 29    S.Doc. 92-28    The Senate sustained the veto on Jul 14 by vote No. 138 (57-36).
S.2007    To provide for the continuation of programs authorized under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964    Dec 09    S.Doc 92-48    The Senate sustained the veto on Dec 10 by vote No. 451 (51-36).
Pocket Vetoes
Bill No.    Subject    Veto Date    Presidential Message    Status
H.R. 2600    To equalize the retirement benefits for officers and members of the metropolitan Police force and the Fire Department of the District of Columbia who are retired for permanent disability       7 Weekly Comp. of Pres. Doc. 1177    unchallenged

91st Congress, 2nd Session (1970)
Regular Vetoes
Bill No.    Subject    Veto Date    Presidential Message    Status
H.R.17809    To provide an equitable system for fixing and adjusting the rates of pay for prevailing rate employees of the Government    Jan 01    H.Doc. 91-437    unchallenged

H.R.13111    Making appropriations for Departments of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare, and related agencies, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1970, and for other purposes    Jan 26    H.Doc. 91-216    The House sustained the veto on Jan 28 by vote No. 7 (226-191).
H.R.11102    To amend the provisions of the Public Health Service Act relating to the construction and modernization of hospitals and other medical facilities    Jun 22    H.Doc. 91-353    Veto overridden by the House on June 25 by vote No. 188 (279-98).

Veto overridden by the Senate on June 30 by vote No. 197 (76-19).

Veto overridden
H.R.16916    Making appropriations for the Office of Education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1971    Aug 11    H.Doc. 91-376    Veto overridden by the House on Aug 13 by vote No. 278 (289-114).

Veto overridden by the Senate on Aug 18 by vote No. 259 (77-16).

Veto overridden
H.R.17548    Making appropriations for sundry independent executive bureaus, boards, commissions, corporations, agencies, offices and the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1971    Aug 11    H.Doc. 91-377    The House sustained the veto on Aug 13 by vote No. 279 (203-195).
S.3637    To revise the provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 which relate to public broadcasting    Oct 12    S.Doc. 91-109    The Senate sustained the veto on Nov 23 by vote No. 394 (58-34).
S.3867    To assure opportunities for employment and training to unemployed and underdeveloped persons, to assist states and local communities in providing needed public services.    Dec 16    S.Doc. 91-118    The Senate sustained the veto on by vote No. 441 (48-35).
Pocket Vetoes
Bill No.    Subject    Veto Date    Presidential Message    Status
S.578    To include firefighters within the provisions of section 8336(c) of Title 5, United States Code, relating to the retirement of Government employees engaged in certain hazardous conditions       1971 S. Jour. 1390-1391    unchallenged

S.2755    For the relief of Donal N. O'Callaghan       no message    unchallenged

S.3418    To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the making of grants to medical schools and hospitals to assist them in establishing special departments and programs in the field of family practice.2       6 Weekly Comp. of Pres. Doc. 1726-27    unchallenged

H.R.3571    For the relief of Miloye M. Sokitch       6 Weekly Comp. of Pres. Doc. 1726    unchallenged

 
1. A pocket veto was attempted after the 1st session of the 93d Congress had adjourned sine die on December 22, 1973. The bill was presented to the President on December 22, 1973 (119 Cong. Rec. 43327). A Presidential message dated January 3,1974 was received by the 2nd session of the 93rd Congress(119 Cong. Rec. 43328). This veto was the subject of Kennedy v. Jones (412 F. Supp. 353(D.D.C. 1976)). The District Court for the District of Columbia held that the pocket veto was unconstitutional because Congress had appointed officials to receive Presidential messages during the intersession adjournment. Accordingly, H.R. 10511 was promulgated as Public Law 94-650 (89 State. 2-1).Despite the attempted pocket veto, the bill is listed here as a regular veto and is counted as such, and as an override, becuase of the unique circumstances of its history.
 
2. Although listed here among pocket vetoes, the bill is counted in the Veto Table as a regular veto and as an override because of the unique circumstances of its history. A pocket veto was attemped on this bill in the 2nd session of the 91st Congress during a recess from December 22, 1970 to December 28, 1970. The bill is counted as a regular veto and as an override because of the unique circumstances of its history. This pocket veto was the subject of Kennedy v. Sampson (511 F.2d 430(D.C.Cir. 1974)). The Court of Appeals concluded that the President is not prevented from returning a bill if Congress has made appropriate arrangements during the adjournment. An appeal was not taken to the Supreme Court. The bill S. 3418 became Public Law 91-696 (84 Stat. 2080-1; printed at 89 Stat. Prec. 2-1). This decision expanded Wright v. U.S. by suggesting that a pocket veto would be unconsitutional during an intrasession adjournment, provided arrangements had been made by the Congress for the receipt of messages.
 

Additional information about veto power and procedure can be found in the CRS reports, Veto Override Procedure in the House and Senate (PDF) and Regular Vetoes and Pocket Vetoes: An Overview (PDF).