Plains, Georgia Informal Exchange With Reporters During a Walking Tour of Plains.

REPORTER. Mr. President, what is the story about the OPEC decision this morning?

THE PRESIDENT. I'm just glad that they decided to freeze the price, and I hope it will be for the whole year of 1978.

Q. How much was a hunting license the last time you bought it? Do you remember?

THE PRESIDENT. The same thing, I believe.

Q. $4.25?

THE PRESIDENT. But I buy one every year.

Q. What are "you going to be doing while you are down here?

THE PRESIDENT. I might do a little reading.

Q. On your trip coming up?

Q. What about the budget and taxes?

THE PRESIDENT. Well, I've got all the notebooks on the different countries we are going to go to after Christmas. Then I am going to put the final touches on the Executive order on the intelligence community. I'll do that while I am here.

Q. Have you pretty much finished with the budget, your final decisions now?

THE PRESIDENT. Yes. I signed off on all the decisions yesterday morning. I'll have a brief session when I get back after Christmas just to look at the summary. And they are what they call "scrubbing" the budget now to make sure that the estimates are the best we can--

Q. What's the price?

THE PRESIDENT. I'll tell you later.

Q. A balanced budget is still a goal and not a dream now?

THE PRESIDENT. Absolutely.

Q. How about this Executive order on the intelligence community. Is that to set up the whole intelligence

THE PRESIDENT. Yes. I've already been over it once. It's in the final form now. But I've got to read it before I sign it.

I'll see you all later.