strike. Chairman Gould believed that General Counsel Feinstein was delaying the ULP investigation (perhaps to give negotiations a chance to work), but was troubled when Feinstein allegedly suggested that he become the board's chief spokesperson. Because the board and the General Counsel are legally independent entities by law, Gould refused to let Feinstein take the lead. Feinstein asked that he be allowed to speak to the entire board on the issue. Truesdale and NLRB member James Stephens voiced considerable concern over this proposed meeting, as issues in the strike were likely to come before the board and since the General Counsel and board were supposed to be at arm's length. When Feinstein became upset at their comments, Gould suggested that he approach the board's members himself. Feinstein did so, and won a meeting with the Board on March 8. But four of the five members of the board expressed their dissatisfaction with Feinstein's proposal, and it was dropped. On March 17, Feinstein presented the results of his ULP investigation to the board and asked the board to approve a 10(j) injunction. Five days later, Truesdale and NLRB member Peggy Browning announced they were ready to approve the General Counsel's request. Gould then announced that the NLRB would meet in person on Thursday, Marcy 23, to discuss Feinstein's request (although it had never done so during his tenure before). Although Gould was ready to cast the third and determinative vote, on the night of March 22 Usery asked him to hold off on any decision as the two parties were making progress. Concerned that Usery was too closely aligned with the owners, Gould contacted White House Counsel Abner J. Mikva. Mikva advised Gould that "nobody thinks he [Usery] can reach the players. He has lost his influence." Gould informed Truesdale, Browning, and Feinstein of his conversation with Mikva after the call. The next morning (March 23), Gould repeated Usery's request to the entire Board (but not his conversation with Mikva), and recommended that the board delay action. The Board unanimously agreed to delay its decision until Tuesday, March 28. The MBLPA was incensed that Usery had sought a delay from Gould, and negotiations collapsed (for that and other reasons). On the afternoon of Friday, March 24, Gould spoke privately with Truesdale and recommended that since negotiations seemed to be going nowhere (despite Usery's claims) the board should meet on Sunday afternoon