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NOMINATION OF EUGENE M. ZUCKERT

GOVERNMENI

Storage

HEARING

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

-UNITED STATES SENATE

EIGHTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

ON

NOMINATION OF EUGENE M. ZUCKERT, SECRETARY

OF THE AIR FORCE-DESIGNATE

JANUARY 18, 1961

Printed for the use of the Committee on Armed Services

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

64587 WASHINGTON: 1961

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COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

RICHARD B. RUSSELL, Georgia, Chairman

HARRY FLOOD BYRD, Virginia

JOHN STENNIS, Mississippi

STUART 'SYMINGTON, Missouri

HENRY M. JACKSON, Washington

SAM J. ERVIN, JR., North Carolina

STROM THURMOND, South Carolina

CLAIR ENGLE, California

E. L. BARTLETT, Alaska

HOWARD W. CANNON, Nevada

ROBERT C. BYRD, West Virginia

HARRY L. WINGATE, Jr., Chief Cleric

II

STYLES BRIDGES, New Hampshire

LEVERETT SALTONSTALL, Massachusetts

MARGARET CHASE SMITH, Maine

FRANCIS CASE, South Dakota

PRESCOTT BUSH, Connecticut

J. GLENN BEALL, Maryland
EUGENE M. ZUCKERT, NOMINEE-DESIGNATE FOR

SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1961

U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES,

Washington, D.C.

The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:50 a.m., in the Caucus

Room, Old Senate Office Building, Senator Richard B. Russell

(chairman) presiding.

Present: Senators Russell (chairman), Stennis, Symington, Jackson,

Ervin, Thurmond, Cannon, Bridges, Saltonstall, Smith, and Beall.

Also present: William H. Darden, of the committee staff, Harry L.

Wingate, Jr., chief clerk; T. Edward Braswell, Gordon Nease, of the

committee staff; and Herbert S. Atkinson, assistant chief clerk.

Chairman RUSSELL. The next nominee-designate to be heard this

morning is Mr. Eugene M. Zuckert, who has been selected to be

Secretary of the Air Force.

I am sure many members of the committee know Mr. Zuckert.

He has had very extensive experience in Government. He served in

the Department of the Air Force and as a member of the Atomic

Energy Commission.

(The biography of Eugene M. Zuckert is as follows:)

EUGENE M. ZUCKERT (SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE-DESIGNATE)

Born, November 9, 1911, in New York City, Mr. Zuckert is the son of Harry M.

and Eugenie Adrienne Pincoffs Zuckert (deceased).

He obtained elementary and high school education in public schools of New

York suburbs, received preparatory education at the Salisbury School, Salisbury,

Conn. and received B.A. from Yale University in 1933; in 1937 received LL.B.

from Yale with a certificate for completion of the combined law-business course

at Harvard and Yale. At Yale he was a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.

Mr. Zuckert, a member of the bar in Connecticut, New York, and the District

of Columbia, has practiced law in these States, but infrequently, because most

of his professional career has been devoted to public service.

From 1937 to 1940, Mr. Zuckert was attorney for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at Washington and New York. From 1940 to 1944 he was

instructor in relations of government and business at the Harvard Graduate

School of Business Administration, advancing to assistant professor and later

assistant dean of the school. During this period he also served as administrative

head of the first advanced management course ever given at the Harvard Graduate School. In addition, while a member of the Harvard faculty, Mr. Zuckert

served as a special consultant to the commanding general of the Air Force in

developing statistical controls. He was an instructor in Army Air Forces Statistical Control School at Harvard, which trained more than 3,000 Air Force officers,

and he served at various Air Force bases in the United States on special assignments for the Air Force's commanding general.

From 1944 to 1945, Mr. Zuckert served in the Office of the Chief of Naval

Operations as a lieutenant (j.g.) in connection with the Navy's inventory control

program and was released from the Navy in September 1945, to become executive

assistant to the Administrator of the Surplus Property Administration, Stuart

Symington. When Mr. Symington assumed office as Assistant Secretary of War

1
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2 NOMINATION OF EUGENE M. ZUCKERT

for Air in February 1946, Mr. Zuckert became his special assistant. After the

National Security Act of 1947 became operative in September 1947, and the Air

Force became coequal with the Army and the Navy in the National Defense

Establishment, Mr. Symington was appointed the first Secretary of the Air Force,

and Mr. Zuckert on September 26, 1947, took the oath as Assistant Secretary of

the Air Force. In July 1948, he served on a committee set up by the then Secretary of Defense James Forrestal to establish a unified court-martial code for the

military services.

In January 21, 1952, he was appointed a member of the U.S. Atomic Energy

Commission and served until June 30, 1954, when he retired. Since that time

he has been engaged as an atomic energy consultant and attorney. He is chairman

of the board of Nuclear Science & Engineering Corp. (Pittsburgh, Pa.), which

company is a pioneer in the field of radiation chemistry. With others he organized Information for Industry, Inc., a company engaged in the technical information field whose first publications are a "Chemical Patents Index" and an

"Electronics Patents Index." He is also a director of AMF Atomics, Ltd.

(Canada), the atomic energy subsidiary of American Machine & Foundry, Inc.

He is the author, with Arnold Kramish, of the book "Atomic Energy For Your

Business." He is a member of the executive council of the Yale Law School

Association; and a trustee of Landon School, Bethesda, Md.

Mr. Zuckert is married to the former Barbara Jackman, of Newburyport, Mass.

He has three children, two daughters, Adrienne K. and Gene Prentiss, and a son

Robert B.

Up to date as of December 28, 1960.

Chairman RUSSELL. We are glad to have you here. You may proceed to make such statement as you wish, to give the committee

additional information on your background and experience.

STATEMENT OF EUGENE M. ZUCKERT, NOMINEE-DESIGNATE

FOR SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE

Mr. ZUCKERT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate your

remarks.

As a brief summary of my experience, I was born in New York in

1911. As far as college education was concerned, I went 7 years to

Yale, and 1 to Harvard, and achieved a liberal arts and a law degree.

I became an attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission

for 3 years, then went to Harvard Business School as assistant professor and assistant dean. I went into the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant

(junior grade). I was released to become assistant to your colleague,

Mr. Symington, who was then Surplus Property Administrator. When

he went over to the Air Force in 1946, I went over as an assistant.

When the Air Force achieved independence as a separate service in

1947, I became Assistant Secretary, a post I held until 1952, when

President Truman nominated me for membership on the Atomic

Energy Commission.

In 1954 my term expired, and I became a private attorney in Washington, D.C., also interested in various management assignments.

I have been in that capacity ever since 1954.

Since my selection, I have severed all' my business connections,

including association with the law firm for which I served as counsel,

a firm in which I have no financial participation. I have resigned

from all my directorships except one organization, the People to

People Health Foundation, which is operating the Hope ship, to raise

the level of medical care in Asia. That is the only directorship I

have retained.

I have also made dispositions of certain investments, and retained

others. The list is before the committee, I believe.
NOMINATION OF EUGENE M. ZUCKERT 3

It would be my intention to be guided by the determination of this

committee as to both disclosure and the holdings I might retain. It

would be my intention, however, to retain the holdings in my own

name.

I live in Chevy Chase, Md., with my wife, the former Barbara

Jackman, of Newburyport, Mass.

'

and my three children.

I think that is about it, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman RUSSELL. I did not understand what you had to say

with regard to your plans for the securities you own.

Mr. ZUCKERT. You have before you two lists, Mr. Chairman. One

is the present investments I hold as of January 16. The other is the

actions to divest myself of others which I have taken since my selection. It would be my intention to retain those which the committee

felt involved no appearance of conflict of interest, and to dispose of

those where they felt there was a substantial question.

Chairman RUSSELL. We may not have been completely consistent

in all cases, Mr. Zuckert, in dealing with these nominations. But as

a general proposition, we have suggested that nominees divest themselves of their holdings in some of the companies that do a very

substantial business with the Department of Defense—more particularly I might say oil and steel stocks.

Mr. ZUCKERT. As I say, I would be perfectly willing to follow the

determination of the committee with respect to particular instances.

Chairman RUSSELL. Mr. Zuckert, have you made any inquiry as

to the amount of business done by these various companies with the

Department of Defense?

Mr. ZUCKERT. Yes sir. Within the limited time I have had

available, I have checked out the list. Of course the oil stocks are

the ones that you question most. This committee is aware that the

Air Force does not buy its own petroleum. That was true when I

was there before. Whether it is true now or not, I don't know.

It was my feeling that I should submit this list to the committee,

and I would be governed by your determination.

Chairman RUSSELL. Do you know whether or. not Johns-Manville

does any considerable amount of business with the Department of

Defense?

Mr. ZUCKERT. I have not been able to determine that they do.

If I found out that they did, naturally I would sell the stock.

Chairman RUSSELL. What are your plans with respect to your

time of tenure in office, Mr. Zuckert?

Mr. ZUCKERT. Sir, I would serve as long as the President feels I

was contributing to the defense problem, and as long as I felt myself

that I could be effective.

Chairman RUSSELL. Senator Bridges?

Senator BRIDGES. First I want to compliment Mr. Zuckert. I have

known him for a long time, both in private life and during his tenure

in responsible Government positions as Assistant Secretary of the

Air Force, and a member of the Atomic Energy Commission.

I feel with respect to Mr. Zuckert, as I feel with respect to some

others that have been appointed to Defense Department posts; that

cords in

resinse

they are outstanding men and that they have ma.' .. 11 IP

public service. I am not so enthusiastic over so, • ci) e Ilit

dent's appointees in other departments. But : ar as the

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4 NOMINATION OF EUGENE M. ZUCKERT

Department is concerned, and particularly with reference to people

that I have mentioned here, I think good selections have been made.

Mr. ZUCKERT. Thank you very much, Senator.

Senator BRIDGES. I think that we should look over this list of

stock holdings privately, and that the chairman advise you as to the

ones we think should be disposed of.

Chairman RUSSELL. Senator Stennis?

Senator STENNIS. Mr. Chairman—Mr. Zuckert, I have already

heard about you. I am satisfied with all the questions that have been

asked and the way they have been answered. I look forward to having

you in this important post, where I think you will do an outstanding

service.

I was going to ask you about your tenure, so far as you were concerned. I think that is certainly a sound way to go at it.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. ZUCKERT. Thank you, Senator.

Chairman RUSSELL. Senator Saltonstall?

Senator SALTONSTALL. Mr. Zuckert, I am in the same position concerning your ability, and my knowledge of your ability in past service.

- I would ask you just two questions which I have asked of the others.

Do you carry over any fees or anything or remuneration from any of

these companies, jobs that you have had?

Mr. ZUCKERT. No, sir.

Senator SALTONSTALL. That is all past?

Mr. ZUCKERT. That is right, Sir.

Senator SALTONSTALL. When you have completed your investigation

of the stocks you hold as to whether or not they are doing business

with the Defense Department, you would exercise your own discretion

in the first instance to sell what you thought might involve your work

with the Department of Defense?

Mr. ZUCKERT. That is right, sir. And as you see from this second

list, I have made a start at it.

Senator SALTONSTALL. Yes; and you would be glad to do the same if

the committee made any suggestions beyond what you have done?

Mr. ZUCKERT. That is correct, sir.

Senator SALTONSTALL. Thank you very much.

Chairman RUSSELL. Senator Symington?

Senator SYMINGTON. Mr. Chairman, I have known Mr. Zuckert also

for many years. In my opinion the Government is very fortunate to

have him in this new position. He has served with the Government.

At the request of Secretary Forrestal, I supplied him with a man,

before I came into the Government, to do a particular job with the

Navy. Then when I came in, it was my privilege to work with him,

and I found him a man of great ability and high character.

I believe that the Defense Department is particularly fortunate in

having a man who has served over a period of years on the Atomic

Energy Commission, because it is becoming more and more obvious

that the problems that are connected with the Atomic Energy Commission are problems which are also very close to any plans and

programs of the Department of Defense.

I am very happy that he has agreed to come back and serve his

country.

I have no questions, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. ZUCKERT. Thank you, Senator Symington.
NOMINATION OF EUGENE M. ZUCKERT 5

Chairman RUSSELL. Senator Smith?

Senator SMITH. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Mr. Zuckert, would you please tell the committee your position

and attitude toward the Symington reorganization of the Department of Defense?

Mr. ZUCKERT. Mrs. Smith, I have read the report. In no sense

have I studied it. I have tremendous admiration for the membership

of the committee and their connection with defense and the problems

of defense.

But I think, especially since I have been out of active contact for

at least 6 years, that I should take an objective look and arrive at

my own conclusion.

Senator SMITH. I have noted from press reports that you have

selected Mr. Trapnell for an important position. Do you plan to

have him head up a merger of the directorate of public information

and the directorate of legislative liaison, or would he be more of a

coordinator and supervisor of both directorates?

Mr. ZUCKERT. Mrs. Smith, I am not sure at this point, because I

don't know what the situation requires. But having great confidence

in his ability, I felt that I would want to have somebody take a look

at the two problems of legislative liaison and public relations, and

•see what needed to be done.

Senator SMITH. Inasmuch as your Under Secretary will be a

research and development expert, do you plan to have an Assistant

Secre'At,ry for Research and Development, or do you plan to shift

that AssiKant Secrelaryship to another field, such as personnel,

manpower, and Reserves?

. Mr. ZUCKERT. This is another problem where I have made no

final determination, Senator Smith. The two fields require a lot

-of top-level attention. Dr. Charyk is an outstanding scientist, and

I am having studies made right now to help me in this determination.

Senator SMITH. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Senator BRIDGES. Let me just ask one question, Mr. Chairman.

Mrs. Smith's questions do not indicate that you are going to, in

any way, change the legislative service or liaison service with the

Congress; does it?

Mr. ZUCKERT. NO, sir.

Senator BRIDGES. You recognize the necessity of that, and you

intend to maintain it—the one now that is headed by General

Musgrave, I believe.

Mr. ZUCKERT. General Musgrave, and on the public relations

side

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General Lu.ehman. It is my desire, due to the importance of

the legislative function, to have a fresh look at it, and determine

whether or not there are any improvements that can be made.

Chairman RUSSELL. I have been impressed that there seems to be

more emphasis placed on the field of public relations and public affairs

in the Department of Defense in the new appointments than we have

known heretofore, and very little has been said about the legislative

liaison.

Senator Jackson?

Senator JACKSON. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Zuckert's long record, I

think, in the broad area of defense, national security, speaks for

itself, and I, like Senator Symington, feel that his service on the
IFIEL

6 NOMINATION OF EUGENE M. ZUCKERT

Atomic Energy Commission certainly adds to that wonderful background. I know that he will do a fine job as Secretary of the Air

Force. "

Mr. ZUCKERT. Thank you, sir, very much.

Chairman RUSSELL. Senator Beall?

Senator BEALL. Mr. Chairman, I have no questions.

I would like to make an observation. I am glad Mr. Zuckert has

had the good taste and judgment to make Maryland his adopted

home. He has a splendid background. I am sure he will do a good

job in the Government.

Mr. ZUCKERT. Thank you, Senator.

Chairman RUSSELL. Senator Cannon?

Senator CANNON. Mr. Chairman, I, too, think an excellent choice

has been made in Mr. Zuckert for this position.

I would like to ask one question. Do I infer from your answer to

Senator Smith that you do recognize the tremendous importance of

the research and development field, and you certainly have no intention of lessening our activities in that direction?

Mr. ZUCKERT. That is correct, Senator. The thing is that Dr.

Charyk, who is Under Secretary, is an outstanding scientist; and you

are limited to a certain number of spots. You have to determine

where you feel the effort can best be applied.

Senator CANNON. I am sure that having come freshly from service

with the Atomic Energy Commission, you would be all the more

aware of the importance in the research and development field insofar

as our future security of the country is concerned.

Mr. ZUCKERT. Yes, sir.

Senator CANNON. I think the President has made an outstanding

choice, Mr. Chairman, and I am sure Mr. Zuckert will do an excellent

job, as he has in the past, in all of his Government service.

Mr. ZUCKERT. Thank you, Senator Cannon.

Chairman RUSSELL. If there are no further questions, Mr. Zuckert,

we thank you for your appearance here and your statements before

the committee. -

(Whereupon, at 11 a.m., the committee reces :gfcE giftw o further

business.) fredo

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