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HEARING

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON

OR AND PUBLIC WELFARE

JNITED STATES SENATE

EIGHTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS

1-R

1-q SECOND SESSION

ON

‘1

UN KEYSERLING, OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,

TO BE A DIRECTOR OF THE WOMEN'S BUREAU, DEPARTMENT

OF LABOR, VICE MRS. ESTHER PETERSON, ELEVATED

APRIL 3, 1964

Printed for the use of the

Committee on Labor and Public Welfare

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

30493 WASHINGTON: 1964
• 1;4,,

s7.;

COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE

LISTER HILL,

PAT McNAMARA, Michigan

WAYNE MORSE, Oregon

RALPH YARBOROUGH, Texas

JOSEPH S. CLARK, Pennsylvania

JENNINGS RANDOLPFI, West Virginia

HARRISON A. WILLIAMS, JR., New Jersey

QUENTIN N. BURDICK, North Dakota

CLAIBORNE PELL, Rhode Island

EDWARD M. KENNEDY, Massachusetts

LEE METCALF, Montana

Alabama, Chairman

BARRY GOLDWATER, Arizona

JACOB K. JAVITS, New York

WINSTON L. PROUTY, Vermont

JOHN G. TOWER, Texas

LEN B. JORDAN, Idaho

STEWART E. MCCLURE, Chief Clerk

Jorni S. FORSYTHE, General Counsel

MICHAEL J. BERNSTEIN, Minority Counsel
9

CONTENTS

Statement of— Page

Henning, John J.JUnder Secretary of Labor 1

Keyserling, Mary Dublin 1

Summary of record and experience of 3

NOMINATION OF MARY DUBLIN KEYSERLING

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 1964

U.S. SENATE,

COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE,

Washington, D.C.

The committee met at 10:15 a.m., pursuant to call, in room 4232,

New Senate Office Building, Senator Lister Hill (chairman of the

committee) presiding.

Present: Senators Hill (presiding), McNamara, Clark, Kennedy,

and Metcalf.

Committee staff members present: Stewart E. McClure, chief

clerk; John Stringer and George Denison, minority associate counsel.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will kindly come to order.

Mrs. Keyserling, will you come around, please. Come around with

her, Mr. Secretary.

We have a nomination of Mrs. Mary Keyserling, of the District of

Columbia, to be Director of the Women's Bureau, Department of

Labor, vice Mrs. Esther Peterson, who has been promoted to another

position.

Mr. Secretary, would you like to make a statement?

Mr. Henning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN. You may proceed.

STATEMENT OF JOHN J. HENNING, UNDER SECRETARY OF LABOR

Mr. HENNING. Senator, we are greatly pleased that the President

has selected Mrs. Keyserling for this position. She is an economist

of note and has a national reputation. Between 1941 and 1953 she

served our Government with distinction in executive capacities, all

of them involving social and economic aspects of our national life.

So she is qualified as a technician, also by reason of her strong sense of

social responsibility and her administrative experience. We are very

much pleased that she will be with us, Senator.

The CHAIRMAN. Are there any questions of the Secretary?

If not, Mrs. Keyserling, we will be glad to have you make a statement as to what you feel your qualifications for the position are.

STATEMENT OF MARY DUBLIN KEYSERLING

Mrs. KEYSERLING. Thank you, Senator. I believe you have before

you an outline of my background and experience.

The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen, we have in our folders before us some

of the record and experience of Mrs. Keyserling.

Mrs. KEYSERLING. I will very briefly summarize what 1 have done

in a working capacity for the past 34 years that relates to the job that

I hope very much to be able to hold.

1
2 NOMINATION

I majored in economics as a student and worked from 1930 to 1931

in the field relating to some of the problems that will be involved in

the Women's Bureau. I then went back to do my Ph. D. in economics,

sociology and statistics, research methodology, especially.

After completing my work at the London School of Economics

and at Columbia University, I taught for 5 years at Sarah Lawrence

College. There my teaching was in the general field of economics

with a good deal of special emphasis on problems in the area of living

standards and labor problems, two areas which of course are preparatory to work with the Women's Bureau.

I then left—I could say I was drafted by the National Consumers

League and then left teaching to go with them as its general secretary.

The National Consumers League was a very well known, and is

still in existence, an organization founded in 1899, concerned almost

exclusively in its early years with the problems of women in employment.

In its early years they battled against the sweatshop, and issued a

little white label indicating that manufacturers were observing fair

labor standards. The National Consumers League was the organization that fought first for minimum wage legislation with which of

course the Women's Bureau is concerned. The first law that was

enacted in 1912 has been drafted by the league. In the years from

1938 to 1951 that I was with the league I worked in fields that are

almost parallel to the work of the Women's Bureau. I was concerned

with minimum wage legislation and labor standards legislation

throughout the country, testified frequently before State legislatures,

working public groups and testifying here in Washington before Senate

and House committees on the area problems that come within the

scope of the Women's Bureau.

I married and came to Washington and worked first with the Tobin

committee, the House of Representatives Committee on National

Defense Migration, which was concerned with the impact of the war

on communities. I was called coordinator of hearings and organized

hearings throughout the country, preparing for these hearings.

In the course of these hearings I worked closely with Mrs. Roosevelt, who knew so well what was happening to our towns and cities

and rural districts in the early days of the war, and she asked me to.

go with her when she set up the civilian branch of the Office of Civilian

Defense and I worked with her in the field concerned with the social

problems of people that were emerging as a result of the war's impact.

I left this to go to the Board of Economic Warfare as a war draft

job, and at the termination of the war then went to the Department

of Defense and was there Chief of the International Economic Analysis

Division.

From 1953 forward I have been associated with the Council on

Economic Progress as its associate director, an organization concerned

with an analysis of the problems of our domestic economy.

I have been a coauthor of many publications and helped to direct

and participate in research directly related to the problems which come

within the province of the Women's Bureau.

I was mainly responsible for our study titled "Poverty and Deprivation in the United States," which was issued 3 years ago and

which I think helped spark current interest in this very serious.

problem.
4

NOMINATION 3

I have worked with national organizations all of my life throughout

the country in the course of teaching. I have lectured to them

directly in the course of my work with the National Consumers

League. I served on many boards in the social welfare field which

have brought me in very close contact with the problems which

women face in employment. I think I have had a very happy relationship with all of our major women's organizations which work so

closely with the Women's Bureau and which I hope, should I be

confirmed to this position, will continue to be very close and continue

to give leadership in moving the position of women forward.

The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, we will put in the record

following your statement, Mrs. Keyserling, this summary of your

record and experience.

(The summary referred to follows:)

SUMMARY OF RECORD AND EXPERIENCE OF MARY DUBLIN KEYSERLING

I. PROFESSIONAL RECORD

A. 1953 to date

1. Associate director, Conference on Economic Progress: A nonprofit organization with a national committee of business, labor, farm, and other leaders. Engaged in economic research, education, and publication of studies relating to the

domestic (and to a degree oversea) economic problems of the United States.

CEP publications include "Key Policies for Full Employment," "Jobs and

Growth," "Poverty and Deprivation in the United States,' "Food and Freedom,"

"The Federal Budget and the General Welfare," and "Taxes and the Public

Interest."

2. Consulting economist, in association with husband, engaged in private

practice in the United States and overseas.

3. Congressional testimony, at request of Members of Congress and/or various

national organizations, on pending amendments to the Fair Labor Standards

Act, the improvement of the District minimum wage law, the Social Security

Act, etc.

4. As member of the Committee on Protective Labor Legislation of the President's Commission on the Status of Women, drafted the Committee's report.

5. Speeches radio and TV talks, and articles on economic and social issues:

Recent talks before such groups as Business & Professional Women's Foundation;

national board, YWCA; Maryland State Consumers Council; seminar of 50

leading economists on international economic development; National Federation

of Settlements; annual meeting, District Health & Welfare Council (keynote

speaker); American Association of Social Workers; National Consumers League;

National Foreign Trade Policy Conference; Textile Workers Union of America;

National Council of Jewish Women; Arden House Conference on New Goals for

Social Work; Howard University School of Social Work; League of Women

Voters, etc.

B. May 1946 to January 1953

Director, International Economic Analysis Division, U.S. Department of

Commerce (GS-15) : Directed work of the Division's three sections, with approximately 50 staff members, responsible for the Department's analysis of U.S. and

world trade developments and related foreign economic problems; served as

adviser to top policy officials, and prepared speeches and articles for them.

Advised congressional groups, nondepartmental Federal officials, the press, business groups, and the general public on U.S. trade trends. Spoke to public groups

throughout the country, to Foreign Service officers in departmental training

programs, to visitors from abroad. Served as alternate departmental representative on staff of National Advisory Council on International Monetary and

Financial Policies. Under point 4 prcigram, trained nationals of other countries

in various phases of Division's work.

C. July 1943 to December 1945

Chief, Liberated Areas Division, Foreign Economic Administration: Responsible

for formulation of policies and procedures and coordination of supply action with

regard to civilian requirements of liberated areas; worked with the supply missions
4 NOMINATION

of liberated areas; served as liaison officer for the agency with Combined Raw

Materials Board, Combined Production Resources Board, and UNRRA. Represented Bureau of Supplies on the Interagency Supply Committee to the Liberated

Areas. Served as Member of U.S. delegation to meetings of UNRRA Council, in

London, 1945.

D. January 1942 to spring 1943

Chief, Research and Statistics Division, Office of Civilian Defense: Developed

plans and policies for Division's work, selected its personnel, and directed its

programs in Washington and in the filed. Work focused on meeting social problems during wartime—including housing, child welfare, and the whole range of

community welfare problems. Represented the Community Mobilization Branch

at frequent interagency conferences and at public meetings, and spoke frequently

in the field on defense council organization and activities. Served as personal

adviser to Mrs. Roosevelt.

E. 1941

Coordinator of hearings, House of Representatives Committee on National

Defense Migration: Responsible for field hearings of the committee held to inquire into the social and economic impact on local communities of migration arising as a

result of war activities. Directed work of field investigators. Participated in the preparation of reports on findings and recommendations. Liaison officer between

the committee staff and various Federal departments. Spoke frequently to community groups on the committee's work; wrote articles for current magazines

on work of the committee, prepared speeches for members of the committee, etc.

F. March 1938-41

General Secretary, National Consumers' League: Directed activities of the organization which, with its then existing 15 State leagues, worked to promote

consumer interest in and support for improved living and labor standards. Co- ordinated work of National and State leagues; raised all funds of the organization, directed membership drives; built new local and State groups; prepared quarterly bulletins, pamphlets, model bills and supporting briefs, editorials, news releases,

etc.; spoke several times a week at public meetings; testified at State and Federal legislative hearings; spoke on such radio programs as the "American Forum of the Air," "Town Meeting," etc.; responsible for supervision of research and field studies.

The league's major legislative effort in 1938-39 was the promotion of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act, in behalf of which organized a nationwide national committee.

During these years served as a member of the Advisory Committees of the Children's Bureau, of the Women's Bureau, and of the Labor Standard's Division of the U.S. Department of Labor; as a delegate to the President's National Health Conference and Committee on National Defense, and as a consultant to the Consumers' Division, Office of Price Administration.

During 1940 and 1941, was employed by the New York State Civil Service Com- mission to set six sets of examinations in the field of labor administration and inspection; was responsible for giving the ratings and for responding to appeals.

G. September 1933 to June 1938

Professor of economics and statistics, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, N.Y.: Taught courses in economics, consumer and labor problems, and statistics; directed field projects; directed field survey of housing conditions in neighboring community preparatory to public housing project development. Also taught evening courses at Adult Education Center of Henry Street Settlement. Taught at summer institutes on international relations conducted by the American Friends Service Committee.

H. January 1931 to September 1931

Administrative assistant, State Charities Aid Association, New York City.

I. September MO to January 1931

Member of research staff, Committee on the Coasts of Medical Care.
NOMINATION 5

II. EDUCATION

A.B., Barnard College, 1930; honors in economics and sociology. Phi Beta

Kappa. President, junior class; editor-in-chief, Barnard Bulletin. Fellowship

after junior year to Geneva Institute of International Studies.

Fellowship to London School of Economics 1931-32.

Columbia University, 1932-33. Completed all requirements for Ph. D. except

publication of thesis; research award, Columbia University Council for Research

in the Social Sciences, 1933-34.

The CHAIRMAN. You spoke about publications. I was very much

interested. You were associate director, Conference on Economic

Progress, a nonprofit organization with a national committee of

business, labor, farm, and other leaders engaged in economic research,

education, and publication of studies relating to the domestic (and to

a degree oversea) economic problems of the United States. CEP

publications include "Key Policies for Full Employment," "Jobs

and Growth," "Poverty and Deprivation in the United States,"

"Food and Freedom," `The Federal Budget and the General Welfare," "Taxes and the Public Interest."

They all sound most interesting.

Are there any questions?

Senator MCNAMARA. I have no questions, but I would just like to

comment that I think the administration of President Johnson has

been very fortunate and should be complimented on finding such a

gracious and qualified lady to take the place of our friend, Mrs.

Peterson, who has moved on and who has set such high standards for

the position that you are going to take over.

I compliment you on your very fine presentation here today and I

am sure we are all impressed by your great ability to do the job

which is so needed in this day and age, not only for the consumers

but for all groups of the country.

The CHAIRMAN. The Senator spoke of President Johnson. May I

say our colleague, Senator Olin Johnston, of South Carolina, urges

favorable action on the nomination of Mrs. Keyserling. Yesterday

he told me he very much hoped that this committee would act today

and he thought her appointment was indeed a very fine one.

Also, may I add this: Senator Yarborough, who is out of town,

asked that I mention for the record that he supports your nomination,

Mrs. Keyserling.

Any questions?

Senator CLARK. No, Mr. Chairman. I share the views expressed

by you and Senator MCNAMARA. I think Mrs. Keyserling rendered

distinguished service to her country during the Roosevelt and Truman

administrations. I regret that because of recent events, with which

we are all familiar she was separated from public service during the

8 years of the Eisenhower administration. We are happy to welcome

her back now with the Johnson administration.

There is a school of thought, Mrs. Keyserling, which thinks that

your husband and you and some members of this committee are

rather dangerous radicals whose affiliations are constantly subject to

very careful scrutiny.

I don't believe anybody of that school of thought is here now.

Whether the point of view will be raised on the floor of the Senate, I
,6 jsr0.11TINA.TION

have no way of knowing. I don't want to urge you to make any

comment, butI want to give you the opportunity to make a comment.

Perhaps it will have some bearing on any opposition which might develop later based on alleged associations you might have had with

leftwing groups.

Mrs. KEYSERLING. Yes. I will be very glad to comment.

I think we are all aware that all of us who have been concerned

with the improvement in human welfare have been subject to criticism

and attack. I think this is the price we pay for urging our country

forward to meet the problem. Knowing that this is part of reality,

,one accepts it, but I think one goes ahead doing one's best trying to

improve the lot of those people who are least able to work for

themselves.

I have been very closely associated with the Henry Street Settlement, as a member of its board for 25 years with Friendship House,

here, with the National Federation of Settlements, and all of these

groups have always been attacked because they have been friends of

the neglected. The great leader of the National Consumers League,

Florence Kelley, who was its founder and worked as its director from

1899 to 1933, was constantly subject to attack. I, too, have had my

share of this from, I think, highly irresponsible sources. I say "highly

irresponsible" because I am very glad to put in the record the fact

that I believe that my record will stand up beyond reproach if

examined.

I am unalterably opposed to totalitarian doctrines of any kind.

I am so firmly committed to our principles of democracy that I feel

that everything I have done in my life is in an effort to strengthen

•our democratic institutions. One of the reasons why I believe the

work of the Women's Bureau is so important is that I think it is

through the kind of work that is done that we can strengthen our

democratic institutions at home and also serve as a stronger image

to people throughout the world whom we must convince through

what we do in fact that ours is a way of life that they too must share.

I will be delighted to do everything in my power to strengthen

that objective because I am so unalterably committed to our democratic institutions.

I will go further to say that in the ugly days some 12 years ago

there were some totally unfounded allegations which were answered

in their entirety. Never knowingly have I joined any organization

of Communists or antidemocratic complexion. I, of course, have

never been associated with any party that is critical of our institutions as a democracy. I supported the Democratic Party as early

as 1928 when I was at college and I have been a strong member of

the party and committed entirely to the principles which underlie

our way of life.

Senator CLARK. I think that is a very eloquent statement, Mrs.

Keyserling. I take it, it is basic to what you said, that you consider

yourself a loyal citizen of the United States.

Mrs. KEYSERLING. I do believe I am.

Senator MCNAMARA (presiding pro tempore). Senator Kennedy, do

you have any comment or question?

Senator KENNEDY. I think the Labor Department and the administration is extremely fortunate to have her services;
NOMINATION 7

Senator MCNAMARA. Senator Metcalf, do you have any comment?

Senator METCALF. I can only add, Mr. Chairman, to the comments

of my colleagues that I have been fortunate in having served on committees where Mrs. Keyserling appeared and testified. I have known

her. I feel that she is one of the most qualified persons who has ever

come before a committee of which I was a member. I would be

gratified and consider myself fortunate to be able to vote for her

confirmation.

Senator MCNAMARA. Thank you, Senator Metcalf.

If there are no further comments, the committee will now go into

executive session to consider the recommendation before us.

Senator CLARK. Mr. Chairman, could I ask for the record, or request

that you ask for the record, if anybody present is present who desires

to oppose the nomination.

Senator MCNAMARA. Is there any opposition to the nomination in

the audience today at the hearing?

There is nobody here for that purpose? Thank you very much.

The CHAIRMAN (presiding). May I express my thanks and appreciation for your appearance here and for your statement, Mrs. Keyserling. We are happy to have had you and happy to have had you, too,

Mr. Secretary. Thank you very much.

Mrs. KEYSERLING. Thank you.

(Whereupon, at 10:30 a.m., the committee recessed subject to call.)

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