Evening star., 1947-02-09
Two Witnesses Say
LiIientIlaI Actively
Sought Atom Job
by fhs Associo.sd Press

Senator McKellar. Democrat, Of
Tenn, presented two witnesses yes
terday who testified that David e.
Lilienthal campaigned actively for
the chairmanstip Of the Atomic
Energy Commission despite his
avowal that he did his "damndest"
to avoid the assignment.
Jack Conner, who referred to him.
Self as IAN east Tennessee hillbilly"
and labor lawyer, backed UP testi-
mony of L. B. B. Bolt, jr, that Mr..
Lilienthal waged an active campaign
for the atomic appointment while
serving as chairman of the Tennes-
see Valley Authority. Mr.. Bolt was
discharged last year as IVA
lawyer. Mr.. Conner said he worked
eight years for the iva.
The witnesses appeared before the
Senate section of the Joint Congress
sional Committee on Atomic Energy.
The Senators are weighing the quail
flcations Of Mr.. Lilienthal, four other
nominees for the commission, and
Carroll Wilson, nominated for gen.
eral manager Of the atomic organi-
zation, preliminary to vote on con-
f1rmation.
"Campaigned Very Actively"
Mr.. Bolt declared that for nearly
a year Mr.. Lilienthal "campaigned
very actively" for the commission
Craftsmanship Gin a iva plane, on
iva time, and at IVA expense"
He said Mr.. Lilienthal made a series
Of speeches on atomic energy
throughout the East and Midwest,
and was planning tour of the Far
West when his appointment came
through.
Mr.. Lilienthal has testified he did
not seek the job and even gave
President Truman reasons for not
picking him.
Mr.. Conner testified that Mr..
Lilienthal had recommended two
other nominees to the commission
Che did not specify which two,, as
well as Gordon r. Clapp as his
successor on iva.
iva Controlled by "vicious Clique"
(Which means" he said, that If
confirmed he would have controlling
power over the Atomic Energy
Commission, and through Mr.. Clapp
will also control the IVA"
Mr.. Bolt told the committee that
iva was controlled by "a vicious
personal political clique" composed
of Mr.. Lilierthal, Mr.. Clapp, Joseph |
G. Swidler, the general counsel, and
other department heads.
Chairman Hickenlooper asked Mr.
Bolt whether, at the time he was
discharged, he made any statement
to anybody that he would "get"
anybody. Mr.. Bolt replied that he
was "embittered" when he was fired,
but said he didn't recall making
"any such fat statement"
Joked About Communists.
Mr.. Conner said that he and most
other employees did not take the re-
ported Communist element in iva
very seriously, although they used
to joke about joining the Communist
party in order to get good job
with IVA.
It mas peeu oeIldtOT MCheildI
contention that there was sig
nificant- amount Of Communism IN
IVA and That Mr.. Lihenthal andd
Mr.. Clapp failed to stamp it out. i
Mr.. Clapp, testifying before the
Senate Public Works Committee in
hearings on his nomination, said
yesterday that mot one shred OF
evidence" has been developed to sup
port the charges. i
Public Works Committee Adjourned.
I THE suspicion Of Communism in
iva appears to be a very recent
characteristic of former employees
who feel themselves aggrieved," he
said.
The Public Works Committee ad-
journed until an indefinite time late
this week and 1t was indicated the
adjournment might be even longer.
Acting Chairman Watkins sug-
gested that 1t might be good idea"
to delay the hearing until after the
atomic committee concludes its
hearing on Mr.. Lilienthal to enable
Senator McKellar to give his 'ful
attention" to both hearings.