Evening star., 1949-03-27
Employees Say They
Even Walk Faster
At His Prodding
By Richord l. Stokes

wa SSS @2ASSS &>SA~SSs>S
mouth have been disarmingly
apologetic. Three days after he
took the oath on January 2s he
was thrust into his first policy
assignment, a conference with
Finland's Minister, DR.. K. 7. Ju-
tia. With the exception Of GUESTS
at a reception for President
Miguel Aleman Of Mexico, MIR.
Webb had never before so much
as spoken to q foreign diplomat.
"You understand, Of course"
Mr.. Webb has remarked dozens
of times since becoming general
manager and second in command
of the State Department, that I
speak out with a wealth OF igno-
rance" Nevertheless, in a few
brief weeks he has stamped his
personality upon the department.
With broad shoulders and a face
like a genial mastiff, he is one
of those Leyden jars capable OF
galvanizing thousands Of men.
Drafted to Reorganize
boy, has he put this depart
ment to work." exclaimed one ad-
miring subordinate. Another add
ed: Since Mr.. Webb came in
all of us even walk faster. D From
July 80, 1946, until his confirma-
ton as Undersecretary, Mr.. Webb
was director Of the Budget Bu-
reau. A suggestion is already
floating about that apprenticeship
in that key of all key agencies
should be required study for fu-
ture Undersecretaries of State.
For the specific purpose of re-
organizing the department after
the recommendations of the Hoov-
er Commission, Mr.. Webb was
drafted from the Budget Bureau
by President Truman and Secre-
tary Acheson. The mechanics of
the reform have been delegated to
John E. Peur1foy. who is scheduled
for the Office of Deputy Under
SECRETARY for Administration. But
the leadership is Mr.. Webb's. 1t
is his job to supply not only driv-
ing energy, but overall principles
and ideals. He is seeking no per-
sonal or military structure. His
pattern is that of a modern, en-
lightened and superefflcient cor
poration.
Like his predecessor, Robert A.
Lovett, Mr.. Webb was astonished
to find that the State Department
was bursting with talent, much OF
it hidden and unemployed. His
aim is to release such latent abil-
tiles for use to the utmost-and
to make sure the humblest clerk
receives credit for his contribu-
ton. At the Budget Bureau he
smashed down the partitions of
its seven divisions. which had been
functioning more or less separate
ly. and resolved the organization
into what he called "a 500-man
team" He is expected to repeat
that operation at the State De-
partment.
AZ Years of Hustle
In preparation for his task Mr..
Webb has crammed into AZ years
enough activity to strike lesser
man with vertigo. Beginning with
high school days, he clerked in a
sand d-10-cent store. mastered
typing and stenography at add
hours, worked his way through the
University of North Carolina. in
cidentally picking up Phi Beta
Kappa key for scholarship; won a
certificate as a commercial air
pilot, was graduated as a flying
officer of the Marine Corps, gained
a degree in night law courses, act
ed as secretary to Congressman,
and at the age of IS became secre-
tary and treasurer of a corpora
ton with $4,000 employees. Since
then he has been a member of a
Washington legal firm, executive
assistant to the Undersecretary OF
the Treasury, director OF the
Budget Bureau and finally Under
secretary of the State Department.
His friends boast that he is
one American who cares nothing
about money, and that he has
proved it by declining offers from
private companies with salaries of
$4,000 to 100000. AS Director
of the Budget, he was paid $4,000
a year. His stipend as Under
secretary is $12,500. Beyond saw
ings, which he says would carry
him q few months if he lost his
job, he has no independent means.
With his wife and two children
he lives in q white frame cottage
on Rodman street, which he
bought for the modest sum Of
$4,000. His ambition, on con-
cluding public service. is to en-
ter the field of education. He
speaks with a sigh Of having had
to refuse an invitation to become
dean of the School of Commerce
at his alma mater, the University
of North Carolina.
Handled Gubitchev Protest
Though appointed in the first
instance for his experience and
capacity in large-scale manage
ment. MIR. Webb has been break
ing in actively on the policy side
of the department and working
his way up through the diplomatic
kingdom by means of conferences
IA of