Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-08-08
SeI|ing|nf|uence
His Business,
Hunt |sQuoted
GrindIe Says He Told
Of White House In
Through Vaughan
By Miriom Ottenbero


chusetts businessman who touched
off Senate investigation of five
percenters, testified under oath
today that James V. Hunt boosted
to him of an inside track at the
White House through Maj. Gen.
Harry H. Vaughan and told him
he himself had only one thing to
sell and that is influence"
Mr.. Hunt is the Washington
management counsellor to whom
Mr.. Grindle said he paid $1,000
fee on assurances that Mr.. Hunts
influence would get him Govern
ment contracts for his furniture
factory.
Mr.. Grindle's recitation today
of his activities with Mr.. Hunt
included a claim that the latter
had declared that he could and
did go to the White House at any
time"
johnson Pledges His Help.
Mr.. Grindle was on the stand
before a Senate Expenditures
Subcommittee to repeat under
oath the story he told the New
York Herald Tribune in June
about his dealings with Mr.. Hunt.
The stage was set for the public
hearing when Secretary of De-
Tense Johnson, the first witness,
pledged his cooperation to get
ride of those INSCRIPTIONS men
who prey on business and Gov
eminent" by peddling influence.
Mr.. Grindle, who followed him,
declared also that Mr.. Hunt rep
resented himself as one of the
closest friends" of Gen. Vaughan,
the Presidents military aide.
He also said that Mr.. Hunt
claimed to be a close friend of
Maj. Gen. Herman Feldman. the
Quartermaster General. and Maj.
Gen. Alden H. Watt, chief of the
Chemical Cops. Both Gems.
Watt and Feloman have been
suspended pending the outcome Of
this investigation.
Highlights of Storye.
Here are some Of the highlights
of Mr.. Grindle's story:
| /. He said Mr.. Hunt told him
Gen. Vaughn saved a certain
type of brandy sent to the White
House and gave it to Mr.. Hunt
to take home to his wife. Gen.
Vaughan, he said Mr.. Hunt told
him, also gave Mr.. Hunt gifts OF
cigars and "other things that
came to the White House
| 2. Mr.. Hunt, he said, told him it
was very important to get an
Army contract because Mr.. Hunt
knew that on Secretary Johnson's
desk was a plan providing that in
case of war the employees would
be moved out of plants without
Army contracts and assigned to
one that did have such contracts.
8. Mr.. Hunt, according to Mr..
Grindle's story, handed him list
on May 20 and told him it con-
tanned information on what COM
panies had bid on the first part
of a contract. Mr.. Hunt, he said.
told him Never mind where got
this and be sure not to have your
figures identical because then
somebody in the Quartermaster
Corps will know there has been a
leak"
Dorothy Draper Mentioned.
4. Mr.. Hunt, he said, told him
that Gen. Vaughan had assured
Mr.. Hunt there was no reason
why Dorothy Draper. New York
interior decorator, should not
have the decorating contract for
a remodeling job at the White
House. Mr.. Hunt represented
the Draper firm. Mr.. Grindle said
Mr.. Hunt assured him there was
no reason why shouldn't get
the interior woodworking contract
at the White House"
5. He said Mr.. Hunt described
5000. 00o, 900 deal he was work.
ing on to buy back surplus air.
plane parts and that Mr.. Hunt
said, THE taxpayers blood would
boil if they knew about this one"
Mr.. Hunt, according to Mr..
Grindle, said the deal was to have
new airplane parts declared sur
plus and then buy them for a
syndicate at $18 a ton.
6. Mr.. Hunt also boosted, Mr..
(See FIVE-PERCENTERS, A-6)