Evening star., 1951-01-15
Dr.. Magnuson 0usted
As VA Medical Head;
Admiral Boone In

~h
A bitter three-year conflict over
control of the Veterans Admins
tration's vast medical program
has exploded with the custer, ef-
fective today, of DR.. Paul 3
Magnuson as the agency's chief
medical director.
Veterans Administrator Gray
announced formal acceptance of
a resignation submitted in 1948
by the medical chief and appoint
ment of Vice Admiral Joel T.
Boone, U. S. NJ, retired, to sue
ceed him.
DR.. Magnuson made it clear,
however, that he feels Il was
fired
He told a reporter he refused
to submit a requested new resigna-
tion or to issue joint statement
with Gen. Gray because it would
just have been eyewash.'' He ac-
cuSed Gen. Gray of setting up
bureaucratic control over the
medical program and expressed
the fear that this might wreck
the entire medical setup."
Admiral Boone, is a World War
I Congressional Medal of Honor
winner and physician to three
presidents. He will take over the
job by April /.
Important Questions Raised.
Most important questions raised
by DR.. Magnuson's custer are
whether any other VA key medi-
cal men will pull out of the pro-
gram with him, and whether the
move will affect medical profess
sion participation in the program
throughout the country.
Basic issue in the struggle be-
tween Gen. Gray and DR.. Magnu-
son was over who should control
the hospital program. DR.. Mag
nuson. charging that he was put
on the sidelines practically as an
adviser" fought to be put in
direct line of command between
the administrator and the hos
pitfalls.
The location of VA hospitals,
reductions in force involving med
ical personnel and conduct of the
VA medical training program all
were matters involved in the dis
pute. A year ago, DR.. Magnuson
said, the administrator took away
from him the power to recon-
mend new hospital managers and
set up committee to take such |
action.
MagnusOn Brought In by Hawley.
DR.. Magnuson, 66, prominent |
Chicago orthopedic surgeon, was
brought into the VA medical pro-
gram by DR.. Paul r. Hawley, who
was selected by Gen. Bradley in
1945 to clean up the antiquated |
and politics-ridden medical pro-
gram. At that time, the then
Veterans Administrator Bradley t
gave DR.. Hawley virtu.. ly a free
hand in developing the program. |
DR.. Magnuson played a major
part in developing the present ex-
tensive training program for
young doctors at VA hospitals,
and fought for extension of the
program through State and coun-
ty medical societies. Within al
short time. the program had in
dorsement of civilian medical
leaders who previously had
spurned the agency's medical ac-
tivities.
The doctor, who lives at 1921
0 street NV, said he was sum-
moned to Gen. Gray's Office Satur- |
day and told that I'D better look |
for other employment.
Personally, DR. Magnuson said, /
1T am relieved. Now I'm through
with those damned Illustrations. F."
To Resume Work on Book.
He said he intended to remain in
Washington at least temporarily, |
and to resume work on text book
on spinal injuries begun in 1881.
Admiral Boone was removed
last February % as chief of the
Defense Departments medical !
services after sharp differences
with the then Defense Secretary /
johnson over cutbacks in military
The admiral won the Congress
sional Medal of Honor during 7
World War I, when he participated
in most of the major offenses with .
the Marine Corps in France. He
served as physician to Presidents
Harding. Coolidge and Hoover,
and during the last war was fleet |
medical officer of the Sd Fleet.
VA officials said Admiral
Boone's address is listed as st. |
Clair, Pa, and that his wife lives
at 1000 Cathedral avenue NV.