Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-02

House. He noted that the Com
missioners announced publicly
on the day after the decision.
however. that the White House
was interested.
"Of course, everybody knew
that the President had in his
campaign. believe it was, indi-
Gated his desire that segregation
in Washington be eliminated, Z"
he added.
Then can it safely be said
that the word did reach the
School Board or school officials
but it came indirectly through
the city Commissioners" asked
Mr.. Williams.
mot with any push on it that
I know Of" replied DR.. Corning.
Asked if former Commissioner
Samuel Spencer was very much
in favor" of the move, DR.. Corn
ing replied that he didn't know
that Mr.. Spencer had ever ex-
pressed his personal viewpoint to
him.
Mr.. williams said it was
pretty generally known" that
Mr.. Spencer's children attended
segregated white schools. DR..
Corning said he didn't know.
Somebody told me that you
were getting ready to retire, you
were sick of this mess" Mr..
Gerber told the 66-year-old
school administrator.
THAT is interesting informa-
ton for me to find out, I have
no plans for retirement whatso-
ever. sir" DR.. Corning responded.
The word mess" was hurled
at DR.. Corning by Mr.. Gerber
during questioning about school
problems resulting from inte-
grafton.
Il realize you are sitting here
about a matter that grieveS you
very much. I think you are try
ing to get out of this mess the
best you know how because
know you are in mess" the
counsel told DR.. Corning.
Superintendent Differs
"Wait a minute, sir" DR.,
Corning interjected. II do not
agree that we are in a mess.
I do say we know our problems.
They are many and we're doing
our BEST"
DR.. Corning was pressed by Mr.,
Gerber about the speed Of inte-
grafton here. He said the inte-
grafton policies were made by the
Board of Education, but that the
plans had been developed over
a two-year period by his staff
And he said the only alternative
plan that had been suggested
starting only with kindergarten
would have been "administra-
lively impossible"
Under insistent request from
the investigating committee DR.,
Corning agreed to undertake to
find out how many children OF
grandchildren of high officials
are sent to Washington's public
schools.
The question first was raised
by Mr.. Gerber, who asked DR.,
Corning if he knew that some
Senator had been advised that
if he sent his child to the
Horace Mann School he would
be in no danger of getting into
an integrated school.
NixOn's Children Attend
DR.. Corning did not know
about that. Mr.. Gerber then
remarked that Vice President
Nixon, whom he described as
very much wrapped UP in inte-
sends his children there.
Later, Representative Williams
brought up the subject again
and asked DR.. Corning If the
school administration did not
keep records of the names of
the pupils and their parents and
what schools they attended.
When DR.. Corning agreed this
was so. Mr.. Williams asked MIN
If he would look 1t UP and supply
the information. DR.. Corning
agreed to do so.
The list includes children or
grandchildren of District Com
missioners. justices Of the
Supreme Court. members Of the
Senate and House. official White
House aides and Or. Corning
added, members OF the cabinet.
Mr.. Williams remarked that
Maj. John Eisenhower, the Pres
ident's son who is stationed at
Fort Belvoir. Va. has two chill
dren at an all-white private
school in Alexandria. A third
child was listed as attending an
integrated Kindergarten at Fort
Belvoir.
An Army spokesman quoted
Jhn Eisenhower last January