Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-28
Nixon at White House,
Extends Decisions Role

IAtGUOS DGS
Continued From First Page
Adams. the assistant to the
President.
Pressed for details of the
meeting. Mr.. Nixon said 1t could
not be regarded as similar to
meetings Of the Senate or
House. where somebody moves
one point Of view. another
moves a different point Of view
and the question is voted up or
down.
what actually happened"
he said. what happened is that
the Secretary of Defense pre-
sented to this group the rec
concentrations Of the Depart
ment Of Defense. After con.
suiting with the people who are
experts in the field and after
consulting the President as to
what they thought should be
done with regard to the con-
tinuation Of the Thor and
Jupiter program, there is the
discussion around the table"
He went on to add that Mr..
Dulles indicated his view as to
accelerating the; program. Mr..
Brundage spoke of the impact
the program would have on the
budget. and the others spoke.
What did Mr.. Adams say,
Mr.. Vice PRESIDENT" some one
inquired.
obviously" replied Mr.. Nix
on, II would not disclose what
anybody said, as you can I'M
derstand. But his participation
was like mine and the Others.
He would raise q point Of view
with regard to- the impact of
this on the budget or the i'm
pact on the various services in
volved, and so on.
Il should point out that Gov.
Adams had been present when
the President had discussed the
tentative program, which in
dictated had already been dis
cusSed by the Secretary Of
Defense with the President last
week."
Problem Presented
The Vice President was in
terrupted by a reporter asking
who presided at the meeting.
He said no one presided in the
sense usually understood. He
said the eight gathered around
a table in Mr.. Adams Office
and Secretary McElroy said.
'This is the problem" and
presented it.
Mr.. Nixon said he could not
give any name to the group,
such as the emergency cab
met" as suggested by q news
man. In this instance, he de-
clared the group was composed
of persons whose opinions in
the specific area would be
valued by the President.
If opinion had been divided
on the question Of the missile
production, he asserted - if
there had been an insoluhle
problem - the final decision
would have been made by the
President. !, X
Mr.. Nixon said Mr.. Eisen-i
hover can and will make final
decision on major policy mats'
tiers during his illness. when
needed.
He told the reporters the
President has not asked him
to assume any specific addi-
tional duties but obviously he
takes over some. He mentioned
ceremonial functions. such as
attendance at State dinners for
the King of Morocco. and GER
tain tasks involving conferences
with Cabinet officers.
The Vice President said he
will preside over a cabinet
meeting next Monday and q
meeting of the National Secur-
ity Council, next Thursday,
as well as conferences with
congressional leaders scheduled
Monday and Tuesday. But
he pointed out he has done
this before - when President
Eisenhower was Ill or when he
was away.
Find President Painting
He said he and Mr.. Eisen-
hover discussed his presiding
role "in a casual way" during
q 15-minute visit yesterday. Mr..
Adams accompanied the Vice
President to the Presidents
quarters. They found him
painting in q studio across O
hallway from his second-floor
bedroom.