Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-03
REORGANIZATION PLAN TEXT
Updating Of Military
Urged by President

FOLLOWING is the teri of
President Eisenhower's spe-
ctdl message to Congress
today proposing a Defense
Department reorganization
plan:
TO THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES:
Last January advised the
Congress of, two overriding
tasks in present world condi-
tions-the ensuring Of our
safety through strength. and
the building of a genuine
peace. I To these ends I out
lined eight major items re-
quiring urgent action.
One was defense reorganiza-
ton.
In this message / discuss the
administrative and legislative
changes that I consider essen
tial to the effective direction
Of our entire defense establish
ment. They are not numerous.
They are. however. very i'm
portant. They flow from these
principles:
First, separate ground, sea
and air warfare is gone for
ever. If ever again we should
be involved in war, we will fight
1t in all elements, with all serv-
ices. as one single concentrated
effort. Peacetime preparatory
and organizational activity
must conform to this fact.
Strategic and tactical planning
must be completely unified,
combat forces organized into
unified commands. each
equipped with the most EN-
Gent weapons systems that
science can develop. singly led
and prepared to fight as one,
regardless of service. The ac-
complishment Of this result Is
the basic function of the Sec
rotary of Defense, advised and
assisted by the Joint Chiefs OF
STAFF and operating under the
supervision of the Commander
In Chief.
Primary Goals
Additionally. Secretary of De-
Tense authority, especially II
respect to the development Of
new weapons. must be clear anC
direct, and flexible in the man.
agement of funds. Prompt de-
eisions and elimination Of
Wasteful activity must be pri-
mary goals.
These principles I commend
to the Congress. In conformity
TO them ! have formulated anc
urgently recommend certain
changes in our defense estab-
1ishment. Clearly we should
preserve the traditional form
and pattern of the services but
should regroup and redefine
certain service responsibilities
From this will flow the follow
ing significant results:
Strategic planning will be
unified.
{ Our fighting forces will be
formed into unified commands
effectively organized for the at
tainment of national detectives
Military command channels
viii be streamlined.
Professional Assistance
The Joint Chiefs Of Staff viii
be provided professional MILL
tary assistance required for ef-
fcient strategic planning and
Operational control.
The control and supervision
Of the Secretary of Defense over
military research and Develop
ment will be strengthened.
The Secretary of Defense will
be granted needed flexibility in
the management of defense
funds.
The Secretary of Defense and
Joint Chiefs of Staff will be
given'a direct voice in the ap-
pointment. assignment and re-
moval of officers m the top two
military ranks.
The authority of the Secre-
tary Of Defense will be clari-
ned to enable him to function a.
q fully effective agent of the
President as commander ir
chief.
The overall efficiency of the
Defense Department will be in.
creased.
The tendency toward service
rivalry and controversy, which
has so deeply troubled thu
American people. will be sharply
reduced.
In the following remarks I Sc
forth the background and de,
tails Of these legislative anc
administrative proposals.
New Weapons Emerge
In recent years a revolution
has been taking place in tn,
techniques Of war. Entirel,
new weapons have emerged
They transcend all we have be
fore known in destructive power
in range. in swiftness of deliv
cry. Thermonuclear weapons
missiles, new aircraft of grea
speed and range. atomic grounC
weapons. nuclear submarine
have changed the whole seal,
and tempo Of military desruc.
tiveness. Warning times ar,
vanishing. There can be littl,
confidence that we would surel,
know Of an attack before it i
launched. Speeds of fight ar,
already such as to make timel!
reaction difficult and intercept
ton uncertain.
The need to maintain an ef
fective deterrent TO war be-
comes ever more critical. II
this situation. we must fine
more efficient and economical
means of developing new de,
vices and fitting them into oul
defense establishment. We mus