Evening star., 1959-06-26
Strauss Affair

cans voted with the admin
istration forces, the Strauss
appointment would have been
confirmed. A heavy respon-
sibility rests upon these Re-
publicans. 1t is not because
they voted against the ad-
miniStration. 1t is because
they voted against an able.
loyal and selflessly devoted
public servant. His offense
was that he had tried hon.
estly to carry out the obli-
cations of his Office and
safeguard the security Of the
country when he was chair
man OF the Atomic Energy
Commission. BY so doing he
ruffied the feelings of a VAIN
and oversensitive Senator
who has long since outlived
his usefulness. If he ever had
any.
Strauss is to be honored
for the enemies he has made
both inside and outside The
Senate. One of the counts
against him. although 1t has
not been publicized. is that
when he was chairman Of
the Atomic Energy Commits
sion he opposed permitting
security risks in sensitive
places in a Government
agency. For this he earned
the undying hatred of the
Communists and fellow
travellers and the dupes who
do their bidding. In the pres
ent instance. the victory is
not that Of the United States
Senate, as one Senator de-
clared: it is that of the Com
mullSL faEty.
1t is gratifying that among
the As Senators who voted for
Strauss were some genuine
Democrats-men like Dodd
of Connecticut, Lausche of
Ohio. Byrd of Virginia. Nc
Clellan Of Arkansas - who
put the welfare of the coun-
try above personal considera-
tions.
E. Mclean johnson.
Brownfield, Me.
Your editorials and Gould
Lincoln's columns on Admiral
Strauss were excellent.
We, in Ohio, have been in
expressibly shocked and sick
ened by the ruthless cruelty
and lack of craftsmanship
evidenced by certain Sena-
tors, who. by their actions,
have brought discredit on the
Senate, both here and abroad.
and damaged the country.
When thinking people feel.
with reason, that these Sena-
tors are emotionally imma-
ture and think only in terms
of the next election, it is GER
tainly a cause for fear and
apprehension.
The American people have
a right to expect more from
the majority leader than this
bitter, badly handled contro-
versy. No wonder Pravda is
delighted. No wonder we are
ashamed.
Mrs. John Byrns.
(Sister- -in-law of the late
Speaker Joseph w. ByrnsO
Cincinnati, Ohio.
%%&
How much more mileage do
your columnists expect to get
out of the Strauss affair?
William S. White considers
the Office of Secretary of
Commerce the ''least signifi-
cant post in all the cabinet"
He overlooks the tremendous
power and responsibility
vested in that Office, in its
being able to Illustrate De-
fense and State Department
policies, by withholding OF
refusing export licenses. to
give but one example of its
Importance. He admits that
the Strauss appointment was
a "blunder" by the President,
but suggests that the Senate
should have confirmed that
"blunder" in order to exploit
Strauss shortcomings politi-
cally. Mr.. White apparently
overlooks the constitutional
relationship between the
President and the Senate, ano
the requirement of "advice
and consent" in the matter OF
such appointments, In the
Strauss case, the Senate, on
evidence presented, refused
to consent" which meant
approve" of a man it wa
convinced was untitled fol
the Office. The issue is settled
and should be buried. 1t doe'
not merit an epitaph.
Grey Leslie.