Evening star., 1960-12-18
Bs HOWARD 4. HAUGERUD

BY HOWARD 4. HAUGERUD
Contributing Writer
HELP WANTED! One Of the
worlds largest producers Of
steel needs new president. Pre-
fer man without experience In
the iron and steel industry but
who is willing 70 learn on the
Job. $2S,0OO per year and ether
benefits. Person selected must
agree. TO resign shortly after
mastering this highly response
Bile position. Write Box 80.
Ridiculous? OF course it is, for
no corporation could possibly I
prosper or even remain solvent in
the face Of such irresponsible per-
sonnel practices. Yet, fantastic as
it may seem. this is very nearly
the course followed by our own
Federal government in selecting
executives to serve in high policy
making positions.
The comparison Is In fact un-
derstated, because no company or
corporation compares even re-
motely in size and complexity
with that of the United States
Government.
The Bell Telephone Co. execu-
tives, with their 725,O00 em-
ployes, or General Motors execu-
tives, who direct the activities Of
some $4,000 workers, would prob
ably be awed by a concern which
has IT'S million stockholders,
which owns some 800 million acres
Of real estate, and which operates
the largest retirement and dis
ability insurance program in the
world.
Unfortunately. size and COM
plexity are not the really vital
factors involved. The persons
who man these critical govern
mental positions are called upon
day after day to make decisions
directly affecting our national Sc
curity. They are not-like their
counterparts in industry making
decisions and formulating plans
which merely affect the financial
future of a large concern. The
wisdom Of their decisions and the
advice they pass on to the Presi-
dent may wen AFFECT every citizen
Of our country IS well as all the
peoples Of the free world.
It is therefore mandatory that
every effort be made to obtain
and retain the most highly tall
ented and broadly experienced
men to serve in these vital posi-
tions.
II Tokes Some Time
Most Of the positions at the
level Of Secretary, Under Secre-
tary, and Assistant Secretary in
the national security oriented de-
partments require q minimum Of
two years in which to gain q real
understanding Of the job. and to
begin to make significant contri-
buttons. It follows, therefore. that
the longer we can retain an ex-
perienced man, the greater Is his
worth and the greater are his con-
tributions to our Government.
Unfortunately, the opposite is
also true. Even the most vociferouS
critics Of past administrations win
admit that our Presidents over the
years have made pevery effort to
get good: men to help them In
running the Government.
BY and large they have been
successful and nearly every ad-
ministration has begun with
bright, new faces. firmly set with
determination to ''clean UP the
mess, and set the house in order"
But inevitably before many months
something seems to occur to dun
the bright. new outlook and resig-
nations are quietly accepted, the
officials leave, and the search for
bright experienced men begins
anew.
In order to determine just how
serious this problem Of turnover
at top level really Is. the staff Of
the Subcommittee on National
Policy Machinery Of the Senate
Government Operations Commit
tee studied the matter, and re-
Gently reported their findings.
Senator jackson Of Washington
is Chairman of the subcommittee.
The section dealing with the
Defense Department covers the
period beginning with the Ma
tional Security Act Of 1947 and
concludes in each case at the point
where the present incumbent as
sumed office.
The Record on Tenure
While the data covers q number
Of research and development
boards and assistant secretary
ships that have been abolished,
for our purpose we have here an
outline only of the major ofiices
that have not undergone revisions.
The Secretary of Defense is the
principal assistant to the Presi-
dent in all matters relating to our
defense forces, and since l947
seven men have served in this
post. The average length Of serv-
ice in this position has been ap-
proximately two years. Eight mer
have served as Deputy Secretary
Of Defense for an average Of II
months per man.
The pattern exists in the offices
of the three service secretaries
Before Army Secrtary Brucker as
sumed Office in 1855, the average
length Of time served by the men
preceding him was % months. Tc
his credit, Mr.. Brucker, will brins
this average UP when he leave
Government. In the office o
Undersecretary, the turnover ha
been constant and the averag,
length Of service has been only /,
months.
The Navy has retained its Sec.
retaries for an average Of Q;
months and their Undersecre
taries for 20 months.
The Air Force average is ap'