Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-02
BY the Associated Press


Meet q fellow who carries
quite a few Of your nuclear-
age worries on mis- mind and
often does it up to 80 hours a
week.
He is Edward A. McDermott,
41-year-old Iowa attorney who
is acting director of President
Kennedy's Office of Emergency
Planning. His day begins early
and ends late. Weekend work
Is the rule rather than the ex-
Yception.
1.-The bespectacled Mr.. McDer-
mott has been in the $25, O00-a-
year post only about one
month. He was picked by Mr..
Kennedy to succeed Frank B.
EMS, nominated by Mr.. Ken
needy to be a Federal Judge in
Louisiana.
And the agency. technically
speaking, also is new. Mr..
Kennedy set it UP last fall with
congressional approval after
assigning major Federal civil
defense responsibilities to the
Defense Department.
y, The Jobs Responsibilities
II In commenting on OEP's
responsibilities, Mr.. Kennedy
said they would deal with in
veStigation, advice, co-ordina-
.,tion and policy formulation in
connection with the Nations
preparedness effort.
,b These functions may
be of critical Importance to
our very survival" the Presi-
dent said. 1.-THE national Sc
acurity requires that there be
soundly conceived and we'll
tested plans for every emergen-
"cy."
- Mr.. McDermott, who came
here last April from Dubuque
as deputy director of the
former Office of Civil and De-
tense Mobilization, still has
to be confirmed by the Senate
for his new post. However, no
problems are expected since
he was confirmed for the
deputy directors job.
II would say that I'm at the
office for varying periods Of
time three out of four Sum
] days and nine Saturdays out
Of TO-" Mr.. McDermott said
in an interview. But think
it is the most rewarding, chal-
longing, interesting experience
a;person could have"
/ Day Full of Meetings
What's a typical day like in
Mr.. McDermott's busy life?
s2AIt generally begins with
breakfast at home, although a
downtown engagement isn't
unusual, and a 20-minute ride
to his office next door to the
White House in a chauffeur
driven car. He generally
reaches his office-used by the
Secretary Of State years ago
about an hour before agency
business begins.
lone day, selected at random
out Of his office appointment
book, showed two early morn
ing meetings with Iowa friends
aEMsgr. Maurice S. Sheehy of
Cedar Rapids and E. E. Hagg-
strom of Dubuque), conference
with a presidential aide, a 40
minute meeting with Mr.. Ken
Tnedy on emergency planning
functions of Government agen-
cieS, discussions with OEP's
. director of women's activities
and a staff meeting.
After lunch with Brig. Gen.
Godfrey T. McHugh, Mr.. Ken
nedy's Air Force aide, Mr.. Nc
stDermott reviewed the agency's
proposed budget with his staff
: for two hours and then met
with Mr.. Kennedy again.
Another staff conference fol-
lowed in which he explained a
new Recommendations divi-
; sion in the agency which Mr..
Kennedy authorized. Next came
; q Capitol meeting with Chair
man Symington. Democrat of
Missouri, of a Senate Armed
Services Subcommittee which
plans to look into the Nations
, Stockpiling program and a ses-
sion with Deputy Secretary of
:, Defense Roswell L. Gilpatric on
a petroleum study.
Buster Schedule Due
Mr.. McDermott's duties pick
up even more in the spring,
since his agency is responsible
for administering a natural dis
aster aid program. DEP also is
tied in with the Nations strate-
: gic warning system, and he
takes part in meetings of the
National Security Council.
e Reports come in both at
home and the office, Mr.. Nc
7Dermott said, and even on a
telephone in his car that's con-
%