xt7msb3wtd0h_12 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7msb3wtd0h/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7msb3wtd0h/data/72m2.dao.xml unknown 166 Cubic Feet 381 document boxes, seven textile items, three map folders, one artwork archival material 72m2 English University of Kentucky The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Frederick Moore Vinson papers Economic stabilization. Elections -- United States -- Congresses. Judges -- Correspondence. Judges -- United States. Judicial opinions Judicial process -- United States Legislators -- Correspondence. New Deal, 1933-1939. World War, 1914-1918 -- Veterans. World War, 1939-1945. Chief Justice - assignment of judges for loyalty investigations text Chief Justice - assignment of judges for loyalty investigations 2019 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7msb3wtd0h/data/72m2/Box_162/Folder_10/Multipage1619.pdf 1950 1950 1950 section false xt7msb3wtd0h_12 xt7msb3wtd0h @Cnifeb $fafe5 $enafe

WASHINGTON. D. C.

 

 Thy 19, 1950

The President
The White House
Uaflfingtmg D.C.

Ilear Hr. President:

The free world is looking towards file United States
for courageous, vigorous, and honest leadership in the cause of peace.

The Departnent of State should and must be the "work shop”
of our country’s effort. Confidence in the patriotism.and loyalty
of its employees is essential. Fay I suggest, Er. President, there
is nothing more important at this critical and tense juncture of
world affairs than that the people of the United States should know
the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, concerning
whether the charges of Senator McCarthy are true or false. This is
essential for the unity of our people at home and the restoration
of confidence among the people of other countries who are allied
with us in the defense of democracy. Charges against the loyalty
of eighty-one of its enmloyees have been made by Senator McCarthy.
The files in these eighty—one cases have been examined by four
Congressional Committees of the Congress and are now in the course
of examination by us.

The inportance and gravity of file matters to be settled
are such as to lead us to request that you designate a special
auxiliary panel of the Loyalty Board to examine these Charges and
the files of those charged and to report to you and to us on their
findings of fact. We would suggest that men of the character and
calibre of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Chester 3. Nimitz, and Owen D.
Roberts be urged to accept this tadi.

Tie propose to continue our examination of the files and
in the light thereof, together with any other evidence available to
us (including the findings of the proposed panel) make a full and
complete report.

Three members of our Committee are possible candidates for
reelection this year. Try as we might, and as we will, to reach a
fair, conscientious, and objective judgment on these matters, we will
certainly hear cries fron1those who disagree with whatever our findings

 

 ._2_

will be that those findings have been inspired by political considera—
tions. That does not particuls-rly disturb me personally, but the
effect on our strength at home and abroad does. Will you please

advi se me if this proposal meets with your approval?

Respectfully yours,

1 m

‘ t ec at at es Senator

 

 ' MILLARD E. TYDINGS. “10., CHAIRMAN

RXCHARD B. RUSSELL. GA. STYLES BRIDGES, N. H.
HARRY FLOOD BYRD. VA. CHAN GURNEY. S. DAK.
VIRGIL CHAPMAN, KY. LEVERETT SALTONSTALL, MASS.

LYNDON a. JOHNSON. TEX. WAYNE MORSE. ones.
ESTES KEFAUVER. TENN. WILLIAM F. KNOWLAND. CALIF. .
LESTER c. HUNT. wvo. HARRY P. CAIN. WASH. ‘ ,lcnxfeh ${ {9% gen £9

J. NELSON TRIBBY. CLERK
COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVlCES

May 18,1950

Honorable Harry S. Trumun
Piesident of the United States
The hhite House
Washington,D.C.

My dear Mr. President —

Since last February 22, e subcommittee of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee has been inquiring
into allegations of Sen. McCarthy that persons who are
disloyal to he United States are or have been employed
Ly the State Department.

This inquiry resulted from a speech made by
McCarthy, in which he said:

"....I have here in my hand a list of 292 -—

a list of names that were made known to the
Secretary of State as being members of the
Communist Psrty and who nevertheless are still
working and sheping yolicy in the State Depert~
ment." (Speech at Wheeling, West Virginia, on
February 9,1950).

Two days 'later, McCarthy changed his speech, saying:

"Last night I discussed the Communists in the
State Depurtment. I stated thdt I had the names
of 21 Card carrying members of the Communist
Pirty." (Speech at Leno, Nevada, Feb. 11,1950)

When pressed for evidence to en port these
chunbing churges, Sen. McCarthy told the Serate on February
20 that the loyalty files and records of 81 employees of
the State Department Would snow that these employees were
"either Communists or disloyel perSons".

Senator McCarthy did not make known to the Senet
and the country at that time the feet that the loyalty records
end files of these same 61 cases had previously been examined,
not by one, but by four seperate and indegendent committees
of the Ee;ubliCen-controlled 80th Congress. None of these
conmittees, after a thorough examination of these 81 loyalty
records and files, tointed out that a single one of these 81
peTSons Was a "Conmunist or disloyel".

 

 Indeed, one of the Republican members of the 80th
Congress, namely Representative Jonkman of Michigan, after
examining the 81 cases, said on the floor of the House of
Representatives the following:

”I want the members to Know that there is one
Department in which the known or reasonably
suspected subversives, Communists, fellow
travelers, sympathizers, and persons whose
services are not for the best interest of the
United States have been swept out, that is the
Department of State."

Now these same 81 loyalty records and files are
again being examined, for the fifth time, by our committee.
I myself have already read over half of these 81 cases, as
I write tLis letter. I find that some of the 81 individuals
are not now and never lave been employed by the State De—
partment. As to these persons who never have been employed
by the State Department, the charges of McCarthy are obviously
untrue. Some of the 81 cases were simply applicants for jobs
in the State Department but were never hired. Of the 81
individuals mentioned by McCarthy, only 41 of them are now
employed in the State Department.

Soon we wiil have completed our examination of
these loyalty records and files. I Know you appreciate that
any Verdict which is rendered by our committee on the McCarthy
charges should be such that it will be accepted without question
by the people of the country.

Indeed, Mr. President, there is nothing more import—
ant at this critical and tense juncture of world affairs than
that the people of the United States should Know the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth as to whether or
not Communists and disloyal persons have been employed by the
State Department of our gOVernment, for it is this department
WHiCh is charged with handling our foreign relations.

Now you know that the members of the Senate are
there because they have been elected to public office. Three
of the five members of our conmittee may be candidates for
reelection this fall. Thus, no matter how fair, painstaking
and impartial we may try to be, the cry of "politics” is
likely to be raised by those who are diSappointed with our
firukirgs.

 

 It is doubtful, therefore, if a committee composed
of members of the United States Senate, in an election year —
human nature being what it is — can render a verdict which
will not be subjected to the reckless charge of bias,political
or otherwise, even though there are no facts to sustain such
a charge.

Feeling that a verdict clearly above and beyond
imputa ions of unworthy motives is indispensable to the unity
of our people at home and to the restoration of confidence
among the peoples of the nations allied with us, I have a
suLgestion to make.

In order that the verdict of these 81 cases may be
acceyted without any question by our people, I suggest that
you atpoint a Commission composed of the most eminent citizens
of our land, citizens wholly divorced from golitics, whose
single duty and objective would be to examine these 81 loyalty
records and files and submit a report with respect to their
findings to you and to our committee.

In this way, the ameriCan public will know once and
for all what the truth about the McCarthy charges really is.
They will know that a fair and impartial examination of these
loyalty records and files has been made by men who are not in
politics, who have no motive or purpose to serve other than
their Country's welfare. Their verdict will be accepted without
question.

Assuming your concurrence in the wisdom of appoint—
ing such a commission, it is supgested that you appoint a board
of three individuals selected from among the following:

Admiral Chester w. Nimitz
Former Chief of Naval Operations

Justice Owen D. Roberts
Former Justice, U.S.Supreme Court,Retired

General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
President, Columbia University

Judge Harold Medina
Judge, U.S.District Court for the Southern
District of New York

Judge Learned Hand
Judge, U.S.Court of A,peals,2nd Judicial Circuit

 

 Judge John J. Parker
Chief Judge, U.S.Court of Appeals, 4th Judicial
CirCuit

Judge John F. X. McGohey
Judge, U.S.District Court for the
Southern District of New York

JUdge Geo"ge C. Sweeney
Judge, U-S.District Court, Boston, Mass.

Judge John Higgins
Superior C urt, State of Massachusetts

Such a course as is herein suggested will at once
dispel any confusion existing in the gublic mind. Likewise,
it will put an end to the self—serving and unwarranted charges
of ”whitewash" or ”persecution" that from time to time have
appeared in the press and over the radio. The verdict of a

Commissicn such as I have suggested will bring the whole matter
to u need with unimpeacheble fin lity. If such a procedure is
not followed, no mutter how honest and detached our committee
might be — if past history is any yardstick - we are bound to
be attacked by those who are dis;leased with our findings, and
who are often inspired by their own self—serving purposes.

I therefore sincerely hope that you can see your way
cledr to cooperate with us in the appointment of such a Com—
mission.

Respectfully submitted,

 

 , .
.. W t
MlLLARD E. TYDINGs. MD.. CHAIRMAN / W gfilfi‘; r? A,“
W. Wyn ”ya; {a 2:99;? ,1... .E' M" ‘3

RICHARD B. RUSSELL. GA. STYLES BRIDGES. N. H.
HARRY FLOOD BYRD. VA. CHAN GURNEY. S. DAK.
VIRGIL CHAPMAN. KY. LEVERETT SALTONSTALL, MASS-

LYNDON a. JOHNSON. TEX. WAYNE MORSE. ones.
ESTES KEFAUVER. TENN. WILLIAM F. KNOWLAND. CALIF. .
LESTER c. HUNT. wyo. HARRY P. CAIN, WASH. ’ Ezl Entfeh gfafeg fienafe

.I. NELSON TRIuaY. CLERK
COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

 

 

 

 

 

May 19, 1950

Honorable Harry S. Truman
President of the United States
The White House
Washington,D.C.

Dear Mr. President —

In his speech to the Senate on February 20,
Senator McCsrthy said there were 81 persons now or
previously employed by the State Department whom he
charged with being either Communists or disloyal
Americans. At that time he said that an examination
of the loyalty records and files by our subcommittee
would prove the truth or falsity of his case.

You have turned these loyalty records and
files in the 81 cases over to my committee and we are
now in the process of examining their contents.

The investigation of the McCarthy charges has
consumed a great deal of the time and energy of all mem-
bers of the comm ttee. We have not been able to attend
in ort: nt coznittee meetings and sessions of the Senat
because we have been engaged in this investigation for
more than two months. We still have considerable work to
do before we can bring our investigation to a close.

Furthermore ,when we Io close our investigation,
we hope to do it in such fashion that the final verdict,
wlatevei it may be, will be accepted by the people of the
country ithout question.

For the purpose of speeding up our work and
arriving at a verdict which will command the confidence
of the Country, I respectfully suggest and request yOur
aid to our work by the appointment of an independent committee
of eminent citizens of the highest standing to review inde—
pendently the 81 files above referred to. When such aomnnttee
has completed its review, I would request that they make a
report to you and to our committee for our aid and guidance.

 

 Assuming your concurrence in the Wisdom of
appointing such a conmittee, it is suggested that you
appoint a bosrd of three individuals selected from among
such persons as the following:

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, former Commender-in—Chief,
Pacific Fleet, and former Chief of Naval Operations

Justice Owen D. Roberts, former Justice, U. S.Supreme
Court, resigned

Gen. Dwight Df Eisenhower, former Supreme Commander—in—
Cnief,nllied Forces in Europe and former Chairman,
Joint Chiefs of Staff; now President of Columbia University

Gener.l Carl Spsatz, former Chief, U.S.Air Force , retired

May I supgest, Mr. lresident, there is nothing
more important st this critical end tense juncture of world
affairs than thet the people of the United States should Know
the truth, the whole truth end nothing but the truth, concern—
in; whether the charges of ben. McCarthy are true or false.
This is essential for th; unity of our people at home and the
restorstion of confidence anong the people of other countries
who are allied with us in the defense of dehocrocy.

I therefore sinca' Iv pe that you can see your
why clear to grant this re; I mike it solely in the
public interest and so our work mmy be concluded promptly,
1nd whatever the facts wa a verdict accordingly be
rendered for the inform tion of all concerned.

Thinking you for your kind consideration of the
above, I am
Yours respectfully,

 

 My dear Senetor Tydings —

I have your letter of May 19 and have noted
carefully its contents.

As I have told you on other occasions, I do
not Want to SPLFQ any effort to root out any Communistic
or disloysl employees fron the Federal gOVernment. I have
set up loyalty review boards and procedures in order to
accomglish this very result.

Now your request seems to me to be a most reason—
able one. I Can see it will in gdrticular assist your
Committee in its deliberations and at the same time should
go fur toward acoueinting the gublic with the real facts
in the whole inquiry. is I und~*stand it, the committee
will be unpointed by me but will be an auxiliary of the
Senste investigating committee, which is right and proper.

I therefore will be glsd to eygoint such a committee from
the list of homes submitted by you, end to make available
t» them the files and loyalty records in question.

Let me re—emphasize thst no one is more anxious
than I to kGEJ the employment service of the Federal govern—
J—

meat free of dny subversive iniluences and anything thab will
aid and assist me in this worthy endeavor I welcome.

Thsnking you for bringing tnis matter to my atten—
tion, I am, with best wishes,

incerely yours,