<--PREV Doc #352  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #354 Document #353; July 28, 1953 To Charles Erwin Wilson Series: EM, AWF, DDE Diaries Series ; Category: Confidential The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XIV - The Presidency: The Middle Way Part II: Settling into "the long pull"; May 1953 to August 1953 Chapter 5: "So much to do in the world"   Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense: Congressman Carl Hinshaw of California was the Vice Chairman of the so-called Finletter Committee which studied problems associated with the Air Forces, some years ago.1 He is a student of military organization, more specifically of the difficulties we have had in eliminating duplications in our services.2 He is convinced that one of our troubles comes from the fact that we begin our studies on this matter by attempting to define the roles and missions of the several services.3 As a result of the mission of each service being stated in general terms, each of the service staffs finds it possible to justify the possession and employment of arms and weapons that cover almost the entire range of military activity. This approach, he feels, almost compels great duplication. In lieu of this approach, he proposes that we begin our analysis by determination of the weapons and weapons systems that we need in the various situations in which we could conceivably find ourselves. Having determined the type or tactical power (weapons and equipment) needed in combat, he suggests that we begin devising the kind of formations that could use these weapons most effectively. The next step would be to group together into one service the units employing roughly similar weapons. To get such a study on the way--and he thinks it would take at least a year--he proposes a commission composed principally of outstanding civilians. He would include three retired officers on the commission, one from each service. Each of these should be men who have a record for selfless devotion to duty. They should not be people who have been known as partisans. (I believe he made one suggestion that these three should not be bonafide members of the commission, but merely advisers.)4 In any event, there are certain intriguing aspects to his idea. Certainly, I believe that he makes it honestly and with no axe to grind. It is possible that Radford, for instance, might like to get hold of him and talk to him at some length.5 Possibly you would like to do the same. If you decide to pursue the matter further, I would be interested to learn of the progress you make.6 1 Republican Carl Hinshaw (B.A. Princeton 1916) had been a member of Congress since 1939. In January 1948, after a five-month study of aviation policy, the Air Policy Commission headed by Thomas K. Finletter, had recommended immediate and substantial enlargement of the Air Force (see James V. Forrestal, The Forrestal Diaries, ed. Walter Millis [New York, 1951], p. 388). In reality, Hinshaw was not a member of this commission but was Vice-Chairman of the Congressional Joint Air Board, which recommended substantial increases in the proposed defense budget after receiving the Finletter Commission's report (New York Times, Jan. 1, Mar. 12, 1948). 2 Hinshaw had been a member of the Civil Aeronautics Subcommittee of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce and a member of the Joint Committee for Atomic Energy. He had been influential in formulating both civilian and military aviation policy and had supported initiatives by the Secretary of Defense for unification of the Armed Forces after World War II (Forrestal, Diaries, pp. 388-91). Eisenhower had met with Hinshaw earlier this same morning and had written later thanking him for his proposals. "I must tell you again," Eisenhower wrote, "how refreshing it is to have an original idea brought to me once in awhile" (Eisenhower to Hinshaw, July 28, 1953, AWF/A, Wilson Corr.). 3 Hinshaw had presented substantially the same argument during debate on the reorganization of the Defense Department before the House of Representatives on June 27. "It is the fact that roles and missions are statutory that at once is the authorization for weapons, and weapons systems," he argued, "and the excuse for duplicating them. Repeal the statute setting up roles and missions and you make it possible to assign roles and missions and change them as circumstances dictate. Why should that be a function of Congress?" (Congressional Record, 83d Cong., 1st sess., 1953, 99, pt. 1: 7484). 4 Hinshaw would summarize his proposals in a memorandum to Eisenhower of August 3 (AWF/A, Wilson Corr.). 5 Admiral Arthur W. Radford, former Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet, was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 6 Eisenhower would write Wilson again on August 5, enclosing Hinshaw's memorandum and inviting the Secretary's reaction (AWF/A). There is no record of a response in EM. Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. Confidential To Charles Erwin Wilson, 28 July 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 353. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/353.cfm <--PREV Doc #352  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #354

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