AN NOMINATIONS OF LAIRD, PACKARD, LGN AND DARDEN HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES NINETY-FIRST CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON HON. MELVIN R. LAIRD-SECRETARY OF DEFENSE-DESIGNATE DESIGNATE JUDGE WILLIAM H. DARDEN-MEMBER OF THE U.S. COURT OF JANUARY 14 AND 15, 1969 Printed for the use of the Committee on Armed Services 23-656 STANFORD LAW LIBRARY U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1969 CONTENTS Hon. Melvin R. Laird, nominee-designate for Secretary of Defense. 5, 30 Hon. David Packard, nominee-designate for Deputy Secretary of De- Hon. William H. Darden, Judge, U.S. Court of Military Appeals. Senator Sam J. Ervin, Jr., of North Carolina_. NOMINATIONS TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1969 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES, Washington, D.C. The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:35 a.m., in room 1114, New Senate Office Building. Present: Senators Russell (chairman), Stennis (presiding), Symington, Ervin, Young of Ohio, Inouye, McIntyre, Byrd, Jr., of Virginia, Smith, Thurmond, Miller, Tower, and Pearson. Also present: T. Edward Braswell, Jr., professional staff member; Gordon A. Nease, professional staff member; Charles B. Kirbow, chief clerk; and Herbert S. Atkinson, assistant chief clerk. Senator STENNIS. The committee will please come to order. The Chair will repeat what I understand has been clearly stated before to the members of the press and the photographers and any group interested in news. This is an open hearing. You have had the privilege of taking pictures, prior to the beginning of the testimony. All photographers will observe the rules, that the time for taking these photographs now has passed, except for television, and I will ask you to please cooperate by being quiet. We are delighted to have all of you here. Members of the committee, I have a brief opening statement. I think these hearings are highly important to the interests of the committee, the country, and the administration. The committee will have executive sessions to consider further all aspects of this matter. We are going to take plenty of time. There will be debate on the Senate floor today regarding the reduction of the size of certain committees and this begins at noon. I understand there will be several votes taken, so we are going to have to recess the hearing at 12 o'clock until tomorrow, because we will be voting on the floor part of the afternoon. We will move just as rapidly as we can now consistent with the subject matter. I have a brief opening statement to read for the record, concerning Mr. Laird and Mr. Packard; bringing into focus the situation, and I have some personal comments. I am sitting in the chair at the request of Senator Russell. The membership of this committee officially is the same as it was last year. [NOTE. Inasmuch as the committee had not been formally appointed for the 91st Congress, Senator Stennis presided as acting chairman (Senator Russell to be appointed as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, vice Senator Hayden, resigned). At this (1) |