DoD Positions: Consultant to Assistant Secretary of Defense (Administration), February, 1969 to April, 1969; Special Assistant to Assistant Secretary of Defense (Administration), April 11, 1969 to present; Became Special Assistant to Chairman of Blue Ribbon Defense Panel-June 30, 1969 to June 30, 1970. Married: Imogene Sanders, June 14, 1946. Children: Linda, age 21; Joe F. III, age 18; George, age 16, and Jill, age 14. Home: 3817 Prince William Drive, Fairfax Va. 22030. Mr. CHAIRMAN. Mr. Buzhardt, you are nominated to a highly important place and I notice that you have been engaged in the active practice of law. I am always glad to see a courthouse lawyer come in to fill a lawyer's position. I say that with all deference to other lawyers, but I think we lawyers are made in the courtroom and I believe the experience you have had there will be worth a great deal to you. Do you have any statement either formal or informal that you wish to make? I think you ought to tell us what will be your approach to the duties of this office and why you are taking this position. I always ask all nominees why they took the position for which they are nominated. STATEMENT OF J. FRED BUZHARDT, JR., OF SOUTH CAROLINA, NOMINEE TO BE GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Mr. BUZHARDT. I took this position because, as you know, I have had a long interest in the Department. I have completed a year working on an overall study of the Department. We have gone into detail in almost every element of the operations of the Department from the organization to the budgetary matters, programing, business practices, and procurement. I have had a full exposure in all aspects, which I feel can be of great assistance. Few people get the opportunity to really take a long look. I think I can help on many contract procedures that need to be re-examined, possibly tightened up. I feel I have some background in the legislative process and one of the duties of this job is to review the legislation proposed by the Department and the Department's position on legislation, and I feel that we can do a thorough job in this respect. I am particularly interested in a strong national defense and hope I can make some contribution to it. The CHAIRMAN. So far as you know now how long do you expect. to serve here in this capacity? Mr. BUZHARDT. As long as the President desires, sir. The CHAIRMAN. That is a good answer. I don't like to see a fellow hang up his hat for a year so he can include it in his biographical sketch. I think your experience here on the Hill will be of inestimable value. How long were you here on the Hill? Mr. BUZHARDT. I was here 9 years. The CHAIRMAN. That is long enough for a good deal of seasoning. Mr. BUZHARDT. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. You won't be under any obligation to us except. to be very frank with us, but you will have an understanding of the problems that we are up against and the Department of Defense is up against. I think you have a splendid background for the position that you have been nominated for. I notice you were born in Greenwood, S.C. Have you lived there recently? Mr. BUZHARDT. No, sir, my home is about 23 miles away. My grandmother still lives there. The CHAIRMAN. You have cleared already the so-called conflict of interest statutes. Mr. BUZHARDT. Yes, sir. I own no stocks or bonds or any interest in business activities. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Braswell, do you have any other questions? Mr. BRASWELL. No, sir. The CHAIRMAN. We are delighted to have you here, sir, and I suspect you will render an outstanding service. Mr. BUZHARDT. Thank you. The CHAIRMAN. We will be glad to hear from you from time to time. Mr. BUZHARDT. Thank you. I look forward to working with you. (The nomination of Mr. Buzhardt to be General Counsel of the Department of Defense was subsequently approved by the committee in executive session and confirmed by the Senate on August 13, 1970.) NOMINATION OF DARRELL M. TRENT, OF KANSAS, TO BE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS The CHAIRMAN. We also have before us the nomination of Mr. Darrell Trent, of Kansas, who has been nominated to be Deputy Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness. Mr. Trent has a background both in Government and industry which whould serve him well for this new position. Since about 1969 he has served as Deputy Assistant to the President in the White House in a responsibility which has included duties with the Office of Emergency Preparedness. Prior to his Federal service he was business executive and served as chief executive officer of five corporations in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, namely in the fields relating to property management. Senator Dole is here to introduce Mr. Trent. STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE ROBERT J. DOLE, A UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF KANSAS Senator DOLE. I might first identify Mr. Trent who is here and say very briefly, Mr. Chairman, I appreciate this opportunity. I am scheduled to testify before another committee in about 10 minutes. As you have indicated here, Darrell Trent is a fellow Kansan and I strongly support him in nomination for Deputy Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness. It just happens that I am the ranking minority member on the Disaster Relief Subcommittee, a newly created subcommittee of the Senate Public Works Committee. We have been in the great State of Mississippi, in Biloxi, and have had extensive hearings. I have had an opportunity to work with Mr. Trent, not because he is a Kansan and maybe a Republican but we have other common interests. In cooperation with General George Lincoln, Director of OEP, I might point out that Mr. Trent was very instrumental in drafting President Nixon's message on disaster assistance and accompanying legislative recommendations, and in an effort to do this I know it personally took a great deal of work and a great deal of effort and resourcefulness and initiative because it was necessary to review all of the past recommendations and all of the recommendations involving some 26 different Federal agencies to sort of bring it together in a comprehensive message. Many of the President's recommendations, suggestions, made by Mr. Trent, after this extensive work with these different agencies, have been incorporated in legislation which is now awaiting final action in our subcommittee and then the full committee and hopefully by the Congress yet this year. So I say in all sincerity he does have a thorough understanding of the general subject matter. He has worked closely with General Lincoln and I have discussed Mr. Trent, maybe not known to him, with Mr. Lincoln, for whom I have great respect. So I am here simply to say a kind word on behalf of Mr. Trent. I am certain the distinguished chairman may have additional questions but I am pleased to be here and at least introduce Mr. Trent at this time. I would ask permission that my prepared statement be made a part of the record in addition to the biographical statement of Mr. Trent. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Reporter, will you please also insert in the record Senator Dole's prepared statement. Senator, we are delighted to have you here and know that Mr. Trent appreciates your coming by. This is a highly important office. The Deputy Director will at times sit for the Director in the National Security Council which is a rather closed club and not many sit around that table. Certainly it does give distinction to this position. Senator DOLE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Trent, will you come around to the table, please. (The prepared statement of Senator Dole follows, as well as the nomination reference and biographical sketch of Mr. Trent:) PREPARED STATEMENT BY SENATOR BOB DOLE I appreciate the opportunity to present Darrell M. Trent, a fellow Kansan, who I strongly support for Deputy Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness. As ranking Republican on the Disaster Relief Subcommittee of the Senate Public Works Committee, I have had the opportunity to work with Mr. Trent in his capacity as White House liaison with the Office of Emergency Preparedness. In cooperation with General George A. Lincoln, the Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness, Mr. Trent was instrumental in drafting President Nixon's message on disaster assistance and accompanying legislative recommendations. In accomplishing this task, it was necessary to review all past and present disaster assistance programs and to coordinate the recommendations of twenty-six Federal agencies. Many of the President's proposals have been incorporated in legislation awaiting final action by the Senate Public Works Committee. Mr. Trent's thorough understanding of the disaster assistance programs and their administration make him unusually well-qualified for this position. As a young businessman in Pittsburg, Kansas, Mr. Trent demonstrated initiative and imagination that will be valuable in fulfilling his responsibilities. I commend Darrell M. Trent to you and urge a favorable report. NOMINATION REFERENCE AND REPORT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, July 6, 1970. Ordered, that the following nomination be referred to the Committee on Armed Services: Darrell M. Trent, of Kansas, to be Deputy Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness, vice Fred J. Russell. DARRELL M. TRENT Trent, 31, has been chairman of the board, major stockholder and chief executive officer of five corporations with operations in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. His business operations and those of his corporations have included property management and development, merchandising and related sales, transportation, warehousing and storage, international imports and distribution, manufacturing and marketing. In addition to corporate development and management, he has participated in the architectural design and engineering of his related construction projects. After participating in the Nixon campaign, Mr. Trent was appointed Commissioner of the General Services Administration's Property Management and Disposal Service on March 25, 1969. On April 28, 1969, Mr. Trent was appointed by the President to be Deputy Assistant to the President. His policy responsibilities at the White House have included development and coordiantion of certain domestic affairs programs. He has also been designated as White House liaison with certain departments and agencies. This liaison responsibility has included the Office of Emergency Preparedness where he has worked on the Federal disaster program and stockpile requirements. Mr. Trent was born in Missouri in 1938 and attended public schools in Pittsburg, Kansas, where he was a National Debating Champion. Following a year at Kansas State College, he transferred to Stanford University, where he was, again, an outstanding national debater. He graduated from Stanford in 1961 and during that summer attended International Law School at the Peace Palace in The Hague, The Netherlands. He returned to Stanford University in the fall of 1961 as a Graduate-at-Large with emphasis on political science. In the summer of 1962 he attended the Wharton Graduate School of Business in Philadelphia, Pa. In 1964 he received a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Columbia's Graduate Business School. His educational background emphasizes accounting, economics and finance. Mr. Trent is married to the former June Yeardye of London, England, and is the father of a two-year-old son, Darrell Michael. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Trent, you heard my question to Mr. Buzhardt. What prompted you to accept this? STATEMENT OF MR. DARRELL M. TRENT OF KANSAS, NOMINEE TO BE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Mr. TRENT. After a period of years in the business community I began to realize more and more the importance of Government and decided that every individual has a responsibility to make a contribution to Government. I joined Mr. Nixon's staff early in the 1968 campaign hoping to help him be elected President of the United States. He was elected and I joined the administration shortly thereafter. I am here because I want to make this a successful administration and contribute in every way I can to its success. The CHAIRMAN. How long have you been down at the White House? Mr. TRENT. I went to the White House first on January 20, 1969. I was there for about two and a half months and then was appointed as Commissioner of Property Management and Disposal in the General Services Administration. I was in that position only a month and was asked to come back to the White House as Deputy Assistant to the President and I have been in that capacity since April 27, 1969. The CHAIRMAN. Deputy Assistant to the President for what? Mr. TRENT. I have served in two capacities. One as Peter Flanigan's deputy and the other as executive secretary to the Property Review Board which is taking an overview of all federally owned real property. The CHAIRMAN. And the emergency matters that Senator Dole related here, his experience as a member of the subcommittee. He said he had been to Mississippi. Have you been out on any of those missions of that type yet? Mr. TRENT. Yes, I have. The CHAIRMAN. Tell us something about your experience in that field. Mr. TRENT. I accompanied the Deputy Director, Mr. Fred Russell, the day after Hurricane Camille struck, to Mississippi, and Louisiana. I was there 3 days through the initial organization process. A great many things were done properly and a lot of areas were recognized as areas for improvement. Out of Hurricane Camille we re-evaluated our entire disaster program and the President expressed a very great interest in providing a more responsive program. For that reason we worked in drafting legislation and preparing a Presidential mesasge to Congress to improve Government responsiveness to disasters. I believe that the results in Lubbock, Tex., demonstrated that we had provided a better system and we are continually trying to improve its operation. The CHAIRMAN. You have already heard me say I thought this is a highly important position. The Director sits with the National Security Council as a member, as you know. Mr. TRENT. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. And when he is away you will sit in that place. There could hardly be a more responsible position. How long do you expect to serve in this position? Mr. TRENT. My plans are to remain with the Administration as long as the President would like me to stay. The CHAIRMAN. Now, with reference to your business experience. You have said you were chief executive officer of five corporations in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, namely in the field related to property management. Were you the chief executive officer of the five corporations? Mr. TRENT. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. The chief executive officer is the top man in the operations. It is pretty hard to be chief man in three different States all at the same time and about five corporations. Explain how that was. Mr. TRENT. Mr. Chairman, it all started during my graduate work at Columbia University. During that period of time I recognized the need for a shopping center in Pittsburg, Kans., which had been my hometown. During my last year at Columbia, I organized and developed a small shopping center of 13 stores. Through leasing arrangements I was not able to get tenants in two of the stores in which I particularly needed good leases and I operated these businesses myself. Through a period of 4 years I developed 11 businesses and five of them were formed into corporations. The CHAIRMAN. Developed what? Mr. TRENT. Eleven businesses. They included one large property corporation, large to me, three retail grocery stores, a Ben Franklin variety store, three restaurant operations, and a small vending company. The CHAIRMAN. When you didn't rent the spaces you filled them up yourself? Mr. TRENT. Yes, sir. |