Certainly, the tragic events of the past months make us even more conscious of our responsibility to ourselves and the people of the Nation. I have every confidence that this committee will accomplish this task with the integrity and the dignity the Nation expects from its elected officials.

The Office of the Vice President is singularly a post which defies description. It most certainly is an office wherein most of the duties and responsibilities are arranged between two individuals.

Whether or not President Ford intends to yield power to his new Vice President, I cannot say. I do recognize that certain powers are his to yield and, in like manner, I accept my role in determining who this new Vice President shall be.

Nine Vice Presidents have succeeded Presidents, and the historians rank two of these-Theodore Roosevelt and Harry Truman-as "near great."

My own State of Kentucky is proud that three of her sons were elected to this high office.

In preparation for these hearings, I have personally reviewed the files submitted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as all other pertinent material. I might add that the FBI file alone was several feet thick.

I commend the nominee and his complete cooperation and prompt response to all committee requests for information.

I also commend the chairman for his promptness in orchestrating the expertise of Federal, State, and private agencies to insure that the committee has available all information which in any way can assist us in our deliberations.

Some reports which relate to income tax audits have not been completed and made available to the committee.

It is my understanding that the Federal Bureau has completed a review of the income tax returns and other financial data from the period of 1967 to 1973. I find it difficult to believe that the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation, with its apparent adequate staff, could not have completed its work within this same timeframe.

I also understand that any and all facilities of the Internal Revenue Department have been and are available to the Joint Committee. Unless there is a real effort to hold up this nomination for political reasons, I would assume this information will be forthcoming from the committee.

The American people have been through a great deal in the last few months. They want the political problems of the Vice President resolved.

Whether they favor this nominee or oppose this nominee, they feel that the Congress is spending more time on the political problems than on the economic and inflationary problems that face this Nation. The Congress is again on trial, and as a result of that trial, I would only hope that we could improve our image by expeditious and efficient action in regard to this nominee.

Obviously, we have no fixed time schedule, but we desire to be responsive to the President and the Nation in this important matter. However, thoroughness and honesty must be our watchwords, as the people of the Nation will not accept less, and we, as their representatives, would not be satisfied with less.

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In discussing this matter with the people of my own State, and after reviewing the mail I have received from throughout the land, I can say with all candor that there is much interest in the financial holdings of the nominee, as well as the impact these holdings have on national and international policy and the economy.

Governor Rockefeller, I have learned much about you, your family, and the Rockefellers as an American institution. I assure you of our dedication to the task assigned, and I look forward to these hearings with great interest.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Rockefeller, would you please stand and be

sworn.

Would you raise your right hand?

Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give before this committee will be the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you, God?

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. I do, so help me, God.

The CHAIRMAN. I will now defer to other members of the committee should they desire to make a very brief statement, or they may reserve their remarks until the time preceding their questioning. I want to have the two distinguished Senators from New York present Governor Rockefeller to us.

Senator PELL. I will defer until my time.

Senator SCOTT. Mr. Chairman, I will defer in the interest of saving time.

The CHAIRMAN. Senator Byrd?

Senator Allen?

Senator Griffin?

Senator Hatfield?

Senator Williams?

All right.

Senator Javits, we are happy to have you here and you may proceed.

STATEMENT OF HON. JACOB K. JAVITS, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INTRODUCING THE NOMINEE)

Senator JAVITS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, this happens to be a nomination upon which I am not only the Senator of our former Governor and thereby introducing him and commending him to the committee is traditional, but it is a nomination I know a great deal about, and it is a man I know a great deal about.

I have known Nelson Rockefeller for not less than 30 years and have had a very close and continuous relationship with him at least since I returned from the war in 1945.

Based upon that enormous experience with an individual as a political colleague, as a friend, as a coworker in many civic and social causes, I deeply believe that the President has made not only the right choice but the only choice of any man who is within reach of this kind of an office.

I like very much what the chairman said about a potential President, because that is what a Vice President is. And I believe if you gave a civil service examination for President of the United States, the

head of the class would be Nelson Rockefeller. That is borne out by everything that I know about him and about his record.

He was No. 1 on my list when the President asked for recommendations, and this is what I said about him.

I said Nelson Rockefeller had great experience in government, was skilled in organizing to develop new initiatives on major problems, able to attract excellent personnel to government, acceptable to a broad spectrum of the party, and has real size and highest character.

Mr. Chairman, that is my description of the man.

His biography is before you.

It is very evident, as the Chair himself said, he has had very high office in our Federal Government on three occasions. He has also been Governor of our State, elected four times, most unusual, and laid down. the reins of office only because he felt, in the present circumstances, he could serve more effectively as a private citizen, which is much to his credit.

And in illustrating the character of the man, he came immediately to public service, to wit, the organization of his Committee on Critical Choices and the chairmanship of the Committee on Water Quality. Whether or not he is in office, Nelson Rockefeller has really always carried on like a public servant.

And, finally, Mr. Chairman, one thing about his background that I like which goes a long, long way, and only a very close friend would know he is a very rich man, we all know-but he also knows how to meet a payroll.

Way back in the 1930's, the darkest days of the depression, Rockefeller Center opened, and among the Rockefeller boys, Nelson was, given the job of getting tenants in those very dark days, and he did it. So that he is not just a rich man, devoting himself to public causes with tremendous staffs and preparation, but he knows how to walk sidewalks and ask people to do things that they may not be immediately ready to do.

In addition, he has an extraordinary talent shown in the New York State Legislature for reconciling diverse views and getting action. If there is anything we need in this Government today, Mr. Chairman, it is getting action.

I think Marlow Cook has said what needs to be said for all of us in urging in the national interest, in national patriotism, that at the earliest time the committee can, this nomination be confirmed.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, speaking for my party and with great pride, I think we fielded our first team at home and abroad. And I believe Nelson Rockefeller is an essential partner in that combination to do the job that America needs done.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much, Senator Javits, for a fine

statement.

I can assure you on behalf of every member of this committee that this committee has no desire to delay proceeding in this matter, even though we are still awaiting further investigative material.

We will next hear from the junior Senator from the State of New York, Senator Buckley.

STATEMENT OF HON. JAMES L. BUCKLEY, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INTRODUCING THE NOMINEE)

Mr. BUCKLEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

It is a privilege to join with my senior colleague in introducing to you and to the distinguished members of your committee the former Governor of our State.

Mr. Chairman, since George Clinton of Ulster County became New York State's first Governor in 1777, only one man has been selected by the people of New York to serve them as their Governor for four 4-year terms, and that man, of course, is the Vice Presidential nominee, Mr. Nelson A. Rockefeller.

His long record of service to the State and people of New York is known, not only within our State, but throughout the Nation as well. Since 1940, when President Franklin Roosevelt appointed him Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, until the present, Nelson Rockefeller has served his Nation in many capacities, as a private citizen, as a government official, and as Governor of our State.

He has long been a spokesman for domestic programs and qualities whose effects have reached far beyond the borders of our State and, indeed, on matters of international concern as well.

Now, Mr. Chairman, when a human being has been involved in national and international affairs as long as Mr. Rockefeller has, and when he has over the years voiced strong opinions, as Mr. Rockefeller sometimes does, it is natural that he should find himself in disagreement with some of his fellow Americans from time to time on certain issues.

But this is to be expected of any man who has occupied positions of great responsibility, and especially of a man of the strength and vitality and ability of Mr. Rockefeller.

Now, what I have never doubted for one moment, however, is his deep reverence for this Nation or his commitment to and his love of its institutions.

Mr. Chairman, in the weeks to come there will be voluminous testimony of all sorts to be presented before this committee so I do not wish to add to your burden by taking up any more of your time or Mr. Rockefeller's time.

I would like to conclude by leaving with you the following words spoken by Governor Rockefeller in his fourth inaugural address in January 1971. I think they can serve as a reminder to all of us of the important tasks that lie ahead.

Speaking of our Nation, he said, and I quote

We need only to see ourselves in clear perspective, where we started, how far we have come, and how much we have done in less than 200 years, and where we are now going, for there is nothing wrong with America that courage, commitment and love cannot conquer. There is nothing wrong with America that we do not have the human and natural resources to overcome. There is truly nothing America cannot achieve if we will only believe in ourselves again.

Mr. Chairman, I submit that this is a declaration of faith and confidence that commends any candidate for the high office of Vice President of the United States.

Thank you.

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much, Senator Buckley.

Now, we are prepared to hear from the nominee.

Senator JAVITS. Mr. Chairman, may I ask the chairman if I can reserve the right to appear again, because I know so much about the nominee, should the testimony which you will have make that desirable!

The CHAIRMAN. You certainly may reserve that right.

Senator JAVITS. Thank you.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Rockefeller, you may proceed.

STATEMENT OF NELSON A. ROCKEFELLER, NOMINEE FOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. Chairman, distinguished members of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the U.S. Senate. Before my opening statement, I would like to express very deep appreciation to

The CHAIRMAN. Would you pull the microphone a little closer, please.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Before my opening remarks, I would like to express my very sincere appreciation to Senators Javits and Buckley for their very generous remarks. It means a great deal to me to have two colleagues with whom I have had the privilege of serving in government express themselves in the terms in which they did.

And to you, Mr. Chairman, I would like to express my appreciation for your leadership and the preparation for this obviously complicated undertaking which we are now starting, and to the members of your staff, who have been thoughtful, thorough, most considerate, and patient, that we have tried to respond to the questions and the gathering of the information which has been requested.

I can assure you that spirit which they have engendered and to which we have responded will continue throughout these hearings, both in the preparation of the material and the meetings before you. I must say that I come before you with a sense of humility and a deep awareness of the historical significance of this occasion.

Eleven months ago, as you yourself said, Mr. Chairman, you were convened to consider the nomination of a Vice President, who is now President of the United States-the first President of this country ever to hold office without being elected by the people.

The change of national leadership was accomplished, after 2 years of travail, on an orderly basis-within the framework of the Constitution.

Now you are convened again to consider the nomination of another Vice President under the 25th amendment-a nomination which, if confirmed, would mean that for the first time in the Nation's history, both the President and the Vice President would hold office without having been elected.

In the light of all this, I not only recognize the special responsibilities which face me, but also am profoundly aware of the tremendous responsibility facing the members of the two committees and of the Congress as representatives of the people in these proceedings.

I will, therefore, do my best to give a frank and open statement of my background, my associations, my purposes, my finances, and any