Office of the Historian

188. Minutes of Cabinet Meeting1

Washington, July 31, 1959, 9–10:40 a.m.
[Facsimile Page 1]

The following were present:

  • President Eisenhower
  • Mr. C. Douglas Dillon for Sec. Herter
  • Sec. Anderson
  • Mr. Thomas S. Gates for Sec. McElroy
  • AG Rogers
  • Mr. Edson O. Sessions for PMG Summerfield
  • Mr. Fred Aandahl for Sec. Seaton
  • Sec. Mueller
  • Sec. Benson
  • Sec. Mitchell
  • Sec. Flemming
  • Director Stans
  • Gov. Hoegh
  • Mr. John F. Floberg, AEC
  • Dr. Raymond J. Saulnier, CEA
  • Dr. Arthur Maxwell, Navy
  • Dr. James H. Wakelin, Navy
  • Gen. Goodpaster
  • Mr. Robert Gray
  • Mr. Gordon Gray
  • Mr. Harr
  • Mr. Kendall
  • Dr. Kistiakowsky
  • Mr. Morgan
  • Dr. Pearlberg
  • Maj Eisenhower
  • Mr. Stephens—(in part)
  • Capt Aurand—(in part)
  • Mr. Patterson

[Omitted here is the beginning of the minutes.]

[Facsimile Page 2]

Phase IV of OPERATION ALERT, 1959—Gov. Hoegh noted that the President’s original suggestion for this fourth phase was for a 10-day “buttoned-up” period in October. Because many of the relocation sites are on college campuses—which would be active in October—and because of the cost involved, Governor Hoegh recommended an alternate procedure. Since, except for its final communications, the new underground facility at High Point will be completed by October, Gov. Hoegh’s proposal is that there be a 2-day “familiarization test” of that facility by members of the Cabinet, other agency heads, and some 650 of the 2750 personnel for whom High Point is their emergency duty station.

The President approved the proposal of the Director of the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization for Phase IV of OPERATION ALERT, 1959 as follows: (a) A familiarization test of the protected facility at High Point from 10:30 A.M, October 19, to 4:00 P.M., October 20; (b) Participation by heads of departments and major agencies plus 25 per cent of the agencies’ emergency staffs designated to operate from High Point (of column three of Attachment B to approved Cabinet [Typeset Page 805] Paper 59–98/1); (c) Specific guidelines for Phase IV to be developed by the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization in consultation with the interested agencies, through the Interagency Test Planning Group.

Funding of the Delegate Agencies’ Civil Defense and Defense Mobilization Function—Gov. Hoegh described the manner in which Executive Branch agencies have been buffeted about by conflicting instructions from the House Appropriations Subcommittees—which this year have all but cut out funds for the “delegate agencies”. (Under this “delegate agency” program, for example, the Labor Department prepares emergency manpower plans, HEW would prepare a HEW post-emergency attack health and welfare plan, etc.—this being considered a more proper execution of departmental responsibilities than to have OCDM itself hire new people of its own to do such planning.)

Gov. Hoegh and Sec. Flemming emphasized that this “game” between the Executive and Legislative Branches has this year turned into a “procedural tragedy”.

The President spoke very strongly about the need for enough non-military defense to ensure that our $40 billion military defense effort is not wasted. The feeling was expressed that the degree of balance between these two aspects of our national security program borders on the ridiculous; the cuts the House has made in civil defense could make [Facsimile Page 3] our military defense nearly useless.

The President expressed his strong conviction that civil defense and defense mobilization activities are as vital to the total national security program of the country as is the armor around a tank; convinced that these activities are in effect armor around our nation and our civilization, the President approved Director Hoegh’s initiating steps which would: (a) Bring to the attention of the Congressional Leaders the severe cuts made in the delegate agency financing; (b) Have prepared a supplemental appropriation making up the amount cut below the FY 1960 budget request for the delegate agencies, together with a strong transmittal message setting forth the President’s views; (c) Enable an Administration-wide effort to be made, through speeches and other public statements by Cabinet and agency heads (except State and Treasury), to bring forcefully to public attention the vital requirement for balance in our national security program, i.e., an effective non-military as well as military defense.

[Omitted here is the remainder of the minutes.]

L.A. Minnich, Jr.
[Facsimile Page 4]

Copy to:

Mrs. Whitman (2)

Mr. Gray

Mr. Minnich

(Note: This account based on Mr. Patterson’s summary memorandum prepared for General Persons’ information and on the Record of Action.)

  1. Source: Civil defense exercise and planning. Confidential. Extracts—4 pp. Eisenhower Library, White House Office Files, Cabinet Secretariat.↩