Office of the Historian

246. Memorandum From Guy Erb of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)1

Washington, February 27, 1978

SUBJECT

  • Nominations for the Presidential Commission on World Hunger

Peter Bourne has asked for my comments on the following names that are to be submitted to the President as candidates for the Chairperson of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger:

Sol Linowitz David Bell
James Grant Sargent Shriver
Ted Hesburgh Jane Cahill Pfeiffer
Bill Moyers John Knowles
J. Erwin Miller Nelson Rockefeller
John Hannah Frank Stanton2
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In my view, only the following are strong candidates for the Chair of the Commission: Sol Linowitz, James Grant, Bill Moyers, J. Erwin Miller, and Jane Cahill Pfeiffer. Father Ted Hesburgh would be a strong candidate but is committed to the Administration’s preparation for the UN Conference on Science and Technology, as well as his numerous other activities.

Regarding possible Commissioners, Peter has suggested the following names, plus some candidates for Chairperson:

Cliff Wharton Warren Henegar, County Commissioner, farmer, Indiana
Steve Schlossberg Dr. Eugene Stockwell
Marina Whitman
D.W. Brooks
Jean Gussow
Eugene Patterson, Editor, St. Petersburg Times
Bess Myerson

All are potentially good candidates but none represent the scientific community. Hence I propose to recommend that Peter submit to the President the name of Sylvan Wittwer, Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Michigan State University, and a member of the Steering Committee of the National Research Council’s recently concluded World Food and Nutrition Study. Unless you inform me to the contrary, I will inform Peter of my recommendation, by COB, Monday, February 27.

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Subject Chron File, Box 93, Food: 1978. No classification marking. Brzezinski added the following handwritten note in the top right-hand corner: “RI, Call him re my preferences.” Inderfuth initialed the memorandum.↩
  2. Aaron circled Hesburgh’s, Shriver’s, and Rockefeller’s names. He also drew an arrow pointing to Shriver’s and wrote: “ZB—he would be most dynamic & earn points in the right places. DA.”↩