SUNDRY NOMINATIONS-1961 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1961 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE, Washington, D.C. The committee was called to order, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m., in room 5110, New Senate Office Building, Hon. John O. Pastore presiding. NOMINATION OF HICKMAN PRICE, JR., OF MICHIGAN, TO BE AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE Senator PASTORE. This hearing will please come to order. The first matter on the agenda this morning is the nomination of Hickman Price, Jr., of Michigan, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce. This committee is honored this morning with the presence of its two distinguished Senators from that State, Mr. McNamara and Mr. Hart. Mr. Price, you may come forward. We have a biographical sketch of Mr. Price that we will insert in the record at this point. (The biographical sketch of Mr. Price follows:) BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF HICKMAN PRICE, JR. (Designated by President Kennedy to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Domestic Affairs) Hickman Price, Jr., was born August 14, 1911, in Nashville, Tenn. He was educated in Taft School, Philips Exerter Academy, and Columbia University, and in 1932-34 was associated with his father in wheat farming in the Texas Panhandle. Joining the Bankers Trust Co., in New York, in 1934, Mr. Price was associated with the institution until 1941. He was with the Foreign Economic Administration and predecessor agencies in 1942-45, serving in a variety of assignments. He was Chief of the American Economic Mission to the Belgian Congo; member of the Economic Mission to South Africa; joint Anglo-American representative, Middle East Supply Center, Addis Ababa, and Chief of the Neutral Countries Division, Bureau of Areas. Mr. Price was named executive assistant to the president, Graham-Paige Motors Corp., Detroit, in 1945, and from 1945 to 1952 was vice president and director of the Kaiser-Frazier Corp. He served as treasurer of the corporation in 1945-46 and subsequently was executive vice president and director of the KaiserFrazier Export Corp., and an officer in foreign subsidiaries-Canada, Netherlands, and Israel. From 1952 to 1956, Mr. Price was president and director of Willys-Overland Export Corp., and Willys-Overland of Canada, Ltd., and from 1954 to 1956 was vice president of Willys Motors, Inc. In 1956-59, Mr. Price was managing director of Willys-Overland do Brazil at Sao Paulo, and from 1959 to 1961 was executive vice president and director of Mercedes-Benz do Brazil at Sao Paulo. Mr. Price has been decorated by the Belgian and Brazilian Governments for his work and has received special citations from the British and South African Governments. Mr. Price is married to the former Margaret Bayne, and they have two chil dren-Hickman III and Marston. Senator PASTORE. Before we hear from our two distinguished Senators, I will ask you about your biographical sketch. Is there anything that you want to add to it or is it complete? Mr. PRICE. It is complete. Senator PASTORE. Mr. McNamara. STATEMENT OF HON. PATRICK V. MCNAMARA, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN Senator MCNAMARA. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You have made reference to the biographical sketch, which has all the pertinent information. I am very happy to appear here with the most distinguished nominee from the State of Michigan who has indicated his willingness to accept a very high and responsible position in our Government. I think we are extremely fortunate in having men such as Hickman Price participating in Government, and I am happy to be here this morning and I highly recommended him in every way possible for the nomination to which he has been named. Thank you very much. Senator PASTORE. Mr. Hart. STATEMENT OF HON. PHILIP A. HART, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN Senator HART. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I simply say, "Amen" to even so stark a thing as a biography, I think it speaks eloquently of the reasons why we think this nomination is an outstanding one. I am satisfied that you will be satisfied after examining Mr. Price. I certainly hope so. Thank you. Senator PASTORE. Mr. Price, a member of the staff has handed me a manual of orders which more or less delineates your duties and your responsibilities. You are familiar with them of course? STATEMENT OF HICKMAN PRICE, JR., OF MICHIGAN, TO BE AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE Mr. PRICE. Yes, sir. Senator PASTORE. I understand that you have already participated in some of the work in the Department as of now? Mr. PRICE. Yes, sir: for 3 weeks. you have Senator PASTORE. It has come to my attention also that been designated as a member of the subcommittee by the Cabinet level committee on this textile situation. Mr. PRICE. Yes, sir. Senator PASTORE. Mr. Price, I am not going to interrogate you on that as of now, because, after all, it is a very complex and a very broad field which has to be analyzed and studied thoroughly. It is my fervent hope that you will give it the attention which it deserves. A further question, Mr. Price. Is there anything in your accepting this responsibility, with reference to your financial affairs, which would be inimical to the public interest? Mr. PRICE. No, sir. Senator PASTORE. Are you prepared to submit to this committee, as other nominees have, a listing of your financial holdings? Mr. PRICE. Yes, sir. Senator PASTORE. You have not done that as yet, have you? Mr. PRICE. I have handed it to the General Counsel of the Department of Commerce, and we will see that you will receives copies thereof. Senator PASTORE. And you will remove from yourself anything which might be in conflict with your responsibilities in the post that you are to assume? Mr. PRICE. Yes, sir. Senator PASTORE. Mr. Schoeppel? Senator SCHOEPPEL. Mr. Price, I notice that you are to be assigned as the Assistant Secretary on Domestic Affairs. Mr. PRICE. Yes, sir. Senator SCHOEPPEL. Briefly what does that encompass? Mr. PRICE. It encompasses the following Administrations and Bureaus: Business and Defense Services Administration, the Bureau of the Census, the Office of Business Economics, the Patent Office, and the National Bureau of Standards. Senator SCHOEPPEL. Your responsibility will be in connection with these various and sundry units in relation to your own department? Mr. PRICE. Well, all of those Bureaus and Administrations are part of the Department of Commerce. Senator SCHOEPPEL. That is what I understand. But you are in charge of all of those separate units within your department? Mr. PRICE. Yes, sir. Senator SCHOEPPEL. I note with some interest that during the years 1932 to 1934 you were in the Panhandle section of Texas. Mr. PRICE. Yes, sir. Senator SCHOEPPEL. Therefore you have some sympathy with what those fellows have to go through down there? Mr. PRICE. From personal experience. Senator SCHOEPPEL. I note that you have had some experience, also, in several years of business connections in Brazil, which should stand you in very good stead with relation to the responsibility of Government in trade relations in foreign countries. I note that you have received decorations from the Belgian as well as Brazilian Government, and also a special citation from the British Government and the South African Government. You are generally conversant with many of the problems that would develop in those areas, are you not? Mr. PRICE. Yes, sir. Senator SCHOEPPEL. I think that those are all the questions that I have, Mr. Chairman. Senator PASTORE. Prior to coming to Government, Mr. Price, with whom were you associated? Mr. PRICE. I was executive vice president of the Mercedes-Benz in Brazil. Senator PASTORE. I understand that you had to make a very personal sacrifice to assume this responsibility. Mr. PRICE. Yes, sir; it was some considerable reduction in compen sation. Senator PASTORE. Would you care to talk about it? Mr. PRICE. Well Senator PASTORE. I think it is always salutary and commendatory for the record to show what personal sacrifice is being made by certain individuals who assume the responsibility of coming down here at great personal sacrifice. I think it is always good for the record to show it. I realize that possibly it may shock your modesty, but I think that you ought to talk about it. Mr. PRICE. All right, sir. My reduction in net earned income, after taxes, was 90.3 percent. In other words, I am working for a net of 9.7 percent of my past compensation, which I am very pleased and proud to do at this particular time in our Nation's history. Senator PASTORE. You are still going to leave it for the great mathematicians to figure out what that comes to. [Laughter.] What is the loss in dollars that you will sustain? Mr. PRICE. Approximately $100,000 a year, plus the loss of a lifetime contract. Senator PASTORE. Mr. Scott? Senator SCOTT. I don't think I have any question, Mr. Chairman, except to comment that Mr. Price is undoubtedly worth it, but he is costing us a lot in taxes coming down here. [Laughter.] I am delighted to have evidence of his willingness to serve and willingness to sacrifice. It is a great compliment to Mr. Price, and it is also evidence that the Commerce Department will benefit from the type of talent which the Government certainly needs and welcomes. Senator PASTORE. Are there any further questions? Senator ScoTT. No, sir. Senator PASTORE. Mr. Thurmond? Senator THURMOND. Mr. Chairman, I don't have any questions. I would simply like to say that I think our Government is fortunate to obtain the services of such an outstanding citizen. I would like to compliment him upon being willing to sacrifice, from a financial standpoint, to such an extent as he is doing in order to serve his country. I want to say further that I have received information about him—I never met him but I have received information from most reliable people who tell me that he is an outstanding and able man, and that we are very fortunate to have him in our Government. Mr. PRICE. Thank you very much, Senator. Senator BARTLETT. Mr. Chairman, I have no questions. I will only say that had I entertained any doubts as to the qualifications of this nominee, which I did not, they would have been resolved by the warm support given him by the two Senators from Michigan. And I will add that I am glad I came to this meeting because I can report to my grandchildren that I saw in visible form a man who made over a hundred thousand dollars a year and who came down here at such a sacri fice, and I doubt not that there will be other occasions when he appears before congressional committees when he will be in doubt as to the advisability of the course he took. [Laughter.] Senator PASTORE. Mr. Price, on July 2, 1960, the Senate agreed to Senate Resolution 338, which resolved that it is the sense of the Senate that individuals appointed to administrative and policymaking posts should be willing to serve for a period long enough to permit them to contribute effectively to their assigned tasks, and that it is the sense of the Senate that nominees appearing before its committees shall indicate their willingness to serve as long as the President desires. Have you any observation to make with reference to that? I have cut all of my ties, I have entered into a mutual cancellation of contract, and I am prepared and desire to remain with the Federal Government for as long as it wants me. Senator PASTORE. Thank you very much. Are there any further questions of Mr. Price? [No response.] Senator PASTORE. Thank you very, very much, Mr. Price. We wish you the best of luck. Mr. PRICE. Thank you. NOMINATION OF ROBERT T. MURPHY, OF RHODE ISLAND, TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD Senator PASTORE. The next matter on the agenda is the nomination of Mr. Robert T. Murphy, to be a member of the Civil Aeronautics Board for the remainder of the term expiring December 31, 1966. Mr. Murphy, we have your biographical sketch-not that the members of this particular committee need it, because we have been familiar with you and your quality of work for a long time. At this time I shall have it inserted in the record. (The biographical sketch of Mr. Murphy follows:) BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF ROBERT T. MURPHY Legal resident: 2 Bayberry Road, Narragansett, R.I. Married: Anna L. Meenagh, 1940; Trinity College, 1935. Children: Robert T., Jr., 19 (Georgetown University, class of 1963); Brian P., 17, Gonzaga High School; Richard J., 15, Gonzaga High School. Graduated LaSalle Academy, Providence, R.I., 1932; Providence College (A.B.) 1936; president, Providence College Debating Union; Georgetown University Law School (LL.B.) 1940. Staff member, Georgetown Law Journal, 1938-40; award winner Georgetown Law Club Debates, 1940. Admitted to the bar of the District of Columbia (1939), and to the bar of the State of Rhode Island (1941). Member of the bar association of the District of Columbia, the American Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, American Judicature Society and the Counsellors; admitted to practice before Supreme Court of the United States, 1946; admitted to practice before numerous Federal administrative boards and agencies. Engaged in active private practice of law, District of Columbia 1939-41, 1945-56; in Rhode Island, 1941-42. Served as chief counsel, U.S. Senate Campaign Expenditures Committee, 1944-45 (Senator Theodore Francis Green, chairman); enforcement attorney, Office of Price Administration, 1943-44; tax attorney, State of Rhode Island, 1942-43; designtaed as a public member, National Appeal Board, U.S. Coast Guard, 1952-56 (security cases). 68026-61- 2 |