running the affairs of the Veterans of OSS, our above wartime outfit's veterans organization. Our work together there has included putting together and managing a two-week visit to the U.S.A., of 50 French World War II Resistance Heroes, and a return visit by twenty OSS Veterans to France. During this second phase of our acquaintanceship, besides, his great intelligence, I saw close at hand the soundness of his judgment, domestic and international, his quality of effective leadership, and his generous heart and fierce loyalty towards what he was doing. His success at the New York Bar is a matter of public record. On the basis of the above facts, I commend him to you, and can state unequivocally that I have the highest regard for Mr. Casey's character, for his honesty, and for his credibility. I have the same esteem for his remarkable intellectual capabilities. I also deem him, on account of his professional and business background, extremely well fitted to be the Chairman of the SEC. Besides this, I know the government and the public will greatly benefit from the very great capacity for hard work, and devotion to the task at hand, he has invariably shown. Respectfully yours, Senator JOHN SPARKMAN, Washington, D.C. HENRY B. HYDE. ALICE B. SKINNER SECRETARIAL SCHOOLS, DEAR SIR: I should like to add my word of commendation on behalf of William J. Casey, whom your Committee is considering for appointment as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I have known and respected Mr. Casey for many years and feel that his appointment would be an important step forward in a field where apparently very careful supervision and control is needed. In Mr. Casey you have a man who is an expert in his field, highly respected in his community, and eminently prepared to step into this position and bring some order out of chaos. As a concerned citizen, I urgently request your Committee to recommend the appointment of William J. Casey as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Yours truly, RAYMOND IVES, President. OLIVETTE, Mo., March 10, 1971. Hon. WILLIAM PROXMIRE, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. PROX MIRE: This is an expression of support for your stand on the Casey nomination. I was disappointed, of course, to read that the banking committee voted 9 to 3 to let its previous endorsement stand, but I feel confident that you will carry your fight to the Senate floor. It seems so sad that once again a man of questionable reputation, albeit strong initiative, is being considered for a position of public trust-extraordinary public trust, for that matter. It prompts one to ask whether American society expects occasional lapses in ethics from its most successful members, perhaps as unpleasant side effects of competitiveness. Please permit an irrelevancy. I sometimes wonder whether a photograph of a young man in military dress, hanging over an archway in the Chi Psi house at Yale a dozen years ago, was that of Sen. Proxmire. Sincerely, RICHARD M. JONES. HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., March 2, 1971. Senator JoHN SPARKMAN, Chairman, Banking Committee, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.: As a lawyer and professor of law at Hofstra Law School, I urge that it would based on civil litigation which has been compromised. I wish to vouch for the reputation of Casey as a forward looking and progressive member of the Long Island community. DAVID K. KADANE. PHILADELPHIA, PA., March 6, 1971. DEAR SENATOR SPARKMAN: How can the Senate with any respect for the people consider approving William Casey as chairman of the SEC? This man has at least three times been involved in questionable law suits. If a better man can't be found, then this country is in pretty bad shape. Sincerely, ELKAN KATZ. Senator JOHN SPARKMAN, Washington, D.C. THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN LAW SCHOOL, DEAR SENATOR SPARKMAN: For many years I have taught courses involving the statutes administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission. I am shocked by the revelations appearing in today's Wall Street Journal concerning the litigation involving Mr. William J. Casey, the nominee for chairman of the Commission. I urge that extensive public hearings be held investigating not only this episode but other aspects of Mr. Casey's practice and activities. Very truly yours, WILBER G. KATZ, Senator JOHN SPARKMAN, THE WILLIAMSBURGH SAVINGS BANK, Chairman, Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, U.S. Senate, New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR SPARKMAN: In reading the local newspapers, I understand your Committee is holding hearings on the nomination of Mr. William J. Casey to the Securities and Exchange Commission. I take this opportunity to write regarding Mr. Casey, whom I have known for the past ten years both in a business and social way. In my capacity as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Fordham University. I have observed the work that Mr. Casey did as a member of that Board and also on the Executive and Finance Committees. He served with great distincttion and we found his judgments to be sound, well-organized and, in practically every instance, accepted by his fellow members on those Committees. In my capacity as a Bank President, I have found him very knowledgeable in affairs of finance. His qualifications regarding tax laws and business matters are also most impressive. He has served the community in which he resides well as the President of the Long Island Association he has assisted in solving problems peculiar to Nassau County, of which I am a resident. Regarding his family and personal life, never to my knowledge has there been any intimation of a problem. His honesty and integrity have never been questioned. In my humble opinion, Bill Casey is highly qualified to hold the position for which he has been nominated by the President and I am sure he will bring great honor and respect to that office. Yours sincerely, JOSEPH A. KAISER, President. [Telegram] WORCESTER, MASS., February 12, 1971. Senator JOHN SPARKMAN, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.: I am against the nomination of William J. Casey to the S.E.C. STATE OF NEW YORK, PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, New York, N.Y., March 5, 1971. COMMITTEE ON BANKING, HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS, Senate Chamber, Washington, D.C. (Attention: Senator John Sparkman). Gentlemen: You are presently considering the nomination of William J. Casey as head of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I have known and worked with Mr. Casey over a long period of time, and have long admired his efforts in behalf of the community and the Nation. Despite a very active business career and a large law practice he has always found time to serve the people of the State and the Nation, and to serve them well. It is not surprising that a man who has engaged in so many activities as Bill Casey should on occasion become the center of controversy. In the complexities of so diversified a career multitudinous opportunities arise for differences of opinion which can only be resolved through legal processes. Had Mr. Casey been a do nothing incompetent his integrity would never have been called into question. In my opinion, simple justice demands that Mr. Casey be evaluated in the light of his abilities and his accomplishments. I have considered the record and find nothing in it that would reflect on either his ability or his integrity. On the contrary, for a man to have accomplished so much with so little controversy bespeaks well for his character and his integrity. I recommend William J. Casey to your Honorable Committee and respectfully suggest that he will perform as well in the position of Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission as he has in all of the many other capacities in which he has served. Chairman, U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR SPARKMAN: It has been some years since I have had the privilege of being with you with our great and remembered friend, Adlai Stevenson. This letter to you now is occasioned by the press stories which I have followed very closely in connection with the President's nomination of William J. Casey as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bill Casey has been an intimate friend of mine for more than 10 years. I have known him professionally, socially and very personally in connection with many community and civic matters. I regard Bill as an outstanding lawyer and I think few members of the bar who have had contact with him would disagree. His professional attainments, due to his abilities, capacities and energy, are of the highest order. I believe his integrity, his character and his honesty are above reproach, and I would trust Bill without limitation in any matter of personal trust and responsibility. As a citizen Bill is thoroughly devoted to his country and has given unstintingly of his time to causes that are a benefit to the Nation. These expressions of mine do not really describe Bill Casey sufficiently. I am a great believer in the concept that our democracy will not survive without men who have the rounded capabilities encompassed in the term "generalist". Bill is a great generalist. He is an active solver of problems. He is a leader. I feel that at this time in the Nation's history, Bill Casey is the type of man that ought to be called upon to fill an important leadership role. The SEC needs as its chairman a thorough professional who is also a generalist and a leader. In my opinion, Bill Casey is the type of man that ought to be called upon to fill an important leadership role. The SEC needs as its chairman a thorough professional who is also a generalist and a lead One word about the civil litigations, unfortunately, we live in an era when suing corporate executives, lawyers and accountants is part of our fads and fashion. The fact that many of the largest accounting firms have been sued does not mean that they have lost their qualifications and their standards. Many active members of the bar have found themselves defendants in strike litigation. Regrettably, we have found it necessary to recommend to clients that many of these situations be settled even when we are convinced that there is no fault, because of the horrendous expense of litigation. The merit of each such situation must be evaluated very carefully. If the mere fact that a person has been sued is to disqualify him from public office we will reach the unfortunate result that only the non-doers and the uninvolved will be available for our leadersip. In conclusion, I want to reaffirm my total confidence in the qualifications and integrity of William J. Casey and to express my thanks to you for your consideration of my views. Kindest regards. Hon. JOHN J. SPARKMAN, MORRIS I. LEIBMAN, Liebman, Williams, Bennett, Baird & Minow. NEW YORK, N.Y., March 5, 1971. Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR SPARKMAN: I am a director of Hament Corporation, formerly Slide-O-Chrome Corporation, which also had on its Board (until he resigned in view of his nomination as the Security and Exchange Commission Chairman) Mr. William J. Casey. I have known Mr. Casey both in a business and a social way for about nine years. I have known him best in my business relations with him where I found him to be a stickler for honest, proper activity. I know Mr. Casey is a successful lawyer and businessman which is a rare combination. Yours truly, CARL M. LOEB, Jr. HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY, Hempstead, N.Y., March 8, 1971. Senator JOHN SPARK MAN, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR SPARKMAN: Letters from me to members of the Congress other than to our own Long Island representatives are very few and far between. However, I am moved to write to you by the press report of the hearings on the President's nomination of William J. Casey to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bill Casey was one of the first people I met after assuming the presidency of this University seven years ago. I know him rather well, and know him as an outstanding lawyer and a very active citizen. As you know, he is President of the Long Island Association of Commerce and Industry, on the Board of which I have served for the past four years. At Hofstra we think so highly of Mr. Casey that he was tendered a place on our Board of Trustees, a nomination which he declined because he had just been elected by his alma mater, Fordham University, to their Board. In my estimation, the President has made an excellent nomination, and I hope it may have the support of your Committee. I have known William J. Casey for twenty-seven years and have the highest regard for his personal integrity. I know nothing about his business activities but I knew him well as a splendid government official in OSS during World War II, one hundred percent devoted to public service, I can imagine him being otherwise today. Sincerely, WALTER LORD. Hon. JOHN J. SPARKMAN. GREAT NECK, N.Y., March 6, 1971. MY DEAR MR. SENATOR: As one who has had business dealings with Mr. William J. Casey over a period of some years. I should like you and your Committee to know that I have found him fair and honest, and a good person to do business with. I have extreme doubt that the allegations being made against him should be given any significant weight by your Committee in considering his confirmation. Yours respectfully, A. V. LOUGHREN. WESTFIELD, N.J., March 4, 1971. Hon. JOHN SPARKMAN, DEAR SIR: My husband and I are appalled that your committee is still considering Mr. W. J. Casey as a worthy chairman of the Securities and Exch. Commission. It seems very obvious to us that Mr. Casey has been less than honorable in his past business dealings, and there is no reason to calmly overlook his record and affirm him as qualified to hold this responsible position. Surely there are men to consider who have not such doubtful backgrounds and we urge you ask the president for another nomination. When this nation is in deep despair over the disclosures of corruption and savagery in the armed forces, over the devastation of cultures thousands of miles from our shores by our massive bombing, by the catering to special interests rather than to the common good, we urge your committee to search further for someone less doubtful of character. How can he have extraordinary qualifications for a job involving regulating of investment practices when his past is so tainted? President Nixon seems to have unusually lax standards for his appointees, and we demand close scrutiny in this instance. Anything less will be a deepening disillusionment in our elected officials desire to serve this nation honorably. Sincerely, THE SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE, Mrs. JAMES W. MADDOX. WESTFIELD, N.J., March 8, 1971. GENTLEMEN: We are indeed disappointed to learn that the president is reaffirming his support of Mr. William Casey to head the Securities and Exchange Commission in spite of the doubtful background activities of this gentleman. We urge your committee to use scrupulous care in this selection so the commission will have at its head a man of unquestionable business integrity. Mr. Casey does not fit this requirement, and there must be any number of others who qualify for this responsible post and who have impeccable reputations. At a time when this country is facing deep disappointment in its government and defense personnel, we think it is imperative that a higher standard be set before appointments are made. It is time choices are made purely on qualifications and with the conscious purpose of serving the public good. Yours very truly, JAMES W. MADDOX, |