COMMISSIONS ON THE ORGANIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
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COMMISSIONS ON THE ORGANIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Mr. Hoover's personal papers concerning his services as Chairman of the two
U.S. Commissions on Organization of the Executive Branch were given to the United
States of America for deposit in the Hoover Presidential Library by Mr. Hoover on
December 15, 1960. Literary rights in the unpublished writings of Herbert Hoover
have been given and assigned to the United States of America.
Linear feet of shelf space occupied: 64
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
I. Background and Administrative History
.
By 1947, the federal government's efforts to cope with the depression,defeat the
axis' powers, and unravel the problems of demobilization had left in its wake a jumble
of executive agencies. A national debt of unprecedented size and spiraling peacetime
budgets also led to the inescapable conclusion that something would have to be done to
improve the efficiency and economy of government operations. Congress also hoped
to trim the size and influence of the executive establishment and to restore the balance
of power between the two branches that had been weakened by the conferral of vast
presidential war powers. The need for reorganization was obvious and compelling and,
on July 7, 1947, Congress responded by creating a Commission on the Organization
of the Executive Branch of the Government.
The selection of former President Hoover as Chairman of the Commission
was an obvious and natural choice. Less obvious, however, were some of the implications
of the appointment. At age 73, the former president announced that this was to be his
"last public service" and -quickly made it evident that he regarded the Commission as a
personal project and that he had no intentions of being a figurehead. Moreover, his
experience and prestige, induced his fellow commissioners to accept his leadership and
judgment. The value of this leadership, in the eyes of one participant, "was indispensible
for the Commission. Without it a twelve-man body of heterogeneous composition
would at many points have found agreement extremely difficult to achieve."
The Commission was authorized to investigate and make recommendations
concerning the organization of the executive branch which would result in improved
efficiency and economy of operation and better service to the public. Initial studies
were conducted by twenty-four task force committees, each delving into specific areas
such as budgeting, personnel, national defense, the Executive Office of the President,
public works, foreign affairs, and public welfare. Each task force prepared a report,
including its recommendations, for the consideration of the Commission. After much
discussion the Commission's findings and recommendations were forwarded to
Congress, from February through May 1949, in nineteen separate Commission Reports.
In contrast to previous reorganization efforts, most of the Commission's 273
recommendations were implemented by Congress to varying degrees. The 1955 report
of the Citizens' Committee for the Hoover Report notes that 116 recommendations
were fully realized, 35 were mostly carried out, and 45 were partially implemented.
Despite the apparent success of the first Hoover Commission, there were
many who felt that the Commission had not gone far enough. Not only were there
additional areas of inefficiency and waste that had not been discovered; but
the first Commission had lacked the clear authority to make recommendations
with respect to certain policy, Commission member Dean Acheson recalled that
the first Commission decided to avoid taking positions on-the wisdom of es-
tablished policies and to confine itself to recommendations for the improve-
ment of organization, procedures and operations. This limitation in the
first Commission's charter was widely discussed in the Congress and in the
press with the result that the second Hoover Commission was given a much
broader jurisdiction which included a mandate to recommend the elimination of
nonessential services and activities competitive with private enterprise.
Another significant change gave the second Commission the right to supoena
and take sworn testimony.
The operation of the second Hoover Commission followed the organizational
patterns established by the first Commission. Nineteen task force committees
supplied data and made recomendations that were employed in the preparations
of eighteen Commission reports to Congress. The Commission was authorized by
a law approved July 10, 1953 and liquidated its activities in September 1955.
II. Scope and Content of the Collection
.
These are Mr. Hoover's
personal papers
created during his service as
Chairman of the two Commissions. They amount to 19 and 34 linear feet res-
pectively. Some major correspondents are listed in part IV of this scope
and content note. Record Group 264 in the National Archives contains the
records generated by the Commission (275 linear feet), including those of its
Executive Director, Secretary, and various task force committees, and the
minutes of the Commission.
Mr. Hoover's active, guiding role in determining the overall agenda for
the Commission, selecting task force members, and in the detailed process of
drafting the reports of the Commission has frequently been cited by his as-
sociates. 4 These activities are amply documented in his papers. Early ar-
rangements for the first Commission, the selection of Hoover as Chairman, the
appointment of task force personnel, and the formulation of general policies
are discussed in Hoover's correspondence with Julius Klein (Commission Report
Series: "General Management of the Executive Branch--Correspondence--Klein")-
The abundance and variety of reports prepared by and for the Commission
(i.e. reports of task forces, consultant's and staff reports to task forces, and the final
reports of the Commission to Congress) is often a source of confusion. Further
confusion sometimes results from the fact that two or more task force reports might
contribute to the eventual preparation of a single Commission report. The first
Commission's report on the Interior Department, for example, drew on the reports of
the task forces on Natural Resources, Water Resources, and Public Works.
Still another difficulty stems from the fact that not all of the reports
of consultants and task forces were published by the GPO. The reports of task
force staff members and consultants were not published, but were submitted
to Congress in typescript. Most, but not all, of the task force reports were
published. Some of the unpublished reports of consultants and task forces may
be found in the Hoover Commission papers in this repository. A list of the
reports, published and unpublished, may be found in the
Final Report
of each
Commission in the Library reading room. The
Final Reports
also contain sev-
eral useful summaries concerning the recommendations and opportunities for
savings suggested by the Commissions and topical indexes to all of the published
reports.
Part IV of this Scope and Content Note lists the location of major col-
lections of related papers. Not listed are the papers of commission, members,
consultants, and advisers who may have retained in their personal files some
documentation of their services with the Commission. Researchers should con-
sult the National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections and other references
guides for the location of such collections.
III.
Some Noteworthy Correspondents in the Hoover Commission Papers.
Dean Acheson, Homer Ferguson, Ben Moreell, Sherman Adams, Arthur S. Flemming
George Van Horn Moseley, Coleman Andrews, James Forrestal, Robert Moses
Bruce Barton, W. Averill Harriman, Karl E. Mundt, Bernard Baruch
Arthur Sears Henning, Chester W. Nimitz, Alben Barkley, Chet Holifield
Richard L. Newberger, Omar Bradley, Hubert Humphrey, Samuel B. Pettengill
Styles Bridges, Robert L. Johnson, James Kerr Pollock, C. Wayland Brooks
James S. Kemper, Sam Rayburn, Clarence J. Brown, John F. Kennedy, Daniel A. Reed
Vannever Bush, Joseph P. Kennedy, Stanley Resor, Harry F. Byrd, Ernest J. King
John D. Rockefeller, William R. Castle, Arthur Krock, Nelson Rockefeller
Tom C. Clark, Alfred M. Landon, James Rowe, Jr., Charles B. Coates, David Lawrence
Kenneth C. Royal, James B. Conant, Henry Cabot Lodge, William H. Standley
Gardner Cowles, Jr., Joseph R. McCarthy, Lewis L. Strauss, John Cowles
John A. McCone, Robert G. Storey, H. Roy Cullen, John W. McCormack,
Herbert Bayard Swope, John Davenport, Robert L. McCormick, Lowell Thomas
Russell Davenport, Joseph W. Martin, Jr., Maurice J. Tobin, Trubee Davison
Lowell B. Mason, Carl Vinson, Michael DeBakey, William C. Menninger
DeWitt Wallace, Roscoe Drummond, Harold W. Metz, Earl Warren
Dwight Eisenhower, Eugene D. Milliken, Ray Lyman Wilbur, Northcutt Ely
Ruth C. Mitchell, Charles E. Wilson, James A. Farley, Sidney A. Mitchell
Owen D. Young
IV.
Location of Related Papers
.
Also at the Hoover Presidential Library:
Paul F. Grady Papers: Both Commissions
Neil MacNeil Papers: Second Commissions
Bradley D. Nash Papers: First Commission
Don K. Price Papers: First Commission
William Hallam Tuck Papers: Both Commissions
Robert E. Wood Papers: Both Commissions
At the Hoover Institution, Stanford University:
Citizens Committee for the Hoover Report, 1948-58
Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch, 1947-49 and 1953-55
At the National Archives:
Record Group 264 Records of the Commissions on Organization of the
Executive Branch of the Government
At the University of Vermont Library:
George D. Aiken Papers
Warren R. Austin Papers
Additional manuscripts concerning the Commissions may be found at the
Eisenhower and Truman Libraries. The records of the Brownlow Commit-
tee (President's Committee on Administrative Management, 1936-37)
are in the Roosevelt Library.
V.
Select Bibliography.
Acheson, Dean Present,
At the Creation: My Years in the State
Department
(New York, W.W. Norton Company, 1969)
Emmerich, Herbert,
Goverment and Public Administration
(New York,
McGraw-Hill, 1959)
Gervasi, Frank,
Big Goverment: The Meaning and Purpose of the
Hoover Commission Report
(New York, Whittlesey House, 1949)
MacNeil, Neil and Metz, Harold W.,
The Hoover Report, 1953-55
(New York, MacMillan, 1956)
Nash, Bradley D. And Lynde, Cornelius,
A Hook in Leviathan: A
Critical Interpretation of the Hoover Commission Report
(New York, MacMillan, 1950)
FIRST HOOVER COMMISSION DESCRIPTION OF SERIES
Box Series
1-31
Commission Reports 1947-49 31 containers
Correspondence., memoranda, reports., press releases,
printed copies of Task Force reports, and drafts and
printed copies of Commission reports. Arranged by
name of Commission report and thereunder by subjects
alphabetically--except for the concluding report of
the Commission which is at the end of the series.
32-39
General Correspondence 1947-52 8 containers
Correspondence and memoranda concerning the work of
the Commission and the efforts of the Citizen's Com-
mittee for the Hoover Report. Arranged by names of
correspondents and thereunder chronologically.
39-43
Subject File 1947-50 and undated 5 containers
Correspondence, memoranda, public statements and mis-
cellaneous printed material concerning the personnel
and work of the Commission and publicity for its
efforts. Arranged by subjects alphabetically.
CONTAINER LIST
Commission Reports Series
Box Contents
1
Agriculture Department
Committee Selection
Correspondence--Henry P. Rusk
Correspondence--Miscellaneous
Report of Commission
lst Draft
2nd Draft
3rd Draft
4th Draft
5th Draft
Approved Draft
Printed
Report of Task Force
Drafts
Printed
Summary
2
Budgeting and Accounting
Accounting Needs of the Federal Government
Correspondence--John W. Hanes (2 folders)
Division of Administrative Management., BOB
Division of Estimates, BOB
Division of Statistical Standards, BOB
Report of Commission
Drafts
Printed
Report of Task Force on Fiscal, Budgeting and Accounting
Activities--Printed
Miscellaneous
3
Department of Commerce
Correspondence
Reaction of Secretary of Commerce
Report of Commission
Preliminary Draft
lst Draft
2nd Draft
3rd Draft
4th Draft
5th Draft
6th Draft
Galley Proofs
Printed
Federal Business Enterprises
Correspondence, Miscellaneous
Dissenting Statement--Forrestal
General Observations
Lending Agencies
Correspondence
Drafts (1)
4
Drafts (2)
Drafts (3)
Drafts (4)
Drafts (5)
Price, Waterhouse
Recommendations.
Reports (4 folders)
Rowe Substitute Draft
Maritime Commission, U.S.
Misc. Business Enterprises--Drafts
Model Government Corporation Charter
Multiple Purpose Dams--Drafts
Rural Electrification Administration
Report of Commission
6
Drafts (7 folders)
Galley Proofs
Printed
7
Report of Task Force on Lending Agencies--Printed
Revolving Funds
Drafts (3 folders)
8
Haskins & Sells Report
Rowe Substitute Draft
Water Resources Projects
Drafts
Report on (Col. A.B. Roberts' Report)
Miscellaneous
Federal-State Relationships
Correspondence
T. Jefferson Coolidge
General
Council of State Governments Report (4 folders)
Discussion Guide
Report of Commission--Drafts
Report of Task Force
State - Federal Overlapping Taxes
10
Stanford Schewel Report
Foreign Affairs
Correspondence
Executive - Legislative Relations
Interdepartmental Aspects of Foreign Affairs
Miscellaneous Studies (2 folders)
Progress Report
Report of Commission
Drafts (2 folders)
Printed
Discussion of
Final Draft
Summary of
Printed
Role of President in Foreign Affairs
12
General Management of Executive Branch
Cabinet Secretariat Concept
Correspondence
Dr. Julius Klein
Donald K. Price
General
Council of Economic Advisors
Departmental Administration--Deficiencies and Remedies
Departmental Management Report
Departmental Managenent Report--Appendices
Departments, etc. Reporting Directly to President
Discussion Guides
13
Federal Field Services Report,
Vol. I
Vol. II
Federal Field Services, Miscellaneous
Field Coordination and Government Information
Identification of Problems Needing Study
Information Services
Liaison Secretary
Miscellaneous Studies
Pollock Proposal on Executive Branch Organization
President's Relations with Cabinet and Congress
President's Reorganization Authority
Relief to the Presidential Office
14
Report of Commission
Drafts (5 folders)
15
Drafts (4 folders)
Printed
16
Printed
Summaries
Miscellany
General Services - Supply Activities
Correspondence
Discussion Guide
Federal Supply System
Detailed Report
Discussion Guide
Prospectus
Report of Commission
Drafts (1)
17
Drafts (2)
Printed
Report of Task Forces
Printed
Summaries
Indian Affairs
Agenda
Correspondence
Report of Commission
Drafts
Printed
Report of Task Force
Analysis of
Analysis of (2)
Summary of
Interior Department
Correspondence
Gov. Leslie A. Miller
18
Robert Moses
General
Discussion Guides--Miscellaneous
Natural Resources Activity of the Federal Government, A
Report on
Power, Irrigation, Flood Projects--Report on
Report of Commission
Drafts (1)
Drafts (2)
19
Drafts (3)
Drafts (4)
Printed
Report of Task Force (Natural Resources)
Discussion Guide
Printed
Summaries
Report of Task Force (Public Works)
Printed
Report of Task Force (Water Resources Project)--Printed
Water Policy Study by Engineers Joint Council
Miscellany
Labor Department
Correspondence
Discussion Guides
Proposed Reorganization
20
Report of Commission
Drafts
Printed
Medical Activities
Congressional Hearings re: U.S. Membership in World Health
Organization.
Correspondence
Tracy S. Voorhees
American Medical Association
General
Discussion Outline
Press Releases, 1948, 1950
Report of Commission
Drafts
Printed
Report of Task Force
Actuarial Projections
Armed Forces Hospitalization
Draft: 11/23/48 SEE: Klumpp Papers, box 2
Federal Health Activities & Programs,
Hospitalization
21
Medical Education in Federal Agencies
Medical Manpower
Medical Research
Medical Supply
Preventive Medicine & Public Health
Printed
Psychiatry & Neurology
Summary
Tuberculosis
National Security Organization
Correspondence
Ferdinand Eberstadt
General
Military Budget
22
National Defense Establishment Hearings
National Security Act of 1947 Hearings
National Security Act of 1947--Revisions
Press Releases
Report of Commission
Drafts
Printed
Report of Task Force
Discussion Outline
Printed
Summary
Unpublished, Vol. II
23
Unpublished, Vol. III
Unpublished, Vol. IV (Index)
Selection of Committee
Overseas Administration
Integration of Overseas Administration
Report of Commission
Draft
Printed
Report of Task Force
Draft
Summary
Personnel Management
Correspondence
John A. Stevenson
General
Expense of Personnel Management
Federal Personnel Council
24
Improving the Civil Service
Key Federal Executives., Utilization of
Reductions in Force
Removal for Inefficiency
Removals on Charges
Report of Commission
Drafts (1)
Drafts (2)
Printed
Report of Task Force
Printed
Supporting Data
Post Office
Air Line Subsidies Bill
25
Correspondence
Robert Heller
General
Report of Commission
Drafts (1)
Drafts (2)
Printed
Report of Task Force
Printed
Summary
Regulatory Commissions
Civil Aeronautics Board, Report on
Correspondence
Discussion Outlines
26
FCC, Report on
FPC, Report on
Federal Reserve System., Report on
Federal Trade Commission, Report on
27
ICC, Report on
NLRB, Report on
Report of Commission
Drafts
Printed
Printed
Summary
SEC, Report on
U. S. Maritime Commission, Report on
Social Security - Education
Congressional Hearings re: H. R. 2892
Congressional Hearings (2)
Congressional Hearings (3)
Correspondence
Discussion Guides
Report of Commission
Drafts (1)
Drafts (2)
29
Drafts (3)
Printed
Printed
Summary
Unemployment Compensation
Miscellany
Statistical Activities
Committee Selection
Correspondence
Problems Concerning Government Statistics
Report of Commission--Drafts
Report of Task Force
Printed
Summary
Statistical Agencies of Federal Government
Transportation
Correspondence
Dr. Lewis Meriam
General
Discussion Guides
30
Report of Commission--Drafts
Report of Task Force
Proposal for
Summary
Vol. I
Vol. II
Treasury Department
Correspondence
Discussion Guide
Report of Commission
Drafts (1)
31
Drafts (2)
Drafts (3)
Printed
Veterans Affairs
Correspondence
Col. Franklin D'Olier
General
Discussion Guides
Report of Commission
Drafts
Printed
Report of Task Force
(1)
(2)
Summaries
Concluding Report
Correspondence
Drafts
Printed
Miscellaneous
General Correspondence
Box Contents
32
ABB--ABL
Dean Acheson., 1948
ADV--AIK
George D. Aiken, 1947-49
ALL--AME
Clinton P. Anderson., 1947-48
Jack Z. Anderson., 1949
AND--ASC
BAC--BAL
Frank Bane, 1949
BAN--BEC
Colwell E. Beers, 1949
BEL--BENS
William Benton, 1950,1952
BER--DRAD
Charles F. Brannon, 1949
Francis P. Brassor, 1947-50
BREC--BRED
Charles D. Breitel, 1949
BRI--BROO
Clarence J. Brown, 1947-52
BROWN--BUX
33
Harry F. Byrd., 1947-50
CAD--CASS
William R. Castle., 1948-49
CAV
Chambers of Commerce
CHA--CLO
Charles B, Coates., 1948-49
Charles B. Coates., 1950
Charles B. Coates., 1951-52
COM--CUR
DAV--DAW
William L. Dawson., 1949.,1952
DEB--DOU
Paul H, Douglas., 1950
DRI--DYE
EAS--EWI
34
FAH--FLE
FOL--FOR
Arthur S. Fleming., 1947-50
James Forrestal, 1947-49
FOS--FRI
GAD--GAZ
GER--GUS
HAI--HAR
Walter Harnischfeger, 1949-50, 1952
HAR--HOD
Clare E. Hoffman, 1949, 1951
HOL
Chet Holifield, 1949-50
HOL--HUT
ILG--IZA
JAC--JOH
Louis A. Johnson., 1949
Robert L, Johnson, February-April, 1949
Robert L. Johnson, May 1949--February 1952
35
JOH--JOR
KAN--KEM
Arthur Kemp, 1947
Kemper
James S. Kemper., 1949, 1951
Joseph P, Kennedy., 1947-49
KEN--KIM
Cecil R. King., 1952
KIN--KYN
LAN--LOC
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., 1947-48
Henry Cabot Lodge., Jr.., 1949-51
LOM--LOW
MacCaffree--McCarm
Joseph R. McCarthy., 1949
McClatchy, John Ho. 1952
John L. McClellan., 1948-50
John A. McCone, 1947
McCord
John W. McCormack, 1949
Chauncey McCormick., 1947
Robert L, L. McCormick,
November 1948--June 1949
July--September., 1949
36
October--November, 1949
January--May, 1950
June--December, 1950
1951-52
Arthur R. McDonald., 1950
McGraw--Hill., 1949-50, 1952
MACH--MALL
George W. Malone, 1950
Carter Manasco, 1948
MAR--MAS
George Mead, 1947-49
MEC--MIL
Bernice Miller, 1949
Herbert J. Miller, 1947-48, 1950
Miller
Leslie A. Miller, 1949-52
MIN
Sidney A, Mitchell., October 1947--June 1948
37
Sidney A, Mitchell., July 1948--September 1949
Mitchell
Miller--MIT
MON--MOR
Wayne Morse., 1949
George Van Horne Moseley, 1952
Robert Moses, 1949, 1952
MOT--MYR
NAG--NAS
Bradley Nash., 1947, 1950
NAT--NOT
OBR--PAB
Frank Pace, Jr., 1949-50
PAG--PIP
James K. Pollock,, 1947
Janes K, Pollock., 1948
James K. Pollock,, 1949-50
POO--PRE
Don K. Price., 1949-50
PRI--PRU
RAB--RIC
Lawrence Richey., 1947-48
38
RIE--ROT
James Rowe, Jr
1947-48
1949-50
1951-52
RUB--RYD
SAN--SHR
SIL--SMI
H, Alexander Smith, 1949-50, 1952
SMI--STR
Lewis L. Strauss., 1947, 1949-50
STR--SWO
John Taber, 1948
Robert A. Taft., 1949-50
TAG--TRE
Harry S, Truman., 1949
James S, Twohey, 1948-49
UNI--URM
Arthur H, Vandenberg., 1949
VAN-VOR
39
WAL-WAR
Lindsay C. Warren, 1948
WAY--WHI
Pearson Winslow, 1948
WIE--WIN
WINT--WRI
Young
ZAN--ZIM
Subject File
Box Contents
39
Agenda of Commission
Applications and Resumes
Citizen's Commmttee for Hoover Report
Commissioner's ,Voting Records"
Electric Power Industry
Federal Housing Policy and Legislation
Federal Military Establishment
40
Federal Reorganization History
GOP Highlights of Hoover Commission, 1948
Minutes of Commission Meeting
Personnel
Lists
Lists of Proposed Leaders
List of Task Forces Staff
Publicity
Citizens' Committee for the Hoover Report
Colliers
Article, April 1950
Correspondence
Fortune
Article, May 1949
Lists of Task Force and Commission Reports
Nation's Business
Article, February 1948
Proposed Program
41
Paramount Newsreel Statement., July 1949
San Francisco News
Article
U.S. News and World Report
Article, 1948
WOR Broadcasts
Miscellany
Public Statements
September 28, 1947
September 29, 1947
November 11, 1948
January 31, 1949
February 7, 1949
March 13, 1949
April 11, 1949
April 12, 1949
April 13, 1949
April 18, 1949
April 19, 1949
April 20, 1949
42
April 21, 1949
April 22, 1949
April 25, 1949
May 1949
June 5, 1949
June 22, 1949
June 29, 1949
June 30, 1949
June 30, 1949
July 5, 1949
August 16, 1949
October 21, 1949
February 8, 1950
March 7, 1950
June 16, 1950
Undated
H. Stephen Rauschenbush
43
Reorganization of Executive Branch, 1912-47
Social Security Legislation
Veterans Administration
Printed Material