He knows the problems of the District at every level. He started here working his way through Howard University as a waiter, and after graduation he worked his way to the top of his profession. I sincerely hope that he will be approved and that the District of Columbia will receive the benefit of his commendable qualifications. Sincerely yours, Hon. ALAN BIBLE, Chairman, District of Columbia Committee, JACOB A. STEIN. WASHINGTON, D.C., October 5, 1967. DEAR SENATOR BIBLE: It is with the greatest pleasure that I endorse the nomination of William S. Thompson, Esq., for appointment to the District of Columbia City Council. I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Thompson both professionally and socially during the past fourteen years that I have practiced as a trial lawyer in Washington, D.C., and I can testify to the fact that he enjoys an excellent reputation as a patriotic American, a man of integrity and honor and as an outstanding lawyer and gentlemen. I am a third-generation Washingtonian with deep roots and attachments in this city and, therefore, have been very much distressed over what has happened to this city over the past fifteen years. It is apparent that if Washington is going to be the wonderful place that it used to be and should be, it will be necessary to obtain the very best talent available to govern our city. In my judgment, the President has made a wise and wonderful selection in naming Mr. Thompson to the City Council, and I am convinced that he is just the type of man that we so desperately need in a position of such responsibility in a new city government. I am confident that Mr. Thompson will make an outstanding and dedicated public servant, and that he will do an outstanding job for all of the citizens of the District of Columbia. Very truly yours, WILLIAM J. DONNELLY, Jr. WASHINGTON, D.C., October 9, 1967. Senator ALAN BIBLE, Washington, D.C. MY DEAR SENATOR BIBLE: This letter comes to commend to your most favorable consideration, William S. Thompson, Esquire, who has recently been nominated for a position on the new City Council for the District of Columbia. I have known Mr. Thompson for more than thirty years and can attest to his ability, character and industry. I am sure that Mr. Thompson will bring to the Council a balanced judgment and a critical concern for the welfare of all the inhabitants of the District. I endorse his nomination without the slightest reservation, with the firm conviction that if he is confirmed by the Senate, all the citizens of the District will be the beneficiaries of his competence and knowledge. Sincerely yours, THURMAN L. DODSON, Hon. ALAN BIBLE, THE WASHINGTON BAR ASSOCIATION, INC., Chairman of the Senate Committee on the District of Columbia, MY DEAR SENATOR: On behalf of the Washington Bar Association and by directiou of its Board of Directors Mr. William S. Thompson is hereby endorsed for the position of Member of the Council of the District of Columbia Govern ment. Mr. Thompson is one of a number of members of the Washington Bar Association whose name was submitted to the President and there is every expectation that if confirmed he will conscientiously perform the duties indigenous to his office. Accordingly, it is respectfully requested that the Committee confirm his nomina tion. Very truly yours, ALEXANDER L. BENTON, President. [From the Washington Post, Oct. 12, 1967] A NICE RECOVERY The appointment of John W. Hechinger to the chairmanship of the District Council, following the withdrawal of Max Kampelman, goes a long way to ease a crisis which had rocked the new District government before it was even officially in being. A prominent businessman long active in civic affairs, Hechinger comes well qualified to fill a job which was beginning to look almost impossible to fill. The White House deserves high marks for a nice recovery, which is not to say that it doesn't also deserve low marks for the way it originally went about launching a venture of such promise and potential and crucial importance to the welfare of the Federal City. The kindest conclusion one can draw from the Kampelman episode is that he did not know what he was accepting, in large part because, at the time, the White House wasn't very clear in its own mind about what it was offering. What Kampelman was being asked to do, it now appears, was to abandon a lucrative law business in exchange for a $10,000-a-year, part-time job combining the stewardship of the Council with a role as official greeter and congressional lobbyist for the District. Leaving aside the question of whether he was the best man for this job, the job was bound to lose a large part of its appeal once it was discovered that standard conflict-of-interest regulations would apply, if the work of the Council chairman consumed more than 130 days out of the year, as it is expected to. So much of Mr. Kampelman's law practice involves government work that he apparently would have had to divorce himself completely from his firm. What is puzzling is why all this couldn't have been figured out before Kampelman was approached. Even more puzzling is the fact that he was formally approached for the job only about two hours before it was to be announced, which is not much time for reflection, let alone for inquiring into the conflict of interest implications. Because of the nature of his private business, Hechinger apparently will have no difficulty meeting the conflict-of-interest rules. But these regulations will work some hardship on at least three Council nominees, who have the same conflicts as Kampelman, except on a much smaller scale. Another nominee already works for the District Government and is faced with the prospect of sacrificing one or the other Federal paycheck under regulations barring "dual compensation." And several nominees are hung up in the Hatch Act's restraints against political activities and must surrender hard-earned positions in the local political party structures. Most of these problems could not have been dealt with under the Reorganization Act procedures which the Administration used to set up the new government because this legislative process does not permit changes in other laws. To this extent, the White House cannot be blamed for what has befallen the new government. Almost certainly the revision of the local municipal structure which has been brought about could only have been pushed through Congress under the Reorganization Act procedures. But the fact remains that the effort to squeak by without new legislation has failed, partly by mishandling, and partly because Federal regulations conspired against it. There is only one way for the Administration to repair the damage and that is to tackle the problem head on by asking Congress urgently for legislation to make these jobs appealing enough to attract the best candidates. The Hatch Act prohibitions ought to be removed, as well as the "dual compensation" rule. New, and more reasonable, regulations on conflict of interest ought also to be proposed to Congress, and quickly passed. Some thought should be given to raising the salaries of the Council chairman and the members (who now receive $7500 a year). Time and experience may be the best guide in deciding whether the chairmanship-and perhaps the vice-chairmanship-ought not to be full-time jobs, which would eliminate a good part of the conflict of interest problems. There will be trouble in Congress. Opponents of home rule, in any form, may seize upon any pretext to sabotage the new government in any way they can. But the Administration has a very large stake in making the new District Government fulfill its promise, and some considerable amends to make for getting it off to such a sloppy start-even after the fullest credit has been accorded the President for a nice recovery. [From the Washington Post, Oct. 12, 1967] PRESIDENT NAMES HECHINGER HEAD OF CITY COUNCIL-BUSINESSMAN IS (By Robert L. Asher) John W. Hechinger, businessman, civic leader and native Washingtonian, was named yesterday to replace attorney Max M. Kampelman as President Johnson's choice to head the Capital's new City Council. The announcement, which came less than 24 hours after it was learned that Kampelman was withdrawing because of conflict-of-interest complications, was made by White House Press Secretary George Christian. Hechinger, 44, a Democrat, president of the Hechinger Lumber Co. and a member of the Redevelopment Land Agency Board, learned he had been tapped only yesterday morning. He met briefly with the President before the an nouncement. Christian confirmed that Kampelman had decided there would be "too much hardship" on his law practice if he accepted the Council chairmanship. With Hechinger as Kampelman's replacement, the White House nominee list was again at the full complement of nine, and formal nominations are expected to go to the Senate shortly, perhaps today. The only step remaining before such action, sources said, is a final check with other nominees by the Justice Department on any concerns they might have about the conflict-of-interest statutes that affected Kampelman. The Department has been meeting with the nominees to apprise them of legal limitations on how much time Councilmen may spend on District business and still be free to pursue private interests. Hechinger is "familiar with the law," Christian noted, and White House sources said neither they nor he foresaw any conflicts involving his business interests that could not be resolved. NOMINEE PRAISED The choice of Hechinger prompted a shower of laudatory statements. Mayor Walter E. Washington, whose administration will take over after at least six council nominees are confirmed by the Senate, said he was "delighted." The Mayor noted that Hechinger, who is a fourth-generation Washingtonian, "has roots that are very deep here. He is genuinely interested in the city. We have worked together on civic and business efforts designed to help all the people." Hechinger's activities, which have brought him in close contact with Mayor Washington for about 14 years, include many accomplishments in furthering desegregation here, particularly in his own firms and in the Boys Club of Washington, of which he is a trustee. Walter N. Tobriner, president of the city's current three-man Board of Commissioners that will disband when the reorganized city government moves in, said "no more felicitous appointment as chairman could have been made." "For years constructively involved in manifold civic and municipal activities, Mr. Hechinger enjoys the respect of the whole community and brings to the position a world of experience and tested judgment," Tobriner said. Commissioner John B. Duncan praised Hechinger as "a man of great integrity and ability and a successful businessman." Carl L. Shipley, chairman of the D.C. Republican Committee, termed the President's latest choice "an outstanding selection who should enjoy the complete support of the Republican Party." J. C. Turner, president of the Greater Washington Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and a nominee for the Council, said Hechinger "is a very fine citizen, and I'm sure he'll do a fine job." Another Council nominee, Polly Shackleton, said she had "known and worked with" Hechinger for some time and said "he brings all kinds of experience and talent to solution of the city's problems." Also pleased were businessmen, who noted privately that, before the new nomination, they were somewhat bothered that business was not represented on the Council. OTHER AFFILIATIONS As a member of RLA, Hechinger already has undergone a nomination hearing and confirmation by the Senate in 1965. In addition to serving the Boys Clubs, he is a former president of Columbia Hospital; a trustee of the Public Library; a member of the Washington Urban League; past vice president of the Health and Welfare Council and chairman of its budget committee; a member of the First Lady's Committee for a More Beautiful National Capital; and a four-time member of the Inaugural Medal Committee, and a director of the American Security Corp., an affiliate of the American Security & Trust Co. "MAN OF YEAR" He is a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School and Yale University. After working with the United Aircraft Corp. and serving in the Army Air Corps in World War II, Hechinger joined his father's lumber firm in 1946. In 1962, he was named "man of the year" by the brotherhood of the Washington Hebrew Congregation, of which he is a member. Commenting on his activities and their relationship with conflict-of-interest statutes, Hechinger said "that has been thoroughly gone into by the Department of Justice and we see eye to eye." The chairman-designate, who if confirmed would become a member of the city's Zoning Commission, said the Hechinger stores are the only property he owns in the the city besides his home at 2838 Chain Bridge rd. nw. Hechinger said he will give up any activities that might conflict with the chairmanship. While withholding any comment on his views of the job or his plans until he appears before the Senate District Committee, he noted that he knows all the other eight nominees "by reputation" and four of them well. FOUR CHILDREN Mr. and Mrs. Hechinger have four children: Nancy, 20, a student at Sarah Lawrence College and a former classmate of Luci Johnson Nugent and Mayor Washington's daughter, Bennetta, at the National Cathedral School here; John Jr., 17, a student at the Sidwell Friends School; Ross, 16, a student at St. Alban's School, and Sally, 11, who attends National Cathedral. The White House decision to tap Hechinger reportedly began in the wee hours yesterday after The Washington Post reported that Kampelman was stepping aside. The President made his original Council announcements two weeks ago today. It was after the Sept. 28 announcements that Kampelman and other nominees encountered conflict problems, involving Hatch Act restrictions on political activities, dual pay rules for government employes and restriction on attorney's activities. ATTACKED ON HILL Kampelman also faced attacks from Capitol Hill. Sen. Carl T. Curtis (R-Neb.) and Rep. H. R. Gross (R-Iowa) assailed Kampelman's dealings with clients and his military record (he was a conscientious objector during World War II). In a House speech yesterday, Gross said Kampelman withdrew because "the last thing in the world he wanted was to be sworn in as a witness before a committee of the United States Senate where all his dealings, past and present, could be spread on the record." Kampelman had said he was prepared to defend his record but insisted on waiting until Senate hearings. He has prepared testimony on all charges and intends to seek Senate permission to make them a part of the hearing record. [From the Washington Post, Oct. 13, 1967] HILL GETS COUNCIL LIST; EARLY HEARINGS DUE (By Elsie Carper) President Johnson formally sent to the Senate yesterday the names of the nine Washington residents he has picked for the new City Council. The Senate District Committee expects to hold hearings within the next two weeks on the nominations, clearing the way for early Senate confirmation and a takeover by the new city government. Mayor Walter E. Washington and Deputy Mayor Thomas W. Fletcher have been marking time waiting for the Council to be named. The new government cannot go into operation until at least six of the nine Councilmen have been confirmed. The President submitted the names to the Senate the day after he announced that he had selected John W. Hechinger to replace Max M. Kampelman as his nominee for Council chairman. The President originally had announced his choices for the Council 15 days ago at the White House swearing-in ceremony for Washington and Fletcher. Kampelman withdrew because his extensive law practice raised questions of possible conflict of interest. The actual submission of the names to the Senate disclosed the terms of office to be served by the Council appointees. Terms have been staggered so that three will expire next Feb. 1, three a year later and three in 1970. Short terms, expiring next February, went to Margaret A. Haywood, J. C. Turner and Joseph P. Yeldell. Hechinger, the Rev. Walter E. Fauntroy and John A. Nevius were given terms expiring Feb. 1, 1969. Stanley J. Anderson, William S. Thompson and Polly Shackleton received the long terms, expiring Feb. 1, 1970. Future terms will be for three years. The terms were designated so that those of Hechinger and Mrs. Fauntroy, the chairman and vice chairman, will expire Feb. 1, 1969 at the same time the term of Mayor Washington expires. This would make possible a changeover in top city officials 11 days after the 1969 presidential inaugural. The choice of Hechinger to head the Council was praised yesterday by Sen. Wayne Morse (D-Ore.), a member of the Senate District Committee. "I am familiar with Mr. Hechinger's business, civic, and municipal activities," Morse said, "and I am confident that his great wealth of experience will be invaluable to the new Council as it attempts to make municipal government more responsive to the wishes of the people of the District of Columbia." Sterling Tucker, executive director of the Washington Urban League, said that the naming of Hechinger should be the signal to the city and to Congress to end any controversy over the appointments and to get down to work. The city's team is at full strength now and ought to begin the ball game," Tucker said. Hechinger yesterday was endorsed by the District Republican Executive Committee for the Council chairmanship. "We feel that it is an excellent appointment for the city and he deserves bipartisan support," said Gilbert Hahn Jr., finance chairman, Hechinger is a Demo crat. [From the Washington Star, Oct. 12, 1967] JOHNSON NAMES HECHINGER TO REPLACE KAMPELMAN-CHAIN OWNER DRAWS WIDE D.C. SUPPORT (By Charles Conconi) Washington businessman John W. Hechinger has been nominated by President Johnson to become chairman of the District government's new 9-member city council. The 47-year-old president of the Hechinger hardware chain was named to replace Max M. Kampelman, who asked the White House to withdraw his name from nomination for the post. Hechinger has a long record of civic work here and his nomination drew support from civic and business leaders. |