Faculty Reaction Mixed On Killian's New Post

Comments of approval and skepticism ran through the reactions of four professors concerning the appointment of Dr. James R. Killian, President of M.I.T., as Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology.

W. Barton Leach '21, Story Professor of Law and member of the Defense Studies Program, stated that "it is a fine thing, provided that when his recommendations are made they are not blocked by an absence of adequate funds."

Samuel P. Huntington, assistant professor of Government, said that the program the President outlined was "certainly called for," and that Dr. Killian "is the best man for the job."

Both Huntington and Leach, however, voiced some skepticism. Leach thought that the defense budget would have to be raised to give Dr. Killian sufficient funds. Huntington pointed out that "these special assistants have a long tradition of futility and frustration since they are out of the official hierarchary."

Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. '38, professor of History, stated that "if Killian has the authority he must have for his job, he should be Secretary of Defense." Schlesinger added that "if that were the case, I cannot see what is left for the present Secretary to do, which shows us that we should not have a soap salesman as Secretary of Defense."

Charles R. Cherington '35, professor of Government, said that this type of program cannot be successful unless more money were allocated to it. Cherington advocated a "twenty per cent increase in personal income taxes across the board" to raise the money.

Edward L. Katzenbach, Jr., Director of the Harvard Defense Studies Program, agreed that "Killian's effectiveness in his new post will be largely determined by the amount of governmental access he is granted, and by the budgetary limits which are set on his work."

He added, however, that "Mr. Killian would not have accepted the post if he were not assured of strong support."