The Flanagan Case

President Eisenhower's loyalty to his subordinates is well-known. However, the furor aroused this summer by the liaison between Sherman Adams and Bernard Goldfine obscured another scandal of the Eisenhower Administration--the Flanagan case.

On the suggestion of the then powerful Adams, Eisenhower appointed Bernard Flanagan to the important post of Civil Service Commissioner late last year. One of the responsibilities of a Civil Service Commissioner is to serve as a judge in cases of dishonest applications for Federal jobs. Lying on a Civil Service application is punishable by dismissal from the Civil Service and possible legal action.

In July, when Flanagan's appointment came up before the Senate Post Office and Civil Service Committee, the Committee's questioning disclosed the fact that he had made at least fifteen dishonest statements on his Civil Service applications. Flanagan admitted these dishonesties. Although the Committee and the Senate as a whole obviously did not favor Flanagan's nomination, Adams was determined to push his appointment through Congress. The White House was saved this embarrassing effort when Flanagan resigned, "for the good of the Republican Party."

But apparently because the Flanagan case did not receive a national press, Eisenhower thinks he can still find Flanagan a place on his team. Ike recently appointed Flanagan as Assistant to Albert Cole, Federal Housing and Home Finance Administrator.

By appointing Flanagan to another executive position, Eisenhower is again insulting the honesty of the Civil Service and of the Federal Government. The American public is no longer gullible as a Freshman, but it would like to believe that some effort is being made to prevent obviously dishonest men from holding Federal office.