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Editorial
February 22, 1962
The Glacier Reporter
Browning, Glacier County, Montana
What is this article about?
Editorial criticizes Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara for instructing subordinates not to answer questions from a U.S. Senator investigating Pentagon censorship, viewing it as blocking Congress's will and eroding oversight authority unless the President invokes national security privilege.
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McNAMARA ASSUMES CHARGE
Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara has assumed an interesting position in instructing his subordinates not to answer the questions of a United States Senator who is a member of a congressional committee investigating censoring in the Pentagon.
This is, in effect, blocking the will of Congress. It has been firmly established only in more recent years that Presidents could evade the will of congressional committees by invoking the presidential privilege.
But it has never been established that department heads, or members of the Cabinet did not have to answer the questions of Senators and Congressmen as they are put to them.
If Cabinet officers can, upon their own, decide what questions they answer, and what questions their subordinates answer - at congressional committee hearings, Congress has indeed lost a lot of authority.
Every American who treasures the system of government we now enjoy is the automatic enemy of secrecy in government- particularly big government. And unless the President believes that the national security is involved, and orders executive department employees to withhold information from Congress, every American should want Congress to have the authority to look into any facet of our governmental process, and into any corner of government activities.
Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara has assumed an interesting position in instructing his subordinates not to answer the questions of a United States Senator who is a member of a congressional committee investigating censoring in the Pentagon.
This is, in effect, blocking the will of Congress. It has been firmly established only in more recent years that Presidents could evade the will of congressional committees by invoking the presidential privilege.
But it has never been established that department heads, or members of the Cabinet did not have to answer the questions of Senators and Congressmen as they are put to them.
If Cabinet officers can, upon their own, decide what questions they answer, and what questions their subordinates answer - at congressional committee hearings, Congress has indeed lost a lot of authority.
Every American who treasures the system of government we now enjoy is the automatic enemy of secrecy in government- particularly big government. And unless the President believes that the national security is involved, and orders executive department employees to withhold information from Congress, every American should want Congress to have the authority to look into any facet of our governmental process, and into any corner of government activities.
What sub-type of article is it?
Constitutional
What keywords are associated?
Government Secrecy
Congressional Oversight
Executive Privilege
Pentagon Censorship
Mcnamara
What entities or persons were involved?
Robert Mcnamara
Secretary Of Defense
United States Senator
Congressional Committee
Congress
President
Pentagon
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Mcnamara's Obstruction Of Congressional Inquiry Into Pentagon Censorship
Stance / Tone
Opposition To Executive Secrecy And Support For Congressional Authority
Key Figures
Robert Mcnamara
Secretary Of Defense
United States Senator
Congressional Committee
Congress
President
Pentagon
Key Arguments
Mcnamara Instructing Subordinates Not To Answer Senator's Questions On Pentagon Censorship
This Blocks The Will Of Congress
Presidential Privilege Is Established But Not For Cabinet Members Independently
Cabinet Officers Deciding What To Answer Undermines Congressional Authority
Americans Should Oppose Government Secrecy Unless National Security Is Involved