15 FRESHMAN CONGRESSMEN FORM CLUB

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70-00058R000100100015-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 12, 2000
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: July 29, 1954
• Content Type: NSPR

POMoo(yeal.For Release 2000/08/03 : CD
PROGRESS BULLETIN
Circ.: e. 15,154
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15 Frestinian-
ngressmen
FOhi Club
WASHINGTON -(-NEA) -
The .; "S.O.S. -;Club" -is erhaps
the rlepst known, yet the most
exclusive of Washington's many
political organizations.'
Only 15 belong to it. All are
Republican members of the
Hoi}se of. Representatives, 41
years old or younger, anc serv-
ing their first term in Congress.
The Morse code initials SO.S.
stand as a symbol of the club's
purpose:; Members are supposed
to come to each others' aid and
assistance. Some of the Cort-
gressrien's secretaries, however,
jokingly refer to S:O.S: as So
ciety of Statesmen.
The group. formed back in
April, ,1953; when several fresh-
men GOP House members de-
cided it would be a good idea to
combine and give one another a
helping hand..
Left entirely alone, many a
newly-elected Congressman be.
comes lost and confused in
Washington's maze of political
finagling, . senority rights, par-
liamentary procedure and never-
ending corridors.
Twice a week these young Re-
publicans assemble to swap mu-
tual problems, discuss legisla-
tion and generally keep abreast
of political and. governmental
activities. One of the sessions
takes place over breakfast and
prominent Pfgures are invited
to talk informally to the club.
Many cabinet members have
thus chatted to the group at
hese early morning gatherings.'
including Secretary of State
'Dulles, Secretary of Defense
'S.O.S.' CLUB BREAKFASTS WITH IKE-On the White House steps after scrambled eggs an
bacon are (left to right) Representatives Rhodes, `Hosmer, Stringfellow, Young, Merrill, Freling
huysen, Holt, President Ei`senhower,-Hillelson, Cederberg, Warburton, Bolton and Wilson. Whit
House adviser Sherman Adams' head shows just _above ' Frelinghuysen; two other aides are a
Nilson, ecretary of Agricul-
ure Benson and Secretary of
he Treasury Humphrey.
Wheii Allen Dulles, director of
he Central Intelligence Agency,
vas-invited to join the club for
reakfast at the Capitol he
ulled a surprising switch.
veryone was asked to come
ver to the mystery shrouded
.I.A., for Dulles ' wanted to
he club with all the maps
nd charts. available at his
gency.
' Just recently the "S.O.S. Club"
vent to the White, House at the
rack of dawn to have scram-
led eggs and bacon with the
resident. The Administration
well aware of the importance
f this small segment of Repub-
can Representatives.
>In certain circles they are
nown as "Ike's Ramrods," for
on the whole they have strongly
backer} `the President's legisla-
tive program. This-is despite the
fact that the club has in no way
pledged to go down the line for
the' Administration.
Here Is the roll call of _he
"S.O.S. Club:" - , )
John J. Rhodes, Arizona;- Joy
Holt, -Craig Hosmer and Bob
Wilson, California; --Herbert B.
Warburton, Delaware; D. Bai.
ley Merrill, Indiana; Peter Fre-
linghuysen Jr., New Jersey; Jef-
frey P. Hillelson, Missouri;
Stuyvesant Wainright, New
York; Clifton Young, Nevada;;
fellow, Utah, and Melvin
Laird, Wisconsin.
The entire S.O.S. roster
be on the ballot in the coming
November,elections. This makes
the futui;e of the club extremely
uncertain b ttits objectives have
already ieg fulfilled. For by
helping each other these Con
gressmen "have been able to I,
tackle their duties with far more
underst nd confidence.
Approved For Release 2000/08/03 : CIA-RDP70-00058R000100100015-3