CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - SENATE, OCTOBER 8, 1968

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70B00338R000300060013-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 4, 2017
• Document Release Date: July 15, 2005
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: October 8, 1968
• Content Type: OPEN

2300060013-5
October 8,Ap red For Ref ~2 yf A lftffR7WP0Nffl
S 12227
tegrity of both our judicial and executive [From the Washington (D.C.) Post, Oct. Greenhalgh, a professor of law and director
systems. 5. 1968] of the legal intern program at Georgetown
Here we have a charge, the implication GREENHALGH SAYS FORTAS BLOCKED HIM University Law School, made his accusation
in a speech to the Montgomery County Press
of which is that in 1965 the selection of (By Lawrence Feinberg) Association.
the nominee for the position of U.S. at- Montgomery County Council President He said he was recommended to Johnson
torney in the District of Columbia was William W. Greenhalgh said yesterday that for the U.S. attorney's post by Nicholas deB.
based, not upon the qualifications of the the personal intervention of Supreme Court Katzenbach, then attorney general, and by
individual, but upon the effect his selec- Justice Abe Fortas blocked him from being Ramsey Clark, who then was deputy attorney
lion would have on the outcome of the nominated as U.S. Attorney for the District general. Greenhalgh served as an assistant
of Columbia in 1965. U.S. attorney in Washington from 1958 to
charges then pending against Mr. Robert Greenhalgh said Fortas, who had just been 1963.
Baker. named to the High Court, went to President
The additional fact that prior to their Johnson in August, 1965, and "persuaded
Government service both Mr. Fortas and him that I was too close to. (Robert) Ken- RETIREMENT OF JAMES E. WEBB AS
ADMTINTSTR.ATOR, OF NASA
b Baker
case
use
dent USl atb e ~
-Mr. STENN
Mr. Baker and his companies cannot be dent ___a,__ in the rrDistrict Courthouse,
was
overlooked and only emphasizes the im-
portance of clarifying the record.
Mr. President, I am not in a position
to pass any opinion as to the validity of
these accusations; however, I do say that
in view of the serious nature of the im=
plications involved they cannot be ig-
nored, and a mere denial issued by "an
unidentified spokesman" for Justice For-
tas is not enough.
The implications behind Mr. Green-
halgh's allegations as appearing in the
Washington Post of October 5 are that
the executive branch, after conferring
with a member of the Supreme Court,
acted on an appointment in the judicial
system with the thought of how it would
influence The outcome of a potential court
case against Mr. Robert Baker. Nor can
we ignore the fact that both Mr. Fortas
and Mr. Bress were attorneys for Mr.
Baker prior to their Government service.
What makes these allegations espe-
cially pertinent at this time is that Mr.
David G. Bress has recently been nomi-
nated by the President as a Federal judge
in the District of Columbia, and the ques-
tion of his confirmation is now pending
before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
In fairness to our judicial system and in
fairness to the President, Justice Fortas,
and Mr. Bress the serious implications
behind the charge of Mr. Greenhalgh
cannot be ignored.
Therefore I am today forwarding to
the chairman of the Senate Judiciary
Committee a request that prior to any
further consideration or action on the last year, zoia nim a rew u'on
nomination of Mr. Bress as a Federal death in January that "if Nixon were nomi- knowing that his efforts have been re-
Greenhalgh and those others nated for President he would switch parties." warded by our outstanding space suc-
jwhoudge, were Mr. mentioned in this article be Greenhalgh said Scull hoped to rub for cesses to date and that at the present
County executive in 1970 if the voter ap- time our Nation has the tools to con
asked to.testify before the committee as proved a charter revision that is on; the tinue to be preeminent in space.
IS. Mr. President, yester-
of the Legal Intern Program at Geor town as Administrator of the National Aero-
University Law School, served as an , ssistant nautics and Space Administration after
U.S. attorney in Washington frin 1958 to serving for almost 8 years in that capac-
ity. As well as Jim Webb has earned a
TWO RECOMMENDATjONS respite from his arduous duties and awe-
He said he was recommej ded to Johnson some responsibilities during this period,
for the U.S. attorney's port in August, 1965,
by Nicholas deB Katzench, then attorney I personally regret very much to see him
general, and by Ramsey lark, who then was leave.
deputy attorney genera ? I have always advocated the necessity
Greenhalgh said he ad been a friend of for a strong and viable research and de-
Robert Kennedy sinc? 1950 when the two velopment program for this Nation. For
met as students at th4 University of Virginia the past 71/2 years we have had in Jim
Law School. i th Webb a man of outstanding personal
dh
t
President name his
David Bress as U.S.
Baker's lawyer. i I supported Mr. Webb's nomination in
Just before Bress wag named, Greenhalgh February 1961, and at that time stated
B
said that Johnson told Sen. Daniel
. I felt he was the kind of man that our
Brewster (D-Md.), "I need a man that I can
trust." Government needed to asume the enor-
TALK IN BEThESDA mous responsibilities that touched so
Greenhalgh, a Democrat, made his accusa- much in the present as well as the future
tion in a speech to the Montgomery County of our Nation. Mr. President, I have never
Press Association in Bethesda. Fortas, who considered myself a prophet, but reflect-
asked the President to withd aw his nomina- Ing back on that statement I do not
tion as Chief Justice on Wednesday, could believe I have ever spoken truer words.
not be reached for comment. ; No One who has followed closely the tre-
Johnson said Fortas's ,.approach to
Johnson on his appointment as an exam- mendous progress of our Nation's civilian
ple of the Justice's "interjecting 1aimself into space efforts can fail to recognize the
legislative and executive matter4 . and handiwork of Jim Webb. Toiling tire-
lends some credence to the apprell