PASTORE PROMISES A FIGHT IN CONGRESS TO OBTAIN A DEFENSE SYSTEM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70B00338R000300100058-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 12, 2006
• Sequence Number: 58
• Publication Date: September 10, 1967
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 2006/01/30 : CIA-RDP70B00338R000300100058-1
Pastore Promises a Fight
in Congress to Obtain
a Defense System
in the perfect weather of
late summer in New England,
the ancient and stirring cere-
mony of ship launchings was
repeated today. Mrs. Glynn R.
Donaho, wife of Vice Admiral
they are deploying one and
probably two antiballistic
By EVERT CLARK
SO cial to The New York Mmes
- GROTON, Conn., Sept. 9-
t Senator John 0. Pastore served
- notice on the Administration
today that his powerful Joint
Atomic Energy Committee
would fight for an antiballistic
missile system.
Mr. Pastore said that the
committee would pursue the is-
sue "with the sante vigor" it
displayed in successful fights
for development of the hydro-
gen bomb and the nuclear sub-
marine. The Rhode' Island
Democrat is the committee
chairman.
Clearly rating the potential
threats of the Soviet Union and
Communist China higher than
the Administration has in its
public statements, Mr. Pastore
said it was time "to give seri-
ous and urgent thought to
a reappraisal of our defense
posture."
Mr. Pas, ore is not considered
a mlltaa matters and
get1 l~oesaon w Ad-
ministral ositions on de-
fense matters.
But he said today that "we
should move full speed ahea&
on building an antiballistic mis-
sile system." He added that the'
committee's military applica-
tions subcommittee would hold
hearings soon on the question.
Senator Henry M. Jackson,
Washington Democrat, heads
the subcommittee.
Nuclear Sub Launched
Mr. Pastore spoke at the
launching of the nuclear-pow-
ered attack submarine Narwhal,
(SSN-671) at the General Dy-'
namics Corporation's Electric
Boat Division here. The 4,700-~
ton vessel is named for a'
whale-like Arctic mammal.
One hundred nuclear subma-I
rines have been built since they
ifirst, the Nautilus (SSN-571),!
was completed here 13 yearsi
ago.
Donaho, retired, wished thel ing," he said.
submarine's skipper "the fond
memory of a good ship." The Old Concern of Panel
commanding officer is Comdr. The committee has long been
Willis A. Matson 2d. -more concerned about the in-
Mr. Pastore was introduced crease in the Soviet's offensive
by Vice Adm. Hyman G. Rick- mower than the Administration!
over, who has directed the de
velopment of nuclear subma- 1 has indicated it is.
rines for the Navy and the Mr. Pastore also warned of
Atomic Energy Commission. l.he possibility that the breach
Admiral Rickover called the between the Soviet Union and,
Senator a man "dedicated to ',hina "could he healed and
peace but aware of the "awe- hereby greatly affect the bal-I
some responsibilities our na- znce of nuclear power in the!
tion bears in defense of free- 1 world."
Idom throughout the world." The United States has "no of-
Cost Called Too High ective antiballistic missile sys-
The Administration has o ,em" despite a defense budget
p- -f more than $70-billion, Mr.
posed full-scale deployment of Pastore said.
antiballistic missiles to protect, Although the cost of such a~
both military targets and cities- 1 system would be "staggering,"
would cost too much, escalate
the arms race and be ineffec-
tive.
Instead it has been seeking
,
agreement with the Soviet! added.
Union not to deploy antiballis-~ This remark left no doubt!
tic missiles. But it has also set that Mr. Pastore was talking
aside funds to begin buildings of a full-scale system. The Ad-
a limited "screen" of missiles ministration has estimated the
if these talks fail. This system cost of a limited defense at
would protect for some time $4-billion to $5-billion and the
against any Chinese attack and cost of a full-scale system at,
to some degree against acci- something above $20-billion.
dental attacks. Calling Polaris submarines
The joint committee, after "our first line of defense" and
tral Intelligence Agency and
the Defense Department,
warned recently that China
might have intercontinental bal-
listic missiles as early as 1970
missile systems to defend their
country-which we are not do-
ing-I repeat-we are not do-
a nation that can spend $24-!
billion a year in Vietnam "can
certainly spend as much to in-1
sure the life and security of'~
" he i
our American society
"our most formidable deterrent
to an all-out war," the Senator,
said they would not have been'
possible without "the persist-
ent and aggressive support" oft
the committee and Vice Adm.
or i,ii. Hyman G. Rickover, who hash
Today Mr. Pastore said that headed nuclear submarine de-:
'
China
s rise to a thermonuclear
power in less than three years
was "a dramatic and upsetting
event.
"Add to this new threat the
fact that the Soviet union's
offensive striking power is in-
creasing in comparison to our
own-while at the same time
velopment for the Navy and
the Atomic Energy Commis-~
sion. The Admiral was present
at the launching today.
Mr. Pastore then said that
serious consideration must he
given to expanding the Polaris
program-now at the end of its
authorization-and to replac-
ing some 60 conventionally-
powered subs with nuclear-
powered ones.
Approved For Release 2006/01/30 : CIA-RDP70B00338R000300100058-1