WHITE HOUSE SHAKEUP UNDERMINES U.S. DEFENSE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-00498R000100010089-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 19, 2007
• Sequence Number: 89
• Publication Date: November 15, 1975
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2007/06/19: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100010089-6
HUi.IAN E . ~;;'1TS
15 November 1975
i'le House. ;
tJndermin
The big shakeup at the White House,
undoubtedly pushed as a shrewd political
move for 1976 by Administration strate-
gists, has backfired. The fallout so far.
Republican conservatives, a major object
of the move, generally have not been ap-
peased by the Rockefeller dropout,
which, oddly enough, has almost seemed
a minor tremor in last week's series of
quakes and upheavals; the country seems
confused by chaotic conditions caused by lfff
Ford's game of musical chairs; and the
President's image as "candid"=-one of
his most engaging qualities so far as the
public is concerned--has been badly
tarnished. - - !
Far more, important to the nation,
'however, is the view of nadcnai security
officials both here and abroad that the
(sacking of James Schlesinger, perhaps
the most respected de__nse secretary
since James Forrestal, a grievous blow
to the U.S. 'military establishment arid
S
Those who have feared Secretary of
State Henry Kissinger's accumulation of
power within the Ford Administration.`
moreover, have hardly been impressed
by Kissinger's relinquishing control as
director of the National Security Coun-
cil. The obvious reason: that post will be
taken over by Kissinger's own deputy,
Lt. Gen. Brent Scowcroft, frequently
referred to as the secretary of state's
-"alter ego."
From the outset, the White House's
grand plan seemed fated to boomerang.
Its overall merits aside, the entire ma-
neuver was poorly executed, a point now i
conceded by the President's own aides.
As insiders tell it, the two most polit-
ically sensitive issues concerned Rocke-
'feller and Schlesinger. The White House
intended to have the Rockefeller
letter telling of his decision not to.
run in 1976 reach the press on Monday.,
November 3. The conservative wing of
the GOP, supposedly, would be so de
liriously happy it would hardly blink at!...
the - announcement of the Schlesinger'
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.-1
Ford's decision to replace a man
of Schlesinger's stature ells Donald
Rutnsfeld, a political animal held in
srrall regard by both military and
eiyilian officials who of r'ed Rums-
feld in action - as ambassador to.
NATO, has only fueled the concern
off those who fear that Secretary of
State Henry Kissinger can- now pur-
sue his detente policies unchecked.
defense secretary. whom they have long
since come to admire. While the series of
firings and changes was supposed to
make the President appear like a elan w
firm control of the White House, a great
'
s
many people, perhaps a majority, saw
only confusion riming at 1600 Pennsy'l- I
vania Avenue.
The Ford press conference on Men-
day night dki not smooth things-over
for the Administration, and in sonic
people's otdnion, made matters
.worse. The President, to coin a
-phrase, "storalled" the media.
Repeatedly caked what caused the
massive shakeup in the national security
area, the Preside. t repeatedly insisted. i
that it stemmed only from his desire toy '
brine in his "own team." He firmly and
frequently stated or implied that netttter
policy nor personal differences were in- e
volved in his actions.
.
But the "own team" explanation did
not wash down easily, since none of the
persons Ford has now selected to run his
defense and foreign policy show are Ford
people. Each is a Nixon retread. Runm