CAPITAL S.O.S. CLUB 15 FRESHMEN GOP SOLONS UNITE TO HELP EACH OTHER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70-00058R000100100021-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 12, 2000
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: July 11, 1954
• Content Type: NSPR

INDIAfQi 889df~11 SReIease 20066/6-3"': k-RDP70-00058R000100100021-6
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Date: U :t j%
15 Freshmen GOP Solons
C PYRC~HT
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By KENNETH O. GILMORE
Times Sineeial Writer
The "S.O.S. Club" is perhaps
the least known, yet the mos
exclusive of Washington's
Many political organizations.
Only 15 belong to it. All. are
Republican members of the
House of Representatives, 4
years old or ? younger, and
serving their first term in
Congress.
The ' Morse code initials'
SOS stand as a symbol. of
the club's purpose, Members.
are supposed to come to
each other's aid and assist-
ance. Soma of the Congress-
men's secretaries, however,
jokingly refer to S.O.S.as
Society of Statesmen. " ,
The group formed back in
April, 1953, when several
freshmen GOP House mem-
bers decided it would be a
good idea to combine and givs
one another a helping hand.
LEFT ENTIRELY alone,
many a newly-elected Con-
gressman becomes ..lost and
confused in. Washington's
maze of political . finagling,
seniority rights, parliamentary
procedure and never-ending
corridors.
Twice a week these Young
Republicans assemble to swap
mutual problems, discuss legis-
lation and generally keep
abreast of political and gov-
ernmental activities. One o
the sessions takes place ove
breakfast and prominent fig
ores are invited to talk in-
formally to the club,
Many cabinet m e m b e r
have thus chatted to-the group
at these early morning gath-
erings, including Secretary o
State Dulles, Secretary of De-
fense Wilson, Secretary o
Agriculture Benson and Sec-
retary of the Treasury Hum-
phrey.
When Allen Dulles, directo
of the Centreelligenc
Agency, was in ed to joi
the club for breakfast at the
Capitol he pulled a surprisin
switch. Everyone was 4 ske
to come over to the myster
'S.O.S.' CLUB BREAKFASTS WITH IKE-On White House steps after scrambled eggs and
bacon are (left to right) Representatives Rhodes, Hosmer, Stringfellow, Young, Merrill, Freling-
huysen, Holt, President Eisenhower, Hillelson, Cederberg, Warburton, Bolton and Wilson. White
House Adviser Sherman Adams' head shows just above Frelinghuysen; two other aides are at top
L-cWmGHT
shroaded e. f. ft fur "at
wanted to brief the club with
all the maps and charts avail-
able at his agency.
Just recently the "S. O. S.
Club" went to the White House
,at the crack of dawn to have
scrambled eggs and bacon
with the President. The Ad-
ministration is well aware of
the importance of this small
segment of Republican Repre-
sentatives.
In certain circles they are
known as "Ike's Ramrods,"
for on the whole they have
strongly backed the Presi-
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 the
"S.O.S. Club":
JOHN J. RHODES, Arizona;
Joe Holt, Craig Hosmer and
Bob Wilson, California; Her-
bert B. Warburton, Delaware;
D. Bailey Merrill, Indiana;
Peter Frelinghuysen Jr., New
Jersey; Jeffrey P. Hillelson,
Missouri; Stuyvesant Wain-.
right, New York;
Cederberg and Alvin M. Bent-
ley, Michigan; Oliver P. Bol-
ton, Ohio; Douglas R. String-
fellow, Utah, and Melvin R.
Laird, Wisconsin.
The entire S.O.S. roster will
be on the ballot in the com-
ing November elections. This
makes the future of the club
extremely uncertain, but its
objectives have already been
fulfilled. For by helping each
other these Congressmen have
been able to +- t:kle their
far more under-
standing and confidence.
Approved For Release 2000/08/03 : CIA-RDP70-00058R000100100021-6