Truman Bush

[Dan Scanlan <dscanlan@xxxxxxx>]

On this date in 1951, President Harry S. Truman - faced with a
perceived dire threat from International Communism, and the
increasingly powerful SOVIET UNION - took decisive action.
He was under incredible internal political pressure. Congress was
filled with reactionaries, and worse. People like Taft and Gore and
Eastland and Joe McCarthy and George McCarran, whose draconian
McCarran Act (the so-called Internal Security Act)  had been passed
earlier. The USSR had demonstrated clear nuclear capability. China
had fallen to Mao, and was threatening military expansion. The Iron
Curtain had closed in Europe.

So what did Harry do ?

He created a Federal Commission to protect Internal Security and - of
EQUAL IMPORTANCE-
to MONITOR the ANTI-Communist apparatus ,so as to strenuously and
simultaneously  protect the sacred fundamental rights of individuals.

He did not kowtow to the mob, he did not tear the bill of rights into
small bits, he did not panic
and above all ,   he did not use the "clear and present danger" of
International Communism to grab the government, abrogate the
constitution, fill the people with such fear that they would allow
him anything to make them feel safe in their homes.

This was a man with many faults, and often poor judgement.But this
was a President who actually worked FOR the people, respected them
and their rights, and operated from a deep inner sense of what was
Right and what was Wrong.What was right and what was wrong, not what
was possible to get away with, or make money for your pals with, or
obscure the truth with - in stark and profound contrast to our
current Resident.

----------
"...I consider the task of this Commission to be of extraordinary
importance. The world is in the midst of a struggle between freedom
and tyranny. The United States is one of the leaders of the free
world not just because we are powerful in material things, but
because we have preserved and expanded the freedom of our people. We
have built our society in the faith and in the practice of
freedom--freedom of worship, freedom of speech, freedom of
association and political belief..."


Harry S Truman: President-
Statement Upon Issuing Order Establishing the President's Commission
on Internal Security and Individual Rights
January 23, 1951

Complete text of this proclamation at:
http://www.rhinosblog.info         http://radio.weblogs.com/0103207/


I HAVE today established a Commission on Internal Security and
Individual Rights. The Commission will be composed of nine members.
Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz will serve as Chairman.

The Commission will consider in all its aspects the question of how
this Nation can best deal with the problem of protecting its internal
security and at the same time maintaining the freedoms of its
citizens. It will consider the harm that comes from the wrong kind of
action as well as the good that comes from the right kind of action.

The Commission will make a thorough examination of the laws,
practices, and procedures concerning the protection of our Nation
against treason, espionage, sabotage, and other subversive
activities, and of the operation of and any need for changes in such
laws, practices, and procedures. The Commission will also consider
the methods used by public or private groups for the purpose of
protecting us against such activities. It will consider these matters
from the standpoint of protecting both the internal security of our
country and the rights of individuals, and will seek the wisest
balance that can be struck between security and freedom. The
Commission will report its conclusions and recommendations for
legislative, administrative, or other action it deems appropriate.

I consider the task of this Commission to be of extraordinary
importance. The world is in the midst of a struggle between freedom
and tyranny. The United States is one of the leaders of the free
world not just because we are powerful in material things, but
because we have preserved and expanded the freedom of our people. We
have built our society in the faith and in the practice of
freedom--freedom of worship, freedom of speech, freedom of
association and political belief.

We in this country have always been ready to protect our freedom--to
protect it against external or internal enemies and to protect it
against unwarranted restrictions by government. From time to time in
our history, we have faced the need to protect our freedom from these
different kinds of encroachment. Each of these occasions has
presented our Nation with new and often conflicting considerations.
To reconcile these considerations, and to find the proper national
policy, is always difficult, and is especially so at times, like the
present, when our freedom is severely threatened abroad and at home.

Today, we are particularly concerned by the threat to our Government
and our national life arising from the activities of the forces of
Communist imperialism. In addition to the vigorous action we are
taking abroad to meet this threat, we must be sure that our laws and
procedures at home are adequate to protect our system of government
against unconstitutional attacks and to preserve our national
security against treason, espionage, sabotage, and other subversive
acts designed to weaken or overthrow our Government. At the same
time, we are concerned lest the measures taken to protect us from
these dangers infringe the liberties guaranteed by our Constitution
and stifle the atmosphere of freedom in which we have so long
expressed our thoughts and carried on our daily affairs.

These are problems of momentous importance for our country and its
future, and for the future of our leadership in the world. They
should be approached in a serious and fair-minded way by all our
citizens. We must not let our differences about how to solve these
problems degenerate into partisan controversies. We must continue to
protect our security within the framework of our historic liberties,
without thought of partisan advantage or political gain.

To keep these great problems from falling into the arena of
partisanship, I am appointing this Commission of distinguished
citizens on a nonpartisan basis. I believe the people of this country
will receive from them an authoritative judgment on these problems,
based on the facts and formulated in the national interest, with no
question of political advantage.

The Commission will undoubtedly wish to focus its primary attention
on Federal laws and procedures. But I do not believe the Commission
should limit itself to reviewing Government actions. Instead, I hope
it will consider afresh, in all its present-day ramifications, the
recurrent question of how a free people protect their society from
subversive attack without at the same time destroying their own
liberties.

This question is, of course, far broader than the activities of the
Federal Government. It concerns State and local governments as well,
private groups of all kinds, and citizens in their daily work and in
their homes. I hope that the report of this Commission will provide
guidelines of sufficiently wide application to be helpful in
protecting both internal security and individual rights in every part
of our national life.

The field of study for this Commission is very complex and
far-reaching. Much study will be necessary before a report can be
drafted. I am giving instructions that the Commission shall have
complete freedom to conduct its study as it sees fit. I am asking the
Commission to make such interim reports as it may deem desirable, and
I hope the Commission will find it possible to complete its work in a
year.

One of the important matters for the Commission to consider is the
operation of the Government employee loyalty and security programs. I
wish to make it clear, however, that this Commission is not being
established as an appeals tribunal for individual cases. The
Commission will be expected to report on the effectiveness and
fairness of the Government's loyalty and security programs. In doing
this, the Commission may wish to inspect individual case flies--and
it will be authorized to do so to whatever extent it may determine to
be necessary.

In connection with loyalty and security procedures, and also in
considering the operation of such statutes as the Internal Security
Act of 1950, the Commission will necessarily be reviewing information
of very high security classifications. I am directing the Commission
therefore, to take appropriate measures to safeguard the security of
any classified or confidential information it may wish to examine.

I intend to do everything I can to enable this Commission to make a
thorough and careful study.

We in the United States have a special responsibility for leadership
in these critical times, when free men the world over are strongly
resisting the challenge of the Communist drive for world domination.
We must guard our freedom well--guard it from armed assault, guard it
from subversive infiltration, guard it from internal suppression and
the deadly imposition of conformity. For the kind of freedom we have
enjoyed in this country has been the shining goal for millions in
other lands--and the results of freedom in this country have been the
shattering reply to the false claims of Communist imperialism.

If we are to continue growing in strength here at home--if we are to
continue leading the world toward peace with freedom and justice--we
must both protect the security of our Nation and safeguard the
freedom of our people.

I know the Commission on Internal Security and Individual Rights will
undertake its work in full recognition of the immense importance and
worldwide significance of its task.

NOTE: The Commission was established by Executive Order 10207,
"Establishing the President's Commission on Internal Security and
Individual Rights" (3 CFR, 1949-1953 Comp., p. 389).
            See also Items 22 [2], 35, 104,  278.
Deborah Cohen

U.S.cell phone : (530) 263 0181

"WHEN WILL OUR CONSCIENCES GROW SO TENDER THAT WE WILL ACT TO PREVENT
HUMAN MISERY RATHER THAN AVENGE IT?" - Eleanor Roosevelt