Page Memorandum to: Arnett, Alvin J., Acting Director, Office of Economic Opportunity from Arnett, Alvin J., Director-Designate, OEO, from Alan Freeman, Dep- EOE Employees, from Alvin J. Arnett, Director-Designate, June 30, 1973 Questions and Answers: Questions submitted by Senator Alan Cranston to Alvin J. Arnett, with response_. 172 Questions submitted by Senator Edward M. Kennedy to Alvin J. 136 Questions submitted from Senator Harrison A. Williams to Alvin J. 127 Resolution: Resolution No. 304 by the Appalachian Regional Commission, 13 APPENDIX Report of Comptroller General relating to activities of the California State 191 NOMINATION FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1973 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE, Washington, D.C. The committee, pursuant to notice, at 10:05 a.m. in room 4232, Dirksen Office Building, Senator Harrison A. Williams, Jr. (chairman) presiding. Present: Senators Williams, Kennedy, Mondale, Cranston, Hathaway, Schweiker, Taft, and Beall. The CHAIRMAN. This is a full Labor and Public Welfare Committee hearing considering the nomination of Mr. Arnett to be Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity. Before we begin, I think that because of recent history it would be appropriate to start with a statement from the chairman. Nearly 200 years ago, the framers of our Constitution recognized the importance of a government whose power was not concentrated in the hands of one man-but rather one where power would be divided between an elected Congress, an appointed judiciary, and an executive branch whose duty it would be to implement the laws made by the legislative representatives of the people. Article II of the Constitution clearly states that all Presidential appointments shall be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, unless the Congress provides otherwise. In creating the top positions of the Office of Economic Opportunity, the Congress explicitly provided that the Agency's Director, Deputy Director, and Assistant Directors would be subject to such advice and consent. This committee meets today as a result of an unusual juxtaposition of events involving all three branches of Government. In January of this year, the President appointed an individual to be the Director of OEO without sending that person's name to the Senate for confirmation. Shortly thereafter, despite the clear abuse of constitutional process and lack of regard for statutory intent, this appointee set out to accomplish his declared goal of dismantling the Agency and gutting its programs-programs specifically designed by the Congress to help the poor and disadvantaged of this country. As if these blatant illegalities alone would have not been enough to trigger extraordinary action, it was in fact the results-the disruption brought to hundreds of worthwhile programs and to thousands of innocent lives, which prompted me to seek redress through the judicial arm of Government. Joined by three of my committee colleagues, Senators Pell, Mondale, and Hathaway, legal proceedings were initiated in the U.S. district court to stop the dismantling and to remove the "Acting Director" from office. The subsequent events, of course, are well known-the "Acting Director" was ousted, OEO as an agency survived the fiscal year, impounded funds were released, and once again the poor and disadvantaged of this country were given hope. So today, this committee sets out to do something it was prevented from doing 6 months ago. Mindful of the important issues at stake, and of its responsibility to safeguard the interests and needs of those who look to it as their voice in government, the committee will now be considering the nomination of Mr. Alvin J. Arnett to be the Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity. Our first witness will be Mr. Arnett, after which we are scheduled to hear from representatives of the National Association of Community Action Executive Directors, and the National Organization for Women. Since February of this year, Mr. Arnett has been functioning in the capacity of Acting Deputy Director of OEO. Prior to that time, he served as Executive Director of the Appalachian Regional Commission, and as executive assistant to Senator Beall-a very important member of our committee. A copy of Mr. Arnett's biographical statement and a description of the duties of the office will be included at this point in our record. [The information referred to follows:] Executive Officer (Ensign) - U.S. Coast Guard Cutter EDUCATION University of Maryland Graduate School all continuing Ph.D. Level Work in Public Administration (1964 to present Villanova University Graduate School - (1961-1964) Masters Level Work Florida Southern College - Lakeland, Florida (1956-1957) B.S. in Political Science and English-Journalism Honors: Pi Gamma Mu, Social Science Honor Society Honor Society Marshall College - Huntington, West Virginia (1953-1956) Activities: Freshman Class President Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity Student Senate President, Interfraternity Council Honors: Omicron Delta Kappa, Men's Leadership Honor Society Pi Kappa Delta, Forensic Honor Society Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and |