Diary Entry

Peter The MONDAY, MAY 17, 1954 (Cont'd) 0 that he would hate to see the subpoena power of Congress challenged or he would hate to see the Administration ignore the subpoena power. The President reported that he had not mentioned subpoena in his letter but pointed out also "let me make one thing clear - Those people who have a position here in this government because of me, those people who are my confidential advisers are not going to be subpoenaed. Governor Adams official job is really a part of me and he's not going up on the Hill" - "I've gone to utmost lengths to be cooperative with Congress. I have declined to get into this mess even when I have been needled by the press, but this is one thing I will fight with all my power - I will not have my men subpoenaed. It Halleck and Ferguson said that they believed that Congress would have to do something about investigations and that there was a limit to what Congressional committees could ask witnesses - Len Hall urged everyone in the room to support the President's position on this matter - Knowland at his press conference following the meeting said the President had discussed the letter with the leadérs and that everyone in the room had agreed that the President was perfectly within his rights in ordering Administration personnel to refuse to discuss confidential and advisory matters of the administrative side of the government.