White House Press Release, Correspondence Between President Harry S. Truman and Major General Graves B. Erskine

118 # 1069 IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 27, 1947 The President today sent the following letter to Major General G. B. Erskine, U.S.M.C., accepting his resignation as Administrator of the Retraining and Reemployment Administration, Department of Labor: "Dear General Erskine: nottaejet It is with regret that I learn of your decision to resign as Administrator of the Retraining and Reemployment Administration on April 12, 1947. You have met the difficult responsibilities of your post with a singleness of purpose and a devotion to the interests of our returning veterans which will command the grateful appreciation of the American people. No task was ever more important than that of assist- ing our veterans to resume civilian life and the Retraining and Reemployment Administration, under your direction, has played a signigicant part in the combined efforts of the Federal Government, the S tates, and the Local communities toward this end. NARA The Retraining and Reemployment Administration is an emergency agency, established to coordinate the activities of other agencies during the reconversion period. Now that this period is drawing to a close it is appropriate, as you suggest, that the functions for which you have been responsible be assumed by the permanent agencies of the Government. Under these circunstances, I fully appreciate the considerations which impel you to resign as Retraining and Reemployment Administrator and to return to active duty with the Marine Corps. I am, therefore, accepting your resignation, effective as of the date you suggest. As you return to take up your duties in the Marine Corps I wish you every success. Very sincerely yours, HARRY S. TRUMAN" Following is the text of General Erskine's letter to the President: "March 20, 1947 Dear Mr. President: At your direction I assumed the office of Administrator of the Retraining and Reemployment Administration on October 26, 1945. My appointment was confirmed by the Senate on March 7, 1946. Although the legislative authority of the Retraining and Reemployment Administration does not expire until June 30, 1947, various budget restrictions for personal services for the current fiscal year require that my staff be reduced to a skeleton force by March 31, 1947. The personnel available after that date will be sufficient only to effect the transfer of certain projects which have been undertaken by this Administration and to execute an orderly liquidation of the agency. I have submitted to the Secretary of Labor a report on the projects initiated by the Retraining and Reemployment Adminis- tration which have not been completed and have made recommendations as to which Government agencies they may be transferred. While I realize that the agencies to which these projects may be trans- ferred lack the legislative coordinating authority vested in the Retraining and Reemployment Administration, it is my belief that much can be accomplished on a cooperative basis through inter- departmental committees. It is my understanding that the Secretary of Labor has accepted my recommendations and steps are now being taken, in collaboration with the Bureau of the Budget, to execute the transfer of these projects. (OVER)