Letter from Secretary of State Dean Acheson to President Harry S. Truman

103 March 25, 1952 SONFIDENTIAL THEMIN Dear Mr. President: ARCHIVES 4. AND s Since my return from Lisbon, I have become very conscious of the serious handicaps which the Point IV Program is under- going through lack of an administrator. After Dr. Bennett's death, Jim Webb undertook the task of trying to get a joint recommendation to lay before you for your consideration. However, the press of duties and his ill health did not enable him to complete this. So.I have been studying the matter here and conferring with Eric Johnston, who, as you know, is the Chairman of the Advisory Committee set up by statute in connection with the Point IV Program. I feel sure that unless action is taken quite soon, the program will suffer both in the Congress and in its actual administration. Charlie Brannan has lent us the services of Stanley Andrews, who has been a great help but this does not take the place of a vigorous leader and although Jack Bingham has done everything that one could ask, he is not in a position to give the strong lead which is needed. We have made a re-survey of the field and some of the men who had been considered earlier have had to be dropped for one reasonor another. It has seemed to Mr. Johnston and me that the most promising possibility is Dr. John A. Hannah, the President of Michigan State College. Irappend some bio- chical information. I had been concerned that this appoint- ment might not be agreeable to Charlie Brannan so I asked Eric Johnston to have a long talk with him today. This he has done and reports to me that Charlie has no objection to Dr. Hannah, and that he has a high regard for his knowledge in this field and his administrative drive and leadership. He believes, I am told, that he can work well with him. The President, DECLASSIFIED The White House. E: O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) or (T) D.pt. of State letter, 15-62-21 By NLT. CONFIDENTIAL be , NARS Date 7-15-76