Memorandum from Clark Clifford to Sam Rosenman

12-19-45 20 pin n 3 the THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON A ARCHIVES AMD "NATIONAL RECORDS December 18, 1945 MEMORANDUM FOR: Judge Rosenman Herewith are comments on Second Draft of Unification Message. I recognize the validity of your statement that the details of Unification should be threshed out later, but I strongly believe that there should be a clear definition of thesduties and interrelation- ships of the top people in the proposed Department of National Defense. One of the strongest arguments against Unification is that plans for it are "fuzzy" and "vague" and therefore dangerous, because in assent- ing to Unification, we would be venturing into the unknown. These criticisms would be applicable to portions of this draft concerning the Chief of Staff of the Department of National Defense. At best, such a figure will be a position of controversy but much of it could be avoided if we define his duties, responsibili- ties, and authority. What, for example, is the relationship of the Chief of Staff to the Secretary for National Defense? Is he subordinate to him, or an equal of his? What is the relationship of the Chief of Staff for National Defense to the Chiefs of Staff of the three component branches of the single department? Is he their commanding officer? Is he directly above them in the chain of command? To whom do the Chiefs of Staff of the three branches report? To the Secretary of the Depart- ment or to the Chief of Staff for National Defense? These are questions of great importance and answers to them will determine whether we continue to have overall civilian responsi- bility for the armed forces or whether we will be setting up a single military man whose power will be so great that he can overrule a Secretary of a single department on any controversial issue. There have been many occasions in the past where a strong military commander of either the Army or the Navy has overridden the views of the civilian Secretary of the War or Navy Departments. As our defense problems become more complex, and as we merge the War and Navy Departments, it will be increasingly likely that a strong Chief of Staff representing all branches of the armed forces could override the civilian Secret- aries' views on future controversies. - -