Office of the Historian

Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers, Whitman File

Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting, Held at the White House, 10 a.m., January 29, 19541

confidential
Washington, January 29, 1954, 10 a.m.
  • The following were present:
    • President Eisenhower
    • Vice President Nixon
    • Under Sec. of State W. B. Smith (for Sec. Dulles)
    • Sec. of Treasury Humphrey, and
    • Under Sec. Folsom
    • Sec. of Defense Wilson
    • Attorney General Brownell
    • Postmaster General
    • Summerfield
    • Deputy PMG Charles R.
    • Hook, Jr.
    • Asst. PMG for Personnel
    • Eugene Lyons
    • Sec. of Interior McKay
    • Sec. of Agriculture Benson
    • Sec. of Commerce Weeks
    • Under Sec. of HEW Nelson
    • Rockefeller (for Sec. Hobby)
    • Deputy Director of Budget
    • Rowland R. Hughes (for Mr. Dodge)
    • Mr. Flemming
    • Gov. Stassen
    • Chairman Young
    • Amb. Lodge
    • Gov. Adams
    • Gen. Persons
    • Mr. Shanley
    • Mr. Rabb
    • Messrs. Morgan, Martin and Hauge (at intervals)
    • (Sec. of Labor Mitchell absent and not represented.)
[Page 1843]

Bricker Amendment—The President commented briefly on the continuing discussions concerning the Bricker Amendment and emphasized the need for taking positive action which would simultaneously protect the President’s rights, authority, and responsibility in the conduct of foreign affairs and also relieve the legitimate fears of those agitating for the amendment. He stated his belief that the Bricker Amendment could be defeated but that the important thing was to act in such a way that so spurious an issue would not become an issue again in the next election. He emphasized the great effort of the Administration to be decent and reasonable without surrendering one iota on essentials.

Secretary Wilson voiced his agreement with the basic beliefs of most people concerned with the amendment to the effect that treaties should not be allowed to take away fundamental rights and that agreements such as those at Yalta and Potsdam should be prevented in the future by law if possible to do so.

The President commented that the Bricker Amendment per se would not guarantee either of those.

[Here follows a lengthy discussion of pay increases for federal government employees.]

  1. Prepared by Minnich.↩