Eisenhower Library, James C. Hagerty papers
Hagerty Diary, February 1, 1954
[Extracts]
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Legislative Leaders Meeting1—all leaders, plus Postmaster,AG, and Treasury as well as Civil Service. 4 subjects debate: (1) atomic energy for peacetime uses (2) postal salaries (3) Commodity Credit Corp., and (4) ever-present Bricker Amendment …on (4) Bricker Amendment—Knowland reported no progress since last meeting—conferences with Bricker and Dems, L. Johnson, Russell and George—said finally came to tentative agreement—#3 of agreement holds [?] “no international agreement other than treaty shall become law except by legislation”—Brownell opposed #3 as did Pres., said it would curtail Pres. power to recognize country and obligations that go with recognition—Sen. Ferguson gave argument of “personal rights of Amer. citizens”—Knowland expressed opinion that we could publicly lick “which” clause, but would “lose out” [Page 1844] on trying to support right for Pres. to handle alone executive agreements—Pres. said “basic authority of Pres. cannot be changed”—Brownell, and Pres. agreed, proposed Knowland go back and pass Sections #1, 2 & 4 with Bricker and Dems—leaving #3 for further study.
I personally feel this mistake—we’ve won Bricker Amendment fight on “49-or-1 gov” issue—now isolationists and weak-kneed GOP leaders, trying to avoid fight, raising another one on executive agreements—much harder to win this one—“Yalta” etc.—no guts, our guys. …
In with Pres. 445–515—Discussing B.A.—while there Knowland called. Pres. asked him to bring Ferguson and Millikin down with him. Brownell joined meeting—all arrived at 515—Prior [?], Sen. George and Bricker turned down Brownell suggestion that amendment be passed without executive agreement section in substitute. George said “will not support amendment unless it has that section in it”—Bricker said so also adding “I have always felt the W.H. would never agree to anything of substance.[”]
In discussion with Pres. we agreed that leaders could have defeated B.A. if they had not stalled so long over compromise— “weak, awful weak,” Pres. said. Also said “I’m through with Bricker in any case.”
He told me that he had agreed with leaders that it was necessary to get legislative interest [?] clearly stated if #3 goes through. Said they wanted to ask him to write a letter saying he was going along with understanding that #3 didn’t take away any of his powers as Comm-in-chief; as conductor of foreign affairs—I suggested that Knowland and George should write him such a letter and that he then say okay.—Pres. thought that idea had merit and said he would talk over with Brownell and then propose it if Brownell agreed.
He seemed fully aware that many members of Congress would like to limit Pres. powers, but added “as far as I know this is the first time anyone has tried to do it by amending the Constitution”—pointed out that Spanish bases would have been impossible to obtain under Congress sanction—had to be done by executive action.—“only way to get it done was that way ‘for good of country[’]”.
Brownell stayed with Pres. for hour after—[here follow two illegible words]! Leaders going to submit amendment without executive agreement clause—Pres. to write letter—decision taken—going to fight—Hurrah!!
- Another account of the discussion at this meeting is in the Eisenhower Library, Staff Secretary Office records, “Legislative Leaders Conference.”↩