THE ADMINISTRATION: The General Gets His Orders

The President looked a little 11tired after the Shriners’ convention in Chicago. He said he would like to get his hands on the guy who had kept him awake one whole night singing Chloe. But he had a greater annoyance. The current scandal over war-contract procurement and the “five-percenters” (private agents who charge a 5% fee for obtaining contracts) was still hovering darkly over his good friend and military aide, Major General Harry Vaughan.

With General Vaughan standing in his usual place behind him, Mr. Truman faced the press. Had the President heard that “General Vaughan was mixed up in all this?” The President had read the newspaper stories, he said, but didn’t believe them. General Vaughan smiled sadly. Did Mr. Truman “believe General Vaughan’s statement [blurted out in anger] that there are 300 five-percenters in Washington?” General Vaughan glared at the questioner. Mr. Truman avowed he didn’t know anything about it. The newspaper fellows were supposed to know all about those things.

Would General Vaughan be permitted to testify if a Senate subcommittee calls him for questioning? Mr. Truman answered firmly. Certainly, said the President; he certainly will.