ENERGY: Doubts About Gibson

Two weeks ago, President Ford confidently introduced Andrew E. Gibson, 52, to newsmen as his choice to become federal energy administrator at year's end. But last week the White House announced with great embarrassment that it was holding up Gibson's formal nomination while the FBI checked more thoroughly into his background as a corporate executive and former head of the U.S. Maritime Administration. Presidential Press Secretary Ron Nessen explained lamely that the nomination had been decided on hastily (Ford had just forced John C. Sawhill's resignation as FEA chief), without time to conduct the usual investigation.

It was a startling admission,...

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