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"Sad & Shocking." To each of these witnesses the subcommittee pressed a single serious question: Is a missile czar necessary to speed the U.S. missile program? All but Vannevar Bush thought that one was. But when the Senators turned to testimony from Defense Secretary Neil H. McElroy, they were informed politely but firmly that the missile programs had a top man: Neil McElroy. Missileman William M. Holaday, explained the Defense Secretary, is missile "director," and "I consider that I am easily accessible to him when he needs the power that I happen to possess.'' As for President Eisenhower's new missile adviser, M.I.T.'s Dr. James Killian: "I do not believe it was intended at any point for Dr. Killian to come into the Defense Department for order-giving, and I do not believe that he thinks so."
Rounding out the three-day hearing, the subcommittee went behind closed doors with CIA Director Allen Dulles and his staff. U.S. intelligence officers crisply informed them that the Russians were far, far ahead of the U.S. in some important techniques, were moving ahead rapidly in military technology, were untroubled by budgets, manpower needs, or the necessity of competing with private industry for brains. One result, according to CIA: Russia has produced a handful (probably four) of submarines capable of launching nuclear-headed missiles from as far at sea as 900 miles.
Emerging from the briefing, the Senators quickly put their distress on record. "A sad and shocking story," said Missouri Democrat Stuart Symington. Said New Hampshire Republican Styles Bridges: "Very unpleasant information."