The Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (popularly known as the Kestnbaum Commission) was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 10, 1953, to make recommendations for the solution of problems involving federal and state governments. Its final report was issued on June 28, 1955. At the time he made appointments to the Commission, President Eisenhower described it as "an historic undertaking: the elimination of frictions, duplications and waste from Federal-state relations; the clear definition of lines of Governmental authority in our nation; the increase in efficiency in a multitude of Governmental programs vital to the welfare of all Americans."

Controversy

The original chairman, Clarence Manion, was asked to resign in February 1954 by the White House, apparently over his advocacy of the Bricker Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. He had also been criticized for frequent absences, and lecture tours attacking the Tennessee Valley Authority. Meyer Kestnbaum was appointed to replace him in April.

Dudley White Dudley Allen White (January 3, 1901 – October 14, 1957) was an American businessman and politician who served two terms as a U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1937 to 1941. Biography Born in New London, Ohio, White attended the public s ...

, Ohio newspaper publisher, who had been appointed executive director for the commission, resigned in protest over Manion's ouster;

Noah M. Mason __NOTOC__ Noah Morgan Mason (July 19, 1882 – March 29, 1965) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois. A conservative Republican, he served 13 terms representing first the state's 12th congressional district and then, after a redrawing of bou ...

also resigned from the Commission."2 Quit in Protest of Manion Ouster," ''New York Times'', February 19, 1954

Commission members

The commission had twenty-five members. Fifteen were appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, five by the Speaker of the House, and five by the President of the Senate. Presidential appointees: * Clarence Manion, Chairman, until February 1954 *

Meyer Kestnbaum Meyer Kestnbaum (October 31, 1896 – December 14, 1960) was an American businessman and civic leader who was president of Hart, Schaffner & Marx, served as Chairman of President Dwight Eisenhower's Commission on Intergovernmental Relations ( ...

, Chairman, from April 1954 *Gov.

Alfred E. Driscoll Alfred Eastlack Driscoll (October 25, 1902 – March 9, 1975) was an American Republican Party politician, who served in the New Jersey Senate (1939–1941) representing Camden County, who served as the 43rd governor of New Jersey, and as ...

, Vice-Chair *Prof.

William Anderson William Anderson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * William Anderson (artist) (1757–1837), painter of marine and historical paintings * William Anderson (theatre) (1868–1940), Australian stage entrepreneur * William Anderson (1911–1986), ...

Lawrence A. Appley Lawrence Asa (Larry) Appley (April 22, 1904 – April 4, 1997) was an American management specialist and organizational theorist, known for his early work on management and organization, especially quality management. In 1962 he was awarded the Hen ...

*Gov.

John S. Battle John Stewart Battle (July 11, 1890 – April 9, 1972) was an American lawyer and politician who served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly and as the 56th Governor of Virginia (from 1950 to 1954). Early and family life Battle was ...

John E. Burton John Edgar Burton (October 19, 1847 – August 13, 1930) was an American businessman and financier. Burton operated mines in the Gogebic Range of Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as in Alaska's Seward Peninsula, California, Colorado, and Mexico. H ...

* Marion Bayard Folsom *Mayor Charles P. Henderson * Oveta Culp Hobby *Ex-Gov.

Sam H. Jones Samuel Houston Jones (July 15, 1897 – February 8, 1978) was the 46th Governor of Louisiana for the term from 1940 to 1944. He defeated the renowned Earl Kemp Long in the 1940 Democratic runoff primary election. Eight years later, Long the ...

* Clark Kerr *

Alice K. Leopold Alice Koller Leopold (May 9, 1906 – March 23, 1982) was an American politician, social activist, and government official. She served as Secretary of the State of Connecticut from 1951 to 1953 and as Director of the United States Women's Bureau ...

* Val Peterson *Gov. Allan Shivers * Dan Thornton U.S. Senate: *Sen. Alan Bible (filled vacancy) *Sen. John Marshall Butler (filled vacancy) *Sen. Guy Cordon (left office January, 1955) *Sen.

Robert C. Hendrickson Robert Clymer Hendrickson (August 12, 1898December 7, 1964) was an American attorney, politician, and diplomat who served as a United States senator from New Jersey. Early life and education Born in Woodbury, New Jersey, Hendrickson attended publ ...

(left office January, 1955) *Sen. Clyde R. Hoey (died May 12, 1954) *Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey *Sen.

Wayne L. Morse Wayne Lyman Morse (October 20, 1900 – July 22, 1974) was an American attorney and United States Senator from Oregon. Morse is well known for opposing his party's leadership and for his opposition to the Vietnam War on constitutional grounds. ...

(filled vacancy) *Sen.

Andrew F. Schoeppel Andrew Frank Schoeppel (November 23, 1894 – January 21, 1962) was an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was the 29th governor of Kansas from 1943 to 1947 and a U.S. Senator from 1949 until his death. He was born in ...

U.S. House: *Rep.

John D. Dingell John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

*Rep. James I. Dolliver *Rep.

Brooks Hays Lawrence Brooks Hays (August 9, 1898 – October 11, 1981) was an American lawyer and politician who served eight terms as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Arkansas from 1943 to 1959. He was a ...

*Rep. Angier Goodwin (filled vacancy) *Rep.

(resigned February 18, 1954) *Rep.

Harold C. Ostertag Harold Charles Ostertag (June 22, 1896 – May 2, 1985) was an American politician, a United States Representative for the 41st, 39th, and 37th Congressional Districts of New York. Life Ostertag was born on June 22, 1896, in Attica, New York, at ...

References

{{reflist

Sources

* "10 Senators Join Panels: Nixon Names Them to Review Economic and Tax Policies," ''New York Times'', August 8, 1953 * John Marshall Butler, ''The Commission on Intergovernmental Relations: A Report to the President for Transmittal to the Congress,'' Washington, DC., 1955.

External links

Report of the Commission on Intergovernmental RelationsRecords of Meyer Kestnbaum
Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library

Intergovernmental Relations Intergovernmental can refer to: *Intergovernmentalism *Intergovernmental immunity (disambiguation) *Intergovernmental Risk Pool *Intergovernmental organization Globalization is social change associated with increased connectivity among societies ...

Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower