Breakdown on Risk Firings Under Study, Evening Star (Article, February 1954)
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Breakdown on Risk Firings Under Study, President Says
President Eisenhower's advisers are making a careful study to see whether a breakdown can be given on the 2,200 Government [employees] fired for security reasons.
Gen. Eisenhower told his news conference today that he would let reporters know as soon as possible whether his aides recommend a release of the breakdown. He mentioned the 2,200 figure at a press conference January 7, but he and other officials have declined to say how many of these were fired for possible disloyalty and how many for other reasons such as drinking, talking too much, homosexuality and so forth.
The President said today that he had been surprised to learn of the widespread interest in the matter among reporters. He said he ordered the staff study as soon as he learned of this interest.
He repeated earlier statements that while he wants all security risks eliminated from the ranks of Federal workers, he insists no guilt or guilt-by-association is going to be charged to any innocent person.
The security risks figures have been used frequently by Republican speechmakers to imply that most, if not all, the persons fired or forced to resign were Communists, fellow travelers or spies. In a survey early last month The Star first pointed out that the dismissal totals were watered with voluntary resignations, reduction-in-force layoffs, transfers and even deaths.
