really in favor of arms control and not simply trying to slow the process. He
thought I was wrong in opposing SALT II. On a Friday afternoon, two weeks after
I had been nominated, Senator Percy withdrew the objections he had against me.
He said he would notify the White House that the committee was now unanimous
that I should become the director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.
I was quite surprised therefore, when I picked up the Washington Post on Monday
morning, to read that the directorship of ACDA had been offered to Eugene
Rostow. It was especially surprising because I had met Gene for lunch on the
preceding Friday, seeking his advice on how to proceed with my plans for taking
over ACDA.
Q.
And he didn't tell you he had been offered the job?
No. On Monday, after I had read about the switch, I called him. Rostow said he
.A
had been approached on the job but told to keep it to himself.
He said he felt he was not at liberty to tell me that the ACDA job had been offered
to him. I called the chief of staff at the White House and asked him what was
going on. He said it was true that the White House had withdrawn my name and
submitted Rostow's.
I said I would like to talk to President Reagan about the matter. He said, "Come
over and let's talk."
The next day I went to the White House and talked to the chief of staff and several
members of the California Mafia: Raker, Darman, and Deaver. Their explanation
was that General Haig was named the Secretary of State and that it would not be
well to have too many military men in the administration. Furthermore, they said,
the administration had the Republicans on board and they needed support from the
Democrats. Rostow was a prominent Democrat and could serve this purpose. I
made no bones about being unhappy with their explanation and the stealth-like way
in which the switch had been carried out. I said I wanted to talk to President
Reagan about it.
Chief Negotiator, Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START)
They hemmed and hawed. It was obvious to me that President Reagan had not
been consulted on the switch. The following day they said they felt that I was
highly qualified to head the negotiating team, saying I could do more good in that
job than being the director of ACDA [Arms Control and Disarmament Agency].
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