Engineer Memoirs
White House wouldn't like that. That was an unfounded theory, or at least one that never
surfaced.
Senator Stennis called up one day and asked me where we'd like to go. He indicated it was
not his business but wanted to be sure the Corps was taken care of. I told him that we were
looking at the Pulaski Building but I wasn't sure. He said to tell the House people who have
the hearings first. Mr. Schlesinger had asked for something like million to remodel the
House
Forrestal Building. So the day of that hearing I was called by Hunter
Appropriations Committee, and asked what we wanted to do. I said we liked the Pulaski
Building. That's when he asked me if we had a fall-back position and I said, "Well, yes, but
let's not discuss it yet."
So when Schlesinger came over to the House committee to get his money, they indicated
okay on his money but he had to give the Corps of Engineers the Pulaski Building. That's
how that came about. Secretly, I'd hoped that they wouldn't be able to pull it off and then I
was going to ask for the money for a new building.
I don't know if we would have gotten a new building had I put it up front or not. Anyhow,
I thought if we asked for the Pulaski Building and didn't get it, then our case for a new
building would be very strong. My belief at the time, I'm pretty sure, was that we had to at
least be honest about the buildings that we could use, and the Pulaski was one of them. So
we got it and then moved. That happened during 1979. General Bumell was the deputy by
that time and was in charge of the move. I didn't have too much to do with the layout. Bob
Blakeley was the true responsible planner.
Bumell picked a little office for himself. I remember looking at the plan. I said, "Bates, I
don't think that's going to be satisfactory for the deputy. Why don't you put your office on
the other side of the secretary." He said, "No, I want the deputy to be able to walk through
a door into the Chief's office. I don't want to have to go across anybody's area to get there."
I said,"Well, okay, if that's how you feel." I said, "The rest of it looks pretty good." We
moved in June and early July.
Bob Blakeley also handled the physical part of the move and did an outstanding job. Bob was
a strong asset to the Corps in so many ways over the years. You may remember he's the one
who helped me get the air-conditioned vehicles when I was in Tulsa. Bob and I spent a lot
of time together, and I just have the highest regard for him.
So we finally got ourselves into the Pulaski Building. I took my things over on the 4th of
July, 1979.
The furniture in that office was brought over from the Forrestal Building. A professional
decorator had done the executive suite at the Forrestal Building. When it was brought over
to the Pulaski Building, it looked out of place. I kept the desk General Clarke had, a small,
fairly modem desk with some chrome on it. That office in the Pulaski Building now has the
traditional military furniture in it. It looks better.
Q ..
Okay, a quick follow-up?
A ..
Yes.
Q ..
We were going to come back to the subject, and I should have interrupted you earlier, about
the relationship between the ACE and Military Programs and that new reorganization.
A ..
Yes. You mean the ACE's shop?
Q ..
Yes, the ACE's shop and Military Programs.
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