Harry S. Truman Typed Letter Signed as President

TLS as president, one page, 8 x 10.5, White House letterhead, July 16, 1951. Letter to the Hon. Charles H. Silver of New York, marked "Confidential." In part: "I have been giving much thought to the future of the Commission on Internal Security and Individual Rights. I had hoped that the Congress would soon enact the legislation to exempt the members of the Commission and its staff from the conflict-of-interest statutes. However, there now appears to be no assurance that this will happen"¦Information that has come to me in recent weeks has made it clearer than ever that there is a great need to do the job for which the Commission was established. The job must be done. To that end, I feel that I should undertake to reconstitute the Commission with members whose other activities are such as not to raise questions under the conflict-of-interest statutes. I understand that you are one of the members for whom the conflict-of-interest statutes do create a problem. Consequently, it is my purpose to accept your resignation as soon as I am able"¦Until then, I think it is best for no announcement to be made on the matter. I am taking this step reluctantly, because I have had such great confidence in you and your colleagues as members of the Commission. As I shall indicate when I actually accept your resignation, I am very grateful for what you have done." In very good to fine condition, with creasing to the top and bottom blank areas, and heavier creasing to the left margin. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope.

President Truman created the Commission on Internal Security and Individual Rights in January 1951, directing it to undertake a non-partisan review of existing laws and policies associated with the investigation of espionage and subversive activities, and to consider these matters from the standpoint of protecting individual liberties as well as security of the United States. The commissioners were drawn from a variety of fields, and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz was appointed as chairman of the nine-member commission (which became known as the 'Nimitz Commission'). However, conflict-of-interest statutes thwarted the committee's ability to undertake its duties, and Congress declined to waive them. For example, Nimitz was prevented from taking a federal job while collecting military pay, and commission members who were lawyers were restricted from filing cases against the United States. In response to Congressional inaction, all nine committee members resigned. President Truman ultimately accepted these resignations on October 27, 1951, unable to find replacements, and the committee ceased to exist.