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"The women midshipmen are performing effectively in leadership roles and will make a significant contribution to the officer corps of the Navy."

As Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, you know the important contribution women are making in the military today. Mr. Webb's statements suggest contempt for that contribution and for the underlying policy of equality that makes it possible. To have a Secretary of the Navy who holds these views would only undermine the progress made to date by women in the military.

I strongly urge you to investigate thoroughly Mr. Webb's views on this issue and to assess whether such views would preclude him from providing leadership that the men and women of the Navy have the right to expect from their Secretary. I think it would be appropriate that you convey to the Democratic Caucus what Mr. Webb has to say for himself regarding this matter.

Sincerely,

BARBARA A. MIKULSKI,

U.S. Senate.

Chairman NUNN. Before turning it over to my colleagues and to you, Senator Glenn, to introduce our nominee, let me mention one aspect of the Goldwater/Nichols Reorganization bill which I think is very important. We are going to continue to emphasize it. That is, this Act specifically requires the Secretaries of our services to raise, train, and equip their services to support the unified commanders. That is, those leaders in the field that command the forces on a unified basis, not regarding one service.

Too frequently in the past the services have pursued their own agendas. One of the central objectives of the Reorganization Act was to get the services to support the unified commanders in the field. That is what the law says, and we will be asking a lot of questions over the next few months, and even years, in that regard.

I know that Senator Warner will want to make a statement when he comes. But I will summarize my statement by saying, Mr. Webb, we know you come with a great deal of qualification and background. I have every expectation that your nomination will be favorably received by the Senate and this committee. We will have a lot of questions before we get to that juncture, but I congratulate you on having been sent forward by the President. We look forward to your testimony this afternoon and the answers to the questions we will pose.

Senator Glenn is one of our most valuable members of this committee. He heads up the Manpower and Personnel Subcommittee, as well as making contributions throughout the whole spectrum of our committee activity.

Senator Glenn, I know you are going to have a few words of introduction. So we welcome you on behalf of the nominee.

Senator THURMOND. Mr. Chairman?

Chairman NUNN. Senator Thurmond, would you like to be heard?

Senator THURMOND. Mr. Chairman, I would like to add my welcome to Mr. Webb and his fine family.

He did an outstanding job as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. I am confident he will do equally well as Secretary of the Navy.

Mr. Webb, you have an outstanding record as an officer in the Marine Corps and an author, and as a member of the administration. It is a pleasure to have you here today as President Reagan's nominee to be Secretary of the Navy.

Unfortunately, you are being called upon to serve in an era of decline in defense spending. The decisions that will have to be made will be difficult because the funding will not be there. I do, however, look forward to working with you, and I want you to know that my door is open always to you. I just want to say that you have served in combat and you served in other positions in an administrative capacity. I think you are exceedingly well qualified. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman NUNN. Thank you very much, Senator Thurmond. Would any other members like to make opening statements? Senator DIXON. Mr. Chairman, I would like to put a short statement in the record.

Chairman NUNN. Without objection.

[The opening statement of Senator Dixon follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT BY SENATOR ALAN J. DIXON

Mr. Chairman, the committee is meeting today to consider and act on the nomination of James H. Webb, Jr. to be Secretary of the Navy.

Mr. Webb came before this committee 3 years ago after being nominated by the President to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. I voted in committee and on the floor of the Senate to confirm Mr. Webb although I had some reservations concerning Mr. Webb's views on women attending the military_academies. However, during Mr. Webb's 3 years as the Assistant Secretary for Reserve Affairs he has proven to me that he is an excellent and dedicated public official. I feel he will do just as good a job as Secretary of the Navy.

Mr. Chairman, I will support the nomination of Mr. Webb.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman NUNN. Senator Stennis, would you like to be heard? Senator STENNIS. I'll have some questions.

Chairman NUNN. All right. Senator Wilson.

Senator WILSON. Mr. Chairman, not to unduly delay the proceedings, but I commend the President for what I think is an outstanding nomination.

As has been said, the designee is hardly a stranger to this committee. His work as the Assistant Secretary for Reserve Affairs I think has vindicated those who early on thought that his record of gallantry in combat and his literate defense of his own principles would make him a very eloquent spokesman and an eloquent and efficient administrator. I think the record in office has vindicated that judgment.

I am very pleased to see him graduate to this still greater responsibility and look forward to working with him. Your observation that Chairman Glenn and I will have even more to do with him in the future in terms of some personnel matters I think is quite true. I just want to say that I look forward to working with him. I think he is an outstanding candidate. That may diminish the suspense as to what my book will be, but so be it.

Chairman NUNN. Senator Cohen or Senator Shelby.

Senator SHELBY. Mr. Chairman, I just want to say that I believe that Secretary Webb will be eminently qualified for the job. I know him, I've worked with him when he worked on the House Veterans Affairs Committee. I met with him prior to today's hearing in my office. And I believe he will be a great Secretary of the Navy. I believe that feeling is mutual around here.

Chairman NUNN. Thank you, Senator Shelby.

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Senator Cohen.

Senator COHEN. Just so we won't have my non-statement be registered in any way as an indication of how I intend to vote, Mr. Webb, I want to welcome you here as well.

I have certaintly looked at your background extensively. I know that you have generated some controversy with some of your writings. They will no doubt be explored a bit today.

I would say that two of the books you have written perhaps will typify your relationship with this committee and this Congress. You will, from time to time, upon your confirmation, find that you are confronted with fields of fire. I'm sure that you can survive them, as you have in the past.

And second, from what I've read of your backgound, you will bring, as you have in the past to both your personal and your professional life, a sense of honor. I look forward to having a chance to explore some of the issues with you.

Chairman NUNN. Senator Glenn, you don't get recognized as quickly on that side of the table as you do over here. You waited patiently, and it's your show at this point.

Senator GLENN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

It is both an honor and a privilege for me to introduce Mr. James H. Webb, Jr. He has been nominated by the President to be the 66th Secretary of the U.S. Navy.

As you know, Mr. Chairman, Jim Webb really needs no formal introduction to this committee, having appeared before us several times while serving as the first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.

However, before we proceed, Mr. Chairman, I would like to introduce to the committee Jim's lovely wife, JoAnn. I think she is behind us. Would you stand up please?

Chairman NUNN. We're glad to have you, JoAnn.

Senator GLENN. One of Jim's four children, Amy. Amy, would you stand up please? And JoAnn's sister, Donna Woody is with us today.

Chairman NUNN. Glad to have all of you here.

Senator GLENN. Mr. Chairman, this country is indeed most fortunate to have men of the calibre of Jim Webb who are willing to serve in the Government in such a responsible position. In fact, a review of Jim's professional career indicates he has dedicated most of his adult life to service to this country.

One issue that has been brought up here today that troubles me a little bit, and it has been brought to my attention in fact just a few hours ago; a 1979 magazine article in which Jim made several controversial statements regarding women in the military services. I have not read that article completely, but I do not know if Jim feels the statements attributed to him are accurate or whether they are an accurate reflection of his views today. I don't share some of those views if they are true. But the committee staff has gone through these with him and have discussed them in detail, as I understand it. And I know the committee will and should examine this issue, as many others, in its confirmation proceedings.

Overall, Mr. Chairman, I believe that Jim is superbly qualified to be Secretary of the Navy, given that he has repeatedly demonstrated enormous talent and exceptional leadership ability. His accom

plishments include being a much decorated Marine officer during the Vietnam war, the minority counsel for the House Veterans Affairs Committee, an award winning novelist, and an Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.

Mr. Chairman, Jim was no late bloomer. When he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1968, he was one of only 18 graduates out of his class of 841 midshipmen to be awarded the Superintendent's Letter of Commendation for Outstanding Leadership Contributions. Commissioned in the Marine Corps, he was the honor graduate of his class of 243 members at the Marine Officer's Basic School.

After Basic School, he was immediately assigned to Vietnam, where he served as a rifle platoon and company commander. In Vietnam he was one of the Marine Corps' most highly decorated marines, receiving the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, two Bronze Star medals for valor, and two Purple Hearts.

Mr. Chairman, as you know, the Navy Cross is second only to the Congressional Medal of Honor in recognizing valor in combat.

Although I know Jim would be very reluctant to talk about what he did to earn the Navy Cross, I believe it would be useful to take just a minute to briefly describe the circumstances that led to that award in order to give the committee and the guests here today some insight as to the personal character of Jim Webb.

On the 10th of July, 1969, Jim was leading his platoon on a combat patrol when the platoon suddenly became involved in a major fire fight with the enemy. The Vietnamese were attacking from bunkers and spiderholes, using hand grenades and automatic weapons. When an enemy grenade landed dangerously close to a companion, First Lieutenant Webb immediately pushed the marine away from the grenade and shielded him from the explosion with his own body. Although he sustained serious fragmentation wounds, Lieutenant Webb continued to lead his platoon until the enemy was defeated. For this heroic, unselfish action, he was awarded both the Navy Cross and the first of his two Purple Hearts.

Leaving the Marine Corps after the war, primarily because of the wounds he had suffered, Jim entered Georgetown Law Center and ultimately received his law degree in 1975. It was during law school that he began writing seriously, and there completed his first book, "Micronesia and U.S. Pacific Strategy." Jim published his first novel, "Fields of Fire", a best selling, and I would say classic novel of the Vietnam war, in 1978. "Fields of Fire" was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and was a finalist in the Hemingway Competition for Outstanding First Novels.

I would add at this point that a staff member of mine had read that book, gave it to me, and I had it at home on the coffee table and it had been there for a month or so. One evening I picked it up, started into it, and along about 8 or 9 in the evening I couldn't put it down. It was one of the few books in a long time I read straight through without a break, and went back and re-read parts of it until about 3 or 4 in the morning. It was that fascinating.

His second book, "A Sense of Honor," a story about the Naval Academy, was published in 1981. His latest novel, "A Country Such As This," the saga of America during the years 1951 to 1976, was

published in 1983. It too was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and also for the PEN Faulkner Award. During this same period, Jim began his Government service as a civilian. He worked as both assistant minority counsel and as minority counsel for the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

In 1979 he became the first visiting writer at the Naval Academy, where he taught literature and lectured frequently on leadership and the role of the military in U.S. society. Following his stint at Annapolis, Jim served in the Pentagon as the first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs from 1984 to early 1987. He just left that position in February.

Obviously, Mr. Chairman, Jim Webb has clearly demonstrated the ability to meet and conquer a variety of challenges. However, as Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary for both the Navy and the Marine Corps, he may well face one of his toughest assignments. As this committee is well aware, the Navy is in the midst of expanding to 600 ships, introducing new and sophisticated equipment and opening new bases. In a period of lower defense budgets, the Department of the Navy's major challenge will be to maintain the current high combat readiness of both the Navy and the Marine Corps, while finding the resources to continue the modernization program.

Once again, I believe Jim will be equal to the challenge. But, Mr. Chairman, I must express one notable concern. I understand from Jim's dad, James Webb, Sr., who is a retired Air Force officer, that he strongly supports Jim's efforts to be Secretary of the Navy. The problem here is that for the first time, Jim Sr. finally agrees with what Jim Jr. wants to do.

When Jim wanted to join the Marine Corps, his dad was against it, urging Jim to join a service that wasn't required to live on the ground and fight from ditches. When Jim wanted to be a lawyer, his dad reminded him that lawyers were a dime a dozen; why didn't Jim pursue a real career? When Jim wanted to be a novelist, his dad warned him that most writers ended up penniless and hungry, that surely he could find a more promising career.

The fact that Jim's dad finally agrees with a major decision his son had made has prompted his dad to warn him that he had better approach this latest endeavor with extreme caution.

Mr. Chairman, for once I believe Jim will follow his dad's advice, and I believe he will make a superb Secretary of the Navy. Thank you.

Chairman NUNN. Mr. Webb, we would be delighted to hear from

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STATEMENT OF JAMES H. WEBB, JR., NOMINEE FOR SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

Mr. WEBB. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you also for your leadership on this committee over the years. Thank you, Senator Glenn, for your introductory remarks. I believe you are truly one of the great living Americans today. You should also be forewarned because what the committee doesn't know is that my father was a pioneer in the Atlas Program. hen Seng. orbited the

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