INVESTIGATIONS: You Are to Be Pitied

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Witness Mack started his testimony last week bravely enough. Said he: "I assert categorically'that my relations with Mr. Whiteside, going back over many years, had nothing whatsoever to do with my vote in the Miami Channel 10 case. I at no time, directly or indirectly, pledged my vote to Thurman Whiteside, to Public Service Television, Inc. [the National Airlines subsidiary], or to any of the other three applicants in that proceeding." Even without his vote, he noted, there was an FCC majority for National: "Public Service would have won even had I not voted."

Just Pals. But as Mack continued, his statement turned pitifully flabby. He and Whiteside, he said, had "known one another since I was eight years old. We went to school and to college [University of Florida] together. Our wives went to college together ... I must confess that throughout my career I have not been what may be called a moneymaker. There have been many times in my life when I have been in need of financial assistance." And whenever he needed such assistance, why there was good old Thurman Whiteside, ready with a check from one of his 19 (at least) bank accounts.

Having given Mack his say, the subcommittee began boring in. What had he ever done to justify his share in the Stembler-Shelden Insurance Agency? Well, as a member of the Florida Railroad and Public Utilities Commission he had given the company a commission list of bus and truck carriers that might be interested in buying insurance. Did Mack not think it was at least indiscreet to accept an interest in Stembler-Shelden while a member of the Florida commission? The remarkable reply: "Well, I do not know. If Mr. Whiteside had given me $20,000 on which he paid the income tax, I think I would have taken it." Mack had never even seen the books of Stembler-Shelden; all he ever got from the firm was money—and an annual statement for his income-tax report.

Just a Tool. Mack was even more ignorant about the affairs of Andar Inc., which he was supposed to own. He did not know its officers' names, and did not have "the faintest idea" how much the company was worth. He said Whiteside had just "informed me" about Andar, and "didn't ge into the details." What did all this add up to? Had it never even occurred to Richie Mack that it was highly improper for a Federal Communications Commissioner to accept thousands of dollars from a lawyer interested in a case before the FCC? Replied Witness Mack: "No sir. It did not."