The Administration: More Hot Water

• Share

The invitation from the Secretary of Labor read:

W. WILLARD WIRTZ CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO A RECEPTION IN HONOR OF HARRISON A. WILLIAMS JR., UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY.

To attend would cost the lucky recipient $100—plus another $100 for his wife, if she cared to go along. If they could not make it, a check would be in order anyway. The money would go to beef up the campaign war chest of liberal Democrat Williams, who is up for reelection next year.

No sooner had he heard about this than Ohio's Republican Congressman Oliver P. Bolton issued an angry statement. It was, he said, "a new low" in New Frontier high jinks.

Bolton charged that Wirtz, in trying to perform a favor for Williams, who happens to be a member of the Senate Labor Committee, was coercing contributions by inviting to the Nov. 14 bash lobbyists and other guests who had dealings with the Labor Department. Democrats replied that this was merely anti-Administration sniping by Bolton. Insisted Wirtz: "I have great admiration for Senator Williams and believe deeply in the things he stands for, especially in the vital area of human rights. I am asking some of those who I think share these views to join me in demonstrating our support." Added Senator Williams: "To suggest that Secretary Wirtz is twisting anyone's arm for funds is so untrue that I am confident the charge will fall of its own overblown weight."

It did, however, seem remarkable that Wirtz would have used his name and his position in such a fashion—particularly since Interior Secretary Stewart Udall got into hot water for doing much the same thing in 1961. There was no question but what the 1,000-plus invited guests included lobbyists and trade association representatives who do, indeed, do business with the Labor Department.