THE ADMINISTRATION: Packard Resigns

"Washington has been a difficult town for David Packard," Defense Secretary Melvin Laird remarked recently. "He thinks there should be solutions for these problems. Often there can't be. And every time he looks up, there's another problem coming across his desk." Last week Packard, Laird's Deputy Secretary of Defense, finally decided to give up problem solving for the Federal Government's biggest department and return to Hewlett-Packard Company, the $350-million-a-year electronics firm that he headed before he came to Washington in 1969.

In his 35 months at the Pentagon, Packard handled most of the management while Laird, a former U.S. Representative, concentrated on the political angles. As former boss of one of the biggest U.S. defense contractors, Packard was in a good position to make quick and usually accurate judgments on Pentagon procurement policies. Under his scrutiny, development of the B-l strategic bomber and the F-15 fighter has proceeded with unusually few fumbles.

Packard was noted for a candor that sometimes put him in opposition to the Nixon Administration. Initially, for example, he argued against the bailout of ailing Lockheed Aircraft with Government funds. In recent months, Packard has privately expressed irritation at taking orders from White House aides. But he did not resign out of any hard feelings. He exchanged letters of lavish praise with the President. He plans to stay for a while in Washington to advise Laird, who is looking for a replacement for him. Two replacements, in fact. Considering the burden of the job, the White House is asking Congress to approve a second Deputy Secretary of Defense who can share all those problems in search of solutions.