More than two weeks passed without action, however, and with each day Chairman Hardy became more irritated. On February 28, he wrote Rusk prodding him again on the need for the documents on foreign-aid programs in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia. The subcommittee has “directed the staff to examine all executive branch documents and files relating to the U.S. aid operations in the aforesaid countries and to interview such department and agency personnel as may be necessary.”
There was still no action from Secretary of State Rusk, and ten days later Hardy had reached the end of his patience. He wrote a letter to President Kennedy and delivered it to the White House to President Kennedy’s appointment secretary, Kenneth O’Donnell.
It was a Friday afternoon, and O’Donnell informed Chairman Hardy he would put the letter in the President’s hands the first thing Monday morning. Hardy said he felt this was important enough that it should be delivered to President Kennedy that day, for he planned to conduct hearings on the affair on Monday. O’Donnell said he would get the letter to the President immediately.
Hardy’s letter informed President Kennedy of the background of delays, and the promise of the new administration made to find a speedy solution.
“Seven weeks have now elapsed since the inauguration and I have no reason to believe that a workable solution is any nearer than it was on December 9, 1960, under the former administration,” Hardy wrote. “You may recall that it was on that date that the Comptroller General prohibited further use of program funds for expenses of the office of the Inspector General and Comptroller because of its failure to furnish my subcommittee with requested documents in accordance with ... the Mutual Security Act of 1954, as amended.”
Hardy was polite but direct:
“I regret the necessity of bringing this matter to your attention, and would be reluctant to intrude on your busy schedule if I were not aware of the importance of this matter to you. In this connection, I feel you should know that it is my present plan to hold a meeting of my subcommittee on Monday of next week to discuss the advisability of scheduling promptly a hearing to which Secretary Rusk would be invited to inform the subcommittee concerning the extent of co-operation which we can expect in securing the information necessary for us to discharge our constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
“As I am sure you are aware, I have made every effort to avoid the necessity of seeking a solution to the problem in this manner. However, I feel that the lack of success of other methods to date leaves me no alternative.”
Before Hardy had reached his home, President Kennedy had called and left a number. This wasn’t somebody calling for the President, but the President himself. Hardy returned the call, and was assured by President Kennedy that Secretary of State Rusk would be in touch with him. Rusk called a few minutes later, and promised immediate action on the information problem.
Hardy said that if he could be assured of getting some satisfactory discussions on Monday, he would be glad to wait until that day for official word from Rusk.