Plenary Session Transcripts

Governors Attending:

Guests:

Discussion Subjects:

Natural resource conservation; the national veterans’ program; education; expanding industry and public services; agriculture; and the National Guard

Points of Interest:

General Omar N. Bradley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, addressed the conference about the roles of the states and the federal government in reintegrating returning veterans into American society.

In addition, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, then War Department Chief of Staff, and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Chief of Naval Operations, were special guests at an executive session of the Governors (meaning there was no public record of their discussions).

Governors discussed education in the postwar period, including problems associated with the fact that the depression and WWII had resulted in a lag in school construction and maintenance and a shortage of qualified teachers.

Governors agreed to have their Resolutions Committee handle a federal request for state support in retaining the selective service so as to ensure maintenance of the National Guard.

There was considerable discussion about federal airport construction and expansion legislation, which as passed by the Senate--after receiving testimony from the Executive Committee of the Governors' Conference--had required federal-state cooperation in the development of plans for airports, including their construction and operation. In contrast, the House-passed version allowed the federal government to bypass states and deal directly with local jurisdictions. In conference, a compromise was reached that would require the federal government to deal with states if state law so provided.

Memorable Quotes:

Governor Millard Caldwell of Florida said about the educational system: "Too few educated adults take the trouble to vote. In part, at least, their failure is attributable to the failure of our educational system to arouse in each generation a keen sense of public duty. If American democracy fails, it will be because of atrophy and inertia--because our people have abdicated their sovereign citizenship. This is a matter of importance at any time, but it is of paramount importance in this postwar era of public confusion--an era when we can least afford civic indifference and neglect. Our educational system will not approach its objective until it turns out men and women inspired to become interested and active citizens."

Selected Resolutions Adopted:
(1) Instructing the Executive Committee to confer with federal officials on state responsibility intended to reduce duplicating and overlapping state/federal services to veterans; (2) urging state legislatures to consider enacting legislation requiring that federal grants-in-aid for airport construction be expanded in the state only upon receiving approval of state aviation agencies and that the Council of State Governments continue efforts to maintain federal-state cooperation in development of a national airport program; (3) commending Congress for acting to promptly return employment services to the states; and (4) supporting the War Department program to create a National Guard fully armed, equipped, trained, and recognized as a preeminent component of national and state defense, and urging Congress to provide armories and other military facilities in the states to accommodate the expanded National Guard program.