Robert Ten Broeck Stevens
Encyclopedia
Robert Ten Broeck Stevens (July 31, 1899 – January 31, 1983) was a U.S.
businessman and former chairman of J.P. Stevens and Company, which was one of the most established textile manufacturing plants in the U.S. He served as the Secretary of the Army between 4 February, 1953 till 21 July, 1955.
Stevens came into conflict with Senator Joseph McCarthy
over a series of issues that ultimately led to the Army-McCarthy hearings
of 1954. In the fall of 1953, McCarthy began an investigation into the Army Signal Corps
laboratory at Fort Monmouth
. McCarthy's aggressive questioning of Army personnel was damaging to morale, but failed to reveal any sign of the "dangerous spies" that McCarthy alleged to exist.
Next McCarthy investigated the case of Irving Peress
, an Army dentist who had refused to answer questions in a loyalty-review questionnaire.
As various officers, scientists and other Army staff were subjected to McCarthy's often abusive questioning, Stevens was criticized for capitulating to many of McCarthy's demands and not supporting his men.
Concurrent with these events, McCarthy's chief counsel, Roy Cohn
, had been pressuring the Army, including Stevens, to give preferential treatment to his friend G. David Schine
, who had recently been drafted. The Army-McCarthy hearings were held to investigate the Army's charge that McCarthy and Cohn were making improper demands on behalf of Schine, and McCarthy's counter charge that the Army was holding Schine "hostage" in an attempt to halt McCarthy's investigations into the Army. During the hearings, McCarthy questioned Stevens for several days. Although Stevens is generally considered to have handled the hearings poorly,
it was McCarthy who fared worst in the month-long investigation. The exposure before a television audience of McCarthy's methods and manners during the hearings are credited with playing a major role in his ultimate downfall.
Stevens wanted to resign after the incident but was convinced not to quit by then-Vice-President Richard Nixon
. He left the office in July 1955, returning to his family textile business. He was active in the leadership of J.P. Stevens and Company until he retired at the age of 70. His children include Bob Stevens from Helena, MT, J. Whitney Stevens from New York, and Tom Stevens from Florida. The family still owns an est. 45000 acres (182.1 km²) cattle ranch called the American Fork in Two Dot, MT.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and former chairman of J.P. Stevens and Company, which was one of the most established textile manufacturing plants in the U.S. He served as the Secretary of the Army between 4 February, 1953 till 21 July, 1955.
Stevens came into conflict with Senator Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
over a series of issues that ultimately led to the Army-McCarthy hearings
Army-McCarthy Hearings
The Army–McCarthy hearings were a series of hearings held by the United States Senate's Subcommittee on Investigations between April 1954 and June 1954. The hearings were held for the purpose of investigating conflicting accusations between the United States Army and Senator Joseph McCarthy...
of 1954. In the fall of 1953, McCarthy began an investigation into the Army Signal Corps
United States Army Signal Corps
The United States Army Signal Corps develops, tests, provides, and manages communications and information systems support for the command and control of combined arms forces. It was established in 1860, the brainchild of United States Army Major Albert J. Myer, and has had an important role from...
laboratory at Fort Monmouth
Fort Monmouth
Fort Monmouth was an installation of the Department of the Army in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The post is surrounded by the communities of Eatontown, Tinton Falls and Oceanport, New Jersey, and is located about 5 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The post covers nearly of land, from the Shrewsbury...
. McCarthy's aggressive questioning of Army personnel was damaging to morale, but failed to reveal any sign of the "dangerous spies" that McCarthy alleged to exist.
Next McCarthy investigated the case of Irving Peress
Irving Peress
Irving Peress was a New York City dentist who became a primary target for investigation of alleged communist leanings during the Army-McCarthy hearings.-Early life:...
, an Army dentist who had refused to answer questions in a loyalty-review questionnaire.
As various officers, scientists and other Army staff were subjected to McCarthy's often abusive questioning, Stevens was criticized for capitulating to many of McCarthy's demands and not supporting his men.
Concurrent with these events, McCarthy's chief counsel, Roy Cohn
Roy Cohn
Roy Marcus Cohn was an American attorney who became famous during Senator Joseph McCarthy's investigations into Communist activity in the United States during the Second Red Scare. Cohn gained special prominence during the Army–McCarthy hearings. He was also an important member of the U.S...
, had been pressuring the Army, including Stevens, to give preferential treatment to his friend G. David Schine
G. David Schine
Gerard David Schine, better known as G. David Schine or David Schine, was the wealthy heir to a hotel chain fortune who received national attention when he became a central figure in the Army-McCarthy Hearings of 1954 in his role as the chief consultant to the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on...
, who had recently been drafted. The Army-McCarthy hearings were held to investigate the Army's charge that McCarthy and Cohn were making improper demands on behalf of Schine, and McCarthy's counter charge that the Army was holding Schine "hostage" in an attempt to halt McCarthy's investigations into the Army. During the hearings, McCarthy questioned Stevens for several days. Although Stevens is generally considered to have handled the hearings poorly,
it was McCarthy who fared worst in the month-long investigation. The exposure before a television audience of McCarthy's methods and manners during the hearings are credited with playing a major role in his ultimate downfall.
Stevens wanted to resign after the incident but was convinced not to quit by then-Vice-President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. He left the office in July 1955, returning to his family textile business. He was active in the leadership of J.P. Stevens and Company until he retired at the age of 70. His children include Bob Stevens from Helena, MT, J. Whitney Stevens from New York, and Tom Stevens from Florida. The family still owns an est. 45000 acres (182.1 km²) cattle ranch called the American Fork in Two Dot, MT.