Packard Forum Index » General

Gentlemen

The non automotive business was 50% of Packards' business and 80% of their profits after the war. It's spelled out pretty graphically in the back of
Master Motor Builders

Charlie Wilson took away Packard's defense business "for security reasons" or, as he put it otherwise "what's good for General Motors is good for the country"

Packard was in trouble by that time as we all know, but this was ungrateful after Packards contributions in the two World Wars, and the loss of defense business was the fatal blow


Regards


John Harley

Quote:

O_D, you're absolutely correct. Today they wouldn't yank a contract and re-award it. They would either pick the low bid or most inept and pay the cost over runs or else no bid it for security reasons and give it to the well politically connected firm right up front.

Hello Gentlemen

Of the need of a modern, one story assembly plant: the economies affected by such operations were well established by the early '50's. As an objective to be achieved by, say 1960, it should have been developed properly and built at Utica adjacent to that plant. In the meantime, keeping body production at the leased Connor Avenue plant and final assembly at East Grand might have guaranteed continuing fine quality and timely availability. Hastily shoving assembly operations into a plant only large enough for body making operations was just a mind-boggling mistake.

Of Defense Contractor versus Automaker: Packard was an automaker with a strong defense contracting business that transitioned into a defense contractor with an auto making division. Defense work was notoriously difficult because of capricious changes in specifications and political whims.

It is forever to the shame of those involved in the Eisenhower Administration, specifically Defense Secretary Charles Wilson the way Packard was dismissed as a supplier, mainly for GM's benefit. While not to denigrate GM contribution to the war effort, Packard had made such yeomen contributions for a company its size, continued granting of defense work should have been treated as an obligation. Packard helped win the war, only to lose its business life in the peacetime it helped to guarantee, for shame!

Hummm, maybe what's happened to GM now is just desserts!

Steve

GM undoubtedly got some just desserts and probably had then, aside from the insider connections, more than the requisite amount of lobbyists and politicians on the payroll to ensure their success with the Eisenhower administration--so were not blameless. Unfortunately today while they might have gotten that reward 50 years late, a lot of undeserving ordinary people got trampled in the process. Had Charles Wilson still been around, I'm sure he and his like would still be sitting pretty--as are probably most of todays counterparts.

Wouldn't be surprised if Packard didn't have a few on the payroll as well, but apparently couldn't afford the right ones and had to choose second tier talent which didn't get the job done.

Quote:

Funny you mention Eisenhower, as he was opposed to the Military-Industrial Complex:

"Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security more than the net income of all United States corporations.

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.

Akin to, and largely responsible for the sweeping changes in our industrial-military posture, has been the technological revolution during recent decades.

In this revolution, research has become central; it also becomes more formalized, complex, and costly. A steadily increasing share is conducted for, by, or at the direction of, the Federal government."

If he were only alive today to see what we became and how his words were ignored.

You may be right that if he were around today, would be disappointed. His years were good in many ways for many people, my family included. We'd probably still be driving on 2 lane and gravel roads without his interstate system--although he did have to convince another congress that it was needed for national defense before they would appropriate any money.

Unfortunately though, the Packard deed was done by his appointee on his watch. Based on no information apparently ever found that he tried to stop it or was not supportive, must conclude it was done with his full approval. As his predecessor said, "the buck stops here".

Ike's farewell speech warning of the growing power of the M-I-P complex (people tend to forget that last, Political, part)was one of his finest hours, imo... I remember the great historian Richard Hofstaeder saying that it was prescient.

As for Ferry, history has not been so kind. He did what he thought was best but it was not enough.

In some Packard circles it is most understandable why Christopher gets less than a passing grade while employed by Packard.

I think in some part it has to do with his dislike of the Senior line of prewar Packards. What most persons forget is that he and other former GM people were brought to Packard to make a car that would save Packard. Christopher and those persons did that with the 120 which saved Packard.

Why would Christopher be interested in the Senior line when the 120 and 110 model Packard's paid the bills not the senior line. That was his job to build a cheaper Packard that would turn big profits for Packard.

John F. Shireman