Browse Items (116 total)
Sort by:
-
Correspondence between George Grant and Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes to Grant in Washington D.C. on behalf of the defense counsel in an attempt to change Nickerson's case from trial by court-martial to a non-judicial punishment. Grant responds with interest and states that it looks as though the Army may "drop the Colonel Nickerson case by non-judicial punishment." -
Correspondence between George Huddleston and Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes to Huddleston in Washington D.C. on behalf of the defense counsel in an attempt to change Nickerson's case from trial by court-martial to a non-judicial punishment. Huddleston responds stating his will "make a discreet request" to Secretary Brucker and General Maxwell. -
Correspondence between George Huddleston, Jr., Lieutenant General Edward M. Almond, and Carl Vinson.
Almond writes to Huddleston in an attempt to get Nickerson brought back from exile in Panama. Huddleston agrees with Almond in his response and says he will do his best to advocate for Nickerson's testimony on the missile program and will bring the matter to the attention of the Chairman, Honorable Carl Vinson. Huddleston's following letter of January 25, 1958 states that Carl Vinson does not believe having Nickerson as a witness is advisable. Huddlestone attaches a copy of Vinson's letter that explains this. Almond writes in response to the decision with his thoughts on the matter and believes that "all service officers will step gingerly in their testimony" so as not to "stick their necks out as General Gavin and Colonel Nickerson have already done." -
Correspondence between Kenneth Roberts and Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes to Roberts in Washington D.C. on behalf of the defense counsel in an attempt to change Nickerson's case from trial by court-martial to a non-judicial punishment. Roberts responds that he has done everything he could on the matter. -
Correspondence between Robert K. Bell and Jim G. Lucas.
Lucas writes to Bell after the Nickerson case and encloses a picture that was requested by Bell. He mentions in closing that Jenkins informed him he will recommend against an appeal. Bell thanks Lucas for the picture and writes he is happy to hear Jenkins recommends against appeal as Bell is having a difficult time keeping Nickerson's "big mouth shut and to forget the word 'appeal'. -
Correspondence between Senator Lister Hill and Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes to Hill in Washington D.C. on behalf of the defense counsel in an attempt to change Nickerson's case from trial by court-martial to a non-judicial punishment. Hill responds by thanking Bell for the letter and will do anything to help "along the lines of your suggestion." -
Correspondence between T. C. King and Robert K. Bell and various attached letters.
T. C. King writes to the Secretary of Defense, Neil H. McElroy, regarding the Nickerson case, calling it the "second Billy Mitchell case". He encourages McElroy to restore Nickerson to active duty, return to Redstone Arsenal, promote Nickerson and remove Medaris. The Adjutant General , Herbert Jones, replies that promotions are based on the officers' entire records and Nickerson plead guilty. King's reponse is included. This exchange of letters was forwarded to Robert K. Bell in the interest of the case. -
Defense Notes on Nickerson Case.
Defense notes outline the charges against Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr. and the accompanying specifications of each charge. It also outlines how Nickerson went about publishing the classified information through the newspaper journalist Drew Pearson. It includes an affidavit of John A. Baumann, the expected testimonies of Dr. Wernher von Braun, Dr. Charles Lundquist, Mr. Rudolph Schlidt, and Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger, correspondence related to the case, written statements, handwritten notes, and character letters. -
Letter and draft of letter to Robert K. Bell and Ray H. Jenkins from Stanely W. Jones.
Jones writes to Bell and Jenkins in response to their letter of April 13, 1957 to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of the Army. With an oral request, the defense counsel had requested for the drop of Specification 1, Charge II. Jones states that as soon as a decision is made the convening authority will advise them of it. -
Letter and drafts of letter to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence from Robert K. Bell.
These drafts of the letter and final letter to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence requesting highly classified information to be made available to the Court in order to "insure a proper defense" in the Nickerson case. These documents also include a letter from Bell to Ray H. Jenkins asking him to read the draft of the letter before Bell sends it and also asks about traveling to Washington the following week. -
Letter to Armistead Selden from Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes to Selden in Washington D.C. on behalf of the defense counsel in an attempt to change Nickerson's case from trial by court-martial to a non-judicial punishment. Selden replies stating he will pass the information "if the opportunity present[s] itself." -
Letter to Carl A. Elliott from Robert K. Bell with a reply from secretary Cora B. Marlowe.
Bell writes to Elliott in Washington D.C. on behalf of the defense counsel in an attempt to change Nickerson's case from trial by court-martial to a non-judicial punishment. Marlowe writes to Bell on behalf of Congressman Elliott who is out of town and will respond to Bell's May 8 letter upon his return. -
Letter to Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr. from Kenneth A. Roberts.
Roberts writes to Nickerson about his case, expressing interest and stating that by knowing Nickerson's relatives, he is sure Nickerson is anything but disloyal. Roberts also writes that he will be in Huntsville sometime and hopes to arrange to talk with Nickerson. -
Letter to Donald A. Quarles from Alexander.
Alexander writes to thank Quarles for making the arrangements that allowed him and his party to "see so many things of interest in the guided missile field." He adds that Lieutenant Colonel Nickerson was very "helpful and informative". -
Letter to Ray H. Jenkins from Estes Kefauver and enclosed copies of letters.
Kefauver writes to Jenkins stating that he has enclosed the letter from the Department of the Army regarding the Nickerson case. The following letter addressed to Senator Kefauver is from Major General J. H. Michaelis. In it Michaelis writes that after consideration, the disclosure of certain documents is "too minimal to justify directing or advising the convening authority to drop the charges." He also writes that non-judicial punishment would be "legally objectionable" as Nickerson's offense is not minor. The last letter states the same regarding the dropping of the charges. -
Letter to Robert E. Jones from Robert K. Bell.
Robert K. Bell writes to Senator Bob Jones for help and information regarding the Nickerson case. -
Letter to Robert E. Jones from Robert K. Bell.
Bell writes to Bob Jones in Washington D.C. on behalf of the defense counsel in an attempt to change Nickerson's case from trial by court-martial to a non-judicial punishment. -
Letter to Robert K. Bell from Jim G. Lucas.
Lucas writes concerning an enclosed document and thoughts regarding Colonel Medaris and the Nickerson case that had closed earlier that year. He closes by thanking Bell and his wife for their hospitality during his last stay in Huntsville. -
Letter to Robert K. Bell from Joe L. Evins.
Evins writes to Bell of his interest in his involvement in the Nickerson case due to serving with both him and Ray H. Jenkins in the military. -
Letter to Robert K. Bell from Robert E. Jones.
Bob Jones writes to Bell to congratulate him on the "splendid work" he did on the Nickerson case. -
Letter to Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson from J. Bancroft Webster.
Webster writes saying he thinks Wilson does a good job running the nation's defense system and because of that, Webster asks Wilson to evaluate Nickerson's performance of duty and would feel "thoroughly disillusioned to see such a 1st class officer sacked." -
Letter to the defense counsel from John E. Moss.
Moss writes in response to the defense counsel's request of March 25, 1957 for information from the House Government Information Subcommittee. Moss states that all published hearings and reports on the subject are being mailed separately. -
Letter to William P. Newman from William W. Garth.
This letter marked "confidential read and burn," this letter is in response to a telegram sent earlier by William P. Newman. Garth states that he promised to appoint "Jno". He further writes that when "Jno" is notified of this, Newman is to say nothing as Garth does not with anyone to know he had anything to do with it. He writes that the only chance he has of defeating Moore in the convention is a "solid vote of Madison, Jackson, and Morgan." He concludes by stating that he wanted "simply to ask you" to help him obtain this "solid vote in Madison" and to put in a good word for him in Jackson as well. He reitterates that the letter is confidential and should be burned. -
Letters from J. Bancroft Webster.
Webster sends three copies of the same letter to Congressman Frederic Coudert, Jr., Senator Irving M. Ives, and Secretary of the Army Wilber M. Brucker, asking them to take "an immediate active interest in the pending army court martial" of Colonel John C. Nickerson. He testifies to Nickerson's character and his value to the national defense system. -
Letters to senators in Washington D.C. from Ray Jenkins.
Ray Jenkins sends the same letter to various senators in Washington D.C. in an effort to speed up the approval of top secret clearance for the defense counsel and advocate for non-judicial punishment for Colonel Nickerson rather than court-martial. He summarizes Nickerson's efficiency reports as well. Jenkins concludes by asking if the senator would convey the message and thinking of the defense counsel to the Secretary of Defense, Mr. Wilson. -
Memorandum for Ray H. Jenkins and Robert K. Bell
This memo details an upcoming trip to Washington and the scheduled appointments with various senators and military officials in regard to the Nickerson case. The memo states that it would be preferred is all charges and specifications dropped and consider a reinvestigation and punishment. It includes other information regarding the case. -
Notes in regards to the Nickerson case.
Notes detail James, who suggested the name of Drew Pearson to Colonel Nickerson, and his actions as pertaining to the case. -
Stipulation of the testimony of Brigadier General A. J. Kinney.
Written testimony of Brigadier General A. J. Kinney, Director of the Office of information Services, Department of the Air Force, as presented if he were "present in court". No signatures of the defense counsel, accused, or trial counsel are on the document. -
Stipulation of the testimony of Colonel William C. Pritchard
Written testimony of William C. Pritchard, Colonel with the Army Physical Evaluation Board at Walter Reed Hospital, as presented if he were "present in court". Page two missing. Handwritten note at the bottom says, "2d page only had signatures." -
Stipulation of the testimony of Edward Hull.
Written testimony of Edward Hull, assistant editor of Missiles and Rockets Magazine, as presented if he were "present in court". Signed by the defense counsel, the accused, and the trial counsel. -
Stipulation of the testimony of Erik Bergaust.
Written testimony of Erik Bergaust, managing editor of Missiles and Rockets Magazine, as presented if he were "present in court". Signed by the defense counsel, the accused, and the trial counsel. -
Stipulation of the testimony of John A. Baumann.
Written testimony of John A. Baumann, employee of the Radio Corporation of America, presented if he were "present in court". No signatures of the defense counsel, accused, or trial counsel are on the document. -
Stipulation of the testimony of Maurice W. Roche.
Written testimony of Maurice W. Roche, administrative assistant for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, as presented if he were "present in court". Signed by the defense counsel, the accused, and the trial counsel. -
Stipulation of the testimony of William F. Hunt.
Written testimony of William F. Hunt, employee of Reynolds Metals Company, as presented if he were "present in court". No signatures of the defense counsel, accused, or trial counsel are on the document. -
Telegram to Robert K. Bell from Bob Jones.
Jones sent this telegram in reponse to Bell's March 11th letter requesting information for the Nickerson case. He informs Bell that the information cannot be sent to him but may be purchased in a 15 volume book set. -
Various correspondence with David Bowman from 1989 to 1991.
These letters to David Bowman, reporter and editorial writer, all pertain to Bowman's story about Colonel John Nickerson. The first letter includes foot notes and states that he sent a copy of the story to a Washington Post writer. The second letter contains additional information relating to the missile program that may be helpful for the story and a diagram of the original prototype for the Explorer I earth satellite. This set of letters also includes the original letter from David Bowman to Brig. Gen. Harold W. Nelson in which Bowman states he finally photocopied the published transcripts of Colonel Nickerson's court martial. Nelson's reponse follows thanking Bowman for sending the series on Colonel Nickerson. The final letter from Colonel Thomas W. Sweeney includes a working bibliography on the Nickerson case and invites him to visit the Military History Institute.