Apr. 17, 1964 - Defense Secretary Robert McNamara made quick tours of the Boston and Portsmouth, N.H., naval shipyards today as part of a study of their cost to the taxpayer.
McNamara made similar visits three months ago to the San Francisco and Mare Island naval shipyards in California.
In brief statements in Portsmouth and in Boston, McNamara explained that preliminary studies had shown the combined capacity of both naval and private shipyards exceeded the national requirements for ship construction. He said that the costs at naval shipyards were higher than those at private yards. The possibility of eliminating one of 11 Navy yards is under consideration, he said.
At Boston, McNamara was accompanied by Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.). He also talked with Mayor John F. Collins of Boston and stopped in at the State House to see Governor Endicott Peabody. The Secretary also talked with civic and union leaders.
At Portsmouth, McNamara said he had a “second purpose” for visiting the yard.
“This is one of our highest-cost yards, and no matter what we do with respect to the system as a whole, we must act to reduce the costs of this particular yard, he said, adding: “We don’t believe that the high costs are a reflection of the attitude of the employees or lack of skill of the workers.”
A year ago, a naval inspector said Portsmouth’s civil employees “just won’t work.” His comment angered the workers and the Maine and New Hampshire Congressional delegations.
At that time, the Navy was conducting a court of inquiry into the loss of the nuclear attack submarine Thresher, which went down 220 miles east of Boston with 129 men aboard.
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