Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1962)

Mr. Cox A liberal vote added retirement. He also has spent many years in private practice as a consulting engineer. In announcing Commissioner Craven's retirement, the President said that he is pleased the veteran engineer "will continue to serve the FCC and your government as one of its key representatives" at the Geneva conference on space communications allocations in October 1963. In a letter to the FCC's space commissioner, President Kennedy said: ". . . All of us in this administration place the highest priority on the program, already well-advanced, to bring into being at the earliest practicable date an operational global satellite communications system. . . . The fact that you are willing to undertake this added assignment after concluding over 36 years of distinguished federal service is indeed a tribute to your devotion to duty." FCC Chairman Newton Minow had asked that Commissioner Craven be retained as a consultant to the commission and a special ruling by the comptroller general was necessary for him to be allowed to do so after reaching age 70. "We are gratified that Commissioner Craven's counsel and guidance will still be available to us," the chairman said in praising Mr. Craven's record. "His talents will be of enormous help to the FCC and to the United States in the international conference which is of vital importance." Commissioner Craven will remain on the FCC beyond Jan. 31 if Mr. Cox has not been confirmed by then, the President announced. After he becomes a consultant, he will maintain an office in the FCC headquarters. As a consultant on space matters. Mr. Craven will continue to work closely with his two personal professional assistants at the FCC who have been transferred to the same work. Legal assistant Robert Koteen will work on space matters from the general counsel's office and engineering assistant Fred Heister has been assigned to the FCC's new office on satellite communications. Birthday Present ■ Mr. Cox's impending appointment was announced last Monday (Dec. 10), just three days after his 46th birthday on Dec. 7. He was born in Topeka, Kan., but spent most of his life as a resident of Seattle. He was valedictorian of his high school class and graduated cum laude from the U. of Washington law school in 1940. He also was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a national scholastic society, and received a masters degree in law from Michigan U. in 1941. Mr. Cox was in the army in both World War II and the Korean War with the rank of captain. In 1946 he returned to Michigan law school as an assistant professor and in 1948 became a member of the Seattle law firm of Little, LeSourd, Palmer, Scott & Slemmons. He remained a member of that firm, except for time off to serve with Sen. Magnuson's committee, until he was named chief of the Broadcast Bureau in March 1961 — at the same time Mr. Minow became chairman of the FCC. With the appointment of Mr. Cox, the President interrupted a "common law" practice of always having at least one engineering commissioner. Since the FCC was established in 1934, it has never lacked an engineer member, but the new lineup will be five attorneys, one accountant (Robert E. Lee) and one former broadcaster-congressional staffer (Robert T. Bartley). Earlier this year, the President named another attorney (E. William Henry) to succeed engineer John S. Cross. The other lawyer members are Chairman Minow and Commissioners Frederick W. Ford and Rosel Hyde, the last two Republicans along with Commissioner Lee. Mr. Cox has been active in Washington state Democratic politics and was a precinct committeeman from 195460. He has never run for political office and did not take an active role in the 1960 presidential campaign. The former Nona Fumerton, now Mrs. Kenneth Cox, followed in her husband's footsteps as valedictorian of her class (one year behind her future husband), was a member of the same championship debating team with Mr. Cox and received a law degree from the U. of Washington with top class honors. They were married Jan. 1, Mr. Craven Remains as consultant 1943, and now live in suburban Bethesda, Md. The three Cox children — Gregory 12, Jeffrey 9 and Douglas 6 — are avid tv viewers. Unique Duty ■ In April 1959, Mr. Cox performed a difficult task for the Commerce Committee when he was recalled as "trial counsel" during consideration of Admiral Lewis Strauss' appointment as secretary of commerce. Mr. Cox's investigation was instrumental in causing the Senate to refuse to confirm Mr. Strauss. This time, Mr. Cox will be on the other side of the table, but a similar result is not in the cards. Chairman Minow had high praise for the President's intention to appoint Mr. Cox. "Ken has extremely wide experience in FCC and broadcasting problems, both with the Senate and as chief of the Broadcast Bureau," the chairman said. "We will welcome him to the commission and we look forward to working with him the next several years and utilizing his broad experience." Speculation immediately began on Mr. Cox's successor as bureau chief but Chairman Minow refused to give any indication if he has anyone specific in mind. The names most prominently mentioned are James Juntilla, present assistant chief, and Joe Nelson, former chief of renewals and transfers and now a member of the FCC Review Board. One admirer of Mr. Nelson expressed doubt that he would be interested in the job since the Review Board members have just been made Grade 17's, the same pay grade as the bureau chief, and his present job is nonpolitical. BROADCASTING, December 17, 1962 59