Besides Stennis, the other members of the Senate Armed Forces Committee were senators Henry M. Jackson, Strom Thurmond and Stuart Symington, all of whom were very hostile to McNamara in their questioning of him. Senator Thurmond reproached McNamara: "I think it is a statement of placating the Communists. It is a statement of appeasing the Communists. It is a statement of no-win". Privately, McNamara felt that Thurmond was an "ass", saying he was a bigoted, ignorant Southern politician whose only values were a mindless militarism, a fervent belief in white supremacy and a fondness for marrying women far younger than himself. McNamara felt that it was beneath him to be questioned by Thurmond, which explained why he was notably truculent in his answers to him.
Besides Stennis the other members of the Senate Armed Forces Committee were senators Henry M Jackson Strom Thurmond and Stuart Symington all of whom were very hostile to McNamara in their questioning of him Senator Thurmond reproached McNamara "I think it is a statement of placating the Communists It is a statement of appeasing the Communists It is a statement of no-win" Privately McNamara felt that Thurmond was an "ass" saying he was a bigoted ignorant Southern politician whose only values were a mindless militarism a fervent belief in white supremacy and a fondness for marrying women far younger than himself McNamara felt that it was beneath him to be questioned by Thurmond which explained why he was notably truculent in his answers to him