But in Sears' public statement to Griswold last year, he made no mention of any scholarship fund, and charged that the Lubells have "proven themselves unfit for admission to the bar of any of our states and, of course, unfit to continue as students at the Harvard Law School. They have, it seems to me, clearly disqualified themselves from further membership in your student body."

Sears had also been scheduled to debate Rabbi Leo Shubow on March 11 on the question, "Is Senator Joseph McCarthy an Influence for Good or Evil." Shubow was asked to take the negative side. The debate, scheduled for a Columbus Forum, was called off by the Catholic Church.

"Incredible," Says Howe

Last night, Howe, a Law School professor who has more than once clashed with Sears, termed his appointment "incredible."

Referring to a debate he had with Sears on the Fifth Amendment, Howe claimed "McCarthy came into the debate very explicitly and Sears defended the Wisconsin senator. Sears was willing to excuse any McCarthy tactics."

Howe added that he "couldn't understand what the Democrats in Washington could have been doing--apparently they went to sleep." Claiming that he had heard Sears volunteered for the position, Howe said "the choice might be cancelled if there is a strong enough protest."

"This is likely to make a farce out of the hearing," Howe said. "Sears will claim impartiality, but the impression of those who know him and what he has said in the past will cause the public to have a lack of confidence in the hearings."

Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. '38, professor of History and National Chairman of the Americans for Democratic Action, said he was "not surprised by that kind of appointment. It's exactly what the country can expect from this administration and Party which have no serious intention of fighting McCarthy. Sears is one more example of the Republican appointment policy."

First Clash in 1951

Sears first clashed with the University in 1951 when he charged that "it is about time Harvard clean house" and stop "encouraging and playing host to the Communist Party." He made these statements in a letter protesting Harvard's granting permission for a student-sponsored talk by Osmund Fraenkel, Vice-President of the National Lawyers Guild. He urged the Law School to "take action now to disband" the Harvard Lawyers Guild, then on the School's promises.

Dean Griswold, replying to that attack stated that "suppressing an organization is a very serious step. The local activity of this group of students does not seem to warrant such drastic action." Griswold also accused Sears of "highly discourteous action" in making his letter public