The CHAIRMAN. That makes the record down to Mr. O'Brien's statement.

Now, Mr. O'Brien, please come around.

Members of the committee, it is with pleasure that I introduce to you Mr. George J. O'Brien, the vice president of the Standard Oil Co.

Now, Mr. O'Brien, just sit in that chair, take your time, and say what you desire to do so to the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. O'BRIEN. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and gentle

men.

I, with your permission, will stand, because I expect to move around here.

The CHAIRMAN. All right.

Mr. O'BRIEN. My name is George J. O'Brien, and I am a vice president of the Standard Oil Co. of California. I first went to work for the company in 1916-45 years ago last month. I mention this to indicate how deeply imbedded my roots are in this organization.

As proud as I am of that seniority, Mr. Chairman, I can't help but reflect that I am junior to you, and that you have served admirably this wonderful Congress of ours for a couple of years longer than I have served my company.

By way of further identification, I would like to say that I was born in California, in San Diego, Mr. Wilson. And my mother was born there before me. And my maternal grandfather arrived there first as a Butterfield overland stage driver, having been born and raised in Utica, Mr. Pirnie.

And for the sake of the other side of the house, Mr. Hébert, my first ancestor to come to America, over 150 years ago, settled in New Orleans.

Mr. HÉBERT. Mr. O'Brien, may I violate the chairman's admonition not to interrupt you, but I would like to know: Are you vice president in charge of public relations?

The CHAIRMAN. Go right ahead, now. Let's get down to business. Go ahead, Mr. O'Brien.

Mr. RIVERS. You haven't had your stature in South Carolina. Mr. O'BRIEN. Excuse me, but this is a new experience for me, and I didn't know but what it might be important. We are asked from time to time where we come from.

The CHAIRMAN. That is right.

Mr. O'BRIEN. In our experiences here in Washington, D.C. Most of us have come from other places.

For the last 512 years my particular responsibility has been Government relations. We have many, many relations with the Government. An important one, for instance, is supplying the country and the Armed Forces with a vast amount of strategic petroleum. But No. 1 in importance on our list is our relationship with the Government, at Petroleum Reserve No. 1, Elk Hills, Calif. And as a capstone to my last year of active service with my company this year, I want to tell you how greatly I appreciate the opportunity to be able to present the problems we see that have grown at Elk Hills and offer you a suggested solution.

I believe that but few of you have been to Elk Hills because it is a great distance. It is very important for us to have an understanding