ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW
Charles Ryan
May 7, 1993
by Michael F. Konig

0:00:00	Mayor of Springfield from 1962 to 1967.
0:00:19	Talks about the closing of the Armory and its effect on the city.
0:01:40	Discusses transfer of Research and Engineering Division to Rock Island Arsenal.
0:02:55	Has strong emotions towards fraud and scandal in private industry.
0:04:12	Felt that the Springfield Armory was closed because of private industry.
0:04:55	Consultants were brought in to determine the cost effectiveness of the Armory.
0:05:24	Pentagon issued secret orders to the consultants that the government no longer needed arsenal facilities.
0:06:01	Believed that the Armory was closed due to the Pentagon and not because of cost effectiveness.
0:07:40	Discusses influence that Senator Kennedy had on which committee would hear an appeal from the Armory.
0:08:00	Was assigned to the Stennis Committee instead of the McClellan Committee and felt that the Armory would not get a fair hearing.
0:10:10	Talks about defective German guns that were purchased for $75 million by the United States.
0:10:27	Executives in German gun company Rhein Mattel were members of the Nazi party.
0:10:55	Was told by Secretary of Defense McNamara that the Armory would be closed because of lack of need.
0:11:37	Did not understand why the Armory was being shut down when the Vietnam War was approaching.
0:12:50	Contacted the Pentagon inquiring why the United States was purchasing German guns when they could be built by the Armory.
0:13:53	Believed that the United States Government was practicing deception towards Springfield Armory and officials representing it.
0:16:00	Contacted lawyer who represented Jewish victims of WWII and asked for background information on German gun company Rhein Mattel.
0:17:38	Rhein Mattel used prison laborers to manufacture weapons.
0:19:50	Revealed to the public background on Rhein Mattel and was reprimanded by the United States government.
0:21:15	All 2000 guns purchased from Germany were defective.
0:22:40	Sent telegram to President Johnson telling of faulty guns.
0:23:26	Talks about Senator Kennedy suppressing investigation.
0:26:00	Was not enthusiastic about meeting with Senator's Kennedy and Boland.
0:26:30	Brought in an accountant to analyze cost effectiveness of the Armory.
0:27:04	Found that the figures given by the Pentagon were inaccurate.
0:29:05	Felt that speeches given by political leaders were not delivered with conviction.
Side B
0:30:33	Defense Secretary McNamara was very impressed with the presentation.
0:31:20	Consultants were brought in to do study of the Armory.
0:32:39	Criterion for study was changed and the consultants favored closing the Armory.
0:33:14	Discussion concerning use of M1 rifle versus M16 rifle in the Vietnam War.
0:33:37	Colt, who developed the M16 rifle was competing with the Springfield Armory and may have had an influence on its closing.
0:34:34	Talks about prospect of research and development personnel leaving the Armory and transferring to the Rock Island Arsenal.
0:35:31	Felt that transfer of personnel would destroy the development of small arms around the world.
0:36:00	Believed that majority of personnel would stay in the Springfield area.
0:37:09	Had list of key personnel who were not going to transfer.
0:38:05	The United States government thought that the Rock Island Arsenal would be more cost effective.
0:39:00	Loss of research and development facilities had a detrimental effect on the government.
0:39:39	Reasons for closing the Armory were not justifiable.
0:40:20	Had great praise for Armory workers.
0:41:53	Thought that the city of Springfield would recover from loss of the Armory.
0:42:13	The Armory provided incentive for development of Springfield Technical Community College.
0:42:42	Search for available space for STCC was not long in duration because armory grounds were accessible.
0:43:21	Edmund Garvey who was in charge of the Springfield Trade School wanted funds to start a technical institute.
0:43:40	Wanted to train people for technical jobs in the community.
0:44:13	Thought that the Armory grounds would be perfect for developing a school.
0:45:14	Wanted to create a community college in Springfield.
0:46:24	Discussed positive economic impact on the city by the community college.
0:47:01	General Electric, Milton Bradley and Digital were all associated with Federal Square at various times.
0:47:40	Digital's role and minority employees.
0:48:12	Very positive about the reuse of Armory Square, and hoped Federal Square will make a comeback.
0:49:05	Effects that the closing of the Armory had on companies in the area.
0:50:18	Talked about new companies coming into Springfield and paying property taxes to offset job loss at the Armory.
0:51:48	Felt that the closing of the Armory had the greatest impact on first the United States and second the city of Springfield.
0:52:23	Wrong reasons were given for not keeping the Springfield Armory open.
0:52:53	Senator Kennedy should have used more influence to try and keep the Armory open.
0:53:19	Thought that the McClellan Committee would give a fair hearing.
0:53:45/a>	The McClellan Committee was very powerful.
0:55:21	The United States made a very bad decision in the purchasing of the German guns.
0:56:44	Springfield was in a unique position to be able to turn the Armory into a college.
0:57:37	Comparisons of other cities to Springfield and how they will react to the closing of companies.