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Russell B. Long, La., Chairman

George A. Smathers, Fla.
Clinton P. Anderson, N. Mex.
Albert Gore, Tenn.
Herman E. Talmadge, Ga.
Eugene J. McCarthy, Minn.
Vance Hartke, Ind.
J.W. Fulbright, Ark.
Abraham Ribicoff, Conn.
Lee Metcalf, Mont.
Fred R. Harris, Okla.
John J. Williams, Del.
Frank Carlson, Kans.
Wallace F. Bennett, Utah
Carl T. Curtis, Nebr.
Thruston B. Morton, Ky.
Everett McKinley Dirksen, Ill.

Tom Vail, Chief Counsel

United States Senate 
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

October 9, 1967

Honorable William F. McKee
Administrator
Federal Aviation Agency
Washington, D.C.

Dear General:

It is my understanding that you will meet tomorrow morning with Florida State Senator, George Hollahan, from Dade County, Florida, and representatives of the Eastern Airlines Pilots Association, to discuss the FAA regulation requiring mandatory retirement of airline pilots at the age of 60.

As you may recall, up until this year, I was Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee and am still an active member of that Committee. We have conducted a thorough investigation of this problem and our findings have shown that there should be no arbitrary age limit required in any field. Our studies have also shown that there is a vast difference between a man's chronological age and his physiological age.

Therefore, I would like to suggest that after our meeting with these people that you arrange for them to get together with your medical experts in an effort to establish some other criteria for retirement besides the present one which requires a man to step down at the age of 60 regardless of his ability.

With kindest regards, I am

Sincerely yours,

George A. Smathers
United States Senator

GAS:mdb
bc: George Hollahan