Reagan Selects Ex-Steel Boss to Replace Baldrige

President Reagan today said he will nominate C. William Verity Jr., a retired steel company executive, as commerce secretary to replace Malcolm Baldrige, who died last month when a horse crushed him in a rodeo accident.

Verity, 70, of Middletown, Ohio, who retired in 1982 as chairman of Armco Inc., headed Reagan’s private sector initiative early in Reagan’s first term.

Reagan said Verity “shares my commitment to free and fair trade” and urged his prompt confirmation by the Senate when Congress returns from its August recess.

The President also paid tribute to Baldrige, the forceful free trader and off-hours rodeo cowboy who died July 25, saying: “I expect Bill Verity will continue that vital role.

“Mac’s boots will be tough to fill. I have every confidence that Bill will ably pursue the policies this Administration has developed over the last 6 1/2 years.”

Verity declined to answer specific questions about his views, although he praised Baldrige for leading the way in helping to modernize U.S. industry.

“I’m happy to have this opportunity at a historic time in international trade,” Verity said.

Verity in 1981 drew praise from Reagan as chairman of the President’s 44-member Task Force on Private Sector Initiatives, a panel designed to promote voluntary action to offset cutbacks in social programs.

Like Baldrige, Verity has a strong business background, credentials Administration officials said were important for a post widely viewed as the business community’s major voice within the federal government.

Verity served as chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce from 1980 to 1981.