Governor Overton James of the Chickasaw Nation sent a telegram to Commissioner Thompson of the BIA requesting the appointment of Thomas J. Ellison as Area Director for the Muskogee BIA office. Congressman Jones' office acknowledged the receipt of the telegram and promised to bring the matter to his attention upon his return to Washington. Governor James expressed his desire for the appointment to be announced before Commissioner Thompson's visit to Oklahoma on February 14, 1974.