SCIENCE IN TH1 WHIT! HOI SI 615 



it message is that policymaking has become less complex, that the choices are 

 simpler, and that science and technology are no longer ccntr.il inputs to national 

 decisionmaking. 



Carey also had some sage advice for the committee in terms of 

 improving its effectiveness. When Dr. David suggested that the 

 committee should "monitor" the situation, Hechler clashed with 

 him and growled: 



What this committee wants to do is to try and see the structure is sound in the 

 first place so that we don't have to spend all our time monitoring it. 



This prompted Carey to advise: 



Through pressure, through hearings, through the illumination of the problem 

 with good, lively reports, by keeping the problem alive, and by introducing bills 

 in the area of institutional change, Congress can do a lot more than keep a remote 

 monitoring hand on these situations. 



teague: "what is happening and why?" 



Teague pointed out at the hearings that in the period from 1965 

 to 1973, the scientific research and development share of the Federal 

 dollar had declined from 12.6 cents to 6.4 cents. At the same time, 

 inflation had robbed the dollar of over one-third of its value and 

 Federal obligations for research and development had increased 

 nearly 10 percent. Teague told his committee: 



Government attitude toward and support of science and technology is not 

 what it was a few years ago. Without presently attempting to define this trend as 

 right or wrong, it is incumbent upon this committee to try to find out what is hap- 

 pening and why. 



After the conclusion of the hearings, Teague bided his time. 

 President Nixon was having his troubles with Watergate, and the 

 parade of White House witnesses were appearing before the Senate 

 committee chaired by Senator Sam Ervin (Democrat of North Caro- 

 lina.) There were some firebrands on the committee who wanted to 

 move in and hit the Nixon administration over the head for down- 

 grading science and technology, and they wanted more hearings to 

 use as a forum for denouncing the 1973 decision. 



About this time, an alumnus of the disbanded Office of Science and 

 Technology was asked if his shop had shared in the Watergate episode, 

 and he responded: 



No, they didn't trust us enough for anything as important as that. If we had 

 been involved, do you think they'd have been using stone age electronics? 



Actually, Teague had planned to hold a second series of hearings 

 late in 1973 to furnish an opportunity for public witnesses from 

 industry, universities, and other outside sources to present their 

 reactions. In keeping with the conscious decision to restrain the 



