40 HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE OX SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



Brooks expressed concern, not so much about the known lag 

 behind the Soviet Union, but in the fact that different governmental 

 authorities were furnishing different appraisals about where America 

 stood. "The public is confused," Brooks declared. "These hearings, if 

 they do anything, should clear up this confusion among authori- 

 ties. * * * This is no time for kid-glove conversation, but it is a good 

 time to present to the public the plain and unvarnished truth." 



Brooks then lapsed into a discussion of strictly military matters, 

 which soon became a bitter bone of contention with Carl Vinson and 

 his Armed Services Committee over issues of jurisdiction: 



Wc are definitely behind Russia in the development of the intercontinental 

 ballistic missile, so important to our survival. We must overtake and surpass Russia 

 in this respect, and I am sure this committee is resolved to do everything within its 

 power to encourage and stimulate our leaders to reach the goal of overtaking and sur- 

 passing Russia in this part of our national defense. 



Speaking for the Republican side, Fulton abandoned his customary 

 stance as a proponent of far-out concepts and soberly declared : 



The field is much broader than a race with Russia, and we in this committee, I 

 hope, on the Republican side, will see that the implementation is given for broad 

 scientific advances, not only for our security in a race with Russia but for the benefit 

 of all mankind. 



Lastly, I believe we on this side want to see these scientific advances made 

 available for the whole world — all the scientists — so that every people, that is, our 

 allies as well as the people behind the Iron Curtain, can move ahead, raise their 

 standards of living, and arrive at a peaceful world. 



In the course of the first group of hearings, originally planned to 

 last 4 days but which actually stretched out over 11 days, morning 

 and afternoon, the committee scored some telling points. The over- 

 whelming thrust of the committee questions and observations added 

 up to stressing a sense of urgency on the witnesses and the agencies 

 they represented. At the same time, the opening hearings provided a 

 wealth of informative material to help publicize the entire program, 

 educate the public as well as the members of the committee, and 

 awaken the Nation. 



"THE NEXT TEN YEARS IN SPACE, 1959-1969" 



The first publication officially sanctioned by the House Committee 

 on Science and Astronautics was a prophetic report entitled "The Next 

 Ten Years in Space, 1959-1969" At its executive session on February 

 2, 1959, the committee authorized the publication of this provocative 

 study which actually had been completed under the aegis of the select 

 committee under the direction of George Feldman and Dr. Charles 

 Sheldon. 



