76 HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



understands policy. This program involves great issues of national 

 and international policy." In accepting the appointment, Webh asked 

 that Dr. Dryden be renominated as Deputy Administrator. He also an- 

 nounced his intention to retain Dr. Robert C. Scamans, Jr., as Associ- 

 ate Administrator; Sea mans had come aboard at NASA in September 

 1960. Webb was sworn in as NASA Administrator on February 14, 

 1961. 



Webb made an immediate hit with the Committee on Science and 

 Astronautics. His enthusiasm for the space program was contagious. 

 His outgoing personality and unbounded optimism were in marked 

 contrast to his more reserved predecessor, Dr. Glennan. 



W £ bb's assets included an ability to win the confidence of Republi- 

 cans. On February 27, 1961, he honored the House Science Committee 

 with his maiden appearance and this introduction: 



This is not only my first appearance before tins committee, but the first appearance 

 in public oi any kind or description since I took the oath oi 



On the occasion, former Speaker Martin welcomed Mr. Webb 

 with these words: 



I first want to congratulate the country in getting Mr. Webb as the head of NASA 

 It has been my privilege to know Mr. Webb almost longer than memory would permit 

 accurate recollection. When Ed Pou was chairman of the old Rules Committee of the 

 House, Mr. Webb did wonderful service with him. 1 have come to know him through 

 the years in all aspects of his career. NASA is to be congratulated upon getting a 

 dedicated public servant such as Mr. Webb. 



The members of the House committee admired Webb's effectiveness 

 as a salesman. Some members probably disliked his tendency to give 

 longwinded answers to pointed questions, but this was a trait which 

 was also very familiar among congressional colleagues, hence accepted 

 in a bemused fashion. 



Perhaps Webb's strongest asset in his relations with the Science 

 Committee was his accessibility and close working relationship with 

 the successive chairmen of the committee. Brooks lived for less than a 

 year after Webb assumed office, and their relationship was never close. 

 But both Miller and Teague quickly developed a personal rapport with 

 Webb which enabled frequent, frank, behind-the-scenes conversations 

 to anticipate problems in advance, and to tackle issues which otherwise- 

 might have ballooned into controversies. 



The issue of whether to go to the Moon and how soon was resolved 

 in a somewhat different fashion, and with somewhat less input from 

 the Science Committee than in other cases where the committee in- 

 fluenced NASA policy. This was partially due to the fact that Webb 

 was feeling his way as a new Administrator in 1961 and was treating 

 the committee in the more traditional, formal fashion used by those 



