660 HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCJ AND TECHNOLOGY 



might prove to be an argument among Members. If there were an 

 argument, the principals didn't want it to get around to other Mem- 

 bers and perhaps upset the carefully arranged strategy. 



On July 13, at 12:40 p.m., Miller, Teague, Davis, McCormack, 

 and Dr. Ratchford sat around one of the long tables in the Rayburn 

 Room. Unlike some of the other tables, where Members were sitting 

 down with their constituents or chatting with their staffs or lobbyists, 

 this was a very serious meeting with no stories or jokes interspersed 

 with the vital business at hand. 



On most staff issues, Miller over the years had relied very heavily 

 on his staff director, Charles F. Ducander. Perhaps it is fortunate from 

 the standpoint of history that Ducander was not present for this 

 important meeting, for Dr. Ratchford immediately afterward wrote 

 Ducander a very complete memorandum describing what happened. 



McCormack opened the session by referring to his July 1 letter 

 and memorandum, pointing out that he had discussed the subject 

 individually with each of those present. Miller then cut in to warn of 

 the jurisdictional overlap with the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, 

 and pointedly asked whether McCormack had discussed the task force 

 with Congressman Holiheld. This was a sore point with McCormack, 

 whose respect for Holiheld was tremendous, but both he and Miller 

 knew full well that it was Holiheld who had led the opposition to 

 the Fulton select committee in May. McCormack confessed he had not 

 discussed the subject with Holiheld. He recovered his ground as well 

 as possible by pointing out that nuclear energy was only one part of 

 the overall objective of the task force study. 



TEAGUE URGES ACTION 



Perhaps it could justifiably be assumed that Miller at this stage 

 in his career was not seriously interested in expanding the jurisdiction 

 of the committee. Although he did not realize it, this was his last 

 term in Congress. On the other hand, Teague was clearly looking to 

 the future, eager to do whatever necessary to strengthen the com- 

 mittee and expand its jurisdiction beyond a concentration on space — 

 which was rapidly diminishing in importance and funding support. 

 So Teague took the bull by the horns and made some sharply worded 

 suggestions. 



He began by reminding all those present that McCormack had 

 discussed this issue with each of them. He then in effect said the task 

 force study ought to be approved without any further deliberation. 

 He said that there should be an affirmative decision, and the details 

 ought to be worked out later. Miller tried to dodge the issue, as he 

 so frequently did, by changing the subject with a few rambling anec- 



