42 HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



difficult target to contain. His technique was to continue to "'test the 

 jurisdiction"of the new committeethrough a manifold series of hearings, 

 reports, speeches, and activities which frequently remained unchallenged 

 because of the rising popularity of and interest in space by the American 

 public. 



Brooks fully appreciated the fact that the House committee was 

 chartered with a broader scientific jurisdiction than the Senate com- 

 mittee. He encouraged a number of hearings and reports in this area 

 to demonstrate the committee's responsibility for the National Science 

 Foundation, the dissemination of scientific information, basic research, 

 the Bureau of Standards, scientific manpower and education, weather 

 modification, and a host of other scientific subjects. Brooks realized 

 that each of these areas had constituencies of varying public interest 

 and support, but he also appreciated the fact that the real glamor 

 subject which excited the most press and public attention was space 

 and the issue of whether America would overtake Russia. 



With a good background of long years of service on the Armed 

 Services Committee, and with a veteran staff director who had served 

 on the committee, Chairman Brooks felt very much at home with mili- 

 tary issues. He did not hesitate to test and push the new committee's 

 jurisdiction to the point which incited frequent and bitter challenges 

 by Vinson. At first, Vinson was inclined to laugh and snort at "Ole 

 Overton" and the committee which had been created from one of 

 Vinson's ribs, so to speak. But when Brooks began to hold hearings on 

 why the Army wasn't given the green light on the Nike-Zeus anti- 

 ICBM system, Vinson vented his fury at Brooks for clearly violating 

 the jurisdiction of the Armed Services Committee. 



The battle between Brooks and Vinson raged on throughout 1959. 

 Taking the position that the best defense was a good offense, Brooks 

 personally dictated a curt letter to Vinson on May 9: 



I note from a number of sources that the Special Investigations Subcommittee 

 of the House Armed Services Committee has been holding hearings on the Vega 

 vehicle and on contracts relating thereto and on other phases of space. 



Of course, these matters are clearly within the jurisdiction of the Science and 

 Astronautics Committee. This fact shows how easy it is to transcend the jurisdic- 

 tional lines of committees. I think, however, that I should call this to your attention. 



Chairman Vinson was outraged at the charge, and on May 11 he 

 fired back an angry letter intended to put Mr. Brooks in his place with 

 withering words like these: 



Obviously, I am unaware of the "sources" to which you refer and upon which 

 you seem to have relied for your sole information. 1 lad either you or your "sources" 

 made an effort to determine the facts before you wrote your letter, I am confident this 

 is one letter that would not have been written. 



