THE OVERTON BROOKS YEARS. 1959-61 



V) 



voyage of discovery, to learn about the unknown, to point powerful 

 telescopes toward the cosmos and unlock secrets of the universe, and 

 to take part in a great experiment. To be a charter member of a new 

 committee was exciting enough. But to take part in deliberations which 

 held such a great promise for the benefit of all mankind was a challenge 

 which stirred the blood of all the members. 



THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING 



Chairman Brooks drove his staff hard to get off to a fast start, 

 and to hold a series of public hearings which would focus attention 

 on the space program, missile development, and space sciences. 

 Ducander bluntly observed, after the fact, that "Brooks was insane 

 to have committee hearings as soon as he was confirmed as committee 

 chairman." But Brooks was determined, and the chairman's will 

 prevailed. 



In publicly announcing on January 31 that hearings would open 

 on February 2, Brooks stated: "The purpose of these hearings is to 

 present to the members of this committee a picture of the situation as 

 it exists today in the fields of science and astronautics." He added: 



How does the United States stand in these areas, so vital to the continued exist- 

 ence of the free world? 



Is Russia really ahead in science? In astronautics? In space exploration? In missiles 

 and rockets? 



Conflicting claims have been made as to the relative positions of the United 

 States and the Soviet Union. We hope that the testimony presented to the committee 

 at these hearings will clarify the picture and bring it into sharper focus. 



Ours is a new committee and one which will, in my estimation, grow increasingly 

 important as time passes. These hearings represent a start in the task which this 

 committee has set itself — to help advance science and astronautics in the interests of 

 national defense and the security of the free world. 



Brooks scheduled Dr. T. Keith Glennan, NASA Administrator, as the 

 leadorT witness, and announced four days of hearings including the 

 Army, Navy, and Air Force. Care was taken to specifically designate 

 that one of the Army witnesses would be the renowned Dr. Wernher 

 von Braun. 



Finally, the magic day arrived- Monday, February 2, 1959 — the 

 first official hearing of the new committee. As he pounded his gavel 

 to open the hearing in the big Cannon caucus room, Chairman Brooks 

 expressed his personal feelings about the historic event: 



Gentlemen of the committee, this is the first public activity of the newly con- 

 stituted Committee on Science and Astronautics. * * * Although perhaps the principal 

 focus of the hearings for the next several days will be on astronautics, it is important 

 to recognize that this committee is concerned with scientific research across the 

 board. 



