NAT! RAL RESOl R( ES AM) TH1 ENVIRONMENT 999 



interested in retaining his old subcommittee chairmanship? Nobody 

 concluded that; he was just being helpful to the next holder of that 

 chairmanship, most people felt. Brown then proceeded to engage in 

 some more colloquies on how the energy subcommittees should be 

 divided, which seemed to confirm where his interest lay. 



At tins point, Ottinger introduced a big clue to which subcom- 

 mittee Ambro would choose. Ottinger argued strongly for a seventh 

 subcommittee on " Investigations and Oversight." One of his principal 

 arguments was: 



In this particular wise, it would mean the opportunity for my colleague from 

 New York, Mr. Ambro, to have that opportunity. 



Well, the cat was out of the bag. Everybody now knew that Brown 

 and Ambro had their choices all ready, once the open bidding started. 

 To confirm the assumption, Ambro made an impassioned argument for 

 preciselv the type of oversight investigations which were not only 

 needed, but which would bring credit to the Science Committee. 



THE BIDDING FOR CHAIRMANSHIPS 



Now the machinery swung into action to allow the seven most 

 senior committee members to bid, in order of seniority, for the sub- 

 committee chairmanships of their choice. As each senior member bid, 

 a secret ballot was taken to confirm or reject him for the subcommittee 

 chairmanship he selected. According to prediction, Fuqua and McCor- 

 mack were confirmed. Then Fuqua asked Brown to make his bid. 

 Brown caused some laughter by stating with a straight face: "I haven't 

 made up mv mind yet. ' ' His closest associates insist that he really meant 

 it. Then he caused gasps of surprise by casually announcing: "Science, 

 Research and Technology." He was unanimously confirmed. 



What other factors helped motivate Brown's choice? First, the 

 scientific community strongly urged Brown to take over the S. R. & T. 

 chairmanship. Second, Chairman Fuqua also prevailed on Brown to 

 make that choice. 



AMBRO CHOOSES NATURAL RESOURCES 



When the bidding got down to Lloyd of California, he occasioned 

 a mild surprise by choosing "Investigations and Oversight." In past 

 years, the most recently created subcommittee was generally left until 

 last bv those choosing subcommittee chairmanships. This left it up to 

 the No. 7 in seniority, Ambro, who asked in a somewhat forlorn tone 

 of voice: "What is left, Mr. Chairman? Natural Resources?" 



