gig HISTORY OF THI COMMIT! I I ON S( II N( I \NI) TICHNOLOGY 



hotheads and proceed in an orderly, objective and reasoned fashion, 

 the committee decided to postpone further hearings until 1974. At 

 the same time, the committee requested three studies on the subject 

 from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the 

 Industrial Research Institute and the Science Policy Research Division 

 of CRS. This action was in keeping with the carefully patient approach 

 which was based on the conclusion that probably very little 

 could be accomplished to change President Nixon's personal convic- 

 tions on what kind of science advisory apparatus he really wanted. 

 The committee continued to feel it would be most productive to 

 plan carefully for whatever President followed Nixon. 



THE LOW-KEY APPROACH 



The almost low key approach to this highly explosive issue was 

 described in coldly clinical terms in the committee's interim report, 

 printed in July 1974. The report described the 1973, first-phase hear* 

 ings as "status and posture" hearings, and proceeded to this prosaic 

 self-analysis, scarcely calculated to bid for best-seller lists: 



The next step is an appraisal of the first phase- and an effort to acquire, from 

 a broad range of sources, fresh observations and views and, if necessary, recommen- 

 dations for improvement. This should entail not only study and critique of our national 

 science and technology institutions, but an assessment of the causal conditions and 

 forces most likely to shape those institutions in the foreseeable future. 



The data poured in, along with scores of letters, articles, resolu- 

 tions and other opinions from organizations and concerned individuals. 

 Early in 1974, the National Academy of Sciences established an ad 

 hoc Committee on Science and Technology, with a mission to recom- 

 mend how the relationship of science and technology to the Federal 

 Government could be improved. 



On March 25, 1974, Symington, Mosher, and Yeager huddled 

 with Dr. James R. Killian, former Science Adviser to President Eisen- 

 hower. Dr. Killian brought along David Beckler, who was directing 

 the National Academy of Sciences study. Dr. Killian, Symington, and 

 Mosher all expressed the hope that the committee would be able to 

 blend the second phase of its hearings with the issuance of the Killian 

 report, and to have one of the compilers of that report as an early 

 witness during the next hearings. Yeager then related to Teague: 



Dr. Killian expressed his gratification that the hearings were being conducted 

 in full committee, so that all Members would have an opportunity to become ac- 

 quainted with the problems which exist in this broad-gauge field. He requested that 

 the commit tee cooperate with his group in the interim and provide each other with 

 such information and data as might be mutually profitable. 



