GEMINI AND APOLLO I77 



Teague's conviction was that the more people who could see 

 what was going on, the mote they had an opportunity to learn through 

 asking questions, the better understanding of and support for the 

 program would result. In the spirit of the 1958 Space Act, he constantly 

 lobbied for more openness in the space program, and more liberal 

 policies toward admitting the general public to the Cape. On Decem- 

 ber 16, 1963, the Defense Department bowed to pressure and began to 

 allow motorists to drive through portions of its 17,000-acre reserva- 

 tion. They were only allowed to drive through during a 3-hour period 

 from 9 a.m. until noon on Sundays, and then only along a marked 

 route a mile or so from the launch pads. Nobody was allowed to stop. 

 Photographs? Yes, if you took them from your moving car without 

 stopping. Even with these restrictions, the public response was 

 enthusiastic. 



Teague brought up with Webb the whole issue of public access 

 in 1963- Webb countered that this was a Defense Department respon- 

 sibility, but that NASA would consider the question of public visits 

 when construction was completed at the Merritt Island spaceport. 

 On New Year's Day 1964, Teague had one of his small-scale persuasion 

 tours of Cape Kennedy for Representatives Joseph Karth (Democrat 

 of Minnesota) and Thomas Pelly (Republican of Washington). Shortly 

 after returning to Washington and before the 1964 hearings had gotten 

 underway, Teague decided to formalize his campaign with a lengthy 

 letter to Webb, dated January 10, 1964, which said in part: 



I would like to bring up a matter which, it seems to me, is of increasing impor- 

 tance — and that is the problem of permitting visitors to make a tour of the general 

 Cape area and the Space Center. There is no question that the pressures are growing 

 for a more liberal policy in this respect, and to permit the average American to get a 

 glimpse of what is going on at this major center of our space effort. Indeed, it seems 

 to me that the Cape has already become an area of national interest and that if more 

 people were permitted to visit it and see for themselves, our space program might 

 receive much benefit in the way of public support. 



I realize that there have been good reasons for the limitations imposed thus far 

 and, also, that a plan to open the Cape to tourists would have to be carefully conceived 

 so as not to disturb operations there or result in danger to visitors. Nevertheless, it 

 seems to me that plans of this nature could be studied, produced, and put into opera- 

 tion. I would like to discuss this matter with officials at the Cape during the forth- 

 coming visit of my subcommittee and I would appreciate your views on the subject 

 and would be grateful for any comments you might have to make prior to that time. 



In an extended reply, Webb concurred with Teague's suggestions. 

 He promised that when the Merritt Island launch area became opera- 

 tional, a year hence, tours would be supplemented by written and 

 oral explanations of the work in progress and of our programs. 



To follow up the recommendations, the Teague subcommittee 

 recommended in its March 11, 1964, report: 



