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HISTORY OF IHH COMMITTEE ON v II NCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



tec has been a constant driving force behind the very real success of 

 Federal support programs for science." Handler also concluded: 



The Committee on Science and Technology and its forerunners, as the only 

 committee with a general jurisdiction in the field of science, provided a much-needed 

 legislative mechanism for reviewing and making judgments affecting scientific and 

 technological programs. Until your committee's establishment, legislative responsi- 

 bility for scientific programs of the Federal Government were dispersed among many 

 committees, and leadership often depended upon the interest or initiative of individ- 

 ual members. Not only did the creation of your committee provide a formal institu- 

 tional arrangement for legislative promotion and oversight of science and technology, 

 it also gave to the Nation's scientific and technological community a valuable forum 

 at our national seat of government for interaction with the political process. 



On a much lighter note, Handler recalled a plane trip he had taken 

 with Chairman Miller, Daddario, and others en route to visit the Kitt 

 Peak Observatory. Handler recalled that en route to Tucson "George 

 Miller and I discovered that we both knew all the words to 'The Road 

 to Mandalay' — somewhat to the discomfort of others aboard." Han- 

 dler added: 



At Kitt Peak, we gazed at the large white reflecting plate of the McMath solar 

 telescope, only to find the Sun's image entirely obscured by clouds. Mo Udall, local 

 host Congressman, raised his arms over his head, in the presence of the Chief of the 

 local Indian tribe, and said: "May the Great White Father in Washington cause the 

 Sun to appear." And just as he lowered his arms, there was the Sun! Whereupon, 

 startled, he said: "Lvndon, I didn't know you could hear me!" 



Kitt Peak National Observatory, southwest of Tucson, Ariz. 



