S< II Nc I IN Till WII1TI HOI si 631 



to help launch the full committee's June 10 hearings on science policy 

 and organization. Finally, the desired activity began to crystalize. 



Teague, Mosher, Symington, and several Senators were invited 

 to the White House for a major meeting in the Cabinet Room on 

 May 22. Mosher recalls that President Ford opened the meeting and 

 expressed his enthusiastic support for legislation by the Congress to 

 reestablish scientific machinery in the White House, after which the 

 President indicated he was relying on Vice President Rockefeller to 

 see that this was accomplished. Following the White House meeting, 

 Teague stated: 



The discussions at the White House were very fruitful because the President 

 intimated that the Vice President would participate at the opening of the hearings. 

 The President left me with the feeling that he places science policy legislation in a 

 priority category. President Ford told us that he expects to send to the Congress, in the 

 very near future, a piece of legislation similar to the one I have proposed, but dealing 

 only with the science advisory mechanism. This would take the form of a single 

 Science Adviser to the President, located in the Executive office. 



Arrangements were soon firmed up for the Vice President's ap- 

 pearance before the committee. The President came through with his 

 special message and bill, but it did not arrive until June 9 — the night 

 before the big committee hearing opened. 



A DRAMATIC SPECTACULAR 



As dramatic spectaculars go, the committee scored a great tri- 

 umph in arranging Rockefeller's appearance on June 10. Trailed by 

 cameramen, illuminated by television lights, surrounded by secret 

 service, the press and his aides, the Vice President somehow made his 

 way through the autograph hunters and willing handshakers up to 

 the front of the main committee room, 2318 Rayburn. Teague stressed 

 the fact in advance that for reasons of protocol, the Vice President 

 would appear as a guest of the committee rather than as a witness. 

 His mere presence focused attention on the fact that the administra- 

 tion was not merely giving lipservice to its desire to have legislation 

 to restore the scientific advisory apparatus in the White House. 



But in terms of nationwide publicity for the Vice President's 

 appearance, it proved to be a flop. It just so happened that the very 

 same day of Rockefeller's appearance he also released, with great 

 fanfare, the results of a long study of the CIA and intelligence appa- 

 ratus by a special commission which he had headed. Naturally, the 

 news media concentrated 100 percent of its attention on the CIA 

 report, without a line of newsprint or millimeter of TV film about 

 Rockefeller's appearance at the committee. 



