SCUM ! IN THi: WHITE HOUSE 633 



and President Ford wanted to take a fresh look at the whole 

 scene * * *." 



The Vice President mentioned that the bill sent up by the admin- 

 istration proposed an Office of Science and Technology, headed by a 

 Director who would serve as the President's Science Adviser. He 

 resurrected an old familiar term when he suggested that the Science 

 Adviser "would provide an early warning system to the Presi- 

 dent * * *." He delighted his listeners by adding: 



Probably the thing that the science community was most anxious, and which I 

 think is most important, and I know you ladies and gentlemen all feel that, is that he 

 not only must have access to the President, but he must also have access to the White 

 House staff and organization which is preparing and doing the staff work for the 

 President, whether it is the National Security Council or the Domestic Council. 



INTERNAL DEBATE IN THE WHITE HOUSE 



During the question period, Mosher and Symington, both of whom 

 had been at the May 22 White House meeting where there was some 

 debate about whether or not the Science Adviser should be subject to 

 Senate confirmation, raised the issue again with the Vice President. 

 Rockefeller candidly revealed the nature of an internal debate going on 

 within the White House in the following exchange with Mosher: 



Mr. Mosher. And you believe the White House is leaning toward confirmation 

 of this person by the Senate, although it is not mentioned in the bill. 



The Vice President. Well, I would say the President is. That doesn't necessarily 

 mean everybody in the White House is. 



Mr. Mosher. I know that. 



The Vice President. Excuse me for making the distinction. 



Later in the question period, Symington, referring also to the May 22 

 meeting he had attended, again brought up the issue of Senate 

 confirmation: 



Mr. Symington. I am just wondering if you think the President might be 

 allowed to have his way in this respect? 



The Vice President. That is an interesting question. You were there and heard 

 him express himself on the subject, and I think he understands probably better than 

 most in the White House the importance of the relationship between the Congress 

 and the Executive and that really we can only do an effective job for this country if 

 we develop policies together and stick together and carry them out together. 



Nine additional members had a chance to pop brief questions. 

 Jarman asked about a cabinet-level Secretary of Research and Tech- 

 nology Operations, as included in the Teague-Mosher bill. The Vice 

 President was generally negative, but courteous, as he was to Mc- 

 Cormack who made an impassioned plea with be.iucoup illustrations 

 as to why it was the best and only solution. Wydler for the first time 



