728 HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



Fifth." A lawyer and former prosecuting attorney, Wydler's interest 

 in space first drew him to the Science Committee because of the 

 location of the Grumman Corp. at Bcthpage, N.Y. The dish-rattling 

 decibels of noise from aircraft at Kennedy Airport soon propelled 

 Wydler into the most outspoken leader in the Congress on aircraft 

 noise. Mosher describes this personality difference: 



I never pushed as vigorously as Wydler on minority staffing. I was more in the 

 role of a mediator. 



In September 1977, Mosher was summoned out of retirement to 

 become executive director of the committee for the final 16 

 months of Teague's service as chairman. Once again, he served more 

 as a mediator, with the basic staff work on the minority problem 

 being performed by Colonel Gould in presenting the facts to Teague. 

 But the point man on minority staff was clearly Wydler, who went 

 to bat and refused to accept delay or opposition. In commenting on 

 the minority staff during his testimony before the House Admini- 

 stration Committee on March 1, 1978, Wydler stated: 



During the past year, we have expanded the minority staff. These additions have 

 been highly qualified, competent people who have contributed significantly to en- 

 hancing the professional capabilities of the committee. * * * (They) have a very sub- 

 stantive role in the achievement of the committee's mission. I feel that an autonomous, 

 capable minority staff is extremely important in helping the minority meet its 

 responsibilities. 



One of the notable contributions of the minority staff has been the 

 minority briefing book, including objective, pro and con views on 

 some of the major issues confronted by all the subcommittees. Updated 

 quarterly, this briefing book has been found to be a useful tool in 

 interpreting the issues which surface in the committee. 



The briefing book was developed by Paul A. Vander Myde, who 

 became minority staff director on August 15, 1977. A tall, personable 

 man with a smooth and easy manner, Vander Myde uses quiet persua- 

 sion rather than bombast to get his points across. Following his under- 

 graduate and graduate work at the Universities of Iowa and Minnesota, 

 Vander Myde served at the National Security Agency, as Legislative 

 Assistant to U.S. Senator Bob Packwood (Republican of Oregon), and 

 Executive Assistant to the Vice President from 1971 to 1973. After 

 6 months as a staff member of the Domestic Council in the White 

 House, he was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of Agriculture 

 in 1973, his last position before being selected as minority staff director. 



WYDLER CLASHES WITH TEAGUE 



In the spring of 1978, Wydler clashed with Teague on their respec- 

 tive interpretations of the size, assignments and qualifications of 

 minority staff. Wydler told the House Administration Committee that 



