GEMINI AND APOLLO 



187 



When Webb succeeded Glennan as NASA Administrator, Thomas 

 enlisted the aid of his old college roommate, George R. Brown, a heavy- 

 contributor to Lyndon Johnson's campaigns and a close personal 

 confidant of Johnson. Brown, head of the big Houston engineering- 

 construction iirm of Brown & Root, had already been one of the most 

 active consultants for Johnson in the Vice President's mission to pre- 

 pare a space program prospectus for President Kennedy. On May 23, 

 two days before the President's personal appearance before Congress to 

 announce his Moon decision, Webb wrote Vice President Johnson: 



In other discussions with Congressman Thomas, he has made it very clear that 

 he and George Brown were extremely interested in having Rice University make a 

 real contribution to the effort, particularly in view of the fact that some research 

 funds were now being spent at Rice, that the resources of Rice had increased sub- 

 stantially, and that some 3,800 acres of land had been set aside by Rice for an impor- 

 tant research installation. On investigation, I find that we are going to have to 

 establish some place where we can do the technology related to the Apollo program, 

 and this should be on the water where the vehicles can ultimately be barged to the 

 launching site. Therefore, we have looked carefully at the situation at Rice, and at 

 the possible locations near the Houston Ship Canal or other accessible waterways in 

 that general area. 



Webb went on to say that California, Chicago, and the research 

 triangle in North Carolina ("in which Charlie Jonas as the ranking 

 minontv member on Thomas' appropriations subcommittee would 

 have an interest") were other candidates for space installations. Webb 

 wrote Johnson that "I am convinced, and believe you should consider 

 very carefully, that the merit of this program will attract the kind of 

 strong support that will permit the President and you to move the 

 programs on through the Congress with minimum political 

 infighting." 



Thus when many States and communities other than Ohio began 

 to burn the midnight oil to put their proposals together, they had no 

 Keith Glennan to break out laughing and bet: "I'll lay you a year's 

 salary that the Center is going to Houston." Not until after President 

 Kennedy's May 25, 1961, decision to go to the Moon was clearance 

 received for budget approval of the funds. On September 19, 1961, 

 Webb confirmed the fact that Houston had been selected in preference 

 to 20 other cities submitting proposals. Glennan's scenario was 

 accurate. 



On April 5, 1962, Teague's Manned Space Flight Subcommittee 

 held a public hearing which included a review of the Houston land 

 deal. As Teague pointed out during the hearing, Humble Oil Co. 

 conveyed most of the land to Rice University free of charge, on con- 

 dition it would be reconveyed to NASA. When NASA found the need 

 for additional acreage, NASA purchased additional land from Rice 

 which had been conveyed through Humble Oil Co. 



