202 HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



1 want tn say this to you, Mr. Webb. Over the past few years * * * I probably have 

 been one of the most critical members on this committee of XASA * * * It appeared 

 to me * * * that you have had it too easy for your own good from this committee. 

 This is not a criticism being directed inwardly at the Congress and this committee. 

 I feel right now that you got less criticism than you deserved (in the past, but now) 

 you are getting more criticism than you deserve. I don't intend to add to it for that 

 reason. 



In awarding Teague NASA's Distinguished Public Service Medal 

 on October 3, 1978, NASA Administrator Robert A. Frosch commented: 



The single episode which best epitomizes Mr. Teague's profound faith in the 

 space effort, was the leadership he demonstrated at the time of the Apollo fire in 

 early 1967. The space program was in severe jeopardy because of the tragic deaths of 

 the Apollo crew; many influential Americans questioned the wisdom of proceeding 

 with the lunar landing program; the basic concept of the space effort was challenged; 

 and many potentially disrupting actions were being proposed. The dynamic leadership 

 of Chairman Teague spurred a prompt identification of the issues and a clear-cut 

 course of action to resolve them. Undoubtedly, more than any other single individual, 

 Chairman Teague "saved" the program and redirected our energies in a direction 

 which resulted in the successful lunar landing within the decade of the 1960's. 



Chairman Teague and members of his investigating committee inspect materials recovered 

 from the Apollo spacecraft after the fire. From left, Teague, Representative Guy A. Vander 

 Jagt (Republican of Michigan), Astronaut Frank Borman, Representative Ken Hechler (Demo- 

 crat of West Virginia). 



