102 



The decision 2)rocess on NSF legidafion 



The NSF concept was strongly favored by the scientific community 

 in the United States, by the p'ubhc at hirge, and by a considerable 

 consensus in both Houses of Congress. The fact that it failed of enact- 

 ment from 1946 to 1950 is explained by the variety of subordinate 

 issues it raised. These issues included the patent provisions of the 

 various bills, the issue of basic versus applied science, the possibility 

 of alternatively resorting to tax concessions as a means of stimulating 

 scientific research, and the question of mandatory distribution of 

 NSF funds geographically. The most salient issue was whether the 

 NSF should be a conventional agency of the Government, under a 

 director responsible to the President, or an agency run by a part-time 

 board of scientists, assisted by an agency director resj^onsible to them. 



In essence, this issue was viewed as that of scientific pursuit of new 

 knowledge, free from "government dictation." The question as to 

 the inclusion of the social sciences mthin the scope of NSF was a 

 relatively minor one. Although it loomed large at first, it was resolved 

 by the Senate in the debate in July 1946. While the question was 

 again debated in 1947, the outcome was the same. The issue was 

 whether the social sciences should be (a) explicitly included as an 

 equal partner ^nth the ])hysical, the biological, and the medical 

 sciences; (b) not included at all; (c) included, subject to narrow con- 

 straints; or (d) left to later determination by the NSF itself. Dr. Bush 

 had recommended the fourth alternative, and the Senate concurred 

 in his recommendation mthout much difficulty. 



The extensive hearings in the Senate subcommittee, and the 1946 

 debate on the Senate floor ^^ill be discussed later on. Although the 

 social science decision made in 1946 became a fixture of subsequent 

 bills, the Senate bill expired with the close of the 1946 legislative 

 session. 



In 1947, after different bills had been passed by the two Houses, 

 agreement was reached in conference on a compromise (permissive 

 with regard to the social sciences) that would establish a National 

 Science Foundation imder the direction of a part-time board of 

 scientists. President Truman rejected this proposal by pocket veto, 

 August 6, on the basis of the lack of Executive control."This action he 

 took with "deep regret" because he had "hoped earnestly" for suitable 

 legislation; however the bill as passed would, he said." "be divorced 

 from control by the peoi)le to an extent that implies a distinct lack of 

 faith in democratic i:)rocesses." ^^ 



Also in 1947 the President created by Executi^'e Order a Presidential 

 Scientific Eesearch Board, and appointed John R. Steelman, his 

 principal adviser, as its chairman. This Board was to undertake a 

 study of U.S. scientific research and re]:)ort its recommendations to 

 the President on national science policy. Like the Bush studv it 

 omitted consideration of the social sciences. The rejiort of the Steel- 

 man committee explained this omission on the grounds of their 

 unmanageability. A statement by Dr. Bronk was cited with approval 

 that every field of research in the physical sciences led sooner or later 

 to new social ])roblems, so that "competent social scientists should 



's Congressional Eecord (Nov. 17, 1947), p. 10568. 



