188 



He noted that because of its size, the Mohole project had been "the 

 subject of almost continuous review." However, there was, in fact, little 

 new to be said of it — most of the formal testimony was a rehash of 

 earlier statements except for the new and larger funding requirements. 



Dr. Homig, the President's science adviser, assured the subcommit- 

 tee that "We consider Mohole a major ingredient in our national effort 

 on ocean science and deep ocean engineering * * *." ^^ Dr. Frederick 

 Seitz, President of the National Academy of Sciences, appealed for 

 restoration of the Mohole project which he said was "still regarded as 

 a soundly conceived scientific program. It has continued to receive the 

 support and interest of those most qualified to judge the merits of work 

 in this field." Dr. Seitz made this comment in the context of a policy 

 recommendation concerning support of science in wartime. Noting thai 

 the House had related the proposed appropriation cut to the need for 

 economy "to recoup some of the expenditures for the Vietnamese war," 

 he urged that — 



The challenges presented to our Nation today because of world tensions and 

 conflicts should cause us to redouble our efforts in the pursuit of good science 

 and engineering and not to blunt them. It is notable that during World War II 

 when the Soviet Union was fighting for its life as an independent nation it 

 took important steps to protect work in basic and applied science behind its 

 frontlines. 



The success of the leaders in accomplishing this goal explains in substantial 

 measure why the Soviet Union was able to have a fission bomb by 1949 and a hy- 

 drogen or fusion bomb about the same time as we. 



It also explains in part why they were able to launch an earth satellite sub- 

 stantially before we did. Science and its applications represent the lifeline of our 

 Nation, to the future.*' 



The remaining legislative history of Project Mohole is brief. The 

 Senate Appropriations Committee restored the Mohole funding to the 

 bill as reported. The Senate passed the amended bill August 10, by a 

 record vote of 82 to 2 with 16 not voting, '^^ after a proposed amendment 

 by Senator Allott to delete the Mohole provision had been rejected 

 by a vote of 46 to 37 with 17 not voting.^* The bill went to conference. 

 In the conference committee. Senator Magnuson, chairman of the 

 Senate delegation, agreed that if the House should sustain the cut by 

 a record vote the Senate conferees would agree to the cut. On August 

 18, the House voted (108 to 59) to sustain the cut.®^ The Senate on 

 August 24 agreed to recede from the Mohole amendment '^^ and to 

 accept the conference report.^' 



III. Conclusions 



Undoubtedly Mohole must be accounted a failure. After many 

 brave words about securing supremacy for the United States in the 

 exploration of "inner space," and investing some $36 million in the 

 enterprise, those responsible for managing and supporting the project 



"1 Ibid., p. 1535. 



82 Ibid., pp. 1771-1772. 



83 Independent oflfice.s appropriations, 1967. Remarks on the floor of the Senate. Con- 

 gressional Record (Aug. 10, 1966), p. 18095. 



" Ibid., p. 18093. 



«5 Independent executive agencies and the Department of Housing and Urban Develop- 

 ment appropriations, 1967. RemarIvS on the floor of the House. Congressional Record (Aug. 

 18, 1966), p. 19065. 



«* Independent ofQces appropriations, 1967. Conference report. Discussion on the floor 

 of the Senate. Congressional Record, (Aug. 24, 1966), p. 19637. 



6' Ibid., p. 19635. 



