LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 



Office of Scientific Research and Development 



1530 P Street, NW. 



Washington 25, D. C. 



July 5, 1945. 



Dear Mr. President: 



In a letter dated November 17, 1944, President Roosevelt requested my 

 recommendations on the following points: 



(1) What can be done, consistent with military security, and with the 

 prior approval of the military authorities, to make known to the world as 

 soon as possible the contributions which have been made during our war 

 effort to scientific knowledge? 



(2) With particular reference to the war of science against disease, what 

 can be done now to organize a program for continuing in the future the 

 work which has been done in medicine and related sciences? 



(3) What can the Government do now and in the future to aid research 

 activities bv public and private organizations? 



(4) Can an effective program be proposed for discovering and developing 

 scientific talent in American youth so that the continuing future of scientific 

 research in this country mav be assured on a level comparable to what has 

 been done during the war? 



It is clear from President Roosevelt's letter that in speaking of science he 

 had in mind the natural sciences, including biology and medicine, and I 

 have so interpreted his questions. Progress in other fields, such as the social 

 sciences and the humanities, is likewise important; but the program for 

 science presented in my report warrants immediate attention. 



In seeking answers to President Roosevelt's questions I have had the 

 assistance of distinguished committees specially qualified to advise in respect 

 to these subjects. The committees have given these matters the serious 

 attention thev deserve; indeed, they have regarded this as an opportunity 

 to participate in shaping the policy of the countrv with reference to scien- 

 tific research. They have had many meetings and have submitted formal 

 reports. I have been in close touch with the work of the committees and 

 with their members throughout. I have examined all of the data they 

 assembled and the suggestions thev submitted on the points raised in Presi- 

 dent Roose\'elt's letter. 



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