from the bottom those who will be the leaders at the top because unmeasured and 

 unknown factors enter into scientific, or any, leadershij). There are brains and character, 

 strength and health, happiness and spiritual vitality, interest and motivation, and no one 

 knows what else, that must needs enter into this supra-mathematical calculus. 



"We think we probablv would not, even if we were all-wise and all-knowing, write 

 you a plan whereby you would be assured of scientific leadership at one stroke. We 

 think as we think because we are not interested in setting up an elect. We think it 

 much the best plan, in this constitutional Republic, that opportunity be held out to all 

 kinds and conditions of men whereby they can better themselves. This is the American 

 way; this is the way the United States has become what it is. We think it very important 

 that circumstances be such that there be no ceilings, other than ability itself, to intel- 

 lectual ambition. We think it very important that everv boy and girl shall know that, if 

 he shows that he has what it takes, the sky is the limit. Even if it be shown subsequently 

 that he has not what it takes to go to the top, he will go farther than he would otherwise 

 go if there had been a ceiling bevond v\'hich he alwavs knew he could not aspire. 



"By proceeding from point to point and taking stock on the way, by giving further 

 opportunity to those who show themsekes worthy of further opportunity, by giving the 

 most opportunity to those who show themselves continually developing — this is the way 

 v^'e propose. This is the American way: a man works for what he gets." 



Remove the Barriers 



Higher education in this country is largely for those who have the means. 

 If those who have the means coincided entirely with those persons who have 

 the talent we should not be squandering a part of our higher education on 

 those undeserving of it, nor neglecting great talent among those who fail 

 to attend college for economic reasons. There are talented individuals in 

 everv segment of the population, but with few exceptions those without the 

 means of buying higher education go without it. Here is a tremendous waste 

 of the greatest resource of a nation — the intelligence of its citizens. 



If ability, and not the circumstance of family fortune, is made to determine 

 who shall receive higher education in science, then we shall he assured of 

 constantly improving qjiality at every level of scientific activity. 



The Generation in Uniform Must !Sot Be Lost 



We have a serious deficit in scientific personnel partly because the men 

 who would have studied science in the colleges and universities have been 

 serving in the Armed Forces. Many had begun their studies before they went 

 to war. Others with capacitv for scientific education went to war after 

 finishing high school. The most immediate prospect of making up some of 

 the deficit in scientific personnel is by salvaging scientific talent from the 

 generation in uniform. For even if we should start now to train the current 

 crop of high school graduates, it would be 1951 before thev would complete 

 graduate studies and be prepared for effective scientific research. This fact 

 underlines the necessity of salvaging potential scientists in uniform. 



The Armed Services shoidd comb their records for vien who, prior to or 

 during the war, have given evidence of talent for science, and make prompt 

 arrangements, consistent with current discharge plans, for ordering those 

 who remain in iiniforui as soon as militarily possible to duty at institutions 



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