ALAN T. WATERMAN 



private sources to meet the need (through such measures as 

 revision of the tax structure), and of ways and means of pro- 

 viding some degree of direct support. 



In the meantime, I believe that history will discover that 

 the government's role in relation to research and development 

 has on the whole been an enlightened one. In its broad attack 

 on the degenerative and crippling diseases that afflict mankind; 

 in its development and exploitation of nuclear energy for peace- 

 ful purposes; in its support of basic research unrelated to 

 practical objectives — the government's efforts have contributed 

 greatly to the general welfare. In charting the way through a 

 new held of activity for which precedents and experience were 

 generally lacking, there have, of course, been mistakes and 

 errors of judgment. Nevertheless, as one who has been associ- 

 ated with government research for nearly two decades, I can 

 say that it has shown vitality, flexibility, and the capacity to 

 meet changing needs and situations. Also it has not encroached 

 directly upon the independence of individual scientists and 

 groups supported. For example, federal support of research at 

 colleges and universities exists in various forms ranging from 

 the very narrow to the very broad. The operations of current 

 forms of support are continually studied with a view to adopt- 

 ing modifications and alternatives that would improve the 

 environment for basic research without at the same time being 

 subject to abuse. All forms of support, both narrow and broad, 

 appear to have their place in the general pattern of federal 

 support. In the Foundation, we feel that each agency should 

 use those forms best suited to particular needs at a particular 

 time and should be free to vary its general pattern whenever 

 desirable. 



We are striving to assure stability and continuity of sup- 

 port by awarding grants for longer terms; and there has also 

 been an effort to liberalize, as much as possible, reporting 



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