THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 189 



responsible for Civil Service Commission approval of these same men in 

 positions carrying salaries commensurate with their responsibilities as de- 

 fined in the Classification Act and Regulations. The situation v^^as one 

 requiring close co-operation between the two offices. 



The Administrative Office was the unit through which most of the for- 

 mal controls (other than those of a scientific nature) were exercised. Its 

 philosophy was that of giving the scientists the greatest amount of leeway 

 possible, of working with the divisions and the contractors as members of 

 a team whose main job was winning the war. Every effort was made to 

 devise controls which would offer the least interference with progress and 

 yet would protect the public interest. The scientists were co-operative, and 

 with a spirit of good will on both sides, the "red tape" was kept to a min- 

 imum and was observed in good temper and with relatively few lapses. 



The writer's intimate association with the Administrative Office makes 

 it difficult for him to assess its performance. As a principal subdivision of 

 OSRD it was on a parity with NDRC and CMR, but it recognized that its 

 mission was to facilitate their operations, just as they in turn existed pri- 

 marily to stimulate and direct the scientists in the laboratories of OSRD 

 contractors. OSRD was a co-operative undertaking to an unusual extent; 

 its success was built upon the way in which it made use of the unique abil- 

 ities of many people of varying talents. The results are apparent just as the 

 observation tower of a tall building stands out. In both cases a firm foun- 

 dation is essential. For OSRD the Administrative Office was an impor- 

 tant part of the foundation. 



At its peak the full-time paid employees of OSRD numbered approxi- 

 mately 850; of these some 300 were in the Administradve Office. The or- 

 ganization of the Office was constantly shifting in the endeavor to give 

 better service to the scientists, directly or indirectly, in an infinite number 

 of ways. It might be in obtaining an electronic component in short supply, 

 the absence of which was blocking a research program, or in working out 

 a way to borrow a tank. It might be in arranging a half million dollar 

 advance payment to keep a contractor going or in helping to recover a 

 dollar disallowed by the General Accounting Office under circumstances 

 which left the claimant sour on the whole idea of working with or for the 

 Government. It might be in finding ways to help launch a new research 

 program or in enabling a scientist to make an essential trip in spite of the 

 fact that every mode of transport was completely sold out. 



Successful operation of the Administrative Office involved assuring the 

 Comptroller General that Government funds would be properly spent and 

 contractors that they could work successfully within the necessary regula- 

 tions without grave risk of loss of their funds. It meant convincing the mili- 

 tary services that an adequate program had been established to protect their 



