368 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



knowledge requires a, very great comprehension of the scientific basis 

 from which it evolved, but what I feel is lacking is a comprehensive 

 understanding, a comprehensive body of scientific data about the ocean, 

 a complete understanding of the ocean and its mechanisms. 



Now, the utilization of this data, the body of scientific data, is 

 equally applicable, whether it is in a military role, perhaps in a geo- 

 political situation, or in a straight industrial situation. It is infor- 

 mation that is of value to anyone who has any tangential interest in 

 the ocean. 



I am saying that industry or the scientific community alone cannot 

 accumulate this body of knowledge. It is too big a job. More im- 

 portantly the priorities must be set, because you cannot do everything 

 today, and I think the setting of objectives is a matter of national 

 importance and should not be directed by the private sector. 



Mr. Reinecke. Thank you. I just wanted to clarify that point, 

 because I feel very strongly that our best interests here are going to 

 come from private industry. 



Thank you. 



Mr. Lennon. Mr. Rogers? 



Mr. Rogers. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Clotworthy, I think you have made the point very well and 

 your technology is pushing science and what we need to do is move 

 ahead very quickly on our research. I presume something like NIH, 

 the National Institutes of Health, where we do supposedly do research 

 and it is applied by the technicians all over the country for the benefits 

 of our Nation. 



I wonder if you have in mind — you say you do not want NASA, 

 but you want some direction. Would it be your idea that it might be 

 helpful for us to consider legislation or encourage the setting up of 

 oceanography in the President's setup somewhere, like in the Office of 

 Science and Technology, where the President appoints this man to 

 bring together all of the various budgets to look over to see if we are 

 making the effort to present an overall program of the planning before 

 it goes to the various departments, have some say-so there? 



Is that what you have in mind? 



Mr. Clotworthy. Yes, I would advocate something on that order. 

 It must be high enough in the Government to attract the proper respect 

 and attention to the goals and the means for reaching them. 



Mr. Rogers. Well, the President has appointed a Special Assistant 

 for Poverty, he has an Assistant for Consumer Affairs, he has one, I 

 see, on crime now. So maybe we could give some thought to this. 



I think if we can perhaps come out with some legislation directing 

 full attention, and I think the commission will do this in studying the 

 problem, put some real emphasis, then I think the President is going 

 to be very much in favor of something, because I think this will bring 

 it to his attention properly, and there will not be many fields left for 

 him to act in anyhow next year; unless he has some good field to go 

 forward in, I am afraid — so much has been done this year, that I think 

 he will grasp this with great vigor and probably move forward. 



Thank you. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Lennon. Mr. Downing, do you have anything? 



Mr. Downing. No questions, than you. 



