852 
THE MARINE SCIENCES COUNCIL AND MARINE SCIENCES COMMISSION 
The life of the National Council began when, Dr. Wenk? 
Dr. Wenx. The first meeting of the National Council was August 17, 
1966. 
Mr. Lennon. You have been the executive secretary of the Neronal 
Council since its formation ? 
Dr. Wenk. Yes, sir. I had the privilege of being sworn into office 
that very day, at first meeting of the Council. 
Mr. Lennon. And during the life of the Council in the prior Admin- 
istrations, they worked very closely, did they not, doctor, with the 
Commission ? 
Dr. Wen. They worked closely, but, as I am sure you recognize, 
there was agreement from the very beginning that the Council and 
the Commission should be independent bodies—each in a sense having 
a different purpose; but there was very close cooperation between the 
two. 
Mr. Lennon. Of course, you personally know something of the 
background of the gentlemen who served on the National Commission ? 
Dr. WENK. Yes, sir, I do. 
Mr. Lennon. You know that after the President signed the act that 
two members of this committee directed a communication to the then 
President Johnson urging him to select the most competent, capable 
men in this field, and particularly those men who would give the time 
and had the dedication to bring a meaningful report to the Congress 
and to the President and to the country. 
Is there any question in your mind about the capability and the 
background and the knowledge and the time and the dedication that 
these men spent in making the findings and ultimately their recom- 
mendations, conclusions, and recommendations to the President and 
to the Congress ? 
Dr. WENK. There is none whatsoever, Mr. Chairman. Not only did 
they bring their own personal experience and expertise to this Com- 
mission, but i in my long experience in government, I have never seen a 
commission where the members themselves devoted the time and en- 
ergy to this study as these members did. 
Mr. Lennon. Now, you recall in the language of the act itself, the 
Commission was requested, or in fact mandated, to make its recom- 
mendations to the President and the Congress concerning their views 
on a Government structure and the type ‘of Government structure if 
they recommended one. Now you raised the question, would such a 
Government structure provide better performance at the same or lower 
cost? What is your opinion as to whether or not such a Government 
structure could provide a better performance regardless of the cost ? 
Dr. WenxK. I would have to answer affirmatively, Mr. Chairman, in 
regard to NOAA. For example, at the present time we have three 
civilian oceanographic fleets, the Coast Guard, Coast and Geodetic 
Survey and Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 
Mr. Lennon. At that point, you know that the National Council has 
been able to coordinate certain overlapping agencies. It has been able 
to do that, the National Council through its initiative has been called 
on to do that, and has accomplished that. 
Dr. Wenkx. Yes, it has. 
