what's going on, mr. president?

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Page 1: What's going on, Mr. President?

CENEAR51 (5) 1-32 (1973)

Chemical and Engineering News 1155 Sixteenth St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036

Editor: PATRICK P. McCURDY

Managing Editor: Melvin J. Josephs

Assistant Managing Editors: Michael Heylin, James H. Krieger

Senior Editors: Earl V. Anderson (New York); David M. Kiefer, Brendan F. Somerville

Senior Associate Editors: Howard J. Sanders, Donald J. Soisson

Staff Writer: Joseph Haggin

Assistant Editors: Kathryn Campbell, Ernest L. Car­penter, Richard J. Seltzer

Editing Services: Joyce A. Richards (Head)

Editorial Reference: Barbara A. Gallagher

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Editorial

What's going on, Mr. President? At press time, the state and status of science and technology in this country were not at all clear. The past several weeks have seen exten­sive reorganizing in the White House, including planned abolition of the Office of Science and Technology, the office of the science adviser to the President (established under President Eisenhower), and the Presi­dent's Science Advisory Committee. Many of the former responsi­bilities of these departing science representatives are to be trans­ferred to the National Science Foundation and its director, H. Guyford Stever. As C&EN's Washington News Bureau head, Fred Zerkel, puts it, Guy Stever seems slated to become a "czar of sorts" over much of the federal science effort (see page 2).

The question is: Of what sort and over what effort? This is no criti­cism of Dr. Stever or NSF. Rather it reflects the still larger question: Whither U.S. science and technology? Firm conclusions would be pre­mature at this point, with so little hard information in hand, but it is diffi­cult not to conclude that this latest Administration action represents a general, even severe, downgrading of science and technology in the mind of the President. We hope we're wrong. Yet what other interpreta­tion can be put on a move that apparently cancels out the nation's highest science advisory office, one which, at least in theory, had direct contact with the President, and removes (relegates?) its function to an agency, and not a large one by federal standards, at that?

Opinion is mixed, but only in relative, negative degree. Reaction in the federal science establishment runs a gamut from deep pessimism to cautious optimism. Perhaps the most stinging response thus far comes from Rep. John W. Davis (D.-Ga.), chairman of the House Sub­committee on Science, Research and Development (which oversees NSF). Davis calls the reorganization "disastrous . . . a bad mistake." Seasoned with partisan rhetoric, perhaps, but Davis' words deserve attention. After all, one could view the President's plan as actually strengthening the science hand of both Rep. Davis and Sen. Kennedy, as well. But maybe the President doesn't care; that's the real worry.

For with the key role played by science and technology in this country and the hope it holds for the future, it seems beyond question that the President needs to hear the voice of science directly, often, and from a science source that is "above the battle." In OST the voice, effective or not, at least was there. Now it will be muted and modulated as it goes through George Shultz, Secretary of the Treasury.

The idea of a central science czar has never had much appeal among scientists, a view we share. Science and technology cut across too many areas for such a concept to be workable. But for this very reason, it would seem imperative that the President have a respected scien­tist/statesman in his immediate circle.

A year ago, both in his State of the Union remarks and in his unprece­dented R&D message, the President seemed to be giving renewed emphasis to science and technology. "Science and Technology repre­sent an enormous power in our life—and a unique opportunity. It is now for us to decide whether we will waste these magnificent energies—or whether we will use them to create a better world . . . ." He also talked of setting "clear and intelligent targets for research and development." He referred to a new "federal partnership." We also heard talk of an overall technology policy. More money for science seemed ahead.

We thought he was on the right track a year ago, and said so. Now we wonder whether there's been a derailment. Perhaps we will be plea­santly surprised by still another of those startling thrusts that are be­coming a hallmark of this Administration. Meanwhile, we ask: What's going on, Mr. President?

Patrick P. McCurdy

C&EN EDITORIALS REPRESENT ONLY THE VIEWS OF THE AUTHOR AND AIM AT TRIGGERING INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION.

Jan. 29, 1973 C&EN 1