Chapter 7 - Growing pains 1952–1974

Abstract

In World War II, science had revealed a terrifying power to erase huge numbers of human lives as well as property. During his presidency, covered in this chapter, Eisenhower worried about the undue influence of the military-industrial complex and its technological underpinnings, and he was concerned about the growth of a scientific elite. However, he was committed to scientific research and his administration took a number of steps to elevate science and technology policymaking within the White House. As discussed in this chapter, largely in response to Sputnik and other technological challenges from the Soviet Union, Eisenhower signed legislation creating the National Aeronautics and Space Act, making NASA the successor to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, with a mandate to reclaim American superiority in space for both military and scientific purposes. He also authorized the creation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA, now DARPA) in the Department of Defense to accelerate the development of emerging technologies, and he signed the National Defense Education Act to improve science education at all levels. The author makes the case that by the time Eisenhower left office, most of the modern federal science and technology policy machinery was in place. The remainder of the chapter highlights the most important science and technology policy events of the Kennedy and Nixon years, including the Moon landing.