ABSTRACT

Most of the governmental scientific and technological issues are associated with large and complex affairs. Basic scientific research gets a somewhat different treatment in government. It has long been established that the federal government has a fundamental mission of funding basic scientific research, a necessary forerunner to so many vital needs of the country. Beyond the special problem of the positive versus the negative, there is a great worry about the big surprises. Presidents do not like surprises. Each one wants both to be first to hear bad news so they can prepare to handle it, and to know about good news so they can take advantage of it. The scientific advisory structure has had its ups and downs, but generally has made a worthwhile contribution. Each President has handled it differently, depending on personal taste, White House staff structure and personnel, and especially the kinds of technological issues which emerged during a given Presidential tenure.