ABSTRACT
Much of the technology that structures American lives today in ways people largely take for granted is of extremely recent origin. In 1900, there were few automobiles or household telephones; motion pictures were just getting underway; there were no household radios, no airplanes, no televisions, no computers. The rapid and pervasive transformation resulting from science and technology calls for the strengthening of institutional capability for objective, scholarly analysis of critical issues based on a broad foundation of knowledge and experience. For the Executive branch, a greatly strengthened Office of Science and Technology Policy in the White House can play a crucial role in performing such functions. The Science Advisor needs a substantial staff — much larger than the present one; and a President's Science Advisory Committee. The latter can help to decide what needs to be studied in depth and how.
