ABSTRACT
The fact that the President in reorganizing the science advisory apparatus decided not to make use of a formal outside group such as a President’s Committee on Science and Technology has come under some criticism. Each President has employed science and technology advice differently. Each has turned to his Adviser, and to the science and engineering communities in ways that were consistent with his personality, his methods of operating his office, and what the events of the day demanded. As an incumbent Science Adviser it would not be proper for the author to write in judgement of the science advisory mechanism. Only history will shed some perspective on how successful it was as compared with others. The recounting of their experiences and their perspectives on past policymaking in this field should make enlightening reading for everyone interested in learning more about how Presidents deal with the important issues of science and technology.
