Remembering the Space Age. - Black Vault Radio Network (BVRN)

60 reMeMBerING the SpaCe aGe
does not mean that we should mount our charger and try to
ride of in all directions at once.We must clearly identify the
exact and critical needs that have to be met. We must then
apply our resources at that point as fully as the need demands.
this means selectivity in national expenditures of all kinds. 15
By analyzing metaphor in his speeches and press conferences, Linda t. Krug
notes eisenhower’s “images created a vision of a nation of scientist-generals
already hard at work planning how to unlock the secrets of the universe.” 16 But
the conclusion she draws that “eisenhower was the only president who saw the
space program as a viable entity in and of itself ” is based on the assumption that
eisenhower never clothed hidden intentions in crowd-pleasing rhetoric. 17 Such
sweeping conclusions about eisenhower’s personal views cannot be drawn from
televised statements. all presidents must maintain a carefully groomed public
persona.While eisenhower’s public proclamations often criticized big government,
policy decisions and internal White house discourse did not match his rhetoric.
the National Security Council (NSC) engaged the question of prestige
in relation to the planned american and Soviet satellite launches during the
International Geophysical Year of 1957-1958. a technological Capabilities
panel (tCp) was formed in 1954 under James Killian to investigate the satellite
question and other technical issues deemed vital to national security. 18 the
tCp issued its fnal report in February 1955 and the NSC, following the
tCp’s recommendation, concluded in May of that year that the U.S. efort
(project Vanguard) should be given high priority as “considerable prestige
and psychological benefts will accrue to the nation which frst is successful
in launching a satellite.” 19 the importance of such benefts was paramount to
15. Dwight D. eisenhower, “radio and television address to the american people on Science in
National Security,” November 7, 1957, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/speeches/19571113%20
Radio%20and%20Television%20Address%20on%20Our%20Future%20Security.htm.
16. Linda t. Krug, Presidential Perspectives on Space Exploration: Guiding Metaphors from Eisenhower to
Bush (New York: praeger publishers, 1991), p. 29.
17. Ibid.
18. the tCp also drew the famous conclusion that establishing freedom of over-fight in space,
i.e., sovereignty claims of airspace not extending beyond the atmosphere, was in the long-term
interests of the U.S. this was motivated by the expectation that the U.S. would have a large
lead over the U.S.S.r. in electronic satellite reconnaissance capability. For an overview of the
tCp and its impact on the freedom of space, see McDougall . . . the Heavens and the Earth, ch. 5.
Dwayne a. Day has recently uncovered documents tracing the origin of this principle to a CIa
intelligence ofcer, richard Bissell, and an air Force aide working for the CIa. Dwayne Day,
“the Central Intelligence agency and Freedom of Space,” paper presented at remembering
the Space age: 50th anniversary Conference, NaSa history Ofce and National air & Space
Museum Division of Space history, Washington, DC, October 22, 2007.
19. “National Security Council report 5520: Missile and Space programs.” See A Guide to Documents of
the National Security Council, 1947-1977 ed. paul Kesaris, (University publications of america, 1980).