Conversations: 1951

January 19, 1951

MEMORANDUM FOR THE FILE

SUBJECT: Conversation with General Lucius Clay

I spent three quarters of an hour with General Clay this morning, being joined after the first few minutes by Charlie Stauffacher. Clay and Sidney Weinberg are the Assistants to Charles E. Wilson, Director of Mobilization. Stauffacher had arranged the appointment and had had a brief preliminary conversation last week.

I described the three segments of my study and the conclusions I have reached on National Science Foundation and "Scientific Adviser to the President" matters, and stated that as to the third matter, the Research and Development Board, I had certain tentative judgments under way but was not yet complete.

He said he was interested in National Science Foundation and I therefore stated briefly my judgments as to the nature of the work it should undertake and that which it should not undertake, as more fully described in my memorandum thereon.

The balance of the discussion had to do with the functions and substance of the Scientific Adviser concept. He expressed agreement on the functions and the necessity for organizationally fulfilling them. At one point he spoke about the need for a Coordinator of Scientific Research and Development and I pointed out that this was asking for perhaps too much in the light of RDB experience and if that perhaps this individual could function more effectively through influence than through a closely defined bill of authority. We did not seem really to differ on this. He spoke of the need for eliminating duplication and I said I agreed with him on that except for planned duplication which he accepted also but said that the avoidance or omission of important areas was an even greater need. There was no lack of agreement actually on this whole area.

However, he stated that he did not like the title, Scientific Adviser to the President, and more specifically that this individual and his staff or committee should be located in the Mobilization Office of Mr. Wilson, and that this Scientific Adviser should be called an Assistant to Mr. Wilson for Scientific Matters, or something of the sort, just, he said, as he and Weinberg are called Assistants. He regards scientific matters as falling absolutely within the purview of mobilization activities for which Wilson is deemed to have complete deputization from the President.

In discussing names of individuals, Stauffacher and I bringing up those of DuBridge and [Mervyn] Kelly [Bell Laboratories], he spoke of Bush, Conant and [Karl] Compton [MIT] in passing with admiration.

It was agreed that Stauffacher would arrange a further discussion next week after all of us gave further thought to the matter.

William T. Golden