Conversations: 1951

February 20, 1951

MEMORANDUM FOR THE FILE

SUBJECT: Conversation with Dr. Detlev W. Bronk

I called on Dr. Bronk at his request to discuss several matters with him.

As to the National Science Foundation, he expressed accord with my memorandum [February 15 "Memorandum of Program for the National Science Foundation"] and made the interesting comment that he was glad that it had been possible to bring the Board around to recognizing that it should stay out of defense or other applied research matters and stick to basic research interests. See the Press Release after their recent meeting which DuBridge told me he had written.

With respect to the Research and Development Board, he wanted to know my views about "strengthening it," and I expressed them discursively. He told me of a contract between the National Research Council and the RDB (details not clear to me) whereby the NRC will do work for the RDB. The metallurgical group, including Carl M. Loeb, Jr., which met a few weeks ago under NRC auspices, is the first tangible item under this relationship.

He asked what I thought about his calling a meeting at the beginning of April of representatives of each of the 97 member bodies of the National Research Council, for which he would arrange a program of informatory talks by such people as the Chairman of the RDB and other dignitaries. I said it would be fine if there were something definite to say, but the immediate present did not seem like an appropriate occasion unless he wanted to have just a gab fest. I thought it would be excellent to have such a meeting if properly organized and programmed after the appointment of an Advisory Committee on Defense Scientific Research so that the chairman of this group could address the NRC committee representatives.

William T. Golden