How do science and technology issues become important to a
particular presidency? Which issues gain priority? How? Why? What
is the role of the presidency in the adoption of national policies
affecting science and technology? In their implementation? How does
the presidency try to curtail certain programs? Eliminate others?
Or rescue programs Congress might seek to terminate? How does
implementation vary between a president's own program and one that
is inherited?
Such are the questions raised in this book, one of the first to
address the relationship between scientists, few of whom have
political backgrounds, and presidents, few of whom are
knowledgeable in matters of science and technology. Drawing on
extensive research performed at the Lyndon B. Johnson Library in
Austin, Texas, and the National Archives in Washington, as well as
on secondary sources and interviews, W. Henry Lambright describes,
discusses, and analyzes this relationship and shows how one
presidency set its agenda, adopted, implemented, and curtailed or
eliminated science and technology programs.
Twenty-four case studies of specific decision processes
occurring in the era of Lyndon Johnson anchor the book in the world
of real events. Some programs adopted under Johnson are now all but
forgotten, such as the Manned Orbiting Laboratory, nuclear
desalting, and electronic barrier. The effects of many more,
initiated, maintained, or enlarged under LBJ, lasted far beyond his
administration. These include environmental pollution control,
Project Apollo, and the application of Agent Orange in Vietnam.
Finally, there are those that were redirected, placed on hold, or
terminated under Johnson, such as the supersonic transport,
antiballistic missile, and Project Mohole.
In this important book, Lambright has provided a framework for
analyzing how the presidency as an institution deals with such
issues, and he has established a strong foundation on which all
future students of presidential policy management can build.
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