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MEMORIAL TO DR. ROBERT H. GODDARC.*4

HEARING

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON

SCIENCE AND ASTRONAUTICS

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

EIGHTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

ON

H.J. Res. 787

DECEMBER 3, 1963

[No. 9]

Printed for the use of the

Committee on Science and Astronautics

1

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

27-209 WASHINGTON : 1964
-RR

COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND ASTRONAUTICS

GEORGE P. MILLER, California, Chairman

OLIN E. TEAGUE, Texas

JOSEPH E. KARTH, Minnesota

KEN HECHLER, West Virginia

EMILIO Q. DADDARIO, Connecticut

J. EDWARD ROUSE', Indiana

THOMAS G. MORRIS, New Mexico

BOB CASEY, Texas

WILLIAM J. RANDALL, Missouri

JOHN W. DAVIS, Georgia

WILLIAM F. RYAN, New York

THOMAS N. DOWNING, Virginia

JOE D. WAGGONNER, JR., Louisiana

EDWARD J. PATTEN, New Jersey

RICHARD H. FULTON, Tennessee

DON FUQUA, Florida

NEIL STAEBLER, Michigan

CARL ALBERT, Oklahoma

CHARLES F. DUCANDER, Executive Director and Chief Counsel

JOHN A. CARSTARPHEN, Jr., Chief Clerk

PHILIP B. YEAGER, COUn8e/

FRANK R. HAMMILL, Jr., Counsel

W. H. BOONE, Technical Consultant

JAMES E. WILSON, Technical Consultant

PETER A. GERARD', Technical Consultant

WILLIAM E. DITCH, Technical Consultant

HAROLD F. DYER, Technical Consultant

RICHARD P. HINES, Staff Consultant

JOSEPH M. FELTON, Assistant Staff Consultant

DENIS C. QUIGLEY, Publications Clerk

11

JOSEPH W. MARTIN, JR., Massachusetts

JAMES G. FULTON, Pennsylvania

J. EDGAR CHENOWETH, Colorado

WILLIAM K. VAN PELT, Wisconsin

R. WALTER RIEHLMAN, New York

CHARLES A. MOSHER, Ohio

RICHARD L. ROUDEBUSH, Indiana

ALPHONZO BELL, California

THOMAS M. PELLY, Washington

DONALD RUMSFELD, Illinois

JAMES D. WEAVER, Pennsylvania

EDWARD J. GURNEY, Florida

JOHN W. WYDLER, New York
CONTENTS

STATEMENT

Pat.

Scheer, Julian W., Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs, NASA 2

BloGRAPHY

Scheer, Julian W 1

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MEMORIAL TO DOCTOR ROBERT H. GODDARD

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1963

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND ASTRONAUTICS,

Washington, D.C.

The committee met at 10 a.m., pursuant to call, in room 214—B Longworth Building, the Honorable George P. Miller (chairman) presiding.

The CHAIRMAN. We now consider a bill, House Joint Resolution

787 introduced by our colleague, Mr. Martin, providing for the erection of a memorial statue to the late Dr. Robert H. Goddard, the father of American rocketry.

(The bill is as follows:)

[H.J. Res. 787, 88th Cong., 1st sess.]

JOINT RESOLUTION Providing for the erection of a memorial statue to the late Doctor Robert H. Goddard, the father of American rocketry

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall erect in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts an appropriate memorial to the late Doctor Robert H. Goddard, former professor of physics at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, and the father of American rocketry.

The memorial shall comprise an appropriate bronze statue of the inventor and his early rocket, in a park setting, and may be in the vicinity of his first launchings in central Massachusetts or adjacent to a science facility in Massachusetts carrying

on the type of aeronautical research in which the late Doctor Goddard was engaged throughout his life. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall request the advice and comment of the Commission of Fine Arts with respect to the design and setting of the statue.

The memorial shall give appropriate recognition to the two Goddard patents of 1914 which were basic to the future of rocketry; to the world's first liquid-fuel flight from a farmyard in Auburn, Massachusetts, on March 16, 1926; and to other pioneering efforts advancing his country's achievements in rocketry and supersonic flight.

SEC. 2. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary

to carry out the purposes of this joint resolution.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Scheer is here from NASA. Mr. Scheer is Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs.

(The biography of Mr. Julian W. Scheer is as follows:)

BIOGRAPHIC STATEMENT ON JULIAN W. SCHEER

Julian W. Scheer joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in November 1962 as a consultant in public affairs, was named Deputy Adminis- trator for Public Affairs in February 1963, and Deputy Administrator for Tech- nology Utilization and Policy Planning in April 1963. He was named to his present position on November 1, 1963.

Before joining NASA, Mr. Scheer was a reporter-columnist for 10 years on the Charlotte (N.G.) News. He entered the newspaper business in 1939, working for a chain of weekly newspapers in Virginia, and subsequently owned and op- erated his own newspaper feature syndicate, served as assistant director of sports information at the University of North Carolina, and was a freelance writer.

1
2 MEMORIAL TO DR. ROBERT H. GODDARD

He is the author of three books, including "First into Outer Space," and has a

fourth book scheduled for publication next year.

A native of Richmond, Va., he is a graduate of the University of North Carolina.

The CHAIRMAN. Will you proceed, Mr. Scheer?

STATEMENT OF JULIAN W. SCHEER, ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR

FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS, NASA

Mr. SCHEER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I don't have a prepared statement, but I would like to paraphrase,

if I may, the report that was sent to the committee on December 2,

1963, which asked for the agency's views on this joint resolution.

The legislation would, of course, require that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration erect an appropriate memorial in

the State of Massachusetts to Dr. Robert H. Goddard.

As provided, the memorial would be a bronze statue of Dr. Goddard

located in a park setting near the site of the first launching, or adjacent to a Massachusetts science facility performing aeronautical

research.

The legislation provides that NASA obtained advice and comments of the Commission of Fine Arts on the design and setting of the

statue.

We have no objection to the passage of the resolution. It should

be noted, however, that the proposed legislation has been accomplished

in part by the following actions:

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has fully

recognized Dr. Goddard and his historic pioneering research on

rockets, missiles, and jet propulsion by the establishment of the

Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Congress has also provided high recognition to the achievements of

Dr. Goddard by the award of the Dr. Robert H. Goddard Medal

under the provisions of the act of September 16, 1959.

There is also a National Medal of Science—I think you have a

replica of that on the wall to my rear—which gives recognition to

outstanding contributions in the field of physical, biological, mathematical, and engineering sciences.

However, I think it should be noted that Dr. Goddard has not

been honored in his home State. There is a great deal of interest in

that State, as I understand it. You perhaps are aware of a new book

called "The High Man," and there is a great deal of national interest

at this time in the man and his work.

We did attempt to secure some estimate on the cost, and I will

be glad to answer any questions you may have along these lines. I

have no formal statement to make on the cost, other than some ballpark figures that we did receive from the Commission of Fine Arts

and the State Department which has been somewhat engaged in this

sort of activity.

Mr. KARTH. Mr. Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. liarth.

Mr. KARTH. Can you give us some idea of the figures?

Mr. SCHEER. We have no idea on the ground preparation or the

setting, and an appropriate statue of the kind you would see is similar

to one erected in Arlington for Admiral Byrd, and a statue of Lincoln

in New Mexico, using these two as examples for a man of the height
MEMORIAL TO DR. ROBERT H. GODDARD 3

of Dr. Goddard, 6 feet, it is recommended that you have a bronze

statue of 12 feet on a 12-foot pedestal of granite. This figure runs

to $150,000 on a rough estimate.

The estimates vary according to the sculptor, of course, but the

outside figure or maximum figure should be $150,000.

Now, you can go down from that figure to any sort of memorial

you would like in the size of the figure itself, a plaque set in granite,

a small figure. There are many variations on the theme, of course.

The CHAIRMAN. Are there other questions?

Mr. MARTIN. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to set the witness

straight on one bit of evidence. He says that Massachusetts hadn't

done anything to honor Dr. Goddard. As a matter of fact, Massachusetts made it possible to have Dr. Goddard, because Senator

Walsh and Congressman Philbin both were responsible at that time

in helping get awards from the Navy Department and from the

authorities for him to continue with his work, which was a very

substantial help, so we did honor the man in that respect.

He was a student and an instructor at Clark University, a fine

technical school in Worcester, so for that reason it was in his home

State where he got the inspiration to study and do these things. It

would be appropriate to have a memorial.

I don't know about the cost, but I think you people who know

something about monuments, and the Appropriations Committee

would have the determination of how much of a monument, but

I think it should be a substantial one. After all, we are coming into

a new era, and this man blazed the way for the progress that has been

made.

The CHAIRMAN. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. MARTIN. I certainly would, to my coauthor of the bill.

The CHAIRMAN. I believe there is a story that when Dr. von Braun

first came to this country, and some people talking to him about his

knowledge of rocketry, where he got the experience and his inspiration,

he said, "I read Dr. Goddard's book." Isn't that correct?

Mr. SCHEER. Yes, sir; it certainly is.

Mr. FULTON of Pennsylvania. Will you yield?

Mr. MARTiN. I yield.

Mr. FULTON of Pennsylvania. Dr. Goddard is of a high level and

clearly a pioneer in the space age, so I would say he is worthy of the

honor by such a statue. He is worthy of being honored, and I believe

it should be an adequate amount and should be done well. I think

that should be a part of the record.

The CHAIRMAN. I presume that if this bill, or this resolution is

adopted, NASA would have to submit a budget estimate.

Mr. ROUDEBUSH. Mr. Chairman, excuse me. There is nothing in

Mr. Martin's bill about the obtaining of land on which to erect this

monument or where it will be erected. Isn't that customary?

Mr. MARTIN. If you are going to pay anything for the land, but I

went under the presumption that Clark University would be happy

to give some land on their campus.

Mr. ROUDEBUSH. In other words, Mr. Martin, if I may address

my remarks to you, you propose to erect this at Clark University on

land donated by that university?

Mr. MARTIN. That is the impression I got when they asked me to

introduce the bill.
4 MEMORIAL TO DR. ROBERT H. GODDARD

Mr. ROUDEBUSH. Then the $150,000 figure that Mr. Scheer gives

is just for the fabrication of the statue, pedestal, erection of the same,

and so forth, but there is no amount contained in the bill of that

amount, either.

The CHAIRMAN. No; because no one had an estimate of it.

Mr. MARTIN. NASA has to get together and present it. I think

it would have to come back to this committee again.

The CHAIRMAN. For authorization, yes.

Mr. ROUDEBUSH. Lest my remarks be misconstrued, I certainly

favor the erection. Dr. Goddard has been one of my heroes for many

years, and certainly I think we should honor him.

The only question I was thinking about was the orderly way of

proceeding here, of getting some estimates, and costs, and so forth,

before we do proceed with the thing. That was my purpose in making

my remark.

The CHAIRMAN. They would have to come back to this committee

with an estimate that would have to be authorized by the committee,

and then, of course, it would go before the Appropriations Committee.

This really is implementing it.

Mr. Riehlman?

Mr. RIEHLMAN. I think all the questions I had have been answered.

In response to my colleague's questioning, I have no objection whatsoever, Mr. Chairman, and I think it is a fine idea, but I feel the

proper procedure has been outlined that we will get some estimates

and someone will decide the type of statue that will be erected, and

when we get the costs we will have to go through the normal procedure

to authorize it and then appropriate for it.

The CHAIRMAN. For the sake of the record, I made that statement

that it would have to come back to this committee in the form of an

estimate submitted by NASA, it would have to be authorized by

this committee and in the report on the bill I am going to instruct Mr.

Ducander to write suitable language of that nature into the report,

so that the history of the bill is crystal clear with respect to this.

Mr. WYDLER. Mr. Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Wydler.

Mr. WYDLER. Has NASA ever constructed or fabricated any statues

before? Is there any precedent for such a statue being built?

The CHAIRMAN. NASA isn't going to do it. They would have to

go out and select a sculptor. This authorizes NASA in effect to

pay for it, that is all.

Mr. WYDLER. I know NASA is well qualified to do a great many

things, but I wonder if there are people in NASA who are qualified

to contract for sculpturing.

The CHAIRMAN. The bill states that the National Aeronautics

and Space Administration shall request the advice and comment

of the Commission on Fine Arts with respect to the design and setting of the statue. I am certain NASA wouldn't undertake this

by itself. It would go to the Fine Arts Commission, or a commission

of that nature to pass on it.

Mr. WYDLER. Then let me ask this. Besides the question of

whether we should have a memorial for Dr. Goddard, what is the

reason that it is going to be built in Massachusetts?

The CHAIRMAN. Because that is where he came from, and that is

where he did most of his work at Clark University. He did as much of

it there as he could until he got to the point where he had to do some
MEMORIAL TO DR. ROBERT H. GODDARD 5

experimental work and then he went out to New Mexico, I believe,

here he actually fired his rockets.

Mr. WYDLER. I just wondered, Mr. Chairman, if anybody had

looked into the possibility that the State of Massachusetts might be

willing to pay for and erect this monument.

The CHAIRMAN. This I don't know. I couldn't answer you. I

would imagine if this got along far enough, if this resolution is passed,

NASA is authorized to accept donations of money for work and there

might be money that could be obtained. I don't want to tell you this

is the fact, but I can see where it wouldn't be hard to get money for

the statue, embellish it or help it along.

Mr. FULTON of Pennsylvania. I do have a request. I hope that

they will not put Dr. Goddard on a horse.

Mr. GURNEY. How about on a rocket?

Mr. FULTON of Pennsylvania. I was going to say we might have

some representation of the early rockets he worked on in connection

with the statue.

Mr. KARTH. I am not sure that I understood Mr. Scheer's position.

Does NASA support this resolution?

Mr. SCHEER. Well, I indicated I think, and perhaps my rhetoric

was misunderstood by Mr. Martin, we feel that Dr. Goddard has

been recognized adequately in a number of areas by a number of

suitable memorials, but he has not been so recognized in a physical

presentation as this would be in his home State. I recognize that

his home State supported him in many other ways. We have no

objection to the resolution and are quite willing to support any effort

to so honor Dr. Goddard in this way.

Mr. KARTH. Then you support the resolution?

Mr. SCHEER. Yes, sir. We would work with the Commission on

Fine Arts. They would select a suitable sculptor under the guidance

and direction of this committee, I would suspect, and prepare the

estimates for us.

As far as the State of Massachusetts is concerned, we would expect

that they would donate a piece of land which would be part of their

contribution and perhaps, I am sure, Clark University would prepare

the land, the setting, and perhaps the landscaping for a monument of

this sort.

We have some little experience in this area, and I think we would

not have any difficulty in getting this sort of cooperation.

Mr. KARTH. Mr. Scheer, do you know what the history has been

insofar as the agency of Government involving themselves in line

with the efforts of a great man such as Dr. Goddard, for example.

Is it normal that the agency of Government pays for the cost of the

statue and all embellishments, or is it generally done in a different

manner?

Mr. SCHEER. It is my understanding that the State Department

has operated under just such a resolution as this in the past. It is

the only agency that I am aware of. This was the case, I believe, of a

statue of Lincoln in New Mexico.

Mr. KARTH. It normally has been the State Department or the

individual State, is that correct?

Mr. SCHEER. In this case, it was the State Department which

operated under the resolution, as I understand, to build a statue of

Lincoln in New Mexico.
6 MEMORIAL TO DR. ROBERT H. GODDARD

Mr. KARTH. Is there any evidence where the agency of Government having the same peculiar interest as the great man had, for

example, of supporting financially the sculpturing and erection of

the statue?

Mr. SCHEER. I do not know, sir.

Mr. MARTIN. I might say for the record that I don't think we need

worry about the national debt limit being exceeded because of the

sculpture of this statue.

The CHAIRMAN. It has been called to my attention that the Army

paid for the erection of the monument commemorating the first pilot,

and if I am not mistaken, the monument down in North Carolina at

Kitty Hawk was paid for by the Government, too. It has been done

quite frequently, and I think if you go out through the grounds of

the Capitol you will see many statues that I am certain were paid

for 

Mr. KARTH. I know those erected in Washington generally are paid

for by the Federal Government.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Rumsfeld.

Mr. RUMSFELD. In discussing how Dr. Goddard has already been

recognized, you mentioned that there was the Goddard Space Flight

Center, and you said that Congress has established the Goddard

Medal. Then the third thing you mentioned was the National Medal

of Science. Is that also called the Goddard Medal of Science, or why

did that come up?

Mr. SCHEER. The basic philosophy in the establishment of that

medal was a medal of recognition on a Presidential level.

Mr. RUMSFELD. Did it have anything to do with Dr. Goddard?

Mr. SCHEER. No, not specifically Dr. Goddard, but it was conceived as a memorial to scientists who had worked in the Federal

Government on Federal projects, as Dr. Goddard did do in World

War II, and to honor people such as Dr. Goddard.

Mr. RUMSFELD. So he received this, then?

Mr. SCHEER. He did not receive this, no, but the general feeling

at the time of the resolution establishing that medal was that, in the

discussions at the time, that Dr. Goddard was frequently mentioned

as the type of man who would have received this medal had he been

around at the time.

Mr. RUMSFELD. Are there any other instances where Dr. Goddard

has been honored by the Federal Government in one way or another?

Mr. SCHEER. Not by the Federal Government, though in Roswell,

N. Mex., where he worked there is the Goddard Museum which is very

fine and quite active in securing his artifacts and also in other space

and aeronautical artifacts.

Mr. RUMSFELD. Who paid for that?

Mr. SCHEER. That is a private group that has some foundation

funding. It is a very fine installation. We worked very closely with

them in trying to secure artifacts for them.

The CHAIRMAN. For your information, Mr. Rumsfeld, on the back

wall of the hearing room there is the replica of the Science Medal that

was authorized by this committee. We have never authorized any

money to go with it, but in other branches of Government when these

awards are made the Government has put up money for these. This is

one of the things that I presume some day we will be asked to do and

I think should do. When Nobel prizes or Fermi awards are made, they

carry a stipend with them, and this medal should carry it also.
MEMORIAL TO DR. ROBERT H. GODDARD 7

Dr. Weaver.

Dr. WEAVER. Mr. Chairman, might it not be in order to avoid

discouraging private or local government funds by spelling it out in

section 2, such as rewording section 2 to read, "There are authorized

to be appropriated such Federal sums to supplement private or local

government funds as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of

this joint resolution."

This would leave the door open for Massachusetts as a State, and

for Clark University and others to contribute to this statue.

The CHAIRMAN. That, or how about a section that would authorize NASA to accept donations from public or private places as a

contribution toward this? I don't know which would be the best

way to work it out.

Mr. DADDARIO. Following Dr. Weaver's line of reasoning, Mr.

Chairman, I think section 2 as written would carry out his intent.

If anyone does wish to contribute sums, all this says is those funds that

may be necessary. I don't know why you would have to change it.

This does not prevent contributions from other sources.

The CHAIRMAN. In order to make it clear, would it be all right to

put into the bill a provision that NASA is authorized to receive donations from private or public sources?

Mr. MARTIN. The only objection I could see about that would be

whether it wouldn't open the door for a racket.

The CHAIRMAN. That is right, you would have somebody out

promoting it.

Mr. KARTH. It might have the effect of delaying the bill, Mr.

Chairman, or the authorizing procedure that it would normally go

through. Some people might think we ought to wait 5 years to find

out whether or not generous souls want to contribute.

Mr. WYDLER. Mr. Chairman, I just want to say for the record that

it appears to me that putting in such a provision would just be very

discouraging to any local government agency that wanted to or might

put money into this or any person, because they would realize that

the Federal Government in the first instance has already underwritten

the whole project.

I feel the way this should be done is first they should be asked

to do this, and see what they say. They may be willing to pay for

this. If not, then I think would be the proper time to consider the

resolution. That is my feeling.

Mr. RANDALL. Mr. Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Randall.

Mr. RANDALL. May I inquire what happens on the adoption of

this joint resolution? What will be the next step after the report on

this so far as this committee is concerned? Does NASA proceed then?

The CHAIRMAN. It would have to come back, as I said, but Mr.

Ducander points out it is already authorized by section 2. That

means then all they would have to do, if this passes, is to go to the

Appropriations Committee and get the money.

Mr. RANDALL. Our colleague Mr. Martin would be better advised,

but it seems to me that since it is going to be in Massachusetts, then

maybe it should be a little more definite. It says "in the vicinity of"

in one place here.

The reason it comes to mind is mention was made a moment ago

about Kitty Hawk, the place where the first airplane flight is commemorated, is not necessarily where the Wrights were born. I
8 MEMORIAL TO DR. ROBERT H. GODDARD

am not certain of their birthplace but if this is where Dr. Goddard

did his work, it seems to me it should be at the spot or near the spot

of our first effort into space. It says here a farmyard in Auburn,

Mass., or somewhere hereabouts. We should pin down the place, itself.

I would submit that for consideration, and would hope we would

have some definite location on it.

Mr. ROUDEBUSH. Mr. Chairman, may I ask Mr. Scheer where

Dr. Goddard is buried?

Mr. SCHEER. Dr. Goddard is buried in Hope Cemetery, Worcester,

Mass.

Mr. ROUDEBUSH. Where was he born?

Mr. SCHEER. He was born in Massachusetts and did his work at

Clark University.

Mr. MARTIN. Born there, educated, and lived all his life there. A

man that does something like that is apt to be claimed by the town.

Mr. SCHEER. He only went to New Mexico, I believe it is safe to

say, when his work was considered a menace to the neighboring

population.

Mr. RANDALL. But wasn't the world's first rocket flight in this

place somewhere near Auburn, Mass?

The CHAIRMAN. I believe he worked there, and as I remember it—

and I am speaking off the top of my head—he did do some work there,

and then when he got Federal support, or got some support and had

to have more space, he went down to New Mexico.

Mr. SCHEER. As I remember it, the first flight of a rocket was from

a cabbage patch on his farm in the State of Massachusetts.

Mr. MARTIN. Auburn is a little town outside of Worcester. They

probably wouldn't have allowed him to experiment in Worcester, so

he went out there to try it out. I think that is something they would

determine themselves. It isn't in my District.

Mr. WYDLER. Might I ask one question of the witness?

The CHAIRMAN. Yes.

Mr. WYDLER. How tall is the rocket? You say the statue is going

to be of him and his rocket. How tall is this rocket?

Mr. SCHEER. Well, the early experimental rockets were about 10

feet long. I think what a sculptor would want to do would be to get

a proportionate sized rocket. Most of the pictures of Dr. Goddard

and early rockets showed shoulder-height rockets, but they were

pretty much like our present day sounding rockets, actually.

Mr. WYDLER. Thank you.

(Hon. Philip J. Philbin, Member of Congress, offered the following

statement in support of H.J. Res. 787, honoring the late Dr. Robert

H. Goddard:)

Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the Committee on Science and

Astronautics, it is a great privilege and pleasure for me to urge today your approval

of House Joint Resolution 787, providing for the erection of a memorial statue in

honor of the late Dr. Robert H. Goddard in the central Massachusetts area where

he conducted his pioneer research in rocketry.

At the outset, let me commend and warmly thank my good friend, our dis- tinguished former Speaker, Congressman Joseph W. Martin, Jr., for his splendid

efforts and outstanding work in sponsoring and advancing this worthy proposal

with his House Joint Resolution 787. In addition, Chairman Miller with his

House Joint Resolution 798 and Congressman James C. Cleveland with his House

Joint Resolution 799 have evidenced their continuing efforts to bring new honors

upon this famed pioneer of missiles and space research, who came originally from

my district.
MEMORIAL TO DR. ROBERT H. GODDARD 9

For some time past, I have sought to obtain well merited recognition of the

memory and achievements of the late Dr. Robert H. Goddard. Not long ago,

I sponsored a special resolution providing for the issuance of a commemorative

gold medal in honor of Dr. Goddard and with the effective help of such good

friends as Chairman Miller and other members of this great committee, and our

colleagues on the House Committee on Banking and Currency, this measure

became law.

I believe that Professor Goddard is to modern rockets what Edison was to the

electric light and Marconi was to electronic communication, and I am happy indeed

to endorse House Joint Resolution 787, which seeks to perpetuate his life's work

and achievements.

Contemporaries have seldom been kind to great creative minds and Dr. Goddard

was no exception. He was reviled, derided, and insulted, but his persistence and

pioneering work laid the basis for Pienemunde, the German rocket center, the

V series rockets, and ultimately the great advances and achievements now being

recorded in the space age.

I think that it is most appropriate for the Federal Government to arrange for

the erection of suitable memorials, markers, and plaques where Professor Goddard

conducted his great experiments, and it is particularly fitting that a memorial

statue be erected in the area where Professor Goddard launched his first rockets

in central Massachusetts, as is contemplated by this bill.

The Nation and the world will surely applaud the favorable action of this great

committee on this resolution and I urge that you approve it for the early consideration of the House. We have come to realize at long last the greatness and significance of the contributions of Dr. Goddard, the father of modern rocketry, and in

recent years he has been honored in many ways.

The Congress of the United States has struck off a gold medal in high tribute to

Dr. Goddard. Our great space center in nearby Maryland, so meaningful to us

in terms of the national security, space exploration, and the advancement of

science, bears his name. Many memorials to honor him have been established in

this country and throughout the world to bring enduring luster to his achievements.

It would be in our best tradition to erect a memorial statue near the site of his

first experiments where, years ago, this great, dedicated man performed his

pioneer experiments.

No one could possibly describe, let alone evaluate, the reach, the depth, and the

everlasting vital importance of Dr. Goddard's work. Born in struggle and sacrifice

conceived in genius, carried out with a courage and a determination that would

not be denied, his contributions now rank by common consensus with the most

epochal ever achieved by man.

In this House, no one is more familiar with or more cognizant of Dr. Goddard's

great contributions than the distinguished members of this outstanding committee. You are aware of his struggles, setbacks, and the ridicule he suffered

while he was alive. I know that you will give most sympathetic consideration to

House Joint Resolution 787 because it is most fitting for contemporary history to

record and for the country to know just how great and epochal a contribution

Professor Goddard made. The memorial authorized by this bill will help recall

that the ideas he generated and developed have already carried us to the reaches of

space. Tomorrow, they will take us to the stars.

Mr. FULTON of Pennsylvania. I move we report the bill out.

The CHAIRMAN. All right, it has been moved that we report the bill

out. Do I hear a second?

Mr. GURNEY. Second.

The CHAIRMAN. It has been regularly moved and seconded that the

bill be reported. All those in favor signify by saying "aye."

(Chorus of ayes.)

The CHAIRMAN. Contrary minded?

Mr. WYDLER. No.

Mr. RUMSFELD. No.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Quigley, call the roll.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Miller?

Mr. MILLER. Aye.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Martin?

Mr. MARTIN. Aye.
10 MEMORIAL TO DR. ROBERT H. GODDARD

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Teague?

(No response.)

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Fulton of Pennsylvania?

Mr. FULTON of Pennsylvania. Aye.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Karth?

Mr. ARTH. Aye.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Chenoweth?

Mr. CHENOWETH. Aye.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Hechler?

(No response.)

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Van Pelt?

(No response.)

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Daddario?

Mr. DADDARIO. Aye.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Riehlman?

Mr. RIEHLMAN. Aye.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Roush?

(No response.)

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Mosher?

Mr. MOSHER. Aye.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Morris?

(No response.)

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Roudebush?

Mr. ROUDEBUSH. Aye.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Casey?

(No response.)

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Bell?

(No response.)

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Randall?

Mr. RANDALL. Aye.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Pelly?

(No response.)

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Davis?

(No response.)

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Rumsfeld?

Mr. R UMSFELD. No.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Ryan?

Mr. RYAN. Aye.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Dr. Weaver?

Dr. WEAVER. Aye.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Downing?

(No response.)

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Gurney?

Mr. GURNEY. Aye.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Waggonner?

(No response.)

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Wydler?

Mr. YDLER. No.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Patten?

Mr. PATTEN. Aye.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Fulton of Tennessee?

Mr. FULTON of Tennessee. Aye.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Fuqua?

Mr. FUQUA. Aye.
MEMORIAL TO DR. ROBERT H. GODDARD 11

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Staebler?

(No response.)

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Albert?

(No response.)

Mr. FULTON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, 'could we have anybody who wants to add their name to this rollcall by the end of the

day have the opportunity to do so?

The CHAIRMAN. Yes, I will ask that permission.

Mr. QUIGLEY. Sixteen "ayes"; two "nays."

The CHAIRMAN. Is there any objection to allowing those who are

not present who desire to add their names to the list or to vote on the

bill before the close of the day?

Mr. FUQUA. As long as it would not change the outcome of the vote.

The CHAIRMAN. It wouldn't change the outcome of the vote.

You have a majority for the bill without that.

We will keep the record open for that. I will declare the motion

adopted, and that carries with it the instruction to the chairman

to take such steps as are necessary to bring the bill to the floor of the

House for adoption.

Before you leave, Mr. Randall, I want to take advantage of your

presence here.

I don't know that we will have another meeting before we adjourn.

I want to thank you all for the sincere and intelligent way in which

you have conducted yourselves and disposed of your work during this

session.

We are going to reorganize the subcommittees and make the changes

NASA has put in its reorganization, and these subcommittees will then

follow the vertical lines that NASA has in its reorganization, which

means a shift of some of the work primarily between the Karth and

Hechler subcommittees to bring them in direct line.

Last year we started with 10 new members, and the new people

had to be pretty well indoctrinated. I think you have learned very

rapidly, and I am hopeful that next year we will not have to do this

but can dispatch our work and get on with it much quicker than we

did last year.

We are already asking NASA to get its budget books up here as

quickly as possible. It is my intention that we do those things pertaining to the overhead costs which are common to the work of all the

subcommittees. It will be handled by the full committee right after

the budget is submitted, and in that way in a week or 10 days we can

dispose of most of those overhead items. Then the subcommittees

can go to work, and I am satisfied that in 2 or 3 weeks you can get

these out.

I have tried to get some of you to go out in the field and visit some

of the installations. It is very hard, I know, at Christmastime and

in the very short time we will have for Christmas to do it, but if any

of you are disposed to do this, if you will let Mr. Ducander know and

tell us where you want to go, I shall be very happy to authorize the

travel.

I had the privilege of going out into the field recently. Dr. Weaver

was along, and I think Dr. Weaver will tell you that he gained a lot

more, saw a lot more, and got to know a lot more and got to get the

feel of this thing much more by getting into the field. The older

members know this but you newer members, if during the holiday you
12 MEMORIAL TO DR. ROBERT H. GODDARD

find time to go down to Cape Kennedy (I believe that is what we now

call it), or to Huntsville, or even go out and visit some of the larger

installations or the contractors on the west coast, or Midwest, I will

be very happy to authorize such travel. I feel that you can't get to

know this business and to understand it until you have seen where

this work is done and the people that are doing it. A visit to any one

of the laboratories of NASA is to me almost indispensable to doing a

good job. I think that you will be struck, as everyone else has been

struck who has gone to these places, with the dedication both of the

men in the laboratories and on the part of the contractors, particularly

the young men in these plants who give more time than they are required to, and more of their energy to make the program a success.

I want to wish you all, then, a very merry Christmas and a happy.

New Year. Unless there is further business, the committee will adjourn to meet at the call of the Chair.

(Whereupon, at 10:50 a.m., the committee was adjourned.)

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