357. Memorandum From Charles A. Haskins of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs-Designate (Bundy)1

SUBJECT

  • National Aeronautics and Space Council

The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958,2 besides establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), established the National Aeronautics and Space Council. The statute provides that the Council shall be composed of—

  • “(1) the President (who shall preside over meetings of the Council);
  • (2) the Secretary of State;
  • (3) the Secretary of Defense;
  • (4) the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
  • (5) the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission;
  • (6) not more than one additional member appointed by the President from the departments and agencies of the Federal Government; and
  • (7) not more than three other members appointed by the President, solely on the basis of established records of distinguished achievement, from among individuals in private life who are eminent in science, engineering technology, education, administration, or public affairs.”

As the additional member from Government, the President designated Dr. Alan T. Waterman, Director of the National Science Foundation. As members from private life, the President first designated Dr. Detlev W. Bronk, Mr. William A. M. Burden and General James H. Doolittle. In May 1959, after General Doolittle resigned, Dr. John T. Rettaliata was designated in his stead. In October 1959, Mr. Burden resigned to accept appointment as Ambassador to Belgium and the vacancy thereby created on the Council has not been filled.

On August 19, 1958, in a letter to the Administrator of NASA, the President stated that it was important that appropriate working relations be established between the NSC and the Space Council. He invited Mr. Gordon Gray to attend all Space Council meetings as a participant; Mr. Lay attended informal meetings with him or as his alternate. (See pertinent correspondence, Tab A)3

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The statute authorizes the Council to employ a staff to be headed by a civilian executive secretary, appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and compensated at the rate of $20,000 a year. The executive secretary is authorized to appoint and fix the compensation of necessary personnel, including not more than three persons who may be compensated at the rate of $19,000 a year.

The President never filled the post of executive secretary. In September 1958, Mr. Robert O. Piland from the staff of the Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology was designated Acting Secretary. In January 1959, he was succeeded as Acting Secretary by Mr. Franklyn W. Phillips of NASA. In February 1960, Mr. Phillips was succeeded by Mr. David Z. Beckler, Secretary of the Science Advisory Committee.

The Space Council held eight meetings: three in 1958, four in 1959 and one on January 12, 1960. The Council has not met since the last mentioned date. Meetings were held in the Cabinet room at the White House.

By way of preparation for formal meetings with the President, the Space Council frequently held so-called informal meetings attended by members (except the President) or their alternates, accompanied by staff. The purpose of the informal meetings was to discuss the items scheduled on the upcoming Council agenda with a view to disposing of unnecessary details and clarifying issues for later discussion at the Council itself. The informal meetings were usually held in a conference room in the Executive Office Building.

At the January 12, 1960 meeting of the Space Council, U.S. Policy on Outer Space (NSC 5918 which was prepared by an Ad Hoc Working Group from the interested agencies and then processed through the Planning Board) was adopted, subject to certain revisions. The policy paper as approved by the President was distributed to the Space Council members by the Acting Secretary. It was also distributed to the National Security Council by its Executive Secretary, although not issued as a numbered NSC paper. It superseded the August 1958 paper “Preliminary U.S. Policy on Outer Space,” NSC 5814/1. (Tab B)4

At the January 12, 1960 meeting the President also stated that the transitional period of the Space Program seemed to be over and that the Space Council had completed its assignment. (Minutes, 1/12/60 Meeting, Item 5) (Tab C)

CAH
  1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Departments and Agencies Series, NASA, 1961, Box 282. Confidential.
  2. P.L. 85–568, 72 Stat. 426, approved July 19, 1958. [Footnote in the source text.]
  3. Tabs A–C are not printed.
  4. For text of NSC 5814/1, August 18, 1958, and NSC 5918, January 26, 1960, see Foreign Relations, 1958–1960, pp. 845863 and 920936.