piner@pur-phy.UUCP (Richard Piner) (12/07/85)
Posted: Fri Dec 6, 1985 4:04 PM EST Msg: SGIF-2131-2938
From: RPARK
To: WHATSNEW
CC: RPark
Subj: What's New
WHAT'S NEW, Friday, December 6, 1985 Washington, D.C.
1. THE RESIGNATION OF GEORGE KEYWORTH II as science advisor
to the President probably marks a turning point in the
fortunes of American science. Keyworth has accepted much of
the credit for increased science budgets in recent years and
has no desire to stick around for the inevitable decreases
that will result from Gramm-Rudman or whatever deficit
reduction plan is ultimately adopted (See What's New,
November 22). In fact, he is no more responsible for the
impending cuts than he was for the increases. Erich Bloch,
Director of the National Science Foundation, was apparently
approached about replacing Keyworth but flatly refused, and
there was some concern that the post might be left unfilled.
The Administration, however, is going over a list of
well-known Republican scientists whose most obvious shared
quality is public support for Star Wars.
2. THE INDICTMENT OF NASA ADMINISTRATOR JAMES M. BEGGS has
heightened fears over the militarization of NASA. As we
reported in What's New, October 11, 1985, the recent
appointment of William Graham, who is closely linked to the
Pentagon, as Deputy Administrator was regarded by many as a
threat to the civilian status of the agency. Now Graham is
the acting chief, pending the outcome of the Beggs case.
3. THE NEW NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY ADVISOR TO THE
PRESIDENT, Vice-Admiral John M. Poindexter, is a PhD
physicist from CalTech where he was a student of Rudy
Mossbauer. He replaces Robert McFarlane, who is joining
Kissinger Associates, a firm that has much in common with the
sort of industrial intelligence organization that Keyworth is
forming. Like Keyworth, McFarlane did not get along with
White House Chief of Staff Donald Regan.
4. THE SUPERCOMPUTER ACCESS CONTROVERSY prompted the Council
of Scientific Society Presidents to adopt a strongly worded
statement opposing any attempt by the government to dictate
who may have access to unclassified academic research
facilities. APS president Robert R. Wilson is one of the
thirty scientific society presidents that comprise the CSSP.
The Council of the American Physical Society adopted a
similar statement in November. George Keyworth, who was on
hand to receive the Annual CSSP Award for Service to Science,
made it clear in his acceptance remarks that in his opinion
the efforts of the Administration to restrict access to
supercomputers are "nonsense."
Robert L. Park (202) 429-1946
American Physical Society THAT'S ALL 12/6/85