Eisenhower Administration Debates Civilian and Military Control of U.S. Space Programs Before the Creation of NASA (1958)

Date: May 10, 1958

Created By: Maurice Stans

Original or Replica: Original

Era: The Presidency, The Space Race

Collection: Eisenhower Presidential Library

Citations: DDE’s Records as President, Official File, Box 769, OF 342 NASA (2)

This May 1958 memorandum from Bureau of the Budget Director Maurice H. Stans to President Dwight D. Eisenhower addresses how responsibility for America’s developing space programs should be divided between a new civilian space agency and the Department of Defense. Eisenhower had previously directed that the civilian agency receive responsibility for space programs except those primarily associated with military weapons or operations. However, Defense Department and National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics representatives proposed allowing certain programs without immediate military applications to remain under military control.

Stans warns that this arrangement contradicts Eisenhower’s instructions and could create overlapping responsibilities, duplicated work, higher costs, and repeated disputes requiring presidential intervention. He argues that programs primarily involving scientific research should be assigned clearly to the civilian agency, while the Defense Department could participate when military interests were involved. Stans recommends that the agencies consult with the Bureau of the Budget and presidential science advisers before reaching a final agreement. He also advises against publicly announcing the proposed arrangement while Congress was considering legislation establishing the new space agency. The memorandum illustrates the Eisenhower administration’s effort to define civilian and military responsibilities as the United States prepared to establish NASA.