Quote:
Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna
I don't know, Billie. The last time I recall any President or administration having any sort of over-riding vision for the U.S. space program was when JFK said we'd go to the moon within ten years.
We did that, but since then every political administration has considered NASA little more than a line item in the federal budget. I don't think there's much of a difference with this administration--although I will observe that they have a few other things on their plate than where to send our astronauts.
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At the time, the "Go to the Moon" was in retaliation to the USSR's Sputnik shot. Once the moon shots became
passe internationally, and the USSR found it's space program too expensive to maintain, the American commitment to the NASA vision scaled down accordingly.
The President who inspired to go to the Moon also got America firmly into Indo-China and played brinksmanshi;p to the limit.
The President who led to War on Poverty expanded the war in Indo-China.
The President who was in office when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon had to resign in disgrace.
Bottom line - Presidents are only people caught up in circumstances. None are geniuses, demi-gods or royalty. All are politicians with a party leadership to answer to.