On November 3, 1957 President Eisenhower established the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and appointed James R. Killian, Jr. to the position. On November 21, 1957, the President transferred the Science Advisory Committee of the Office of Defense Mobilization (in the Executive Office of the President) to the White House Office, reconstituting and enlarging it as the "President's Science Advisory Committee." George B. Kistiakowsky was appointed by the President to succeed Killian as Special Assistant on July 15, l959. Both Killian and Kistiakowsky served concurrent terms as Special Assistant to the President as Chairman of the President's Science Advisory Committee, which nominates its own Chairman. President Eisenhower established the new Office of the Special Assistant for Science and Technology (hereafter referred to as OSAST) in response to a need for the organization and utilization of American scientific and technological expertise as a collective resource. The President was faced with a crisis of confidence among the public concerning United States space technological expertise and defense capabilities, as well as intensive competition among the services for prestigious missile programs. In an effort to centralize defense and space technology projects the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) and the office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering were created.
In 1958. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was created later in 1958 to systematize space exploration under as much civilian control as possible. The primary responsibility of the Special Assistant was to keep the President informed of the progress of scientific and technical programs of various government agencies, presenting his findings, facts, and evaluations to the President, including recommendations with respect to scientific and technological matters. He was also available as an advisor on scientific matters to Cabinet members and other policy-making officials of government.
From the description of Records of James R. Killian and George B. Kistiakowsky, 1957-1961. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81274213
