Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

Science in Democracy BRIGADIER GENERAL DAVID SARNOFF URGES SCIENT/FIC PREPAREDNESS FCR NATfCNAL SECUR/TV—REVOLUT/ONARY CHANGES IN WARFARE AND COMMUN/CAT/ONS FORESEEN. By Brig. General David Sarnoff President, Radio Corporation of Avierica An address before the American Academy of Political and Social Science in Philadelphia on October 5, 1945. AMERICA, to be first in Peace , and first in War, must be first in Science. To achieve this, we must have democracy in science as well as sci- ence in democracy. The essence of science is freedom to question and to experiment, with an opportunity to draw conclusions, unrestricted by any forces that would hamper liberty in thinking. The realm of study, investigation and development, must be free. Whether in politics or in science, it is the keynote of democracy that people must be free to think, free to discuss, and free to try their ideas in practice. To impose the opposite is tyranny. That is one of the great lessons of World War II. We should not embrace victory merely as a tri- umph and let it rest as such in his- tory books. We should study its les- sons to cultivate progress and to safeguard the future. With peace comes the vivid truth that to be strong in this modern world a na- tion must have science ever ready to march with its Army, to sail with its Navy, and to fly with its Air Force. Indeed, some products of science, such as an atomically- powered missile, must be ready to fly through the air instantly, unat- tended by sailor, soldier, or pilot; guided to its target by push-buttons in a control room far away. Such an alliance of science and military power can be achieved most effectively under the democratic form of government. The fate of Germany and Japan is evidence enough. Despite an earlier start by Germany in the creation and devel- opment of scientific weapons of war, the democracies were able to out- distance the enemy in this domain. If there be any doubt, let the doubt- er look to radar and atomic power. Developed and harnessed by democ- racy, they searched out the enemy and wiped out despotism. Our sci- entists gave their best voluntarily, while those of the Axis powers worked under duress. Democracy, unhampered by prejudices and ob- sessions about race and creed, was able to utilize the knowledge and brain power not only of its own sci- entists but of many who had been ruthlessly banished from their homelands by the dictators. Freedom to Pioneer For many years past, scientists from foreign lands have come to our shores and settled here so that they could study and experiment free from oppression, free from commands, and free from regimen- tation. Prominent among them we find Tesla, Steinmetz, Pupin, Ein- stein, Michelson, Zworykin, Fermi, and many others. Here they found the environment conducive to study and research, to free exchange of ideas, to experiment and discovery. Our nation has profited by their en- deavors, and science has advanced. America, the cradle of liberty, is also the cradle of invention. The list of our native scientists and in- ventors is a shining roll of honor. As a result, thousands of wartime scientific accomplishments helped to turn the tide of victory for the United Nations and thus rescue democracy from those who would destroy it. Scientists in democracy must continue to pioneer on an ever- e.xpanding scale. We must be as daring in peace as in war. We must follow our vision with the same con- fidence if we are to cross new fron- tiers of progress. Through new products, processes and services that science can create, we should gain a fuller life, increased emplo}'- ment, improved health and national security. We must cultivate our natural talents and resources to meet the promise of science if we are to develop its endless opportu- nities for securing a higher stand- ard of living for the masses of people everywhere. Vigorous Policy Needed It is imperative, therefore, that the United States maintain a vig- orous national policy for the promo- tion of science. Statesmen, philoso- phers and religious leaders have led in the past—now scientists must join them in the vanguard of civili- zation. In the future, freedom and science must walk together, hand- in-hand as the spearheads of peace. For this purpose, every phase of [RADIO AGE 3]