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

"AMERICA, TO BE FIRST IN PEACE AND FIRST IN WAR, MUST BE FIRST IN SCIENCE." technology should be explored and developed. Every scientist or em- bryo scientist must be encouraged, if America is to remain unsur- passed in peace and unconquerable in war. The national security of the United States demands that mili- tary scientists and industrial scien- tists continue their cooperation, for peace and security rise and fall with science. We have but to read the dramatic stories of the life and death race between the scientists of the United Nations and of Germany, to realize how narrow was the margin dur- ing the earlier periods of the con- flict. It was frightening, even after the war had ended, to find how nip- and-tuck the race had been between German and American scientists in harnessing atomic power, rockets, radar, bombsights, tanks and other implements of war. It behooves America, therefore, to develop its scientific capital, to protect and to encourage science in times of peace, if the principles and traditions of this country are to survive. Scientific Talent Must Be Cultivated Today we survey a world that has emerged from the most terrible war in history; a war in which science, like a global flame-thrower, spread death and destruction ai-ound the earth. From now on, no nation is immune. No nation can be pi-otected by oceans or mountains, forts, fron- tiers, or isolation. Victory in any [ 4 RADIO AGE] future war may be determined by the skill of scientist against scien- tist. No physical barrier will limit the battlefields. The victor will be the one best fortified by science and development, by discovery and in- vention, and by use of scientific weapons in the hands of the ablest fighters. Science that saved democratic civ- ilization in World War II, must now be used for peace. This calls for training young Americans with an aptitude and an interest in science and invention. Therefore, Democ- racy must promote scientific educa- tion, not only for the development of weapons, but for the creation of employment, for the production of more abundant crops, for increasing national health, and for developing new wonders in atomic energy, elec- tronics, chemistry and physics that will make for good living and elim- inate poverty and disease through- out the world. America must culti- vate its reservoir of youthful scien- tific talent along with development of its natural resources. War Gave Impetus to Science War gave tremendous impetus to scientific research. We must keep it moving in the right direction — toward progress in peace. In our land the power behind it will come from the training of future scien- tists—from the high schools, col- leges, laboratories and workshops of America. Just as we have succeeded in re- leasing atomic energy from urani- um, we must release the energy from the minds of our youth. In the fertile brains of American boys and girls are the master keys to the future. We must stimulate and en- courage youth, if this nation is to have health, prosperity and secur- ity. With its natural interest in science, youth is one of America's greatest national resources. The fig- ment of an idea may be more revolu- tionary than the fission of an atom. Great industrial laboratories will be built, splendidly equipped and on sites conducive to clear thinking; but they will be worthless, no mat- ter how great the funds behind them, if trained men of research do not work within their walls. There is no substitute for brains. Men, not tools, are the lifeblood of re- search. Enlisting Scientists for Peace We stand on the threshold of rev- olutionary developments that call for thousands of trained scientists. We need them more and more to convert to the uses of peace, the scientific achievements of the war, which victoi-y has made available to us. When war came, the manpower requirements of peace were pushed aside. War drafted scientists, teach- ers and students with little question of future needs. Scientific and pre- scientific schools emptied their classes into the training camps of the armed forces. Industry and edu- cation responded alike to that draft of men. Now the war is over. Peace is the order of the day. And peace, to meet our national needs, should have the priorities that were given yes- terday to the demands of war. Sub- ject only to urgent military neces- "AMERICA, THE CRADLE OF LIBERTY, IS ALSO THE CRADLE OF INVENTION." "no NATION CAN BE PROTECTED BY OCEANS, MOUNTAINS, OR ISOLATION."