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In compliance with NSC actions 1430—p, 1448 and 1502, I am forwarding herewith the
port of
the Panel on the Human Effects of Nuclear Weapons Development. The recruitment and orientation
of the Panel members has proceeded in accordance with the proposal in my memorandum of
rch 23,
1956, approved that date.
I would be remiss if I failed to report to you on the dedicated manner in which the Panel embers
addressed themselves to the complex anddifficult issues on which they were requested to render ju¢ gments.
It is a tribute to both the skillful chairmanship of Dr. Frank Fremont-Smith and the earnesthess and
devotion of the Panel members that the report reflects no dissents.
The backgrounds of learning and experience represented on the Panel are indeed impressiv ce. One
or more of the group have made highly respected contributions in each of the following fieldsof } parning:
anthropology, medicine, psychiatry, psychology, sociology, philosophy, biophysics, political science,
radiology and social science research. The aggregate experience also includes distinguished c; lreers in
@ have served in the armed forces.
I should also like to express my conviction that we in Government can make muchfuller e of the
knowledge and insights of the social sciences than we customarily do. My own opportunity tc observe
the discussions of this group hasclarified for me a numberofspecific areas in which we can profit from the
contributions of the social sciences in our civil defense program. I have also obtained from the group a
number of valuable ideas for applied research on problems of attitudes and behavior as they affect our
civil defense program. Without the detailed knowledge necessary to support a judgment, I have the
impression nevertheless that other agencies could similarily profit from a fuller use of our current k owledge
in the social sciences and from utilization of applied social science research. This suggests als¢ the desirability of increased support, from both Government and private sources, of the basic researdh in the
social sciences so essential to the steady advance of knowledge of human behavior and relationsHips.
In forwarding the report of the Panel, I commendit to your careful study and reflection.
VAL HeTeRson
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military science, journalism, and university teaching and administration. Specialized experience fort
to the Panel’s mission includes responsibilities in the programs of nuclear tests and in the wo of the
United States Strategic Bombing Survey. It is perhaps also worth noting that more than half of t € group
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MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT AND THE NATI NAL
SECURITY COUNCIL: