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-2pointed out ways in which the vulnerability could be reduced. The report
was presented to the President on March 4, 1959, by the Special
Assistant to the President after it had been endorsed by the FSAC and
discussed with the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense.
3.
FY 1960 Budget
To assist in review of the FY 1960 defense budget, a paper on
PSAC. These issues covered the technical questions raised by developments in our strategic striking force, in the defense of the striking
force and home base, development of ground and sea forces, and in the
area of general military support. This memorandum was gent to the
President, the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, and the Special
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs on November §&,
1958.
4.
Missile Programs
The first brief progress report on the U. S. missile and satellite
programas was submitted to the President by the Special Assistant on
December 28, 1957, based on discussions in the PSAC, This report
concluded that, technically, our missile development was proceeding
in a satisfactory manner.
It discussed the so-called failures of flight
test vehicles. It recommended against giving advance publicity to test
firings of satellites, and commented on the chances of success in the
Vanguard program. A more comprehensive report was submitted by
the PSAC Ballistic Missiles Panel to the Special Assistant on January 3,
1958, listing needed basic decisions affecting the long-range ballistic
missile program. Again on February 13, 1958, the Ballistic Missiles
Panel recited the technical progress and actions required in the longrange ballistic missile program in a memorandum to the Special
Assistant. It recommended, for example, that the Thor missile, alone,
be chosen for continued development and use with the termination of
Jupiter. It recommended vigorous development of solid propellant
these Bhd A
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WHY LMU
dite te ClCatt
engines. It pointed out the advantages of storable propellants. On
March 4, 1958, the Ballistic Missiles Panel presented to the Special
Assistant a technical analysis of the future of ballistic missile systems
aa a component of our retaliatory capability and outlined a national program for ballistic missile development over the coming years. This
memorandum was transmitted to the Fresident on March 8, 1958, by
the Special Assistant.
Dr. Kistiakowsky and Dr. Killian then met with
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selected issues in the budget was developed by the staff of the Cffice of
the Special Assistant after consultation with individual members of the