COURTESY OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION
Bush's isn't the only administration to use science selectively.
Here's a sampling of previous incidents:
Truman
Subjected almost 60,000 federal scientists and those with access to classified information to security reviews, costing some clearances and work.
Nixon
Dissolved the office of the presidential science advisor.
Asked candidate to head National Science Foundation to endorse controversial antiballistic missile program (ABM); when he refused, he was asked to withdraw for "personal" reasons.
Refused to publish a report by panel chaired by presidential science advisor criticizing the president's project to create a supersonic passenger jet.
Reagan
Pursued "Star Wars" national missile defense program, costing taxpayers billions of dollars, despite scientists' advice it wouldn't work.
Publicly denounced evolution during presidential campaign, suggested public schools teach creationism.
Appointed science advisor who declined to speak against teaching of creationism.
Developed "hit list" of scientists labeled according to their opinions, including tags such as "bleeding-heart liberal."
Publicly misrepresented the state of science on acid rain, and emphasized uncertainty to delay action, despite scientists' protests.
George H.W. Bush
Altered official testimony of James Hansen, NASA scientist working on climate change.
Extended ban on federal funding of fetal tissue research, despite advice of medical panels that recommended the research for its promise to treat diabetes and other diseases.
Clinton
Delayed action on scientific advice to curb mercury emissions.
Publicly denounced therapeutic cloning.
Sources:
J. Wang, American Science in an Age of Anxiety: Scientists, Anticommunism, and the Cold War, University of North Carolina Press, 1999.
C. Mooney, The Republican War on Science, Basic Books, 2005.
D. Greenberg, Science, Money, and Politics, University of Chicago Press, 2001.
L. Tye, "Altered testimony angers scientists," Boston Globe, May 9, 1989.
P. Hilts, "Citing abortion, U.S. extends ban on grants for fetal tissue work," New York Times, November 2, 1989.
ARTICLE EXTRAS
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