President Eisenhower was just returned from West Point, the class of '15 reunion and the homecoming football game (Army 53, Colgate 7). Defense Secretary Neil McElroy had gone home to Cincinnati after watching football in Columbus (Ohio State 47, Northwestern 6). Then the news of Sputnik II rattled over the wires and official Washington, as though by previously stenciled orders, reacted as though it had been socked by nothing more than a soggy sponge; e.g., Pentagon sources were careful to say that McElroy had not even called his personal aides to ask about the air-conditioned moon. "It surely is not surprising...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
