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During most of his life Von Karman lived with his sister Josephine (Pipo), who acted as his secretary and protector. When she died five years ago, his friends feared that he would never recover from the shock. He managed to make an adjustment, and in 1952, when he was 70, Von Karman became chairman of AGARD (Advisory Group for Aeronautical Research and Development), set up by NATO on his recommendation. Its job is to review advances in aeronautical science for application to the defense problems of the Western nations, and Von Karman, with his many languages, eminence and friendship with everyone in the field, is perhaps the only man alive who could make the thing work.
Age has cut down on his Slivovitz, but not his sense of humor, and his eyes still light up at the sight of a pretty woman. His brain works as well as ever. Summing up his long experience, he contrasts the habits of U.S. and European science. "In the U.S.," he says, "we concentrate on 'know-how.' In Europe they work on 'think-how.' Each needs a little of the other's approach."