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The '''Special Studies Project''' was a study funded by the [[Rockefeller Brothers Fund]] and conceived by its then president, [[Nelson Rockefeller]], to 'define the major problems and opportunities facing the U.S. and clarify national purposes and objectives, and to develop principles which could serve as the basis of future national policy'. The study ran between 1956 and 1960.<ref name=rbf>{{cite web
{{Refimprove|date=May 2007}}
|url=http://www.rockarch.org/collections/rbf/
The '''Special Studies Project''' was a study funded by the [[Rockefeller Brothers Fund]] and conceived by its then president, [[Nelson Rockefeller]], to 'define the major problems and opportunities facing the U.S. and clarify national purposes and objectives, and to develop principles which could serve as the basis of future national policy'. The study ran between 1956 and 1960.
|title=Rockefeller Brothers Fund Archives, 1941-1989}}</ref>


Nelson recruited [[Henry Kissinger]], who was then on the faculty of [[Harvard University]], as director of the project; he had first met Kissinger in 1955. He also brought on board such luminaries as [[Edward Teller]], [[Charles H. Percy|Charles Percy]], [[Dean Rusk]], [[John W. Gardner|John Gardner]] (president of the [[Carnegie Corporation]]) and [[Henry Luce]], along with his brothers [[Laurance Rockefeller|Laurance]] and [[John D. Rockefeller 3rd|John D. 3rd]]. Six panels were constituted that looked at sweeping issues ranging from military/security stategy to foreign policy, to international economic stategy and defense department and governmental reorganization.
Nelson recruited [[Henry Kissinger]], who was then on the faculty of [[Harvard University]], as director of the project; he had first met Kissinger in 1955. He also brought on board such luminaries as [[Edward Teller]], [[Charles H. Percy|Charles Percy]], [[Dean Rusk]], [[John W. Gardner|John Gardner]] (president of the [[Carnegie Corporation]]) and [[Henry Luce]], along with his brothers [[Laurance Rockefeller|Laurance]] and [[John D. Rockefeller 3rd|John D. 3rd]]. Six panels were constituted that looked at sweeping issues ranging from military/security stategy to foreign policy, to international economic stategy and defense department and governmental reorganization.


The six sub-panels were:<ref>{{cite journal
The seven sub-panels were:<ref name=rbf/><ref name=andrew>{{cite journal
|title=Cracks in the Consensus: The Rockefeller Brothers Fund Special Studies Project and Eisenhower's America
|title=Cracks in the Consensus: The Rockefeller Brothers Fund Special Studies Project and Eisenhower's America
|author=John III Andrew
|author=John III Andrew
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}}</ref>
}}</ref>


*'''Panel I - The Mid-Century Challenge to U.S. Foreign Policy'''; chaired by [[Dean Rusk]], the report was written mostly by [[August Heckscher]]
*'''Panel I - International Objectives and Strategies '''; chaired by [[Dean Rusk]], the report was written mostly by [[August Heckscher]]
*'''Panel II - International Security: The Military Aspect'''; directed by [[Henry Kissinger]]. Panellists included Frank Altschul, [[Gordon Dean]], James B. Fisk, [[Roswell Gilpatric]], [[Townsend Hoopes]], [[Henry Luce]], [[Laurance Rockefeller]], [[Edward Teller]], Carroll L. Wilson, and economist Arthur Smithies.
*'''Panel II - International Security Objectives and Strategy'''; directed by [[Henry Kissinger]]. Panellists included Frank Altschul, [[Gordon Dean]], James B. Fisk, [[Roswell Gilpatric]], [[Townsend Hoopes]], [[Henry Luce]], [[Laurance Rockefeller]], [[Edward Teller]], Carroll L. Wilson, and economist Arthur Smithies.
*'''Panel III - Foreign Economic Policy for the Twentieth Century'''; chaired by Milton Katz. [[Harlan Cleveland]] was a panellist.
*'''Panel III - International Economic and Social Objectives and Strategy '''; chaired by Milton Katz. [[Harlan Cleveland]] was a panellist.
*'''Panel IV - The Challenge to America: Its Economic and Social Aspects'''; chaired by [[Thomas B. McCabe]]
*'''Panel IV - U.S. Economic and Social Policy'''; chaired by [[Thomas B. McCabe]]
*'''Panel V - Education and the Future of America'''; chaired by [[John W. Gardner]]
*'''Panel V - U.S. Utilization of Human Resources'''; chaired by [[John W. Gardner]]
*'''Panel VI - The Power of the Democratic Idea'''; chaired by [[James A. Perkins]]
*'''Panel VI - U.S. Democratic Process'''; chaired by [[James A. Perkins]]
*'''Panel VII - The Moral Framework of National Purpose'''


The military subpanel's report was rush-released much earlier than the others, about two months after the USSR launched [[Sputnik]], in October, 1957. It was given prominent treatment on the front page of ''[[The New York Times]]'',<ref>{{cite news
The military subpanel's report was rush-released much earlier than the others, about two months after the USSR launched [[Sputnik]], in October, 1957. It was given prominent treatment on the front page of ''[[The New York Times]]'',<ref>{{cite news
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|author=Philip Benjamin}}</ref> selling thousands of copies and garnering unprecedented influence. Many of its major recommendations - principal among them a massive arms buildup to counter perceived Soviet military superiority - were adopted by U.S. President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] in his [[State of the Union]] address in January, 1958.<small><ref>Rushed release of military subpanel's report - see Cary Reich, ''The Life of Nelson A. Rockefeller: Worlds to Conquer, 1908-1958'', New York: Doubleday, 1996. (pp.650-667)</ref></small>
|author=Philip Benjamin}}</ref> selling thousands of copies and garnering unprecedented influence. Many of its major recommendations - principal among them a massive arms buildup to counter perceived Soviet military superiority - were adopted by U.S. President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] in his [[State of the Union]] address in January, 1958.<small><ref>Rushed release of military subpanel's report - see Cary Reich, ''The Life of Nelson A. Rockefeller: Worlds to Conquer, 1908-1958'', New York: Doubleday, 1996. (pp.650-667)</ref></small>


The project was finally published in its entirety in 1961 as ''Prospect for America: The Rockefeller Panel Reports''. The archival study papers are stored in the ''Rockefeller Archive Center'' at the family estate; portions of the papers are still restricted, over four decades after the report was published.[http://archive.rockefeller.edu/collections/rbf/?printer=1]
The project was finally published in its entirety in 1961 as ''Prospect for America: The Rockefeller Panel Reports''. The archival study papers are stored in the ''Rockefeller Archive Center'' at the family estate; portions of the papers are still restricted, over four decades after the report was published.<ref name=rbf/>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 07:09, 13 June 2009

The Special Studies Project was a study funded by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and conceived by its then president, Nelson Rockefeller, to 'define the major problems and opportunities facing the U.S. and clarify national purposes and objectives, and to develop principles which could serve as the basis of future national policy'. The study ran between 1956 and 1960.[1]

Nelson recruited Henry Kissinger, who was then on the faculty of Harvard University, as director of the project; he had first met Kissinger in 1955. He also brought on board such luminaries as Edward Teller, Charles Percy, Dean Rusk, John Gardner (president of the Carnegie Corporation) and Henry Luce, along with his brothers Laurance and John D. 3rd. Six panels were constituted that looked at sweeping issues ranging from military/security stategy to foreign policy, to international economic stategy and defense department and governmental reorganization.

The seven sub-panels were:[1][2]

The military subpanel's report was rush-released much earlier than the others, about two months after the USSR launched Sputnik, in October, 1957. It was given prominent treatment on the front page of The New York Times,[3] selling thousands of copies and garnering unprecedented influence. Many of its major recommendations - principal among them a massive arms buildup to counter perceived Soviet military superiority - were adopted by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in his State of the Union address in January, 1958.[4]

The project was finally published in its entirety in 1961 as Prospect for America: The Rockefeller Panel Reports. The archival study papers are stored in the Rockefeller Archive Center at the family estate; portions of the papers are still restricted, over four decades after the report was published.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Rockefeller Brothers Fund Archives, 1941-1989".
  2. ^ John III Andrew (1998). "Cracks in the Consensus: The Rockefeller Brothers Fund Special Studies Project and Eisenhower's America". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 28.
  3. ^ Philip Benjamin (January 6th, 1958). "Arms Rise Urged Lest Reds Seize Lead in 2 Years". The New York Times. p. 1. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Rushed release of military subpanel's report - see Cary Reich, The Life of Nelson A. Rockefeller: Worlds to Conquer, 1908-1958, New York: Doubleday, 1996. (pp.650-667)