least not widely publicized. Of course, the explanation might be very
simple: The completion of the satellite vehicle was so remote that
there seemed no need for secrecy. But in that case, why had the
program been announced at all?

If the purpose had been propaganda, it looked like a weak gesture. The
Soviets would not be greatly worried by a dream weapon forty or fifty
years off. Besides that, the Pentagon, as a rule, doesn't go for such
propaganda.

There was only one conventional answer that made any sense. If we had
heard that the Soviets were about

{p. 106}

to announce such a program, as a propaganda trick, it would be smart
to beat them to it. But I had no proof of, any such Russian intention.

The date on Secretary Forrestal's co-ordination announcement was
December 30, 1948. One day later, the order creating Project "Saucer"
had been signed. That didn't prove anything; winding up the year,
Forrestal could have signed a hundred orders. I was getting too
suspicious.

At any rate, I had now analyzed the Gorman case and checked on our
space plans. Tomorrow I would see Redell and find out what he knew.

{p. 107}