Here's MY amateur hobbyist question!

Did anybody working in the early years of NASA express disapproval or any thoughts at all about the German scientists recruited via Paperclip? For example, anybody working alongside or with the scientists to develop rocket technology.

Hi Dr. Shanahan. Thanks so much for taking the time to answer questions:

The incredibly basic Right Stuff understanding that I have of the early space race was that it was a pretty hard-edged extension of the cold war, with a lot of dual-purpose technology between ICBMs and the civilian rockets and great power conflict between the USSR and USA and so on.

While that continues to some extent, I think we now view NASA and projects like the ISS as very much a realm for soft-power and international cooperation.

Did those soft-power, cooperative efforts exist in the early space race (beyond seeking individual national prestige)? Was there tension between the course that NASA took under Eisenhower versus either a more militarized or a more civilian oriented early space program?

Dr. Shanahan, Thank you for your time today. I have a couple of questions.

1. What is the most interesting anecdote you have come across for either Eisenhower or the formation of NASA...or both!

2. How has your view of Eisenhower changed from your early studies to now? Why? Who/what has influenced your thoughts?

3. To what degree, and with specific examples if possible, did Eisenhower's experience dealing with the politics of international military cooperation impact his ability to work in the realm of domestic U.S. politics?

Hello, Dr. Shanahan! I'm currently at work on a paper about the effects of Sputnik upon military spending in Alaska, and how the threat of missile attack led the U.S. military to consider Alaska indefensible.

In your work, what have you found about the American military's reaction to Sputnik, Eisenhower's thoughts about how it changed the military situation, and could you point me in the direction of some sources that discuss those items? Thank you!

My amateur-hour question is whether Eisenhower was fully aware of his outsider status and what that meant, and if he was ever explicit in recorded media (speeches, diaries, etc) about the risks or benefits of this?

Eisenhower is best known for the highway system, and his forewarning about the "military industrial complex". What lesser-known accomplishments would you consider to be the major parts of his legacy?

What is something that you think everyone forgets about Eisenhower that is important? Also lots of people like his farewell address where he specifically attacks the military industrial complex, but isn't it hypocritical because nuclear warhead production was increasing. Or was he recanting a mistake he made during his presidency? Also I love Eisenhower and happy to know that there's historians for him.

Hi Dr Shanahan, thanks so much for taking the time to answer our questions.

I know this isn't about space, but would like to know if Eisenhower predicted or feared the repercussions of the CIA coup in Iran. It seems logical for a violent, interventionist coup to result in unrest and/or revolution, so so the large amount of coups the US government committed and attempted during the Cold War has always surprised me. Were they aware of the possible backlash from the populations whose leaders they were deposing?

Thanks again.

Dr. Shanahan, I'm sure you've been out to the Eisenhower Presidential Museum in Abilene Kansas, but have you also been to the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center?

I am very interested in getting a hold of your book as I wrote a paper about how Paperclip and Eisenhower's influence in procuring the scientists and directing their research efforts helped to shape the space program in such a way that it would win the "space race" long term. I spent a week at the Eisenhower Center Archives reading through volumes of WW2 and presidential notes, I also spent a day talking with the KCSC folks talking to them about what they had in their archives to help me focus my search at the Eisenhower center. It was the highlight of my time as an undergrad. In many ways I'm a bit jealous that somebody finally wrote a book about a subject, I've always wanted to write a book about.

Hi Dr. Shanahan! When you go drinking at a pub, what is your go to story that is unbelievably shocking but true?

What was the plans like for space before Nasa?

Do you have a favorite political cartoon depicting Eisenhower or the formation of NASA?

Hello, thanks for doing this AMA! Some questions for you.

1. As someone with collaborators at NASA, I think lots of what's going on in still really very interesting to the public but it seems like public interest will never be as high as it was when we were actually sending people out there in an exploratory fashion. Meaning, New Horizons has been wildly successful on that front and will probably continue to be so but I'm not sure it measures up to the early space race. Is that a fair assessment? Do you think there's an easy way to recapture public interest?

2. On a more personal note, what got you interested in studying that time period/those events?

A former Supreme Allied Commander Europe is certainly an outsider to domestic politics, but it seems to me that their outsider status is somewhat unique because of their experiences dealing with their own government, participating in foreign relations, and leading large organizations. What are some situations Eisenhower dealt with as POTUS that his military experience prepared him for, and what are some situations he dealt with that his experience did not prepare him for (especially if a career politician would have been well-prepared for the same situation)? How was his presidency characterized by his unusual set of experiences?

I should be working right now, and I can't think of an intellectual question to ask. Sooo...back to basics I guess

So I'm under the impression that Eisenhower's mentality on space, and the space program as whole was just a big Cold War bi-product. The whole rocket technology thing. I'm sure Eisenhower's original mentality was just to "show up" the soviets. But did that mentality continue through the entire space program? Or did we eventually go with our natural desire to discover what is out there? Did Kennedy purely want to go to the moon because it would show up the soviets, or was he actually interested in what was there?

Sorry for the basic and lackluster question! I'm going back to work now. Enough distractions!

I've always thought Ike was a pretty good president for a lot of reasons and I appreciate learning one more. I really never had that impression of him as a do-nothing president but I'm not old enough to live through that time. Thank you.

I don't know if this is on topic or not, but I've read in a few places that if Kennedy had not been shot, then the moon shot would like have been in cooperation with the Soviets. A source that I can't seem to find now even claimed that the deal was pretty much finished a few weeks before Kennedy's death. Naturally the assassination upended things and the deal fell through. Is there any truth to this?

Thank you for these insightful answers. While your book may be out of my price range I have requested it to be purchased by my local library.

I am curious about how Eisenhower's military background influenced his perspective and planning of the space program?

One of Eisenhower's legacies is the Interstate Highway system. With the Dakota Access Pipeline protests in the news, I have a tough time imagining how so much contiguous land was acquired. What made it so much more feasible then? What tactics were used?

Late to the party. In many countries, having a former general appointed leader is seen as a massive step backwards as the person is often too well connected with their former military colleagues and the military industrial complex.

Ike seemed not only to resist the military but also later warned against their linked industries. Why?

Just to note for anyone interested, the publishers have given me a 30% discount code for purchasing my book 'Eisenhower at the Dawn of the Space Age' - published by Lexington Books, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield. The code is LEX30AUTH17 and the book is available from rowman.com/lexington

Do you think we did in fact go to the moon?