Our scientists admire the Soviet sputniks. A year ago an American firm asked the Soviets for the right to manufacture a Russian-developed turbo-drill – it could dig oil wells through hard rock ten times as fast as any American drill. But the truth of the matter is that in many areas we are seeking to imitate the Russians. There are still others who are convinced that every Russian achievement is simply a crude imitation of our own. (Under this theory, we could have launched a satellite first if the Democratic Administration had only used carbon paper!) But our real regret is not that the Russians stole these secrets from us, but that we were unable to steal them from the Russians. It was easier to believe that these were all secrets stolen by Communist spies or extracted from captured German scientists. But tonight we are not laughing at the sputniks.Įven after the Communists demonstrated solid intellectual and scientific accomplishments, many Americans refused to recognize the reasons. We have comfortably assumed that Marxist dogma and totalitarian repression would produce only stultified minds and ridiculous theories (such as Lysenko's genetics). But we now realize that their traditions of scientific genius are as fully developed as our own. We have jeered at Russian claims of being first in a variety of fields, from radio to baseball.
But we have too often applied it to gadgets and luxuries, while the Soviets intensified their basic research. We have taken pride in our American inventive genius. But we have failed to devote more than a tiny fraction – at most 3% – of our national income for this purpose, as contrasted to the Soviets' 10%. We have been assuming that our superior wealth would obtain a superior education for our children. It is still difficult for many of us to believe that the Russians have a university better than any of our own. The Myths of Our Intellectual Superiority The cost of that one tower building alone, in rubles, equals at least $150 million in American money – more than the entire physical plant of many of our leading universities. Through its doors each day pass most of the University's 23,000 students, 2,000 professors and 500 research scholars. From almost any point in the city citizens will point – with the same pride we share tonight – to the new 33 story tower of the University of Moscow.ĭedicated to the sciences, this gigantic structure contains nearly 2,000 laboratory rooms. Their dedication to the spirit of education, and their remarkable achievements in such colleges as Loyola, are sources of inspiration and pride for us all.īut I would remind you that, more than 5,000 miles from here, another great university will open its classrooms in a few hours. We pay tribute, too, to the work of the Jesuits – not only in Baltimore, but all over this country and indeed all over the world.
I know that those of you who braved the elements tonight did so – not to hear my address – but to join in paying tribute to an outstanding institution – Loyola College. (My observation is that Baltimore, like Washington, is a border city – which means that you attack northern snowfalls with southern efficiency.) I am astonished at the number of you who have turned out in this weather. I was honored by your invitation to speak.
It is a real pleasure to be here this evening for the Annual Alumni Banquet of Loyola College.
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