The Soviets were often successful in gaining new adherents to their cause by challenging the US lead in various, scientific endeavors. The US Congress eventually – this did not occur easily – saw the need for Federal funding to education, especially in the areas of scientific and engineering studies.
The times were ripe for a national program that encouraged scientific endeavors. For many students, me included, this is the government funding, which made graduate studies possible.
Some of the ins and outs of the debate around the ideas behind NDEA are given below.
The National Science Foundation was granting one-year study programs at graduate levels
