In a deft drawing of an observatory that resembled both the U.S. Capitol and Sputnik, political cartoonist Jim Berryman captured America’s anxious response to the successful launch of the Soviet satellite. The “men watching” sign emphasized the United States’ position of witness as the Soviet Union surpassed it in the space race.
U.S. Senate Collection, Center for Legislative Archives, National Archives and Records Administration
Jim Berryman cartoon, "Anybody Working?" October 6,1957
The National Defense Education Act
The Soviet Union’s successful 1957 launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, spurred Congress to pass the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) of 1958. Perceiving an urgent need to train Americans in science, technology, languages, and other essential skills for Cold War defense, Congress committed the federal government to an active role in education by providing seed money to states for curriculum development and student loans. The NDEA included a mandatory loyalty oath that evoked widespread protest; Congress renewed the act without the oath in 1964.
In a deft drawing of an observatory that resembled both the U.S. Capitol and Sputnik, political cartoonist Jim Berryman captured America’s anxious response to the successful launch of the Soviet satellite. The “men watching” sign emphasized the United States’ position of witness as the Soviet Union surpassed it in the space race.
U.S. Senate Collection, Center for Legislative Archives, National Archives and Records Administration
