James Bryant Conant (1893-1978) gave up research in chemistry when he became president of Harvard University in 1933, but he continued to influence the course of American science, especially during World War II. In 1940 Vannevar Bush, head of the National Defense Research Committee (NDRC), appointed Conant to this new group, which was intended to coordinate scientific efforts on wartime projects. The following Year Conant established an NDRC office in London and began an information-exchange program between British and American scientists. One of the most significant results of this exchange was the improvement of American radar installations. In 1941 — when Bush became head of the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD), which included the NDRC — Conant became head of the NDRC and held the post for t h e remainder of the war. During that time he was responsible for important projects...