As the world today, Jan. 28, remembers the fatal destruction of the Challenger space shuttle, exactly 40 years ago, one must also remember the political situation in which it occurred.
Corrupt elements in the Justice Department, which were targeting major U.S. figures, including Lyndon LaRouche and a number of individuals associated with the team of German scientists in Huntsville, Alabama, in order to undermine U.S. scientific capabilities associated with the then-proposed Strategic Defense Initiative, had forced NASA Administrator Jim Beggs to resign.
Beggs was forced to take temporary leave of absence from his post in December 1985 when he was being investigated for alleged contract fraud while in private industry, charges which were subsequently dropped, and an apology later issued by the Department of Justice. He was replaced by William Graham, who became Acting Administrator. Graham, a protégé of Treasury Secretary Donald Regan, had been appointed NASA Deputy Administrator under Beggs in spite of Beggs’ objections, who judged Graham, an arms control expert, as inappropriate for such a position. As Acting Administrator Graham was the one that made the decision that Challenger should launch on one of the coldest days of the year.
