Who said this? Before Congress I believe...?

Question

I admit this is a reach. I recall a quotation from a noted personality (I was thinking Oppenheimber, but not sure..maybe V. Bush) given before a Congressional committee in the 50's defending some authorization bill. I'm trying to confirm who said it and what the actual quote was.

The conversation goes something like...

Congressman: "Why should the US, the greatest nation in the world, spend money on museums, universities, and cultural activies given that we face this enormous threat from the Communists?"

Respondent: "Because it is exactly those institutions that make us the greatest nation in the world".

Wish I had more to go on...thanks.

Answer 1

I think you might be thinking of Robert R. Wilson, founding Director of Fermilab and a brilliant theoretical physician. He was testifying before Congress regarding the continued funding for the construction of Fermilab:

Senator John Pastore: Is there anything connected with the hopes of this accelerator that in any way involves the security of this country?

Robert Wilson: No sir. I don't believe so.

Pastore: Nothing at all?

Wilson: Nothing at all.

Pastore: It has no value in that respect?

Wilson: It has only to do with the respect with which we regard one another, the dignity of men, our love of culture. It has to do with, are we good painters, good sculptors, great poets? I mean all the things we really venerate and honor in our country and are patriotic about. It has nothing to do directly with defending our country except to make it worth defending."

Hope this is what you were looking for...