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Why did Vannevar Bush prepare the report Science: The Endless Frontier?

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Vannevar Bush with Differential Analyzer, c. 1935 — Vannevar Bush The first modern analog computer, the Differential Analyzer could solve certain classes of differential equations.

Vannevar Bush prepared the report Science: The Endless Frontier to establish a blueprint for organizing government support of university-based research in the postwar era. Recognizing that science would occupy a new position in the nation’s political culture following its success in developing wartime technologies, Bush sought to shape that identity and ensure the continued advancement of the physical and biological sciences.1

A primary motivation for the report was Bush's concern regarding the growing influence of the military over scientific research. He feared that if the military’s enthusiasm for research and development remained unchecked, it would fundamentally alter the character of American scientific work and ultimately prove detrimental to economic growth. To address this, he proposed the creation of a National Research Foundation, which he intended to be an independent body insulated from political pressure, ensuring that research funding remained technically sound rather than politically motivated.1