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Bush's isn't the only administration to use science selectively.
Here's a sampling of previous incidents:

Truman
  • Subjected almost 60,000 federal scientists and those with access to classified information to security reviews, costing some clearances and work.
Nixon
  • Dissolved the office of the presidential science advisor.
  • Asked candidate to head National Science Foundation to endorse controversial antiballistic missile program (ABM); when he refused, he was asked to withdraw for "personal" reasons.
  • Refused to publish a report by panel chaired by presidential science advisor criticizing the president's project to create a supersonic passenger jet.
Reagan
  • Pursued "Star Wars" national missile defense program, costing taxpayers billions of dollars, despite scientists' advice it wouldn't work.
  • Publicly denounced evolution during presidential campaign, suggested public schools teach creationism.
  • Appointed science advisor who declined to speak against teaching of creationism.
  • Developed "hit list" of scientists labeled according to...

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