In the clash, JFK echoed Holmes' view that the moon should be the nation's number one space goal, but Webb held firm. "There wasn't any question in Webb's mind, or my mind, or anybody's mind, that our top priority was the lunar program," Seamans says. "But that didn't meant that we completely gave up on communications satellites, meteorological satellites, our whole aeronautics program, and so on."

Despite the apparent friction, Seamans says, Kennedy seemed to enjoy the discussion. "I think Kennedy liked give and take…. I think he was, in part, sharpening his own view of what was important."

And Seamans, who was no stranger to White House encounters, says the meeting was a high point. "I was fortunate to have meetings with four other presidents, starting with Eisenhower. And this was the most intellectual discussion I ever participated in with a president."

"I think he was pressing hard on Jim, because he wanted to know what Jim's thoughts really were. I think perhaps he was taking a harder line than he normally would, for that reason. When does a president really have a chance to grapple with the issues? He had the guy right in front of him who was the spokesman. He could throw a lot of this at him and see what came back. And I think it was helpful to him in his thinking."

And Seamans believes Webb's passion helped broaden Kennedy's understanding of the space effort. "I think it's conceivable that after that meeting …. [Kennedy] liked Jim Webb's concept. That there's a lot more to the space effort than just going to the moon."