40 years ago: Astronaut Alan Shepard speaks at Baker convocation

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for May 14, 1972:

NASA astronaut Alan Shepard, looking “relaxed” and “boyish,” spoke on the benefits of the U.S. space program at a Baker University convocation this week. Shepard, speaking to a group of about 800, said that the long-term benefits of space-based research more than justified continued investment in the program. Spending on space research and technology should not be seen as being in competition with spending for social programs, Shepard argued, as almost 50 cents of every tax dollar was already spent on “ground-based problems, the so-called social issues,” while only about 1.4 cents was spent on space exploration. “We are making good progress taking care of our problems on earth,” he continued, “and the space program will be beneficial to us as the years go by.” Shepard added some comments on the progress of the Skylab and space shuttle programs, which were to become NASA priorities once the final Apollo moon landing mission ended in December.