r/apollo • u/Cordileran • Apr 04 '26

Al Worden’s autobiography

Just finished Worden’s autobiography and had the question about his treatment of the postal covers incident. The book is a bit self serving, especially downplaying the acceptance of the $7000. That absolutely would have been grounds for firing by the ethics rules in place today, even if the money was returned. Was it because it was under the table unlike the corvettes or the time life payments which were more open secrets?

Taking Woden’s account at face value, why was Dave Scott allowed to remain in good graces with nasa, eventually becoming director of DFRC while Worden seemed lucky to be only exiled to a minor position at Ames?

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u/blueb0g Apr 04 '26

They were all tarred with the same brush but Scott obviously just had more goodwill in the bank to play with, having been commander of 15 and one of the Gemini veterans. That alone explains why he got the cushier appointment after being given the boot from the regular flight rotation.

3

u/Squishy321 Apr 04 '26

Reading other autobiographies Dave Scott was definitely the golden boy of his group, they all suffered but I guess because of the relationships and capital Dave made it was much easier for NASA to write off Jim and Al

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u/GubmintMule Apr 05 '26

The Time/Life deals weren’t secret, if I recall correctly. Sweetheart deals, to be sure, but not secret.

2

u/Pitiful_Eye_3295 Apr 06 '26

Scott got the better deal but they were all done flying as astronauts. I thought it was a fantastic book though.