Physics funding—the evolving federal role

The role of the Federal government in support of physics has altered and grown over the last fifty years. In this article I will review the evolution of this role within the context of four time periods: about 1930 to 1940, 1940 to 1945 (World War II), 1945 to the present (post World War II); the fourth period is on the horizon as the administration in Washington strives for a balanced budget.