Roberts discusses how he came to be NCAR's first director, the purpose for creating a national center, the process for identifying NCAR's initial priorities, the issue of competition between NCAR and university programs, the debate regarding NCAR's focus on research with practical applications, and early NCAR facilities. Roberts reflects on characteristics of a successful research center, his ideas about administration, and the importance of interdisciplinary research and international cooperation among the scientific community. People frequently referred to during the interview include Jule Charney, Tom Malone, Pat Squires, Phil Thompson, John von Neumann, and Alan Waterman.