This paper discusses the broader implications of research in the social and behavioral sciences funded by the United States National Science Foundation. A history of the establishment of the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences is presented and the role of basic and applied research at the National Science Foundation is discussed. Contributions to the Nation from economics, sociology, geography, political science and other disciplines are presented. The argument is made that the National Science Foundation has enabled the social and behavioral sciences to flourish and they have provided society with scientific knowledge and expertise of relevance to policy makers.