A study of the G.I. Bill's genesis and reception reveals the narrow interests it was originally intended to serve. Designed as a reward to servicemen and as a device to lessen the economic effects of demobilization, the Bill made a great impact upon American higher education. (1) It provided equality of opportunity unparalleled in the nation's history. (2) Veterans demonstrated that far more of American youth could benefit from education than had previously done so. (3) Veterans helped to alter the balance between public and private enrollments. (4) Popular attention, unprecedented enrollments and the obvious success of the Bill forced a re-examination of the objectives, facilities and methods of the higher education system. (5) The married student became an accepted part of academic life. (6) Increased federal aid was made possible, especially for construction, scholarships and 2 more G.I. Bills. Neither the sponsor of the Bill nor the popular media anticipated its significance. The number of G.I.s who attended college under the Bill far exceeded expectations and some educators feared the influx would lower educational standards. This proved to be another of many erroneous assumptions. The G.I. Bill was underestimated in its broadest conception and in its operational detail. (JS)