It was originally named the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST), but was renamed after NASA administrator James Webb (1906-1992). [Webb is played by Ken Strunk in thhe 2016 film Hidden Figures] James Webb was appointed by President John F. Kennedy to oversee NASA in 1961 which he did until 1968. Webb oversaw the first manned launches in the Mercury through Gemini programs and in 1969 he was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Lyndon Johnson.