Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Exploring The History, Science, and Consequences of The Atomic Bomb. AJ
Exploring The History, Science, and Consequences of The Atomic Bomb. AJ
Exploring The History, Science, and Consequences of The Atomic Bomb. AJ
American Experience: Oppenheimer Hearings." PBS. PBS by WGBH, 1996 - 2009. Web.
05 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/bomb/peopleevents/pandeAMEX66.html>.
This source details the Oppenheimer Trials from 1954. It is an interesting turn
from my previous research because it gives an overview of the trials, and thus, the
demise of Oppenheimer. This is my first source that has gone in depth, albeit
slightly, into the Oppenheimer trials. This source uses quotes from the trial, as
well as some of the 39 people who testified. The most notable being Edward
Teller, a rival of Oppenheimer who worked on the Manhattan Project, and later,
the Hydrogen Bomb. It is a rather broad source, but it has given me a direction to
go in.
The Atomic Energy Commission, Buck, Alice. N.p.: U.S. Department of Energy, 1983.
Web. 11 Sept. 2014
This source didn't give much specific information on Robert Oppemheimer, but
rather, it gave me information on the comission that he ran. The Atomic Energy
Comission was headed by Oppenhimer but he on no way ran it. Knowing what I
know about Oppenhimer, and what I learned from this source, Oppenheimer had
little control of the comission. His personal beliefs had no cashay because they
Atomic Energy Comission had little to nothing to do about peaceful atomic
warfare. This was not the best source for learning about the legacy of Robert
Oppenhiemer, and it did little to teach me about Oppenehimer's leadership.
Bird, Kai, and Martin J. Sherwin. American Prometheus: The Triumph and
Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer. New York: A.A. Knopf, 2005. Print.
This source is a long book that is filled with information that I already know. The
one interesting thing that this book has is a very different perspective on Robert
Oppenheimer's story. This book uses quotes to detail Oppenheimer's tragedy, but
it is told as if it is a novel. It uses many quotes from Oppenheimer's trial and the
harsh politics behind it. The book is lengthy and probably filled with extra
information that we do not need, the book will regardless be a useful resource.
Blackwell, Jon. "1953: Oppenheimer's Fall." 1953: Oppenheimer's Fall. The Trentonian,
n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2014. <http://www.capitalcentury.com/1953.html>.
This source is more than anything, qualitative. It gives a decent summation of
Robert Oppenheimer, but it specializes in his fall. It has a link to the documents of
his trials, a useful source, but not particularly useful in the legacy of
Oppenheimer. It also gives an interesting look into the relationship between
Truman and Oppenheimer, when Roosevelt had a positive relationship with him,
his predecessor did not.
Chafe, William H. The Achievement of American Liberalism the New Deal and Its
Legacies.
New York: Columbia UP, 2003. Print.
We focused on the chapter of this book that discussed the ethical responsibilities
of the scientist. This chapter specifically discussed Robert Oppenheimers
position as the lead developer in the Manhattan Project, and the ethical dilemma
he faced after creating one of the deadliest, most powerful weapons in the
world. Richard Polenberg, the author of this chapter, acknowledges that
Oppenheimer built a horrific device which caused thousands of deaths and
casualties, but that Oppenheimer did not take the effects of the atomic bomb
lightly. Polenberg argues that in resigning from the Manhattan Project and
leading the Atomic Energy Commission shortly after the atomic bombs were
dropped, Oppenheimer did the ethically correct thing, as he vouched for the
careful control of atomic weapons development.
Conant, Jennet. 109 East Palace: Robert Oppenheimer and the Secret City of Los
Alamos. New
York: Simon & Schuster, 2005. Print.
A history and analysis of the development of the secret Manhattan Project, a
classified atomic weapons development project from World War II, this book
illustrates the projects lasting effect on mankind, as well as J. Robert
Oppenheimers central role in the undertaking. Conant, the granddaughter of
James B. Conant, the administrator of the Manhattan Project and the classified
Los Alamos bomb laboratory, describes the enigmatic nature of the Los Alamos
research and testing facility, and the brilliance and significance of Robert
Oppenheimer. The book focuses largely on the progress of the Manhattan
Project, and on Oppenheimers role in the project and in the early development of
nuclear weapons. As the leading figure in the project, Oppenheimer had a
permanent effect on the development of nuclear weapons.
Goodchild, Peter. J. Robert Oppenheimer: Shatterer of Worlds. Boston: Houghton
Mifflin, 1981.
Print.
This book provides a concise history of the four major phases of J. Robert
Oppenheimers professional life: his time as a young physicist at the University of
California, his time as director of the Manhattan Project, his time of crisis during
his involvement in the Atomic Energy Commission, and his final years at the
Institute for Advanced Studies in Princeton, New Jersey. In addition to detailed
interviews with Oppenheimers surviving friends, colleagues, and enemies, as
well as insightful commentary from author Peter Goodchild, this book ties in well
with our groups decision to focus our research on the four earlier mentioned
phases of Oppenheimers life.
Haddock, Brandon. "Faces of Energy; Julius Robert Oppenheimer; Physicist Pioneered
Nuclear Reaction." The Augusta Chronicle [Georgia] 4 Nov. 2000: n. pag. Print.
then leaving Berkley that how was upset. This source gave a different angle to the
demise of Robert Oppenheimer, albeit, a biased one.
"J. Robert Oppenheimer's Legacy." Institute for Advanced Study. Princeton University,
2014. Web. 29 Sept. 2014. <http://www.ias.edu/people/oppenheimer/legacy>.
J. Robert Oppenheimers Legacy is the first source I have encountered that has
detailed the legacy of Oppenheimers influence on education. Other sources have
described his work in education after his abolishment from the Atomic Energy
Commission, but never depicted his legacy in that area. This source also describes
some of what Nobel Prize winners had to say about how Oppenheimer bridged
the gap between science and the public. This source also lists the sources it used,
which is always nice because it makes it easier to find quality, qualitative, and
authoritative sources.
Kunetka, James W. Oppenheimer, the Years of Risk. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: PrenticeHall, 1982.
Print.
The complex character of J. Robert Oppenheimer and his career in the public eye
are dissected in this book. Mainly focusing on the height of Oppenheimers
career (from 1942 to 1954), this book contains comprehensive data from
classified documents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S.
Department of Energy, and the Los Alamos National Laboratory. This book also
includes interviews with several of Oppenheimers family members and
associates, and examines Oppenheimers enormous impact on matters of atomic
energy and development.
Kuznick, Peter J. "A Tragic Life: Oppenheimer and the Bomb." A Tragic Life:
Oppenheimer and the Bomb. Arms Control Association, n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2014.
<http://www.armscontrol.org/print/1851>.
A biography depicting Oppenheimers life as tragic, this source, that combines
evidence and commentary from four different books, illustrates the transition
Oppenheimer experienced from an advocator of the atomic bomb, to the complete
opposite. Originally for the use of the atomic bomb for the termination of WWII,
Oppenheimer, as described by Kuznick, had a change of heart after seeing the
disastrous effects of the bomb and discovering the real political desires behind the
bomb. As a part of the GAC, he strongly urged the idea of an international
organization that controlled and regulated the use of nuclear energy. His
leadership in this part, however, was essentially disregarded by both President
Truman and another scientist, Strauss, and his legacy of seeking a peaceful
solution has been marred and overlooked because of his enormous popularity as
the destroyer of worlds.
Macmillan, Priscilla J. The Ruin of J. Robert Oppenheimer: And the Birth of Modern
Arms Race. New York: Viking, 2005. Print.