Why Did Harry Truman Hate Robert Oppenheimer?

welcome to a compelling Journey Through History where two remarkable figures President Harry S Truman and physicist J Robert Oppenheimer are forever intertwined by the tides of War and the dawn of the atomic age Truman a decisive Leader burdened by the Monumental decision of deploying the world's first atomic weapon and Oppenheimer the enigmatic father of the atomic bomb whose Brilliance brought forth a power that forever altered the course of humanity in this episode we delve into their complicated relationship so sit back and immerse yourself as we unravel the intricate Saga of Truman Oppenheimer and the dawn of the atomic age all right while both physicist J Robert Oppenheimer and president Harry S Truman played instrumental roles in the conception and execution of the atomic bomb during World War II they only had a single encounter in person which was far from Pleasant the exact dialogue of their encounter on October 25th 1945 differs among accounts but the meeting underscored the men's Divergent attitudes toward the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and the future of atomic weaponry Oppenheimer famously claimed to have blood on his hands during his meeting with Truman a comment that infuriated the president blood on his hands damn it he hasn't half as much blood on his hands as I have you just don't go around bellyaching about it Truman said according to the book Robert Oppenheimer a life inside the center by Ray monk he called Oppenheimer a crybaby scientist and said I don't want to see that son of a [ __ ] in this office ever again Oppenheimer famously Associated the Trinity test the first successful atomic bomb detonation on July 16 1945 with a phrase from the Hindu scripture bhagavad-gita now I am become death the destroyer of worlds however his immediate reaction post detonation did not appear introspective to observers it seemed more celebratory recalling the day physicist Isidore Robbie as quoted in Monk's book stated I'll never forget the way he walked the way he got out of the car his walk was like High Noon this kind of strut he had done it yet oppenheimer's initial Jubilation following Trinity in the Hiroshima bombing began to fade after the Nagasaki attack which he perceived as militarily unnecessary post the second bombing on August 9 1945 he became a bundle of nerves distressed by the escalating casualty reports according to monk Truman however remained firm throughout his life that the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were instrumental in saving numerous Allied lives by accelerating the end of the war he persistently countered claims that a non-lethal demonstration of the bomb could have coerced Japan into surrender without any loss of life the president cannot duck hard problems he cannot pass the buck Truman said in 1948 I made the decision after discussions with the ableist men in our government and after long and prayerful consideration I decided that the bomb should be used to end the war quickly and save countless lives Japanese as well as American in August 1945 Oppenheimer penned a letter to Secretary of War Henry L Stimson voicing his apprehensions about the military and political implications of atomic Weaponry the subsequent month he was presented a chance what monk labeled as a golden opportunity to influence atomic energy policy an exclusive meeting with the president Oppenheimer stepped into the Oval Office at 10 30 a.m on October 25th Truman who was familiar with his repute as an articulate and magnetic individual was eager to meet the renowned physicist in person according to the book American Prometheus the triumphant tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Byrd and Martin Sherwin following initial greetings by the new Secretary of War Robert P Patterson the sole additional presence in the room Truman commenced the discussion by soliciting oppenheimer's endorsement for the proposed Mae Johnson bill this legislation sought to Grant the U.S army Perpetual authority over atomic energy firstly we must Define the national issue then the international Truman stated as recorded by bird and Sherwin a disquieting silence ensued during which Truman awaited oppenheimer's reply at last Oppenheimer spoke up suggesting it might be best to First Define the International problem as bird and Sherwin explained oppenheimer's stance diverged from Truman's with the physicist arguing that preventing the proliferation of atomic weapons through International atomic energy regulation should be prioritized the dialogue grew increasingly terse at one juncture Truman probed Oppenheimer to estimate when the Soviet Union might construct their own atomic bomb monk recounts that when the physicist said he didn't know Truman smirked and confidently boasted that he knew the answer never Oppenheimer perceived Truman's assertion as sheer Folly from prior warnings issued by him and his fellow scientists at the Los Alamos laboratory Oppenheimer was certain that the methods for harnessing energy from nuclear fission to create a bomb are not indefinitely concealable and Russia would eventually acquire them monk details monk also notes that Oppenheimer believed Truman had misstepped by clandestinely dealing with the Russians instead of fostering trust for future International Atomic weapon collaborations in the physicist's view Truman's Cavalier remark reinforced his concerns that the United States intended to intimidate the Soviet Union with its new Weaponry rather than pursue Arms Control recognizing oppenheimer's unease Truman inquired what was amiss this led to oppenheimer's Infamous confession Mr President I feel I have blood on my hands this remark outraged Truman who later recounted his retort I told him the blood was on my hands to let me worry about that as cited by burden Sherwin in later years Truman embellished the story of the meeting even further at one point he claimed he sarcastically responded to Oppenheimer never mind it'll all come out in the wash a core according to bird and Sherwin in another telling Truman claimed he offered Oppenheimer a handkerchief saying well here would you like to wipe your hands either way this effectively signaled the meeting's end as Truman escorted the physicist towards the exit he said don't worry we're going to work something out and you're going to help us but Oppenheimer recognized he had upset the president and any possibility of future cooperation was extinguished according to bird and Sherwin despite his Renown for being charming and persuasive Oppenheimer often clashed with authority bird and Sherwin note Oppenheimer left Washington a Chase and man they wrote his attempts to insinuate himself into the top levels of U.S politics had failed and in making them he had alienated the politically active scientists he had hoped to lead despite everything Truman presented Oppenheimer with a presidential citation and a medal for merit in 1946 with Stimson attributing the creation of the atomic bomb primarily to his Brilliance and the motivation and guidance he offered to his years thanks for watching Remember to like And subscribe see you soon

Channel: Hidden History

Views: 166,176

Keywords: hidden history, Why Did Harry Truman Hate Robert Oppenheimer?, truman oppenheimer, Oppenheimer, Robert Oppenheimer, harry truman, Manhattan project, trinity, trinity test, atomic bombs, atomic bombs Nagasaki, hiroshima, nagasaki, atomic bomb Hiroshima, atomic bomb test, atomic bomb footage, Oppenheimer movie, Oppenheimer movie accuracy

Id: UKJC5-d8pic

Length: 7min 48sec (468 seconds)

Published: Wed Jul 26 2023