Inside the Centre: The Life of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Page 103
322. ‘nothing should stand in the way’: ibid., 424
323. ‘the biggest sonovabitch’: ibid., 426
323. ‘The Secretary of War’: Groves (1962), 3
323. ‘it will win the war’: ibid., 4
323. On his first day in command: Rhodes (1988), 427
323. The next day: ibid.
324. ‘That would be the equivalent’: Groueff (1967), 34
324. ‘Well, actually’: ibid., 39
324. Oppenheimer’s first meeting with Groves: Groves (1962), 61
325. ‘He was always’: Chevalier (1965), 21
325. ‘discussed at some length’: Groves (1962), 61
325. ‘In later summer’: ITMO, 12
325. ‘I discussed with him’: ibid.
326. squeezed into a tiny compartment: see Norris (2002), 241
326. ‘convinced of the necessity’: JRO to John H. Manley, 12.10.1942, S & W, 231
327. ‘I let myself’: Badash et al. (1980), 24
327. ‘I can’t tell you’: ibid., 25
327. ‘the question of site’: JRO to John H. Manley, 6.11.1942, S & W, 236
327. ‘It is a lovely spot’: ibid.
327. ‘anything about the developments’: ibid., 237
327. On 16 November: S & W, 238
327. ‘This will never do’: Badash et al. (1980), 15
328. ‘As soon as Groves saw it’: ibid.
328. Gregg Herken: Herken (2002), 71
328. his formal letter: see S & W, 249
328. ‘neither Bush, Conant nor I’: Groves (1962), 61
328. ‘no one’: ibid.
328. ‘had had’: ibid., 62
328. ‘the prestige’: ibid.
328. ‘background’: ibid., 63
328. ‘which was not yet,: ibid.
329. ‘it became apparent’: ibid.
329. ‘had a fatal weakness’: Stern (1971), 40
329. ‘the men we are after’: JRO to LRG, 2.11.1943, JRO papers, LOC
329. ‘I was supposed’: Badash et al. (1980), 28
329. ‘So I dug out some maps’: ibid., 29
330. ‘whether, if Oppenheimer’: ibid., 28
330. ‘I bugged Oppie’: ibid., 30
330. ‘Oppie practically threw’: ibid.
330. divided the lab into four main sections: Hawkins (1946), Chapters V, VI, VII and VIII
330. the Experimental Division: ibid., Chapter VI
331. several reasons: see Rigden (1987), 152
331. ‘the sound of’: Anderson (1974), 44
331. ‘The Italian navigator’: Compton (1956), 144
332. 150,000 workers: these figures are taken from Hales (1997), 163
332. ‘New workers’: ibid., 131
332. He persuaded: ibid., 167
333. a letter he wrote to Hans and Rose Bethe: S & W, 243–6
333. ‘is in the great effort’: ibid., 245
333. a long letter of 25 February 1943: reproduced in full as Appendix 1 in Hawkins (1946), 311–15
334. ‘the fatherly advisor to Oppie’: Bethe, interview with Rigden (Rigden [1987], 154)
335. was caught on the FBI microphones: Goodchild (1980), 66–7, Herken (2002), 72
335. ‘Look, what if’: B & S, 188
335. Chevalier’s side of the story: see Chevalier (1965), 52–5
335. ‘Haakon was one hundred per cent’: Barbara Chevalier’s diary, 14.7.1984, see the extracts published on Gregg Herken’s website: http://www.brotherhoodofthebomb.com/bhbsource/documents.html
335. ‘means of getting technical information’: ITMO, 130
336. ‘no chance’: ‘synopsis of facts’, 12.2.1954, JRO, FBI file, quoted B & S, 199
336. Bernard Peters had told him: see Romerstein and Breindel (2001), 270
336. ‘I just want to say goodbye’: Nelson, interview with MJS, 17.6.1981, quoted B & S, 194
336. ‘I think now’: B & S, 189
12. Los Alamos 1: Security
338. ‘Bulldozers moved in’: quoted Conant (2005), 62
339. ‘two or three fellows’: Serber (1998), 75
340. ‘a toy one-lane suspension bridge’: ibid.
340. ‘Cost and construction time’: Badesh (1980), 29
340. ‘That was my introduction’: ibid., 31
341. explicitly ordered by Major General Strong: Groves (1962), 138
342. ‘would next be reading’: interview with Pash, 15.3.1954, JRO FBI file, quoted Thorpe (2006), 208
342. ‘Yes I did’: ITMO, 823
343. The conversation: see B & S, 188–90, Herken (2002), 96–7
343. ‘a little bit scared’: Herken (2002), 97
343. ‘preferably that’: ibid.
344. ‘very much worried’: ibid., 96
344. ‘changed a bit’: B & S, 189
344. ‘To my sorrow’: ibid.
344. ‘a great deal of concern’: ITMO, 260
345. ‘General Groves’s view’: ibid.
345. on 5 April 1943: Groves (1962), 138
345. some counter-intelligence: what follows is based on the accounts given in Herken (2002), 98–99, Haynes and Klehr (2000), 230–2, and Romerstein and Breindel (2001), 257–9.
345. ‘Jesus’: Herken (2002), 98
346. ‘very helpful’: ITMO, 262
346. ‘The scientists’: ibid.
346. ‘Oppie’: Serber (1998), 77–8
346. ‘dragooned’: ibid., 78
346. ‘We propose’: JRO to LRG, 30.4.1943, S & W, 256
347. ‘Do you know’: Serber (1998), 79
347. ‘that I think’: JRO to WP, 20.5.1943, S & W, 257–8
347. In his reply: WP to JRO, 19.6.1943, S & W, 259
348. ‘Los Alamos from Below’: Feynman (1992), 107–36
348. ‘job lot’: Edward U. Condon, interviewed by Charles Weiner in Boulder, Colorado, 27 April 1968, AIP
348. ‘And so’: Feynman (1992), 110
348. ‘Please inform your wife’: ibid., 117
348. ‘until the sergeant’: ibid., 118
349. ‘neutral’: Teller (2001), 170
349. ‘seemed about’: ibid.
349. ‘had confused that strange language’: ibid.
349. ‘major responsibility’: Groves (1962), 154
349. ‘Condon was not a happy choice’: ibid.
349. ‘the very heart of security’: ibid., 140
350. ‘The thing that upsets me most’: EUC to JRO, April 1943, printed in full in Groves (1962), 429–32 (quotation 429)
350. ‘The considerations’: Groves (1962), 156
351. ‘The object’: Serber (1992), 3
351. ‘After a couple of minutes’: ibid., 4
351. ‘more exact diffusion theory’: ibid., 27
351. ‘To improve’: ibid., 32–3
352. ‘Several kinds of damage’: ibid., 33
352. ‘overlooked’: ibid., 34
352. who suggested it at the Berkeley conference: ibid., xxxii, 59; see also Serber (1998), 72
352. ‘Serber is looking into it’: Serber (1992), 59
353. a major ten-day conference: Hawkins (1946), 9, Hoddeson et al. (1993), 75–8
353. produced a report on 4 December: Hoddeson, 36
353. a second Lewis committee: ibid., 69
353. a planning board: ibid., 68–9
354. ‘be more far-sighted’: ibid., 69
354. ‘the original concept’: ibid.
354. ‘so that’: Christman (1998), 107
354. ‘I was plunged’: ibid., 108
354. ‘understanding of the interplay’: Groves (1962), 160
355. ‘produce the nuclear guts’: Christman (1998), 110
355. ‘pulled together’: ibid., 130
355. ‘every month’s delay’: Cave Brown (1977), 342
355. ‘All science stopped’: Feynman (1992), 108
356. ‘Every day’: ibid., 112
356. ‘No, no’: ibid.
357. ‘It had been planned’: Bacher
, interviewed by Finn Aaserud at the California Institute of Technology, 13 February 1986, AIP
358. resulted in the identification of Weinberg: Herken (2002), 100–11, B & S, 192
358. his request was refused: see ITMO, 13, 119
358. he was drafted into the army: Lomanitz, interviewed by Shawn Mullet, 29 July 2001, AIP
358. was quickly fired: Herken (2002), 109–10
359. a visit to his ex-lover, Jean: see B & S, 231–5
359. ‘She had indicated’: ITMO, 154
359. ‘Because she was’: ibid.
359. What transpired: what follows is based on the account given in B & S, 232
360. ‘Q. You have no reason’: ITMO, 154
360. ‘may be connected’: B & S, 233
361. a memo to Lansdale: see ITMO, 821–3
361. ‘Consequently’: ITMO, 822
361. ‘My working definition’: ITMO, 266
361. ‘Mrs Oppenheimer’: ibid.
362. ‘I formed the conviction’: ibid.
362. ‘believed to be’: B & S, 234
362. ‘because of his known interest’: ibid., 234–5
363. ‘In accordance’: Groves (1962), 63
363. Bacher told him: Bacher, interview with AKS, 16.3.1978, quoted S & W, 261
363. ‘I am sure’: President Roosevelt to JRO, 29.6.1943, quoted S & W, 260
363. ‘You would be glad to know’: JRO to Roosevelt, 9.7.1943, S & W, 260
364. received from General Groves: S & W, 262–3
364. on 27 July: Goodchild (1980), 91
364. Three days later: ibid., and Herken (2002), 110
364. ‘It was really’: Lomanitz, interviewed by Shawn Mullet in Hawaii, 29 July 2001, AIP
364. ‘Oh, there has to be a mistake’: ibid.
364. ‘Ernest Lawrence yelled’: ITMO, 268
364. ‘very serious mistake’: JRO to Col Marshall, 31.7.1943, ITMO, 123
364. ‘Have requested’: ibid., 133
364. Lomanitz gave an interview: Lomanitz, interviewed by Shawn Mullet in Hawaii, 29 July 2001, AIP
365. a full report: see ITMO, 275–6
365. ‘he had been guilty’: ibid., 276
365. ‘he must forego’: ibid.
365. ‘That makes me mad’: ibid.
366. ‘[He] stated that’: ibid.
366. ‘Oppenheimer gave’: ibid.
366. ‘On the whole’: ibid.
366. FBI agents watched: Herken (2002), 110, Sibley (2004), 145
366. ‘California trouble’: see Herken (2002), 106
367. Oppenheimer went to see Groves: B & S, 238
367. on 25 August 1943: ITMO, 136–7, B & S, 238
367. ‘With the approval’: ITMO, 128
367. ‘framed’: ibid., 876
368. ‘I persuaded him’: ibid., 880
368. ‘I remember’: Lomanitz, interviewed by Shawn Mullet in Hawaii, 29 July 2001, AIP
368. ‘These two fellows’: ITMO., 883
368. ‘if they were violating’: ibid.
368. dinner in Berkeley with Robert Bacher: Herken (2002), 107
369. ‘cock and bull story’: ITMO, 137
369. ‘placed a certain responsibility’: ibid., 285
369. ‘Mr Johnson’: ibid.
370. ‘I was rather uncertain’: ibid.
370. ‘That is not the particular interest I have’: ibid., 286
370. ‘I think that is true’: ibid.
370. ‘Could you give me’: ibid., 287
370. ‘were always’: ibid.
371. ‘He has probably’: ibid., 288
371. ‘I mean’: ibid., 289
371. ‘I have known’: ibid., 290
371. ‘I was an idiot’: ibid., 137
372. ‘I think it would be a mistake’: ibid., 292
372. ‘It’s a member of the faculty’: ibid.
372. ‘They were contacted’: ibid., 295
372. ‘And then’: ibid.
372. ‘and we may not’: ibid.
372. ‘have a feeling’: ibid.
372. ‘We certainly would’: ibid., 850
372. ‘we are going to have to spend’: ibid.
373. ‘We will be hot under the collar’: ibid., 860
373. ‘I think that I would be’: ibid., 851
373. ‘I feel responsible’: ibid.
373. like a bloodhound: ibid., 866
373. On 27 August: B & S, 233
373. ‘determining the identities’: ibid.
373. ‘the part played by J.R. Oppenheimer’: ibid., 273–4
373. ‘The writer’: ibid., 274
374. ‘has allowed’: ibid.
374. ‘Until alerted’: ibid., 275
374. ‘that Oppenheimer’: ibid.
374. ‘This Office’: ibid., 273
374. On 3 September: see Herken (2002), 108–9
375. ‘without intent of flattery’: ITMO, 871
375. ‘I want you to know’: ibid., 885
375. ‘I thought I might’: ibid., 871
376. ‘They know’: ibid., 872
376. ‘We don’t want to’: ibid., 873
376. ‘I’ve thought about it’: ibid., 875
376. ‘Who do you know’: ibid.
376. ‘I think it possible’: ibid., 876
376. ‘How about Haakon Chevalier?’: ibid., 877
377. ‘. . . we’ve got the case’: ibid., 879
377. ‘Don’t think’: ibid., 885
377. ‘I know that he was in Germany’: ibid., 883
377. ‘It is essential’: ibid., 815
378. ‘very unsatisfactory’: ibid., 277
378. ‘Oppenheimer’s attitude’: ibid.
378. ‘who now appears’: ibid.
379. ‘Look’: Lomanitz, interviewed by Shawn Mullet in Hawaii, 29 July 2001, AIP
379. ‘firm conviction’: Herken (2002), 110
379. ‘he didn’t believe’: ibid.
379. Oppenheimer refused to take the call: ibid., 358, note 57
379. ‘will continue to be loyal’: see B & S, 247
379. ‘tedious project’: ITMO, 815
379. ‘suddenly’: Stern (1971), 55–6
380. ‘God’s help to us’: see http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=72459&st=Thanksgiving&st1=#axzz1X2POs3fI
381. ‘Possible identity’: ITMO, 819
382. 12 December: Stern (1971), 65
382. ‘advised him’: B & S, 247
382. sent telegrams: see Stern (1971), 66–7
382. ‘other than [the] three original attempts’: ibid., 67
382. ‘the information was’: ITMO, 263
382. ‘Yes, but’: ibid., 167
382. ‘When I did identify Chevalier’: ITMO, 889
383. The answer seems to be: based on B & S, 514–9, Herken (2002), 270–1
383. ‘I remember distinctly’: ITMO, 264
384. ‘nothing could be clearer’: ibid., 264–5
384. ‘finally stated’: B & S, 248
385. ‘Are you still in this world?’: HC to JRO, c. November 1943, Chevalier folder, Box 26, JRO papers, LOC
385. ‘I can’t tell you’: HC to JRO, 3.12.1943, Chevalier folder, Box 26, JRO papers, LOC
386. ‘His face was somber’: Chevalier (1965), 58
386. ‘The last thing’: ibid.
386. ‘When I got to his office’: Serber (1998), 86
386. Jean’s body: what follows is based on the account give in B & S, Chapter Eighteen.
386. ‘disgusted with everything’: B & S, 250
387. claims in an unpublished manuscript: B & S, 252 and 637
387. ‘went on’: B & S, 637
387. ‘De Silva is not’: ibid.
387. ‘conversation with J.R. Oppenheimer’: ITMO, 150
387. ‘During the course of the conversation’: ibid.
388. ‘I think’: ibid., 121
388. His unconvincing answer: ibid., 122
388. ‘Just look at him’: Stern (1971)
, 123
388. Oppenheimer was understandably sceptical: ITMO, 119
388. ‘engaged in earnest conversation’: ibid., 150
389. ‘. . . just as he was preparing to leave’: ibid., 149
13. Los Alamos 2: Implosion
390. the Quebec Agreement: Stoff et al. (1991), 46–7, and online at: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/wwii/q002.asp
390. the only physicist: Bethe, interview with Richard Rhodes, 5.3.1993, quoted Rhodes (1996), 259
391. invited by Rudolf Peierls: Peierls (1985), 163
391. a regular informant: see Herken (2002), 89, Rhodes (1995), 57
391. the German authorities had informed the British: see Paul Reynolds, ‘How atom spy slipped security net’, BBC News online at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3046255.stm
391. ‘bears a good personal reputation’: Daphne Bosanquet, quoted ibid.
391. ‘As he [Fuchs] has been’: ibid.
391. ‘He is rather safer in America’: Major Garrett of MI5, quoted ibid.
391. on 5 February 1944: see West (2004), 59
392. ‘We were desperately afraid’: Peierls (1985), 168
392. ‘and we have no record’: ibid.
392. ‘were in their normal places’: ibid., 169
392. ‘did seem to be’: ibid.
392. On 21 August 1943: Rhodes (1988), 511
392. ‘It is not necessary’: ibid., 512
393. a letter written by Heisenberg: see Jungk (1960), 100–1
393. ‘whether it was right’: ibid., 101
393. ‘Do you really think’: ibid.
393. ‘Bohr was shocked’: ibid.
393. ‘Personally’: NB to Heisenberg, undated, but c. 1957. For the full text of this and other documents relating to the Bohr–Heisenberg meeting, see http://nba.nbi.dk/papers/docs/d01tra.htm
394. ‘less to tell’: Oppenheimer, lecture on Bohr, 1964, typescript in JRO papers, LOC
395. ‘and an opportunity’: see Brown (1997), 242, where the letter is given in full
395. ‘to help resist’: quoted Rozental (1967), 194
395. ‘I have to the best of my judgment’: ibid.
395. ‘I shall make an effort’: quoted Brown (1997), 243
395. ‘In view’: see Rose (1998), 157
395. Jeremy Bernstein has suggested: see Bernstein (2003)
396. the Nazi atomic project: for more on this, see Bernstein (2001), Powers (1994) and Rose (1998)
396. a series of Allied attacks: see Baggott (2009), 117–19, 132–6, 215–17, Powers (1994), 195–213, and Rhodes (1988), 455–7
397. Heisenberg gave a lecture: Bernstein (2003), 256
397. Thomas Powers believes: Powers (1994), 246
397. on 5 October 1943: Baggott (2009), 213
397. They arrived in New York on 6 December: Powers (1994), 240