War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Interview with James Killian, 1986

Item Information

Title:
War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Interview with James Killian, 1986
Description:
James Killian was the President's Special Assistant for Science and Technology from 1957-1959. He oversaw the creation of the President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC), and also served as President of MIT from 1948-1959. In the interview he discusses President Eisenhower's decision to seek scientific means of preventing a surprise attack on the United States, which led to the creation of the position of science adviser to the president. He describes the various recommendations of the PSAC, including upgrading the missile program, researching nuclear submarine technology, building the U-2, developing solid fuel missiles, and improving science education in high schools. He notes the public's reaction to Sputnik, which he considered overwrought. Dr. Killian points out that he and his colleagues had the unusual privilege of reporting directly to Eisenhower who took a genuine interest in scientific and technological models and eagerly participated in numerous "delightful sessions" on the subject. Eisenhower was also intent on achieving a test ban treaty with the Soviet Union (despite deep American distrust of the Soviets), an effort Dr. Killian unexpectedly contributed to through an impromptu address to the National Security Council on the subject. Also discussed in the interview is the "continental divide" that existed in the scientific community over nuclear issues in the late 1950s, a time when American arsenals were expanding dramatically. Dr. Killian also comments on Eisenhower's relationships with scientists who held very different views, notably Edward Teller, Lewis Strauss and George Kistiakowsky.
Interviewee:
Killian, James Rhyne, 1904-1988
Date:
April 18, 1986
Format:
Film/Video
Location:
WGBH
Collection (local):
American Archive of Public Broadcasting Collection
Series:
WGBH > War and Peace in the Nuclear Age
Subjects:
Global Affairs
Military Forces and Armaments
Goodpaster, Andrew Jackson, 1915-2005
Strauss, Lewis
LeMay, Curtis E.
Teller, Edward, 1908-2003
Land, Edwin Herbert, 1909-1991
Reagan, Ronald
Oppenheimer, J. Robert, 1904-1967
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963
Macmillan, Harold, 1894-1986
Sprague, Robert C. (Robert Chapman), 1900-
United States. Dept. of Defense
United States. Navy
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Polaris (Missile)
Nuclear weapons
Nuclear weapons--Testing
Hydrogen bomb
Edicia Sputnik
Photographic reconnaissance systems
Aerial photography
Fallout shelters
Civil Defense
Strategic Defense Initiative
Soviet Union
United States
Wiesner, Jerome B. (Jerome Bert), 1915-1994
Cutler, Robert, 1895-1974
Kistiakowsky, George B. (George Bogdan), 1900-1982
Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972
Adams, Sherman, 1899-1986
Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994
Schlesinger, James R.
United States. President?s Science Advisory Committee
DuBridge, Lee A. (Lee Alvin), 1901-1994
York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank)
Fisk, James B.
United States. Joint Chiefs of Staff
United States. Air Force
United States. Air Force. Strategic Air Command
United Nations
Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969
Gaither Report (1957)
Extent:
00:53:33
Link to Item:
https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-15-b27pn8xj9m
Terms of Use:
Rights status not evaluated.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
WGBH Educational Foundation