JF Ptak Sciene Books   Post 2382

This is a duplicate of a carbon copy document by I.I. Rabi, and is one of 35 documents¹ relating to the development of U.S. atomic policy, October 1945-January 1946, that comes from the library of Caryl Haskins², a close and long-time friend of Vannevar Bush, who worked with Bush throughout World War II at the OSRD, and was executive assistant to Bush at NSRD 1941-1945. Vannevar Bush, one of the most important scientist-advisers of World War II, foresaw the development of the atomic arms race in 1943, and by 1945 became a fundamental thinker and advocate of addressing the problem of atomic information control.  The 35 documents in this collection are–almost without exception–by aides and close colleagues of Bush  who assisted him in formulating the positions and issues, dating from October 1945 through January 1946.   They consist of background papers, drafts of proposals, informal studies, as well as mature statements of thought that would become implemented in the core of U.S. policy regarding the spread and control of atomic weapons.  They are generally carbon typescripts and necessarily of extremely limited distribution, generally have no letterheads, occasionally carry the authors’ full names (although sometimes only initials are used), and 18 are stamped or typed “Secret”.

The sheet by Rabi (1898-1988) is simple but interesting, and in 53 words outlines the issues of the atomic bomb–it is dated November 21, 1945.  IT was typed for Rabi by an assistant (“rb”), and at the bottom as being by Rabi.  Rabi of course played key roles in the development of the bomb, as well as playing a very crucial and critical role in the discussion of the future of atomic weapons. 

[These are the two copies of the Rabi outline–the second was Irving Langmuir’s copy. There couldn’t’ve been too many of these made–there would be the original, then perhaps six carbon copies. I any event, it is a rare thing. The original is for sale here at our blog bookstore.]