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9/30/54
CHRONOLOGY - "Atoms for Peace" Project
1. Early April, 1953, discussion of "Candor". Official NSC and
Presidential instruction late May. Purpose -- fuller disclosure.
2. Many drafts of Candor through September none satisfactory
because they either told too much or too little and were
uniformly dull. During this time mounting columnist hue and
cry, led by Alsops, referring to Candor (9/9) and disclosing
much draft material.
THE
3. Moratorium pending new idea.
4. Mid-September 1953, new draft, largely inspired by Radford --
including tremendous recital U.S. atomic might "one atomic
bomb equal to all bombs dropped by all allies on Germany during
the war" kind of stuff.
(Last days of Sept., much discussion on whether to continue --
Jackson polled high officials with letter 9/25, and key
inner group breakfasted with President at the White House
10/3, for which Jackson had written briefing.)
5. New draft, including Russian potential for injuring the U.S. This
was closer to what was wanted, but it had the basic defect that
all it really contained was mortal Soviet attack followed by
mortal U.S. counterattack in other words, bang-bang, no hope,
no way out at the end.
6. Summer 1953, vacationing in Denver, President had vague and general
germ of the atomic "pool" idea -- on which he sent a message to
Strauss from Denver via Bobby Cutler.
7. Strauss-Jackson discussed ideas on ways in which this might be
done, and Jackson put in rough speech draft in very general terms.
8. Strauss and Jackson came to New York August 19th to have breakfast
with the President when he returned from Denver for the Baruch
Anniversary. He read the draft, and discussed amplification of
the idea, with Strauss supplying details on how it might be done.
9. Highest level, top secret discussions. First draft of "Atoms for
Peace" speech as such dated November 1. Meanwhile, Strauss was
working on details, and as result of his talks with Pres. and
other preparations, prepared memo dated November 6th, which
included all basics including safe method. (Note: method still
classified)
10. Gradual crescendo involving more and more people, including
White House meetings, while this speech shaping up by which
- 2 -
time it had become a Strauss-Jackson act, Strauss supplying
more and more atomic pool ideas and Jackson putting into words.
11. Approval all around immediately prior to Bermuda, and
decision by the President that Strauss and Jackson should
go to Bermuda.
12. Several long discussions between Strauss and Cherwell on
validity and feasibility of plan, leading to Cherwell's
advising Churchill to raise no British objections.
13. Work on plane on final draft, between the President, Strauss,
Foster Dulles, and Jackson.
Delivery of speech at UN -- December 8, 1953
Library
Elsenhower
The
a
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"ocrText": "COPY\n9/30/54\nCHRONOLOGY - \"Atoms for Peace\" Project\n1. Early April, 1953, discussion of \"Candor\". Official NSC and\nPresidential instruction late May. Purpose -- fuller disclosure.\n2. Many drafts of Candor through September none satisfactory\nbecause they either told too much or too little and were\nuniformly dull. During this time mounting columnist hue and\ncry, led by Alsops, referring to Candor (9/9) and disclosing\nmuch draft material.\nTHE\n3. Moratorium pending new idea.\n4. Mid-September 1953, new draft, largely inspired by Radford --\nincluding tremendous recital U.S. atomic might \"one atomic\nbomb equal to all bombs dropped by all allies on Germany during\nthe war\" kind of stuff.\n(Last days of Sept., much discussion on whether to continue --\nJackson polled high officials with letter 9/25, and key\ninner group breakfasted with President at the White House\n10/3, for which Jackson had written briefing.)\n5. New draft, including Russian potential for injuring the U.S. This\nwas closer to what was wanted, but it had the basic defect that\nall it really contained was mortal Soviet attack followed by\nmortal U.S. counterattack in other words, bang-bang, no hope,\nno way out at the end.\n6. Summer 1953, vacationing in Denver, President had vague and general\ngerm of the atomic \"pool\" idea -- on which he sent a message to\nStrauss from Denver via Bobby Cutler.\n7. Strauss-Jackson discussed ideas on ways in which this might be\ndone, and Jackson put in rough speech draft in very general terms.\n8. Strauss and Jackson came to New York August 19th to have breakfast\nwith the President when he returned from Denver for the Baruch\nAnniversary. He read the draft, and discussed amplification of\nthe idea, with Strauss supplying details on how it might be done.\n9. Highest level, top secret discussions. First draft of \"Atoms for\nPeace\" speech as such dated November 1. Meanwhile, Strauss was\nworking on details, and as result of his talks with Pres. and\nother preparations, prepared memo dated November 6th, which\nincluded all basics including safe method. (Note: method still\nclassified)\n10. Gradual crescendo involving more and more people, including\nWhite House meetings, while this speech shaping up by which\n- 2 -\ntime it had become a Strauss-Jackson act, Strauss supplying\nmore and more atomic pool ideas and Jackson putting into words.\n11. Approval all around immediately prior to Bermuda, and\ndecision by the President that Strauss and Jackson should\ngo to Bermuda.\n12. Several long discussions between Strauss and Cherwell on\nvalidity and feasibility of plan, leading to Cherwell's\nadvising Churchill to raise no British objections.\n13. Work on plane on final draft, between the President, Strauss,\nFoster Dulles, and Jackson.\nDelivery of speech at UN -- December 8, 1953\nLibrary\nElsenhower\nThe\na"
}