Letter from Richard E. Hamilton to President Harry S. Truman

Emergy 1-24 Box 76, Drew University Madison, New Jersey January 23, 1950 President White House Washington, D.C. Mr. President: 692-8 miscel car H Realizing full well that this letter may never reach your hands, I nevertheless feel it imperative to express my opinion to you as the responsible head of our government concerning the decision which lies before you regarding the possibility of an hydrogen bomb. # Mr. President, I am a young man in prepar- ation for the Christian ministry. Almost a month ago I watched the coming of a new half-centry, the half-century in which the significant part of my life will be lived. I prayed that during these fifty years this nation to whom so much has been given might show the way into an era of last- ing peace, which is the hope of all the peoples of the world. Soon you must make the decision as to whe- ther or not to proceed in the manufacture of a weapon which, in my mind, cannot but make the chances of that peace infinitely less. In mak- ing that decision you will consult the opinion of men whose knowledge and understanding far outreach my own, but of one thing I am sure. It is senseless to talk of peace and to prepare for war. Deep within, we know that. Somewhere, someday, the United States must dare to turn a- bout and make decisions in a positive manner for peace, whatever the cost, if peace is to come in our time. Perhaps this may be the day. TRUMAN MARRY NATIONAL AND I understand that you read in the field of history. History is plain as to the fact that GOVERNMENT progress has come through men who have been cour- ageous enough to stand against the tide of the times and strike out in new directions. We in America need that kind of courage today. We need that kind of leadership. You know so well the hope with which the peoples of the world look to us. It is within our power to reverse the trend