Cardinal choices : presidential science advising from the atomic bomb to SDI / Gregg Herken.

Originally published: New York : Oxford University Press, 1992.

"A Twentieth Century Fund book."

Includes bibliographical references (pages 263-350) and index.

Pt. I. Urgent Appeals, 1939-1952: The Advent of Nuclear Weapons. Ch. 1. A Closely Knit Group of People: The Decision to Build the Atomic Bomb. Ch. 2. No Acceptable Alternative: The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb. Ch. 3. Necessarily an Evil Thing: The Debate over the H-Bomb. Ch. 4. A Point of No Return: The Opportunity for a Nuclear "Standstill" -- Pt. II. Fragile Hopes, 1953-1960: The Impetus toward Arms Control. Ch. 5. Racing toward Catastrophe: Atoms for Peace and War. Ch. 6. An Age of Danger: From the Killian Report to Sputnik. Ch. 7. A Vested Interest in This Field: The President's Science Advisory Committee and the Test Ban -- Pt. III. Guarded Futures, 1961-1988: The Perils and Promises of New Technology. Ch. 8. Where a Fresh Start Is Badly Needed: Politics and Science in the Kennedy Administration. Ch. 9. A Nation Cannot Be Built with Gadgets: Johnson, Hornig and the Vietnam War.

Ch. 10. No Longer as Adviser but as Citizen: The Crisis of Science Advising under Nixon and Ford. Ch. 11. We Want You to Know of Our Judgment: Science and Conflict in the Carter Administration. Ch. 12. The President Doesn't Care about Wavelengths: The Reagan Revolution and the Origins of SDI. Conclusion: Speaking the Truth to Power: The Future of Presidential Science Advising -- App. A. Einstein-Szilard Letter to President Roosevelt (proposal to build an atomic bomb), August 2, 1939 -- App. B. Fermi-Rebi Letter to the AEC: "An Opinion on the Development of the 'Super': (written to oppose the hydrogen bomb), October 30, 1949 -- App. C. The Golden Report: "Mobilization of Science for War" (report on the president's science adviser), December 18, 1950 -- App. D. The Disarmament Panel's Proposal for a Nuclear "Standstill": "The Timing of the Thermonuclear Test" (excerpts), Fall 1952 --

App. E. The Teapot Report on ICBMs: "Recommendations of the Committee on Strategic Missiles," February 10, 1954 -- App. F. Kilian's Charter for PSAC, December 1957 -- App. G. Ruina-Gell-Mann Paper: "Ballistic Missile Defence and the Arms Race" (argument against the ABM), December 1965 -- App. H. Rathjens-Ruina Memorandum to Henry Kissinger: "A Moratorium on the Testing of Multiple Warheads" (proposal for a MIRV ban), June 2, 1969 -- App. I. Garwin Letter to President Carter (defense of a comprehensive test ban), August 15, 1978 -- App. J. The "Insert": President Reagan's Announcement of SDI, March 23, 1983 -- App. K. Members of SAC/ODM and PSAC, 1951-73.