.jpg?w=1)
Details
EISENHOWER, Dwight D. Typed letter signed ("Dwight D. Eisenhower"), as President, to L. E. Akeley, Washington, D. C., 26 May 1958. 1 page, 4to, White House stationery.
"THE ENORMOUS FORCES...OF THE ATOM HAS UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF MANKIND..."
Eisenhower thanks a University of South Dakota professor for inspiring Nobel Prize winner Ernest O. Lawrence and others with his visions of the potentials for atomic power: "One of my good friends, Carl A. Norgren of Denver, has told me of the inspiration you gave him when he was a pupil of yours at the Engineering College of the University of South Dakota. He refers in particular to your speculations during the years he was in college (in the first decade of this century) as to the enormous forces inherent in the atom. He goes on to suggest, with validity I am certain, that your conjectures must undoubtedly have been a motivating force that lead Dr. Ernest O. Lawrence to devote his talents to the problem in science...If the world's political leaders can, as they must keep pace with our scientific genius, the power of the atom has unlimited possibilities for the betterment of mankind everywhere..." Eisenhower was a great believer in "atoms for peace" (the name he gave to one of his most important initiatives as President). He also recognized the reality of nuclear weapons, and expanded the American stockpile to meet the nuclear threat from the Soviet Union. Yet by this sixth year of his term, in 1958, Ike was eager to get away from the arms race and to devote more energy to civilian nuclear power.
"THE ENORMOUS FORCES...OF THE ATOM HAS UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF MANKIND..."
Eisenhower thanks a University of South Dakota professor for inspiring Nobel Prize winner Ernest O. Lawrence and others with his visions of the potentials for atomic power: "One of my good friends, Carl A. Norgren of Denver, has told me of the inspiration you gave him when he was a pupil of yours at the Engineering College of the University of South Dakota. He refers in particular to your speculations during the years he was in college (in the first decade of this century) as to the enormous forces inherent in the atom. He goes on to suggest, with validity I am certain, that your conjectures must undoubtedly have been a motivating force that lead Dr. Ernest O. Lawrence to devote his talents to the problem in science...If the world's political leaders can, as they must keep pace with our scientific genius, the power of the atom has unlimited possibilities for the betterment of mankind everywhere..." Eisenhower was a great believer in "atoms for peace" (the name he gave to one of his most important initiatives as President). He also recognized the reality of nuclear weapons, and expanded the American stockpile to meet the nuclear threat from the Soviet Union. Yet by this sixth year of his term, in 1958, Ike was eager to get away from the arms race and to devote more energy to civilian nuclear power.