Conversations with History: Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley

See the Conversations with History Blog See a webcast of this interview: York, 1988

This interview is part of the Institute's "Conversations with History" series, and uses Internet technology to share with the public Berkeley's distinction as a global forum for ideas.

Welcome to a Conversation on International Affairs. I'm Harry Kreisler of the Institute of International Studies. Our distinguished guest today is Herbert F. York, Director of the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation of the University of California. Professor York has more than thirty years of distinguished public service, including being the first director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; the first chief scientist at the Advanced Research Projects Agency in the Pentagon (ARPA); the first director of research and engineering at the Pentagon; the first Chancellor of U.C. San Diego; and the U.S. Ambassador to the Comprehensive Test Ban Negotiations. Professor York is most recently the author of Making Weapons, Talking Peace: A Physicist's Odyssey from Hiroshima to Geneva.

1. Background ... Berkeley and Ernest Lawrence ... the Manhattan Project ... ethical issues in making the bomb
2. The Birth of the Livermore National Weapons Laboratory ... influence of Edward Teller ... the role of Lawrence ... international crises ... leadership at Livermore ... importance of UC connection ... relationship of the lab to military technology
3. Washington Service ... Eisenhower's insights about the arms race ... opposition to arms control
4. The Eisenhower Nuclear Revolution ... establishing a theory for preparedness ... finding the right numbers ... the tenacity of budgets ... Reagan administration changes ... no defense against nuclear attack
5. Dialogue and Research ... mission of the IGCC ... .polarization of public sentiment ... scientific exchange with Soviets; Pugwash ... outsider and insider

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