Los Alamos or Tickling the Dragon’s Tail
Oppenheimer began recruiting for the laboratory with help from James Conant immediately after the site was chosen. There was reluctance of some in working to build powerful bombs and the belief by some that the project was a boondoggle that would have nothing to do with the war. Many declared they would not join the project if they had to be Army officers. Oppenheimer accepted the designation of lieutenant colonel and had ordered his uniforms, but Rabi warned him that others would resist joining him. Conant negotiated a compromise to begin the project under civilian administration and transition to the military later. The transition never happened, and recruits began to travel to Santa Fe to receive the clearances that allowed […]