Cardinal Choices Presidential Science Advising from the Atomic Bomb to SDI. Revised and Expanded Edition

Gregg Herken/ Richard C. Leone

ISBN 10: 0804737703 / ISBN 13: 9780804737708

Published by Stanford Univ Pr, 2000

About this Item

revised expanded edition. 358 pages. 8.75x6.00x1.00 inches. In Stock. This item is printed on demand.

Seller Inventory # __0804737703

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Cardinal Choices Presidential Science Advising from the Atomic Bomb to SDI. Revised and Expanded Edition
• Publisher: Stanford Univ Pr
• Publication Date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0804737703
• ISBN 13: 9780804737708
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Brand New
• Weight: 0.53 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

This book is a history of the complex relations between scientific advisors, primarily physicists, and U.S. presidents in their role as decision makers about nuclear weapons and military strategy. The story, unsurprisingly, is one of considerable tension between the "experts" and the politicians, as scientists seek to influence policy and presidents alternate between accepting their advice and resisting or even ignoring it. First published in 1992, the book has been brought up to date to include the experiences of science advisors to President Clinton. In addition, the texts of eleven crucial documents, from the Einstein-Szilard letter to President Roosevelt (1939) to the announcement of the Strategic Defense Initiative by President Reagan (1983), have been added as appendixes.

About the Author

Gregg Herken is Historian and Curator at the Space History Department of the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.