Hyman G. Rickover — or, Admiral Rickover — (1898—1896) is generously, generally well-regarded and regarded as “The Father of the [U.S.] Nuclear Navy.” He, however, was not entirely sanguine with the nuclear-propelled, death-impelled part he played in the Cold War’s naval psychodrama; and, were it not for pressing, impending militance and that war, might not have played at all.
Admiral Rickover was particularly close to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Mr. Carter served, while splayed under the U.S. Navy’s berth-confined service, as Lieutenant James Earle Carter, Jr., USN on both the USS K-1 (1951—1952) and USS Seawolf (1952—1953) — the latter for which Rickover hand-elected him. Mr. Carter, midely acclaimed as one of only several U.S. presidents to ever speak with public candidness on curdling matters of energy security, sustainability, and our inchoate future, is well-quoted as saying that, “next to his parents, Admiral Rickover had the greatest influence on him.”
Admiral Rickover:I do not believe that nuclear power is worth it if it creates radiation. Then you might ask me why do I have nuclear powered ships. That is a necessary evil. I would sink them all. I am not proud of the part I played in it. I did it because it was necessary for the safety of this country. That’s why I am such a great exponent of stopping this whole nonsense of war. Unfortunately, limits — attempts to limit war — have always failed. The lesson of history is when a war starts every nation will ultimately use whatever weapon it has available.…
Every time you produce radiation, you produce something that has a certain half-life, in some cases for billions of years. I think the human race is going to wreck itself, and it is important that we get control of this horrible force and try to eliminate it.
— January 28th, 1982. Economics of Defense Policy: Hearing before the Joint Economic Committee, Congress of the United States, 97th Cong., 2nd sess., Pt. 1.
Congressman:Could you comment on your own responsibility in helping to create a nuclear navy? Do you have any regrets?
Admiral Rickover:I do not have regrets. I believe I helped preserve the peace for this country. Why should I regret that? What I accomplished was approved by Congress — which represents our people. All of you live in safety from domestic enemies because of security from the police. Likewise, you live in safety from foreign enemies because our military keeps them from attacking us. Nuclear technology was already under development in other countries. My assigned responsibility was to develop our nuclear navy. I managed to accomplish this.— May, 1982.
Congressman:What do you think is the — is the — is the prospect, then, for nuclear war?
Admiral Rickover:Well, I think we’ll probably destroy ourselves. So what difference will it make? Some new species will come up that might be wiser than we are. I do not believe in divine intercession. In the eyes of the Lord, we are not the most important thing in the universe.— May, 1982.
Jimmy Carter:One of the most remarkable things that he ever told me was when we were together on the submarine and he said that he wished that a nuclear explosive had never been evolved. And then he said, ‘I wish that nuclear power had never been discovered.’ And I said, ‘Admiral, this is your life.’ He said, ‘I would forego all the accomplishments of my life, and I would be willing to forego all the advantages of nuclear power to propel ships, for medical research and for every other purpose of generating electric power, if we could have avoided the evolution of atomic explosives.— 1984. 60 Minutes.
Diane Sawyer: And among the volumes, a glimpse of the private Rickover, a man few people other than his second wife Eleanor know: the love letters he wrote to his first wife fifty years ago. ‘Ibis is you on a submarine —
Admiral Rickover:Yeah, what did I —
Diane Sawyer: And you were — read this to me. This is so terrific.
Admiral Rickover:Here, I’ll read it to you. ‘Forgive me for not writing more, I am so tired. Above all though, there is the clear thought of you and of my love. Your vision is ever fresh, smiling and lovely. Your likeness and alertness contrasts with my drowsiness. Good night. I shall fall asleep with thoughts of you as my lullaby.’ Is that a good…?
Diane Sawyer: The letters his first wife wrote back are gone. Rickover says he burned them in despair the night she died.— 1984. 60 Minutes.