GBH Openvault
War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Carter's New World; Interview with Takeo Fukuda, 1987
Part of War and Peace in the Nuclear Age.
07/14/1987
Takeo Fukuda was Prime Minister of Japan from 1976-1978. He begins the interview with recollections of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and expresses views about such matters as the effect of the nuclear blasts in hastening the end of hostilities, and the reasons for the U.S. decision to use atomic weapons. Discussing nuclear proliferation, he recalls the shock of Chinas nuclear test, and the challenges for Japan in adopting a policy of not possessing nuclear weapons. A challenge of a different sort arose with the concept of the peaceful uses of atomic energy, particularly in the context of Japans limited access to energy sources. Mr. Fukuda recalls also the related question of whether Japan should sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. He goes on to discuss the impact of the Carter administrations nuclear policies, which he applauded on the one hand but which also limited access to peaceful nuclear energy for a number of countries. He closes with thoughts on how to maintain peace in the lead-up to the 21st century.
License Clip
- Series
- War and Peace in the Nuclear Age
- Program
- Carter's New World
- Program Number
109
- Title
Interview with Takeo Fukuda, 1987
- Series Description
The first atomic explosion in the New Mexico desert on July 16, 1945, changed the world forever. This series chronicles these changes and the history of a new era. It traces the development of nuclear weapons, the evolution of nuclear strategy, and the politics of a world with the power to destroy itself.
In thirteen one-hour programs that combine historic footage and recent interviews with key American, Soviet, and European participants, the nuclear age unfolds: the origin and evolution of nuclear weapons; the people of the past who have shaped the events of the present; the ideas and issues that political leaders, scientists, and the public at large must confront, and the prospects for the future. Nuclear Age highlights the profound changes in contemporary thinking imposed by the advent of nuclear weapons. Series release date: 1/1989
- Program Description
President Carter comes to office determined to reduce the number of nuclear weapons and to improve relations with the Soviet Union. His frustrations are as grand as his intentions.
Carter had hoped the United States and the Soviet Union would reduce their reliance on nuclear weapons. He stopped production of the B-1 bomber. He believed the SALT II negotiations would be a step toward eliminating nuclear weapons. But his intentions were frustrated by Soviet actions and by a lack of consensus among his own advisors, including Chief SALT II negotiator Paul Warnke and national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski (who was dubious about arms control). Carter balanced Soviet aggression in Africa by improving American relations with China. He withdrew SALT II treaty from Senate consideration but its terms continued to serve as general limits on strategic nuclear force levels for both the United States and the Soviet Union.
- Duration
00:37:45
- Asset Type
Raw video
- Media Type
Video
- Subjects
- Trudeau, Pierre Elliott
- Soviet Union
- United States. Nuclear Nonproliferation Act of 1978
- Giscard dEstaing, Valery, 1926-
- Callaghan, James, 1912-2005
- World War II
- Hiroshima-shi (Japan) -- History -- Bombardment, 1945
- Nuclear weapons
- Nagasaki-shi (Japan) -- History -- Bombardment, 1945
- Andreotti, Giulio
- Nuclear nonproliferation
- Schmidt, Helmut, 1918 Dec. 23-
- United States
- Japan
- Nuclear arms control Nuclear energy
- Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (1968)
- Nuclear arms control
- China
- Renunciation of war -- Japan
- Carter, Jimmy, 1924-
- India
- Nuclear disarmament
- Genres
- Documentary
- Topics
- History
- War and Conflict
- Global Affairs
- Science
- Contributors
- Fukuda, Takeo, 1905- (Interviewee)
- Publication Information
- WGBH Educational Foundation
- Citation
- Chicago: “War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Carter's New World; Interview with Takeo Fukuda, 1987,” 07/14/1987, GBH Archives, accessed April 20, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_88B3DD56DB81486693E987C6A9A03AEE.
- MLA: “War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Carter's New World; Interview with Takeo Fukuda, 1987.” 07/14/1987. GBH Archives. Web. April 20, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_88B3DD56DB81486693E987C6A9A03AEE>.
- APA: War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Carter's New World; Interview with Takeo Fukuda, 1987. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_88B3DD56DB81486693E987C6A9A03AEE