War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Weapon of Choice, The; President Harry S. Truman signs unification bill

Part of War and Peace in the Nuclear Age.

08/10/1949

President Harry Truman signs armed forces unification bill.

License Clip

Series

War and Peace in the Nuclear Age

Program

Weapon of Choice, The

Program Number

102

Title

President Harry S. Truman signs unification bill

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

The United States and the Soviet Union, former allies, become adversaries in a “Cold War,” and nuclear weapons become the weapon of choice for both sides.

From 1947 to 1953 the threat to use nuclear weapons became the principal currency of conflict. During the Korean War, Texas Congressman J. Frank Wilson said, “We are dealing with mad dogs ... we must treat them accordingly. I urge the atomic bomb be used if it can be used efficiently.” Against this background, President Harry Truman made crucial decisions that affected the history of the Nuclear Age. The United states deployed the B-36, a huge intercontinental bomber. It started mass production of atomic bombs. In 1952, the US exploded the first hydrogen bomb, a quantum leap in destructive force. Less than a year later, the Soviet Union exploded its own hydrogen bomb.

Duration

00:04:27

Asset Type

Stock footage

Media Type

Video

Subjects

United States

United States. Air Force

Locations

Genres

Topics

Contributors

Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972 (Guest)

Rights Summary

In perpetuity ; Public Domain Rights Holder: NAFB

Citation

Chicago: “War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Weapon of Choice, The; President Harry S. Truman signs unification bill,” 08/10/1949, GBH Archives, accessed April 26, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_A68E54B82068490B84960A242BFC3CD8.

MLA: “War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Weapon of Choice, The; President Harry S. Truman signs unification bill.” 08/10/1949. GBH Archives. Web. April 26, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_A68E54B82068490B84960A242BFC3CD8>.

APA: War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Weapon of Choice, The; President Harry S. Truman signs unification bill. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_A68E54B82068490B84960A242BFC3CD8

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War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Weapon of Choice, The; President Harry S. Truman signs unification bill