GBH Openvault
War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Carter's New World; Interview with Roger Sherfield, 1986 [2]
Part of War and Peace in the Nuclear Age.
11/13/1986
Lord Roger Sherfield was part of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the former Chairman of the UK Atomic Energy Commission. In the interview he discusses the nuclear programs of various countries. He paints a picture of the ceremonies at Trombay for the opening on the Indian nuclear energy establishment. He describes Homi Bhaba as one of the most remarkable people Ive ever met. He says the British were in favor of Eisenhowers Atoms for Peace program especially because of its international focus. He was not surprised by the Chinese or Indian nuclear explosions, as he knew that nuclear technology and information could not be kept from scientifically advanced countries. Similarly, he supported the Non-Proliferation Treaty, although he knew negotiations to have it widely accepted would be difficult.
License Clip
- Series
- War and Peace in the Nuclear Age
- Program
- Carter's New World
- Program Number
109
- Title
Interview with Roger Sherfield, 1986 [2]
- 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
00:10:16
- Asset Type
Raw video
- Media Type
Video
- Subjects
- Nuclear energy
- Cockcroft, John, Sir, 1897-1967
- Nehru, Jawaharlal, 1889-1964
- Canada
- Nuclear nonproliferation
- Great Britain
- Carter, Jimmy, 1924-
- France
- China
- Soviet Union
- United States
- Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969
- Bhaba, Homi J.
- Physicists
- India
- Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (1968)
- Nuclear weapons
- Locations
- England
- Genres
- Documentary
- Topics
- History
- Global Affairs
- War and Conflict
- Science
- Contributors
- Sherfield, Roger Mellor Makins, Baron, 1904- (Interviewee)
- Publication Information
- WGBH Educational Foundation
- Citation
- Chicago: “War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Carter's New World; Interview with Roger Sherfield, 1986 [2],” 11/13/1986, GBH Archives, accessed April 18, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_421E78BD321E40AA8892FE4A35C1DEA7.
- MLA: “War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Carter's New World; Interview with Roger Sherfield, 1986 [2].” 11/13/1986. GBH Archives. Web. April 18, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_421E78BD321E40AA8892FE4A35C1DEA7>.
- APA: War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Carter's New World; Interview with Roger Sherfield, 1986 [2]. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_421E78BD321E40AA8892FE4A35C1DEA7