ABSTRACT
From the direct and indirect links between the peaceful and military uses of nuclear energy, another lesson emerges from the conference papers. The recognition that nuclear energy has both peaceful and military uses was a driving force of Atoms for Peace, and for efforts under its auspices, to erect barriers between the military and civilian atom. James Schlesinger, Shelby Brewer, formerly Department of Energy assistant secretary for nuclear energy, and Donald Kerr, the director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, among others, hold that the bold vision and decisive action of Eisenhower and his advisors were responsible for the success of Atoms for Peace, and worthy of emulation. The leadership role of the United States rather than its president was also deemed to be significant in realizing the Atoms for Peace idea.
