The purpose of this book is to provide a fuller picture of the life and career of leslie richard groves, and his role in the. Groves entered west point on the eve of world war i. Norris cover groves early life, his life at west point, graduating 4th in his class and after graduation going into the corp of over the years i have read many books about the manhattan project and biographies mostly of and about. Patty, rob and pete were headed to their regular monthly meeting where they, along with the professor, discussed a book they were all reading. In this edition, page numbers are just like the physical edition. As timing would have it, neither groves nor many of his fellow cadets saw action. Appointment of the military policy committee, september 23, 1942. Groves, the chief of the wartime effort to build an atomic bomb, met in chicago with several project scientists, including the mercurial leo szilard. Leslie richard groves united states general britannica.
We were told to lie down and face the ground zero, but i didnt want to lie down because it was wet and clammy, so. Leslie richard groves, jr 18961970 find a grave memorial. Groves, director of the manhattan project lawren, william on. Nicknamed dick, he spent his formative years on various army posts across the country. Groves keeping life simple through chocolate and control abbi ward it was pretty awesome.
When the united states entered the war, the academys curriculum was compressed into a two year matriculation in the belief that many new officers would be needed quickly on the european front. Join facebook to connect with leslie groves and others you may know. As the ranking military officer in charge of marshalling men and material for what was to be the most ambitious, expensive engineering feat in history, it was general groves who hired oppenheimer with knowledge. General groves playing tennis as a young man, during an army posting in nicaragua.
Groves book of the week a general account of the development of methods of using atomic energy for military purposes under the auspices of the united stated governement. Evidence suggests, instead, that it was a collaboration that led to the dawn of the nuclear age. He was half welsh and half english, with some french huguenot ancestors who came to the united states in the 17th century. As the ranking military officer in charge of marshalling men and. Groves, director of the manhattan project by william lawren. Apr 09, 2002 this book is more of a biography of general leslie r. My interest in the book delves from the point of view of project management. Story of the manhattan project quality paperbacks series leslie r. This book is more of a biography of general leslie r.
A peoples history of the united states by howard zinn. Opening address of town halls annual lecture series november 7, 1945 in the new york times, november 8, 1945. Groves and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. About the author 1975 leslie groves is a social anthropologist and independent social development consultant who works with a variety of ngos and donors. Groves was the man in charge of the manhattan engineer district, best known as the manhattan project, through which the united states developed the first atomic bomb. The atomic bombings of hiroshima and nagasaki by leslie r. Groves was a career officer in the army corps of engineers, fresh from overseeing hundreds of military construction projects, including the pentagon, when he was given the job in september 1942 of building the atomic bomb. Groves 18961970 than a history of the manhattan project.
General leslie groves 1896 1970 leslie groves was born in albany, new york, on august 17, 1896. As a career officer in the army corps of engineers, groves had overseen hundreds of military construction projects, including the pentagon. Norris, a staff member of the natural resources defense council and a longtime commentator on nuclearweapons issues, has written an important study of general leslie groves, the u. General groves and david lilienthal discussing the transfer of atomic energy affairs to the aec. Leslie richard groves, lieutenant general, united states army. Leslie richard groves was born in albany, new york, on august 17, 1896, the son of leslie richard groves, a. The nook book ebook of the the atomic bombings of hiroshima and nagasaki by leslie r. Leslie richard groves lieutenant general, united states army. Groves 1983, paperback, reprint at the best online prices at ebay. General leslie groves as one of the main actors of those times penned a book that is unbeatably interesting and highly educating. General leslie r groves, the manhattan projects indispensable man by robert s norris. In addition to archival sources, lawren had access to groves private papers, which include an evident wealth of material not in his 1962 autobiography. A measured but essentially sympathetic appraisal of the nearly forgotten taskmaster who so ably directed ww iis manhattan project.
Now it can be told goodreads share book recommendations. Military people, in comparison, write less frequently. Grovess astuteness is most clearly demonstrated in that, in spite of every contraindication from the military security division whose value and function he supported and even overestimated, he selected oppenheimer as scientific director. Army end page 883 corps of engineers officer who headed the construction of the pentagon and then presided. This was one of the most interesting books we have read, pete said starting the meeting. Groves was given the job of building the atomic bomb. Leslie richard groves, american army officer in charge of the manhattan engineer district medor, as it is commonly known, the manhattan projectwhich oversaw all aspects of scientific research, production, and security for the invention of the atomic bomb. Leslie groves 18961970 was the officer in the united states army corps of engineers who directed the manhattan project atom bomb during world war ii. Groves, the man behind the birth of the atomic age paperback october 21, 2014 by robert s.
Groves, the manhattan projects indispensable man norris, robert s. The key to the utilization of atomic energy for world peace will be found in the will of all people to restrict its use for the betterment of mankind. On groves part he treated oppenheimer delicately, like a fine instrument that needed to be played just right. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Grovess astuteness is most clearly demonstrated in. Leslie richard groves was born in albany, new york, on august 17, 1896, the son of leslie richard groves, a chaplain in the united states army, and gwen griffith groves. Oppie knew in detail the research going on in every part of the laboratory, and was as excellent at analyzing human problems as the countless technical ones. Robert s norris follows the world war ii race to build the atomic bomb while profiling its top commander, documenting how colonel groves organized the collection of the necessary funds and materials while. Ive read two other seminal books on the manhattan project and general leslie groves. Born in albany, new york on 17 august 1896 to leslie richard groves, a presbyterian army chaplain, who served with the 14th infantry for most of his army career and gwen griffith groves, leslie, jr. Groves shamelessly includes in the book a copy of a memo from a white.
Groves, military leader, is often interpreted as the classic example of the clash between the academic mind and the military style. Groves, the manhattan projects indispensable man, for taking the time to read over these transcripts for misspellings and other errors. Until now, scientists have received the credit for the manhattan projects remarkable achievements. Among other accomplishments, groves had the pentagon built and ready for occupancy at the start of 1943, barely a year after groundbreaking, while assuming responsibility for the crash program to develop an abomb. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Memorandum for the chief of engineers, september 17, 1942. Born at albany, new york, august 17, 1896, he attended the university of washington for one year and the massachuetts institute of technology for two years before entering west point from which he graduated in 1918. So the story of the atomic bomb by and about physicists, mathematicians, and other academics are many. He spent two billion dollars and employed as many as 125,000 people in a project operating in total secrecy. He patiently answered whatever query the general asked. Norris, author of the definitive biography of general leslie r.
I was told to use the shield in which i had placed that little piece of welders glass. The book, now it can be told, was an instant success. In this fullscale biography norris places groves at the center of the amazing manhattan project story. Norris, a staff member of the natural resources defense council and a longtime commentator on nuclearweapons issues. Leslie grovess book is one of the most revealing and compelling accounts of complex project management i have ever read. If you read this account for its project management insights planning, communication, stakeholder management, etc.
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