EP34 Atomic Accountability
Summary
Dan Carlin interviews historian Alex Wellerstein about his book, *The Most Awful Responsibility*, which re-examines Harry Truman’s role in the atomic bombings. Wellerstein argues that Truman was largely uninformed and mistakenly believed he was ordering strikes on military targets rather than cities, challenging both orthodox and revisionist historical narratives. The discussion highlights Truman’s lack of technical knowledge, the decentralized nature of wartime decision-making, and his subsequent efforts to control nuclear policy.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The importance of discussing nuclear history
Guest intro and the premise of Truman's lack of knowledge
Truman's quotes and the myth of his informed decision
The Kyoto targeting controversy and Truman's misunderstanding
Truman's personality and his desire to centralize control
Truman's idiosyncratic views on the Soviets and disarmament
The disconnect between Truman and the Manhattan Project
Firebombing of Japan and the lack of presidential oversight
Stimson's moral qualms and the political context of 1945
How Stimson manipulated the target list to save Kyoto
Truman's reaction to the Hiroshima bombing aftermath
The Nagasaki bombing and Truman's immediate centralization of power
Establishing exclusive presidential control over nuclear weapons
Cold War nuclear policy and the fear of military blunders
Conclusion: The enduring legacy of Truman's nuclear decisions
Outro and show notes
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