http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/baoppe.html

Oppenheimer, a theoretical physicist from the University of California Berkeley, had been working on the Manhattan project since 1939. Oppenheimer had made such significant contributions that in May of 1942, he was put in charge of all fast-neuron research. In December of 1942, Oppenheimer was promoted to director of the central laboratory. "To those not already familiar with the Manhattan Project he offered the prospect of building a weapon that would end the war and research that would bring great benefits to a world at peace." (Dennis, 1984)

For more on Oppenheimer, click here: http://www.labri.u-bordeaux.fr/Equipe/CombAlg/membre/loeb/tree/julius.html

President Harry S. Truman

As Vice President, it is assumed that Truman knew nothing about the development of the atomic bombs or the existence of the Manhattan Project. During World War II he headed the Senate war investigating committee, checking into waste and corruption and saving as much as 15 billion dollars.When Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, Truman realized how much he had been kept in the dark about this and other projects. He told reporters, "I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me." In terms of the project, he played a very small role. Truman's personal advisor, James F. Byrnes (Secretary of State), dealt with almost all of the issues concerning the Manhattan Project. In the end, though, it was Truman's decision to drop the bombs.

As President, Truman made some of the most crucial decisions in history. In terms of the project, he played a very small role. Truman's personal advisor, James F. Byrnes, dealt with almost all of the issues concerning the Manhattan Project. In the end, though, it was Truman's decision to drop the bombs. The chosen cities were Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These cities had been chosen by President Roosevelt for their military aid.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Roosevelt served as President from 1933-1945. In the early stages of the war, Roosevelt had distinguished himself as a man against the bombing and total destruction of cities (Ambrose, 1997). Roosevelt was quoted in 1940 as saying, "the United States consistently had taken the lead in urging that this inhumane practice be prohibited". (Ambrose, 1997) However, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt's feelings changed dramatically. He became the strongest advocate of bombing cities and provided the leadership to build a fleet of 250,000 military aircraft with which to flatten the cities of America's enemies. (Ambrose, 1997) Roosevelt was very involved with the Manhattan Project right up until his death. he had requested a survey of Japan to determine the cities to be bombed. He chose Hiroshima and Nagasaki because of the amount of military work done in each city. It seems odd that he chose not to bomb the capital or the largest city. Early in 1945 Roosevelt's health deteriorated, and on April 12, 1945, while at Warm Springs, Georgia, he died of a cerebral hemorrhage.

Groves was the Director of the Manhattan Project. Using experience he had gained when he directed the construction of the Pentagon, Groves pushed for the quickest possible creation and use of the atomic bomb, using multiple methods and regardless of expense. He appointed J. Robert Oppenheimer to be the director of the Los Alamos laboratory, where the a-bomb was constructed; he was Oppenheimer's boss. Groves, in turn, reported to General George Marshall, the Army Chief of Staff.

It was Groves who wrote the order to "deliver its first special bomb as soon as weather will permit visual bombing after about 3 August 1945" that was given to General Carl Spaatz, who was in charge of Air Force operations in the Pacific.

While Groves credited President Truman with the decision to use the atomic bomb, he qualified this by saying, "As far as I was concerned, his decision was one of noninterference - basically, a decision not to upset the existing plans". Groves was a prime mover in getting the atomic bomb built, on where it would be used, and on when it would be used.

Henry Stimson began his second tenure as Sec. of War in July 1940, having previously held the position from 1911 - 1913. He
was first informed of the atomic bomb project in Nov. 1941, when he was appointed to the "Top Policy Group" which would
control the project.

By 1945, Stimson was receiving more direct information about World War II than any other U.S. official. Army Chief of Staff
George Marshall reported directly to Stimson, and as a member of the "Committee of Three" with Sec. of the Navy James
Forrestal and Under Sec. of State Joseph Grew, Stimson also received information directly from the Sec. of the Navy. Grew
provided Stimson with the State Department's diplomatic information on the war.

Stimson also knew much about an important factor known to few others: the atomic bomb project. In June 1942 the transfer of
the a-bomb project to the Army was begun, and from May 1, 1943 until his retirement on Sept. 21, 1945, Stimson was
directly responsible to the President for the Manhattan Project. Stimson was also involved in the Interim Committee as the chairman.

The War Department Interim Committee on Atomic Energy was appointed in early May, 1945. It's main responsibilities included writing statements to be issued after the bombs were dropped, drafting legislation for domestic control, and making recommendations relating to international control. Henry L. Stimson was chosen as chair with George L. Harrison as his deputy chairman. Other members of this committee included James F. Byrnes (Truman's personal representative), Ralph A. Bard (undersecretary of the navy), William L. Clayton (assistant secretary of state), Dr. Vannevar Bush (director of the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD)), Dr. Karl T. Compton (chief of OSRD's Office of Field Service), Dr. James B. Conant (deputy director of the OSRD), General Marshall, and General Groves. Four scientists were also appointed to aid this committee. They were Arthur Compton, Enrico Fermi, Ernest Lawerence, and J. Robert Oppenheimer. (Dennis, 1984)

One of the biggest decisions made by the Committee was done on June 21, 1945. The Committee confirmed their decision to drop the bomb without any previous warning. The stipulation that went along with this stated Truman must tell Stalin about the bombs at the Potsdam Conference.