The Shadowy Story of Oppenheimer and Congress | The Daily

Intro

In this episode of “The Daily,” congressional correspondent Katie Edminson explores the shadowy story of Oppenheimer and Congress. Inspired by the movie “Oppenheimer,” Katie delves into the funding of the atomic bomb project and uncovers the secretive process by which Congress approved the project’s funding.

Main Takeaways

Congress and the Funding of the Atomic Bomb

• The movie “Oppenheimer” has sparked curiosity about how Congress paid for the atomic bomb project.
• Congress secretly approved $800 million for the project at the request of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
• The funding was hidden in an innocuous-sounding line item called “expediting production” in a spending bill.
• A small group of lawmakers kept the funding a secret, aided by a strong sense of patriotism during wartime.
• Former speaker Sam Rayburn prevented the leaking of the secret to the public.
• Today, hiding such a program would be challenging due to the complexity and length of federal spending bills.

The Search for Answers

• The author embarked on an obsessive search to understand how Congress secretly passed the $800 million.
• Digital archives and libraries were scoured for firsthand accounts from lawmakers involved in the discussions.
• The author’s efforts to access the papers of Sam Rayburn and Senator Elmer Thomas shed light on the secretive process.
• Congressman Rayburn noticed a leak and intervened to prevent the information from being published.
• Interviews with Manhattan Project participants suggest it would be difficult to hide such a program today.

The Significance and Implications

• The atomic bomb project marked the dawn of the atomic age and had significant implications for weapon development and its cost.
• In today’s money, the project would have cost approximately $13 billion.
• The secrecy surrounding the project eventually unraveled when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
• In the 1940s, Congress maneuvered to hide big programs within spending bills.
• People question if something like this could happen today.

Summary

How Congress Funded the Atomic Bomb

Katie Edminson, inspired by the movie “Oppenheimer,” embarked on a quest to understand how Congress paid for the atomic bomb project. Despite extensive research, little information was available on the subject. It turns out that Congress secretly approved $800 million for the project at the behest of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The funding was hidden within a seemingly innocuous line item called “expediting production” in a spending bill. A small group of lawmakers kept the funding a secret, aided by the strong sense of patriotism during wartime. Former speaker Sam Rayburn played a crucial role in preventing the leak of the secret to the public. Today, hiding such a program would be challenging due to the complexity and length of federal spending bills.

The Search for Answers

To uncover the details of how Congress passed the $800 million, the author conducted an obsessive search through digital archives and libraries. The goal was to find firsthand accounts from lawmakers involved in the discussions. The author’s efforts to access the papers of Sam Rayburn and Senator Elmer Thomas shed light on the secretive process. Congressman Rayburn noticed a leak and intervened to prevent the information from being published. Interviews with Manhattan Project participants suggest that hiding such a program today would be difficult.

The Significance and Implications

The atomic bomb project marked the beginning of the atomic age and had far-reaching implications for weapon development and its cost. In today’s money, the project would have amounted to approximately $13 billion. The secrecy surrounding the project eventually unraveled when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. In the 1940s, Congress strategically hid significant programs within spending bills. This raises questions about whether something similar could happen today, given the complexity and length of federal spending bills.

Conclusion

The shadowy story of Oppenheimer and Congress reveals how a small group of lawmakers can hide a significant program if there is enough will to do so. The funding of the atomic bomb project showcases the challenges of uncovering secrets from the past. It also highlights the importance of transparency in government spending and the need for vigilance in ensuring accountability. As history unfolds, it is essential to learn from past actions and strive for a more open and accountable future.