The Daily The Shadowy Story of Oppenheimer and Congress
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Jan 23, 2024 
Catie Edmondson, a Congressional correspondent for The New York Times, dives into the shadows of history surrounding the Manhattan Project's funding. She shares her investigative journey sparked by the film 'Oppenheimer,' uncovering how Congress managed to finance a $2 billion secret project during WWII. Edmondson reveals the covert tactics used to secure funding, the hidden figures like Elmer Thomas who shaped military appropriations, and the balance of national security against press freedom in a time of urgency.
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Oppenheimer's Inspiration
- While watching Oppenheimer in Berlin, Catie Edmondson wondered how Congress approved funding for the Manhattan Project.
- The film's depiction of Los Alamos raised questions about the project's cost and secrecy surrounding congressional approval.
Initial Research
- Edmondson's initial online searches yielded little information about the Manhattan Project's funding.
- A textbook briefly mentioned surreptitious congressional approval at Roosevelt's request, sparking her deeper investigation.
Archival Quest
- Edmondson's search led her to digital archives and Roosevelt's papers, but key details remained elusive.
- She sought records from lawmakers involved in the secret meetings, but Sam Rayburn's papers were not digitized.