#215: J. Robert Oppenheimer and Leslie Groves (The General and the Genius)
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Nov 9, 2021
Explore the fascinating partnership between General Leslie Groves and physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer during World War II. Their contrasting leadership styles fueled the creation of the atomic bomb under immense pressure. Groves, a hard taskmaster, pushed his team relentlessly, while Oppenheimer brought intellectual brilliance to the table. The podcast dives into their unique dynamics, the logistical challenges faced during the Manhattan Project, and the emotional rollercoaster leading to the Trinity test's success.
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Groves and Oppenheimer—The Unlikely Partnership that Built the Atom Bomb
James W. Kunetka
This book explores the extraordinary collaboration between General Leslie Groves and J. Robert Oppenheimer, who led a team of scientists and engineers in the Manhattan Project. Despite their vastly different backgrounds and personalities, they successfully developed the atomic bomb, changing the course of history. The narrative delves into the scientific, political, and personal challenges they faced during this pivotal period.
Founders Notes gives you the ability to tap into the collective knowledge of history's greatest entrepreneurs on demand. Use it to supplement the decisions you make in your work. Get access to Founders Notes here.
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It is clear that nothing short of a full-speed, all-out attempt would be worthwhile.
Once Leslie Groves accepted his new assignment, he embraced it completely. From his appointment in September 1942 until the end of the war, he worked at full speed, often fourteen hours a day or more. His remarkable energy and stamina frequently exhausted those who worked and traveled with him.
Groves's style was to delegate whatever he could and then put the screws to the delegees. He was a taskmaster.
The instructions to the project were that any individual in the project who felt that the ultimate completion was going to be delayed by as much as a day by something that was happening, it was his duty to report it direct to me. Urgency was on us right from the start.
When Marshall asked him if he ever praised anyone for a job well done, Groves said no. "I don't believe in it. No matter how well something is being done, it can always be done better and faster.”
Oppenheimer insisted that Los Alamos should have one director. He had learned enough about management from studying Groves to believe that while consensus was important, an organization needed a single leader.
The dual approaches reflected Groves's belief in pursuing multiple solutions to a problem until the problem is solved.
In a frank assessment of his boss after the war, he called him, "the biggest S.O.B. I have ever worked for. He is the most demanding. He is the most critical. He is always a driver, never a praiser. He is abrasive and sarcastic. He disregards all normal organizational channels. He is extremely intelligent. He has the guts to make timely, difficult decisions. He is the most egotistical man I know. He knows he is right and so sticks by his decision. He abounds with energy and expects everyone to work as hard or even harder than he does. If I had to do my part of the atomic bomb project over again and had the privilege of picking my boss I would pick General Groves."
Groves had a reputation for competence. He was demanding, rough, and sometimes brutal with his staff, intolerant of delay and mental slowness. On the other hand, he never swore, rarely lost his temper, and never raised his voice. He was also prepared to let subordinates disagree if their arguments were sound. He disliked people who groveled.
Groves remained unflappable, accepting the unanticipated as normal.
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