Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Some researchers reported claiming United States atomic bombing of Hiroshima was based on erroneous facts; details given.
REPORTER: Ted Koppel

(Independence, Missouri) President Harry Truman's decision to use atomic bomb against Japan reviewed, discussed; historical films shown. [August 9, 1945, TRUMAN - explains decision.] [Author Merle MILLER - recalls Truman's intentions, Franklin Roosevelt's decision to keep Truman in the dark about the bomb, Truman's reaction to learning about atomic weapons at Potsdam.] [Clark CLIFFORD - remembers military aspects of war with Japan, American climate at the time.] [Truman cabinet member John SNYDER - explains decision against using demonstration bomb and selection of Hiroshima as target; defs. decision.] [Historian Gar ALPEROVITZ - claims evidence indicates falaciousness of Truman administration's argument; cites opposition to bomb's use by Admiral Lamar River Leahy, General Dwight Eisenhower; believes Truman adviser James Byrnes argued for bomb as means of intimidating USSR .] [CLIFFORD - disagrees.] [Physicist Freeman DYSON, Ph.D. - attributes use of atomic bomb to lack of foresight and/or cowardice.] Shakespeare's "Hamlet", underlined by Truman, quoted.
REPORTER: Richard Threlkeld