228. Editorial Note
On September 5, 1962, Glenn Seaborg and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara sent President Kennedy a memorandum proposing additional atmospheric tests to the Dominic series. This memorandum has not been found, but in a memorandum to the President, September 5, Jerome Wiesner wrote that the DOD-AEC proposal called for eleven tests, six high-altitude shots and five developmental tests. After summarizing the altitudes and yields of these proposed shots, Wiesner commented:
“Two points should be considered in judging these tests:
- “1. The timing and scope will make the series look like a new U.S. test series. If all the tests are approved, [2 lines of source text not declassified]. This group of tests would produce about 40% of the fallout produced by our previous tests this year. It is also possible that these tests would extend beyond the end of the Soviet series.
- “2. The extensive high altitude series, though of low yield, could stimulate further Soviet high altitude tests and these might be of considerably greater yield with the known undesirable consequences.”
Wiesner concluded by suggesting a prioritized list of three categories if the President wanted to restrict the series. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Subjects Series, Nuclear Weapons, Testing, 8/62-12/62)
President Kennedy met with his principals in the Cabinet Room of the White House on September 5 from 5:10 to 6:30 p.m. to discuss the proposed add-on tests. According to Seaborg: “The President directed that we cut the proposed eleven to eight tests and to relate the alternative schedule to Astronaut Schirra’s September 23rd flight. The President suggested dropping Urraca. In a later meeting, dominated by McNamara, it was decided to drop Urraca, Thumbelina (a Los Alamos shot) and a DOD high altitude shot.” (Seaborg, Journal, volume 4, page 180)
On the following day, September 6, from 10:35 to 11:15 a.m., President Kennedy presided over a meeting of the National Security Council [Page 567] at the White House. Seaborg noted in his journal after the meeting: “As a result of the meeting yesterday with the President, in which it was decided to reduce the 11 Johnston Island events (five developmental and six high altitude tests) to eight, it was decided to drop the AEC Haymaker Prime and Urraca tests and the DOD high altitude test. The President raised questions about including Thumbelina, the developmental Los Alamos test. On the basis of my representations, the President decided that, in the balance of the developmental base that this would give Los Alamos, it counterbalances the disadvantage of the fallout.
“Prior to the meeting, the President was given a memorandum, signed by Secretary McNamara and me, and dated today, which included Haymaker Prime, but not Thumbelina, on the basis of the preliminary discussions in the meeting with the President yesterday. In view of today’s discussion, this memorandum will be revised to reflect the decisions made, i.e., substitution of Thumbelina for Haymaker Prime. It includes two alternates for the eight tests, depending on whether Astronaut Schirra goes into orbit on September 25th as scheduled, or is delayed, because the Bluegill shot must not go until after his orbiting.
“It was decided that the announcement would be the regular AEC-DOD announcement, as a follow-up of that which announced the closing of the Johnston Island danger zone, and which indicated that such a new announcement would precede the reopening of this zone.
“The addition of the four developmental tests to the series, which will end early in November, will be played in a low key. Special attention will be paid to the problem of fallout from the Thumbelina event.” (Ibid.)
NSC Action No. 2456, September 6, which summarized the decisions reached at this 504th NSC meeting, is in Department of State, S/S-NSC (Miscellaneous) Files: Lot 66 D 95, Records of Action by the National Security Council. See the Supplement.
An unsigned copy of the 12-page draft letter from Seaborg and McNamara to the President, September 6, is ibid., S/S-RD Files: Lot 71 D 171. The subsequently revised version mentioned in Seaborg’s journal entry has not been found. The President’s approval of the eight tests is in NSAM No. 185 to McNamara and Seaborg, September 7. This memorandum specified, however, that only preparations were authorized for Kingfish, a high-altitude shot, and that “the final decision to execute is reserved.” (Ibid.) In NSAM No. 198 to McNamara, Seaborg, and NASA Director James E. Webb, October 24, Kaysen wrote that the President had that day authorized the Kingfish event. (Ibid., S/S-NSN Files: Lot 72 D 316)
The Project Mercury orbital flight of astronaut Walter Schirra, which is also referred to in Seaborg’s journal entry above, took place on October 3.
[Page 568]President Kennedy informed the U.K. Government of his decisions on the eight tests in a message to Macmillan, September 7. (Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66 D 204, K-M, Vol. II) See the Supplement.
Ultimately, the Atomic Energy Commission and the Department of Defense conducted nine atmospheric tests in the Johnston Island area from October 2 to November 3, 1962. These tests are summarized in Announced United States Nuclear Tests, DOE/NV-209 (Rev. 11) and Operation Dominic I—1962, DNA-6040F.