Quotes from the Lab’s longest-serving director
May 2, 2024
With 25 years of experience running the Lab, Norris Bradbury knew a thing or two about work life and getting stuff done. Here are some highlights of his work recollections from Bradbury’s 1985 oral history interview with our friends at the Atomic Heritage Foundation.
On his first day on the job
“I did not know how the place was run. In fact, the first thing I did when I got into the accursed office was to ask Dave Gall, I think, for a copy of the contract. I had no idea what the contract was. The contract at that point was a one-page letter. That’s all it was.”
On building a team
“They stayed (after the Manhattan Project) because, to some extent, they shared my opinions of what the Laboratory was supposed to do. Now, sure there were different opinions, and some people were more interested in research. Some people felt the Lab would have to have a variety of things, but at least I had a group of people who were as committed as I was to staying there. They had some loyalty to the place and some personal interest in trying to make it a success.”
On meetings
“(At a White House meeting to discuss the H-bomb) Edward Teller and I did most of the talking. . . There were several generals there. Of course, the generals always loved to listen to Edward. He was a very, very charming speaker. But I don’t remember it. All I remember is a hellish long afternoon, and what I wanted in the worst way was a martini and all they had got was a cup of tea.”
On taking the reins
“(Oppenheimer) did a beautiful job in this place. I have never seen a guy with his background do it so well. I can’t imagine — in fact, half of the things I tried to do, I was copying Oppie. If Oppie had made that work, I will try to make that work. This business of having a colloquium every week and keeping all his staff and not compartmentalizing them. He just knew what he was doing in running a laboratory, which is something you would never have guessed.”
