US NRC Blog Update 8/21 Throwback Thursday: The Signing of the Atomic Energy Act of 1946

Throwback Thursday: The Signing of the Atomic Energy Act of 1946

5 Comments Posted by Moderator on August 21, 2014

President Harry Truman signed the Atomic Energy Act 68 years ago this month – Aug. 1, to be exact. The act set up the Atomic Energy Commission, a civilian agency charged with managing the nuclear technology developed during WWII. Later, the AEC was divided into two agencies – the NRC and the Department of Energy. The NRC was tasked with regulating civilian nuclear technologies. Pictured behind President Truman (left to right) are seven men: Tom Connally, Eugene Millikin, Edwin Johnson, Thomas Hart, Brien McMahon, Warren Austin and Richard Russell. What did the men all have in common? Photo courtesy of the Department of Energy.

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General AEC, Atomic Energy Commission, department of energy, President Truman

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5 responses to “Throwback Thursday: The Signing of the Atomic Energy Act of 1946”

1. Steven August 21, 2014 at 9:19 am

   They were all US Senators, selected to be part of the “Special Committee on Atomic Energy (S. Res. 179), created by the Senate under a special resolution to investigate problems related to the development, use and control of Atomic Energy.
   

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   • Moderator August 21, 2014 at 9:24 am

     That is correct! All of the senators pictured represented states in the West or New England — with one exception. Which senator was the exception and which state was he from?
     Moderator
     

     Reply
     • Michael Dusaniwskyj August 21, 2014 at 9:40 am

       Senator Brien McMaon, a Fordham University graduate, I believe represented the State of New York.
       
     • Steven August 21, 2014 at 9:48 am

       Since BRIAN MCMAHON was from Connecticut, TOM CONNALLY, Texas, EUGENE D. MILLIKIN, Colorado, EDWIN C. JOHNSON, Colorado, THOMAS C. HART, Connecticut, WARREN R. AUSTIN, Vermont, and ARTHUR H. VANDENBERG, was from Michigan, that means Richard B. Russell was the exception and he was from Georgia. Not pictured, but members of the Special Committee were
       HARRY FLOOD BYRD, Virginia, BOURKE B. HICKENLOOPER, Iowa and MILLARD E. TYDINGS, Maryland.
       
     • Moderator August 21, 2014 at 9:54 am

       Steven is correct. Senator Richard Russell represented Georgia. Senator Brien McMahon represented Connecticut
       Moderator