THE PRESIDENT’S WEAPON.

The article focuses on President Harry Truman’s efforts to centralize control of the United States’ nuclear weapons within the presidency following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Initially, military leaders like General Curtis LeMay sought to bypass civilian oversight and authorize nuclear strikes independently, reflecting a desire to return to the autonomy enjoyed during the Manhattan Project. Disturbed by the massive civilian casualties caused by the bombings, Truman halted further atomic attacks and enacted the Atomic Energy Act of 1946, establishing the civilian Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to oversee nuclear weapons. While subsequent presidents expanded military nuclear capabilities, they maintained the principle that only the president holds authority to order their use, a control reinforced through measures such as launch codes under John F. Kennedy. The article highlights the enduring tension between military and civilian control over nuclear arms and Truman’s pivotal role in asserting presidential authority to prevent further nuclear devastation. [Extracted from the article]