Steve Sheinkin > Quotes

“If you think atomic explosions in Asia wouldn't affect Americans, consider this. A study published in Scientific American in 2010 looked at the probable impact of a "small" nuclear war, one in which India and Pakistan each dropped fifty atomic bombs. The scientists concluded that the explosions would ignite massive firestorms, sending enormous amounts of dust and smoke into the atmosphere. This would block some of the sun's light from reaching the earth, making the planet colder and darker - for about ten years. Farming would collapse, and people all over the globe would starve to death. And that's if only half of one percent of all the atomic bombs on earth were used.

In the end, this is a difficult story to sum up. The making of the atomic bomb is one of history's most amazing examples of teamwork and genius and poise under pressure. But it's also the story of how humans created a weapon capable of wiping our species off the planet. It's a story with no end in sight.

And, like it or not, you're in it.”
― Steve Sheinkin, Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

“In the end, this is a difficult story to sum up. The making of the atomic bomb is one of history's most amazing examples of teamwork and genius and poise under pressure. But it's also the story of how humans created a weapon capable of wiping our species off the planet. It's a story with no end in sight.
And, like it or not, you're in it.”
― Steve Sheinkin, Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

“Here at great expense,' [Colonel Groves] moaned to Oppenheimer, 'the government has assembled the world's largest collection of crackpots.”
― Steve Sheinkin, Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

“A man who is a man goes on until he can go no further—and then goes twice as far.”
― Steve Sheinkin, Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

“At some time, every Negro in the armed services asks himself what he is getting for the supreme sacrifice he is called upon to make.” —Pittsburgh Courier, November 9, 1944”
― Steve Sheinkin, The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights

“They were willing to send men and women to death to avoid being called losers.”
― Steve Sheinkin, Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War

“Harvard coach Bill Reid would later credit Teddy Roosevelt with saving football. But words in a rule book are one thing. Someone had to show the nation a new way to play the game. The Carlisle Indians did that.”
― Steve Sheinkin, Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team

“The fact that these men were wearing the uniform of the United States Navy made no difference.”
― Steve Sheinkin, The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights

“The security of the nation is not at the ramparts alone," the judge [Murray Gurfein] wrote in a passage that has been quoted ever since. "Security also lies in the value of our free institutions. A cantankerous press, an obstinate press, an ubiquitous press must be suffered by those in authority in order to preserve the even greater values of freedom of expression and the right of the people to know.”
― Steve Sheinkin, Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War

“She was too well-trained to panic.”
― Steve Sheinkin, Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

“Everyone worked day and night, Monday through Saturday. Oppenheimer insisted people take Sundays off to rest and recharge. Scientists fished for trout in nearby streams, or climbed mountains and discussed physics while watching the sunrise. "This is how many discoveries were made," one scientist said.”
― Steve Sheinkin, Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

“Lehigh caught on, but still couldn’t stop the drive. By the time Carlisle neared the Lehigh goal line, both teams were cracking up. As Carlisle bashed in for another score, lineman William Garlow entertained the defense with his running commentary. “Gentlemen, this hurts me as much as it does you, but I’m afraid the ball is over. We regret it, I am sure you regret it, and I hope nothing happening here will spoil what for us has been a very pleasant afternoon.” Fans in the stands, who couldn’t hear Garlow, had no idea why players who’d just surrendered a touchdown were doubled over with laughter.”
― Steve Sheinkin, Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team

“John Adams, well-known lawyer, Patriot, and grump.”
― Steve Sheinkin, King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution

“When do I start?" is the most refreshing thing I've heard in this whole war.”
― Steve Sheinkin, Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

“He left behind several failed careers, two failed marriages, and a reputation as a clever but fairly annoying fellow.”
― Steve Sheinkin, King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution

“The attitude of the black camp’s commander, Lieutenant Commander Daniel Armstrong, was typical of the times. He had his men decorate the base with murals of black naval heroes throughout history, from Dorie Miller all the way back to black sailors who served with Revolutionary captain John Paul Jones. The murals were Armstrong’s way of honoring black sailors. But this same officer wouldn’t allow black recruits at Great Lakes to compete with whites for spots in special schools that trained sailors to be electricians, radiomen, and mechanics. He didn’t think they were smart enough, so he didn’t even let them try.”
― Steve Sheinkin, The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights

“offorty”
― Steve Sheinkin, King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution

“So the fish was left behind and Adams and Hancock rode farther from the fighting. Later that day, they ate some cold pork and potatoes.”
― Steve Sheinkin, King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution

“Let us all understand that the question before us is not whether some Americans are for peace and some are against peace...The great question is: How can we win America's peace?

—Richard Nixon”
― Steve Sheinkin, Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War

“King George never did understand Americans.”
― Steve Sheinkin, King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution

“(you have to eat, even in the middle of famous historical events),”
― Steve Sheinkin, King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution

“Bothe’s expression changed from friendly to nervous. “We are still at war,” Bothe said. “It must be clear to you that I cannot tell anything which I promised to keep secret.” “I understand your reluctance to talk,” said Goudsmit. “But I should appreciate it if you will show me whatever secret papers you may have.” “I have no such papers. I have burned all secret documents. I was ordered to do so.” Goudsmit didn’t buy it. “The fear of a German atom bomb development superior to ours still dominated our thinking,” he said later, “and as we had obtained no real information of their uranium project in all our investigations so far, we were still mighty uneasy.” The Alsos team learned that Werner Heisenberg, and whatever work he was doing, had recently been moved to a town called Haigerloch. Goudsmit had only one option. “We had to go farther into Germany.” * * * AT LOS ALAMOS, Robert Oppenheimer was”
― Steve Sheinkin, Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

“The security of the nation is not at the ramparts alone,” the judge wrote in a passage that has been quoted ever since. “Security also lies in the value of our free institutions. A cantankerous press, an obstinate press, an ubiquitous press must be suffered by those in authority in order to preserve the even greater values of freedom of expression and the right of the people to know.”
― Steve Sheinkin, Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War

“Salmon Update Dorothy Quincy and Aunt Lydia watched the whole thing from the window of the Clarkes’ house. When the shooting started, Lydia leaned out the window to get a closer look. A bullet whistled past her head and crashed into the barn next door. She pulled her head in. After the British left town, the two women set off in a carriage to meet up with Hancock and Adams. Yes, they remembered to bring Hancock’s “fine salmon.” The salmon was cooked at a house in Woburn, and everyone was sitting down to lunch when a man ran in and started shouting that the British were on their way. So the fish was left behind and Adams and Hancock rode farther from the fighting. Later that day, they ate some cold pork and potatoes.”
― Steve Sheinkin, King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution

“dead men and horses lying everywhere, frozen pools of blood all over the mud and snow.”
― Steve Sheinkin, Which Way to the Wild West?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About America's Westward Expansion

“both sides of the canyon. A clear mountain stream trickled down the center. It”
― Steve Sheinkin, Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

“Believe me, if Hitler were to say I should shoot my mother, I would do it and be proud of his confidence.”
― Steve Sheinkin, Impossible Escape: The True Story of the Teen Who Broke Out of Auschwitz

“As evidence, he dug up those flimsy charges the army and FBI had investigated ten years before: that Oppenheimer was secretly a Communist and maybe even a Soviet spy. Strauss devised a plan for taking Oppenheimer down. He’d have the AEC strip Oppenheimer of his security clearance. Without this clearance, Oppenheimer would no longer be allowed to see secret information on the latest atomic weapons research. He couldn’t advise the government, because he wouldn’t know what was going on. Oppenheimer had two options: demand a hearing, or simply walk away. He knew by now that nothing he did or said could stop the arms race. But there was a principle involved—he couldn’t let the charges against him go unchallenged. “This course of action,” he told Strauss, “would mean that I accept and concur in the view that I am not fit to serve this government that I have now served for some twelve years. This I cannot do.” Oppenheimer got his hearing, but it was bogus from the start. Strauss personally picked the panel of judges. The FBI tapped Oppenheimer’s phones and listened in on conversations between him and his attorney. This illegally gathered information was used against Oppenheimer in court.”
― Steve Sheinkin, Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

“had to prove a chain reaction was even possible. That’s what Enrico Fermi and his team were trying to do in the squash court under the football stands in Chicago. The black blocks were graphite, the mineral used to make pencil leads. Slid into holes in some of the blocks were small pieces of uranium. Fermi used graphite to slow down the speeding neutrons—he knew that neutrons would bounce off the carbon atoms that”
― Steve Sheinkin, Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon