UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION WASHINGTON 25, D. C. June 13, 1956 407730 Dear Mr. President: A distinguished committee of medical people and other scientists, with whom we have been cooperating for about a year, has made a report on the effects of radiation on human beings. The report was published today with misleading headlines in the Washington-Post and I am, therefore, writing this letter to you by way of reassurance. The Report states that: "There has been concern about the possible genetic harm due to the fall-out of radioactive material which results from the testing of atomic weapons, ... the fall-out dose to date (and its continuing value if it is assumed that the weapons testing program will not be substantially increased) is a small one as compared with the background radiation, or as compared with the average exposure in the United States to medical X rays." The mathematical conclusion of the study is that results of weapons tests to date and projected into the future at the same rate, will result in a radiation exposure of the United States population of a minimum of 1/300 and a maximum of 1/14 of the exposure to radiation which is presently received from normal background (i.e. cosmic rays, radioactivity in normal earth and air, etc.) and from medical X-rays. These findings support the public statement which I made in February of last year. Respectfully, er‘ .ower way REPRODUCED AT THE DWIGHTD. EISENHOWER LIBRARY Fura Siasee (F Ae The President The White House CF Sr, $7. REPOSITORY omhid) Aas LY Aghia PRA AY COLLECTION EeBe Din Scheca ASX No. reopen df 42C /9SS- =z lu)