The Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977 brought together
for the first time in one department most of the Federal Government's
energy programs.
With these programs came a score of organizational
entities, each with its owm history and traditions, from a dozen depart-
‘ments and independent agencies.
The History Division has prepared a
series of pamphlets on The Institutional Origins of the Department of
Energy.
Each pamphlet explains the history, goals, and achievements of
@ predecessor agency or a major program of the Department of Energy.
This pamphlet, which replaces Roger M. Anders' previous booklet cn
"The Office of Military Application," traces the history of the United
States nuclear weapon program from its inception during World War II to
the
present.
defenses.
Atomic
Nuclear
weapons
form
the
core
America's
modern
anders! history describes the truly formidable efforts of «ne
Energy
Commission,
the
Energy
Research
Administration, and the Departmr
agencies and their plants and lak
which protects America today.
Roger M.
and
Develogment
to create a diverse anc
sophisticated arsenal of nuclear
Division.
of
2 accomplishments of these
:
created an “atomic shieic"
ae
Anders ig a trained historian working in the Histor;
Although whenever possible he has checked his work with
appropriate offices within the Department, the author, and the Chief
Historian ultimately determined the
study.
content
and conclusions
of
‘the
The pamphlet is the product of teamwork within the History