Letter from Catherine Westfall, Michigan State University
"1. What do you think were Robert Oppenheimer's greatest strengths as a leader of the Los Alamos Project?
I think his greatest strength was being able to quickly understand the many scientific and technical problems involved with the project so that he could help the various specialists work together to solve a problem that required insights from a wide variety of fields. I remember talking to the head of the group that created the special metals for the bombs (Cyril Stanley Smith). Oppenheimer was not a specialist with metals, and yet he would slip in when they were having a meeting to try to solve a particular problem and very often offer just the clue they needed to produce a solution. He also inspired those at Los Alamos to be interested in the scientific and technical aspects of the project so that they would be creative and work very long hours. Everyone who worked there thought what they were doing was both important and exciting.
2. What do you believe is his greatest legacy?
In my opinion, his most important legacy is showing that scientists and government and military leaders can work together to solve very difficult problems for the national good.
Catherine Westfall"