Henry A. Wallace and America' Atomic Policy, 1941-1946

Henry A. Wallace was trusted during the war years for his scientific skills in his Vice Presidency, by not only President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) but also scientific administrator Vannevar Bush. This led him to share atomic information with scientists, notably theoretical physicists. After the detonation of two atomic bombs, he became an earnest supporter of the plan that proposed to control atomic energy with the Kremlin, as he believed that a possible arms race would never be prevented without Soviet partnership. His idea, however, was unacceptable to Harry S. Truman, FDR's successor, who wanted to monopolize atomic energy.