Home

The Father of the H-Bomb Visits Delta and Displays Unusual Talents
by
Hal Arman

Edward Teller was a world-class talent in Physics. He was born in Budapest, Hungary, and came to the U.S. from England because of perceived anti-Semitism in England. From 1939 to 1945 he worked at Los Alamos on the effort to create the first nuclear device. He helped found the Lawrence Livermore Lab in California and became its Associate Director from 1954-58, and its Director from ‘58 to ‘60. The Livermore Lab was created as a competitor to the lab at Los Alamos, directed by Robert Oppenheimer. While at Livermore, Teller did much of the theoretical and practical work that resulted in the Hydrogen bomb. In fact, he became know as the “father of the hydrogen bomb.” A famous personality clash between the two men ultimately resulted in Oppenheimer losing his access to classified material and thus, his ability to deal with sensitive nuclear data. Teller was one of the key witnesses against Oppenheimer and his testimony has long been criticized by others in the field.

Following his time at the Livermore Lab, Teller taught classes at the University of California at Berkley. According to reports from his students, he was not a good teacher. He seemed unable to focus on one issue, and had trouble seeing the line between physics and politics. He lent his name to various conservative and ultra-conservative causes and was often a spokesman for unlimited nuclear testing.

In the early 70’s, Teller was asked to come to Washington to testify in opposition to a proposal to limit nuclear testing. His name and fame still commanded much attention from the public and the media. A plane was sent to California to fly him back to Washington. It is not clear why the plane was diverted to Tri-County airport so that he could give his reasons for favoring nuclear testing to an audience at Delta College, but it was. It may have been that the two Congressmen from the area, Al Cederberg and James Harvey, were both conservative Republican representatives who were thought to need some additional firepower to favor a legislative proposal. Or perhaps the U.S Senator, Bob Griffin, might have requested backup support. What is known is that Teller came to Delta College and delivered a speech favoring nuclear testing to a general audience and later had the speech carried on the College television station Channel 19.

From the time that Teller arrived, College officials found him to be a trial to handle. He treated local people as barely capable of handling his suitcases, driving a car, and attending to the details of his visit. All were grateful when the day and evening was concluded. His speech (given in the Lecture Theater) contained the usual arguments about the need to create and maintain nuclear weapons to contain similar weapons thought to be held by the U.S.S.R.

Immediately following the speech he came down to the main floor of the theater and was interviewed by representatives of the local media. He treated the reporters with similar disdain.

During the 1960s, Delta sponsored a summer festival of the arts, which Gideon Grau, the Conductor of the Saginaw Symphony, directed. Area students with musical ability were given private lessons by a cadre of professional musicians who were brought in for the summer, and they played in various ensembles to learn and perform new music. The highlight of the festival for people in the local area was a series of concerts by the professional musicians on Delta’s staff, augmented by professional and semi-professional musicians from the area.

When Teller’s speech was concluded, Maestro Grau had the stage curtain opened up to reveal many chairs and music stands that had been jumbled together so that the closed curtain gave the appearance of a clean backdrop for the speaker. If the students were to be instructed in a large group the next day, the chairs and music stands needed to be re-arranged. At some point as Mr. Grau was arranging the chairs, Dr. Teller completed his talk with reporters and struck up a conversation with Maestro Grau. It is not clear what was said or how the conversation got around to music, but Mr. Grau made a hasty retreat to his office and came back with his violin, while Dr. Teller sat down at the piano. Without any sheet music in evidence, the two men played classical music that both knew and enjoyed until after midnight. Despite his troubled reputation as a researcher in terrifying areas and his personal reputation as a haughty iconoclast, that night he was simply a person who enjoyed good music and the chance to play with someone who shared that love.

Editor's Note: Hal Arman is now a Delta College retiree, but, at the time of Dr. Teller's visit, worked as an administrator at the college and helped host this official visit.

 
The written and visual works in Mid-Michigan Remembers-Stories about Us were chosen on the basis of their quality, diversity, community interest and appeal. Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the College. This space is provided as a service by Delta College.