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Revision as of 20:05, 24 July 2023 by 141.193.195.210 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)David L. Hill (November 11, 1919-December 14, 2008) was an American nuclear physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project and was head of the Federation of American Scientists. He is most known for his 1959 testimony against the nomination of Lewis Strauss as United States Secretary of Commerce.
After studying at the California Institute of Technology he joined Enrico Fermi's team at the Metallurgical Laboratory in Chicago in 1942 where he remained for the duration of the war. He was one of the team of scientists who built the Chicago Pile, the world's first artificial nuclear reactor. In 1945 he was one of 70 scientists to sign the Szilárd petition asking President Truman to warn the Japanese before the usage of the atomic bomb.
After the war he received his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1951 and in 1954 began work as a theoretical physicist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
In 1959 Hill became chairman of the Federation of American Scientists. In that role he testified before the Commerce Committee of the United States Senate to oppose President Eisenhower's nomination of Lewis Straus to cabinet as the as Secretary of Commerce. He spoke as to why "most of the scientists in this country would prefer to see Mr. Strauss completely out of government." Hill accused Strauss of a lack of integrity, an obsessive quest for personal approval, persistent arrogance, and personal vindictiveness.
Among issues cited was Strauss' opposition to the shipping of radioisotopes to Norway in 1949, arguing that Strontium 90 in radioactive fallout was not a concern, and Strauss' role in the security hearing that removed Robert Oppenheimer's security clearance. Hill's testimony led to the Senate rejecting Strauss' nomination as Commerce Secretary. This testimony is depicted in the 2023 film Oppenheimer where Hill is portrayed by Rami Malek.
Hill spent the later part of his career working in the private sector. He had seven children with his wife Mary.
References
- ^ "David L. Hill". Nuclear Museum. 1942-12-02. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
- ^ "David Hill *51". Princeton Alumni Weekly. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
- Nomination of Lewis L. Strauss: Hearings, Eighty-sixth Congress, First Session, on the Nomination of Lewis L. Strauss to be Secretary of Commerce. March 17-18, April 21, 23, 28-30, May 1, 4-8, 11, 13-14, 1959. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1959. p. 430. Retrieved 2023-07-24.