War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Interview with Wolfgang Panofsky, 1986

Item Information

Title:
War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Interview with Wolfgang Panofsky, 1986
Description:
Wolfgang Panofsky was a physicist at Stanford University who previously participated in the Manhattan Project and later advised Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Nixon on nuclear matters. In the interview, he discusses the Nixon administration's concerns about vulnerability, which he tried to put in perspective for Henry Kissinger by pointing to the balancing survivability of the other legs of the triad. Based on similar conversations with Kissinger about MIRVs, he questions the veracity of the latter's later statements about not having been aware of the destabilizing nature of MIRVs. This is followed by a lengthy explanation of the history of MIRVs. From there Dr. Panofsky moves to a discussions of anti-ballistic missile systems, their functions and his views about such specifics as the inadequacy of the Safeguard system. In his view, the signing of the ABM treaty precluded the need for continuing the arms race.
Author:
Panofsky, Wolfgang K. H. (Wolfgang Kurt Hermann
Date:
November 10, 1986
Format:
Film/Video
Location:
WGBH
Collection (local):
American Archive of Public Broadcasting Collection
Series:
WGBH > War and Peace in the Nuclear Age
Subjects:
Gore, Albert, 1907-1998
Packard, David, 1912-1996
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
Soviet Union. Treaties, etc. United States, 1972 May 26 (ABM)
Nuclear weapons
Nuclear arms control
Intercontinental ballistic missiles
Deterrence (Strategy)
Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles
Antimissile missiles
United States
Soviet Union
China
Kissinger, Henry, 1923-
Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994
United States. Dept. of Defense
Extent:
00:00:00
Link to Item:
https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-15-n00zp3w63f
Terms of Use:
Rights status not evaluated.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
WGBH Educational Foundation