Following the end of World War II a vigorous controversy developed as to
whether atomic energy development in the United States should continue
under military control or be transferred to civilian control. The
proponents of civilian control won out, and a civilian Atomic Energy
Commission was established by the Atomic Energy Act of 1946. Under this
Act, which was amended in 1954, the AEC manufactures nuclear weapons for
the armed services; produces fissionable materials for both military and
civilian purposes; fosters research and development in the basic
sciences underlying atomic energy and in applications such as power
production and uses of radioisotopes; regulates the activities of
private organizations using atomic energy; and distributes information
about atomic energy. (This booklet is a small example; most of the
information distributed is much more detailed and technical.)
[Illustration: _President Truman signs the bill creating the U. S.
Atomic Energy Commission on August 1, 1946. Behind the President,
left to right: Senators Tom Connally, Eugene D. Millikin, Edwin C.
Johnson, Thomas C. Hart, Brien McMahon, Warren R. Austin, and
Richard B. Russell._
Courtesy United Press International]
Almost all of the AEC’s materials production and research and
development activities are carried out under contract by other
organizations. American industry, universities, and research
organizations also are engaged in widespread atomic energy activities of
their own, subject only to such government regulations as are needed to
protect national security and public health and safety. For example, the
largest atomic electric power plants now in operation in this country
are privately owned, as are numerous small atomic reactors used for
research. At the end of 1962 some 7000 firms, institutions or
individuals in the United States held federal or state licenses giving
them permission to use radioisotopes. The number of persons employed in
atomic energy work in the United States is estimated to be about
140,000, of which only 8000 work for the Federal Government.