Rickover: The Birth of Nuclear Power

This movie auto-played after I finished the movie "Fat Man and Little Boy" which was about the development of the A-Bomb. I had never heard of Hyman Rickover.

"Rickover: The Birth of Nuclear Power" is about one man's dogged push to make nuclear power a reality in the United States. The movie is, I believe, a docudrama. At times we hear and see the real Hyman Rickover and at times he is played by Tim Blake Nelson. There are quite a few actual interviews of those who worked with him or for him such as Jimmy Carter.

What we learn is that Rickover was a pushy SOB. He rubbed everybody raw, but he could get things done. When thwarted by the Navy he went to congress. He would continue doing end-arounds as long as that's what it took to get what he wanted and he would not remain quiet about it. And what he wanted was safe, reliable, efficient nuclear subs in the water without compromises. It was actually quite refreshing to see a man such as Rickover be concerned more with the safety of the men that were going to be on the sub rather than the cost of the sub.

After getting a nuclear submarine in the water Rickover turned his attention to nuclear energy as a means of cheap electricity. Again, he was able to get it done. Eventually the public sentiment towards nuclear power would turn sour which took the wind out of the sails of Rickover's career mission.

This was an interesting and informative docudrama. From what I saw from Rickover he was someone I'd definitely want on my side though I'd never want to work for him.