2014 PBS Documentary Film - Rickover

This a 2-hour PBS Documentary film by Michael Pack titled RICKOVER - THE BIRTH OF NUCLEAR POWER that initially broadcast on December 9, 2014. It is well made and includes reinactments based on eye witness accounts of various events.

The video chronicles the life and career of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, focusing on his pivotal role in developing nuclear power for the United States Navy and the civilian sector. The key topics covered include:

The Vision for the Nautilus: Rickover aimed to create the world's first true submersible, the Nautilus, inspired by Jules Verne’s science fiction. Unlike World War II diesel submarines that surfaced every few hours, a nuclear-powered vessel could remain underwater for months.12

Overcoming Technical Obstacles: The project faced skepticism from leading physicists like J. Robert Oppenheimer. Rickover’s team had to invent entirely new industries, such as hafnium and zirconium production, and establish unprecedented quality control standards.34

Launch and Success: The Nautilus was ready in less than four years. Its 1958 transit under the North Pole served as a major Cold War achievement, rivaling the Soviet launch of Sputnik.56

Management and Philosophy

Extreme Personal Accountability: Rickover believed responsibility must reside in a single individual and cannot be diminished by delegation or sharing.7

Unconventional Methods: Known as a "maverick," he often bypassed naval bureaucracy and cultivated direct relationships with Congress to secure funding and support.8

Rigorous Personnel Selection: Rickover personally interviewed every officer for the nuclear program, using high-pressure tactics to "lay bare" their true character and potential.9

Nuclear Safety and Civilian Power

Strict Safety Standards: Rickover insisted on using civilian radiation standards and high-quality welds over cheaper alternatives, fearing a single safety lapse would end the nuclear program.10

Shippingport Atomic Power Station: Under President Eisenhower’s "Atoms for Peace" initiative, Rickover led the development of the world's first commercial civilian nuclear reactor in Shippingport, Pennsylvania.11

Three Mile Island: Following the 1979 partial meltdown at Three Mile Island, Rickover attributed the accident not to design flaws but to a lack of the rigorous supervision and training used in the Naval program.12

Conflict and Retirement

Battles with Defense Contractors: In his later years, Rickover accused shipbuilders of massive fraud through excessive cost overruns and change orders.13

Forced Retirement: In 1981, after decades of service and tension with Navy leadership, President Ronald Reagan involuntarily retired the 81-year-old admiral.14

Legacy: Rickover is credited with founding a new industry and maintaining a record of zero nuclear accidents across hundreds of naval reactors.

The movie is available from the producers website here - https://manifoldproductions.com/films/rickover-the-birth-of-nuclear-power/ and from Amazon here.