Ted Taylor
SUPPORT OF PROPOSITION ONE
Ted Taylor
Nuclear Weapon Designer at Los Alamos in the 1950s
Moved to Princeton University in 1997--
tbtaylor@princeton.edu --
Office phone
609-253-5677
November 1994
I enthusiastically worked on the design of new types of nuclear weapons at Los Alamos
National Laboratory from 1949 to 1956. I then worked on nuclear reactors and nuclear space
propulsion at the newly formed General Atomic Company from 1956 until 1964. For two years after
that I was Deputy Director for Technology at the Defense Nuclear Agency of the US Department of
Defense, in technical charge of the Defense Departments's nuclear weapon effects program. Since
that time I have devoted most of my work to support efforts bring all nuclear weapons and the key
nuclear materials needed to make them under very tight international control. Since 1984 I have
strongly supported calls for prompt, global, complete abolition of all nuclear weapons...
In 1965 I was one of the recipients of the Atomic Energy Commission's Ernest O. Lawrence
Award for my work on nuclear weapons and research reactors. In 1979 I was appointed by
President Carter to the President's Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island. In 1991 I was
presented the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War's Distinguished Citizen
Award for my work on nuclear disarmament.
I started to get to know the Thomases in 1986, with discussions with them during their
extended vigil at Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House. Since that time I have
strongly supported their efforts to stimulate binding commitments by the government of the United
States to participate with all nations in the prompt elimination of all nuclear weapons in the world.
In particular, I have felt very fortunate to have been able to assist them in preparing written
and filmed information in support of Proposition #1. They have started the first explicit effort I am
aware of to stimulate grass roots political actions leading to commitment by the Congress of the
United States to prompt worldwide elimination of all nuclear weapons and the means for their
production. Proposition #1 also calls for a rapid transfer of resources from nuclear weaponry to
support of badly needed social programs....
These legislative proposals are now starting, I believe,
a process by which most humans can, for the first time, face squarely the truth about nuclear
weapons and the insanity and moral degradation which their continued tolerance by humans
represent.
November 12, 1994
Ted Taylor Bio | CTBT Statement
Anti-Nuclear Update | Proposition One
Peace Park