<DrumBeat: August 10, 2008 The Oil Drum Countdown to $200 oil (10) - oil at $115!!>

70 comments on "Energy Resources and Our Future" - Speech by Admiral Hyman Rickover in 1957

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

| Show without comments | PDF version

Dryki on August 10, 2008 - 11:05am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Maybe you could link to this speech in your overview?

It belongs in the sidebar, defcon 4.

I've read this speech several times and always find myself wondering about Rickover's background and education. Excepting climate change, I don't have any better understanding of Peak Oil and resource depletion now in 2008 than he did 50 years ago. He's clearly made of different stuff than Petraeus or Colin Powell. Probably the times trained and demanded different stuff.

cfm in Gray, ME

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
ccpo on August 10, 2008 - 11:23am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Being father of the nuclear navy, he must have had some wits. He is one of those people about whom the term genius actually applies. My definition of a genius is one with extreme intelligence, excellent memory (I console myself with the thought that but for a weak memory... ha-ha...) and the insight to apply them effectively.

I've no doubt of his genius.

Cheers

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
joule on August 10, 2008 - 12:33pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

ccpo -

There is no doubt that Admiral Rickover was a brilliant and highly perceptive man. But he was no angel, either.

He was a master at ruthless bureaucratic in-fighting, was extreme adept at shamelessly cultivating powerful congressmen to ensure generous funding for the Navy's nuclear program. He also had a well-deserved reputation as a vindictive SOB and a real tyrant to work for.

He certainly didn't get to the position he did by being a nice guy. Being a small, scrawny little fellow, and a Jew to boot, must have made for very tough going when he was a midshipman at Annapolis in those less enlightened days.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
ccpo on August 10, 2008 - 9:52pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

OK. Does personality have anything to do with genius?

Cheers

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

70 comments on "Energy Resources and Our Future" - Speech by Admiral Hyman Rickover in 1957

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

| Show without comments | PDF version