Collection Summary
Benjamin S. Loeb
Papers 1945-1999
(bulk 1961-1971)
1945-1999
(bulk 1961-1971)
MSS84718
Loeb, Benjamin S., 1914-
6,000 items
17 containers plus 1 classified
6.8 linear feet
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Economist, author, and government official. Research files containing journal excerpts, correspondence, memoranda, cables, reports, minutes, interview transcripts, writings, speeches, newspaper clippings, and printed matter compiled by Loeb concerning Glenn Theodore Seaborg's chairmanship of the Atomic Energy Commission from 1961 to 1971. Loeb assisted Seaborg in writing several books on his chairmanship which feature Seaborg's efforts to promote arms control and peaceful uses of nuclear power.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Bundy, McGeorge--Correspondence.
Bundy, McGeorge--Interviews.
Harriman, W. Averell (William Averell), 1891-1986--Correspondence.
Harriman, W. Averell (William Averell), 1891-1986--Interviews.
Loeb, Benjamin S., 1914-
Seaborg, Glenn Theodore, 1912-
Shapiro, Zalman M. (Zalmon Mordecai), 1920-
Sorensen, Theodore C.--Correspondence.
Sorensen, Theodore C.--Interviews.
Organizations
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
Subjects
Arms control.
Espionage, Israeli--United States.
Nuclear energy--Government policy--United States.
Political crimes and offenses--Investigation--United States.
Security, International.
Uranium enrichment.
Occupations
Authors.
Economists.
Public officials.
Provenance
The papers of Benjamin S. Loeb, economist, author, and government official, were given to the Library of Congress by Loeb in 2000.
Transfers
Audio cassette recordings have been transferred to the Library's Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division where they are identified as part of these papers.
Related Material
The Loeb Papers complement the [
Glenn Theodore Seaborg Papers] also located in the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress. The General Correspondence and Writings series in the Seaborg Papers contain large quantities of correspondence between Seaborg and Loeb concerning their collaborative efforts.
Copyright Status
Copyright in the unpublished writings of Benjamin S. Loeb in these papers and in other collections of papers in the custody of the Library of Congress has been dedicated to the public.
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Benjamin S. Loeb are open to research.
Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to
visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to
retrieve these items for research use.
Security Classified Documents
Government regulations control the use of security classified material in this collection. Manuscript Division staff can furnish information concerning access to and use of classified items.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container number, Benjamin S. Loeb Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1914, Mar. 5
Born, Brooklyn, N.Y.
1935
A.B., Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
1939
1942
Analyst, Security and Exchange Commission
1942
1945
Economist and statistician, War Production Board
1945
1948
Management research, Saks and Co., New York, N.Y.
1948
M.B.A., New York University, New York, N.Y.
1948
1951
Research economist, National Security Resources Board
1951
1953
Statistician, Defense Electric Power Administration
1953
1955
Instructor in management and retailing, Columbia University and City College of New York, New York, N.Y.
1955
1960
Writer, Atomic Energy Commission
1958
Ph.D., Columbia University, New York, N.Y.
1960
1962
Editorial specialist on nuclear power, Division of Public Information, International Atomic Energy Commission
1964
Published with John Lawrence and Bernard Manowitz
Radioisotopes and Radiation
(New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co. 131 pp.)
1970
1971
Conducted special research and writing projects for Glenn Theodore Seaborg, chairman, Atomic Energy Commission
1971
1974
Speech writer, Atomic Energy Commission
1974
1976
Editor, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
1977
Writer and consultant
1981
Assisted Glenn Theodore Seaborg in writing
Kennedy, Khrushchev and the Test Ban
(Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press. 320 pp.)
1987
Assisted Glenn Theodore Seaborg in writing
Stemming the Tide: Arms Control in the Johnson Years
(Lexington, Mass.: Lexington Books. 495 pp.)
1995
Assisted Glenn Theodore Seaborg in writing
The Atomic Energy Commission under Nixon: Adjusting to Troubled Times
(New York: St. Martin's Press. 268 pp.)
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Benjamin S. Loeb (1914- ) span the years 1945-1999, with the bulk of the material dating from 1961 to 1971. The papers concern Loeb's collaboration with Glenn Theodore Seaborg on several books concerning Seaborg's chairmanship of the Atomic Energy Commission from 1961 to 1971. The books, each of which focuses on a presidential administration, explore Seaborg's efforts to promote arms control and peaceful uses of nuclear power. The collection consists of research files containing excerpts from Seaborg's journal, correspondence, memoranda, cables, reports, minutes, interview transcripts, writings, speeches, newspaper clippings, and printed matter. The files are arranged alphabetically by subject or type of material.
A large portion of Loeb's research files consists of material culled from the Seaborg Papers located in this division. Loeb relied heavily on Seaborg's journal which contains diary-like entries supplemented by copies of correspondence, memoranda, reports, minutes, and printed matter. Loeb's files provide topical access to the chronologically-arranged journal on issues such as arms control and test ban treaties, the environment, fast breeder reactors, multilateral force, peaceful nuclear explosions, plowshare programs, and uranium enrichment. Many of the photocopied documents contain Loeb's annotations.
Loeb augmented his use of Seaborg's papers with research at the John F. Kennedy Library in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Lyndon B. Johnson Library in Austin, Texas, and the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C. Files relating to the Limited Test Ban Treaty of 1963 include copies of State Department cables secured by Loeb through Freedom of Information Act requests. Also included in the collection are Loeb's correspondence and interviews with prominent former government officials including McGeorge Bundy, W. Averell Harriman, and Theodore C. Sorensen.
Featured in the collection is Loeb's investigation into allegations that Zalman Shapiro, president of the Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation of Pennsylvania, provided Israeli associates with nuclear secrets and enriched uranium in the 1960s. Included are copies of Federal Bureau of Investigation memoranda and reports attained by Loeb through the Freedom of Information Act.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged alphabetically by name of person, organization, or topic.
Catalog Record: [https://lccn.loc.gov/mm00084718]
Container List
Box
Contents
1
Anti-ballistic missile system, 1969, 1986
Arms control
Atomic Energy Commission histories, 1968-1971
(2 folders)
Executive branch organizational issues, 1969-1970
Franck, James, report and other early debates, 1945-1964, 1978-1983, undated
General file, 1966-1971, undated
Atomic Energy Commission, 1966-1971, undated
Australia, Cape Keraudren plowshare project, 1969, undated
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
Arguments in favor of
Ban, 1972-1992, undated
(2 folders)
2
Testing, 1982-1988, undated
Center for Defense Information, 1984
Dewitt, Hugh, 1962, 1974-1985, undated
History, 1970, 1980-1987, undated
Seaborg, Glenn Theodore, journal excerpts, 1969-1971, undated
Bundy, McGeorge, 1964-1986, undated
Cousins, Norman, 1980
Cuban missile crisis, 1962, 1973-1977
Education and student unrest, 1969-1971, 1989, undated
Enola Gay exhibit, Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C., 1990-1995
Environment
Jurisdictional responsibility, 1969-1973, undated
Miscellany, 1969-1970, 1991, undated
Northern States Power Co. v. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 1969-1970
Opposition to nuclear energy, 1969-1971, 1989, undated
3
Radioactive pollution from nuclear power plants, 1969-1971
Radioactive waste, 1969-1971
Euratom, 1964-1969, 1997, undated
Fast breeder reactors, 1969-1972, undated
(2 folders)
Federal budget, 1969-1971, undated
Gilpatric, Roswell L., 1964-1965, 1984-1985, undated
Goffman, John, and Arthur Tamplin, 1969-1971, 1982-1989, undated
Hanford Atomic Reactor, Richland, Wash., 1969-1970
Harriman, W. Averell
Interviews, 1980-1981, undated
4
Miscellany, 1963-1964, 1973, 1983, undated
Herken, Gregg, 1986
International Atom Program, 1969-1984
International Atomic Energy Agency, 1961-1970, 1985-1997
John F. Kennedy Library, Cambridge, Mass., research notes and photocopies, 1962-1964, 1980, undated
Johnson, Lyndon B.
Cabinet meetings, 1964-1967, undated
Conduct in office, 1969-1971, undated
Miscellany, 1963-1973, undated
Oral history citations, 1965-1971
Personal traits, 1970-1973, undated
Relationship with Glenn Theodore Seaborg, 1963-1966
Secrecy, undated
Summit meeting with Alexei Kosygin, Glassboro, N.J., 1967, 1986
Vietnam War, 1964-1984, undated [
See also Container 16, same heading
](viet16)
Limited Test Ban Treaty
Amendments, 1985-1992
5
Cables, copies received through Freedom of Information Act requests, 1963, 1980
Kennedy, John F., recorded telephone conversations, 1963, 1988
Public reaction, 1989-1990
Low-threshold nuclear test ban, 1981-1987
Merchant ships, undated
Moyers, Bill, 1969-1972, undated
Multilateral force, 1962-1966, undated [
See also Classified
](multicl1)
(2 folders)
National energy situation, 1970-1971, undated
Netherlands, nuclear submarine program, 1969-1970
Nixon, Richard M., 1969-1971, 1989
Non-Proliferation Treaty
General file
1964-1968
(2 folders)
6
1969-1992, undated
(2 folders)
Review conferences, Geneva, Switzerland, 1968-1985
Safeguards, 1964-1968, 1985, undated
(2 folders)
United States as supplier of nuclear fuel, 1963-1967
Nuclear free zones, 1967-1968, 1983, undated
Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corp.
Atomic Energy Agency interviews and memoranda, 1966-1971, 1991-1993
Chronology, undated
Coverup investigation, 1976-1979, undated
7
Decommissioning enriched uranium operations, 1981-1983, 1993
Explanation of uranium losses, 1976-1979
“Fact” file concerning allegations, 1965-1969, 1976-1979, undated
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Interviews, 1978-1979
Investigations, 1969-1978
Progress of investigations and findings, 1966-1981, undated
Government Accounting Office report, 1978-1979, 1993
Health allegations, 1980
Keller, Charles A., notes, 1962-1969, 1978-1979
Loading dock incidents, 1968, 1980, undated
Media coverage, 1969-1979, 1991, undated
Miscellany, 1966, 1991, undated
Physical security standards, 1966, 1974-1980
Public opinion, 1979
8
Reports, 1966, 1976-1979
(2 folders)
Seaborg, Glenn Theodore, journal excerpts, 1969-1971
Secrecy, 1980
Shapiro, Zalman, investigation and surveillance, 1966-1977, undated
Sources, undated
United States Congress, 1969, 1978
Nuclear power and nuclear power facilities, 1969-1997, undated
Peaceful nuclear explosions and plowshare programs
1963-1967
(3 folders)
9
1968-1990, undated
(2 folders)
President's Advisory Council on Executive Organization, 1969-1973, undated
Production
Buildup, 1958-1964, 1980-1981
Cutback
1961-1969 [
See also Classified
](cutcl1)
(4 folders)
10
1970-1980, undated
Economic impact and utility contracts, 1963-1965, undated
Project Rulison, gas stimulation project, Colo., 1969-1970, undated
Proliferation, 1963-1986, undated
Regulatory reform, 1969-1983, undated
Risks, 1970, 1987-1989, undated
Rostow, W. W., 1971, 1983, undated
Rusk, Dean, 1965, 1986, undated
Safety, 1969-1971, 1989-1991
Science, 1969-1971
Seabed Arms Control Treaty, 1962-1970, undated
11
Seaborg, Glenn Theodore
Journal excerpts [
For additional material see Container 2
](sea2), [
Container 8
](sea8), and [
Container 15, same heading
](sea15)
1961
(4 folders)
1962
Jan.- June
(3 folders)
12
July-Dec.
(3 folders)
1963
(4 folders)
13
Meet the Press
appearance, 1971
Notes from conversations, 1971
Obituaries and memorial service program, 1999
Professional anecdotes, 1966-1971, 1985
(2 folders)
Travel abroad
Africa, 1970
Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg, 1997, undated [
For additional material see Container 5, Netherlands](neth5)
France, 1997
Germany, 1966-1967, 1975, 1997, undated
India, 1964-1983, 1997, undated
Italy, 1997
Japan, 1970, 1994-1997
Latin America, 1967
Miscellany, 1969-1971, undated
Sweden, 1997, undated
United Kingdom, 1963-1971, 1997, undated [
See also Classified
](ukcl1)
(2 folders)
14
Secrecy and classification issues, 1985-1997, undated
Sorenson, Theodore C., 1981
Soviet Union, 1964-1991, undated
(2 folders)
Space, 1969-1970
Stassen, Harold Edward, 1963, 1983
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), 1968-1971, 1986, undated
Tamplin, Arthur [
See Container 3, Goffman, John](goff3)
Testing and test bans
Background, 1961-1983, undated
By presidential administration
Bush, George, 1989-1991, undated
Carter, Jimmy, 1980-1982
Johnson, Lyndon B., 1964-1968, undated
(2 folders)
15
Reagan, Ronald, 1981-1988, undated
(2 folders)
Chronology, undated
Debate over testing, 1992
Nuclear testing, circa 1968-1971, 1986-1988
(2 folders)
Seaborg, Glenn Theodore, journal excerpts, 1962-1971 [
See also Classified
](seacl1)
(4 folders)
16
Testing and test bans
Verification, 1970, 1982-1990
Uranium
Enrichment, 1969-1989, undated
(4 folders)
Mining, 1969-1971
Vietnam War, 1965-1983, undated [
See also Container 4, same heading
](viet4)
Views of non-nuclear weapon states, 1967-1968, undated
Wiesner, Jerome B., 1980
Writings and speeches by
Loeb, 1988-1995
17
Seaborg, Glenn Theodore, 1969-1971, 1982-1996, undated
(3 folders)
Seaborg, Glenn Theodore, and Loeb
The Atomic Energy Commission under Nixon
Material for epilogue, 1969-1992, undated
Reviews and reactions, 1993-1995
Kennedy, Khrushchev and the Test Ban
, correspondence
Between Glenn Theodore Seaborg and Loeb, 1972-1980, undated
General, 1980-1983, undated
Miscellaneous, 1985, 1993, undated
“My Three Presidents,” 1993, undated
(2 folders)
“Nuclear Diplomacy during the Cold War,” 1997-1998, undated [
For additional material see Container 13, Travel abroad](trav13)
CL 1
Classified
Multilateral force, 1963 [
(Container 5)
](multi5)
Production
Cutback, 1965 [
(Container 9)
](cut9)
Seaborg, Glenn Theodore
Travel abroad
United Kingdom, 1963 [
(Container 13)
](uk13)
Testing and test bans
Seaborg, Glenn Theodore, journal excerpts, 1963 [
(Container 15)
](sea15)