Rickover, Hyman George , 1900-1986

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Hyman George Rickover (January 27, 1900 – July 8, 1986) was an Admiral in the U.S. Navy. He directed the original development of naval nuclear propulsion and controlled its operations for three decades as director of the U.S. Naval Reactors office. In addition, he oversaw the development of the Shippingport Atomic Power Station, the world's first commercial pressurized water reactor used for generating electricity. Rickover is also one of four people who have been awarded two Congressional Gold Medals.

Rickover is known as the "Father of the Nuclear Navy," and his influence on the Navy and its warships was of such scope that he "may well go down in history as one of the Navy's most important officers." He served in a flag rank for nearly 30 years (1953 to 1982), ending his career as a four-star admiral. His years of service exceeded that of each of the U.S. Navy's five-star fleet admirals—Leahy, King, Nimitz and Halsey—all of whom served on active duty for life after their appointments. Rickover's total of 63 years of active duty service make him the longest-serving naval officer, as well as the longest-serving member of the U.S armed forces in history.

Having become a Naval engineering duty officer (EDO) in 1937 after serving as both a surface ship and submarine-qualified unrestricted line officer, his substantial legacy of technical achievements includes the United States Navy's continuing record of zero reactor accidents.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. COMMISSIONING OF USS NARWHAL (SSN-671) New London, Groton, Conn National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. KEEL LAYING OF USS CALIFORNIA (DLGN-36) Newport News, Virginia National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Fox Movietone News Collection. 1957 - 1963. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 1957 - 1963. MOVIETONE NEWS, vol. 41, no. 73 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Bureau of Ships. 1940 - 1966. Historical Correspondence Files Relating to Naval Reorganization National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Loughlin, Charles E. Copy of oral history typescript of RADM Loughlin by Naval Institute. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
referencedIn Fox Movietone News Collection. 1957 - 1963. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 1957 - 1963. Movietone News, Vol. 43, No. 43 National Archives at College Park
creatorOf George Washington Carver (Submarine). Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1966. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Ogden Rogers Reid papers, 1925-1982 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 9/27/79 Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Motion Picture Films from the Army Library Copy Collection. 1964 - 1980. CAPT. RICKOVER DEMONSTRATES ATOMIC SUB MODEL, WASHINGTON, D.C National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Mack, William P., 1915-. Oral history typescript, Vol. II of reminiscences of VADM Mack, with focus on the last eight years of his active naval service. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
referencedIn Gerald Johnson Papers, 1938 - 1995 University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 2/18/77 [1] Jimmy Carter Library
creatorOf Rickover, Hyman George. Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1965. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn White House Central Files (Eisenhower Administration). 1953 - 1961. Bulk Mail Files Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Julius Bisno Collection, undated, 1780, 1801-1980 American Jewish Historical Society
referencedIn Joseph Barnes Papers, 1923-1970 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 12/6/79 [2] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. KEEL LAYING USS NIMITZ (CVAN-68) Newport News Ship Building amp; Drydock National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Smith-Hutton, Henri. Oral History typescript of reminiscences. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Information Agency. 1900 - 2003. Vice-President Richard M. Nixon in the USSR and Poland National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVAN-69) KEEL LAYING National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Ira Berkow, papers, undated, 1960-2011 American Jewish Historical Society
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 6/20/77 [2] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 10/3/79 [2] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 8/15/79 Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., Collection. 1953 - 1982. Motion Picture Films. 1953 - 1982. What I Saw in Russia National Archives at College Park
referencedIn McHugh, J. M. (James Marshall), 1899-. James M. McHugh papers, 1930-1965. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Minter, Charles S. Oral history typescript of reminiscences. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. 1921 - 2008. Policy Files National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 8/1/77 [4] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Motion Picture Films from the Army Library Copy Collection. 1964 - 1980. CAPT. RICKOVER DEMONSTRATES ATOMIC SUB MODEL, WASHINGTON, D.C National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 2/7/77 [2] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Libby, Rutheven E. Oral history typescript entitled "Reminiscences of VADM Rutheven E. Libby, USN (Ret.)" done by the U.S. Naval Institute. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. KEEL LAYING OF USS SOUTH CAROLINA (DLGN-37) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 8/1/77 [2] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 12/21/77 [1] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 5/27/77 Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Hooper, Edwin Bickford. Oral history reminiscences of VADM Hooper. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. Launching of USS California National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Staton, Adolphus. Adolphus Staton papers, 1907-1936. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 2/8/78 Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. KEEL LAYING OF USS LAFAYETTE and PRESENTATION OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL TO VADM RICKOVER National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Rickover, Hyman George. TLS, 1966 May 8 : "at sea, North Atlantic," to Seymour Halpern. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Gayle, Rose V. Papers, 1964-1973. Operational Archive Branch, Naval History Center
creatorOf Pickering, William H., 1910-2004. William H. Pickering Speech Collection, 1955-1975. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 5/20/78 Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Harvard Law School Forums Records Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Gordon, Robert B. Memoir, August 1999. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. LAUNCHING OF USS NARWHAL (SSN-671) Groton, Conn National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Rickover, Hyman George. TLS, 1961 May 3 : U.S.S. Thresher, At Sea, North Atlantic, to Sidney R. Yates, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. KEEL LAYING OF USS CALIFORNIA (DLGN-36) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. LAUNCHING OF USS NARWHAL (SSN-671) Groton, Conn National Archives at College Park
referencedIn James M. McHugh papers, 1930-1965. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 4/26/80 Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Herbert Covington Bonner Papers (#3710), 1940-1965 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. KEEL LAYING USS NIMITZ (CVAN-68) (Newport News, Va.) National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Rickover, Hyman George. ALS, 1959 March 10 : U.S.S. Skipjack, At Sea, to Sidney R. Yates. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Kaufmann, Draper L. Oral history typescript entitled "The Reminiscences of RADM Draper L. Kaufmann" done by the U.S. Naval Institute. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
creatorOf Johnson, Gerald W. (Gerald Woodrow). Gerald Johnson papers, 1938-1995. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn Reich, Eli T. Copy of Oral History typescript of VADM Eli T. Reich, USN, RET, by Naval Institute. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
referencedIn Fox Movietone News Collection. 1957 - 1963. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 1957 - 1963. MOVIETONE NEWS, vol. 41, no. 72 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Atomic Energy Commission. 1923 - 1978. Photographs Used in Atomic Energy Commission Publications National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 6/7/79 [1] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Fox Movietone News Collection. 1957 - 1963. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 1957 - 1963. Movietone News, Vol. 42, No. 61 National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Rickover, Hyman George. Letter, June 16, 1964. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWR (CVAN-69) KEEL LAYING National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 6/27/77 [2] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. KEEL LAYING OF USS CALIFORNIA (DLGN-36) Newport News, Virginia National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Beshany, Philip A. Copy of oral history typescript done by the Naval Institute. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVAN-69) KEEL LAYING National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. KEEL LAYING OF USS NIMITZ (CVAN-68) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 2/16/77 [1] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 2/28/77 [1] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. LAUNCHING OF USS NARWHAL (SSN-671) Groton, Conn National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. KEEL LAYING OF USS SOUTH CAROLINA (DLGN-37) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Beshany, Philip A. Oral history typescript entitled "Reminiscences of ADM Philip A. Beshany" done by the U.S. Naval Institute. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
creatorOf Malone, Dumas, 1892-1986. Papers of Dumas Malone [manuscript], 1913-1986. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Arthur, John M. John M. Arthur papers and photographs 1966-2008 [manuscript] Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, Heinz History Center Detre Library and Archives
referencedIn Theodore Roosevelt Collection: Books, pamphlets, periodicals, 18-- - <ongoing> Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Harold M. Dorr papers, 1922-1973 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. KEEL LAYING 0F USS SOUTH CAROLINA (DLGN-37) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 1/10/79 Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Gropius, Walter, 1883-1969. Papers, 1925-1969 (bulk: 1937-1969) Houghton Library
referencedIn Hanson Weightman Baldwin papers, 1900-1988 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Letters received, 1954-1962. Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Joseph Barnes Papers, 1923-1970 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. KEEL LAYING OF USS CALIFORNIA (DLGN-36) Newport News Shipbldg. amp; Drydock Co. Newport News, Va National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 6/30/77 [2] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Younger, J. Arthur (Jesse Arthur), 1893-1967. J. Arthur Younger papers, 1951-1968. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. COMMISSIONING OF USS NARWHAL (SSN-671) New London, Groton, Conn National Archives at College Park
referencedIn National Broadcasting Company, Inc., Collection. 1953 - 1962. Motion Picture Films. 1953 - 1962. NIXON: EYEWITNESS IN RUSSIA AND POLAND National Archives at College Park
referencedIn South Carolina (Frigate). South Carolina (Frigate) Collection, 1970-1974. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Vinal, George Wood, 1882-1969. Oral history interview George Wood Vinal, 1964 March 20. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Thomas J. Dodd Papers, undated, 1919-1971. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Emanuel Celler Papers, 1924-1973, (bulk 1945-1973) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. KEEL LAYING OF USS LAFAYETTE (SSBM-616) AND CITATION TO VADM H. G. RICKOVER Electris Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp., Groton, Connecticut National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Rickover, Hyman George. Letter, August 7, 1967. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. KEEL LAYING OF USS LAFAYETTE AND PRESENTATION OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL TO VADM. RICKOVER National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. TYPHOON DAMAGE TO SHIPS OFF OKINAWA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, 1798 - 2007. Official Military Personnel Files, 1885 - 1998. Official Military Personnel File for Hyman Rickover. National Archives at St. Louis
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVAN-69) KEEL LAYING National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. KEEL LAYING OF USS LAFAYETTE AND PRESENTATION OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL TO VADM. RICKOVER National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. KEEL LAYING OF USS LAFAYETTE AND PRESENTATION OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL TO VADM. RICKOVER National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. ATOMIC SUBMARINER DECORATED Pentagon, Washington, D.C National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. USS TRITON (SSRN-586) National Archives at College Park

Filters:

Connection Graph Radial Graph
Relation Name
associatedWith Arthur, John M. person
associatedWith Baldwin, Hanson Weightman, 1903- person
associatedWith Barnes, Joseph, 1907-1970 person
associatedWith Berkow, Ira person
associatedWith Beshany, Philip A. person
associatedWith Bisno, Julius, 1911- person
associatedWith Bonner, Herbert Covington, 1891-1965 person
associatedWith Carver, George Washington, 1864?-1943. person
correspondedWith Celler, Emanuel, 1888-1981 person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Columbia University corporateBody
correspondedWith Dodd, Thomas J. (Thomas Joseph), 1907-1971 person
associatedWith Dorr, Harold M. (Harold McVicar), b. 1897 person
associatedWith Gardner, James Carson, 1933- person
associatedWith Gayle, Rose V. person
associatedWith George Washington Carver (Submarine). corporateBody
associatedWith Gordon, Robert B. person
correspondedWith Gropius, Walter, 1883-1969 person
associatedWith Halpern, Seymour. person
correspondedWith Harvard Law School Forum corporateBody
associatedWith Hooper, Edwin Bickford. person
associatedWith James Madison (Submarine) corporateBody
associatedWith J. M.(James Marshall) McHugh 1899- person
associatedWith Johnson, Gerald W. (Gerald Woodrow) person
correspondedWith Johnson, Gerald W. (Gerald Woodrow) person
associatedWith Kaufmann, Draper L. person
associatedWith Libby, Rutheven E. person
associatedWith Loughlin, Charles E. person
associatedWith Mack, William P., 1915- person
associatedWith Madison, James, 1751-1836. person
associatedWith Malone, Dumas, 1892-1986. person
associatedWith McHugh, J. M. (James Marshall), 1899- person
associatedWith Minter, Charles S. person
associatedWith Natcher, William Huston, 1909-1994. person
associatedWith Pargo (Ship) corporateBody
associatedWith Pickering, William H., 1910-2004. person
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
associatedWith Reich, Eli T. person
associatedWith Reid, Ogden R. (Ogden Rogers), 1925- person
associatedWith Skipjack (Ship) corporateBody
associatedWith Smith-Hutton, Henri. person
associatedWith South Carolina (Frigate) corporateBody
associatedWith Staton, Adolphus. person
correspondedWith Theodore Roosevelt Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Thresher (Ship) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Ships corporateBody
memberOf United States. Navy corporateBody
associatedWith Vinal, George Wood, 1882-1969. person
associatedWith Yates, Sidney R. person
associatedWith Younger, J. Arthur (Jesse Arthur), 1893-1967. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Arlington VA US
Subject
Naval history
Naval Officer
Nuclear submarines
Nuclear submarines
Submarines (Ships)
Occupation
Admirals
Admirals
Naval Officer
Naval officers
Nuclear engineers
Activity

Person

Birth 1900-01-27

Death 1986-07-08

Male

Americans

English

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