Funny name. My grandmother's name was Hermie Hillie!
I remember Rickover in an interview after his retirement on a show something like "Meet the Press". He was supposed to talk about his accomplished military service. He started spitting and swearing about the new incoming recruits. Not exact quote but something to effect of:
"Football! Football! All the men know or care about is Football!
Admiral Hymen Rickover is considered the father of the nuclear submarine.
Here is a out take of a story on him.
In the Armed Forces, the mandatory retirement age is 65. The only way you can remain on active duty is if Congress passes a law which the president signs, enabling you to remain for one more year. Seventeen U.S. Congresses and five U.S. presidents signed this law for 17 consecutive years so Rickover could remain in active service until he retired at age 82.
.Why this special consideration? Because the legislators and the president knew of his superior work with nuclear submarines. And because he was never satisfied with anything but the very best. This commitment extended to his officers and enlisted men, each of whom he individually interviewed before accepting them in the submarine service.
Physically, Rickover was not imposing--a little over five feet tall and weighing not much more than 125 pounds. But 300-pound sailors would stand shaking with fright when interviewed by Rickover.
I talked with retired navy men who served under Rickover's command. Each told an identical story of anticipating their interview. It was a fearful experience, they told me, because Rickover was unrelenting in his insistence that each member of his service have a commitment to do the very best they could do.
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Topic: Nuclear is the Answer (magazine article) (Read 3999 times)