Atomic Testing in Mississippi: Project Dribble and the Quest for Nuclear Weapons Treaty Verification in the Cold War Era

5. MITRC, MCEC, and the Tatum Decision

69 5. MITRC, MCEC, and the Tatum Decision Frederick Mellen’s efforts to stop the tests in Mississippi involved criticizing one of the state’s newest administrative entities. The MITRC originated in 1960 in response to newly elected governor Ross Barnett’s inaugural address. Barnett reaffirmed his commitment to segregation, a legacy of the state’s racist past. But, looking ahead, he envisioned himself in a unique position in Mississippi history and, surprisingly , advocated high technology in his state. Noting “the urgency for this administration to direct its every effort toward raising the living standard of all our people,” Barnett recommended the creation of a “Mississippi industrial and technological research center.” He also advocated programs designed to increase tourism, attract industry, and improve education. This initiative was similar in some respects to Governor White’s earlier BAWI program, but it would not merely focus on attracting heavy industry; instead, it would attempt to draw scientific and technological research to the state. Electronic, chemical, and nuclear industries were aggressively pursued. Barnett envisioned a large research park administered by highly qualified professionals—not politicians —as the anchor of this endeavor. This concentration on industrial and scientific expertise versus political appointees was remarkable for its ambition, especially in a Deep South state. To overcome the poverty and violence in the Delta region, and to spur development in other parts of the state, Barnett sought to attract high-tech industry. The legislature was willing to comply, and MITRC was established shortly after Barnett’s inauguration.1 Such an organization required the stewardship of a gifted administrator . Despite Mellen’s misgivings, Dr. Andrew D. Suttle proved to be an inspired choice as the first director of the MITRC. Born in West Point, Mississippi, in 1926, Suttle attended school in Starkville, where he later 70 • Atomic Testing in Mississippi obtained a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University, majoring in chemistry and mathematics with a minor in physics. He served as an aviation radio technician in the Naval Reserve in World War II. He returned to work as a research assistant in Mississippi State’s chemistry laboratories; in 1949 he received an AEC fellowship to the University of Chicago. He earned his doctorate there in 1952, concentrating on radiochemistry , then went to work for the Humble Oil Company. He continued as Humble’s senior research scientist while serving as MITRC director . Suttle energetically promoted MITRC and wrote numerous reports for the state’s industries.2 Tatum and Mellen’s letters to government representatives complemented each other. Mellen feared the devaluation of Mississippi’s salt domes to worthless sites for testing nuclear devices; these concerns would be reprised roughly a decade and a half later. His main assertion was that, despite the depth of the Tatum Salt Dome, and of the Bruinsburg Dome, they represented the top of a slippery slope. He feared that, once Mississippi’s domes were judged disposable, the state would simply become another test site, dependent primarily on the federal dole. Mississippi would, he felt, be unable to support itself through its own mineral and resource wealth; the state would be reduced to selling its salt domes as radioactive dump sites. Despite the potential global benefit of stabilizing the nuclear balance of power, Mellen was highly suspicious of the AEC’s interest in the region, and he continued to protest the use of Mississippi’s salt domes for atomic tests. Mellen was in contact with Dr. Linus Pauling, a well-known scientist and opponent of nuclear testing, who feared that the proposed Vela program might harbor more sinister intentions. On December 20, 1960, Pauling wrote to Mellen: I agree with you that much of the destruction of our natural resources that is now going on is unwarranted. In particular, I too am strongly opposed to the use of Mississippi salt domes for detonation of nuclear explosions. Our military men may want to use even the peace-time experiments for tests of nuclear weapons, and I think that the only way to be sure that a misuse of the nuclear explosives is not being carried out is to have all peace-time applications of nuclear explosives in the hands of the United MITRC, MCEC, and the Tatum Decision • 71 Nations. Also, I feel that very careful thought must be given to any proposed peace-time use of nuclear explosives, because I fear that the radioactivity will damage human beings so greatly and...