The Rickover Corpus — Full Text

Admiral Hyman G. Rickover's "Doing a Job" speech, delivered at Columbia University in 1982, outlines a management philosophy sharply focused on individual accountability and direct, results-oriented leadership. As the "Father of the Nuclear Navy" who oversaw feats like the rapid ...

In this 1977 speech delivered to the San Diego Rotary Club, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover passionately articulates his vision for "Man's Purpose in Life," emphasizing that existence should be defined by constant striving, not complacency. He outlines key principles for a meaningful l...

Dated November 25, 1980, this memo captures President Nixon's detailed observations and insights from his visit to the nuclear submarine USS Cincinnati, where he spent hours engaging with the officers and crew. The document summarizes Nixon's wide-ranging geopolitical and domesti...

In his 1979 article, "In Government Management," Admiral Hyman Rickover expresses skepticism about teaching management through theory, asserting that true skills stem from "long personal experience and hard work." He critiques a prevalent lack of public trust in the Federal Gover...

This memorandum details a wide-ranging, three-hour dinner conversation on May 31, 1979, between Admiral Hyman Rickover, President Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn Carter, and Amy Carter—an event Rickover's wife arranged without his prior knowledge. Key themes included Rickover's candid cri...

Admiral H.G. Rickover's "Environmental Perspective" speech, delivered in 1979, critically examines the public's often-distorted perception of environmental risks, particularly regarding nuclear power and radiation, while advocating for a fact-based, balanced approach. Rickover ex...

In his pointed March 30, 1979 speech, "Lawyers Versus Society," Admiral H. G. Rickover delivers a scathing critique of the legal profession, asserting that its pursuit of money and power undermines justice, erodes public trust, and negatively impacts national defense. He argues t...

In his March 3, 1977 speech, "The Purpose of Education," Admiral H. G. Rickover delivers a scathing critique of the American public education system, arguing it has been "perverted" from its true purpose of intellectual development and critical thinking. He blames "progressive id...

Admiral H. G. Rickover's 1975 address offers a profound critique and a bold vision for the future of American democracy, arguing that the nation must reassess its governmental machinery to avoid faltering amidst changing conditions. Rickover traces democracies from prehistoric tr...

In a potent 1975 address, Admiral H.G. Rickover critiques the moral decay impacting American business, arguing that while he supports capitalism, its excesses and the tendency of large corporations to evade market forces threaten its survival. Drawing on over 35 years of experien...

Admiral H. G. Rickover's August 30, 1974 speech, "The Role of Engineering in the Navy," delivers a scathing critique of the Navy's historical and ongoing neglect of engineering competence, arguing that it jeopardizes the institution's primary purpose: fighting war. Rickover detai...

Admiral Hyman G. Rickover's 1973 speech, "Personal Accountability in Financial Management," offers a scathing critique of government inefficiency and a powerful call for individual responsibility. Drawing on over 50 years of public service, Rickover laments the prevalent apathy, ...

In his June 8, 1972, address to the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce, Vice Admiral H.G. Rickover delivers a stark warning about the rapidly developing energy crisis, framing it as a diminishing capital resource. He critiques the prevailing optimism and public demands for cheap,...

In his 1970 acceptance speech for The Washington Award Medal, Vice Admiral H.G. Rickover explores the intricate relationship between "Liberty, Science, and Law," positing that while technology offers immense benefits, its uncontrolled application threatens human freedom, traditio...

Admiral Hyman Rickover's speech, "WHAT ARE SCHOOLS FOR?", delivers a scathing critique of American education, asserting that its fundamental flaws, particularly the inadequate preparation of students in core subjects, directly impacted his efforts to develop nuclear propulsion fo...

Admiral Hyman Rickover's October 10, 1969 speech, "A Humanistic Technology," opens by lauding Senator Stennis and Congressman William M. Colmer, crediting Stennis for the impressive growth of the nuclear navy, which by then included 85 submarines, a nuclear aircraft carrier, and ...

In a scathing 1970 address to the Federal Government Accountants Association, Vice Admiral H. G. Rickover passionately argued that federal accountants have largely failed in their duty to protect the public interest, particularly regarding defense contracts. He highlighted the ur...

Admiral H.G. Rickover's 1968 speech, "Who Protects the Public?", delivered at the 50th Materials Engineering Congress, critically examines the inherent deficiencies of voluntary industry safety codes in safeguarding public health and well-being from technological hazards. Rickove...

In his speech, "A National Scholastic Standard," Admiral H.G. Rickover delivers a sharp critique of American public education, arguing that its pervasive lack of national standards and a misunderstood notion of "democratic education" have led to a decline in intellectual rigor an...

In a speech delivered on Benjamin Franklin's 261st birthday, Admiral H.G. Rickover critiques modern American society, primarily focusing on a dangerous "knowledge gap" between technical experts and the general public that, he argues, threatens the core tenets of democracy. Drawin...

In his 1966 "Remarks" to the Athens Propeller Club, Admiral H. G. Rickover underscores humanity's dependence on finite fossil fuels, noting that while they supplied 95% of the world's energy, five-sixths of all such fuels consumed since the "Fossil Fuel Age" began were burned in ...

In his 1965 speech, "Fact and Fiction in American Education," Admiral H. G. Rickover critically examines the American educational system in the aftermath of the Sputnik challenge, arguing that the nation's response has been "uncertain" and "faltering." Rickover contends that misl...

In his 1965 address to the Publishers' Lunch Club, "Technology and the Citizen," Admiral H. G. Rickover passionately argues that the unchecked advance and pervasive influence of technology, especially when driven by large, profit-oriented organizations, pose a grave threat to ind...

In this 1965 address at the University of Birmingham, Vice Admiral H. G. Rickover extols the enduring purpose of the university as a "Republic of Letters," a historically continuous institution essential for the disinterested pursuit and transmission of knowledge. He expresses al...

In his 1965 acceptance speech for The Prometheus Award, Vice Admiral H. G. Rickover passionately articulates the profound, yet often overlooked, significance of electricity. He posits that electricity is a fundamental contributor to human happiness, primarily by providing light t...

This 1964 speech by Admiral H.G. Rickover, "Nuclear Power and Bremerton," celebrates the rapid expansion of the U.S. nuclear navy, highlighting the operational fleet of 19 Polaris and 20 nuclear attack submarines, with an additional 22 Polaris and 25 attack submarines under const...

In this March 30, 1963, Saturday Evening Post article, Vice Admiral H. G. Rickover sounds an alarm about the "Decline of the Individual" in American society, attributing it to a fading sense of freedom and dignity. He identifies several critical threats: a societal shift from a s...

In this excerpt from his 1962 address, VADM H. G. Rickover issues a stark warning about the "never-ending challenge" of progress, emphasizing that it demands higher standards and an end to outdated practices. He sharply criticizes conventional industry for its pervasive failure t...

In his May 31, 1960 speech, "Intellect in a Democracy: A House Divided?", Vice Admiral H. G. Rickover argues that superior intellect is not antithetical to democracy, but rather faces hostility due to a misunderstanding of democracy as absolute intellectual equality, exacerbated ...

In his 1960 speech "In Defense of Truth," Admiral H.G. Rickover delivers a critical assessment of American society, arguing that its immense natural wealth has bred a dangerous complacency and a delusional sense of superiority that masks significant national deficiencies. Rickove...

In his 1960 paper "America's Goals," Admiral H.G. Rickover asserts that the United States, having been thrust into global leadership amidst the Scientific Revolution and the Cold War, must redefine its national purpose to ensure survival against totalitarianism. He argues that th...

In his May 17, 1960 speech, "The Talented Mind – An Opportunity and an Obligation," Admiral H.G. Rickover asserts that a "good mind" is a priceless endowment carrying a profound obligation to be intelligently developed for both personal fulfillment and national strength. He argue...

In his September 3, 1959, address to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Admiral H. G. Rickover detailed "Our Naval Revolution," driven by nuclear propulsion, highlighting its rapid, revolutionary impact compared to historical shifts. He showcased the unprecedented capabilities of nucl...

Admiral Hyman G. Rickover's 1959 address, delivered at the 90th anniversary of Roosevelt Hospital, issues a stark warning about America's technological standing. Titled "The Role of the Professional Man," the speech argues that US administrative interference and an overemphasis o...

This document presents Vice Admiral Hyman G. Rickover's October 9, 1959, acceptance speech for the National League of Masonic Clubs' Meritorious Service Medal, where he transitions from discussing his celebrated contributions as the "father of the atomic submarine" to passionatel...

In this 1959 speech, VADM H. G. Rickover passionately criticizes the American education system, arguing that it is mediocre and lags behind European and especially Russian standards, posing a threat to national survival in science and technology. He cites alarming statistics, suc...

In his 1959 speech "Illusions Cost Too Much," Admiral H. G. Rickover critiques America's complacency and its "costly illusions," arguing they undermine the nation's ability to compete with totalitarian powers in the global arena. He contends that the US high standard of living, f...

In a February 1959 speech to the North Carolina State College Union, VADM H. G. Rickover, a key figure in naval nuclear propulsion, underscored the vital link between national competence, technological progress, and a robust education system in a democracy. Drawing from his exper...

In this 1958 speech, Admiral H.G. Rickover discusses the profound significance of the USS Nautilus' transpolar voyage, describing it as an epic achievement that fulfilled a long-standing U.S. Navy goal for Arctic exploration, dating back to Lt. George W. DeLong's 1879 Jeanette ex...

In this 1954 address, Admiral Hyman Rickover outlines his philosophy for "Administering a Large Military Development Project," emphasizing that effective management centers on people, not just technical facts. He challenges traditional notions of leadership, asserting that a "God...

This 1953 memo from H. G. Rickover addresses the widespread confusion in atomic power development, asserting it stems from a failure to distinguish between "academic" and "practical" reactor designs. Rickover meticulously outlines the contrasting characteristics of each: academic...