After ten bitter weeks of hearings and debate, the Senate finally came to grips with the Lilienthal appointment. Ohio's John Bricker provided the opportunity. He had offered a motion to send the nomination of David E. Lilienthal as chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission back to committee. If the motion carried, the chances were that Lilienthal would never be confirmed. If the motion was lost, he was in.
Individual Senators knew most of the pros & cons by heart; perhaps most of them had their minds made up.
Then Senate President pro tempore Arthur Vandenberg, who had made careful notes, asked the...