245. Editorial Note
On June 11, 1968, AEC Chairman Seaborg wrote President Johnson requesting approval for the FY 1969 underground nuclear test program, Bowline, consisting of 57 tests: 45 for weapons development and the remaining 12 consisting of 6 Plowshare tests sponsored by the Atomic Energy Commission and 6 weapons effect tests sponsored by the Department of Defense. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Subject File, Nuclear Testing-U.S. Testing Program FY 1969, Vol. VII, Box 29)
On June 27, Rostow wrote a memorandum to the President informing him of Seaborg’s June 11 letter, and requesting the President’s approval of Bowline. Bowline included one large excavation test, Schooner, scheduled for execution in the second quarter. However, Rostow advised that specific approval for it should be requested under separate cover, well in advance of the expected firing date. In fact, any large-yield test that “might cause domestic problems” was also to be submitted for Presidential approval under separate requests. A checkmark next to an approving line appeared on the source text which indicated President Johnson’s approval of Bowline. (Ibid.)
In a June 28 memorandum to Seaborg, Rostow informed him that Bowline was approved “with the understanding that specific Presidential approval must be obtained for all nuclear excavation experiments, for all tests to be conducted outside the National Test Site, and for all tests with yields of one megaton or more.” This memorandum also granted approval for Bowline I, the first quarter test program which consisted of 15 Atomic Energy Commission weapon development tests, 1 Plowshare experiment, Stoddard, and 2 Department of Defense weapon effects tests. (Ibid.) A total of 10 tests, including Stoddard which was fired on September 17, took place at the Nevada Test Site. (United States Nuclear Tests, July 1945 Through September 1992, page 33)
Also on September 17, Seaborg wrote President Johnson a letter in which he requested the President’s permission to execute Bowline II, the second quarter underground test program. Bowline II included 18 tests: 16 to demonstrate the performance, reliability, and safety of prototype warheads, and 2 other tests that would require specific execution authority under separate requests. These were Schooner, the one Plowshare cratering experiment, and Benham, the Spartan development event. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Subject File, Nuclear Testing-U.S. Testing Program FY 1969, Volume VII, Box 29)
Rostow wrote President Johnson a memorandum, September 27, informing him of Seaborg’s September 17 letter on Bowline II. President Johnson’s approval of Bowline II is indicated by a checkmark on Rostow’s memorandum. (Ibid.) The following day, September 28, Rostow wrote Seaborg informing him that President Johnson had approved Bowline II with specific approval withheld on Schooner and Benham. (Ibid.)
[Page 621]Specific request for Schooner was made in an October 16 letter from Seaborg to Rostow. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Subject File, Nuclear Testing-Plowshare Events, Vol. 3, Box 30) Objections arose, however, from Foster over Schooner’s potential to violate the Limited Test Ban Treaty. In a letter to Rostow, October 30, Foster wrote, “I cannot recommend approval of the AEC request to execute the nuclear cratering experiment Schooner, since it involves a very substantial risk of causing radioactive debris to be present in Canada in amounts that will be detected, publicized, and used to support charges that we have deliberately violated the Limited Test Ban Treaty. Such charges would, among other consequences, have a decidedly adverse impact on our efforts to secure adherence to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.” (Ibid.) On November 16, Rostow wrote President Johnson a memorandum which informed him of Seaborg’s request to execute Schooner and of the support given to it by the Department of Defense, the CIA, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Bureau of the Budget. All agencies but ACDA, Rostow wrote, recommended granting approval to Seaborg to conduct Schooner. Rostow himself advocated approval and the President agreed by placing a checkmark on the approving line which appeared on Rostow’s memorandum. (Ibid.) Schooner was eventually fired on December 8, and Benham, yet another Plowshare experiment, on December 19. In all, 17 Bowline II tests were conducted at the Nevada Test Site. (United States Nuclear Tests, July 1945 through September 1992, pages 33-34)
A summary history of this test series is U.S. Defense Nuclear Agency, Operations Crosstie and Bowline: Events—Door Mist, Dorsal Fin, Milk Shake, Diana Moon, Hudson Seal, and Ming Vase, 31 August 1967-20 November 1968 (DNA 6322F, 1985).