That time they left a nuke with an intern

[james_davis_nicoll]

This is wild: the Cleo I device, the first really compact nuclear weapon, was delivered to Nevada Test Site for the Teapot Tesla test (7 kilotons), 1955, in two large suitcases. The guy carrying them — and eating lunch on one of them — is known only as "summer intern Tommy." pic.twitter.com/wHZSevzLC1

— Alex Wellerstein (@wellerstein) October 31, 2022

Comments

[patrick_morris_miller]

No enemy agent would ever suspect Tommy was the one carrying the can of sunlight.

[petrea_mitchell]

This raises a tough quandary: is it more irresponsible to give your summer intern a suitcase nuke, or a loaded .45?

My household weapons expert votes for the loaded .45.

[autopope]

I note that this was in 1955, so "Summer Intern Tommy" was almost certainly having his college tuition paid for by the GI Bill, having served during the Korean War. It makes a lot more sense if you read this story as them leaving the nuke in the custody of a combat veteran!