(1893 – 1978) American chemist and a member of the National Defense Research Committee (NDRC) who, with Vannevar Bush, was largely responsible for placing Robert Oppenheimer in charge of the Manhattan Project. In May 1945, Conant became part of the Interim Committee that was formed to advise Truman on nuclear weapons. The committee decided that the atomic bomb should be used against an industrial target in Japan as soon as possible and without warning. On July 16, 1945, Conant was among those present at the Trinity nuclear test, the first detonation of an atomic bomb. Fine content and association T.L.S. on Harvard University letterhead, 1p. 4to., [Boston], Sep. 19, 1945 to Lt. Col. Whitney Ashbridge, Commander of the Army Post at Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project. In part: '...Your note of August 23 from Manila...was most welcome. I had a nice note from your wife as well. The [atomic] bomb was indeed better than some of us had anticipated in the days when you and I used to gather at Los Alamos. Hoping that our paths will cross in sometime in the not too distant future...' Folds, very good.