Norman Cousins, Humanitarian, Atomic Weapons, JFK Speech on World Peace | Dr. Allen Pietrobon # 56

Norman Cousins might just be the most important man of the Cold war that many have never heard of before. He was a pacifist who understood when war was the only way; he saw how the use of Atomic weapons would eventually lead to a kind of feeling of political paralysis among nations with access to such weapons; he believed in the power of language and used it to bring his readers into his world through The Saturday Review. Cousins' was often ridiculed for his belief that the greatest weapon the United States could use against The Soviet Union was strong relations. I admit at the beginning of this conversation that I was almost completely ignorant of just how important of a figure Norman Cousins really was to the 20th century. However, I learned a great deal from my guest's book: Norman Cousins: Peacemaker in the Atomic Age, by Dr. Allen Pietrobon. If you enjoy the conversation and want to support our building of a community of civil discourse, let everyone know by hitting the subscribe/follow button, leaving a kind comment/rating, and sharing the episode with a friend. As always, thank you for taking the time to join us today.

// EPISODE LINKS //

Dr. Pietrobon's book:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Norman-Cousins-Peacemaker-Hopkins-Contemporary/dp/1421443708/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=norman+cousins+peacemaker+in+the+atomic+age&qid=1668918008&sprefix=Norman+Cousins%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-1

// EPISODE OUTLINE //

00:00 Teaser

00:41 Introduction

02:47 Start of conversation

09:36 Why was pacifist Cousins moved to bring war on Hitler and the Nazis?

19:11 Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project scientists lean on Cousins for support

23:16 Are our discussions on artificial intelligence similar to the conversations surrounding atomic weapons in the 60s?

28:23 Can you talk about Cousins' humanitarian efforts after World War II?

37:22 Why did Cousins' program to help Japanese young women not work as successfully as the children adoption program?

41:30 Was there pushback against Cousins' efforts to create better relations with the Soviet Union?

47:22 What were the goals of Cousins' treaty?

54:52 Cousins' meet Albert Schweitzer and a Declaration of Conscience is formed.

1:02:21 Cousins' drive is tested.

1:04:21 Cousins' words in the mouth of President John F. Kennedy at the Commencement Address, June 10, 1963

1:15:52 Closing thoughts

// Website //

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