For this week’s post, I’m evaluating the letter “A Petition to the President of the United States”

that Leo Szilard et al wrote to help our leadership engage in the deepest contemplation before
utilizing this new, recently developed weapon. As this project was developed under monumental
secrecy, the authors understand and present the possible implications of its use. “Discoveries of
which the people of the United States are not aware may affect the welfare of this nation in the
near future“ (Szilard, 1945) The authors walk through the moral use of atomic weapons and
bring relevant points to the conversation even going so far as to recommend “that the United
States ought not to resort to the use of atomic bombs in the present phase of the war” (Szilard,
1945) knowing full well that means many more U.S. soldiers will perish in conventional
fighting. Resisting the temptation of routine weapon deployment is a very strong concern of
theirs as well.

Overall the structure of the petition flows well whereby each point supports the document’s
conclusion. Logically each element is well constructed causing the reader to ponder the stated
topic with other unstated elements coming to mind concurrently. The authors’ points, while
articulate, suffer from both a bit of a passive voice and what I would consider familiar language
inconsistent with a person of academic standing. These items have been resolved if one reads the
submitted petition dated July 17 as indicated in the footnotes.

Evaluation of the opening and closing reveals the initial purpose that the President must choose
“whether or not to sanction the use of such bombs in the present phase of the war against Japan.”
(Szilard, 1945) In their closing, the authors request that the weapons not be used at the current
“phase of the war” (Szilard, 1945) bringing the conversation full circle with the requested action.

Szilard, Leo and Cosigners. “A Petition to the President of the United States.”
Atomicarchive.com. 2011. Web. 11 May 2012.