Nichols, Colonel

This caution soon proved to be fully justified. Colonel Nichols appeared on the scene with a dispatch which we never experienced if some promise had to be implemented. We had a conference of about four hours which would have been very amusing to a disinterested observer. Its amusing nature, however, was probably lost on all who were actually present Smyth, Vernon, Colonel Peterson in addition to Colonel Nichols and myself. 

Colonel Nichols started out by complimenting the Committee for the excellent work it had done and appeared pleased by the recommendation it made. The only point, he said, which would be difficult to implement is the one in which a new contractor is recommended for the P-9 work. It seemed best to him to entrust this work to the duPont Company, which we knew already and which has proved itself so eminently able to shoulder its obligations and to cooperate with the Metallurgical Laboratory. 

The discussion became, from this point on, a dialogue between Colonel Nichols and myself with almost no variation in our statements. I said that if one returns to the recommendation of the Committee, the first company to... 

Marshall s deputy, Colonel Kenneth D. Nichols, and arranged for Nichols to work as his chief aide and troubleshooter throughout the war. 

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