18. Rickover became known throughout the Navy as “the kindly old gentleman”
In the 1970s Rickover’s power throughout the Navy and in Congress peaked. Stories of his interviews of applicants for nuclear power training were told in shipyards, in contractor’s hallways, on board his ships, and, after the inauguration of Jimmy Carter, in the White House. As with all sea stories, many were true, many more were embellished in the retelling. One such story told of Rickover telling a midshipman during his interview to call his fiancé and cancel their planned wedding. He was to tell her that he needed to concentrate on his studies and complete training before he considered marriage. The midshipman complied, using the Admiral’s phone. After completing the call, the young man was informed he would not be accepted in the program. Rickover cited the lack of commitment to his fiancé as a character flaw.
Such stories led to Rickover being called, sarcastically and behind his back, the “kindly old gentleman” among those participating in the nuclear power program. It was one of the milder terms used to describe the Admiral. By then well past retirement age, Rickover managed to continue to hang on. By the time of the Carter Administration, his strict management of the program led to repeated clashes with defense contractors, in particular with Electric Boat. The Admiral often criticized the submarine builder for shoddy work, cost overruns, incomplete tests and evaluations, and openly fraudulent practices. With Jimmy Carter, a former protégé, in office there was little that could be done. Electric Boat and other defense contractors began to pressure Congress to have Rickover retired. There was growing obsession with what his opponents called “the Rickover Problem”.