---
born: 1915-02-12
category: Nuclear Scientists & Programs
died: 2005-05-16
location: Granite City, Illinois
summary: U.S. Army General who served as military aide to Presidents Eisenhower and
  Nixon and was involved in diplomatic exchanges regarding Israel's Dimona nuclear
  facility.
tags:
- Person
- Nuclear
- Israel
---

Andrew J. Goodpaster was an American Army General who served as military aide to President [Dwight D. Eisenhower](/people/dwight-d-eisenhower/) and later to President [Richard Nixon](/people/richard-nixon/). He recalled that diplomatic exchanges between Eisenhower and [David Ben-Gurion](/people/david-ben-gurion/) regarding [Dimona](/places/dimona/) were "very closely held" and not available even to close subordinates at the time. While there was presidential concern about "what they were doing at [Dimona](/places/dimona/)," Goodpaster could not remember any "specific exchange about a nuclear umbrella."[^1]

[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4.