---
born: 1901-06-26
category: Nuclear Scientists & Programs
died: 1988-12-14
location: Amherst, Massachusetts
summary: Stuart Symington was a Democratic Senator from Missouri.
tags:
- Person
- Nuclear
- Israel
---

Stuart Symington was a Democratic Senator from Missouri. He was a strong backer of Adlai E. Stevenson for the Democratic presidential nomination. Paradoxically, Symington later emerged as an ardent supporter of a nuclear-armed [Israel](/places/israel/) while also authoring key Senate legislation to limit the spread of such weapons.[^1]

In April 1963, [Shimon Peres](/people/shimon-peres/) discussed nuclear weapons with Senator Symington, who was then a ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Symington reportedly told Peres, "Don't be a bunch of fools. Don't stop making atomic bombs. And don't listen to the administration. Do whatever you think best."[^1]

[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8, 9.