Rickover was the father of the U.S. nuclear navy, but his influence extended beyond propulsion. He wanted the Navy to build the biggest and best ships available because an unmistakably powerful fleet could deter war. He also understood the politics of procurement, spreading construction work across enough states to keep senators supportive. That preference for top-end ships left the Navy with a harder problem at the lower end, visible in the later Littoral Combat Ship and FFG(X) debates.
Chapter · 6:22-9:01
Rickover's nuclear navy and deterrent logic
Hyman G. Rickover's nuclear-navy legacy links first-rate ships and visible deterrent strength to a construction program built to retain congressional support.