In this penultimate episode of "Genius," Einstein is in residence at Princeton, where he is contributing behind the scenes to the effort to stop Hitler during World War II. The centerpiece of the program is the set of two letters that Einstein wrote to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt regarding research into the atomic bomb.
In Germany, Werner Heisenberg has been placed in charge of developing the atomic bomb. The Americans have countered Germany in a race to be the first to produce history's most destructive weapon. In a subplot of the episode, MLB catcher Moe Berg is recruited as a spy with the instructions to assassinate Heisenberg, if it appears he is close to unlocking the secrets of nuclear fission.
After attempting to save Jewish German scientists in his factory, Fritz Haber finally resigns and dies of a heart attack while en route to Palestine. Another tragic death is that of Einstein's beloved wife and first cousin, Elsa, who dies of myocarditis, the heart condition that she had kept secret from her husband.
In one of the most fascinating narrative strands, Einstein falls in love with his Russian secretary, Margarita Konenkova, the wife of the Russian sculptor Sergei Konekova. But Margarita is a spy recruited by the Soviets to find any secrets about the atomic bomb that may be in possession of Einstein. She eventually ends her relationship with Einstein and returns to the Soviet Union
Einstein is approached by scientist Vannevar Bush to help with calculations in finalizing the atomic bomb. As a signatory to the letter that advised FDR that it was essential to successfully create the atomic bomb before the Germans, Einstein has now changed his position. Once Germany had given up on the bomb project and had lost the war, Einstein wrote a second, impassioned letter to the president to not use the bomb on Japan. The letter was misplaced in the confusion following the death of President Roosevelt.
In a crucial conversation between spy Moe Berg and Werner Heisenberg, Moe has the opportunity to assassinate the German scientist. But he chooses not to pull the trigger when it becomes apparent that the Germans have not perfected the bomb. But at the close of the program, it becomes apparent that Heisenberg knew the secrets of nuclear fission all along, but out of moral qualms had chosen to scuttle the project.
In Germany, Werner Heisenberg has been placed in charge of developing the atomic bomb. The Americans have countered Germany in a race to be the first to produce history's most destructive weapon. In a subplot of the episode, MLB catcher Moe Berg is recruited as a spy with the instructions to assassinate Heisenberg, if it appears he is close to unlocking the secrets of nuclear fission.
After attempting to save Jewish German scientists in his factory, Fritz Haber finally resigns and dies of a heart attack while en route to Palestine. Another tragic death is that of Einstein's beloved wife and first cousin, Elsa, who dies of myocarditis, the heart condition that she had kept secret from her husband.
In one of the most fascinating narrative strands, Einstein falls in love with his Russian secretary, Margarita Konenkova, the wife of the Russian sculptor Sergei Konekova. But Margarita is a spy recruited by the Soviets to find any secrets about the atomic bomb that may be in possession of Einstein. She eventually ends her relationship with Einstein and returns to the Soviet Union
Einstein is approached by scientist Vannevar Bush to help with calculations in finalizing the atomic bomb. As a signatory to the letter that advised FDR that it was essential to successfully create the atomic bomb before the Germans, Einstein has now changed his position. Once Germany had given up on the bomb project and had lost the war, Einstein wrote a second, impassioned letter to the president to not use the bomb on Japan. The letter was misplaced in the confusion following the death of President Roosevelt.
In a crucial conversation between spy Moe Berg and Werner Heisenberg, Moe has the opportunity to assassinate the German scientist. But he chooses not to pull the trigger when it becomes apparent that the Germans have not perfected the bomb. But at the close of the program, it becomes apparent that Heisenberg knew the secrets of nuclear fission all along, but out of moral qualms had chosen to scuttle the project.
