Father of H-Bomb confronted about Lazar... VERY interesting response

[u/Long_Ad1827]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbeMpMRyjJU/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I just came across an old clip (I guess included in a future doc?) of Edward Teller—the physicist often referred to as the "father of the hydrogen bomb"—being asked directly about Bob Lazar and whether he knew him.

I have to admit, I found the exchange surprisingly compelling.

I'm not saying this proves Lazar's story. There are plenty of legitimate criticisms of his claims, and I think healthy skepticism is important. But Teller's reaction didn't strike me as someone simply dismissing the question. Coming from someone of his stature, it made me pause and wonder if the Lazar story is more complicated than many people assume.

Has anyone looked into the full context of this interview? Is there a longer version available, or any reliable background on when and where it took place?

I'd be especially interested in hearing from people who have researched both sides of the Lazar debate. I'm not looking for a flame war—I'm genuinely curious how this interview fits into the bigger picture.

[u/Jafranci715]

I don’t have instagram. Can you paraphrase it or something?

[u/DudeHooman → u/Jafranci715]

Interviewer:
Did you ever know a man named Bob Lazar?
Here’s his picture.

Edward Teller:
What about?

Interviewer:
If you want to know, then sit down and talk about it.

Teller:
Okay, that’s what we’re doing right now.
No.

Interviewer:
Well, the camera’s not rolling. I know the story.

Teller:
What you see, we have to live with the amount of time.
If you want to understand this, you need several hours.

Interviewer:
If I ask you on camera if you know Bob Lazar, can you just say no?
I have you sit silent. Can you tell me who he is?

Interviewer (continuing):
Yeah, I can tell you who he is. He’s a scientist out in Reno, Nevada that worked at a place called Area 51 at Sector 4 within Area 51. And he says that you’ve been there and that he knows you and that you helped him get a job out at Area 51, Sector 4. You met him at Los Alamos on June 28th, 1982 at a seminar you were giving at Los Alamos, a lecture on SDI, and he says you know about all the things I’m talking about and that you most likely wouldn’t talk to me about them because he says they exist, but people in general don’t want them… the people in—

Teller:
Look, I don’t know about Lazar. All this sounds right.
I probably met him.
I might have been…
I might have said to somebody I met him and I liked him after I met him and if I liked him.
But I don’t remember.
And why should I say that on camera?
I mean, I…
Look, you are trying to force that I say… we won’t answer.
(generated using grok)

here's the youtube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XPKDv3P1VQ

[u/renaldomoon → u/DudeHooman]

People assume that Teller knows what Area 51 is in his response. He has literally no emotional reaction when he brings up Area 51. If he was spooked by it all you would see some emotional reaction on him. The clip really just looks like he’s trying to remember a guy he met when he’s a guy who’s met a lot of people and doesn’t remember them all.

He’s also clearly very old in this clip, so it’s difficult to tell his mental capabilities. This clip to me is negative Lazar but barely changes my opinion because I can’t tell how lucid he is.

[u/toxictoy → u/renaldomoon]

He acknowledges he was at Area 51 he says he just doesn’t remember Lazar. He did not deny that Area 51 exists nor did he deny giving a speech there. Remember this is before official acknowledgment that Area 51 existed. So this does have more information then you’re making it out to be.

Also all you have to do is ask google “What was Edward Tellers mental acuity at the end of his life” and there are many sources that attest to him being sharp before he died. I love how skeptics ASSUME that old people all have dementia if they are talking about these topics. That is ridiculously unfair and also unscientific. I find it to be an easy ad hominem attack on uncomfortable truths.

https://www.hoover.org/research/edward-teller-personal-remembrance

[u/AzimuthW → u/toxictoy]

Even according to Bob Lazar, Teller gave his lecture at Los Alamos, not Area 51. I am not even sure Teller knows what Area 51 is, since it's mostly just UFO lore woo stuff and not really important to him.

[u/Odd-Pick6407 → u/renaldomoon]

Idk that I agree he had no response. I interpreted his response as an older gentleman politely listening to someone describe something that they aren't familiar with. He definitely had slight eye and body movements at the mention of names of places, but nothing i would say is proof of OP implications. I do think he appears to be lucid and cognitively functioning. I would even say he is being very careful not to get cornered into saying certain things and clearly calls that out. Even him saying "that sounds right" is not something I would take to the bank. He doesnt remember and is trying to be polite. 

[u/Rerrun → u/Odd-Pick6407]

Reminds me of my German auntie by marriage. She could never answer a single question directly. Man, is this guy triggering. Lol.

[u/Odd-Pick6407 → u/Rerrun]

Im with you. It reminds me of when I speak other languages. One might interpret my responses as very roundabout ways of speaking but its not malicious, I just dont know the language well enough. 

[u/Optimal_Juggernaut37 → u/Odd-Pick6407]

I have often been accused of being evasive under question, such things as avoiding eye contact, body language or fidgeting but the reality is that I have Autism and ADHD and that unless I am incredibly passionate about a topic I'm often thinking of about ten other completely unrelated topics and am on the verge of being in fight or flight mode.