He was enormously popular. The project shot forward. Motivation was high, people worked all hours, progress was achieved. Seemingly impossible barriers were climbed and of course the bomb came into being. For me, this throws light on a classic theory of project management.
Few projects start with sub-project groups working in isolation and ignorance of the whole.
Los Alamos grew and grew. Hundreds of scientists lived on the sandy plateau with their wives and families, schools and swimming pools. Huge efforts and ingenuity went into making the place acceptable as a home town to its residents and a centre of excellence. Some took fright and left. Politics, in the shape of the US Government, UK interests and The US Navy, was everywhere and not always helpful.