A Visit to the President
In the winter of 1941, Erico Fermi and a number of other distinguished
scientists importuned President Franklin Roosevelt for authorization 
to begin an all-out effort in atomic energy research. The scientists
were alarmed by incontrovertible evidence of surreptitious German experiments,
and they asked for speedy approval. Italian-born Erico Fermi was the ideal
man to lead the atomic research. Already in 1938, he had won the Norbel
Prize for work with radioactive elements and neutron bombardment. Fermi
had found haven from Fascists(his wife was Jewish) and he knew if German
were the first to develop atomic bomb it would mean that Hitler's could
subjugate the entire world. An international race for atomic supremacy
was on.

to take the bull by the horns--After several days of delay, the minister
decided to take the bull by the horns , and so he sent for the vandals.
(to face a problem directly)