On March 12, 1986, Jeffrey T. Kiehl interviewed Walter M. Elsasser for the American Meteorological Society's Tape Recorded Interview Project. Elsasser reflects on his extensive career spanning physics and atmospheric sciences, detailing his early education in Germany, where he obtained a PhD in 1927, and his transition to the United States. He discusses his initial work in high-energy particle physics and subsequent shift to geophysics, a field he pursued after being advised by renowned figures like A.H. Compton and Robert Millikan, who emphasized opportunities in atmospheric research. Elsasser recounts his significant contributions, including his pioneering work on atmospheric radiation and the development of the regular band model for infrared radiation, which he initiated based on his background in quantum mechanics. He shares anecdotes about influential colleagues, such as John Strong and J. Robert Oppenheimer, and describes the challenging academic environment at Caltech, where tensions between Millikan and von Karman affected his career path. The interview highlights Elsasser’s experiences during World War II, his brief tenure at Blue Hill Observatory, and his eventual shift to electronics research. He discusses the limitations of his atmospheric radiation work concerning the greenhouse effect and reflects on the broader implications of his scientific endeavors. Elsasser also touches upon his encounters with Albert Einstein and differences between German and American educational systems. The conversation concludes with Elsasser’s philosophical interests in epistemology and reflections on his career's impact on meteorology and geophysics.