Adm. Rickover's legacy includes 200 nuclear submarines as well as 23 nuclear-powered surface ships. The alternative was conventionally powered vessels. The Soviets and Chicoms certainly didn't view our naval force as “obsolete junk.” And of what relevance was the choice of fuel for these ships to the conduct and outcome of the Viet Nam war?
Let’s see
No planes with guns (won’t need them, the next war will be fought with nuclear submarines).
Obsolete close air support aircraft (won’t need them, the next war will be fought with nuclear submarines).
Inadequate means to move cargo and supplies (won’t need them, the next war will be fought with nuclear submarines). See - Martin Seamaster cancelled by who?
If somebody could guarantee the next war fought would be nuclear, his ideas would have been fine. Unfortunately, all the wars fought since then have been non-nuclear and conventional.