Something just crossed my mind about the prospects for a nuclear rocket to LEO. Early tests during the Apollo Era showed a loss of the core through the nozzle. It also showed that the thing might survive that and get to orbit anyway. But in doing so, one wonders how much damage there'd be if such a thing happened if the program were to be restarted. Not to mention having the possibility of nuclear debris coming down on a populated area.
It probably won't be good enough to point out that this is a low probability event. The fact that it could happen is probably enough to croak the entire idea.
So, it looks like the taboo against using a nuclear rocket to get to LEO will probably stand. No way any politician nor businessman will take on a risk like that.
Now, using a beamed power source in a thermal rocket that would give a performance similar to the nuclear rocket---that's a possibility.
So, Dewar's contention that we will be stuck in a "Pony Express" type mode without the nuclear rocket getting us to LEO may be a premature judgment. Chemical rockets are limited, but nuclear rockets might be feasible once you get into LEO and beyond. So, substituting beamed power for nuclear power in getting to low Earth orbit looks like a promising and less risky alternative.
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