1964 political advertisement for Lyndon B. Johnson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbIfVEboAzg 1964 political advertisement for Lyndon B. Johnson

EQ: How should the U.S. government and the American people respond to the threat of nuclear weapons?

Differences in Cold War policy Truman (1945-1953) Sec. State Dean Acheson Containment Truman Doctrine Eisenhower (1953-1961) Sec. State John F. Dulles “new look” Massive retaliation “brinkmanship”

U.S. response to discovery of Soviet nuclear weapons GOVT DEFENSE PLANNING GOVT SUSPICION / TENSION ARMS/SPACE RACE PREPARATION FOR NUCLEAR WAR OPPOSITION TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS

GOVT DEFENSE PLANNING Federal Civil Defense Administration (1950) Educate people how to survive atomic blast

ARMS RACE /SPACE RACE Build-up of nuclear weapons Sputnik – Oct. 4, 1957 First artificial satellite 1958 National Defense and Education Act 1958 NASA program

GOVERNMENT SUSPICION/TENSION “Spirit of Geneva” (1958) Eisenhower and Nikolai Bulganin “open skies” rejected U-2 Spy Incident (1960) Col. Francis Gary Powers’ spy plane shot down over USSR

OPPOSITION TO USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (SANE)

PREPARATION FOR NUCLEAR WAR Fallout shelters

Surviving in a fallout shelter Work collaboratively in groups to determine the most important items needed to survive a nuclear attack

Answers (according to Dept. of Defense) 1. Containers of water  - at least 1 quart of liquid per day per person 2. Canned & dried foods - should have enough food to feed everyone for 2 weeks 3. The garbage cans - the next most important concern is sanitation (toilet/garbage) 4. First aid kit - iodine can also be used to sterilize water 5. Battery-powered radio - useful for obtaining info about what is happening outside and when it is safe to leave 6. Soap and towels - sanitation 7. Liquid chlorine bleach - can control germs/odor, can also sterilize water that might contain bacteria 8. Matches and candles - source of lighting 9. Blankets - heat/comfort 10. Flashlight and batteries - lighting 11. Cooking and eating utensils - useful in preparing and serving food, not essential 12. Broom -useful for brushing off radioactive material off anyone who needs to leave shelter for emergency purposes 13. Canned heat stove - helpful for heat but only if there is adequate ventilation for the fumes 14. Geiger counter - unnecessary because info about radiation levels could be obtained from radio 15. Vaporizing fire extinguisher - could be useful for fighting fires outside but could not be used within shelter because of danger from the fumes

DISCUSSION Qs: How well did your group collaborate in making decisions for your survival? How did this activity highlight the concerns of Americans living in the 1950s?

DISCUSSION Qs: How would you compare current U.S. fear of nuclear war to the 1950s? (Do you ever think about it?) How should the U.S. government respond to the threat of nuclear weapons today? How should the American people respond to the threat of nuclear weapons today?

Eisenhower’s Farewell Address (1961) “A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be might, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction. . . This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. . . Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. . . . In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”