Description
During the seven days between Kennedy's announcement of a naval blockade and Khrushchev's decision to withdraw Soviet nuclear missiles from Cuba, U.S. citizens absorbed the nightmare scenario unfolding on their television sets. An estimated ten million Americans fled their homes; millions more prepared shelters at home, clearing the shelves of supermarkets and gun stores. Alice George captures the irrationality of the moment as Americans coped with dread and resignation, humor and pathos, terror and ignorance.
In her examination of the public response to the missile crisis, the author reveals cracks in the veneer of American confidence in the early years of the space age and demonstrates how the fears generated by Cold War culture blinded many Americans to the dangers of nuclear war until it was almost too late.
About the Author
Alice L. George is a historian and former newspaper editor who lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Book Information
ISBN 9781469608839
Author Alice L. George
Format Paperback
Page Count 264
Imprint The University of North Carolina Press
Publisher The University of North Carolina Press