To many, civil defense stands as a symbol of the futility of society’s attempt to escape the consequences of its own creations. Unlike other areas of national security policy, civil defense has never attracted widespread support and has encountered constant difficulties in securing political and financial backing. In addition, rapidly evolving military technology has consistently eroded the substance of the program and its credibility in the eyes of the public. This book traces the continuing endeavor in the United States to develop a means of protecting the American people from the effects...