ACTON FI.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON
COPY N
January 29,
1957
MEMORANDUM FOR THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Tne Hvman Effects of Nuclear \leapons D pvelopnent
REFERENCES:
A.
B.
NSC Action Nes. 1430-p,
Dp 1443, and [502
NIE 100-5-55, "Implications of Gro Wing
Nuclear Capabilities for the Comm hnist
Bloc and the Free World"
on the suvject was pr ppared vy a
ir, Val Peterson pur Buant to
the reference NSC Actions,
At the request of the P resident,
the Planning; Board has studied this report and subi ts herewith
the followin; comments and recomnendations for cons aeration
1,
The enclosed report
special panel and submitted by
by the National Security Council at its meeting on Thursday,
February 7, 1957.
2,
in accordance with its terms of reference,
the Panel
prepared estimates of tne pre-attack effects on hum An
attitudes and behavior of =vreater public awareness of the conSequences of an attack, and tne post-attack effects of nuclear
warfare upon orsanized society,
The central conclu Bion of the
Panel's estimate is:
"A massive nuclear attack on the United
States resultin; in casualties of the order of 50,000,000
without drastically improved preparation of the peo ple, would
jeopardize support of the National Governinent and o rf the war
ip. o)" and might well result in National disintesr Ation,"
p. 9
3.
The Planning Board found the Panel's estin Ates to be
useful appraisals of factors of importance to natio nal security.
In addition to presenting its estimate, the Panel w pnt beyona
its terms of reference to propose "a nationwide pro sramn of
continuing discussions in small croups, desicneda to achieve
naximum citizen participation and involvement in th P crucial
issues raised by the development of nuclear weapons ."
(p, 12)
While the Panel indicates that it is offering a pro posal for a
"program of psychological defense" rather than a ce tailed
prosram, it does sujsest the followins as important
characteristics of any such program if and when cev Rlopecs
DECLASSIFIED
E.0. 12356, SEC. 3.4 (b)
ENERGY
VISION OF CLASSIFICATION, U.S.
ISTRATION, mS
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ADMIN
CONTAINS N
DETERMINED THAT THIS DOCUMENT
RESTRICTED DATA.
ERLY
FORM
OR
DATA
ICTED
RESTR
SSIFICATION,
ERDA HAS NO OBJECTION TO ITS DECLA
les+«i TOREGED
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