Congress: Revival of Survival

Nothing had seemed deader than the federal fallout-shelter program, contaminated by skepticism, cynicism and apathy. A House Armed Services subcommittee had refused even to hold hearings on the matter since 1955. When members finally did agree last May to listen to some testimony about a proposed $190.6 million shelter program, they were bored and antagonistic.

"They would rather think of other things," said Assistant Secretary of Defense for Civil Defense Steuart L. Pittman at the time. But eight weeks of hearings and 108 witnesses changed all that. Again and again, Defense Department...

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