Exploded Myth

"When the skies are clear," observed President Kennedy at his last press conference, "no one is interested." He was referring to the general lack of interest in his $450 million fallout shelter program, currently stagnating in both the Senate and House Armed Services Committees without the benefit of a single hearing. Proposed nearly six months ago when skies were clouded by the Berlin crisis, the shelter program has met with increasing indifference, based primarily on the popular belief that the American people themselves have become indifferent.

The fact is, as a recent Roper survey sponsored by Michigan State University shows, that an overwhelming majority of the people are still very much concerned with the fallout protection program. The survey showed that 68% of the people polled backed a program for including shelters in the design of large new buildings, 77% were for converting suitable rooms and basements in schools and hospitals into shelters, and 86% favored the Government's marking, stocking and equipping existing shelter areas in large buildings, subways, corridors. Will the U.S. be attacked in the next 20 years? Fifty-two per cent thought no, 26% said yes, 22% crossed their fingers.

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