Texas Tech University

National Town MeetingWhen Should America Use Nuclear Weapons2 of 2

Audio Item Number: 346AU0291
Pages
0
Media Type
Audio
Credit
National Public Radio
Physical Location
D030.5C
Copyright Statement
National Public Radio
Number of Media
1
Language(s)
English
Item is Copyrighted – Check for access via the Vietnam Reading Room portal.
Format
Reel-to-Reel
Time - Hr:Min:Sec
31:11
Digitized in HD?
No
General Note
National Town Meeting 'When Should America Use Nuclear Weapons' 2 of 2 This is a continuation of the 'National Town Hall Meetings' with Zumwalt and Congresswoman Pat Schroder. The panelists fielded several questions concerning nuclear first strikes, civilian casualties, and arms control. Schroder claimed that she didn't think that the US should bear the responsibility of saving everyone else's nations for them. She stated that the US has aided countries with low morale that did not give significant assistance to help themselves. She also argued that these countries should help the US in paying for their defense. Zumwalt argued for further military buildup by citing the disparity between Soviet and US militaries as well as the effects of disinformation by the current administration on American complacency. Zumwalt also claimed that the US 'will never cheat' in matters of arms control while the Soviets constantly cheat in these matters.
Cuban Missile Crisis - Jordan Crisis - Yom Kippur War - morale - AWACS - civil defense - cruise missiles - counter-force - Pershing missiles - NATO - Sino-U.S. relations - nuclear targeting list - ballistic missile submarines - SLBM - anti-ballistic missile defense
See Also

Perma Link
https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/virtualarchive/items.php?item=346AU0291

Citation
National Town MeetingWhen Should America Use Nuclear Weapons2 of 2, 346AU0291. No Date, Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. Collection, Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University, https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/virtualarchive/items.php?item=346AU0291, Accessed 07 Aug 2026.

Pub Credit Line
346AU0291, Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. Collection, Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University

Added: 01 Feb 2002 [Updated: 20 Jan 2026]