At Issue; Nike-X

Item Information

Title:
At Issue; Nike-X
Description:
A nationwide controversy may result from this country's proposed anti-missile defense system which will be explored when National Educational Television presents "At Issue: Nike-X." Many experts fear that this country is virtually defenseless against an enemy missile attack and estimates causalities of two out of every three Americans. Defense experts are sharply divided on the Nike-X, a defense system estimated at $20 billion, involving long- and short-range anti-missile missile, a sophisticated radar system that could differentiate between enemy missiles armed with real and decoy warheads, and a nationwide fallout shelter program. For its report on the Nike-X system, N.E.T. camera units visited missile installations around the country, the Air Force Academy, the Rand Corporation, the Hudson Institute, the University of California, M.I.T. and Princeton. Included in the program is a never-before-filmed segment of the Air Force Academy cadets "play" strategic war games. In this revolutionary teaching technique, cadets are split into teams to map strategy and "spend" defense appropriations. There is also an animated sequence, specially created for this "At Issue" program, depicting the operation of Nike-X if this country were under attack. At the Rand Corporation, experts discuss "system analysis," the balancing of cost versus lives-saved in the development of a Nike-X defense. Dr. Jerome Wiesner, former Presidential science adviser and at present the dean of science at M.I.T., discusses the possibility of the Nike-X system escalating the arms race, and U.S. Senator Henry Jackson (D- Washington), a member of the Armed Service Committee, talks about chances of Congressional approval for Nike-X appropriations. Others interviewed are Herman Kahn, director of the Hudson Institute; Dr. Herbert York, former director of research and development at the Department of Defense; Lt. Gen. Austin Betts, Chief of Army Research and Development; and Gen. Arthur Trudeau, former Chief of Army Research and Development. There is also exclusive film footage of the underground living facilities at Iron Mountain in New York State. These quarters were recently opened by three New York City-based companies for key executives and their families. This program presents a detailed report on this country's proposed anti-missile defense system which is causing a nationwide controversy. The system's estimated cost is $30 billion and would involve a nationwide fallout shelter program. It would also risk escalation of the arms race. Included in the proposal is sophisticated new radar system that can differentiate between enemy missiles with real warheads and decoys. This episode reports on the present debate and planning involved in this defense decision. Many experts fear that this country is virtually defenseless against an enemy missile attack and estimates causalities of two out of every three Americans. Defense experts are sharply divided on the Nike-X, a defense system estimated at $20 billion, involving long- and short-range anti-missile missile, a sophisticated radar system that could differentiate between enemy missiles armed with real and decoy warheads, and a nationwide fallout shelter program. For its report on the Nike-X system, N.E.T. camera units visited missile installations around the country, the Air Force Academy, the Rand Corporation, the Hudson Institute, the University of California, M.I.T. and Princeton. Included in the program is a never-before-filmed segment of the Air Force Academy cadets "play" strategic war games. In this revolutionary teaching technique, cadets are split into teams to map strategy and "spend" defense appropriations. There is also an animated sequence, specially created for this "At Issue" program, depicting the operation of Nike-X if this country were under attack. At the Rand Corporation, experts discuss "system analysis," the balancing of cost versus lives-saved in the development of a Nike-X defense. Dr. Jerome Wiesner, former Presidential science adviser and at present the dean of science at M.I.T., discusses the possibility of the Nike-X system escalating the arms race, and U.S. Senator Henry Jackson (D- Washington), a member of the Armed Service Committee, talks about chances of Congressional approval for Nike-X appropriations. Others interviewed are Herman Kahn, director of the Hudson Institute; Dr. Herbert York, former director of research and development at the Department of Defense; Lt. Gen. Austin Betts, Chief of Army Research and Development; and Gen. Arthur Trudeau, former Chief of Army Research and Development. There is also exclusive film footage of the underground living facilities at Iron Mountain in New York State. These quarters were recently opened by three New York City-based companies for key executives and their families. Running Time: 58:2 (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche) At Issue consists of 69 half-hour and hour-long episodes produced in 1963-1966 by NET, which were originally shot on videotape in black and white and color.
Production company:
National Educational Television and Radio Center
Producer:
Perlmutter, Alvin H.
Producer:
Stern, Andrew A.
Author:
Stern, Andrew A.
Interviewee:
Jackson, Henry
Interviewee:
Kahn, Herman
Interviewee:
York, Herbert
Narrator:
McCutchen, Dick
Interviewee:
Wiesner, Jerome
Interviewee:
Trudeau, Arthur
Interviewee:
Betts, Austin
Date:
May 1966
Format:
Film/Video
Genre:
Talk Show
News
Location:
Indiana University Libraries Moving Image Archive
Collection (local):
American Archive of Public Broadcasting Collection
Series:
Indiana University Libraries Moving Image Archive > At Issue
Subjects:
News
Extent:
00:59:02
Link to Item:
https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-75-65v6x9jv
Terms of Use:
Rights status not evaluated.
Contact host institution for more information.
Notes:
Episode Number: 66