Mutual Assured Destruction

• Under President Truman, nuclear weapons were only a last resort.

• President Eisenhower changed the rules.

Massive Retaliation Depended On US Nuclear Superiority . . .

. . . But The Soviets Caught Up

The Doctrine Changes To “Mutual Assured Destruction” (MAD)

If You Launch At Us, We’ll Launch At You.

If Everyone Launches . . .

And So A Balance Is Maintained

But Each Side Fears The Other Will Gain An Advantage . . .

This Leads To An Arms Race

However, We Have Had Peace

There Has Never Been A War Between Nuclear Armed Nations