Why Be Confused?

Despite Paul Hoffman's appraisal (see above) the average U.S. citizen was understandably confused by comments of Washington experts on the state of the cold war and the state of the nation's readiness:

President Truman: The world is more settled now than in 1946.

J.C.S. Chairman Omar Bradley: Even if events are not worse, the accumulation of them makes the situation worse.

Defense Secretary Louis Johnson: War is not on the horizon at the moment.

Chairman W. Stuart Symington of the National Security Resources Board: The nation must be ready for war at any time without warning or formal declaration . . . Already we are being warred against . . .

Army Chief of Staff J. Lawton Collins: I am still of the opinion that we can prevent war.

Navy Secretary Francis Matthews: There is nothing in the current international picture to justify the assumption that we shall not again be called upon to defend ourselves.

Defense Secretary Louis Johnson: We have a national defense team in every sense of the word . . . Americans will find an Army, Navy and Air Force in a healthy state of preparedness.

Air Force Chief of Staff Hoyt S. Vandenberg: The provision of a reasonably adequate air defense system is not possible under our present program . . . The strength of our Air Force at the present time is not sufficient to continue an all-out air war lasting more than a few months . . .

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