In attempts to compromise with citizens, “The Army went far beyond promoting media coverage in its efforts to convince the American public that the Nike air defense missile system was a protector, not a hazard. The Army released two of its own public information films on the Nike system, the first in 1954 and another in 1956, both of which attracted an estimated thirty million viewers each” (Source: Smoley).
|
|
"The army’s willingness to institute these development-delaying changes [to the Nike Sites] indicated the strong commitment of Army leaders to earn public support for these defenses, whose construction took priority over all other Army construction projects besides critical ammunition manufacturing plants” - John Smoley, Military Writer
Primary documents from the Westport Historical Society
|
The army was also receptive to the civilian’s wishes and concerns, some being of falling boosters and potential casualties. Many sites were then moved away from launch areas and missiles positions were changed to address this. Residents wanted inexpensive sites, so missiles were stored underground, public land was used and site buildings were not prefabricated to minimize costs. Since the civilians wanted the site land, the army returned it to the town after the sites were no longer in use.
|