The US Plan to Survive a Soviet Nuke Was Absolutely Bonkers

Even young teens in 60s more than a year before the Cuban Missile Crisis were well aware of the weaknesses given the damage that could be done compared to the plan put forth to survive. It was very clear that not everyone was going to fit into a fall-out shelter, and we knew there certainly was not enough food or protection for an entire city even though we didn't ever discuss it. So when it was time for the periodic air raid drills and we had to get on our hands and knees and curl up under our desks, it seemed absurd. The frequency of desk dives increased with the Crisis. We knew it was either instant death if direct, slow painful death if more distant, or that it was Cold War one-ups-man-ship. Then, we really believed the world leaders would not be foolish enough to "push the button" . . .
Didn't do the desk dives in high school, probably because we were all to large by then to fit under the desks!

Seemed like a good idea at the time.