Rarely mentioned context whenever this declassification make the rounds: this was pre MAD. Before reliable ICBMs or triad. In 50s, Only US had large bomber base

Rarely mentioned context whenever this declassification make the rounds: this was pre MAD. Before reliable ICBMs or triad. In 50s, Only US had large bomber based atomic stockpile. Hence planners could go wild and seriously concievable nuke all communist assets and expect minimal retaliatory losses, including non nuclear states at the time like PRC for shits and giggles.