and
Soviet Union/
Russia nuclear weapon stockpiles''' The background for Project Candor was that
Eisenhower's administration found out of the nuclear weapons capabilities of the Soviet Union. When informed of their massive capabilities, Eisenhower became convinced that the U.S. public had a right to understand the dangers the US confronted in the USSR. This coincided with the January 1953 report of the
State Department Panel of Consultants on Disarmament, which recommended that the U.S. government practice less secrecy and more honesty towards the American people about these realities. Eisenhower liked this recommendation of the report and it led directly to Operation Candor being formed. In addition, Eisenhower needed U.S. public support on the great expenditure going to the government's nuclear arms race against the USSR. These talks would create understanding as to why the U.S. had to spend vast amounts on nuclear armament. Furthermore, by giving enough details regarding the huge arsenal of U.S. atomic weapons, Eisenhower and his administration hoped to deter the government in USSR and to reassure friendly nations of their security. Project Candor was planned to be a series of 6-minute, nationwide radio and TV talks introduced and concluded by the President, entitled "The Age of Peril". During these talks, prominent political figures (for instance Eisenhower himself) and government officials would discuss topics such as: "The nature of
Communism", "The threat to the United States" and "Communism at home". There was disagreement within the administration as to both the message and timing of being "candid".
Secretary of the Treasury George M. Humphrey stated fear regarding this: "telling the American people these grim facts before we[the government] were in a position to state concretely what steps the Government would take in building a defense against [an]
atomic attack." On top of this, an operation called "candid" would supposedly imply that the government had been less candid earlier. Eisenhower's response revealed a somewhat idealistic approach to the project by claiming that a free government requires a well-informed public. promoting the "
Atoms for Peace" campaign in 1955 == Atoms for Peace ==