Sure if every nuke in both arsenals were lit off that would definitely destroy most if not all life on the planet but in the 1950's and early 60's there was no real guarantee that this would happen.
The possibility existed and perhaps still does that good air and sea defenses might keep all but a small fraction of nukes from reaching their targets, especially the bombers.
In that scenario a small family bunker out in the burbs might not be an unreasonable insurance policy, at least in the thinking of the times.
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Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.
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