The overriding priority of the United States must be preventing nuclear war and establishing cooperative relations among the nuclear powers. This should mean a strong SALT treaty with the Soviet Union, and full diplomatic relations with the People‘s Republic of China. There must be a concerted effort to control and progressively reduce stockpiled nuclear arms worldwide. Kennedy explores the emerging results of SALT II and discusses the principles of SALT III. SALT ratification will not be easy because of an active lobby against it. He explores the opposition, and the consequences of a failure to ratify SALT II. Kennedy believes that the hopes of civilization rest on the outcome of the SALT negotiations and the debate that will follow.