Describing such activity as "both sinister and a challenge for the future," Ellsberg details the secretive presidential use of the nuclear threat against opponents after 1950. He believes it is essential for the public to inform Congress and the administration that no United States president should threaten, prepare or initiate tactical thermal nuclear war under any circumstances.

Poor sound quality, such as heard at 30:15, 34:10, and 39:33 is how the audio is on the source tape. This was not introduced during the digitization process.