In this address to the Commonwealth Club of California, Allen Drury discusses his label as a conservative author, the three major themes in his books, the human element of the American democratic system, his attitudes towards the Soviet Union and Soviet imperialism, and the threat of nuclear war. Arguing that we should not yield to the Soviets, he advocates for long range civil defense planning, and cautions against letting fear dictate our response to the "Soviet problem." Shirley Temple Black conducts the question and answer session following the address.