1951 street scenes of Times Square in New York City

The transcript discusses the awareness of New Yorkers about their city being a prime target in the event of an atomic war. It highlights the lessons learned by the world from past conflicts, emphasizing the global understanding of the potential for such events to occur.

What did people know too well regarding the possibility of an atomic war?

What is the significance of the phrase 'could happen' in the context of the text?