Ordinary People Chapter Summaries

Words: 444
Pages: 2

George, in an effort to provide readers with a background, opens the book with a chronological account of the events that occurred from the 22nd of October until the 28th of October in 1962. George progresses in the “Introduction” by providing the reader with brief synopsizes of other works on the Cuban Missile Crisis. She also brings into context the American’s assessment regarding civil defense prior to the Cuban Missile Crisis. She ends with a discussion regarding the spirited temperaments and bouts for absolute control exhibited by the United States President, John F. Kennedy, Cuba’s President, Fidel Castro, and the Soviet Union’s President, Nikita Khrushchev, in a world that can operate with more than one leader. George opens “Chapter 1” by looking at American opinions. She takes a comprehensive …show more content…
George then analyzes the United States’ preparations in the event of a nuclear war. She mentions the shelter, “Mount Weather” that would provide protection for the President, his cabinet, and the Supreme Court Justices along with other governmental employees in the commencement of war. She also looks at what she calls “real world 1962” where she notes how city and state governments planned to attain refuge (pgs.46-52). However, the overall populace was deficient when it came to protections such as shelters. In Chapter 3, George’s thorough investigation of the civil defense finds a disappointment in the United States’ ability to protect its residents. The administration's limited ability to protect the population sent some citizens on survival frenzies, clearing retailers' racks of filtered water, can goods, dry goods, firearms, and transistor radios. Others declined to react, either out of a belief that atomic war would not arise or because they felt any method of planning was futile. She then shifts things slightly in Chapter 4 opting to focus on the media. She investigates the