pt. 1. 1945-1962. Introduction: neutrons, news, news zero. The New York times as propaganda organ : what made it the ideal outlet. Conflicts of interest behind and beyond the "atomic curtain" : the bomb as a Second Coming of Christ yarn. News Zero from the first ground zeroes. From orality to infernos : "These were the forgotten people." Building a superpower by standing on the shoulders of native peoples. The Times defines its duty : "We must accept our destiny as the defender of the free world. The lost millennia : from here to near-eternity. "Standing at the gates of hell looking into eternity." Americans "are smart at doing stupid things"; H-bomb's biggest fallout in U.S. history (but not in the Times) -- pt. 2. 1980-2004. "The only victims of U.S. nuclear arms since World War II have been our own people." Conclusion: News Zero and the next rough drafts of history.