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one of the hated and engaging controversies which is now going on in Capitol Hill is this question of the danger of radioactive fallout. So at this time, I'm delighted to have is my guest to discuss that particular problem, and others are very able and astute. United States senator from the state of Washington.

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My good friend Henry Jackson Henry. May I start off by asking you, What is this problem all about? How much danger is there to us, George? There is danger. There's no doubt about it. But it's the degree of danger. We have had a radioactive situation in the world since the beginning of time.

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It's not new. When we test atomic weapons, we add to the amount of radioactive material that people will absorb. This presents a problem as to how much we can absorb. The truth is that the experts, so called in all fields, are not in agreement. One expert will claim one thing and one something else.

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I think an impartial evaluation of it is that they don't know we do not have enough evidence. The natural situation that we find is that you take the city like Denver. That's a Mile five. They have more radiation there, and they do at sea level. In other words, can we say in Florida we have less probably than they do out there?

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Unfortunately, unfortunately, being at sea level, there's no doubt about that. And, for example, there's a distinction between a frame house and a brick house. A brick house may cast off more radiation, whereas a frame house is better in that regard. Now all of this is a matter of degree, and it's been going on for millions of years prior to atomic weapons.

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Then, in your view, you don't see any immediate danger to any of us here in the United States. By reason of these tests, which were running so far, I would say there's no real name. You do add to the danger, and you'll have genetic mutations. Deformed people will be born as they have been for millions of years, but this presents a problem as to how much we can continue to absorb over a period of time.

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Certainly we should work for a control of atomic testing. However, I think the American people should not get panicky and get alarmed. We should remember that It is a choice between stopping atomic testing and permitting the Russians to get ahead of us. And we will. We should not do that.

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Of course, this is important to the national security. I'm hopeful that we may be able to get a not just a foolproof system of disarmament, George, but a rascal proof system. I don't I think when you're dealing with rascals, you better make sure that it's a rascal proof system.

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Henry, let me ask you this question. Were greatly interested in our state about the peaceful use of atomic energy, and we have many groups that are today seeking reactors. What are their prospects? Well, George, we can get atomic power. But at the present time, the state of the art is such that we are not able to get cheap, economical atomic power, people ask.

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Well, they say a pound of uranium costs only $20. The energy equivalent in coal costs $10,000. Therefore, why don't we have cheap power? Well, Chief atomic power. The reason is simple. We can give this analogy. The gasoline or the fuel is cheap, but the car is expensive.

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Point is that it costs a lot of money to build an atomic reactor because of several factors. One is that you have to have special materials that will shield a radioactive material and at the same time not absorbs too many neutrons which slow down the atomic power process.

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Secondly, you have to be able to control this atom just like you control the water out of a dam. To get the maximum amount of power and third, you have to be able to avoid the problem of high temperatures. And last, I'd say, is the control of the waste material just like the exhaust out of the car.

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Thank you very much, Senator Jackson, for this information, Ladies and gentlemen, looking again at the same time next week.