Testing the A-Bomb

Forty-three years ago today, China became the fifth nuclear power with the success of its first atom bomb test. We'll look back at the heyday of American nuclear testing in Nevada, and how those tests affected the people involved. We'll hear from scientists, test officials and residents who lived downwind from the explosions.

Tonight's show is part one of the documentary, Dirty Harry: When the American Dream Became a Nightmare, produced by the National Radio Project and part of the Making Contact radio series.

Click here to listen to Part Two of the documentary. You can also listen to Part Two at the Public Radio Exchange.