A rare satire by John Steinbeck, originally published in 1953.

President Roosevelt liked the author’s plan, but it shocked the Secretary of the Treasury and infuriated the British Ambassador. We didn’t use it. But it’s as potent a weapon now as it was then. Will we be equally timid again?

Could the weapon be turned on us? Maybe—but not effectively. Our economy is too stable and our people too free.

Everyone who heard about it thought it would work, but felt it was immoral.

“You were attacking something dearer than life to many people,” said Roosevelt ruefully.