[dragonwriter]

> Wouldn't a low yield nuclear weapon detonated at a relatively low altitude generate a localized EMP?

Probably, though Soviet strategic bomber formations probably wouldn't be operating at particularly low altitude and, IIRC, the idea was to intercept before they were over target (but not far enough away that it wouldn't be problematic!) anyway, and, finally, localized EMP and flash from a kiloton-range airburst is better for people on the ground than the effects of a megaton-range ground burst.

If the Nike missiles around SF had ever been fired in anger, it would have been an effort to turn what would otherwise be total disaster into merely major disaster.

[bigiain]

One of the interesting things about the Marin Headland Nike station tour is the tidbit of information that they had targeting codes for Sacramento. So if the Ruskies invaded and occupied the state capital there was an "option"...

(May well have been a bored volunteer making things up, but I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand...)