In Dr. Strangelove a conversation happens between Russian Ambassador de Sadesky and U.S. President Muffley regarding the soviet doomsday machine:
Ambassador de Sadesky: The deciding factor was when we learned that your country was working along similar lines, and we were afraid of a doomsday gap.
President Muffley: This is preposterous! I never approved of anything like that!
Ambassador de Sadesky: Our source was The New York Times.
What's the meaning behind the ambassador's response here? Is he just implying that the Russians didn't even need to spy to know about the U.S. doomsday plans and that it was basic public knowledge or is there something more to understand here?