This story has connections to two real life events. Redding's father is modelled after Julius Rosenberg, who, along with his wife Ethel, was convicted and executed for delivering atomic secrets to the U.S.S.R (it is not stated who Redding is working for, but it's not Russia). The other instance involves the casting of John Randolph as Alex Morley. Randolph had been one of the many actors blacklisted for refusing to "name names" during the HUAC investigations and one of the last actors to be removed from the blacklist; in this episode, he plays a Communist agent plotting to bomb New York City.
First appearance of color bodybuilding photo of Peter Lupus.
The "end-of-the world" ploy proved to be intriguing to writers, as it was recycled often in later seasons with minor variations.