[xlzvtrhi] The President nukes a city

The President takes the podium at a major American city.

"At the heart of the American spirit," he or she begins, "is our capacity to build.  We have always looked forward toward a shining future.  Our forefathers built this country out of wilderness with their bare hands, and through the centuries, whatever calamities that have befallen us, we have rebuilt, always stronger, always better than before.  My fellow Americans, I now invite you to continue this journey with a new opportunity to build, to make better, to create the next chapter in American history.  Let there be a new dawn!"

At which point the thermonuclear bomb detonates, vaporizing both the city and the new record holder of greatest mass murderer in human history.

Tell a story of the aftermath and rebuilding.  Of possible interest: we now know a lot more about urban planning than when major cities were founded.

Inspired by the mess of randomly arranged narrow cow paths, since paved to become the streets of Boston.