The scene where Gen. Turgidson randomly trips, falls, and springs back to his feet was a total accident that Kubrick decided to keep in the movie. (Source)

James Earl Jones and others on set originally thought that Slim Pickens arrived in costume, but later learned that Pickens always dressed and talked like a cowboy. (Source)

General Ripper's paranoid theories on the fluoridation of water were inspired by the real life conspiracy theories of the John Birch Society, an extreme right-wing group that was influential at the time in ultraconservative circles. There are plenty of people who don't think fluoridation is a great idea, but they don't think the Russians are behind it. (Source)

Sterling Hayden, who plays the Communist-hating Gen. Ripper, was actually once a member of the American Communist Party. He ended up "naming names" at his hearing with the House Un-American activities committee, but he never forgave himself for doing it. (Source)

Strangelove's release was delayed because of the Kennedy assassination. The line of dialogue where Kong says that a guy could have a wild weekend in Vegas with the survival kit originally read "Dallas" but for obvious reasons, this was changed. Too soon. (Source)