Please not that I qualified both statements.

"At least legally" It doesn't matter if this is true for this situation, as an employee you only need to have been convinced this is true.

"Most of the population believed" - Again, even if they were mistaken, if they believed it, and let me tell you, a lot of the people STILL believes it, that belief is enough to enure you'll have a good night of sleep after a shift in a Lockheed office or factory.