Sleep Well: Obama And The Nuclear Football
Mar 5, 2009 8 Comments ›› Pat Dollard
What’s that old line about what should happen if a madman should get his finger on the button? Live long enough, you see everything.
Global Security Newswire:
Obama Gets Nuclear “Football”
New U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday, January 20, received the briefcase that would allow him to order a nuclear strike from any location, the New York Post reported.
A military aide carrying the 45-pound metal “football” positioned himself near Obama immediately after he was sworn into office. It will remain in the president’s vicinity on a continuous basis.
Obama that morning had been briefed on the functioning of the device, receiving the personal identification number needed to confirm his identity and details on calling down a nuclear strike.
Inside the case are a handbook with battle plans covering nuclear and conventional conflict, a secure telephone for contact with command facilities at the Pentagon and other sites, and additional emergency-planning material.
US President Bill Clinton left a Nato summit meeting in such haste that he left behind perhaps the most important piece of luggage in the world – the “nuclear football”.
Speeding off in his motorcade after a meeting at the Nato summit hall, the leader of the world’s only superpower left behind the critical briefcase that contains America’s nuclear bomb codes.
Tony have you seen a briefcase around here?
“Rather than wait for everyone to gather he just took off”, said White House spokesman Joe Lockhart.
The case contains the electronic launch codes needed for a US nuclear strike and provides a link with the Pentagon through a telephone.
It is carried by and chained to a military aide and supposed to be near the president whenever he is away from the White House.
When President Clinton’s motorcade left without him the aide who carries the briefcase then had to walk the half-mile back to the White House from the Reagan building where the summit was being held.
“We’re safe,” remarked Mr Lockhart following the safe arrival of the aide, adding: “These things happen.”
Fumbled football
It has been called the most dangerous handbag in the world.
The black attache case which has become known as the “nuclear football” has been passed from president to president since the days of Dwight Eisenhower.
Aides have been quick to dismiss this incident, but other presidents have had similar scares.
Other incidents include:
Jimmy Carter left codes in his suit when it was sent to the dry cleaners
Left on board Air Force One in Paris when Gerald Ford arrived at economic summit
Separated from Ronald Reagan when he was shot in 1981
