It’s called the “Nuclear Football” and it is America’s most closely guarded secret!
It weighs about 48 pounds give or take a few pounds. It contains the launch codes for nuclear weapons. It is carried where ever the President goes…
The Football contains the following items:
THE BLACK BOOK
1) The “Black Book” – about 9 X 12 inches and has about 75 loose leaf pages, containing what are called “retaliatory options”. It is printed in Black and Red lettering.
THE VITAL PAGE
2) The “Vital Page” – listing possible responses to a nuclear attack, retaliatory options, appear in red and are labeled: Rare, Medium and Well Done.
THE MANILA FILE FOLDER
3)The “Manila File Folder” – containing about a dozen or more pages stapled together which are description of procedures for the Emergency Broadcast System.
THE OTHER BLACK BOOK
5) The “Other Black Book” – listing the locations of super secret sites across the United States where the President can go in an emergency situation at little or no notice to conduct government operations in absolute secrecy and protection.
THE 3×5 INDEX CARD/S
6) The “3 x 5 inch index card/s” – that contain a listing of authentication codes, used after the order to fire weapons…
THE SUPER SECRET COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
7) A super secret communications system using ultra low radio frequencies. This device uses a small antenna seen in various pictures of the Football , protruding out by the handle. It’s exact design is above top secret.
The Football is a “mobile hub” in the strategic defense system of the United States.
It is for use by the President of the United States to authorize a nuclear attack, in those situation where he is away from tactical command location site like the White House situation room and Air Force One.
WHEN DOES THE PRESIDENT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FOOTBALL?
Moments after the new President is sworn in and takes the oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution he is given access to the Football. From then on it will no more than 100 feet from the President at all times, when traveling. As such it is always guarded by a military officer of one the four branches of service.
A CLEARANCE HIGHER THAN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
This duty officer has one of the highest security clearances in government. His mission is to protect the Football and make it available to the President upon command. He will periodically meet with the President to switch out top secret launch codes given out as cards.
SECRET LAUNCH CODE CARDS MUST BE CARRIED BY THE PRESIDENT AT ALL TIMES!
These cards the President usually keeps in the breast of his inside jacket pocket. Most Presidents are very responsible with these secret code. Besides Bill Clinton who lost the codes once and Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter who sent them out to be laundered along with his suit, there has never been a time when these codes were ever compromised.
THE POWER TO DESTROY
The Football is one of the main reasons why the President is so heavily guarded where ever he goes outside the White House by the way.
THE FOOTBALL IS USUALLY HANDCUFFED TO THE WRIST OF THE OFFICER IN CHARGE!
The Football can be seen “handcuffed” sometimes to the wrist of the officer in charge of the Football itself.
YOU WILL PROTECT AND DEFEND THE FOOTBALL WITH YOUR LIFE!
The military officer in charge of the Football is expected to defend that object with his life if necessary to prevent it from falling into enemy hands.
LIKE PANDORA’S BOX ITSELF THE BRIEFCASE MUST NEVER BE OPENED!
The Nuclear Football has been called by many names, including the Black Bag, the Atomic football. Unofficially it is known as “Pandora’s box” named after a ancient Greek artifact that contained “all the evil of the world”.
UNLEASHING TOTAL DESTRUCTION ON TH EARTH!
Today opening Pandora’s box means unleashing evil that cannot that can never be undone.
THREE FOOTBALLS – NOT JUST ONE!
In the United States there are actually “Two Footballs” . One that travels everywhere the President goes. One remains at the White House called the “Spare Tire”. And one that stays with the Vice President for use in those circumstances when the President dies, is assassinated or killed somehow. This is designed in such a way so that at no time is the ability to respond to an nuclear attack ever compromised.
In this respect it is the embodiment of the ultimate doomsday device.
PROCEDURES:
If the President decides to order the use of nuclear weapons, he would be taken aside by the carrier and the briefcase opened. This is step one.
Step two, the command signal or “watch alert” would be issued to the Joints chiefs of staff.
Step Three, the President would review attack options and with the aide decide upon the plan that could range anywhere from a single cruise missile launch to a full scale retaliatory strike against any nation or nations on earth.
Step four, the aide would presumably make contact with whatever secret communication technology the briefcase contains, and make contact with the National Military Command Center. Or in the case of a retaliatory strike, multiple airborne command centers on board aircraft or on board nuclear submarines prowling the world oceans…
Step five, Before the launch order is given the President must be positively identified using a special code or plastic card nicknamed:”The biscuit”.
Note: The U.S. has the two man rule in place. Meaning that only the President can launch nukes, if confirmed by the Secretary of Defense, who is also in possession of secret codes.
Step six, once all the codes have been verified the military aide of the Nuclear Football is duty bound to re-verify the orders given and execute that order, when the command is given. Under penalty of death if he should disobey.
The Football has also a rumoured “special self destruct mechanism” that has been installed in the event it would appear certain the Football might fall into enemy hands. It is designed in such a way as to neutralize the Football and render it ineffective and useless to the enemy in the event of the capture or killing of the President.
Robert Tilford