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You must have heard about the term 'nuclear football' somewhere or perhaps it was just a random thing you saw online which didn't catch your attention. Little did you know, that what looked or sounded so inconsequential to you is the passcode to the possible destruction of the globe!
The nuclear football isn't shaped like a football, if that's the image you have in mind, rather, it is a black, aluminum, bullet proof briefcase which is said to have a weight of 45 pounds and equipped with powerful SAT communication gears.
The briefcase is officially known as the US 'president's emergency satchel' and must follow him or her wherever he or she goes. The case starts following the president after being administered the oath of office. The rationale behind this is to allow the president to order a nuclear strike anywhere in the world in the event where a preemptive strike at the enemy is required.
The nuclear football has been around since president Eisenhower administration and the idea was borne out of US paranoia of the then, Soviet Union. Both nations have always been wary of each other since the cold war and this has informed why they have always anticipated a surprise attack from each other.
According to a 1991 Newsweek article, the "football" was invented by Capt. Edward "Ned" Beach, Jr., a submarine officer who served as a naval aide to Dwight Eisenhower during his presidency, and every president have always been briefed of their nuclear responsibilities and the "nuclear football" prior to or upon taking office.
"Cheget" or more generally "chemodanchik" is Russia's version of US "football". "Chemodanchik" was created during the early and tense 1980s.
According to businessinsider, the US and Russian leaders have talked about the possibility of eliminating the nuclear briefcases, though nothing has ever come of those discussions.
On May, 10, 1963, the first known official photograph of the 'football' was taken when John Kennedy traveled to Hyannis Port, Massachusetts to meet the Canadian prime minister.
WHY THE 'FOOTBALL' NICKNAME?
The origin of the nickname is uncertain but its first public appearance was in a November 1965 article by Associated press' Bob Horton, who wrote on Kennedy's assasination in 1963 and the transfer of the presidential nuclear command authority.
It has also been reported in various quarters that the nickname was derived from the first nuclear war plan, codenamed 'dropkick', a former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara corroborated this view by explaining that a 'football' was required to execute a 'dropkick', a football term.
COMPONENTS IN THE FOOTBALL.
The case contains a black book, this book explains the nuclear war plans, earlier known as Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP), and contains a collection of already approved preemptive or retaliatory strike options the president could choose from in an emergency.
According to the AP, a simplified summary of the SIOP was added to the case during president Carter's administration. This simplified summary has been somewhat described as cartoonish by a former military aide who carried the 'football'. The options have been described to range from "Rare, Medium, or Well Done". This might or might not have been changed.
The 'football' also contains a second book listing classified site locations. These site locations are presidential shelter locations or places the president can be taken to in time of emergency, in essence, these locations are deep underground houses that can survive nuclear strike.
It equally contains a manila folder with eight to ten pages of description of procedures, to initiate the emergency alert system both for early warning and post-strike communication with the nation.
If the president is convinced about using nuclear weapons, the "football" would be opened, and the president would be presented with strike options. The president may either choose to consult with senior advisors and military leaders before proceeding or just go on with the operation.
A three-by-five inch card printed with authentication codes comes next on the list. This card is commonly referred to as 'biscuit' and it is this card that the president will use to identify himself to a military official in the National Military Command Center at the Pentagon, who would then receive and transmit strike orders once it was clear that the nuclear strike orders were coming from the commander in chief.
However, before the pentagon proceeds with the transmission of the about 150-characters-long strike orders, the joint military chiefs will advise the commander in chief whether to take another course of action if that's a possibility but if the president (sane) insists, the operation goes on.
Within minutes of order from pentagon, nuclear weapons aboard strategic bombers or carried by land-based or submarine-launched missiles would be in the air.
ASSOCIATED BLUNDERS.
Errors began when a very important component of the 'football' became part of the president's dress. Presidents began wearing the 'biscuit' and this led to several instances of costly mistakes.
Carter would forget his 'biscuit' inside a suit that he sent to the dry cleaner, Ronald Reagan's 'biscuit' would be seized by the FBI while he was being treated after an attempt on his life, Clinton's would go missing for months before anyone knew.
Just like the biscuit, the football has been fumbled with a couple of times;
During Gerald Ford's presidency, the football was mistakenly left on Air force one and Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Clinton have all been separated from the aide bearing the case at one point or the other.
During the Trump administration, there were two incidents involving the 'nuclear football'. The first was when he visited Beijing, China's capital and his aides engaged in an altercation with the Chinese security over the case.
Chinese security officials attempted to prevent the military aide carrying the briefcase from entering into the Great hall of the people, the secret service intervened and this led to a series of wrangles outside the hall. Beijing has since apologized for the inconveniences.
The second incident was during the Jan.6 capitol insurrection. Trump wouldn't accept defeat and eventually, was labelled as an 'unstable president and him retaining authority over the nuclear football in this condition was deemed as precarious.
During the violent riots at the Capitol, a nuclear football was following Vice President Mike Pence. The practice of giving a backup "nuclear football" to the vice president started under Eisenhower, who was concerned about his health after he suffered a heart attack. The practice had now become standard practice.
There have been a lot of debates over the President's sole authority to use nuclear weapons as there are agitations to change the policy. But for the time being, wherever the President goes, the nuclear football must follow.
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