Nuclear Briefcase Research Paper

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| The Nuclear Briefcase Javier Vila Central Texas College | Te Nuclear Briefcase The nuclear briefcase is a 45lb briefcase that is carried by a military aid. It is officially known as “the president emergency satchel.” Four things are carried in the Football, a Black Book containing the retaliatory options, a book listing classified site locations and a manila folder. In the manila folder are eight or ten pages stapled together they give the description of procedures for the Emergency Broadcast System. There is also a three-by-five card containing the authentication codes to order the attack. The Black Book has 75 loose-leaf pages printed in black and red. There is a book with classified site locations about the same size as…show more content…
Some presidents like Carter and Reagan are believed to have carried the three by five cards with the launching codes in their breast pockets. After President Reagan was taken to the emergency room after being shot, one of the emergency medical technicians cut his suit coat and placed the card inside of Reagan’s shoes. Completely oblivious of what he had just placed in the president’s shoes, the technician continued with his duties. The secret service came in the room and saw what was inside the president’s shoes and immediately proceeded to retract what he knew to be the most important three by five card in the world. Hence, the urban legend, that President Reagan carried the nuclear codes in his shoes. There are also rumors that another president sent his suit to the cleaners with the card in one of the breast pockets. The “order” or “launch” of a nuclear attack starts with the President of the United States. The constitution gives this power to the president, but in reality the president can delegate authorization in order to reach nuclear submarines so they can launch ballistic missiles. For this to happened, the President has to identify himself with a special “golden code,” a laminated credit card like “confirmation plate”. The plate has an alphanumeric code on it, which serves as the order for those who must turn the launch key in mines and on
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