In this thread, DCU made some reference to the President (Reagan) “pushing the button.”
We all know what that means, but is it possible?
Can the button simply be pushed?, methinks not. What order of events would have to occur in order for a nuclear device/s to be launched?
I don’t know the answer to your question, but Peter George used the term as far back as 1958 in his novel “Two Hours to Doom”/“Red Alert,” upon which "Dr. Strangelove was based. I thought the reference was just a metaphor, but maybe it was believed that the President/General Secretary did just have a button that they could push.
I highly doubt the president himself pushes anything. In every movie ever made on the topic it required two people with special keys and codes to perform a launch which would be initiated by a presidental decision.
Ever notice the military guy and briefcase that travels everywhere with the president? It’s called the Football.
Is it possible that no-one knows the actual routine (outside of Wahington that is)? And that maybe every movie portrayal has been built off of the first movie to show it, whichever movie that may be.
IOW - We have and know Hollywoods version. What is the reality?
Surely the Russians figured that it was not in one mans hands, so to speak.
Thanks DeVena. Although, the second link is littered with spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. (much like my posts)
Hard to tell if that site is authentic. It states twice that the President is the only one who can initiate the strike, then ends by saying that the millitary can cirumvent the line of succession if it wants to. I find that hard to believe.
I don`t know…
A more reliable source on launch process:
Ravenman I looked briefly at the site and didn`t see any launch protocal or launch sequence.
Still looking for chain of command and procedure/s for launching nuclear strikes.
Two complementary questions:
How has it become known as ‘the football’?
Why is it’s official name unknown? Maybe my reasoning os overly simplistic here, but who would care if the world knew its official name? Seems to me that information far more sensitive has been made public, so why not this detail?
My husband was a missile officer. (DON’T get him started talking about Minot, ND!) OK This is from Hubby, who promises me that it’s all OK to spell it out here.
Football? Actual name is something long and military, like Contained Nuclear Authentification Communications Unit.
Launch Procedure:
Chain of command: The only authorized releaser of American nuclear weapons is the National Command Authority. The NCA consists of the US President or Secretary of Defense. Now the NCA is the only authorized releaser BUT release authority can be granted to subcommanders, like the war theater commander, in special circumstances.
In a normal environment, the NCA is advised of the need to use nuclear weapon, NCA then “releases” the football (opens the self contained satellite communication). NCA tells National Military Command Center (Pentagon) to nuke DisneyWorld (for lack of a better place). The NMCC, or alternates in case the Pentagon is not there anymore, formats a launch message to nuclear units. This Launch Message MUST be authenticated by the 2 officers in each unit (or capsule). No match - Nothing happens.
There is no button. There are 2 key switches that must turned simultaneously. This is 1 launch vote. 2 votes required to actually launch. In his case, 5 missile capsules in squad, each has 1 vote. Launch message goes out to the squad, 1 capsule prepares for launch, other capsules confirm the message. No confirmation - there can’t be a launch. And Micky lives another day.
For better visualization, see the beginning of the movie Wargames .
I wouldn’t be surprised if as part of the agreement arranged between Disney and Folorida during Walk Disney World’s construction, the government gave Disney permission to have some type of anti-nuke defense or retaliatory system 
(Hell, they can build a nuclear power plant - it was part of the agreement.)