If Needed, Who gets to Push the Nuclear Button

me ^ | 1/26/04 | eastforker

[eastforker]

I asked this question on an earlier thread. I was Freepmailed and told it was classified by a naval officer. In light of some of the presidential candidates before us, I would like to know, who decides to push the N button if needed. In contrast, if the N button needs to be pushed and the president refuses, who or what over rules.

[cripplecreek]

as i understand it, during the clinton administration who ever happened to find the nuke launch codes was the man with the power.

[eastforker]

I'll check out the links later, think about the question, then think about who you will vote for.

[greydog]

Try a "Authenticated Fire Command" search.

[Consort]

The dems certainly don't have the testicular fortitude to push the button.

I think the Dems were the only ones to do it, so far, but I could be wrong.

[July 4th]

Yes. You can't have a system where the commander-in-chief has 100% authority. The enemy just has to lop off the head, and the war is won. So in extreme cases, others have the delegated authority to launch.

Here's some info on GWEN, which appears to have been replaced by SCAMP: http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/c3i/gwen.htm

[eastforker]

Realy, so if the President said go, the man in the silo could refuse, even though his partner is armed and may have a differant outlook?

[MineralMan]

"Are you sure of that."

Yup. Unless there is no President, authorization must come from the President to launch a nuclear attack. There may be contingency plans out there in the event that the President and all successors are dead, but that's an unlikely scenario.

Absent the orders of the President, there will be no nuclear attack by the USA.

[Truth666]

Back in 1962 we know that the president hat to give his consent.

[eastforker]

So, you say the President is the absolute authority if he is alive?

[Alberta's Child]

Interesting question. Here's an even more intriguing scenario: Based on loosely-connected information that I've put together from a number of different sources, I've concluded that Bill Clinton was effectively relieved of his duties as "commander in chief" sometime in his second term of office. If he had given the orders to launch any kind of nuclear strike, perhaps a giant cake would have been rolled into the room and a stripper would have jumped out of it -- but that's about it.

[MineralMan]

"The dems certainly don't have the testicular fortitude to push the button."

Since we have only used nuclear weapons twice in history, and since a Democrat, Harry S. Truman, authorized their use, I guess you'd be wrong there.

[eastforker]

Any documentation that you can link?

[optimistically_conservative]

Really, so if the President said go, the man in the silo could refuse, even though his partner is armed and may have a differant outlook?

Heh.

[Poohbah]

I asked this question on an earlier thread. I was Freepmailed and told it was classified by a naval officer. In light of some of the presidential candidates before us, I would like to know, who decides to push the N button if needed. In contrast, if the N button needs to be pushed and the president refuses, who or what over rules.

The correct answer is "it depends."

Under normal circumstances, the President is the one in command of nuclear forces.

However, a nuclear attack is not "normal" in any sense of the word. There may be predelegation of nuclear release authority ("You will respect my AUTHOR-I-TAY!") to specific persons (for example, commanders of certain major commands) under extreme circumstances--the details will depend on the President's temperment and judgement. Such predelegation is an extremely touchy issue; explicit predelegation gives much of the President's power to someone else, while over-vague predelegation makes it hard to determine if the president's wishes are being met.

[MineralMan]

"So, you say the President is the absolute authority if he is alive?"

Yes, and there is a long and detailed succession list, should the President not be alive. Google "presidential succession" to see that list.

If there are scenarios that do not involve the President, I am not aware of them.

[princess leah]

I almost choked on my tootsie pop when I visualized a Howard Dean or John F...g Kerry with his hand on the button! Next time I wait until my dessert is done before reading these kinds of threads!

[MineralMan]

The Sequence of Presidential Succession

---

1. Vice-President
2. Speaker of the House
3. President Pro Tempore of the Senate
4. Secretary of State
5. Secretary of the Treasury
6. Secretary of Defense
7. Attorney General
8. Secretary of the Interior
9. Secretary of Agriculture
10. Secretary of Commerce
11. Secretary of Labor
12. Secretary of Health and Human Services
13. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
14. Secretary of Transportation
15. Secretary of Energy
16. Secretary of Education

[eastforker]

Yes, but with Truman that was an offensive move, Lets say we are under a threat, maybe real or not.

[Squawk 8888]

My own fave was the first episode of Yes, Prime Minister. During his briefing "the button" is explained to the new PM and he asks, "Well, what if I get drunk?"

[DMCA]

That depends. Are we to assume that Bush has a working com link to mexico to check with Fox first? :->