Secret Plan to Control U.S. Government After an Attack Went Into Motion on 9/11

ABC News ^ | April 25, 2004 | Nightline

[BerkeleyRight]

For 20 years, unbeknownst to most of the public, U.S. officials and private citizens have rehearsed a secret plan to preserve America's government if Washington or other key cities were somehow wiped out, and perhaps even to take control of the government if the nation's top leaders were lost.

"This is the story of how the United States, in the Reagan administration, planned to set up a new presidency, a new leadership for the country at time of nuclear war, in a way that was never authorized by the Constitution or any federal law," said James Mann, who wrote about the so-called Armageddon plan in a recent issue of The Atlantic Monthly. Some details earlier had been reported in The Washington Post.

"The Reagan administration set up three teams," Mann said. "Each team had about 50 federal officials. And it had a chief of staff, and it had a Cabinet member who was going to be the next president. And if nuclear war seemed imminent, these three teams would be sent out from Washington, to different locations around the country. And in succession, each one could take over the running of the country."

Key figures in the plan — who served as senior staffers for the Reagan, Clinton and both Bush administrations — participated in what for years were just exercises, war games, which they discussed recently with ABCNEWS' Nightline.

One of those senior staffers was serving in the White House on Sept. 11, 2001, when a version of the Armageddon plan was actually put into effect — most likely for the first time.

[antaresequity]

The chaos and anarchy I can deal with...its the vacuum that will be filled by thugs, tyrants and facists over time that we have most to fear.

[tpaine]

"The Reagan administration set up three teams," Mann said. "Each team had about 50 federal officials. And it had a chief of staff, and it had a Cabinet member who was going to be the next president. And if nuclear war seemed imminent, these three teams would be sent out from Washington, to different locations around the country. And in succession, each one could take over the running of the country."

_____________________________________



I suspect that in a truly chaotic situation, these self anointed 'presidential' teams might discover that the american citizen actually runs this country.

[expatpat]

...for life

Your life would thereby be shortened (a visit to Ft Marcy Park would get you out of the witch's way)

[RightWhale]

its going to be pure chaos and anarchy...

The local communities, even most cities, will do just fine. It probably doesn't seem so inside the Beltway, but this country could operate itself for quite a while even without the leadership of the DC Deities.

[expatpat]

The deities live in DC, and that's one city that would probably become chaotic, so they are being rational.

[antaresequity]

This country is divided...polarized. If the entire central government apparatus [Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches, plus the Joint Chiefs] is taken out, what follows will make the OJ Simpson riots look like picnic.

If they want to create a plan, it should start by not allowing governors to attend the SOU. Second, the plan should include an emergency meeting of all governors to schedule nation wide special elections.

Further every governor should have a pre-approved replacement set of interim legislators ready to go...ahead of the fact.

An interim Supreme court should also be in the waiting. District court judges should not be allowed to attend the SOU.

Finally...it absolutely imperative that the Vice President NOT attend the SOU, nor should any of the cabinet members.

[Kozak]

Not so. During the State of the Union, one member of the Cabinet remains at a location away from Washington

I stand corrected. I just hope the Cabinet member isn't Mineta.

[dixie sass]

During the Cuban Crises, my father assured my family that if anything did happen that there was a plan in effect to have continuity of government. He had told us that there were places around the country that officials would be taken to and protected so that we, as a nation wouldn't fall apart.

It was comforting to know and it still is.

[Drango]

what plan Clinton had in place

Hillary, you fly to NY and all you interns, into this secret cave with me....

[SauronOfMordor]

in a way that was never authorized by the Constitution or any federal law," said James Mann

US Constitution, Article II Section 1:

In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation or inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

Congress, way back when nukes first came into existence, prepared law as to who succeeds to the office of President in the event most of Washington is dead: US Code, Title 3, Chapter 1, section 19:

If, by reason of death, resignation, removal from office, inability, or failure to qualify, there is no President pro tempore to act as President under subsection (b) of this section, then the officer of the United States who is highest on the following list, and who is not under disability to discharge the powers and duties of the office of President shall act as President: Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Veterans Affairs

[okie01]

"During the State of the Union, one member of the Cabinet remains at a location away from Washington. Under a statute long in effect, passed under the Constitution, there is an order of succession."

Does not one member of the Supreme Court also absent himself? So as to assure continuity in the Judicial branch?

[ExSoldier]

""The Reagan administration set up three teams,"

The plan was codenamed REX 84 and was created by LTC Oliver North. This is the plan that essentially transformed FEMA from a disaster plan which deals with natural phenomena to one designed to deal with arnchy and terrorist scenarios. I have to believe that Oliver North is a good and decent Christian man. He couldn't have foreseen the evil which this plan would someday encompass. The book: "The Hope of the Wicked" by Ted Flynn deals at length with the realities of REX 84. They also deal with the Executive Orders that Clinton tied together such they can all be triggered to "fire" at once. Picture a Claymore mine "ring main."

If Y2K had been as big a deal as the doomsayers had predicted, I would have expected Clinton to use these EO's to declare himself King. The EO's are worded in such a way that FEMA assumes total control of the nation and there is no congressional or judicial oversight allowed for a minimum of six months. I don't think GWB would use them in this manner. But what do you want to bet that Kerry would?

[Congressman Billybob]

Evening, my friend,

In recent years, some or all Justices have not gone to the SOTU, especially when they were likely to hear cases involving Clinton. However, one Justice cannot reconstitute the Court, the way one Cabinet Secretary who becomes President can reconstitute the Executive Branch.

The essence of surviving such a disaster is to have one person who will be constitutionally and legally President. Everything else would sort itself out in due course.

John / Billybob

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

The new President would also order a retaliation that would reduce to a field of glass every enemy of the United States.

Even those not responsible for the nuclear attack? How many millions do we kill and to what end?

I don't believe that part of the scenario. If China was responsible for such an attack and we retaliated against them with nukes, we'd blow up the factories making nearly everything now imported into and sold in America.

[Nebr FAL owner]

Hell there have been plans for the continuation of the government since just after we discovered that the Soviets had the atomic bomb. The Greenbriar hotel in Virginia ,as well as other not as famous doomsday bunkers scattered around the country .
The POTUS was bad mouthed by Peter Jennings for going to Offutt AFB here at Omaha Nebraska till somebody pointed out to that dumbass that it was the closest national command authority installation & former home & HQ to Curtis E."bomb them back to stone age"Lemay's STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND.

[Nebr FAL owner]

During the past couple of years certain members of the shadow government have in fact been out of town for the State of the Union address,in anticipation of just such an ugly event.

[buckalfa]

One minor point that needs correction: The Greenbrier
Hotel, site of one of the cold war bunkers, is located
in West "By God" Virginia. You are 100% correct about
Offutt,SAC, and the late, great Curtis LeMay.

[foreverfree]

This country is divided...polarized. If the entire central government apparatus [Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches, plus the Joint Chiefs] is taken out, what follows will make the OJ Simpson riots look like picnic.

You mean the Rodney King riots, right?

foreverfree

[justshutupandtakeit]

Glad to see my people falling in line oh, faithful vassal.

[antaresequity]

ya