It matters not to me if you have any recollection of the events surrounding these events.
I stated what I recall from, now if the article was true or not I have no way of knowing.
But on a side note, the person carrying the football, if the president for no apparent reason wants to launch an attack, does he have to do it regrardless of the facts surrounding the events?
Without any proof you can make any allegation you want. That doesn't make it true. For example, I recall reading somewhere that one of the JCS chiefs shot at President Nixon in the Oval Office, but he missed. Whether it was true or not, I have no way of knowing. Note: If I had made the former statement you would be asking for proof.
But on a side note, the person carrying the football, if the president for no apparent reason wants to launch an attack, does he have to do it regrardless of the facts surrounding the events?
Of course he must or be prepared to pay the price of disobedience. The Presient decides not the guy holding the "football," nor the guy at the ICBM base who is told to to launch the missiles, or the pilot flying the bomber. What kind of miliary would we have if each individual could decide whether or not they wanted to obey a lawful order. And you are presuming that the guy with the "football" is privy to all of the facts.