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There is more than one football. The President, of course, travels with one, but the Vice President travels with a nuclear football, as well. I’m sure there is a foolproof system that prevents the Vice President from launching nuclear weapons on his own, but the VP needs a football with him in case, for example, the President dies in a nuclear strike and the nation (and new President) needs to retaliate immediately. There are probably spare nuclear footballs stashed at undisclosed locations, continuity of government sites, and air force bases around the country. There is a backup football at the White House that can be dispatched to the President or Vice President, if necessary. When he’s at home, obviously, the President doesn’t need to have the military aide following him around with the football because he has the capability to launch nuclear strikes and access the necessary communication systems from within the White House.

I believe this is probably true. Biden is a nut-job to be sure, but I don't think he'd claim a guy was carrying the nuclear football if he wasn't.

LINK

In his bestselling book, “Dereliction of Duty,” Lt. Col. Robert “Buzz” Patterson - who carried the nuclear football as military attache for Bill Clinton - recounts that Clinton LOST the nuclear launch code cards TWICE, and just blew it off both times as if it was nothing.

Just like he blew off opportunities to nail Bin Laden. Patterson was by Clinton’s side on those occasions, also - he was the one who took the phone calls from spec ops commanders in the field saying they had Bin Laden in their sights for a limited window of time. Patterson relayed the extremely urgent messages to Clinton, who blew them off and resumed his golf games each time.