The Mysterious ‘Nuclear Football’: Inside the President’s Emergency Satchel
The nuclear football has long been the subject of fascination and intrigue. Officially called the Presidential Emergency Satchel, this bulky briefcase holds atomic war plans and allows the president to transmit nuclear orders to the Pentagon. Carried by a military officer who is always close to the president, the football represents the immense power of the presidency. While there is limited information available about its contents, William Burr, a senior analyst at the National Security Archive at George Washington University, recently conducted research to shed light on this enigmatic item.
The football, initially referred to as the emergency satchel or the black bag, was first introduced during President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration in the late 1950s. Concerned about the United States’ vulnerability to a nuclear surprise attack, Eisenhower wanted a system that allowed for swift decision-making. Thus, a military aide began carrying a satchel of documents to facilitate communication between the president and military headquarters.
The satchel also contained presidential proclamations known as Presidential Emergency Action Documents (PEADS), which declared a national emergency and expanded executive power during a crisis. Initially, the satchel accompanied the president only during travel outside of Washington, D.C. Eisenhower passed on the satchel to his successor, President John F. Kennedy, and during the early 1960s, it became known as the football, possibly due to the Kennedy family’s fondness for touch football.
The secrecy and the inherent dangers associated with nuclear weapons have fueled public interest in the football. Journalists, historians, and the public have been intrigued by the idea of a military aide carrying a locked bag containing top-secret nuclear information. The concept of the president being able to make rapid decisions during a perilous moment underscores the gravity of nuclear weapons. The endurance of the football system since the late 1950s only adds to its mystique.
Burr’s research reveals that the football underwent changes during the Carter administration. It was discovered that some of the emergency proclamations stored in the satchel had not been updated for years, leading to concerns about their legality. Additionally, the comprehensive devastation that would result from a nuclear war rendered some proclamations irrelevant. By the early 1980s, the presidential directives had been revised, but the details of these changes have not been disclosed, nor has it been revealed whether concerns about their legality persisted.
Interestingly, the vice president sometimes has their own version of the football. While it remains undisclosed whether Vice Presidents Hubert Humphrey to Nelson Rockefeller were assigned a military aide carrying a similar bag, it is known that Vice President Jimmy Carter ensured that his vice president, Walter Mondale, had a military aide with a football.
Despite being visible in many situations, such as during the January 6, 2021 riots at the US Capitol, the true contents of the football remain as inscrutable today as they were half a century ago. The National Security Archive has released photos showing a military aide carrying the football, occasionally with the president, but the specific details of its contents have largely remained classified. However, leaked information and declassified documents have provided some general insights.
The nuclear football continues to captivate the public’s imagination as a symbol of immense power and responsibility. While its secrets are closely guarded, the football’s significance underscores the gravity of the decisions it represents. Through ongoing research and an understanding of its historical context, we gain a better appreciation of the immense weight carried by the President of the United States and the vital importance of safeguarding the world from nuclear catastrophe.
