How American presidents have lost the nuclear codes and the launch codes

Nuclear suitcase President of the United States know everything. But about what it is and how it works, known only to the elite. The Americans call this important subject in different ways: Nuclear Football, President's Emergency Satchel, The Button. The most that is known is that inside is the equipment and documentation, which allow the President to order the use of nuclear weapons. Agree — it is a serious thing and requires a responsible approach, but in fact it happened and nuclear suitcase even... lost.

Suitcase President is the point of a top-secret satellite communication, which allows the first person in the country to order a nuclear strike from anywhere in the world. The principle of its operation is a state secret, but some information about this thing is. In addition to the satellite transmitter, inside is a set of instructions addressed directly to the President.

The documents, which are described in detail, in some cases, you can use full powers and unleash a nuclear war, compiled by the national security Agency and the national security Council of the United States. Inside no secret Golden enabling codes, which are updated on a daily basis — their President is required.

But the nuclear codes are the first person in the United States he doesn't push for this President constantly accompanied by as a porter specially trained officer of the Armed forces of the United States. Perhaps if the presidency carried the baggage, the weight of which, according to unconfirmed reports, is 18 kg, then it would never lose.

Presidential suitcase doesn't look like a deadly instrument of American fighters. It is a relatively small metallic object, made by Zero Halliburton and placed in a strict leather case with zippers. He was bulletproof and perhaps fireproof. In the photos this thing is clearly visible the antenna from the transmitter.

Say that nuclear briefcase chained to his wrist officer handcuffed, but it's not. Those who were lucky enough to examine it closely say that through the handle of the suitcase is black cord, covering the wrist of the assistant to the President.

The first semblance of a nuclear suitcase appeared under President Dwight Eisenhower. But the modern form he gained when John Kennedy, who doubted that a nuclear weapon controls only the commander in chief. The President feared that someone can authorize a nuclear attack without him, or that he will not be able to order the use of weapons, as it will be far from command posts and communications.

Since then, armed assistant to the President with a suitcase follows his boss. It accompanies it in the car, in the presidential plane and helicopter, all business trips and even on vacation. By the way, these three suitcases. Two reserved for the President and Vice-President, and the third is constantly in the White house.

Despite the high professionalism of the assistant to the President, there were occasions when the nuclear football for some time been inaccessible to the head of state. It is known that the suitcase was not there with President Reagan after the attempt on his life.

President Gerald Ford forgot the suitcase along with assistant on Board the presidential plane during an official visit to France. Jimmy Carter deliberately distanced itself from the assistant with the secret equipment, not allowing him to attend his ranch in the state of Georgia. The officer with the nuclear suitcase had to be 10 km away from his obstinate boss.

Carter and suitcase is connected another terrible accident. Once the President has forgotten his ID, which is necessary to activate the suitcase in his jacket pocket, which was taken to the dry cleaners. It's good that things in the first person of the country wash and cleaned separately, but still it sounds terrifying.

George H. W. Bush once, so quickly left a tennis match in Los Angeles that the officer with a suitcase did not have time for him and he had to catch up with the presidential motorcade on another car for an hour. But the most shocking thing happened with bill Clinton in celebration of the 50th anniversary of NATO in Washington.

The President sat down in the limo and drove off to the White house, leaving the officer with the strategic device of one in the street. The assistant had 15 minutes to walk around the city alone, to catch up with Clinton and his entourage. The case has received wide acclaim and press Secretary Joe Lockhart was forced to justify and convince the public that nothing dangerous happened.

There were even more strange situation, though not directly threaten U.S. security, but saying that the US President can act irresponsibly. Often differed same Clinton. How then are unable to get through to 1998, so he, in accordance with the instructions of the suitcase, was allowed to strike missiles on the territory of another country.

However, it was not about nuclear weapons and of missiles "Tomahawk". They wanted to destroy the bunker in one of the countries of the Middle East, where, according to intelligence reports, Osama bin Laden. While the President was pleased to answer the call, the moment was lost. Perhaps because of Clinton "terrorist No. 1" spent 13 years and was able to do a lot of harm, including to prepare the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Yes, during the terrorist attacks, President George W. Bush being in the cabin of the presidential plane, opened the suitcase and examined the instructions drawn up for emergency cases and describe the procedure for introducing a state of emergency in the country.

In the same 1998 bill in the midst of the Monica Lewinsky scandal lost electronic key from his "nuclear button." In 1996, Clinton was so fascinated by the broadcast of the championship of Golf, which is not contacted when you had to give permission to bomb Iraq. All of these punctures were made famous by the book of the former adjutant of the President, Colonel Robert Patterson, two years wore for the Clinton nuclear briefcase.