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.

[Bob]

Gee, Richard Clarke seems to be the primary source for this. I'm sure he doesn't have an agenda in play here.

By the same token, I'd be shocked if the U.S. didn't have a plan in place for virtually any possible scenario. I'd certainly prefer that rather than 'winging it' after the fact.

[justshutupandtakeit]

The only correct plan is that should the government be eliminated I become Grand High Exalted Ruler for life.

[Fintan]

I'd be shocked if the U.S. didn't have a plan in place for virtually any possible scenario.

 

Exactly. God only knows what plan Clinton had in place.

 

But we'll never hear about that from "Nightline", will we?

[winker]

This has absolutely got to be the truth not one chide or mention of "Tin Foil Hats" on too tight Bwhahahahahaha!

[MindBender26]

The core plan, locations, etc. remained the same throughout various administrations. Assigned personnel changed, as the officials holding positions in Washington changed.

The Constitution does not require us to be stupid and have no government until one can be recreated.

The essence of this concept is, keep things running until new elections can be held.

It never was much of a secret, and certainly was not one after 9/11. I was in the Rayburn Building office with one of the House leadership. Very quickly after the attack, a Blackhawk landed out by the Triangle (grassy area in front of the House side of the Capitol.) He was whisked away and was absent for about 4 days. He still will not say where he went, but the helos departed westerly.

Reason this is being let out now is we want bad woggies to know that if they nuc/chem/bio DC, there will still be severe retaliation.

[xzins]

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

And when the Constitution was written they could not have conceived of it being possible to melt down an entire city and, if they all happened to be in town for an important session of Congress, kill EVERYBODY in your total government.

The most important question is simply this: Is it POSSIBLE to decaptitate this entire gov't with one well-timed nuclear explosion?

If it's possible, then we should have a backup plan.

[metesky]

I agree. And if I can be Duke of New England, I'll put 10,000 wild hill people in the field for you.

Ah, er, that is, for you, oh Grand High Exalted Ruler.

Hail justshutupandtakeit I, may his line increase.

[antaresequity]

State of the Union address...one nuke and we are headless....

I don't care what kind of plan they have in place. If this happens, unless the governors have a plan...its going to be pure chaos and anarchy...

You will be very happy you own a firearm...and if you don't, know someone who can kit you out.

[Kozak]

The most important question is simply this: Is it POSSIBLE to decaptitate this entire gov't with one well-timed nuclear explosion?

Yup. Once a year during the State of the Union Address. POTUS, VPOTUS, House, Senate, Cabinet, and Supremes all in one building. I shudder every year at the thought of what could happen.

[OpusatFR]

You'd have to beat me to it.

And we'd both have to defeat my kid who will declare himself god-emperor.

[chance33_98]

"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,"

I don't remember the founders having to worry about nuclear war. If you don't set up contingency plans it is plain stupid.

[M Kehoe]

I'd be shocked if the U.S. didn't have a plan in place for virtually any possible scenario.

If not, as one FReeper said, they should be impeached.

And in the fwiw department, Congress was informed/briefed (House & Senate leadership).

5.56mm

[Maria S]

"God only knows what plan Clinton had in place."

Bingo! As reported by Col. Patterson in "Dereliction of Duty", Slick had to sheepishly report that he couldn't remember where he'd left the combination to "The Football"! Didn't seem to even bother him too much!

[Congressman Billybob]

Not so. 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. That order is:

President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tem of the Senate, and then the members of the Cabinet, beginning with the Secretary of State and taking the others in the order in which their Departments were created. The one who would survive, in the event of a nuclear destruction of Washington during a State of the Union address, would become President.

The Governors of the various states would then appoint replacement Senators, and call for immediate election of replacement Members of the House. The new President would nominate a new Vice President to be confirmed by the new Senate. He would also nominate a new Cabinet to be confirmed by the new Senate.

The new President would also order a retaliation that would reduce to a field of glass every enemy of the United States. A duplicate of the "football" would be with the Cabinet member who does NOT attend the SOTU.

All of this would be entirely in accord with both the Constitution of the United States, and its existing laws.

And that's the name of that tune.

Congressman Billybob

Click here, then click the blue CFR button, to join the anti-CFR effort (or visit the "Hugh & Series, Critical & Pulled by JimRob" thread). Please do it now.

[monkeywrench]

Exactly right.

[xrp]

I don't care what kind of plan they have in place. If this happens, unless the governors have a plan...its going to be pure chaos and anarchy...

If the American people are really so helpless as to result to pure chaos and anarchy just because ~600 people (Congressmen, Senators, President, VP, Exec Cabinet, etc) are taken out, then America really is in dire straights.

Those in government overrate their self-importance.

[Bob]

Yup. Once a year during the State of the Union Address. POTUS, VPOTUS, House, Senate, Cabinet, and Supremes all in one building. I shudder every year at the thought of what could happen.

If I'm not mistaken, there is always one cabinet member who doesn't attend the SOTU address.

[RightWhale]

This was the plan ever since Russia got the A-bomb. Maybe it is breaking news for TV broadcast long format news-commentary shows.

[Guenevere]

bttt