[U-238]

National Military Command Center is responsible for the emergency action messages that are relayed to the submarines to launch their missiles.

[chessplayer]

There are three such “footballs” in existence. The first travels with the President, a spare is kept at the White House, and the third is with the Vice President. Anyways, the missiles would still be launched by the commander of National Military Command Center and multiple airborne command posts .

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Without civilian authorization? With a suitcase, the NMCC would be taken out. What I’m guessing is that they would choose a time when all civilian authority is in town.