The Presidential Football (1963-Present)

  

The Presidential Football
Hyannis Port, Massachusetts 1963
Type Of Activity	Establish authority and responsibility over the nation's nuclear arsenal
Location
Location	Washington DC
Date of Activity	Late 1950’s to Present
Coordinates

The Presidential football has been a part of the U.S. nuclear war-fighting strategy since the Cold War. It is intended to ensure that the President can quickly and decisively respond to a nuclear attack or other emergency situation. 

A Miliary Aide with the Football

It is not clear when or why the “Satchel or Black Bag” became known as the Football, but during the Eisenhower administration it became the practice, when the president was traveling, for a military aide to carry a briefcase including emergency action documents, such as presidential proclamations and information on authorization of nuclear weapons use. An aide was also assigned to Vice President Richard Nixon in the event that something happened to the president. 

The Presidential football is a term used to refer to the specially designed and equipped briefcase, officially known as the Presidential Emergency Satchel, which is usually carried by a military aide to the President of the United States. 

The exact details surrounding the creation of the Presidential Football remain uncertain, but it is believed to have been established during the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower in the late 1950s. The purpose of the Football was to provide the President of the United States with the ability to authorize a nuclear strike while on the move or during a crisis situation. 

According to former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, the Football acquired its name from an early nuclear war plan code-named “Dropkick.” (“Dropkick” needed a “football” in order to be put into effect.) The earliest known photograph of a military aide trailing the president with the telltale black briefcase was taken on May 10, 1963, at the Kennedy family compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.

The first briefcase was a standard black case with three digit numeric locks on the clasps and was carried by a military aide or in early years a WHCA CWO, commonly referred to as the "Bagman," who accompanies the President wherever he may go, ensuring constant access to the “Satchel” or “Football”. 

The Satchel was first mentioned in a WHCA after action report submitted  by WHCA Trip Officer CWO Arthur W. Bales, Jr. on Nov 22, 1963 the day President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas Texas. 

CWO Arthur W. Bales, Jr. US Army, US Signal Corps (SS WHCA codename -Sturdy) and CWO Ira Gearhart-US Army (SS WHCA codename – The Bagman) carrying the National Plan of Action (NPOA) or Satchel were in the White House Signal Corps Car positioned in the  1963 Presidential motorcade when the shots were fired. 

The “bagman” was Ira Gearhart, a WHCA CWO who carried a satchel that contained the codes and ciphers the President needed to communicate with military commanders and foreign leaders or to order a nuclear strike. Gearhart had to remember the combination for the safety locks that opened the bag, and was to stay near the President at all times. Gearhart became “separated from the VIP portion of the motorcade as it raced to Parkland Hospital and after arriving, he did not know where the President was nor whom he was. The Secret Service kept him away from the booth where LBJ had been placed and that President Johnson and Gearhart had been separated again, when LBJ raced to Love Field." While the man with the nuclear codes did catch up to LBJ and remained nearby, he was generally ignored during the crisis.

 LBJ leaving Parkland Hospital for Love Field

The “satchel” included a “portfolio of cryptographic orders” to the Joint Chiefs for authorizing nuclear retaliation.  The message could be sent either by telephone, teletype, or microwave radio. Through arrangements established by the Defense Communications Agency, the authorizing messages could also be sent to the North American Air Defense Command or the Strategic Air Command.  Because the orders were encrypted, they would be meaningless to a thief; the commander of the White House Communications Agency (WHCA) Lt. Colonel George J. McNally explained: “Visualize the thing as a dollar bill torn in half,” with half of it at the Pentagon. “Only when the President sends his half will the two pieces key together or fit.”

 

President Nixon's Military Aide with Football stands behind the President

When President Nixon took extended vacations at his compounds in San Clemente and Key Biscayne where the Milatary Aide and WHCA shared facilities the Football was kept secure and updated by the WHCA Commcenter, 

President Ford with the Bagman

Today’s football is a standard metallic, possibly bullet-proof, modified Zero-Halliburton case covered with a leather case, and consists of a briefcase that contains various components necessary for initiating a nuclear attack. These components include a secure communication system, authentication codes, and a list of predetermined nuclear targets. 

Over the years, the Presidential Football has undergone technological advancements to enhance its security and effectiveness. The communication systems within the Football have evolved to utilize the latest encryption and authentication technologies to prevent unauthorized access. The codes and procedures used for authentication are regularly updated to maintain their secrecy and effectiveness. 

Today’s Presidential Nuclear Football

The President holds the sole authority to order the use of nuclear weapons, but they must follow a strict protocol to initiate a strike. In the event of an imminent nuclear threat or authorization to launch a nuclear attack, the President would be required to verify their identity using codes and procedures known only to them. The President would then communicate the order to the National Military Command Center at the Pentagon, which would authenticate the order and transmit it to the appropriate military commanders for execution.

While the specifics of the Presidential Football's operational details remain highly classified, it continues to play a crucial role in the United States' nuclear deterrence strategy. It serves as a visible reminder of the President's authority over the nation's nuclear weapons and highlights the immense responsibility associated with such power. The Presidential Football remains an enduring symbol of the United States' commitment to maintaining a secure and effective nuclear command and control system. 

 President Reagan seen with his Military Aide with the Football

The Presidential Football has been a symbol of the President's authority and responsibility over the nation's nuclear arsenal. It has been present during significant historical events, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and the September 11 attacks in 2001. In times of crisis, the Football serves as a tangible reminder of the grave decision-making power held by the President and the weight of the responsibilities they bear.