Nukes

100 snips

Jan 24, 2025

Guest

Harold Herring

Guest

Alex Wallerstein

Harold Herring, a former Air Force Major, shares his riveting journey navigating nuclear command, questioning the unchecked presidential authority over nuclear launches. Alongside nuclear historian Alex Wallerstein, they explore the moral dilemmas faced by military personnel tasked with following potentially unlawful orders. The conversation spans from Truman's ethical struggles to Nixon's alarming power, revealing the dangerous consequences of questioning authority while emphasizing the urgent need for checks and balances in nuclear decision-making.

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ANECDOTE

Harold's Question

Harold Herring, a Vietnam War veteran, questioned the checks and balances on presidential nuclear launch authority.
This seemingly simple question led to the derailment of his military career.

INSIGHT

Truman's Nuclear Stance

Truman learned of the atomic bomb's existence the day Roosevelt died.
He prioritized keeping nuclear launch authority out of the military's sole control.

ANECDOTE

Eisenhower's Shift

Eisenhower, unlike Truman, viewed smaller atomic weapons as conventional.
He delegated some launch authority, raising concerns about potential misuse.

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In an episode first reported in 2017, we bring you a look up and down the US nuclear chain of command to find out who gets to authorize their use and who can stand in the way of Armageddon.

President Richard Nixon once boasted that at any moment he could pick up a telephone and - in 20 minutes - kill 60 million people. Such is the power of the US President over the nation’s nuclear arsenal. But what if you were the military officer on the receiving end of that phone call? Could you refuse the order?

In this episode, we profile one Air Force Major who asked that question back in the 1970s and learn how the very act of asking it was so dangerous it derailed his career. We also pick up the question ourselves and pose it to veterans both high and low on the nuclear chain of command. Their responses reveal once and for all whether there are any legal checks and balances between us and a phone call for Armageddon.

Special thanks to Elaine Scarry, Sam Kean, Ron Rosenbaum, Lisa Perry, Ryan Furtkamp, Robin Perry, Thom Woodroofe, Doreen de Brum, Jackie Conley, Sean Malloy, Ray Peter, Jack D’Annibale, Ryan Pettigrew at the Nixon Presidential Library and Samuel Rushay at the Truman Presidential Library.

EPISODE CREDITS:
Reported by - Latiff Nasser
Produced by - Annie McEwen and Simon Adler
with help from - Arianne Wack

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