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#420 – Annie Jacobsen: Nuclear War, CIA, KGB, Aliens, Area 51, Roswell & Secrecy
Lex Fridman Podcast
Exploring the Sole Presidential Authority in Nuclear War Decision-Making
The concept of sole presidential authority in nuclear war decision-making means that only the President of the United States has the power to launch a nuclear attack without seeking permission from anyone else, including the Secretary of Defense, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, or the US Congress. This authority is based on the belief that nuclear war would unfold rapidly, and only one person can be in charge for the sake of speed. Despite concerns about the rationality of making such a monumental decision within a six-minute window, the reality is that the president holds this immense power as revealed in President Reagan's memoirs.
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