Summary of William J. Perry & Tom Z. Collina's The Button

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

Sample Book Insights:

#1 The American public is largely unaware of the fact that President Donald Trump has sole nuclear authority. Many believe that he must get congressional approval, while in fact he is not required to do so. The Founders tried to constrain presidential power, but they could not have anticipated the discovery of the nuclear bomb.

#2 There are many control systems in place to prevent nuclear weapons from being launched unintentionally or by an unauthorized person. But currently there is no way to prevent a determined president from starting a nuclear war.

#3 There are many ways a president can stumble into nuclear war. For example, current US policy, which allows the president to shoot first and ask questions later, could force the president into a dangerous situation.

#4 The risk of a false alarm is still there, and it is only heightened political tensions that can cause these false alarms.