I'm mistaken,.
from:
Gold Codes - Wikipedia
Gold Codes are generated daily and provided by the
National Security Agency (NSA) to the
White House,
The Pentagon,
United States Strategic Command, and
TACAMO. For an extra level of security, the list of codes on the card includes codes that have no meaning, and therefore the president must memorize where on the list the correct code is located. The concept behind the codes is that they permit the president to positively identify themself as the commander-in-chief and thereby authenticate a launch order to the
National Military Command Center
As commander-in-chief, the president is the only individual with the authority to order the use of nuclear weapons.
[10] The
National Command Authority comprising the president and
Secretary of Defense must jointly authenticate the order to use nuclear weapons.
[6] It is argued by
Franklin Miller that the president has almost single authority to initiate a nuclear attack since the Secretary of Defense is required to verify the order, but cannot legally veto it.
[11] However,
Section 4 of the 25th Amendment of the
Constitution allows for the vice president, together with a majority of
cabinet heads or
Congress, to declare the president disabled or unfit to execute the duties of the office.
[12]
So, in other words only if Section 4 of the 25th Amendment is envoked can a nuclear strike be adverted.
Of course nothing says the National Military Command Center can't refuse to send the order. But this is highly unlikely.
