nuclear

“We have been searching for anything that would demonstrate the incredible military power and responsibilities of the president, and we struck upon this iconic object,” says curator Harry Rubenstein. It is the closest modern-day equivalent of the medieval crown and scepter—a symbol of supreme authority. Accompanying the commander in chief wherever he goes, the innocuous-seeking briefcase is touted in motion pictures and spy novels as the ultimate power accessory, a doomsday machine that could destroy the complete planet. At this point, the missile breaks up into the warhead, debris, decoys intended to confuse our sensors, and the final stage of...