Story highlights The president has a card, commonly called the "biscuit," with the nuclear launch codes on it

The aide with the satchel is required to be close to the president at all times

Washington (CNN) Hillary Clinton has recently been trying to paint Donald Trump as unfit to be entrusted with the authority to launch America's nuclear arsenal.

"Do we want his finger anywhere near the button?" the Democratic presidential nominee asked a crowd in San Diego.

Her Republican opponent has vehemently rejected the attacks and said he would only use nuclear weapons as a last resort.

But in truth, there is no button. Instead, the president has a card, commonly called the "biscuit," with the nuclear launch codes on it. He also has a briefcase, nicknamed the "football," carried by a military aide, with the equipment and the information needed to launch a nuclear strike.

"You have to be ready anytime for any moment," said Pete Metzger, who for three years was one of the five alternating officers who carried the nuclear launch suitcase during Ronald Reagan's presidency. "Mind you, it has to happen quickly, because the time on a missile is very fast," saying it could take as little as five to six minutes for a nuclear warhead to hit Washington, D.C. or New York City.

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