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change from day to day. This is a fixed point in the sky where the planes will orbit until they get a positive order to go in. Without it they must return to the United States. This is called Positive Control. Fail-Safe simply means that if something fails it is still safe. In short, we cannot go to war except by a direct order. No bomber can go in on its own discretion. We give that order."
    "They must get the order to 'go' by radio," Raskob said. "Is that right?"
    "That's right, Mr. Raskob," General Bogan said. "Actually they do not receive the order verbally but it is transmitted to a small box which we call the FailSafe box, which is aboard each plane. That box is operated by a code which changes from day to day and can be operated only at the express order of the President of the United States. You have probably read that he is accompanied everywhere by a warrant officer from the Air Force who has the current code that would operate the box."
    "Why don't you just give them a direct verbal yes or no and save yourself all this trouble?" Raskob asked.
    General Bogan could tell Raskob was becoming restless. His eyes were fastened on the red blip and its inexorable progress.
    "Actually we do both. But an enemy could easily come up on the same radio frequency and give whatever message it wanted just by imitating the voice of the President or one of our commanding officers," General Bogan said. With a smile, he added, "Remember that our President has a rather distinctive regional accent which can be easily imitated. Also, when people talk over the radio there is often a misunderstanding of what is said, especially if there is any radio interference. But there can be no interference with the FailSafe box. It can be activated in only one manner and at the express order of the President."
    The Congressman turned from the board and spoke sharply to the General. "And what if someone up there
    -or down here-cracks?"
    "You will probably remember, Congressman Raskob, that last July, the Air Force testified before your committee on our program to give a psychological screening to any airman who had anything to do with nudear weapons," General Bogan added, trying to keep the irony from his voice. "From generals down to privates."
    "Yes, sir, there are a number of people who believe that the Air Force has a high incidence of madmen among its air crews," Colonel Cascio said with a smile. "A few years back there was a lot of upset about whether or not an individual madman, ranging from a general down to the pilot of a plane, could start a war. With this procedure we may still have the madmen around but there is nothing they can do to start a war."
    Raskob's eyes were back on the Big Board. Now he licked his lips. When he spoke his voice had something more than the rasp of irritation in it.
    "Well, what else are you doing?" he asked brusquely. "Jesus Christ, that could be an ICBM or a Russian bomber and as far as I can tell you aren't doing very
    much about it."
    General Bogan could not resist. "We are doing a good deal right now. Fighter planes are flying toward
    the unidentified object, ICBMs are going through the initial stage of preparation for launching, whole squadrons of bombers are being fueled and armed in case it really is an enemy vehide that is coming toward us," be said, "But, Congressman Raskob, if we went full out every time an unidentified object appeared on the screen we would need four times the appropriations that we now get from Congress. All-out safety is a very expensive thing."
    Raskob missed the irony. "What do you mean 'every time that this happens'?" Raskob asked. "How often does this happen?"
    "About six times a month," General Bogan said. "And if we went straight to Condition Red each time it would probably cost around a billion dollars."
    instantly Raskob's face relaxed, his whole posture became easy. He laughed.
    "O.K., General, you win," Raskob said. "I got that bit about the congressional appropriations. But