[ WP ] After you are elected President , you discover a big red button hidden in your desk in the Oval Office . When you ask your predecessor about it , he said that it had been there for decades , but the secret of what it did died with Kennedy . After a few years , you finally give in and push the button .

`` Damn, that's infuriating'', I said. `` Are you sure no one knows what it does?''. `` Sorry, Sir'', Charles mumbled. As the Maintenance Chief for the White House, his job was to know pretty much every wire and pipe in the building. Yet he was at a loss. 
 
 I knew he was good at his job. He'd scoured all the building plans available, but nothing there. He tried to trace the wiring, but it was embedded into too much concrete to tone out. He found some old records, dating from around the Kennedy Administration, right in the middle of the Cold War. But there was no hint of what the button did. It just sat there, sticking up in defiance. Daring to be pressed. 
 
 Years passed, and the last term was drawing to a close. I was n't doing too bad in the polls, which felt good. At least I was n't taking the beating my predecessor did. He's the one that first showed me the button. He'd was afraid to press it. Part of the reason he did n't do well in the polls. People thought he was weak. I've had to make some tough choices, fortunately they were good ones. 
 
 But what about that button? 
 
 The Gala was very nice. Lots of good guests, without being too much of just a photo-op. I should n't have drunk quite as much as I did. But what the hell. It was my last official night as President. Of the United States of Fucking America! Wow, I might have had more than I thought. 
 
 I go upstairs, back into the Oval Office. It's been a wild ride, but it's time to get off. I go back into the private office to the side of the Oval Office. I only have a few chapters to read of that book that I left in there. Maybe I can finish it off in bed before I go to sleep. 
 
 As I pick up the book, I see that button again. I'm thinking I should leave before I get too tempted. After all, I've had too much to drink. Nah, I'm fine. I sit down and take a long last look at the button. I'll probably never see it again. Wished I could have found out what it does. Why do n't I? It's not like it would start a war, would it? Not likely, otherwise I would n't have a Marine follow me around all the time with The Football. I caress the button, toying with it. I should n't. 
 
 What the hell. 
 
 I press the button. There is a delicate click as the button locks into place. But nothing more. Not a thing. No sirens, alarms. No flashing lights. No missiles flying out of silos. Just the click, that is all. 
 
 Damn. Well, maybe it's been too long and the stupid thing is broken. Maybe it never actually did anything at all. I take my book, and make my way back to my bedroom. It's my last night here. 
 
 On the other side of the world, a panicked guard knocks on the Premiers door. `` Comrade Andrie!''. Andrie wakes up and rubs his eyes. `` What is it? ``, Andrie says through a yawn. 
 
 `` The red button! It popped up!''
