Nixon and the Nuclear Codes [View all]

During the last days of the Nixon presidency, his mental state reportedly deteriorated and he was drinking heavily. The Secretary of Defense, James Schlesinger, ordered the Joint Chiefs to check with him or Secretary of State Kissinger before launching any missiles. Essentially launch authority rested with someone other than a sitting President, something not done except in the case where a president was in surgery or something of that nature, so far as we know.
The sitting president’s mental state is deteriorating. That much is obvious to the most casual observer. Kegsbreath is no James Schlesinger. And love or hate Henry Kissinger (and there is plenty to both love and hate), he was the voice of reason in this situation. There are no Kissingers In this administration.
What do you suppose is going on behind the scenes, if anything? Would the Joint Chiefs obey a launch order?

We live in interesting times.