--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: British prime ministers, upon taking…" description: "\"“British prime ministers, upon taking office, hand-wrote letters to the commanders of their nuclear missile submarines. Known as “Letters of Last Resor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/garrett-m-graff-7343_last-resort_british-prime-ministers-upon-taking-offi_1762548.jpg" --- # British prime ministers, upon taking office, hand-wrote… ![“British prime ministers, upon taking office, hand-wrote letters to the commanders of their nuclear missile submarines. Known as “Letters of Last Resort,” each individual missive was then locked away in a special safe inside a larger safe in the sub control room. The letters contain personal…” quote by Garrett M. Graff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/garrett-m-graff-7343_last-resort_british-prime-ministers-upon-taking-offi_1762548.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/garrett-m-graff-7343_last-resort_british-prime-ministers-upon-taking-offi_1762548.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/garrett-m-graff-7343_last-resort_british-prime-ministers-upon-taking-offi_1762548.jpg) > ““British prime ministers, upon taking office, hand-wrote letters to the commanders of their nuclear missile submarines. Known as “Letters of Last Resort,” each individual missive was then locked away in a special safe inside a larger safe in the sub control room. The letters contain personal instructions about what to do if the United Kingdom is destroyed in a nuclear attack.”” [Garrett M. Graff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-m-graff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. British PMs write secret letters to submarine commanders, outlining actions if the UK is destroyed, kept locked in a safe. **In simple terms:** Leaders prepare contingency plans for nuclear catastrophe. Key Takeaway Understand the gravity of nuclear deterrence. Themes security government responsibility nuclear policy Mood analytical serious Type historical political When to use this quote - military drills - policy debates - public awareness campaigns Key Concepts deterrence ethical dilemmas command authority Questions to Reflect On - Should citizens know about such plans? - What moral burden do leaders bear? A Different Perspective Secrecy can erode public trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Known Letters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known-letters-1704267/) [Last resort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-resort/) [Missile Submarines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missile-submarines-1704265/) [Submarines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submarines/) [Submarines Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submarines-known-1704266/) [United kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-kingdom/) [Wrote Letters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrote-letters-460860/) ## Related quotes > [“Isn’t it amazing how we take them for granted? Those little black marks on paper. 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