Buttons Not Buttons | Radiolab

Intro

In this episode of Radiolab, titled “Buttons Not Buttons,” the hosts explore the history and significance of buttons through three different stories. From elevator buttons to the signatures of Button Gwinnat on the Declaration of Independence, and even the concept of a nuclear button, this episode delves into the power, freedom, and destruction associated with buttons.

Main Takeaways

Buttons and Elevators

• Buttons represent power, freedom, and destruction.
• Patrick Carson, a collector, showcases his vast collection of elevator buttons at the Elevator Museum.
• Most elevator close buttons are non-functional.
• Elevator systems are programmed to accommodate peak hour traffic.
• The close button on elevators can be hacked to speed up the closing process.
• Rising rents led to the closure of Patrick’s elevator museum in 2016.

Button Gwinnat and the Declaration of Independence

• Button Gwinnat, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, had a troubled life and became a radicalized revolutionary.
• His signature is considered the Holy Grail for collectors of Declaration of Independence signers.
• Only 51 known examples of Gwinnat’s signature exist, making it extremely valuable.
• There are only 10 examples of Button Gwinnat’s signature in public hands.
• Four of Button Gwinnat’s signatures are at the New York Public Library, worth millions of dollars.
• Preserving history is crucial, even though there is an impulse to destroy these valuable signatures.

The Concept of a Nuclear Button

• The idea of a button to launch nuclear weapons is a Hollywood invention.
• The president does not have a physical button, but a complex system of codes and procedures.
• President Truman did not have direct control over the dropping of atomic bombs.
• The concept of a nuclear button symbolizes the ease of destroying civilization.
• The president has an assistant with a briefcase containing all the nuclear codes.
• Roger Fisher proposed sharing responsibility for launching a nuclear attack to reduce the risk of war.

Summary

Buttons and Elevators

In this segment, Latif Nasser visits the Elevator Museum and meets Patrick Carson, a collector with a vast collection of elevator buttons. They discuss the non-functionality of most elevator close buttons and how elevator systems are programmed to accommodate peak hour traffic. Patrick’s museum, unfortunately, closed in 2016 due to rising rents.

Button Gwinnat and the Declaration of Independence

Button Gwinnat, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, had a troubled life and became a radicalized revolutionary. His signature is highly coveted by collectors, with only 51 known examples in existence. The New York Public Library houses four of his signatures, classified as “splendid” and worth millions of dollars. Preserving these valuable signatures is vital, despite the temptation to destroy them.

The Concept of a Nuclear Button

This segment explores the Hollywood-invented concept of a button to launch nuclear weapons. In reality, the president does not have a physical button but relies on a complex system of codes and procedures. The idea of a nuclear button symbolizes the ease of destroying civilization. Roger Fisher proposed sharing responsibility for launching a nuclear attack to reduce the risk of war, suggesting embedding nuclear codes in someone’s heart and requiring the president to kill them to access the codes. However, concerns about the president’s judgment prevented the implementation of this idea.

Conclusion

The “Buttons Not Buttons” episode of Radiolab takes listeners on a fascinating journey through the history and significance of buttons. From elevator buttons to the valuable signatures of Button Gwinnat on the Declaration of Independence, and the concept of a nuclear button, this episode highlights the power, freedom, and destruction associated with buttons. It reminds us of the importance of preserving history and the need for shared responsibility in critical decision-making.