'Doomsday Book' lists extraordinary powers a President may be authorized to use in the event of a catastrophe

A stack of papers crafted over decades lists extraordinary powers a President may be authorized to use in the event of a nuclear attack or other massive catastrophe.

Over the decades , the book has come to include ready-made orders to suspend habeas corpus, put parts of the country under military control, impose martial law, block Americans from traveling overseas, and restrict telecommunications.

The Doomsday Book contains an actual menu of real-world options for how a Commander in Chief could dramatically extend the powers of the presidency.

The powers are based on laws like the Insurrection Act of 1807 , the Communications Act of 1934 , the National Emergencies Act of 1976 , and the Immigration and Nationality Act , as well as secret Justice Department legal interpretations of inherent presidential constitutional powers.

Richard Nixon has long served as a cautionary example of the abuse of presidential power.

Nixon 's staff chose to shield him from consequential decisions, afraid of what he might order them to do.

A former senior White House official thinks it would be hard for the National Security Council to be used for political warfare.