 Connelly, a secret service agent whose contempt for the new president s morals makes him unwilling to take a bullet for the guy is transferred to  football duty . The football in question is the briefcase which gives the president control over the whole of America s nuclear arsenal. It must be kept within 40 feet of him at all times and officers guarding it have responsibility only for the briefcase. However, during unofficial negotiations with a prominent Chinese businessman both the president and the football are captured.