Jeff Merkley actually said...

It has not generally been the retention of the potential for first use as it has been assured destruction.

We have not been checking and balancing the executive branch for 60-some odd years, maybe longer.

We have had serious conversations about the potential of using a nuclear weapon in--as a first-use weapon both in Vietnam and in Korea.

I am not ready to concede that the line should be wiped out with no geographic limits, no time limits, no style of force limits.