THE PRESIDENTIAL LINE OF SUCCESSION: WHO'S NEXT?


have Wilson and his Vice President resign after appointing his victorious opponent as Secretary of State. According to the laws of succession, this would allow the President-elect to become President immediately. Wilson felt this necessary because of the looming threat of war. Wilson won in close and surprising victory, and the plan to make his successor Secretary of State was not necessary.

This idea surfaced again in 1946. Everyone, except Harry Truman, was sure that Thomas Dewey would defeat President Truman in 1948. Republican leaders called upon Truman to name Dewey Secretary of State and then resign to allow the people to have their choice immediately. Of course, Truman declined the advice, and went on to beat Dewey.

In 1947, Congress passed the third Presidential Succession Act, which is in effect today. This law placed the Speaker of the House of Representatives immediately behind the Vice President, followed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate, and then through the cabinet officers as before.

The Act of 1947 has been altered by the ratification of the 25th Amendment. This amendment provides for replacing a Vice President who dies, resigns, is removed from office, or succeeds to the Presidency. This amendment was first used when Vice President Agnew resigned in the wake of tax and bribery scandals. President Nixon appointed Gerald Ford Vice President with the approval of both houses of Congress.

Shortly after that, Nixon resigned to avoid impeachment. Ford then became President, and appointed Nelson Rockefeller as Vice President. If not for the 25th Amendment, Speaker of the House Carl Albert would have become President.

The Presidential line of succession is never important until it has to be used. We have tried several different variations over the last 200 years. Our current line seems to be working, especially since the enactment of the 25th Amendment. But even with the 25th Amendment, it took over four months for the Congress to confirm Ford's nomination of Rockefeller as Vice President. If anything had happened to Ford during those four months, the line of succession would have gone beyond the Vice President for the first time in our history.

The copyright of the article THE PRESIDENTIAL LINE OF SUCCESSION: WHO'S NEXT? in American Presidents is owned by John S. Cooper. Permission to republish THE PRESIDENTIAL LINE OF SUCCESSION: WHO'S NEXT? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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