Presidential Succession

If the president for some reason leaves his post whether it be because of death, disease, resignation, or whatnot, there has to be someone to take his place. The next person in line for the presidency is the vide president but what if he or she also leaves office?

1. Vice President
2. Speaker of the House
3. President of the Senate
4. Secretary of State
5. Secretary of the Treasury
6. Secretary of Defense
7. Attorney General
8. Secretary of the Interior
9. Secretary of Agriculture
10. Secretary of Commerce
11. Secretary of Labor
12. Secretary of Health and Human Services
13. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
14. Secretary of Transportation
15. Secretary of Energy
16. Secretary of Education
17. Secretary of Veterans Affairs
18. Secretary of Homeland Security

Sections 3 and 4 of the 25th amendment talks about disability. The Vice president is to become Acting president if the President tells Congress that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, or if the Vice president and members of the Presidential Cabinet inform Congress that the President is unable to perform his duties. If either case occurred the president could take back his powers and duties by informing Congress that he has no inability to perform his duties. The Vice president and Cabinet can then challenge the President and Congress is left with 21 days to make a decision on the issue.

In 1985, Ronald Reagan gave George H.W Bush eight hours of presidency while he was having a tumor removed. In 2002, George W. Bush handed over power to Dick Cheney for two hours while he was anesthetized for a medical procedure.

There have been nine instances throughout United States history when a successor to the presidency was needed. On April 4th 1841, William Harrison died and john Tyler became President. When Zachary Taylor died on July 9th, 1850, Millard Fillmore took on the Presidency. When Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 15th, 1865, Andrew Johnson became President. On September 19th, 1881, James Garfield was assassinated and Chester Arthur became President. William McKinley died on September 14th, 1901 and Theodore Roosevelt was his successor. When Warren Harding died on August 2nd, 1923, Calvin Coolidge became President. The death of Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 12th, 1945, resulted in Harry Truman becoming President. John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22nd, 1963 and Lyndon B. Johnson took his place. On August 9th, 1974, Richard Nixon resigned from office and Gerald Ford became President.