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Constitution Signing
When the Constitution was signed back on this date, the rules of succession were rather vague. It didn't state who was in line after the vice president to take office, if something did happen to the vice president. Due to the Constitution not being clear on this matter at the time, many presidents and vice presidents decided to take it upon themselves and how to handle Presidential succession. -
Presidential Succession Act
On this date, Congress passed the Presidential Succession Act. The purpose that this act served, was that it placed the Majority Leaders of the House of Representatives as well as the President Pro Tempore of the Senate in the line of succession for president. -
William Harrison Death & John Tyler Presidency
William Harrison is the first president to die while in office. Due to there not being any directions or rules set in place for this kind of ambiguity, it was open for interpretation. John Tyler, being the vice president, was named "Vice President Acting President" by Harrison's cabinet. Tyler was unsatisfied though, he wanted more.
So he moved into the White House, requested he be sworn in, and claimed full presidential power. Though there was debate, Congress later confirmed his presidency. -
Editing the Presidential Succession Act
Congress decided to remove some of the people that were put in line for succession in the Presidential Succession Act. They removed the President Pro Tempore from the line of succession.
Congress also removed the House Majority Leader of the House of Representatives. These people were replaced with members of the presidential cabinet starting with the Secretary of State and then by rank. -
20th Amendment
The 20th Amendment was beneficial because it cleared up some confusion. This amendment allowed the vice president to become president if the acting president died. This amendment also addressed that if the acting president fell ill or was unable to carry out his tasks as president then the vice president would assume the role of president. -
Assassination of JFK
On a parade in Dallas, Texas, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. It's wasn't clear if the vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson, was injured or hurt during the event. This tragedy made it even more evident that there needed to be a succession amendment. -
Recommendation of a Succession Amendment
Less than two years after Kennedy's assassination, it was recommended that there be a succession amendment. The importance of the amendment was apparent due to the fact it was a joint resolution introduced in the House and Senate. -
Ratification of the 25th Amendment
The 25th amendment was ratified. The amendment was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson who was John F. Kennedy's vice president. The amendment went into law on February 23 of that year. This amendment would finally clear up any confusion or controversy about presidential succession. -
Spiro Agnew Resignation
This was the first time the 25th Amendment was used. Spiro Agnew was the first vice president to ever resign, due to being charged with political corruption after being involved in a scandal about his governorship of Maryland. This meant that the president at the time, Richard Nixon, had to nominate a new vice president. He nominated Gerald Ford who was later approved by Congress. -
Ronald Reagan and Section 4
Although Section 4 of the 25th Amendment has never been used, the Reagan administration came close. When President Ronald Reagan was shot, and was receiving surgery for his wound, his administration was assembling the necessary papers to invoke the 25th Amendment to make George H.W. Bush the acting president. The papers were never signed though, even though it was suggested by members of his cabinet and even his doctor.
