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Designated survivor

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A designated survivor (or Designated Successor) is a member of the United States Cabinet who stays at a physically distant, secure, and undisclosed location when the President and the country's other top leaders are gathered at a single location, such as during State of the Union Addresses and presidential inaugurations. This maintains continuity of government with regard to presidential succession in the remote possibility of a catastrophic event which might wipe out large portions of the United States' federal government, including the entire slate of individuals designated by law in the line of succession to the presidency. Since U.S. law does not provide for anyone to assume the office of president if everyone on this list is simultaneously killed, the practice of designating a survivor is intended to effectively eliminate the chance of that happening. It originated during the Cold War amid fears of a nuclear attack. Only cabinet members who are eligible to succeed to the presidency (i.e., natural-born citizens) can be chosen as designated survivors.

Since 2005, members of Congress have also served as designated survivors. In addition to serving as a rump legislature in the event that all of their colleagues were killed, a surviving Representative and Senator could ascend to the offices of Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate, offices which immediately follow the Vice President in the line of succession. If such a legislative survivor were the sitting Speaker or President Pro Tempore – as for the 2005, 2006, and 2007 State of the Union addresses, in which President Pro Tempore Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) or Sen. Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia) was also a designated survivor – he would take the office of President rather than the surviving Cabinet member. However it is unclear whether another legislator could do so without first being elected to that leadership position by a quorum of their respective house.[1]

List of some designated survivors

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Wisegeek: What is a Designated Survivor?
  2. ^ a b c 1989, 1993 and 2001 speeches were given by incoming Presidents and not formal "State of the Union" addresses
  3. ^ a b c For the 2005, 2006, and 2007 State of the Union addresses, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate would have been the highest-ranking survivor.

References

  • 1981: New York Times, "State of Union: Bewitched by Pageant," Page A18, Jan 27, 1988
  • 1984: UPI, "Washington Dateline." Jan 25, 1984
  • 1985: UPI, "Washington News." Feb 6, 1985
  • 1986: UPI, "Washington News." Feb 4, 1986
  • 1987: UPI, "Washington News." Jan 28, 1987
  • 1988: New York Times, "State of Union: Bewitched by Pageant." Page A18. Jan 27, 1988
  • 1990: Washington Post, Page C3. Jan 31, 1991
  • 1991: Washington Post, Page C3. Jan 31, 1991
  • 1996: USA Today, Page A12. Feb 5, 1997
  • 1997: Washington Post, "Agriculture's Glickman Draws Doomsday Duty for Address." Page A13. Feb 4, 1997
  • 1999: New York Times, "Not Being Invited Was the Honor." Page B2. Jan 21, 1999
  • 2000: Washington Post, "The Reliable Source." Page C3. Jan 28, 2000
  • 2001: New York Times, "Cabinet's 'Designated Absentee' Stays Away." Page A23. Jan 30, 2002
  • 2002: New York Times, "Cabinet's 'Designated Absentee' Stays Away." Page A23. Jan 30, 2002
  • 2003: New York Times, "Ashcroft in Secret Spot During Bush Address." Jan 29, 2003
  • 2004: AP, "Four to Miss Speech Due to Security." Jan 20, 2004
  • 2005: New York Times, "Five Officials Skip State of the Union Address." Feb 2, 2005
  • 2006: Philadelphia Inquirer, "A Message of Energy, Strength." Feb 1, 2006.
  • 2007: Washington Post, "The Reliable Source." Page C3. Jan 25, 2007.
  • 2008: AP, "Interior Secretary Skips Speech," Jan 28, 2008
  • 2009: AFP American Edition, "Gates to Sit out Obama Inauguration," January 19, 2009
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