Abstract

After the Vice President?

The U.S. is again directing its attention to the unresolved problems of Executive continuity in the event of Presidential death or disability. Although the transition to a new Administration has been remarkably smooth, and despite the fact that an election to fill both of the to national offices is less than a year away, these problems cannot be ignored. The urgency arises even more because the actuarial record of American Presidents (and Vice Presidents) is so disturbing: eight out of thirty-six Presidents have died in office, for out of eleven in this century, and on at least three occasions there has been serious doubt as to a President's ability to perform his duties. Moreover, seven Vice Presidents have also died, although, fortunately, the two executive offices have never yet been vacant at the same time.