January 19, 2009 10:38 AM

Gates To Be Designated Successor On Inauguration Day

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
White House
(AP Photo/Scott Olson)
If the unthinkable happens on Inauguration Day, Robert Gates, the defense secretary, will be available to assume the reins of government.

"In order to ensure continuity of government, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been designated by the outgoing Administration, with the concurrence of the incoming Administration, to serve as the designated successor during Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20th," White House press Secretary Dana Perino said.

According to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, if the president is unable to fulfill his duties, the Vice President succeeds him, followed by the Speaker of the House, the President pro tempore of the Senate (traditionally the senior member of the majority party), The Secretary of the Treasury, and then the Secretary of Defense. (The succession order continues from there – You can see the full list here.)

Perino said that Gates will be at a secure, undisclosed location on Inauguration Day, according to CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller. Most of the others on the succession list, by contrast, will be participating in the inauguration festivities.

There is a long history of keeping designated individuals away from events at which numerous high ranking officials will be present. In 2007, for example, then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was kept away from the State Of The Union so that he could take over government in case of disaster.

At that time, Knoller spoke to Dan Glickman, who was the Cabinet member kept from the proceedings at President Bill Clinton's 1997 State Of The Union address. He was then the Secretary of Agriculture.

"I was not given a briefing on what to do if something happened," Glickman said. He did, however, have presidential-level security, for one night only.

"A government aircraft flew him to New York City – and a motorcade drove him to his daughter's apartment in lower Manhattan," Knoller wrote. "Not only did Glickman have a sizeable Secret Service detail, he says his entourage included a military aide that he thinks was carrying what's known as 'the football.' That's the special briefcase carrying the codes by which the President can launch nuclear missiles."

Add a Comment See all 15 Comments
by clovisbuford January 20, 2009 12:33 AM EST
lets see we have a man entrusted as dedicated enough to the USA that Obama would keep him on as secretary of defense ,even if its just transitional ,A man that called for the closing of gitmo as as a bush appointeee. etc. .. He is a transitional figure devoted to the best service of our country . I dont agree with all of his decisions , I dont doubt his integrity , neither did the bush admin , or the incoming Obama admin . Maybe some of you folks should just get a life , or loosen the hat bands on those tinfoil arrangements with the antennae ..just saying .. oh wait .. he must be tied to hanger 51 or the buildings that collapsed on 9/11 or the gnomes of zurich , or the trilateral commission , or the CFR or the Illuminatti..really sometimes a cigar is just a cigar ..(props to sigmund freud)
Reply to this comment
by tincup356 January 19, 2009 10:05 PM EST
The very best thing that could happen......every single one of the crooks resign and turn themselves in to face charges of treason,,,,,they are destroying the middle class and do not care,,,,,this is not some accident people it has been very planned.....sorry but the change many of you voted for and ALL of us want.......is a thing of deception......change will mean the wealth of the middle class will change from their possession...to the possession of the elite by means of economic fraud and a congresspiracy in junction with corporate America......but we all know that is not going to happen......so that means that real patriots of America will have to stand up and fight for our rights and our country back.....keep pushing you Washington thugs.....sooner or later it will come back to haunt you.
Reply to this comment
by karlita246 January 19, 2009 8:43 PM EST
Dear CBSnews. It''s "assume the reins," not reigns. Pretty funny pun, though, I''m sure it wasn''t intentional.
Reply to this comment
by impeach___w January 19, 2009 8:27 PM EST
The COGC asked congress for an amendment to the constitution. They did not get it. A secret government would not legitimate or legal with out the amendment. Would you have saluted president gonzales or revolted?
Reply to this comment
by lordmi January 19, 2009 7:08 PM EST
I just guess, that NNobody will dare...
Reply to this comment
by tmittelstaed January 19, 2009 6:54 PM EST
I guess this article is proof they ran out of tinfoil hats...
Reply to this comment
by ballpen1 January 19, 2009 6:11 PM EST
Umm... How am i to feel that the single Bush holdout in the cabinet is given this position? That he also is the man with the links to the military-industrial complex? That CBS is broadcasting this in advance of anything "unthinkable" happening? I have severe trouble with this triplet of informations i just got...
Reply to this comment
by dburfears January 19, 2009 5:53 PM EST
"Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was kept away from the State Of The Union so that he could take over government in case of disaster."

Laugh?

Cry?

Throw up?

It boggles the mind to consider this idiot as President. Making Alberto successor further points out that Bush was a MORON. Compare that to Obama- making Gates successor in case of attack is 100% the right choice.

Once again the score:
Bush and the GOP= 0
Obama= 10^4
Reply to this comment
by impeach___w January 19, 2009 4:59 PM EST
DM8954,
A series of presidential national security directives have also fostered continuity of
government planning and preparations. The current authority in this series, Presidential
Decision Directive 67 (PDD 67), was signed by President William Clinton on October 21,
1998, and relates to ensuring constitutional government, continuity of operations
planning, and continuity of government operations. Federal agencies are required to
develop Continuity of Operations Plans for Essential Operations that identify those
requirements necessary to support the primary functions of the agencies, such as
emergency communications, a chain of command, and delegation of authority. The full
text of the directive remains security classified.


There nothing secret about the constituion and the transfer of powers when a president dies. On the other hand the COGC is very secret- yes a secret government! If every one dies, it''s bad planning. Does this sound American? Does someone''s bad planning mean you can have a secret govenment you never voted for?? Yes it does and you''d better have a contingency plan for it.
Reply to this comment
by walt1944-2009 January 19, 2009 4:28 PM EST
It has been learned that the Secretary of (Da fence), Robert Gates, will not attend the swearing in of Obama and Biden but will be kept at an undisclosed location in case of a "national disaster"!

This is a result of the Department of Homland Security acting on a tip by someone named Chicken Little that he expects the sky will fall on everyone tomorrow.

Attempts to locate the mysterious Mr. Little have drawn a blank, but the Department of Homeland Security has placed all personnel at NASA on HIGH ALERT, will ground all air traffic, and told astronauts in orbit on the space station to be vigilant!

SIG HEIL, YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO CAREFUL!!!, BUSH!!!
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