July 23, 2019 (Tuesday)
The Constitution required the Vice President to serve as president if the President died in office or became unable to perform his duties. There was no provision, however, about filling the office of Vice President in case he left office without serving his entire term.
The 4th President, James Madison, faced this situation twice during his eight years in office. During his first term, Vice President George Dallas died. During his second term, Vice President Elbridge Gerry died. In both instances, no one else could serve as vice president because the Constitution made no provision for that situation. This situation prevailed until 1967, when the 25th Amendment was ratified, resolving the issue.
List of US Presidents without Vice Presidents
James Madison from 1812-1813
James Madison from 1814-1817
Andrew Jackson from 1832-1833
John Tyler from 1841-1845*
Millard Fillmore from 1850-1853*
Franklin Pierce from 1853-1857
Andrew Johnson from 1865-1869*
Ulysses S. Grant from 1875-1877
Chester A. Arthur from 1881-1885*
Grover Cleveland from 1885-1889
William McKinley from 1899-1901
Theodore Roosevelt from 1901-1905
William H. Taft from 1912-1913
Calvin Coolidge from 1923-1925
Harry S. Truman from 1945-1949
Lyndon B. Johnson from 1963-1965
Richard Nixon from October 10 – December 6, 1973
Gerald Ford from August 9 – December 19, 1974
* – Served entire term without a Vice President
The first use of the 25th Amendment took place in 1973, when Spiro Agnew resigned the office of Vice President. President Nixon nominated Gerald Ford as Vice President. The amendment was applied again in 1974 when Nixon resigned and Ford became president, nominating Nelson Rockefeller as Vice President.
Gerald Ford earns the description, “unique,” because he was the only person to serve as Vice President and President without being elected to either office.
Gerald Ford
I wonder why it took us so long to amend the Constitution when there was an obvious need to fill a vacancy in the vice president’s office. The problem was first discovered in 1812 but was not resolved until 1967, 155 years later.
We can be very thankful, however, that the original Constitution made provision for the entire problem to be solved peacefully, without chaos or anarchy. God bless America!
Read on, if you like:
The full text of the amendment is:
Section 1–In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
Section 2–Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
Section 3–Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.
Section 4–Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.