Acting Presidents Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution

1 acting presidents

1.1 1985: george h.w. bush
1.2 2002: dick cheney
1.3 2007: dick cheney

acting presidents
1985: george h.w. bush

on july 12, 1985, president ronald reagan underwent colonoscopy, during villous adenoma (a pre-cancerous lesion) discovered. when told physician (dr. edward cattau) undergo surgery or in 2 3 weeks, reagan elected have removed immediately.

that afternoon, reagan consulted white house counsel fred fielding telephone, debating whether invoke amendment and, if so, whether such transfer set undesirable precedent. fielding , white house chief of staff donald regan recommended reagan transfer power , 2 letters doing drafted: first letter invoked section 3 of twenty-fifth amendment; second mentioned reagan mindful of provision. @ 10:32 a.m. on july 13, reagan signed second letter , ordered delivery appropriate officers required under amendment. vice president george h. w. bush acting president 11:28 a.m. until 7:22 p.m., when reagan transmitted second letter resume powers , duties of office.

books such president has been shot: confusion, disability , 25th amendment, herbert abrams, , reagan s autobiography, american life, argue president reagan s intent transfer power vice president bush clear. fielding himself adds:

i know did intend invoke amendment, , conveyed of staff , conveyed vp president of senate. firm in wish not create precedent binding successor.

2002: dick cheney

on june 29, 2002, president george w. bush underwent colonoscopy , chose invoke section 3 of amendment, temporarily transferring powers vice president dick cheney. medical procedure began @ 7:09 a.m. edt , ended @ 7:29 a.m. edt. bush woke twenty minutes later, did not resume presidential powers , duties until 9:24 a.m. edt after president s physician, richard tubb, conducted overall examination. tubb said recommended additional time make sure sedative had no aftereffects. unlike reagan s 1985 letter, bush s 2002 letter cited section 3 authority transfer of power.

2007: dick cheney

on july 21, 2007, president bush again invoked section 3 in response having undergo colonoscopy, temporarily transferring powers vice president cheney. president bush invoked section 3 @ 7:16 a.m. edt. reclaimed powers @ 9:21 a.m. edt. happened in 2002, bush cited section 3 when transferred presidential powers vice president , when reclaimed powers.