Stettinius now next in line
Succession provided by act of Congress
WASHINGTON (UP) – With Harry S. Truman installed as president, the nation will be without a vice president until January 19, 1949, when the present term of office ends.
While there is provision for succession of Cabinet members to the presidency in event of the death or removal from office of both the president and vice president, there is no provision for a successor to the vice president when that office becomes vacant.
In event of Mr. Truman’s death, the line of succession to the presidency would be:
- Secretary of State Edward R. Stettinius Jr.
- Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau Jr.
- Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson
- Attorney General Francis Biddle
- Postmaster General Frank C. Walker
- Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal
- Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes
The order of succession was established by Congress January 19, 1886. It makes no mention of the secretaries of agriculture, commerce and labor whose offices had not been created at that time.
Meanwhile, the job of presiding over the Senate, customarily held by the vice president, falls to Sen. Kenneth McKellar (D-Tennessee) at 76. He is the oldest member in point of service and has been serving as president pro tempore since January 6.
The post of president of the Senate carries with it the important function of deciding to which committees bills should be sent. Since the makeup of a committee sometimes plays an important part in the treatment a measure will receive, this is an important function in determining the fate of legislation.
Mr. McKellar, who retains his status as senior senator from Tennessee, gets a salary boost from the congressional $10,000 a year to $15,000 the vice-presidential allotment.
As a senator, he will still be entitled to a vote in all matters before the Senate. A vice president can vote only in case of a tie.
Mr. McKellar will have only his one vote as a senator, however and will not be entitled to cast a second deciding vote in case of a tie.