# Can Congressman be appointed as opposed to elected to office?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-congressman-be-appointed-as-opposed-to-elected-to-office/817140>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 2, 2018, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-congressman-be-appointed-as-opposed-to-elected-to-office/817140 "2018-07-02T04:24:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-congressman-be-appointed-as-opposed-to-elected-to-office/817140/21 "2018-07-03T02:57:47Z")

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> [@Lord\_Feldon](#):
>
> The Democratic House _chose_ Gerald Ford for VP. Nixon was not given much of a choice.

I’m not following. Could you please explain what you mean?

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**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-congressman-be-appointed-as-opposed-to-elected-to-office/817140/22 "2018-07-03T03:01:27Z")

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It looks like we’re about to see an appointment; McCain’s retiring his Senate seat, and the Governor gets to appoint his replacement.

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**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-congressman-be-appointed-as-opposed-to-elected-to-office/817140/23 "2018-07-03T03:09:01Z")

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This sprawling, rather tedious book is worth reading just for the sections about presidential and cabinet succession.

> **[Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government's Secret Plan to Save Itself--While...](https://www.amazon.com/Raven-Rock-Governments-Secret-Itself-While/dp/1476735409)**
>
> Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government's Secret Plan to Save Itself--While the Rest of Us Die \[Graff, Garrett M.\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government's Secret Plan to Save...

Had the Nixon thing happened just a few years earlier, he and Agnew could have been replaced by Democrats, one a severe alcoholic and the other an extremely vocal white supremacist. :eek:

I also did not know until recently reading it that Senators can be appointed but Representatives must be elected.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-congressman-be-appointed-as-opposed-to-elected-to-office/817140/24 "2018-07-03T03:41:07Z")

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> [@Alley\_Dweller](#):
>
> I’m not following. Could you please explain what you mean?

I believe what he’s saying is that Nixon had to choose a Republican who was acceptable to the Democrats in the House and the Senate. That drastically winnowed down his options.

After all, the Dems were in a position of power, holding both the Speaker chair and the Senate president pro tem. If Nixon didn’t appoint someone who would be approved by the Dems in both chambers, then the next two people in line for the presidency were Dems, not Repubs.

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