# If Bush were to die in the next couple of weeks... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 31, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360 "2008-12-31T15:55:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/1 "2008-12-31T15:55:40Z")
…would Cheney become the 44th US president, bumping Obama to 45th? I really hope not, since 44 is a much cooler number than 45…Reggie Jackson, Hank Aaron, Jerry West. The only famous 45 I can think of is Jordan’s 1st failed comeback. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/2 "2008-12-31T15:58:09Z")
I think there have been a few threads about this sort of thing recently, and IIRC the answer is that yes, Cheney would become president until Obama is inaugurated. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/3 "2008-12-31T16:03:18Z")
From now until January 20th, Obama is nothing but a private citizen and has no place in the order of succession. The Vice President takes over as president on occasion of the latter’s death. Right now, the VP is Cheney, so he’d take over if there were a vacancy in the office. Regardless, the current term expires at noon on the 20th, so even if Cheney did become president now, he’d still leave office at the same time Bush will. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/4 "2008-12-31T16:36:29Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > From now until January 20th, Obama is nothing but a private citizen and has no place in the order of succession. The Vice President takes over as president on occasion of the latter’s death. Right now, the VP is Cheney, so he’d take over if there were a vacancy in the office. Regardless, the current term expires at noon on the 20th, so even if Cheney did become president now, he’d still leave office at the same time Bush will. > > –Cliffy My question was whether Cheney would be considered the 44th president in the history books, for example. I understand that he’d have all the powers of president. Would the chief justice go through administering the oath? If so, what about if it happened on January 18th or 19th? ---
**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:** [December 31, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/5 "2008-12-31T16:43:00Z")
The country has to have a president. If the president dies, the vice president gets sworn in ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/6 "2008-12-31T17:07:52Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > The country has to have a president. If the president dies, the vice president gets sworn in ASAP. This has been well-established. The question is whether Cheney would still be considered the 43rd president or if he would get his own designation as the 44th president. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/7 "2008-12-31T17:10:26Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > This has been well-established. The question is whether Cheney would still be considered the 43rd president or if he would get his own designation as the 44th president. This has also been well established by the many presidents that have died in office. There can’t be two 43th presidents. Cheney would be #44. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/8 "2008-12-31T17:12:55Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > My question was whether Cheney would be considered the 44th president in the history books, for example. I understand that he’d have all the powers of president. Would the chief justice go through administering the oath? If so, what about if it happened on January 18th or 19th? Why wouldn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/9 "2008-12-31T17:15:20Z")
William Henry Harrison died after only one month in office so Cheney would be #44. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/10 "2008-12-31T17:18:35Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > The question is whether Cheney would still be considered the 43rd president or if he would get his own designation as the 44th president. The number is the count of people who have served as president, not the number of terms, so each individual gets a different number. If we were counting by number of terms, Obama would be the 56th president. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/11 "2008-12-31T17:21:00Z")
Yes, Cheney would finish out Bush’s term, even if there was only five minutes left of it, and he would get the corresponding number in succession. But come on, how much damage could he do in five minutes? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/12 "2008-12-31T17:27:55Z")
I can just see the OP in Washington saying, “Hey, it’s just a couple of days. What could possibly happen?” :smack: P.S. The Presidency moves at the instant of death. The swearing in is just a formality. As far as I’m aware, all legal scholars are agreed on this, even though there obviously has never been a formal test. Cheney becomes President at the moment of Bush’s death, even if it is three seconds before midnight. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/13 "2008-12-31T17:45:59Z")
I was prepared to say the numbering of the Presidents is merely a matter of convention, not dictated by any law or regulation. (And that convention would make Cheney #44 in this scenario). But then I remembered, vaguely, that somebody in a position of authority made an official or semi-official ruling that Grover Cleveland, because of his non-consecutive terms, was both the 22d and 24th President. I can’t for the life of me remember who decided that, or when. The Librarian of Congress? Secretary of State? Does anybody remember this story? ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/14 "2008-12-31T17:48:25Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > P.S. The Presidency moves at the instant of death. So what you’re saying is that there’s some kind of supralight particle called presidention that defies all known laws of physics? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/15 "2008-12-31T18:02:44Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > This has been well-established. The question is whether Cheney would still be considered the 43rd president or if he would get his own designation as the 44th president. I’m trying to figure out what’s behind the question; why would Cheney be considered anything other than the 44th? Bush is the 43rd, and the next president, whoever that may be, for whatever duration, would be the 44th. ---
**Author:** ![JFLuvly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac91a4/32.png) [@JFLuvly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JFLuvly)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/16 "2008-12-31T18:04:07Z")
How much damage could he do in five minutes? Correct me if I am wrong, but, if during a time of war does the President not stay in office? Could he simply not declare war on …say Iran… and remain in office as long as he wants, or would it change hands regardless at this point? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/17 "2008-12-31T18:05:11Z")
> [@JFLuvly](#): > > Correct me if I am wrong, but, if during a time of war does the President not stay in office? No. Bush’s term ends January 20th, period. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/18 "2008-12-31T18:09:43Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > But then I remembered, vaguely, that somebody in a position of authority made an official or semi-official ruling that Grover Cleveland, because of his non-consecutive terms, was both the 22d and 24th President. I can’t for the life of me remember who decided that, or when. The Librarian of Congress? Secretary of State? Does anybody remember this story? Why wouldn’t he be both? > [@JFLuvly](#): > > How much damage could he do in five minutes? > Correct me if I am wrong, but, if during a time of war does the President not stay in office? > Could he simply not declare war on …say Iran.. and remain in office as long as he wants, or would it change hands regardless at this point? Even if your premise were correct, the President does not declare war. [Congress does](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_One_of_the_United_States_Constitution#Section_8:_Powers_of_Congress). ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/19 "2008-12-31T18:17:47Z")
If Cheney were President for 5 minutes, the White House would become part of the legislative branch. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360/20 "2008-12-31T18:20:40Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > But then I remembered, vaguely, that somebody in a position of authority made an official or semi-official ruling that Grover Cleveland, because of his non-consecutive terms, was both the 22d and 24th President. I can’t for the life of me remember who decided that, or when. The Librarian of Congress? Secretary of State? Does anybody remember this story? They plan to mint separate coins for each of Cleveland’s terms as part of the [presidential one-dollar coin program](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_$1_Coin_Program), so that’s basically an official acknowledgment that he’s both the 22nd and 24th president. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bush-were-to-die-in-the-next-couple-of-weeks/479360.md?page=2)