# No One In the Presidential Line of Succession -- What Happens? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 19, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-in-the-presidential-line-of-succession-what-happens/777569 "2017-01-19T20:11:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [January 20, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-in-the-presidential-line-of-succession-what-happens/777569/21 "2017-01-20T00:42:07Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > You have to click on “FULL STORY” just above the horizontal line: Still don’t believe it and still want something better as a cite. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-in-the-presidential-line-of-succession-what-happens/777569/22 "2017-01-20T01:17:07Z")
Of course, there’s the legal realist perspective, which says that if things get hairy enough, whoever steps into command and can get the majority of the remainder of the government behind them is effectively in charge, at least until the system is organized enough to formally reconstitute itself. It’s what you might call difficulty snap-back: Things can only get more difficult for so long. If things get too difficult to resolve, some other method is found which side-steps the impossible difficulties and resolves the situation in a fashion humans can cope with. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-in-the-presidential-line-of-succession-what-happens/777569/23 "2017-01-20T02:18:58Z")
That’s exactly what I was going to point out: In any real crisis where the majority of the cabinet ws all killed at once, the person in power would be whoever stepped up first and said “I’m in power”, in a believable way. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-in-the-presidential-line-of-succession-what-happens/777569/24 "2017-01-20T13:32:56Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > That’s exactly what I was going to point out: In any real crisis where the majority of the cabinet ws all killed at once, the person in power would be whoever stepped up first and said “I’m in power”, in a believable way. Just ask [Alexander Haig.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Haig#Reagan_assassination_attempt:_.22I_am_in_control_here.22) ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-in-the-presidential-line-of-succession-what-happens/777569/25 "2017-01-20T15:29:45Z")
I’m voting for the highest ranking military officer … maybe not as President … but the person leading the retaliation against them filthy [insert enemy’s name here] … we do have General Elections every two years … I think a military government would be fine in this case for such a short period of time … ETA: Alexander Haig … haw haw haw … I had him pinned as Deep Throat for the longest time … ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-in-the-presidential-line-of-succession-what-happens/777569/26 "2017-01-20T17:48:55Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > The rules on Senatorial replacements vary by state–some require a special election, but some governors can indeed appoint replacements. > > Now, what if the National Governors’ Association was holding a meeting at the same time _and it got blown up too???_ Gotta also blow up 50 states’ lines of succession completely to handle this scenario… ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-in-the-presidential-line-of-succession-what-happens/777569/27 "2017-01-20T18:53:14Z")
Under the OP’s scenario, wouldn’t Al Haig be in charge? ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-in-the-presidential-line-of-succession-what-happens/777569/28 "2017-01-20T18:53:16Z")
I just read that Jeh Johnson, Homeland Security chief, was the designated survivor and spent the inauguration in an undisclosed location in case something happens. So I guess they actually do think ahead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-in-the-presidential-line-of-succession-what-happens/777569.md?page=1)