# Obama and Biden both to be out of country at same time **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 19, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-biden-both-to-be-out-of-country-at-same-time/653385 "2013-03-19T19:14:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-biden-both-to-be-out-of-country-at-same-time/653385/1 "2013-03-19T19:14:26Z")
Not for long, mind you: [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/19/coming-and-going-obama-and-biden-to-be-out-of-country-simultaneously/](http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/19/coming-and-going-obama-and-biden-to-be-out-of-country-simultaneously/) Has this happened in any previous Administration? I can’t think of any earlier cases. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-biden-both-to-be-out-of-country-at-same-time/653385/2 "2013-03-19T19:24:17Z")
> [@](#): > > The reporting pool traveling with the vice president back from Rome reports he is expected to land Tuesday evening at Joint Base Andrews anytime from 8:20 p.m. ET to 9:20 p.m. ET. The president is set to take off for his Middle East trip at 8:00 p.m. ET. I predict a bright orange erection lasting between 20 - 80 minutes somewhere in DC this evening. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-biden-both-to-be-out-of-country-at-same-time/653385/3 "2013-03-19T19:32:12Z")
Does this mean that John Kerry will be in charge? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-biden-both-to-be-out-of-country-at-same-time/653385/4 "2013-03-19T19:34:34Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Does this mean that John Kerry will be in charge? Obama is still in charge no matter where he is. Next in line after Biden is Boehner. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-biden-both-to-be-out-of-country-at-same-time/653385/5 "2013-03-19T20:10:17Z")
This is just the break the Romney campaign has been waiting for! ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-biden-both-to-be-out-of-country-at-same-time/653385/6 "2013-03-19T20:21:16Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Does this mean that John Kerry will be in charge? I’m pretty sure it would be Alexander Haig. ---
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-biden-both-to-be-out-of-country-at-same-time/653385/7 "2013-03-19T20:39:01Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Obama is still in charge no matter where he is. Next in line after Biden is Boehner. Agreed. This is one reason the price tag for presidential trips is in the tens of thousands of dollars: he has to keep sufficient communications and staff within reach so he can continue to run the country. ---
**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:** [March 20, 2013, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-biden-both-to-be-out-of-country-at-same-time/653385/8 "2013-03-20T13:34:11Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Obama is still in charge no matter where he is. Next in line after Biden is Boehner. [Not according to Al Haig](http://voices.yahoo.com/alexander-haig-am-control-quote-defines-haig-5509815.html?cat=62). ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-biden-both-to-be-out-of-country-at-same-time/653385/9 "2013-03-20T18:23:42Z")
> [@dstarfire](#): > > Agreed. This is one reason the price tag for presidential trips is in the tens of thousands of dollars: he has to keep sufficient communications and staff within reach so he can continue to run the country. More like tens of millions. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-biden-both-to-be-out-of-country-at-same-time/653385/10 "2013-03-20T18:49:06Z")
President [Gerald Ford travelled to Mexico on Oct. 21, 1974](http://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/travels/president/ford-gerald-r). Nelson did not take the [oath of office as Vice President until December 19, 1974](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Rockefeller#Vice_Presidency_1974.E2.80.931977), the Vice Presidency was vacant when Ford made his trip. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-biden-both-to-be-out-of-country-at-same-time/653385/11 "2013-03-20T19:06:52Z")
So what kinda shit is Boehner gonna try to pull? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-biden-both-to-be-out-of-country-at-same-time/653385/12 "2013-03-20T20:13:42Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > President [Gerald Ford travelled to Mexico on Oct. 21, 1974](http://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/travels/president/ford-gerald-r). Nelson did not take the [oath of office as Vice President until December 19, 1974](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Rockefeller#Vice_Presidency_1974.E2.80.931977), the Vice Presidency was vacant when Ford made his trip. Well, I’m not surprised there have been times when the President was out of the country and there was no Vice President. It seems to be unprecedented for both offices to be filled but both occupants to be out of the country at the same time.