So would it be prudent for the Vice President to take the Presidential oath of office as soon as he becomes VP? That way, if the need arises, he can start doing presidential things without hesitation or delay. After all, the Constitution doesn’t say how far in advance the oath can be administered.
And the VP takes the VP oath before he even becomes VP. Why not take the Presidential oath before he becomes President?
Right. The Constitution doesn’t say anything and neither does any other written law. Therefore there is no reason to believe this is meaningful or effective.
There’s also an interesting slippery slope argument. If the VP does this as a precaution then why not the Speaker of the House, the next in line? Or the President pro tempore of the Senate, who follows? Or every member of the Cabinet who is in the line of secession?
That would make for a funny scene. Congress confirms the Secretary of Agriculture and then says “Now take the presidential oath of office. Just in case <<nudge, nudge, wink, wink>>.”
(Yeah, I know the confirmation vote is taken when the person isn’t there and then is recorded by the secretary of the Senate for transmission to the White House, and the ceremony is there. As long as we’re making up television show fantasies, I’ll take mine. Isn’t that stupid Kiefer Sutherland show still on the air?)