It may sound like a mysterious plot in a suspenseful thriller, but there is actually such a thing called a « designated survivor » for the U. S. president. You might be able to figure out what a designated survivor is by its name, but if you want to lea…
It may sound like a mysterious plot in a suspenseful thriller, but there is actually such a thing called a « designated survivor » for the U. S. president. You might be able to figure out what a designated survivor is by its name, but if you want to learn more about why it’s important to choose one,and who has been a designated survivor throughout American history, here’s a good place to start.
So, what is exactly a designated survivor? In the case of an unexpected disaster, illness, or a similar condition in which the president is fatally harmed during a State of the Union address or inauguration, a designated survivor temporarily replaces the president as the acting commander-in-chief. Although the name isn’t made public instantly, this person is most likely a cabinet member of the United States government. Like a tightly-kept secret, this particular person is not made known to the public until shortly before the president’s speech begins.
Why so much secrecy? Well, for security purposes. The anonymity granted to a designated survivor is to protect this person from being compromised in, say, an attack, or some other calamity. What’s more, a designated survivor gets their very own Secret Service detail and is sent to an undisclosed location until the president’s State of the Union address is over.
More to come…
