Evening star., 1925-03-01
ONE-DAY PRESIDENT
NOTED IN HISTORY
David R. Aitchison, Senate
President, Served When
Zachary Taylor Skipped.

President for day" is found ir
the biography of a member of tn,
United States Senate who served il
that body over so years ago. David
X. Atchison, famous citizen of Mis-
souri,, and for whom the city of Atchi
son, hans., is named, was PreSiden
pro tempore of the Senate when Zachary
Taylor was to have been inaugurate(
on the fourth of March. 1S49. The
day coming on Sunday the Old Rough
and Ready WhIg President refused to
nave the ceremony on Sunday an6
neglected to take the oath of office
prior to the noon hour of March fifth
when President Taylor was sworn in
through the regular ceremony on the
East front of the Capitol.
AS Senator Atchison was President
pro tempore of the Senate, and constitu-
tional provision had been in force
since 1898 for that officer to assume
the presidency in case there was
vacancy for any reason in the office
of President and Vice President, Sen
ator Atchison being President pro
tempore always insisted that the failure
of Gen. Taylor to take the oath left
a vacancy in the Presidential success
sion after the hour of noon on March
4, 1S49, to II o'clock am, March D,
1S49, thus making the presiding Of
ficer of the Senate technically Presi-
dent OF the united states lot - HOui =.
Provision in Constitution.
Under constitutional authority
Congress in 1898 provided, in case or
vacancy in the Office of President and
Vice President for any reason. the
presiding officer of the Senate or the
Speaker of the House should sue
ceed to the presidency.
After years of doubtful constitu-
n
1856 repealed the old acts of EXecu-
tive vacancies. and provided that in
such cases the succession of the
presidency should next pass to the
Secretary of States and on to the
other members of the cabinet.
President Taylor, it seems, did not
give so much attention to the mat
ter as did the Missouri Senator, who
was careful to have the fact that he
was president for day" recorded
in his biography.
Atchison was a native of Kentucky
and figured conspicuously in the Mis-
souri, Kansas troubles just prior to
the Civil War.
There have been other Inaugural
tion days that fell on Sunday, but the
precaution has been taken to admin
lister the oath before the actual in
auguration ceremony, so that March
but a formality, repeated for the
benefit of the thousands who
come to Washington at our quad
rennial occasion of Executive change
or success at the head of the Gov
ernment.
On account of the rumors that Sam
uel ]. Tilden would take the oath for
the presidency on the Sd of March,
1877 (the 4th being on Sunday,
President Hayes, it is said, took the
oath of office on Saturday, the Sd,
and repeated the same on the 5th, at
the east front of the Capitol.
The 4th of March came on Sunday
at the beginning Of President Will
sons second term. He took the oath
of office on Sunday the 4th, and again
in front of the Capitol on the 5th.
Question Developed In Campaign.
The triangular contest-ih THE. last
political campaign developed a CUES
tion in the final results of the cleo
toral college which suggested print.
ed compilation of matter now IN pos
session of the Congressional Library
embracing all the acts, discussions
and possible complications that might
arise in the presidential succession.
This compilation is prefaced with
an interesting reference to Chancel-
1or Kent's observation on the sub
ject The learned American jurist
said, at presented one of the most
difficult and momentous questions
that occupied the deliberations of the
Assembly which framed. the Constitu
Iion, and if ever the tranquility of
this Nation is to be disturbed and its
liberties endangered by struggle
for power, it will be on this very
question of the choice of President"