The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-26
Successor to a President!

The problem of determining the prob ables of the question as to who should succeed a President has been dumped into the collective lap of Congress and should be the concern of us all. Pres ident Truman, in light of his own sudden accession to the nations top position has placed the matter before the legislative body, not as any personal matter but as a problem confronting the nation and it's welfare.
 The question is who shall succeed as President in the event of the deaths of the latter and the vice-president or in event of the sudden demise of MT. Truman himself now that no "vice-president" ac- tually exists. MT. Truman is urging that the Speaker of the House and the pres ident pro tempore of the Senate be moved ahead of the Cabinet in the White House succession line, instead of the Secretary of State as now called for by the rules.
 Although the matter has only been be- fore Congress, formally, since last Tues day it now appears to be encountering obstacles in it's course there. The first reaction of Congress to the measure was one of peacock-pride, and rightfully so, for such proposal appeared to add to that bodys prestige.
 Now, however the obstacles have ap- peared and we see the watchdog of poli- tics entering the picture. Democrats particularly are concerned over such proposal as they point to the fact that there is always the possibility, within a four year presidential term, of the House going Republican in the majority, by election, in which event, should MT. Tru- Nt.h h0o Y1 a no o a the Republicans would assume nominal power This self-evident danger not only would be present, then, but it would be indicative also of a divorce from tradi- tional American party lines, they claim.
 MT. Truman, and his supporters in this measure, has argued, and not without merit, that nine times out of ten the Vice-President is unknown to the major ity of the people, is the choice Of the President and not the party and hence not the people and therefore may not be the qualified leader of the nation so chosen directly or indirectly through democratic procedure. He urges that the Speaker of the House be named the most logical successor for he is the choice of the people through his election back home among his constituents, and, be- cause of his accession to that position of Speaker by the majority Of his colleagues of his own party who also, of course, rep resent the people.
 Opponents to the plan contend that in elevating the Speaker to the presidency if it should result in a new party taking reins (through the factor mentioned heretofore) then the elective choice of the people will not have been adhered to. In other words should the COP next year win the House and then the Pres ident should die the COP would assume power although the people had voted Democratic last year.
 It has also been argued that Cabinet members, which do not include the Speak CT or President pro tempore are closer to the President of the United States and therefore better fitted to follow his po- licies should accession be necessary.
 It is, as stated problem which should be the concern of all of us in Waterbury and throughout the nation. Naturally, it affects our future welfare and the des- tiny of our nation. We have been for tunate nation in having as a successor to our deceased President, a man of such high caliber. We may not be fortunate twice in row and we should prepare now to determine the most secure manner in which to assure some measure of provi- dence for our nations future.