The Man in the News [continued]

were 37 meetings with delegations. Personal friends came and went almost as they liked. Eleven business leaders dropped in. So, too, did four labor leaders.

To get his Administration organized, Mr. Eisenhower met 73 times with members of his "team." They came by twos and threes.

In those nine weeks of 1953, Mr. Eisenhower was anxious to get acquaint-

ed with Congress. Members came alone or in pairs and groups. There were 29 such meetings. There also were 24 luncheons for Congressmen and others high in the Government. There were official breakfasts, too, and evening meetings.

In general, similar practices continued through 1954 and 1955, up to the time of Mr. Eisenhower's departure for a "work-play" vacation in Denver. On Sep-

tember 24 of that year, Mr. Eisenhower suffered his heart attack. On June 10, 1956, he underwent an operation for ileitis. The appointment lists contracted sharply.

**Vacations.** Since then, periods of convalescence have dominated the time Mr. Eisenhower has spent away from his desk. In all of 1956, Mr. Eisenhower was actually on vacation about 5 days a

# WHEN A PRESIDENT IS DISABLED...

## Worry in Washington: How to Pick a "Substitute"

> A problem as old as the U.S. is getting urgent attention at this time.

> It involves the President's health and any temporary transfer of his duties. Like, himself, has offered a solution.

The whole question of what happens when the President is disabled—how and under what circumstances the Vice President might take over—is being raised with a new urgency in highest governmental quarters.

It is an old question, as old as the Constitution itself. It is, however, one that has acquired a new emphasis since President Eisenhower's heart attack in 1955, his abdominal operation in 1956 and the minor ailments that have troubled him this winter.

The President's health, in fact, again has become a foremost subject of argument and discussion in Washington. So, too, have his growing troubles with Congress. Some even have suggested that he might want to transfer his duties and powers temporarily to Vice President Nixon.

**Like's plan.** Against this background, Mr. Eisenhower, himself, now is pressing for a solution to the problem. He has his own plan, and it apparently would not apply to him—only to his successors.

The President is proposing a constitutional amendment. This would require a two-thirds vote of approval in both houses of Congress and ratification by the legislatures of

36 States. This process obviously would take a long while. Mr. Eisenhower's second term might expire before final action could be taken.

The White House, in any event, says that in all probability the amendment would state explicitly that it is not to take effect until the present presidential term has been completed.

Under Mr. Eisenhower's plan, if the question of a President's physical ability to discharge his duties and exercise his powers should arise:

* The Cabinet, by a majority vote, would be empowered to declare the President incapable of continuing.

* The Vice President would take over the full powers and duties of the Presidency.

* The Vice President could initiate action of this nature, but would have no vote in the Cabinet's decision.

* If the displaced President should recover sufficiently to resume his duties, another determination would be made, and, with the Cabinet's approval, he would be reinstated.

This process would be authorized in case the President were incapable or unwilling to make a decision himself as to whether he should continue in office.

If he should decide to step aside voluntarily, he would

so inform the Vice President and the latter would take over. Upon recovery, the displaced President would have the privilege of resuming his office by addressing a letter to the man who had replaced him.

Mr. Eisenhower, without mentioning his heart attack and later difficulties, outlined the plan to a bipartisan meeting of congressional leaders. It had been worked out by Attorney General Herbert Brownell, Jr., after more than a year of study.

**Opposition.** The plan encountered immediate opposition from several sources. The disagreement

## What the Constitution Says About Presidential Disability

### ARTICLE II, SECTION 1, SIXTH CLAUSE:

In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

34

U. S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, April 5, 1957