As the heads of the country come together for the State of the Union address, one cabinet member, the designated survivor, will stay behind.

Emma Stoltzfus Video Editor

Biden administration to pick designated survivor for State of the Union

Mar 01, 2022

Emma Stoltzfus Video Editor

The Biden Administration will name its designated survivor ahead of Tuesday’s State of the Union address. The designated survivor, or cabinet member not in attendance, is the person who will become president should everybody in the line of succession be killed.

White House administrations don’t use designated survivors frequently, but they are used for inaugurations and Joint Sessions of Congress, like the State of the Union address.

The practice goes back to the early 1960‘s, when lawmakers became fearful of nuclear attacks during the Cold War.

Tags: Joe Biden

Annie Andersen: RICK PERRY

SONNY PERDUE

JIM NICHOLSON

JEH JOHNSON…

DIFFERENT TITLES.. DIFFERENT AGES… DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.

BUT THERE’S ONE THING THEY ALL HAVE IN COMMON.

THEY WERE ALL CHOSEN TO BE THE

TAKE SOT-

<<”Designated survivor.”>>

TAKE SOT-

<<”Designated survivor.”>>

Annie Andersen: IT’S A JOB SOMEBODY HAS TO DO EVERY STATE OF THE UNION… AND THAT’S WHY WE’RE CRACKING OPEN OUR D-C DICTIONARY FOR DESIGNATED SURVIVOR.

THE DESIGNATED SURVIVOR IS OFFICIALLY “the cabinet member not in attendance.”

BUT IT’S REALLY THE PERSON THE GOVERNMENT PICKS TO BE PRESIDENT SHOULD EVERYBODY IN THE LINE OF SUCCESSION BE TAKEN OUT.

THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION ACT PROVIDED A LINE OF SUCCESSION..

BUT IT DIDN’T ADDRESS WHAT HAPPENS IF EVERYBODY IN THAT LINE DIES…

THE COUNTRY DOESN’T NEED A DESIGNATED SURVIVOR THAT OFTEN..

IT’S USED FOR JOHNSON, THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESSES, AND OTHER JOINT SESSIONS OF CONGRESS.

TAKE SOT- DONALD TRUMP

<<”my fellow americans we meet tonight at a moment of unlimited potential.”>>

Annie Andersen: AT EVENTS WHERE ALL OF THE LINE OF SUCCESSION IS IN ATTENDANCE…ONE CABINET MEMBER IS TAPPED AS THE DESIGNATED SURVIVOR.

TAKE SOT- JEH JOHNSON

<<”I was the designated survivor.”>>

Annie Andersen: BEFORE THE 60’S.. HAVING A DESIGNATED SURVIVOR WASN’T A THING.. BUT NUCLEAR THREATS DURING THE COLD WAR CHANGED THAT.

AND THEN UNTIL THE 80S.. THE DESIGNATED SURVIVOR WAS NEVER NAMED.

BUT NOW.. THE ADMINISTRATION NAMES THE DESIGNATED SURVIVOR AHEAD OF THE STATE OF THE UNION.

TAKE SOT- JIM ACOSTA

<<”The White House has confirmed that the Agriculture Secretary, Sonny Perdue, will be the designated survivor.”>>

Annie Andersen: WHILE CABINET MEMBERS DON’T HAVE RESTRICTIONS.. THE ONE PICKED TO BE THE DESIGNATED SURVIVOR HAS TO BE BORN IN THE U-S AND BE OVER 35.. JUST IN CASE HE OR SHE HAS TO TAKE OVER.

THAT PERSON… AND THE COUNTRY’S NUCLEAR CODES… GO TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION.

THAT WASN’T ALWAYS THE CASE.. PRE 9/11 DESIGNATED SURVIVORS OFTEN HAD QUIET NIGHTS AT HOME..

SECRET SERVICE SOURCE SECRET SERVICE

SOMETIMES EVEN CRACKING OPEN A COLD ONE WITH THEIR SECRET SERVICE DETAILS

ONCE THE EVENT IS OVER AND PEOPLE SPREAD OUT…

TAKE SOT- DONNA SHALALA Fmr. HHS Secretary, 1993 – 2001

<<“President Clinton came back and he said ‘Ok, you’re off the hook. Go home.’”>>

[ANNIE ON-CAM]

STRAIGHT FROM DC I’M AA