This article is about the U.S. contingency plan to safeguard its line of presidential succession. For the 2016 TV series inspired by the plan, see
Designated Survivor (TV series).
An individual in the presidential line of succession
In the United States, a designated survivor (or designated successor) is a person in the
presidential line of succession who is kept distant from others in the line when they are gathered together, to reduce the chance that everyone in the line will be unable to take over the
presidency in a
catastrophic or
mass-casualty event. The person is chosen to stay at an undisclosed secure location, away from such events such as
State of the Union addresses and
presidential inaugurations. The
designation of a survivor is intended to prevent the
decapitation of the government and to safeguard
continuity in the presidency if the president, the vice president, and others in the presidential line of succession die. The procedure began in the 1950s, during the
Cold War, with the idea that
nuclear attack could kill government officials and the United States government would collapse.
Congress also designates members of the
Senate and
House (one
from each party) to become Congressional "designated survivors" to maintain the existence of Congress in a mass-casualty event.[2]
Selection
In a 2016 interview,
Jon Favreau, a speechwriter for President
Barack Obama, said that the procedure for picking a designated survivor for a State of the Union address was "entirely random", but later clarified that the content of the speech played a role in who was permitted to be absent. Favreau said that for a State of the Union speech in which Obama's education policy was a major focus, for example, the Secretary of Education,
Arne Duncan, was not chosen as the designated survivor, because it was thought that he should attend and represent his department.[3]
^
abcdef1981, 1989, 1993, 2001, 2009, 2017 and 2021 speeches were given by incoming presidents and not formal "State of the Union" addresses.
^
abcFor the 2005, 2006 and 2007 State of the Union addresses, the President pro tempore of the Senate would have been the highest-ranking survivor.
^While
Shaun Donovan was the designated survivor, Hillary Clinton was overseas and was the de facto designated survivor as the most senior person in the line of succession not present.
^According to
Military.com, outgoing Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo was the highest-ranking official in the line of succession who did not attend the inauguration, but it was never officially reported whether he, or anyone else, served as designated survivor.[51]
^Due to
COVID-19 protocols requiring limited attendance, most of the cabinet was not present for the speech and thus no formal designated survivor was named.
United States Secretary of the TreasuryJanet Yellen was the de facto designated survivor as the most senior person in the line of succession not present.
^Millstein, Seth (February 6, 2019).
"How Is The Designated Survivor Chosen? Rick Perry Won't Be At The 2019 SOTU". Bustle. CBS News reports that the president and their staff are responsible for selecting the designated survivor, and
Jon Favreau, Barack Obama's former lead speechwriter, spoke to The Ringer about the designated survivor selection process in 2016. Favreau initially said that the process is "entirely random," but then backtracked a bit and said that sometimes, the designated survivor depends on what the president intends to say in their speech.
Written message with national radio address * Split into multiple parts
† Included a detailed written supplement
‡ Not officially a "State of the Union" Presidents
William Henry Harrison (1841) and
James Garfield (1881) died in office before delivering a State of the Union
This article is about the U.S. contingency plan to safeguard its line of presidential succession. For the 2016 TV series inspired by the plan, see
Designated Survivor (TV series).
An individual in the presidential line of succession
In the United States, a designated survivor (or designated successor) is a person in the
presidential line of succession who is kept distant from others in the line when they are gathered together, to reduce the chance that everyone in the line will be unable to take over the
presidency in a
catastrophic or
mass-casualty event. The person is chosen to stay at an undisclosed secure location, away from such events such as
State of the Union addresses and
presidential inaugurations. The
designation of a survivor is intended to prevent the
decapitation of the government and to safeguard
continuity in the presidency if the president, the vice president, and others in the presidential line of succession die. The procedure began in the 1950s, during the
Cold War, with the idea that
nuclear attack could kill government officials and the United States government would collapse.
Congress also designates members of the
Senate and
House (one
from each party) to become Congressional "designated survivors" to maintain the existence of Congress in a mass-casualty event.[2]
Selection
In a 2016 interview,
Jon Favreau, a speechwriter for President
Barack Obama, said that the procedure for picking a designated survivor for a State of the Union address was "entirely random", but later clarified that the content of the speech played a role in who was permitted to be absent. Favreau said that for a State of the Union speech in which Obama's education policy was a major focus, for example, the Secretary of Education,
Arne Duncan, was not chosen as the designated survivor, because it was thought that he should attend and represent his department.[3]
^
abcdef1981, 1989, 1993, 2001, 2009, 2017 and 2021 speeches were given by incoming presidents and not formal "State of the Union" addresses.
^
abcFor the 2005, 2006 and 2007 State of the Union addresses, the President pro tempore of the Senate would have been the highest-ranking survivor.
^While
Shaun Donovan was the designated survivor, Hillary Clinton was overseas and was the de facto designated survivor as the most senior person in the line of succession not present.
^According to
Military.com, outgoing Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo was the highest-ranking official in the line of succession who did not attend the inauguration, but it was never officially reported whether he, or anyone else, served as designated survivor.[51]
^Due to
COVID-19 protocols requiring limited attendance, most of the cabinet was not present for the speech and thus no formal designated survivor was named.
United States Secretary of the TreasuryJanet Yellen was the de facto designated survivor as the most senior person in the line of succession not present.
^Millstein, Seth (February 6, 2019).
"How Is The Designated Survivor Chosen? Rick Perry Won't Be At The 2019 SOTU". Bustle. CBS News reports that the president and their staff are responsible for selecting the designated survivor, and
Jon Favreau, Barack Obama's former lead speechwriter, spoke to The Ringer about the designated survivor selection process in 2016. Favreau initially said that the process is "entirely random," but then backtracked a bit and said that sometimes, the designated survivor depends on what the president intends to say in their speech.
Written message with national radio address * Split into multiple parts
† Included a detailed written supplement
‡ Not officially a "State of the Union" Presidents
William Henry Harrison (1841) and
James Garfield (1881) died in office before delivering a State of the Union