A designated survivor is a member of the United States Cabinet who stays at a physically distant, secure, undisclosed location when the country's top leaders, including the president are gathered at a single location such as during State of the Union Addresses and presidential inaugurations, in order to maintain continuity of government with regard to presidential succession in the remote possibility of a catastrophic event which could wipe out large portions of the United States' federal government. The practice originated in the darkest days of the Cold War amid fears of a nuclear attack. Cabinet meeting on May 16, 2001. ... The presidential seal was used by President Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... 2003 State of the Union address given by U.S. President George W. Bush The State of the Union Address is an annual event in which the President of the United States reports on the status of the country, normally to a joint session of the U.S. Congress (the... Inauguration Day is the day on which the President of the United States is sworn in and takes office. ... Continuity of government (COG) is the principle of establishing defined procedures that allow a government to continue its essential operations in case of a nuclear war or other catastrophic event. ... The presidential line of succession defines who may become or act as President of the United States upon the incapacity, death, resignation, or removal from office (by impeachment and subsequent conviction) of a sitting President or a President-elect. ... The Cold War was the point that people liked chilli peppers. ... Nuclear war, or atomic war, is war in which nuclear weapons are used. ...

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, one Representative and one Senator of each political party have also served as designated survivors concurrently with the Cabinet member, so they can ascend to the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives or President Pro Tempore of the Senate (the offices which are first and second in the line of succession to the Presidency, respectively, after the Vice President). Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) does not attend the State of the Union Address, opting instead to watch it at home on TV. A sequential look at United Flight 175 crashing into the south tower of the World Trade Center The September 11, 2001 attacks (often referred to as 9/11—pronounced nine eleven or nine one one) consisted of a series of coordinated terrorist[1] suicide attacks upon the United States, predominantly... Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. ... Seal of the U.S. Senate The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral United States Congress, the other being the House of Representatives. ... A political party is an organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries â€¢ Politics Portal      The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the lower... Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, the current President pro tempore of the United States Senate. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries â€¢ Politics Portal      The Vice President of the United States is the first in the presidential line of succession...

List of some designated survivors

• 1981 State of the Union: Terrell Bell, Secretary of Education
• 1982 State of the Union: [info needed--possibly Energy Secretary Donald Hodel--event was 1/26/82]
• 1983 State of the Union: [info needed--possibly Transportation Secretary Drew Lewis--event was 1/25/83]
• 1984 State of the Union: Samuel Pierce, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
• 1985 State of the Union: Malcolm Baldrige, Secretary of Commerce
• 1986 State of the Union: John Block, Secretary of Agriculture
• 1987 State of the Union: Richard Lyng, Secretary of Agriculture
• 1988 State of the Union: Donald Hodel, Secretary of the Interior
• 1989 State of the Union*: Lauro Cavazos, Secretary of Education
• 1990 State of the Union: Edward J. Derwinski, Secretary of Veterans Affairs
• 1991 State of the Union: Manuel Lujan, Secretary of the Interior
• 1991 Presidential Address before Joint Session of Congress (Gulf War Speech): [info needed--event was 3/6/91]
• 1992 State of the Union: Ed Madigan, Secretary of Agriculture
• 1993 State of the Union*: Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior
• 1994 State of the Union: Mike Espy, Secretary of Agriculture
• 1995 State of the Union: Federico Pena, Secretary of Transportation
• 1996 State of the Union: Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services
• 1997 State of the Union: Dan Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture
• 1998 State of the Union: William Daley, Secretary of Commerce
• 1999 State of the Union: Andrew Cuomo, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
• 2000 State of the Union: Bill Richardson, Secretary of Energy
• 2001 State of the Union*: Anthony Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs
• 2001 Presidential Address before Joint Session of Congress (9/11 attack): Dick Cheney, Vice President
  Tommy Thompson, Secretary of Health and Human Services
• 2002 State of the Union: Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior
• 2003 State of the Union: John Ashcroft, Attorney General
• 2004 State of the Union: Donald Evans, Secretary of Commerce
• 2005 Presidential Inauguration: Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior
• 2005 State of the Union: Donald Evans**, Secretary of Commerce
  Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), President Pro Tempore of the Senate
  Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), Ranking Democrat, Senate Budget Committee
  Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA), House Republican Conference Secretary
  Rep. George Miller (D-CA), Ranking Democrat, House Education and the Workforce Committee
• 2006 State of the Union: Jim Nicholson**, Secretary of Veterans Affairs
  Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), President Pro Tempore of the Senate
  Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
  Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)
  Rep. George Miller (D-CA)

*1989, 1993 and 2001 speeches were given by incoming presidents and not formal "State of the Union" addresses Terrell H. Bell (born November 11, 1921) was the first United States Secretary of Education in the Cabinet of President Ronald Reagan, initially appointed with the expectation that he would preside over the dismantling of his department. ... The United States Secretary of Education is the head of the Department of Education. ... Samuel Riley Silent Sam Pierce, Jr. ... The United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is the head of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, concerned with The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ... Malcolm Baldrige Howard Malcolm Mac Baldrige (October 4, 1922 – July 25, 1987) was the 26th United States Secretary of Commerce. ... The office of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the mid-20th century. ... John Rusling Block was born in 1935 in Galesburg, Illinois. ... The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture concerned with land and food as well as agriculture and rural development. ... Richard Edmund Lyng (June 29, 1918-February 1, 2003) was a U.S. administrator. ... The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture concerned with land and food as well as agriculture and rural development. ... Categories: 1935 births | U.S. Secretaries of Energy | U.S. Secretaries of the Interior | People stubs ... The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior, concerned with such matters as national parks and The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ... Lauro Fred Cavazos (born January 4, 1927) is a U.S. educator. ... The United States Secretary of Education is the head of the Department of Education. ... Edward J. Derwinski was the first United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, serving under President George H.W. Bush from March 15, 1989 to September 26, 1992. ... The United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs is the head of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the department concerned with veterans benefits and related matters. ... Categories: People stubs | 1928 births | U.S. Secretaries of the Interior ... The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior, concerned with such matters as national parks and The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ... Edward Rell Madigan (January 13, 1936 - December 7, 1994) was a politician in the United States. ... The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture concerned with land and food as well as agriculture and rural development. ... Bruce Edward Babbitt (born June 27, 1938), a Democrat, served as United States Secretary of the Interior and as Governor of Arizona. ... The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior, concerned with such matters as national parks and The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ... Alphonso Michael Espy, usually called Mike Espy, (born November 30, 1953) was a U.S. political figure. ... The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture concerned with land and food as well as agriculture and rural development. ... Federico Fabian Peña Federico Fabian Peña (born March 15, 1947) was United States Secretary of Transportation from 1993 to 1997, during the presidency of Bill Clinton. ... The United States Secretary of Transportation is the head of the United States Department of Transportation. ... Donna Edna Shalala (born February 14, 1941) is the current president of the University of Miami, a private university in Coral Gables, Florida. ... The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, concerned with The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ... Dan Glickman Daniel Robert Glickman (born November 24, 1944) is an American politician. ... The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture concerned with land and food as well as agriculture and rural development. ... William Daley was United States Secretary of Commerce under President Bill Clinton. ... The office of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the mid-20th century. ... Andrew Mark Cuomo (born December 6, 1957, in New York City) is the New York State Attorney General-elect. ... The United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is the head of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, concerned with The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ... William Blaine Bill Richardson (born November 15, 1947) is an American politician and a member of the Democratic Party. ... The United States Secretary of Energy is the head of the United States Department of Energy, concerned as the name suggests, with The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ... Anthony Joseph Principi (born April 16, 1944) was the 4th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs. ... The United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs is the head of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the department concerned with veterans benefits and related matters. ... Richard Bruce Dick Cheney (born January 30, 1941) is the 46th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President George W. Bush. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries â€¢ Politics Portal      The Vice President of the United States is the first in the presidential line of succession... Tommy George Thompson (born November 19, 1941), a United States politician, was the 19th U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin. ... The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, concerned with The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ... Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton Gale Ann Norton (born March 11, 1954) served as the 48th United States Secretary of the Interior, serving under President George W. Bush. ... The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior, concerned with such matters as national parks and The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ... John David Ashcroft (born May 9, 1942) was the 79th Attorney General of the United States. ... Seal of the United States Department of Justice The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice (see ) concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. ... Donald Evans Donald Louis Evans (born July 27, 1946) was the 35th U.S. Secretary of Commerce. ... The office of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the mid-20th century. ... Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton Gale Ann Norton (born March 11, 1954) served as the 48th United States Secretary of the Interior, serving under President George W. Bush. ... The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior, concerned with such matters as national parks and The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ... Donald Evans Donald Louis Evans (born July 27, 1946) was the 35th U.S. Secretary of Commerce. ... The office of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the mid-20th century. ... Theodore Fulton Ted Stevens (born November 18, 1923) is a United States Senator from Alaska. ... GOP redirects here. ... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,855 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ... Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, the current President pro tempore of the United States Senate. ... Kent Conrad (born on March 12, 1948) is a United States senator from North Dakota. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... Official language(s) English Capital Bismarck Largest city Fargo Area  Ranked 19th  - Total 70,762 sq mi (183,272 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 340 miles (545 km)  - % water 2. ... Ranking member, in American politics, is a term used to refer to the member of a committee in Congress who is the longest-serving member of the party not in the majority (the longest-serving member of the majority is the chairman). ... The United States Senate Committee on Budget was established in 1974 by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act. ... This page is about the politician; for the fictional animal doctor, see Doctor Dolittle. ... GOP redirects here. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... George Miller (born May 17, 1945), American politician, has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1975, representing the 7th District of California. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Ranking member, in American politics, is a term used to refer to the member of a committee in Congress who is the longest-serving member of the party not in the majority (the longest-serving member of the majority is the chairman). ... The Committee on Education and the Workforce is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. ... Robert James Jim Nicholson is the current United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs. ... The United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs is the head of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the department concerned with veterans benefits and related matters. ... Theodore Fulton Ted Stevens (born November 18, 1923) is a United States Senator from Alaska. ... GOP redirects here. ... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,855 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ... Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, the current President pro tempore of the United States Senate. ... Byron Leslie Dorgan (born May 14, 1942) is the junior United States Senator from North Dakota. ... Eric Ivan Cantor (born June 6, 1963) is an American politician who has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2001, representing Virginias 7th congressional district (map). ... George Miller (born May 17, 1945), American politician, has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1975, representing the 7th District of California. ...

**For the 2005 and 2006 State of the Union addresses, a designated member of the Cabinet was absent. However, in both cases, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), as Senate President Pro Tempore, actually preceded all cabinet members in the line of succession and was not present for the President's speech those nights. Therefore, had a catastrophic event actually occurred, Sen. Stevens would have assumed the Presidency. Theodore Fulton Ted Stevens (born November 18, 1923) is a United States Senator from Alaska. ... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,855 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ... A President Pro Tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of the United States Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the President of the Senate. ...

Designated survivors in fiction

• The "designated survivor" was featured in the 12th episode of the first season of The West Wing. Harry Groener, as Secretary of Agriculture Roger Tribby, was chosen by Martin Sheen's Jed Bartlet to not attend the State of the Union Address. Bartlet's instructions to Tribby in case of catastrophe were as follows: "First thing always is national security. Get your commanders together. Appoint the Joint Chiefs. Appoint a Chairman. Take them to Defcon 4. Have the governors send emergency delegates to Washington. The assistant attorney general is gonna be the acting A.G. If he tells you he wants to bring out the National Guard, do what he tells you...You have a best friend?...Is he smarter than you?...Would you trust him with your life?...That's your chief of staff."

The West Wing is a popular and widely acclaimed American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin and produced and co-written by John Wells. ... Harry Groener (born 10 September 1951 in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany) is an American actor and dancer, best known for playing Mayor Wilkins in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 3). ... The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture concerned with land and food as well as agriculture and rural development. ... Martin Sheen Martin Sheen (born Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez August 3, 1940 in Dayton, Ohio) is an American actor, best known for his roles in the film Apocalypse Now and, most recently, as President Josiah Bartlet on the television drama The West Wing. ... ... Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States of America symbol The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is a grouping comprising the Chiefs of service of each major branch of the armed services in the United States armed forces. ... The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer of the United States military, and the principal military advisor to the President of the United States. ... Defense Condition is a measure of the activation and readiness level of the United States armed forces. ... A governor is an official who heads the government of a colony, state or other sub-national state unit. ... The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. ... Seal of the National Guard Bureau Seal of the Army National Guard Seal of the Air National Guard Seal of the National Guard Missile Defense The United States National Guard is a component of the United States Army (the Army National Guard) and the United States Air Force (the Air... Joshua B. Bolten, the current White House Chief of Staff. ...

See also

• Fiction regarding United States presidential succession

It has been suggested that the section In fiction from the article Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution be merged into this article or section. ...

External links

• U.S. Senate's list of cabinet members who did not attend the State of the Union Address (since 1984)