The position is termed “acting president,” so decreed by the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution because it is a temporary office.
Morgan Taylor made it very clear that’s how he saw it. They were not ousting Henry Lamden. Taylor was replacing him, with full presidential authority, until which time President Lamden could resume his duties. The actual amendment allowed the president to declare himself unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Under such circumstances he could and must voluntarily relinquish the office. Unfortunately, as Taylor explained, this was not the case.
Lamden was very ill. History was being made, and history would be the judge of the vote in the cabinet room.
After consulting with the president’s physicians, Eve Goldman, also a former Harvard law professor, provided a primer on presidential transference of power.
“There’s actually not much precedent. Before the passage of the 25th Amendment, Dwight Eisenhower suffered a heart attack in 1955. But he failed to relinquish control to his vice president, Richard Nixon. We could spend a fair amount of time talking about their relationship, but let’s leave that for another day.
“There was, of course, LBJ’s succession upon the death of President Kennedy. Then all was quiet until 1981, when Ronald Reagan was shot in an assassination attempt. Vice President George Bush decided not to invoke the 25th Amendment. However, in 1985, Ronald Reagan underwent colon surgery to remove cancerous polyps. He voluntarily declared his temporary incapacity to the Speaker of the House and president pro tempore of the Senate, the first time an element of the 25th was invoked. Vice President George H. W. Bush acted as president for nearly eight hours. Presidential authority was transferred back to Reagan upon receipt of a second letter transmitted by the president.
“In June 2002, President George Bush similarly declared himself unable to discharge the duties of the office prior to his colonoscopy. Vice President Dick Cheney assumed control for just under two-and-a-half hours while the president was sedated.
“I don’t think anyone in this room would argue the fact that this is clearly different.”
Morgan Taylor thought to himself that he really did miss the job. He missed the authority and the responsibility. But he didn’t want to serve as president this way.
“Mr. Vice President, is there anything you want to say before we take the vote?” Secretary of State Norman Poole asked.
“The press will want to know how you voted and what you thought. Some will even question whether this is a coup of some sort by a defeated president. You can tell them that we are doing what the Constitution requires. You are not electing or appointing me president today. We — together — are deciding by majority whether or not President Lamden is incapacitated. Even though the powers and duties will be transmitted to me, it must be clear that — and that alone — is what we are doing. Am I correct, Eve?”
“Yes,” the attorney general replied.
“What do we call you, sir?” the Secretary of Interior asked, not really knowing.
Once again, Taylor deferred to the attorney general.
“According to the Amendment, the acting president is to be accorded the protocol consistent with the office,” she answered. Eve Goldman stood up. She straightened out her black silk suit and tugged at the starched cuffs. She gave Morgan Taylor a respectful nod. “He will be — Mr. President.”
Morgan Taylor worried about two men as the Cabinet offered their support: the one he replaced, who was deathly sick, and the one who stood to replace him. Speaker of the House Duke Patrick.
Part II
Chapter 26
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” press secretary Bagley began, “I have an announcement of utmost importance. When I’m finished with the statement I will take questions. There will be another press conference at 10 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time.”
Bagley was a former radio announcer and newsman himself. Many of the reporters had been colleagues. But no one could be considered a friend anymore. He realized that as he looked into their hungry eyes.
“At oh-three-one-five hours, 3:15 A.M., President Henry Lamden fell ill. Mrs. Lamden notified the Secret Service that her husband had difficulty breathing. A medical team was at his side within four minutes. Doctors at Walter Reed Hospital have since determined that he has suffered a serious heart attack.”
Camera flashes popped. The pool video camera fed the television routers that linked to each of the major broadcast and cable news operations. Radio news operations were similarly hooked up. The pounding sound of laptop keys was audible all the way up to the podium where Bagley nervously stood.
Two dozen reporters called out simultaneously, but the press secretary thrust his hand up.
“President Lamden is in guarded condition. You will hear from his doctors shortly.”
Hands shot up in the air. More shouts. But Bagley continued.
“At 4:55 A.M., the terms of the 25th Amendment were invoked and the Oath of Office was administered to Vice President Taylor by Chief Justice Leopold Browning. Mr. Taylor is now serving as President of the United States. He will address the nation later today.”
By the time Bagley was onto the questions, NBC interrupted the Today Show, and ABC cut into Good Morning America. The same was true at CBS and the news channels, which went live from the White House. Morning shock jocks across the country were handed bulletins. They immediately changed their tone. Text messages fired across cell phones.
Within twelve minutes, the loudest voices on the air launched into their opinions. The echoes followed. People looking for real news on the transition would have to wait as the airwaves filled with uninformed wall-to-wall talk.
Katie began to slip out of bed as quietly as she could. She thought Roarke deserved extra sleep after last night. She slid her legs to the left, then slowly rolled to her side, letting the sheet fall back to the bed. Katie propped herself up on her arm, rising to a sitting position. She turned back to look at her lover. No, she thought. She’d had lovers before, the first at 18. Scott is so much more than a lover.
She watched him breathe, quite proud that she had actually gotten this far without waking Roarke. He slept so peacefully. Roarke’s head was turned to the side. He lay on his back. His left arm was still extended forward, where Katie had snuggled for so many hours. His legs were spread apart.
He’s the first real man I’ve known. Scott’s the only man I want to know.
She decided to stay in bed. Katie rolled back around, snuggled into his arm again, and reached under the sheets to find him. He stirred. Simultaneously, she nestled into his neck and kissed him. Leaving Roarke was not what she wanted to do. Not for a short time. Not forever.
Neither was sleeping.
“Good morning.” Morgan Taylor wore one of his Brooks Brothers black pinstripe suits. He opted for a subdued maroon tie over a white shirt. His voice was calm and reassuring as he sat at the desk in the Oval Office. Pictures of President Lamden and his family were visible behind him. He intentionally kept them in view. “This has been a difficult day: a day of transition. My good friend, and our president, Henry Lamden, suffered a serious heart attack late last night. He remains in intensive care, and with our prayers and God’s help, he will be back where he belongs — in this seat, with years of good work ahead of him.” Soon was noticeably absent from the sentence. “However, for now, our forefathers have provided us with the means to continue the normal process of governing our great nation.