Refresh my memory. After Reagan was shot...

[Orrex]

Was Bush Sr. temporarily in charge? If so, what duties/powers did he adopt during that time?

[Grasswire2]

1. yes.

don't know what he might have done during that time.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

2. I think that Alexander Haig made it perfectly clear that *he* was in charge.

[blogslut]

3. *snort*

He sure tried.

[Orrex]

5. LOL. Yeah, I thought about that while posting! (nt)

[Aristus]

7. My father was a centrist, but the slightest breeze could push him to the right.

When Haig said that, my Dad rather ludicrously tried to defend him by saying that "I am in control here at the White House" simply meant that Haig was keeping a cool head, and was refusing to panic.

That led to probably the first of many eye rolls my father would cause me to do...

[dalton99a]

9. His presidential chances died that day

[marble falls]

15. For less and a day. He walked it back PDQ.

[11cents]

4. My recollection was that Bush was out of the country on the day Reagan was shot.

And that Haig committed the infamous "I'm in control" thing pending Bush's return. Not sure if anything formally was done to temporarily transfer powers from Reagan to Bush.

[Orrex]

8. Here's why I ask...

(and I realize that this might fall under "Creative Speculation," but here goes)

Suppose that President Fuckhead is temporarily incapacitated, and Pence temporarily assumes control.

Can Pence then pardon President Fuckhead and his children?

Can President Fuckhead, upon resuming power, then pardon Pence?

I know this is far-fetched, but honestly does anything seem beyond this vile regime?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. Pence would be constitutionally empowered to assume control, IF

the 25th Amendment is invoked. So presumably he would then have all the powers of the presidency and therefore could pardon Tiny. But if Pence wants to run for president later, he'd be dooming his prospects (just hold a quick seance and ask Jerry Ford about that).

[Orrex]

20. Thanks--that's very helpful.

[onenote]

14. Only if the 25th amendment is formally invoked.

If Trump was to become incapacitated without having first issued the declaration under Section 3 of the 25th Amendment necessary for Pence to become "acting president", the only way Pence could exercise the powers of the presidency would be if, during the period of incapacity, the VP and a majority of the cabinet issued a declaration under Section 4 of the 25th Amendment.

Neither of those things happened when Reagan was shot, so at no time was Bush (or Haig) authorized to exercise the powers of the presidency and could not have issued pardons, vetoed or signed legislation, etc.

[Orrex]

19. Great answer--thank you.

[MiniMe]

11. Only if you consider Texas "out of the country" Lol

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Bush was on an airplane without secure communications but assumed control

Last edited Tue Dec 4, 2018, 02:29 PM - Edit history (1)

as soon as he arrived. There was a bit of a kerfuffle when Alexander Haig, the Secretary of State, claimed he was in charge, when under the Constitution he clearly wasn't. Some interesting background here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/when-reagan-was-shot-who-was-in-control-at-the-white-house/2011/03/23/AFJlrfYB_story.html?utm_term=.0f790f3e5322

[MiniMe]

10. Yes, I think it was when he underwent surgery

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempted_assassination_of_Ronald_Reagan

[onenote]

13. The 25th Amendment was not formally invoked after Reagan was shot

and he never relinquished the powers of the presidency. Neither Bush nor Haig actually had authority to take actions that only a president could take, such as issue pardons, sign or veto legislation, etc.

A 25th Amendment declaration was prepared in the event that Reagan remained incapacitated for any length of time, but his recovery was swift -- he was signing presidential papers the day after he was shot.

On the other hand, later in his presidency, when he had non-emergency surgery, he issued the required declaration under the 25th Amendment making Bush the "Temporary President", and then, after coming out from the surgery, issued the required declaration re-assuming the powers of the presidency.

https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/14/us/reagan-transfers-power-to-bush-for-8-hour-period-of-incapacity.html

https://reagan.blogs.archives.gov/2017/07/26/the-25th-amendment-section-4-and-march-30-1981/

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. That's true, but someone had to assume temporary operational control, and under the circumstances

that would have been the VP (Bush), not Haig.

[onenote]

18. Agreed. But there would have been an issue had Bush or Haig attempted to exercise any powers

reserved to the President in the Constitution, such as nominating cabinet members or judges, signing or vetoing legislation, granting pardons, making a recess appointment.

That's why a document under Section 4 was prepared -- in the event Reagan's incapacity continued.

[PCIntern]

16. Barbara was measuring for new drapes and

Nancy never forgave her. Band was persona non grata in the Residence from that day on