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Eizenhower-Nixon Agreement
In the year 1955, President Eisenhower suffered a heart attack so his Vice President NIxon stepped into the presidentail role while he was disabled. This rekindled the idea of presidential succession and two Senators, Estes Kefauver and Birch Bayh, went to work of trying to get an amendment ratified concerning the issue. -
Original Kefauver Proposal
Senator Kefauver proposed a similar idea of the agreement between Eisenhower and Nixon to Congress regarding presidential succession. Kefauver wanted Congress to decide if the President was "disabled" and unable to perform his duties. This proposal was never passed. -
Kennedy Assasination
After President Kennedy was assasinated, Vice President Lyndon Johnson took over. People were concerned because Johnson had a health histroy of heart attacks and the next two people in succession were 71 and 86 respectively. The situation seemed very risky and presidential succession needed to be extended and completed fully. -
Election of President Johnson
The election of President Johnson was a big deal because he gave support to Senator Bayh's increased efforts of trying to get an amendment on presidential succession. Johnson basically said that anything can happen to any government and they needed to be prepard. He also said he would pass laws to insure the continuity of leadership. This inspired Bayh and gave him more confidence mving forward. -
Bayh-Celler Proposal
Senator Bayh and Senator Celler proposed a plan of presidential succession that would eventually become the 25th Amendment. The propsoal described who determined if the President was disabled. The Vice President would take over as acting president until the real one could return to duties. It also told of how the vacant Vice President spot would be filled. -
Combining
The House and The Senate both passed different versions of the amendment. A committee settled the differences in the two, joined the together, and made the 25th Amendment. It was then passed in both parts of Congress and sent to be ratified by the states. -
Ratifiction
The 25th Amendment was officially added to the Constitution when the 38th state, Nevada, raitified the amendment. All other states except North Dakota, Georgia, and South Carolina, ratified it as well. -
Certification
President Lyndon B. Johnson certifies the 25th Amendment, making it official. -
Nixon and Ford
The first time the 25th Amendment was used was during President Nixon's term. His vice president Agnew had resigned so that spot was vacant. The 25th Amendment states how to chose a new vice president so he used that process when he chose his new one, Gerald R. Ford. -
President Ford
The 25th amendment was used for the second time, only this time for a different reason. President Nixon resigned due to controversy. Ford then took over as President.
