Succession to the Presidential Chair

THE old order of succession to the Presidency was changed in 1888. Up to that time the order had been from President to Vice-President, and then to Speaker. By the act of 1888, the succession would now follow in this order: First, Vice-President Roosevelt; in case of his death or disability, Secretary Hay would succeed; and then, on the death or disability of that incumbent, there would follow, after Secretary Hay, Secretary Gage; then Attorney-General Knox; then Secretary Long; then Postmaster-General Smith; then Secretary Hitchcock; and finally Secretary Wilson. The new order insures the succession of a member of the President’s party. Under the old order, the Speaker being often a member of the opposite party, the will of the people, as expressed at the Presidential election, might have been defeated by his succession.