JFK'S ASSASSINATION LED TO THE 25TH AMENDMENT
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The 25th Amendment* to the United States Constitution was ratified "in the aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy" to set up procedures to replace the offices of President & Vice-President "in cases of death, removal, resignation, or incapacitation."
The issue as this post is being written is whether or not Vice-President Mike Pence will invoke the 25th Amendment and assume the powers of Acting President in the aftermath of the attack on the U.S. Capitol last week by the supporters of President Donald J. Trump.
Tonight, the House of Representatives is voting on a resolution asking the Vice-President to do just that. All indications right now are that he will not and so an impeachment vote will held tomorrow. CNN has just reported Mr. Pence has sent a letter to the Speaker of the House informing her he will NOT invoke the 25th Amendment.
Adding to the drama is the breaking news today that leading Republican legislators are going to vote for impeachment and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is "happy" about the impeachment possibility.
*25th Amendment (1967) has been invoked six times, three of those relate to presidential succession when Presidents Reagan & George W. Bush underwent medical procedures. The amendment was needed in the aftermath of JFK's assassination when there was no provision in the Constitution to fill the vice-presidential vacancy.
JFK NOTE:
Section 4 of the 25th Amendment reads...
"Whenever the Vice-President and a majority of the principle officers of the executive departments (Cabinet), transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice-President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President."
SOURCE
"Twenty-fifth Amendment," Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, www.law.cornell.edu/
