Technical Inaccuracy in "Commander in Chief"

[longship]

A vice president does not need to be sworn into office upon the death of the president. LBJ did it as a publicity stunt to show continuity of command and to show everybody that he was the president. But it is not required. On the death of the chief executive, the VEEP becomes the president.

[bluestateguy]

1. You are right

but by custom, vice presidents in that situation have always been formally sworn in. Truman, Coolidge and TR all took an oath of office as soon as it was possible.

[LizW]

2. Technically innacurate, but I can overlook it

She became President upon the death of the previous President, but the Chief Justice came to her house because he was summoned there by Speaker Templeton (Sutherland) who also happened to bring his Bible with him.

They thought they would make her resign and Templeton would be sworn in before the cameras. But when she wouldn't resign, they had to let her take the oath.

[nashbridges]

3. Upon confirmed death of the president

Yes, the presidency automatically moves to the VP. That's why we elect a VP.

What is the question here?

[longship]

4. The question is that... no oath of office is necessary.

As others have pointed out, it is done to show continuity of power.

But in the show's plot there's no press there to record it. So there's no need for the oath. The program acted like it was a requirement. It ain't!

[zbdent]

5. Point taken, but I think that it could be done to keep the freeptard types

from claiming that she was not really the President - because she never took the oath . . . Like the freeptards in Congress kept harping throughout Clinton's presidency that, because he never actually had the majority in either election, he really didn't win - despit the fact that neither Bush nor Dole had the majority either in 92 and 96, respectively . . .