alternatehistory.com

This one is a bit complicated and requires some background material.

I'm reading this fascinating article about presidential death and disability, tweeted out by Nate Silver:

http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4692&context=flr

It contains the following passage:

"It (section 3 of the 25th amendment) was also invoked in 1985 when President Reagan was about to undergo colon cancer surgery and designated Vice President George H.W. Bush as Acting President. Although Reagan initially stated that the Twenty-Fifth Amendment was not applicable to instances such as the surgery he then faced, he nonetheless followed the form specified by Section 3 of the Amendment to the letter. Moreover, he later claimed that he had indeed invoked Section 3, writing that “Before they wheeled me into the operating room, I signed a letter invoking the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, making George Bush Acting President during the time I was incapacitated under anesthesia.” Unfortunately, Reagan reclaimed his powers and duties only nine hours after he passed them on to his Vice President, an unwise decision. He later admitted that he awoke from surgery “somewhat confused. I had an incision that ran up past my naval [sic] to my chest. I was laced with tubes [and] very much a patient in for a stay.”

"Under these circumstances, Reagan would have been well-advised to allow Bush to continue to function as Acting President until his own recovery was more advanced. If he had done so, his Administration might never have been stained by the Iran- Contra scandal that apparently worsened during his hospitalization."

So this sets up a counter-factual. What would have happened if GHW Bush had remained acting President for longer than nine hours?
Top