June 11th 1991
It was a quiet morning at the White House, for 7:30am anyways. Having awoken, received the daily security briefing and caught up on the first editions of the newspapers, President Bush decided to do some exercise in the Executive Residence gym. For a man of 67 this would be unusual, but no other 67 year old man was President of the United States. It was the President's 68th birthday tomorrow and as happened every year, he had begun to be concerned at his advancing age and so had decided to exercise for the first time in months. He told his Secret Service detail that he should be out by 8:00am ready to commence his day's work. Agent's Thomas Sawyer and Geraldine Carstairs were posted outside the door to the gym, they waited until the time specified by the President. He had not emerged, they waited a few minutes longer before Agent Sawyer knocked on the door saying "Mr President, are you alright?".
There was no reply, Sawyer began knocking more erratically still to no response. Agent Carstairs barked into her radio, calling for assistance. Now worried as to the President's condition, Sawyer began slamming the door with his shoulder, gun drawn. Carstairs drew her gun too and pointed it at the door. Sawyer broke the door's lock and the door flew open, both Agent's entered with their guns in a ready stance. What they found however posed no threat at all, it was already too late. George Bush was lying sprawled on the floor next to the exercise bike. Sawyer rushed to his side, checking for a pulse and to see if he was still breathing, his pulse was faint and breathing shallow but the President's body was cold and still. Carstairs spoke quickly into her radio "Timberwolf is down, I repeat, Timberwolf is down. Urgent medical assistance required." Beside the President's body, Sawyer began shaking his head...
Dan Quayle meanwhile had just arrived in the West Wing, he'd been scheduled to meet with the President to discuss his assignment as Chairman of the National Space Council. He'd intended to drop by the office of Chief of Staff John Sununu first, while on his way down to see the Chief of Staff, the Vice President's agents Wesley Burke and John Buren began to look very agitated; they're radios were going off about some kind of emergency. It was only when Quayle heard the phrase "Secure Scorecard, take him to Oval" which was his own codename did he begin to worry. Immediately Burke and Buren took a hold of the Vice President and with immense speed, they had arrived at the Oval Office within thirty seconds, practically bungling him through the door into the room. As they released him, Quayle, fuming with anger said "What the hell is going on?". Agent Burke, as the senior on his detail replied "Sir, according to the President's detail, he collapsed while exercising and is not responding to emergency medical treatment. We have been ordered to secure you here until further notice." As Quayle took in this revelation, the prospect dawned upon him, today may be the day every Vice President anticipates, the day when they are called to succeed.
"Word has reached us here at CNN that President Bush was rushed to hospital after suffering an apparent heart attack in the Executive Residence of the White House. The President who turns 68 tomorrow was due to give a speech regarding NASA funding later today. Vice President Dan Quayle has been secured at the White House during this development", Quayle watched the news report closely, perching on the edge of one of the couches. A crowd had gathered in the Oval Office, more Secret Service agents had arrived along with Chief of Staff Sununu, Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater, National Security Advisor Brent Snowcroft and Quayle's wife Marilyn. She sat close to him on the far left side of the couch he had perched himself on since being told of the President's condition. Sununu and Snowcroft paced the room while Fitzwater sat on the other couch conferring with the speechwriters working out a statement. The noise in the room was curbed when Secretary of State James Baker arrived in the room, all eyes turned to him. He was dressed in his suit and overcoat and clearly had walked quickly from his tired expression. He'd been at the hospital with the Bush family as a close family friend. Baker announced "The President didn't make it through surgery, he's gone." Gasps and sobs came from the various staffers, all eyes now turned to Quayle.
He rose from the couch and faced the Secretary of State who said "Dan, I've brought with me Chief Justice Rehnquist, he's going to swear you in shortly. Quayle took a deep breath and said "Alright" as Chief Justice Rehnquist revealed himself from behind the Secretary of State. A staffer thrust a bible forward while Rehnquist took, Quayle summoned Marilyn over to him where she held the bible in place. Quayle placed his left hand on the Bible. "Mr Vice President, will you raise your right hand and repeat after me.", he nodded raising his right hand. "I, James Danforth Quayle do solemnly swear", Quayle repeated the line, "That I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States", again he repeated "And will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States." He continued repeating, "So help me God". As Quayle finished repeating the final four words, Rehnquist was the first to say "Congratulations, Mr. President". The newly sworn in President hugged Marilyn before shaking hands with the key advisors, some clapped but many were still sombre about the occasion.
Within half an hour, President Quayle addressed the press corps in the Briefing Room announcing the death of President Bush and his own ascension to the Presidency, saying "George Bush was a great man, one of honor, valor, courage, intelligence and strength. He will be sorely missed by the great citizens he shared with. Our thoughts are with Barbara and the family at this time." Some doubted Quayle's ability while other's were willing to give the 44 year old man a chance. Washington Insiders especially Republicans knew they were in for a long journey yet.