25th Amendment - Presidential Succession (1967)
Image: President Clinton departs the National Naval Medical Center following his stay for knee surgery.
The third section of the 25th Amendment states: “Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.”
Documents from the Clinton Library describe the Working Group on Presidential Disability that was established in 1994 to address perceived weaknesses in the 25th Amendment. Clinton Library records also document how the 25th Amendment applied to the Clinton Administration when President Clinton underwent knee surgery in 1997 (see image). Additional efforts with the transfer of Federal functions include President Clinton issuing Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 67 on “Enduring Constitutional Government and Continuity of Government Operations” in 1998. The PDD remains classified.
![[Contingency Plan for the Death or Disability of the President] [1]](https://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/files/fullsize/e333b4f8bb015352b6976c13e59c0eb6.jpg "[Contingency Plan for the Death or Disability of the President] [1]")
Learn More:
2016-0998-F : Planning for Presidential Succession or Disability Events