Gates to Serve as ‘Designated Successor’ for Inaugural
The Bush White House has picked Defense Secretary Robert Gates “as the designated successor” to take the reins of the government in the event of a catastrophe on Inauguration Day.
Gates will be sitting out the inauguration celebrations and will be spending the day outside the capital region at a military installation, according to the Pentagon.
It’s common for one senior government official to sit out major events, such as the inauguration to ensure that the government has continuity and a leader in case of a terrorist attack or disaster.
–Roxana Tiron
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