What Happens If the President Dies in Office?

Death of a Leader

When a president dies in office, it is a sad and trying time for the country and the world. A new leader must take up the reins. According to the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, when the president dies either by assassination, accident or natural causes, the vice president becomes the president. This is called the presidential line of succession. Before the vice president gets sworn in as president, there is a funeral for the deceased president called a state funeral.

The process of a state funeral can be simple or complicated, depending on the wishes of the head of state. In the case of the presidency, the president-elect or sitting president writes out his wishes when he takes office. The family of the deceased may make minor changes to the state funeral depending on the detailed wishes of the deceased; however, it there is a common sequence of events that follow when a president dies. Eight pallbearers from the armed forces are designated to honor the president and walk with and move the casket. They are considered the Honor Guard while the president lies in repose. The military performs various 21-gun salutes in honor of the deceased. Military bands and choirs may be present to honor the president, and a military chaplain is available to speak with the family. This person may also speak to the public during the funeral. If the president was a veteran or an honoree of the military, then the casket gets draped with a U.S. flag. Upon the death of a president, U.S. flags are flown at half-staff or half-mast for 30 days all over the country.

A funeral procession takes place after the ceremonies while the president lies in repose. The Old Guard, or the Old Guard Caisson Platoon, is the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment. The Old Guard is charged with carrying the president through the funeral procession in a caisson drawn by six horses of the same color, with three riders and a section chief who rides on a separate horse. The funeral procession starts at the White House and ends at the Capitol. The procession is followed by active military members, National Guard members, and academy and research personnel who represent the five branches of the U.S. military. A riderless horse is last in the line of the procession. This horse, with a pair of boots reversed in the saddle, represents a fallen leader looking back over his troops for the last time.

At the end of the procession, the president's body lies in state for public viewing and mourning. A funeral train originally was used to transport the president to his final resting place in Washington D.C., while the public lined the sides of the railroad paying respects. In current years, Air Force One is the main transport for the deceased. A 21-gun salute takes place for the arrival and departure of the last transport vehicle for the deceased. The body is then taken to its final resting place for interment.