I read that if anything happened to Washington, DC, the capitol would be a city in WA state. Is this true?

Question

I read this years ago and wondered if this was really true. I can't find verification on the web and wondered if someone knew?

Answer 1

Looks like it was certainly true at one time:

"Port Angeles, WA is the USA's second national city, meaning that if anything happened to Washington, DC Port Angeles would supposedly become the country's capital. This has been true since 1862, when President Lincoln promulgated the first ever executive order to make it so. (However, presently the federal government's plans for responding to the destruction or capture of Washington DC are classified, and may or may not involve relocating the federal government to Port Angeles.)

http://www.city-data.com

Answer 2

The capital is whatever we want it to be. It's changed before (use to be NYC). If DC fell into the ocean tomorrow (why am I smiling???) The highest serviving ranking member of the cabinet (if Pres, VP, and Speaker of the house all perish) would be the new leader and call for new elections, and the new Congress will pick a new capital. Are you thinking of a buncker that acts as the backup location in case everone is killed during the State of the Union Address?? They have a bunch of those, the most famous is in Colorado. The capital is just a meeting place, there is nothing special about it. Only the President matters constitutionally (he can decare martial law if everyone in Congress dies at once) and start the process of electing new Congresspersons once order is restored. Of course this is just an educated guess. lol

Answer 3

only flaw in the Port Angeles story is Washington wasn't a state in 1862 and Port Angeles didn't exist.

and why would Lincoln pick an area that was 100 days minimum by sailing ship or 150 days by covered wagon from the East Coast?


other than that it's a good story.......

Answer 4

No DC would still be the capital unless it was underwater. But, if DC was gone, I think, it would it would be Philadelphia where the congress met last before 1800 which was when D.C became the capital. If its not philly, then it would be N.Y city where the congress met before meeting in Philly.

Answer 5

Well, since I live the area...and actually lived on Capitol Hill for years, I have always luved this one! It is unfortunately very close to the truth! LOL

Answer 6

doubtful, very doubtful, not enough population nor resources to run the country from

Answer 7

Probably not.

Answer 8

No

Answer 9

answer this question for me and then i'll come back and answer yours

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=An2nDURCa7eGntjpJbNPo4Xty6IX?qid=20070815235509AAB1TlN

Answer 10

That would be no.