At least, in a technical sense?
If so, when and why?
I do mean the United States: I don't mean "including the CSA".
2007-09-28 07:29:01 · 4 answers · asked by Gromm's Ghost 6 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Jonathan D:
I'm not alluding to the Atchison incident. I'm talking about a situation in which someone actually took the oath of office ... while another person's term in office was still unexpired.
2007-09-28 07:45:26 · update #1
Yes! Grant and Hayes
And it was one of those Sunday Inauguration Day issues.
Rutherford B Hayes, who would probably have taken the oath on Monday, March 5, 1877, decided to take in on Saturday the 3rd. Given the circumstances of the election dispute that had JUST been resolved, he did not want their do be any discontinuity or any opportunity for confusion or mischief.
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There were, of course, other cases -- five, in fact-- though ONLY Taylor's cased raised the same possible problem.
The other four really didn't really matter, because it was the President's SECOND term -- Monroe, Wilson and Eisenhower. Monroe and Eisenhower waited a day. Wilson and Reagan did not (though public festivities were delayed till Monday).
2007-09-28 08:49:12 · answer #1 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's Constitutionally impossible to have two presidents at once.
The closes may have been "President for a Day" David Rice Atchison, who was technically President for one day (March 4, 1849) because Zachary Taylor, who was extremely religious, refused to be sworn in on a Sunday, while preceding president James K. Polk had left D.C. the day before.
PS- The situation you mention would be, by legal definition, treason. It cannot happen.
Even in the event of presidential incapacitation (for example, imagine that JFK had survived the shooting but was left in a coma), he would have to be removed from office before LBJ could take the oath of office.
Al Haig attempted to have additional powers conferred upon him when Reagan was shot, but they were not and he got into serious trouble for overstepping his authority (bypassing the Secretary of State and VP).
2007-09-28 07:36:35 · answer #2 · answered by Jonathan D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you mean when Texas was independent of the Untied States?
2007-09-28 10:09:10 · answer #3 · answered by Hobilar 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its impossible. The clash of egos would break the country into pieces.
2007-09-28 07:38:07 · answer #4 · answered by Chustar Of Naija 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋