David Rice Atchison
David Rice Atchison ( born August 11, 1807 in Frogtown, Kentucky; † January 26, 1886 in Gower, Missouri ) was a U.S. Representative (Democratic Party), who represented the state of Missouri in the U.S. Senate. He is sometimes mistakenly referred to as " elfeinhalbter " President of the United States.
Early years and political rise
David Atchison attended Transylvania University in Lexington and then trained to become a lawyer. After recording to the bar he began practicing in Liberty. He also worked as a farmer. His political career began in 1834 when he was a deputy in the House of Representatives from Missouri, where he served again in 1838. He also acted in 1841 as a judge at the District Court in Platte County.
As a successor to the late Lewis F. Linn, he was appointed U.S. Senator for Missouri and then also chosen for its own term of office. He took his seat in Washington, D.C. true from 14 October 1843 it held until March 3, 1855.
President for a day?
Origin of the legend
It is claimed that Atchison was one day President of the United States technically -. On Sunday, March 4, 1849 On this day, expired term of office as President James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, his successor was not yet used because he refused to swear an oath on a holy Sunday. Therefore, his office could also be vice president, Millard Fillmore, not compete. Since the Office must not be orphaned, Atchison have bridged according to the U.S. Constitution because of his role as Deputy President of the Senate, the resulting gap of one day as president pro tempore.
The facts
In fact, according to the U.S. Constitution enters the President pro tempore of the place of the head of state, if the President and his Vice President to fail simultaneously. However, since the terms of office of James K. Polk and his vice president, at noon of March 4, came to an end, the term of office of Atchison was terminated at the time.
Moreover, neither disease nor death Taylor and Fillmore prevented them from assuming their posts. You were the chosen successor, so there was no power vacuum. And if Taylor was not President, because he had not yet made the oath of office, so it was Atchison same reason either. Best Secretary of State James Buchanan would it come into question as the highest official in the state. But he won the presidency not only for a day, but in the regular elections of 1856 for a full term.
Furthermore, one could say that Atchison had ten minutes to Fillmore and Taylor sworn in and so in theory it had been president for this short time. But the vice president makes his oath of office has always been in front of the President, which would also make him each for a few minutes to the President. This position finds no support in the American constitutional law. Claims to lead Atchison in the list of official U.S. presidents, are therefore absurd.
Atchisons opinion
When asked Atchison, what he had done on March 4, 1849, he reportedly replied, "I was in bed. The previous two or three days had been very hard with the dissertations of the Senate, and I slept on that Sunday most of the time. " Laughing, he further claimed his presidency was the most honest, the country has ever had.