Change of Presidents

Report Outline
New Tests in Transfer of the Presidency
Experience in Critical Transition Periods
Safeguards for the Period of Transition

New Tests in Transfer of the Presidency

Passage of Two Decades Without a President-Elect

Whatever the outcome of the November election, the United States will have a new President next January. Not since 1933 has there been a change of White House occupants as the result of an election. Roosevelt's long tenure through repeated re-election, Truman's succession from the vice presidency on the death of Roosevelt, and Truman's subsequent election for a full term have made it 20 years since a President-elect waited to take over the reins from an outgoing President. Now, with Truman not running, the country of a certainty faces the almost forgotten problems of a changeover in national administrations.

Although the Roosevelt administration gave way to the Truman administration in 1945, Truman undertook to follow the path that F.D.R, had blazed. As a result, except for the changes that new situations brought about, there has been for two decades a general continuity of government policies. And, in the absence of any presidential election turnover, none of the complications attending the installation of a new Chief Executive has arisen. Even if the Democrats are successful at the polls next month, it may not be easy to arrange and maintain adequate liaison between the outgoing Truman and incoming Stevenson administrations during the 11-week period between Election Day and Inauguration Day. The task will be more difficult if there is a Republican victory and the consequent prospect of far-reaching changes of policy when an Eisenhower administrati on takes office.

Difficulties in New Timing for Change of Presidents

Transfer of the presidency to new hands in January will show up, for the first time, certain practical difficulties resulting from the change made by the 20th amendment in the date on which presidential and vice presidential terms begin. Since the 20th amendment took effect, Oct. 15, 1933, the Congress elected in November has met for its initial session on the following Jan. 3, or occasionally by special arrangement on a later day, and the President and Vice President elected in November have been inaugurated on the following Jan. 20 instead of, as formerly, on the following Mar. 4. All four of the Jan. 20 inaugurations so far held have been inaugurations of a re-elected President and therefore have merely marked the bestowal of a new lease of power on an administration already in office. But the 1953 inauguration will involve a shift of power from one administration to another, if not from one party to another.