Today in history: February 10

In 1967, the presidential line of succession was cleared up

Eisenhower
(Image credit: (CORBIS))

Feb. 10, 1807: President Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to Congress, asked for an increase in defense spending. He wanted to buy more gun boats to better protect the long U.S. coastline.

Feb. 10, 1967: The 25th amendment was ratified, clearing up long-standing ambiguities about the order of presidential succession. The 25th amendment replaced the prior wording in Article II, which doesn’t explicitly say that the VP automatically becomes president. After President William Henry Harrison’s death in 1841 — the first president to die in office — some thought VP John Tyler would be only "acting president" until an election could be held.

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Quote of the Day

"The only legitimate right to govern is an express grant of power from the governed." —William Henry Harrison

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