Theoretically, if Pence had a 2-month presidency...

[Blue3]

Theoretically, if Pence had a 2-month presidency... what would he do with it, before handing over power to a President-Elect Biden?

[Ferguson97]

Appoint Amy Coney Barrett, and mostly be a caretaker

[Where's the Epstein Client List?]

Come up with a design for America's smallest presidential library.

[President Johnson]

Historically, it's interesting that none of the nine previous vice presidents who became president upon death/resignation of their predecessor succeeded to office during an election year. Most actually were sworn in in the year of the regular inauguration, with over three years to go before the term was going to expire. Lyndon Johnson had the shortest period of time before the ongoing term was up, November 22, 1963 to January 20, 1965. That's "only" 426 days. Since LBJ won the 1964 election, Gerald Ford had the shortest presidency of said group: 896 days (August 9, 1974 to January 20, 1977), a few months longer than Millard Fillmore (July 9, 1850 to March 4, 1853). Lyndon Johnson and Calvin Coolidge are actually the only vice president ascending to the presidency at a point in time more than half of the term was over:


* John Tyler succeeding in April 1845, one month after Harrison took over (shortest presidency).

* Millard Fillmore succeeded in Midterm year (1850).

* Andrew Johnson (1865), another succession just a little over one month into the term.

* Chester Arthur (1881), another succession in an Inauguration year, half a year into the term.

* Teddy Roosevelt (1901), another Inauguration year, almost the same succession date to Arthur (Sept. 1881/1901), reelected to a full term.

* Calvin Coolidge (1923), succeeding in the summer before the election year, reelected to a full term.

* Harry S. Truman (1945), yet one more succession an Inauguration year, 82 days into the term, reelected to a full term.

* Lyndon Johnson (1963), succeeding in the fall before the election year. Only 426 days left, reelected to a full term.

* Gerald Ford (1974), succeeding in the summer of Midterm year like Fillmore.

[25 Abril/Aprile Sempre!]

He would mostly be a caretaker.

He would have the second shortest presidency ever, and he would be the first President whose entire term was as a lame duck.

[Hnv1]

He would mostly be a caretaker.

He would have the second shortest presidency ever, and he would be the first President whose entire term was as a lame duck.

If Trump dies after Biden is elected I can see a call for Pence to notify the president-elect of everything pretty much making Biden de facto president

[MABA 2020]

Come up with a design for America's smallest presidential library.

Until someone builds a William Henry Harrison presidential library

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

It won't happen, Trump just announced today to get stimulus package done, so he is feeling fine

[brucejoel99]

Yeah, he'd presumably just see to it that ACB's judicial commission is signed before riding the rest of the term out as a temporary caretaker 'til Inauguration Day.

[pbrower2a]

Extend the meaning of "Make America Great Again" to include a ban on abortion, homosexuality, and probably labor unions.

[TiltsAreUnderrated]

Besides appointing ACB, he’d use executive office to grandstand and thus lay the groundwork for his 2024 campaign.

[Samof94]

I can totally see him running in 2024 if he is briefly President.

[You are responsible]

I can totally see him running in 2024 if he is briefly President.

Just like Glenallen Walken on the West Wing. Except that he lost the nomination to Vinick.

[President Johnson]

I can totally see him running in 2024 if he is briefly President.

He'll probably run anyway, even if they're headed for a loss this November. He'd certainly run against another vice president if nominated, since the 2024 Democratic nominee is either President and former Vice President Joe Biden or incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris. At least there is a 95% chance it's one of these two.

[Samof94]

Yes, that makes perfect sense for him to do so politically.