The Chronicles Of Grant County
Kamala Harris
Acting President Of The United States Of America
Kamala Harris. Acting President of the United States of America. (The photograph was provided courtesy of The White House.)
The Chronicles Of Grant County would like to issue a belated congratulations to Kamala Harris for serving as Acting President of the United States of America.
You did not know that Kamala Harris has already served our country in a position with full Presidential powers?
This is not a Trick-or-Treat question nor is it a Halloween prank.
It's not even a "Dewey Defeats Truman" news column. (For those that may be young or may not know the history, the Chicago Daily Tribune printed thousands of newspapers with a headline that stated that Governor Thomas Dewey of New York had defeated President Harry Truman in the election of 1948. President Truman actually defeated Governor Dewey.)
Kamala Harris was Acting President of the United States of America on November 19, 2021.
For 85 minutes.
With her ascension to the Office of the President, Kamala Harris officially became the first female in American history to hold Presidential powers.
Kamala Harris also became the first Asian American in American history to hold Presidential powers and became the second Black American (after President Barack Obama) in American history to hold Presidential powers.
The background on this ascension by Kamala Harris to an office with more power than any other office in the world was detailed in a report of the Congressional Research Service dated July 17, 2024:
"President Joseph [Joe] Biden has invoked Section 3 of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment once during his presidency to date, when he was anesthetized for a routine medical procedure. Like President [George W.] Bush, President Biden specifically cited the amendment when declaring his disability and reclaiming his authority."
"On November 19, 2021, President Biden was sedated while undergoing a routine colonoscopy. The procedure was conducted at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The President specifically cited the Twenty-Fifth Amendment in letters to Speaker [of the United States House of Representatives] Nancy Pelosi and President pro tempore [of the United States Senate] Patrick Leahy about transferring his constitutional powers, using almost identical language to President Bush."
"President Biden notified Speaker Pelosi and President pro tempore Leahy that he had transferred the powers and duties of his office to Vice President Kamala Harris at 10:10 AM. He reclaimed his authority at 11:35 AM, transmitting a 'written declaration that I am able to discharge the powers and duties of the Office of the President of the United States and that I am resuming those powers and duties.'"
This report of the Congressional Research Service included the text of Section 3 of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution:
"Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President."
This transfer of power was noted in the news media.
Interestingly, though, other than one question at the Press Briefing conducted by Jen Psaki, Press Secretary, on November 19, 2021, members of the news media did not seem to want to know what was accomplished by Acting President Harris during her time with full Presidential powers. This Press Briefing began at 12:38 PM, about one hour after the Administration of Acting President Harris ended.
One reporter (the individual reporter was not identified in the transcript of the Press Briefing provided by The White House) asked Press Secretary Psaki "In an effort to flesh out the historical record of the day, is there anything you can tell us about the 85 minutes that Kamala Harris served as Acting President?"
The response from Ms. Psaki to this question was as follows:
"I will leave that to the Vice President and her team to characterize. You know, I would note that – and you didn't ask me exactly this, but I know other people have been talking about this and, as a woman myself, I will note that, you know, the President, when he selected her to be his running mate, obviously he knew he was making history – was making history that was long overdue, in our view. And part of that was selecting someone who could serve by your side, as your partner, but also step in if you were – if there was a reason to. And that includes the application of the 25th Amendment, as was done this morning."
"He [referring to President Biden] also, of course – we also know we make history every time they're working together, every time she's out there speaking on behalf of the government as the Vice President of the United States. But certainly, today was another chapter in that history, I think, that will be noted for many women, young girls across the country."
So, what exactly was accomplished during the Administration of Acting President Harris?
The public records detail that two pardons occurred on November 19, 2021, but these pardons were carried out by President Biden rather than Acting President Harris.
The pardons of Peanut Butter and Jelly took place that day at a ceremony in the Rose Garden at The White House. The ceremony began at 3:30 PM and ended at 3:38 PM.
Who were Peanut Butter and Jelly?
It might be better to ask what were Peanut Butter and Jelly.
They were turkeys. Actual, live turkeys.
President Biden pardoned the turkeys as part of an annual ceremony where the President pardoned the National Thanksgiving Turkeys.
Peanut Butter and Jelly then traveled to West Lafayette, Indiana. There, they retired to a farm maintained by Purdue University.
There were a number of other statements issued by The White House that detailed the activities and actions of President Biden on November 19, 2021.
None of the statements listed the accomplishments of Acting President Harris on November 19, 2021.
There may have been accomplishments, but The Chronicles Of Grant County was not able to locate any public documents that detail the accomplishments of Acting President Harris.
So, regardless of whom you may vote for on November 5, both of the two major party candidates have previously held Presidential power.
There is one difference.
Whether you agreed or disagreed with his actions, we know what was accomplished during the Administration of President Donald Trump. We do not know what was accomplished during the Administration of Acting President Kamala Harris.
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© 2024 Richard McDonough
