what happens if the president and the vice president both die?

Some people in the middle east will party I'm sure!

There is a line of succession, established by the Presidential Succession Act of 1947. If the President and VP both die, then the Presidency passes first to the Speaker of the House (currently Dennis Hastert), then the President pro tempore of the Senate (currently Ted Stevens), then to the President's Cabinet Secretaries in the order their department was created (except for the Secretary of Homeland Security, because Congress hasn't gotten around to passing a law to add him).

Third in line for the presidency is the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, a republican from Illinois. I am particularly ashamed of this fact because I know him - or rather I knew him when I went to school in Yorkville, IL, where he became the wrestling coach. There were about 80 in our graduating class (very small town), so everyone knew, well, everyone.

I can remember 2 new personnel in my 12 years attending Yorkville schools, and the interest in these folks was tremendous. I remember Mr. Smith, who was relatively young and very handsome - and I remember Mr. Hastert, who was also young but whose most memorable characteristic was his ignorance. He didn't need to be intelligent, really, because he didn't actually teach. He was hired to be the wrestling coach. I had him for study hall.

Many years later, I heard he was trying to get into politics, which seemed awfully wrong. I asked my mom about him ; she said he came over to ask my dad for money. After talking to him for a few minutes, dad declined to contribute. My mom was blunt - "He was SO dumb" - and I don't think she was talking about my dad.

But our Mr. Hastert wasn't just dumb - he was folksy and genial. I can imagine him doing as he was told. I hope he had sense enough to be frightened when he became Speaker - such an awesome, unbelievable responsibility. But I'm sure he did as he was told.

Now, thank God, it's over. I'll never forget, though, that one of the least intelligent people I've ever known could ascend to the level of Speaker of the House - third in line for the presidency. It scares me to death, and I am so grateful Nancy Pelosi will take over.

I hate to say this because Mr. Hastert was a nice guy - but I truly believe he was dumb as dirt, and there is no excuse for that. Americans elected Al Gore President - if winning the popular vote isn't enough to win the Presidency and we continue to accept that crazy Electoral College, I'm afraid something like this could happen again.

Then we'll all be responsible.

Speaker of the House, President pro tem of the Senate, then the Secretaries: State, then Treasury, Defense, Attorney General, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, HHS, HUD, Transportation, Energy, Education, Veteran Affairs. Only the Pres to the VP is in the Constitution, the rest is by law....and not set if is actually constitutional.

The speaker of the house is next in line.

Followed by the president pro tem of the senate, then it goes to the Cabinet, starting with the secretary of state.

President Pelosi...omg!

President Pelosi.

I think a lot of cons on this board just had heart attacks.

Speaker of the House takes charge...and we will have our first female President...like it or not.

ARGH!

Nancy Pilosi becomes president (Speaker of the House)

the speaker of the house who happens to be a democrat at this time will then be in charge.