Prior to the ratification of the 25th Amendment in 1967, there was no provision for filling a vacancy in the vice presidency. When a president died in office, the vice president succeeded him, and the vice presidency then remained vacant. The first vice president to take office under the new procedure was Gerald Ford, who was nominated by Nixon on Oct. 12, 1973, and confirmed by Congress the following Dec. 6.

* The Vice President Richard Cheney
* Speaker of the House John Dennis Hastert
* President pro tempore of the Senate Ted Stevens
* Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

So here's today's scenario for President Rice. George decides to be the tough guy again and goes to visit Iraq, only this time, the big blue bird gets shot down by the rebels using some of those weapons Rummy sold the Iraqis back when Saddam was in charge. Cheney has a heart attack and keels over, Denny, three hundred pounds overweight does the same, getting us to Ted Stevens, who is declared physically unable to assume the office (he has alzheimer's as demonstrated by the "pipes" thing) and we get out first black, female president...

I just thought this sounded funny.

Order of Presidential Succession