The Role of a Designated Survivor in U.S. Government \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A designated survivor is a Cabinet member chosen to stay away from major government events to ensure continuity of leadership in case of catastrophe. This practice, rooted in Cold War-era fears, has been dramatized in fiction but remains a real and serious responsibility. Former designated survivors describe the experience as both humbling and surreal, knowing they could suddenly become president under tragic circumstances.
Designated Survivor Quick Looks
- A designated survivor is a Cabinet member chosen to remain away from major government events in case of disaster.
- This practice started during the Cold War due to fears of a nuclear attack wiping out leadership.
- The idea has inspired TV shows, including Designated Survivor starring Kiefer Sutherland.
- Former designated survivors describe the role as surreal, bringing humbling thoughts and high adrenaline.
- During the 2006 State of the Union, James Nicholson said the responsibility “focuses your mind and enhances your prayers.”
- Doug Collins, Veterans Affairs Secretary, was chosen as Trump’s designated survivor for his joint congressional address.
- In earlier years, designated survivors had more freedom to choose their location, but after 9/11, security became tighter.
- Some designated survivors spent their time in flight or in secure locations with briefings and contingency plans.
- The first publicly known designated survivor was Terrel Bell in 1981 during Reagan’s presidency.
- Despite the serious responsibility, some officials recall humorous moments—like struggling to find a taxi after returning to normal life.
Deep Look
Most days, a U.S. Cabinet member’s role is relatively routine, focused on policy and administration. However, on rare occasions, one of them is chosen for a responsibility both surreal and monumental—becoming the designated survivor. This individual, kept away from high-profile government gatherings, serves as a last-resort safeguard in the event of an unimaginable disaster that wipes out the country’s leadership.
Though often dramatized in fiction, the role remains a critical part of U.S. national security strategy. It exists to guarantee that the government continues functioning, no matter what. But what is it like to be the person chosen for this responsibility? Past designated survivors have described the experience as an odd mix of intense gravity, bureaucratic routine, and even humor.
The Origins of the Designated Survivor Tradition
The concept of a designated survivor emerged out of the Cold War, when fears of a Soviet nuclear strike raised concerns about how the U.S. government would continue functioning if Washington, D.C., were obliterated. At the time, military strategists and political leaders realized that the entire chain of command—President, Vice President, and much of Congress—could be taken out in minutes.
By the 1980s, under Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, the role became formalized as part of government continuity planning. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the White House Military Office were tasked with ensuring that at least one key leader would be absent from major events like the State of the Union address or a joint session of Congress. The goal was simple: if catastrophe struck, there would still be a legally recognized successor to keep the government running.
Over the decades, the role of designated survivor has captured public imagination. It has been dramatized in novels, political thrillers, and most famously in the ABC series Designated Survivor (2016–2019), in which Kiefer Sutherland plays a minor Cabinet member suddenly thrust into the presidency after an attack wipes out the federal government.
Historian and journalist Garrett M. Graff, author of Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself — While the Rest of Us Die, explains the appeal:
“The idea that you’re just a random Cabinet official, and then suddenly, you’re the President of the United States—it taps into both the public’s fascination with crisis and the ‘everyman’ fantasy of overnight power.”
What Happens When You’re Chosen as the Designated Survivor?
For the chosen Cabinet member, the experience is a mix of high-stakes responsibility and bureaucratic routine. Typically, they are notified a few weeks before the event, sometimes by the White House Chief of Staff.
In the hours leading up to the President’s speech, the designated survivor is escorted to a secure location, often far from Washington, D.C. Their whereabouts are kept classified, with only a handful of senior officials and top Secret Service agents aware of their exact location.
Once in place, they receive classified briefings about government continuity plans. The scenario they must prepare for is grim: an attack or disaster that kills the President, Vice President, Cabinet members, and most of Congress. If that happens, the designated survivor would have to assume the presidency immediately, leading the country through a national crisis of unprecedented magnitude.
Firsthand Accounts: What It’s Like to Be the Designated Survivor
Past designated survivors have shared a range of experiences, from quiet reflection to moments of surreal humor.
James Nicholson (2006, Bush Administration)
James Nicholson, who was Veterans Affairs Secretary under President George W. Bush, described the experience as sobering:
“It focuses your mind. It also enhances your prayer that it doesn’t happen to you.”
Nicholson was taken to a classified secure location via helicopter, where he spent the night undergoing briefings and watching the State of the Union address. He recalled being served a fine meal—a small but notable detail that stuck with him.
“It made you think that, at least, if this awful thing happened, you’d be well-fed.”
Alberto Gonzales (2007, Bush Administration)
Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales chose to spend his designated survivor night in flight aboard a military aircraft. He recalled the gravity of the moment as he reviewed contingency plans:
“It was during that time that it suddenly hit me—if something happened in the Capitol and everyone was killed, I’d be president.”
Despite years of legal and government experience, Gonzales admitted that the thought of governing a wounded nation in the aftermath of a tragedy was overwhelming.
Dan Glickman (1997, Clinton Administration)
Former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman was designated survivor during President Bill Clinton’s 1997 State of the Union address. Unlike later designated survivors, he had more freedom in choosing his location and opted to stay with his daughter in New York City.
He recalls the experience as a mix of excitement and absurdity. His daughter wanted to invite people over to watch the speech, but he declined, saying:
“This was not a party.”
After the event, the Secret Service offered to escort him back to Washington. Instead, he decided to stay for dinner. However, when he declined his security detail, he found himself stranded in a freezing sleet storm, unable to hail a taxi. He laughed, recalling:
“I was the most powerful man on the face of the earth, theoretically. And then I can’t even get a cab.”
Post-9/11: A Shift in Security Protocols
Before 9/11, designated survivors often had more flexibility in choosing their location, sometimes staying at personal residences or moving up planned trips.
However, after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, security measures became far stricter. Designated survivors are now typically taken to classified military bases, underground bunkers, or airborne command centers. These locations are chosen to maximize survival chances in the event of an attack.
Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) plays a key role in designing contingency plans, ensuring that the designated survivor would be prepared to assume the presidency immediately if necessary.
The Future of the Designated Survivor Role
Though the Cold War-era fears of nuclear attack have faded, the threat of terrorism, cyber warfare, and other catastrophic events keeps the designated survivor tradition relevant.
Modern security concerns—including the possibility of biological attacks, EMP strikes, or cyber-induced infrastructure collapse—mean that government continuity planning remains a top priority.
While the role of designated survivor remains one of America’s most obscure traditions, it continues to serve as a vital safeguard against worst-case scenarios.
Former designated survivors, despite never having had to assume power, often reflect on the gravity of the role. James Nicholson put it best:
“The enormity of that job. You think about it—remote as it is, this is something you might have to do.”
And yet, despite the immense responsibility, there is no official group or alumni club for past designated survivors.
“We don’t have a club,” Nicholson joked. “We should.”
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