Q: Lyndon B. Johnson did not appoint a vice president after he became president in 1963. If LBJ had been incapacitated or died in office, who would have become president?
—Kathy McDonough, Peachtree Corners
A: Speaker of the House John McCormack, a democrat from Massachusetts, would have become president if Johnson had died in office from the time of President John F. Kennedy's assassination on Nov. 22, 1963 until Jan. 20, 1965. LBJ didn't name a vice president after Kennedy was assassinated until he ran for president in 1964 with Hubert Humphrey as his vice presidential candidate. As next in the line of succession, McCormack would have become president, under Public Law 80-199, which also was called the Presidential Succession Act of July 18, 1947. There was no law regarding the appointment of a new vice president until the ratification of the 25th Amendment on Feb. 10, 1967. The office of vice president has been vacant 17 other times because of resignations or the death of either a president or vice president.
Q: Was “CSI: NY” canceled? I’ve always liked Gary Sinise.
—Gene Sanders, Atlanta
A: “CSI: NY” wasn’t renewed for next season. CBS canceled the show after its ninth season concluded in May. Its ratings dropped in each of the past three seasons and “CSI: NY” went from 10.03 million total viewers in its seventh season to 9.68 this past season. Sinise played detective Mac Taylor in the show.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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