George H. W. Bush’s eight-hour presidency, July 13, 1985
The Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the Constitution states that if “the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the vice president shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as acting president.” This morning President Reagan undergoes a colonoscopy. He signs a document handing the presidency over to Vice President George H. W. Bush. For eight hours, the vice president runs the country, but cedes power back to Reagan as soon as the president emerges from the anesthesia.