[HarleyD]

Too many assumptions. Even if some of this were correct, the House Speaker would still have to be offered the position before turning it down.

[Gaffer]

I think one thing many here are just blowing right by. A lot of the OP argument centers around weird circumstances, ALL surrounding the taking of the Oath of Office by the President. Where the argument really breaks down in this concatenation of highly improbable events is that it is assumed someone somehow magically technically becomes the President of the United States for some period. What this litany neglects to address is that the SAME oath of office would have to be administered to each prospective ‘President’.....that of course not having a snowball's chance in hell happening before the real President takes his oath.