David Rice Atchison
[March 4-5, 1849]

David Rice Atchison is actually our long forgotten 12th President! Read the story below about the man that served as President of the United States for a day!

At 12 noon on March 4, 1849, Zachary Taylor was scheduled to succeed James Polk as chief executive. But March 4 was a Sunday and Taylor, a devout general, refused to take the oath of office on the Sabbath. Thus, under the Succession Act of 1792, Missouri Senator Atchison, as President ProTempore of the Senate, automatically became president. He appointed a number of his friends to cabinet positions and on Monday at noon, Zachary Taylor took over the reins.

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