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President Trump’s hospitalization for an apparently serious case of the coronavirus has sparked discussion of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, which clarified the rules of presidential succession. While some members of Congress began calling for changes following President Eisenhower’s 1955 heart attack, it was the confusion and chaos surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, that inspired passage of the amendment in 1967.

Before 1963, seven presidents had died in office, leaving the vice president to assume the powers of office. The pattern was set in 1841, when Vice President John Tyler filled the vacancy created by the death of President William Henry Harrison. Harrison had contracted pneumonia after just a few weeks in office and died on April 4.

Congress sided with Tyler, thus establishing the “Tyler precedent” in which a successor would inherit full presidential power.

Tyler insisted that he take over both the title and the powers of the presidency, but many observers believed he should simply serve as “acting president,” with limited authority. After spirited debate, Congress sided with Tyler, thus establishing the “Tyler precedent” in which a successor would inherit full presidential power.

Less than a decade later, the nation lost another commander in chief—Zachary Taylor, who became ill after eating milk and cherries at a celebration on July 4, 1850, and died after five days.

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