History/Government Question

My cousin called me a few hours ago with a few questions. Her son was having problems with his homework. I'm not very good with history or government though. One of the questions was: Who becomes President if the current President and Vice President are unable to? I guess I worded that right. Anyone know?

Speaker of the House is the next in line.

Oh - GOOD! That's what I told her. I was just hoping that was right. Thanks!

Yes, Speaker of the House is next...contrary to what Alexander Haig would have had us believing years ago

See, I knew that from watching West Wing. And they say that television is bad for you!

Per the Constitution, the order of succession is:

President
Vice-President
Speaker of the House
President Pro-Tem of the Senate
Secretary of State

After the Sec. of State, there is a specific order, down through the Cabinet but, I'm not sure what it is.

Irving Wallace wrote an excellent book, called "The Man", in which the first three on the list all died suddenly, within a few days. The President Pro-Tem of the Senate became the first black President. This is a very good book, in which the Sec. of State schemes and connives to remove the President and take over.