Why was David Rice Atchison only president for one day?

Answer 1

Oh, dude, David Rice Atchison was technically president for a day because Zachary Taylor's term ended on a Sunday, and incoming President Millard Fillmore refused to take the oath on a Sunday. So, Atchison, as President Pro Tempore of the Senate, was next in line. But let's be real, it was more of a technicality than anything else. Like, one day in the Oval Office doesn't exactly make you a historical heavyweight.

Answer 2

This is an interesting bit of American history that most people don't know. It all started when newly elected Zachary Taylor refused to be sworn into office on a Sunday in 1849. Taylor was a firm believer that Sunday was created for rest and rest only. Not even his becoming president could change this. This posed a problem. Polk's four years were up and the constitution specifically stated that he and his administration were out of office as of noon Sunday March 4, 1849. But there was a solution. According to the law the President of the Senate acts as President of the United States when both the President and the Vice President are unavailable to hold the office. The President of the Senate was Sen. David Rice Atchison of Missouri and on Sunday March 4, 1849 he became President for one day. He had partied a lot in the weeks preceding Taylor's inauguration and when he finally went to bed on Saturday night March 3 he was exhausted and left orders not be awakened for anything. His orders were followed and so he became President for one day and slept through his entire term. He died at the age of 79 and is buried in Plattsburgh, Mo with his tombstone reading: David Rice Atchison

President of the United States

For One Day 1807-1886