The designated survivor is, as you likely know, a real thing -- aimed at ensuring continuity of our government even under the most dire of circumstances. Fewer people know that there is also a designated member of Congress and a designated staffer, a senior level aide who is also held back from the State of the Union to help the designated survivors in the event tragedy strikes. For one very cold night in 2004, I was the designated staff survivor. On the afternoon of January 20, 2004, President George W. Bush was preparing to deliver his State of the Union speech. I was preparing to depart the Capitol with the designated congressional survivor – Sen. Trent Lott.

Source: Washington Post September 21, 2016 14:26 UTC