Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris set a record as the first woman to ever hold presidential power AS even if only for a short time.
Harris held presidential power for an hour and 25 minutes on Friday (19/11) local time. Joe Biden temporarily transferred power to Harris while he was under anesthesia for a routine colonoscopy.
Center for American Women and Politics Director Debbie Walsh said while this was a historic moment, it did not count as the first woman to serve as president in the United States.
But it reinforces the fact that a woman for the first time held the position of number one in Uncle Sam’s country.
“For the first time a woman is number one in the line of succession,” he said.
The 25th Amendment to the US Constitution lays out a process for the president to transfer power when he is unable to carry out his duties.
The White House press office said the official letter to Congress declaring a temporary transfer of power was delivered at 10:10 a.m. (1510 GMT), before Biden was sedated.
“The president resumed his duties at 11:35 a.m.,” the White House said in a statement.
Biden, who turned 79 on Saturday, arrived at Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday morning. He underwent his first annual routine physical since taking office as US president.
Presidential powers have been transferred to the previous vice president when President George W. Bush underwent colonoscopies in 2002 and 2007.
Harris is the first woman to serve as vice president of the United States, before no woman has ever served as president in the country’s nearly 250-year history.
(mrh/mik)
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