‘President Kamala Devi Harris’: In a Historic First a Woman Held Presidential Powers for Hour and 25 Minutes
- President Biden temporarily transferred power to Vice President Harris while he was under anesthesia for a routine colonoscopy.
It was just for a little over an hour, but it was history nonetheless. Today, Nov. 19, Kamala Devi Harris broke one more glass ceiling by becoming the first woman in the nation to ever hold presidential powers. This morning, President Joe Biden temporarily transferred power to Harris while he was under anesthesia for a routine colonoscopy for one hour and 25 minutes. During the time, she worked from her office in the West Wing while Biden was under anesthesia. Harris, of course, made history by becoming the country’s first female, first Black, and first South Asian vice president.
The White House said President Biden formally submitted letters to Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), president pro tempore of the Senate, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi informing them of the transfer of power.
At today’s press briefing, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki spoke of the transfer of powers. “As a woman myself I will note that the president, when he selected her to be his running mate, obviously knew he was making history, making history that was long overdue,” she told reporters.
“We make history every time they’re working together, every time she’s out there speaking on behalf of the government as the vice president of the United States,” she continued. “She makes history every day … But certainly, today was another chapter in that history. And I think that will be noted for many women [and] young girls across the country,” Psaki added.”
After her brief presidential stint, Harris traveled from Washington, D.C., to Columbus, Ohio, where she promoted the bipartisan infrastructure deal that President Biden signed into law earlier this week.