The Economic Times

From Cabinet secretary to doomsday president: What being America's designated survivor is like

A designated survivor, typically a low-profile Cabinet secretary, is kept away during major government events like the State of the Union to ensure leadership continuity. This Cold War-era practice, dramatized in fiction, involves a sobering readiness for unthinkable tragedy, though daily realities are less dramatic. Officials describe focused minds and enhanced prayers against such an event.