Amidst the aftermath of the Iran-Contra scandal that rocked his presidency, Ronald Reagan’s behavior raised concerns among White House aides, leading to considerations of invoking the 25th Amendment to potentially remove him from office.
The president’s handling of the scandal prompted White House staff to express doubts about his capabilities, deeming him as “inattentive and inept.”
A memo addressed to the chief of staff outlined these concerns, sparking discussions about the potential use of the 25th Amendment as a mechanism for ousting the president due to his perceived inability to effectively fulfill his duties.
In a rare turn of events in American political history, the notion of utilizing the 25th Amendment to remove a sitting president was broached within Reagan’s administration, reflecting the gravity of the situation at that time.
The episode unfolded in 1987, with Howard H. Baker Jr. newly appointed as Reagan’s chief of staff.
Tasked with assessing the impact of the Iran-Contra scandal on the White House, two aides were assigned to investigate the unfolding chaos within the administration.
James Cannon, one of the aides involved in the investigation, recounted tales of discontent among the staff regarding Reagan’s work ethic and engagement with his presidential responsibilities.
Reports surfaced of the president’s alleged laziness, disinterest in his role, reluctance to engage with provided documents, and preference for leisure activities over official duties.
As the oldest president in U.S. history at the time, Reagan’s advanced age was noted by observers like Stephen F. Knott, shedding light on his demeanor characterized by a lack of attention to detail, propensity for napping during meetings, and struggles with memory retention.
Cannon’s memo suggested exploring the applicability of the 25th Amendment’s fourth section, which permits the vice president and cabinet to intervene if the president is deemed incapable of carrying out his duties effectively.
Although Baker took the memo seriously and monitored Reagan’s conduct closely, he ultimately dismissed the prospect of invoking the 25th Amendment due to his personal observations not aligning with the concerns raised in the document.
Speculation surrounding Reagan’s health and mental acuity intensified after his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 1994, prompting inquiries into whether signs of cognitive decline were evident during his presidency.
However, medical professionals and experts like Knott have refuted claims linking Reagan’s behavior during his tenure to mental health issues or Alzheimer’s.
While Reagan did face health challenges, including hearing impairments stemming from his early acting career and surviving an assassination attempt in 1981, Knott believes that the severity of these issues did not warrant the invocation of the 25th Amendment, despite the perilous nature of the circumstances surrounding the assassination attempt.
