WASHINGTON (KMOX) — Energy Secretary Rick Perry was not present for President Donald Trump's State of the Union address last night. However, he had a really good excuse.
Perry was picked as this year's "Designated Survivor" in case something happened during the address. It's a tradition every year for a Cabinet member to be picked, then hidden in an undisclosed location during the address.
While it's not known where Perry was, he did tell reporters that he had a "productive meeting" with Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue was last year's Designated Survivor. The year before that? It was former Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin.
No matter who holds the post, the Secretary of Energy is 14th in line for the Presidency, according to the U.S. Constitution.
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