Bush, Quayle Meet on Transfer of Power : Leaders Agree on Scenario in the Event of President’s Disability

President and Mrs. Bush met last week with Vice President Dan Quayle and his wife, Marilyn, to discuss the terms of the transfer of presidential power if Bush should become disabled, the White House confirmed today.

Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater called it a “routine meeting” at which letters were signed by Bush and Quayle.

Fitzwater said the meeting was held “to discuss the 25th Amendment” dealing with presidential disability and the “implementation of the statute . . . , how it works . . . the paper work.”

However, the Washington Post said today that the meeting was to discuss circumstances under which Quayle would become acting President should Bush be unable to conduct official business. It said the two couples decided that the amendment would be invoked in certain circumstances and not in others.

The terms of the agreement have not been made public, nor was the meeting on the public schedule.

Fitzwater said the meeting in the Oval Office on April 18 included White House physician Burton Lee II, White House counsel C. Boyden Gray and chief of staff John H. Sununu.

The meeting was intentionally private to avoid a reminder of the Democratic charges during last year’s presidential campaign that Quayle lacked the experience to succeed Bush as President if it should become necessary, the Post said.

A source told the newspaper that Quayle remained quiet during most of the discussion. Bush, Barbara Bush and Marilyn Quayle questioned White House staff members at the meeting.

The newspaper said presidential scholars have urged that such a meeting be held, citing the “chaos” that surrounded the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, after which Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig Jr. mistakenly told the nation he was in charge.