New Delhi: First woman Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris became the first woman President for a term of one hour and 25 minutes on Friday, reported AFP. The brief stint of Presidency came for Harris while US President Joe Biden, during his regular health check up, was sedated for a colonoscopy exam.
According to White House press office, letters to Congress declaring temporary transfer of powers were sent at 10:10 am. “The President resumed his duties at 11:35 am,” said the White House. "Today that was another chapter in that history for many women, young girls across the country,” said Press Secretary Jen Psaki.
Psaki also noted that a similar situation had occurred in the past also. Temporary transfer of power had been carried out in 2002 and 2007 when president George W Bush also underwent the same procedure.
Following his annual visit to the Water Reed Hospital as a routine for president, Joe Biden was given a thumbs up from the White House doctor. "The President remains a healthy, vigorous, 78-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief," wrote White House physician, Kevin O'Connor
The letter by O’Connor noted that the US President had no signs of heart failure, no dental issues, no “suspicions of skin cancer” and his eye health “is reassuring.”
The letter further stated that Biden, 79, is the oldest president in the history of US, takes three common prescription medications and two over-the-counter medications and wears contact lenses.