Ernest Moniz Will Be The ‘Designated Survivor’ For The State Of The Union

U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz speaks during a meeting with businessmen at the Confederation of Industry in Brasilia, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
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U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz is the “designated survivor” who won’t attend President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech Tuesday night.

Each year, one cabinet member traditionally skips the big speech in case a horrible tragedy wipes out the president and his team, in order to ensure the continuity of government.

This year, it’s Moniz, a nuclear physicist who the Senate confirmed as energy secretary in May of 2013, who would become president in such a scenario.

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