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Deputy President Pro Tempore Of The United States Senate




During the 100th Congress ( 1987 - 1988 ), George J. Mitchell was elected Deputy President ''pro tempore'' by the Senate, due to the illness of President ''pro Tempore'' John C. Stennis .

Had former Vice-President Walter F. Mondale won his 2002 senate election bid, he would have been entitled to the position of Deputy President pro tempore.


OTHER PRESIDENTS ''PRO TEMPORE''

In a situation similar to the Mitchell-Stennis deputization, in June 1963 Senator Lee W. Metcalf was designated ''Permanent Acting President pro tempore'' due to the illness of Senator Carl T. Hayden . Senator Metcalf retained this title and frequently presided over the Senate until his death in 1978.

From June 6 2001 until January 3 2003 , Senator Strom Thurmond was given the honorary title of ''President ''pro tempore'' Emeritus''.

As of 2006 four former Presidents ( Gerald Ford , Jimmy Carter , George H.W. Bush , and Bill Clinton ) and three former Vice-Presidents ( Walter Mondale , Dan Quayle , and Al Gore ) are eligible for the position of Deputy President pro tempore of the United States Senate.


COMPENSATION

The post may be purely honorary and ceremonial, nevertheless, it comes with a salary. By statute, the compensation granted to the position holder equals the rate of annual compensation paid to the President ''pro tempore'', Majority Leader, and Minority Leader . (''See'' .)


REFERENCE


Congressional Research Service, ''The President Pro Tempore of the Senate: History and Authority of the Office''