Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is staying behind for Biden's State of the Union — here's how past designated survivors spent their evenings under high security

Every year since the 1960s, one member of the president's Cabinet has been selected to be the designated survivor during high-profile events such as inaugurations and State of the Union addresses.

Someone would have to take over the government if there was an attack on the Capitol.

The State of the Union is not held in the House chamber, so if there is a catastrophe, a Senate-confirmed official could take the reigns of the presidency. A survivor from Congress has been selected to rebuild the legislative branch.

Gina Raimondo is the survivor of the first State of the Union address by President Joe Biden.

This doomsday scenario has captured the imaginations of screenwriters and TV producers, and spawned an entire show on ABC called simply Designated Survivor.

In the real world, designated survivors tend to be low-ranking cabinet members, and until 9/11, had spent their evenings away from Washington, DC in a variety of ways. Most of the time, people choose to kick back, relax, and enjoy the perks of the presidential treatment.

Past designated survivors have spent their State of the Union addresses as the possible president-to-be.

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