When Washington’s power elite convene for the president’s annual State of the Union address, there’s always a cabinet member missing:

• 2007: Alberto Gonzales, attorney general
• 2006: Jim Nicholson, secretary of veterans affairs
• 2005: Donald Evans, secretary of commerce
• 2004: Donald Evans, secretary of commerce
• 2003: John Ashcroft, attorney general
• 2002: Gale Norton, secretary of the interior
• 2001: Anthony Principi, secretary of veterans affairs
• 2000: Bill Richardson, secretary of energy

That member stays at a remote location in case some catastrophe strikes the Capitol.

He’s called the designated survivor.