Succession
President Childers' widow, Rita, shared her late husband's widespread personal popularity. Upon his death, when she issued a press statement pleading for the nation to keep the office above politics in choosing a successor, Cosgrave reacted by suggesting to the Opposition Leader, Jack Lynch, that they appoint Mrs. Childers to the presidency by acclamation. Lynch agreed four days after Childers' death to bring the suggestion to his party. However, when members of Cosgrave's Fine Gael disclosed the plan to the press on their own initiative, Lynch, believing his Fianna Fáil party was being denied a public voice in the decision, withdrew his support.
All parties instead agreed to appoint the former Attorney General and Chief Justice, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, as Childers' successor.
Read more about this topic: Erskine Hamilton Childers
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