Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has been named the "designated survivor" during the State of the Union speech by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Each year, one member of the president's Cabinet is whisked away to an undisclosed location during the address in case a catastrophic event occurs and wipes out the line of presidential succession.

The tradition harkens back to the dawn of the Cold War, amid fears of a nuclear exchange with the Soviet Union.

After the vice president, the speaker of the House, and the president pro tempore of the Senate, the line of succession goes to Cabinet secretaries in the order they were created, beginning with the Secretary of State and ending with the Secretary of Homeland Security.

One member of Trump's Cabinet cannot serve as a designated survivor: Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, who was born in Taiwan and does not meet the constitutional requirements to serve as president.

The designated survivor will take over duties as the acting commander-in-chief is case of a catastrophic event.

美国农业部长珀杜是川普总统发表国情咨文期间的“指定幸存者”。

每年总统发表国情咨文时，为了避免灾难事件发生造成总统继任者无一幸免的情况发生，内阁中总会有一名部长担任 “指定幸存者”，被送到一个不向外界披露的地点。

这项传统始于冷战初期，当时人们担心与苏联爆发核战争。

【美农业部长担任“指定幸存者”】相关文章：

★ 盖茨基金会支持北京“无烟奥运”

★ 美丽的“忙碌”谎言

★ 美国金币销量激增

★ 美国企业界广泛担忧财政悬崖

★ 驻日美军最高指挥官就军队丑闻表态

★ 东南亚高增长吸引投资者目光

★ 希腊财长：明年将是“生死攸关”的一年

★ Lex专栏：欧元“死缓”？

★ 丰田了结“无故加速”官司

★ 美投资机构担忧“财政悬崖”