First Presidential Autopen Bill Signing

Another trivia answer for a future late night dinner gathering.

President Bush’s Justice Department determined that a bill may be signed by autopen. But President Obama, in France for the Group of 8 summit, was the first to use the authority — directing a mechanical signature late Thursday ET (Friday for him) on an extension of the Patriot Act, which otherwise would have expired at midnight. The autopen, typically used for letters and photos, was a last resort: The White House had calculated exactly how much time it would take to rush the bill to Andrews and get the paper in the president’s hand by midnight ET. But Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) delayed passage on the Hill, and time ran out for a dramatic “minutes-to-midnight” signature.