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 On July 18, 1947, Harry Truman signed the current Presidential Succession Act.

When he ascended to the presidency following FDR's death, the existing (1886) act called for the cabinet to follow in the order in which each department was created. This meant the next in line was the Secretary of State. Remember there was no method of filling a vice-presidential vacancy at that time.
The problem was FDR liked to handle his own foreign policy without interference. Hence in 1944 he appointed Edward Stettinius...an able individual who would cooperate with whatever Roosevelt wanted. In class I used to describe him as an "empty suit" but he was more than that. And he was what FDR wanted.
But did he have the qualifications for be POTUS? Cabinet members at the time were selected due to expertise in certain areas. But they were appointed, not elected.
The 1947 Act, which is current policy, called for the Speaker of the House then the President Pro Tem of the Senate to follow the VP, then the cabinet.
However, assuming a double vacancy, the current Speaker of the House is 80 years old...and the President Pro Tem is selected for seniority not skill. The present one is 81 years old.

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