re: They will make Joe step down from being president here soon.

I think that Speaker being 3rd in line is only in the scenario that POTUS and VP die essentially at the same time. I don't think that Speaker becomes VP if President resigns. It's been a LONG time since we had that situation (Nixon) and I don't think that the rules have changed since then. Gerald Ford was Nixon's VP. When Nixon resigned, Ford became the president. I *think* that Ford appointed his VP.

Edit: wikipedia says that Ford nominated Rockefeller to be his VP and then Rockefeller was subject to congressional hearings and confirmation.