Politics not without its vices
Nation’s No. 2 office has attracted some with fascinating stories
Despite their only-kind-of-impressive job title, American vice presidents have had fascinating stories of their own.
From probable crooks to probably being gay-before it-was-cool, they have had their own unique presences in history.
Aug. 9 is the anniversary of the resignation of Pres. Richard. M. Nixon in 1974, and the ascension of his vice president, Gerald R. Ford, to the presidency.
Odd fact: While presidents face term limits, vice presidents do not. Also, the Constitution had no clearly worded mechanism for presidential succession until the passage of the 25th Amendment in 1967, and no way to replace the vice president. People just kind of assumed the vice president took over.
Richard M. Nixon
While running as the GOP vice-presidential candidate in 1952 on the Eisenhower ticket, Nixon had to save his candidacy with a speech mentioning his daughters’ dog, Checkers. It wouldn’t be the last time he had trouble with that office.
Spiro Agnew
In 1973, Nixon’s vice president, Spiro Agnew, had to resign under a cloud of corruption. He was one of only two vice presidents to resign.
Gerald R. Ford
In 1973, Ford was appointed to replace Agnew as VP. He became president Aug. 9 of the next year when Nixon resigned.
Nelson A. Rockefeller
The former New York State governor was appointed to replace Ford as vice president. That meant that neither the president or vice president were elected. The ’70s were weird, man.
William Rufus DeVane King
When the U.S. elects a gay president, it will be for at least the second time.
King served as vice president for only six weeks under Pres. Franklin Pierce, dying of tuberculosis in Cuba.
Which leads to ...
James Buchanan
Buchanan, the 15th and only bachelor president, lived for more than a decade as King’s roommate. They were known to have a “special friendship” and were known around Washington as Miss Nancy and Aunt Fancy. (It was the old days.)
John Tyler
Tyler had the shortest tenure as vice president. He took over the presidency when William Henry Harrison died after 31 days in office.
George H.W. Bush
Fifteen veeps have become president, including Bush. Eight took office after the president died. Five ran for the office and won, and two resigned.
John Adams
The first VP was known as “His Rotundity.”
Charles Gates Dawes
Dawes, VP under Calvin Coolidge from 1925 to 1929, won the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in Word War I reparations.
He also wrote, in 1911, “Melody in A Major,” which (with lyrics) became the 1958 Tommy Edwards hit “It’s All in the Game.”
John C. Calhoun
In 1832, Calhoun resigned to run for the Senate from South Carolina.