A Distant Second: A History of U.S. Vice-Presidents

For almost 200 years, this was far from true. Vice-Presidents were akin to an old saying “A man had two sons. One went to sea and one became Vice-President of The United States. Neither were ever heard from again.”

John Adams, our first vice-president, said “This is the most useless office ever devised by man.” Adams, referring to the remote possibility of George Washington dying in office,” said “Today I am nothing; but tomorrow, I may be everything.”

Despite the historical obscurity of the men, some notes about American vice -presidents can prove interesting:

ELBRIDGE GERRY served in James Madison’s second term and died in office. As a Massachusetts politician, Gerry helped draw up a Congressional district with many twists and turns to allow for a candidate’s advantage. One legislator said “That looks like a salamander.” An another man gave America a keyword, saying “No, it’s a Gerrymander.”

DANIEL D. TOMPKINS of New York was vice-president in both of James Monroe’s adminstrations. The period was called “The Era of Good Feelings.” Tompkins allegedly contributed “good feelings” of his own … with the bottle.

RICHARD MENTOR JOHNSON was Martin Van Buren’s running mate. The Kentucky senator, a follower of Amdrew Jackson, had married his half-breed mistress and had children by her. For that, he was scorned even by members of his own party. Johnson failed to get a majority of votes in the Electoral College, even though Van Buren did. Johnson remains the only vice-president who had to be elected by the Senate. He also had what may be the worst campaign slogan ever. The old Indian
fighter was hailed: “Rumsey-Rumsey, Dumpsey-Dumpsey, Colonel Johnson killed Tecumseh.”

GEORGE DALLAS was vice-president under James K. Polk. The Pennsylvanian has a city in Texas named for him.

WILLIAM RUFUS KING is accused by revisionists of being a gay partner of future President James Buchanan. In their day, however, it was common for traveling attorneys, salesmen and others to be packed into one bed overnight in a tavern or inn. The North Carolina-born King was a Senator from Alabama when he was elected vice-president with Franklin Pierce. King was ailing and in Cuba for his health. He was sworn in by the U.S. consul in Havana and died within weeks.

JOHN C. BRECKENRIDGE was just over the minmium age of 35 when he became James Buchanan’s vice-president. He later became a Confederate general and was that government’s last secretary of war.

ADLAI STEVENSON, elected in 1893 with Grover Cleveland, was the grandfather and namesake of the 1952 and 1956 Democratic candidate for President.

CHARLES FAIRBANKS offered a chill contrast to his President, Theodore Roosevelt. One wag said “Mr. Fairbanks’ body temperature climbs to freezing during an especially warm conversation.”

THOMAS MARSHALL, Woodrow Wilson’s running mate, was, like Fairbanks, from Indiana. Marshall is best known for a comment while presiding over the Senate. A member was saying over and over again “What this country needs…”
Marshall quipped “What this country needs is a five-cent cigar.”

CHARLES DAWES once angered President Calvin Coolidge and other Republican leaders when he was not present to break a tie vote in the Senate. Dawes was taking his afternoon nap. Named ambassadorto England in 1929, Dawes created quite a stir by refusing to meet the King and Queen wearing knee pants, as was the custom. The British royals were not amused.
(While vice-president under Warren Harding, Coolidge was asked if he minded attending banquets several times a week in place of the President. “Got to eat somewhere,” said caustic Cal.)

CHARLES CURTIS of Kansas was Herbert Hoover’s vice-president. Curtis was very proud of his Native-American blood.

JOHN NANCE GARNER, former Speaker of the House, ran with Franklin D. Roosevelt twice. The caustic Texan said the vice-presidency “Isn’t worth a bucket of warm spit.” (Garner may well have used a stronger, and more odorous, word than spit. Editors were more cautious in those days.) When someone called Garner “A mean, cussing, hard-drinking old man,” he
countered: “Aw, I ain’t so old.” Garner lived well into his 90s.

ALBEN W. BARKLEY ran with Harry Truman in 1948. The colorful former Kentucky senator and majority leader was nickmaned “The Veep” and liked it.