Them Crazy Veeps: Biden My Time
In case anyone cares, I did a proper ranking of Joe Biden on the list. He's #8, just ahead of Al Gore, and just behind John Adams. Here's the link: http://blog.adamdaroff.com/2011/08/them-crazy-veeps-9-8.html
And here's a link to the whole list: http://blog.adamdaroff.com/2008/06/them-crazy-veeps-list-so-far.html
And here's a link to the whole list: http://blog.adamdaroff.com/2008/06/them-crazy-veeps-list-so-far.html
Labels: presidents, vp
posted by Daroff at
7:47 AM
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The scariest thing about Aaron Burr is how close he got to the presidency. A brilliant political strategist and creator of the machinery that would become the Democratic Party, Burr nearly convinced the House to choose him over Jefferson. He shot 
Throughout the 20th Century, the Vice Presidency changed drastically. Ever since Truman gave the office more of a position in the executive branch, VPs have been drifting away from their Senate duties. Walter Mondale was the turning point and the mold for all future VPs. Before Mondale, VPs were mainly hatchet men, sent out to do the president's dirty work in the Senate or in the media. He established himself as senior advisor to the president, a president-in-waiting instead of a seat filler. From Mondale's example, the American people expect the VP to be able to take over at a moment's notice, to the extent they should be as presidential as the president. With the exception of Dan Quayle, modern VPs have risen to Mondale's model. Had he not been so closely associated with the failed Carter presidency, he easily would have had a chance at the White House.
The perfect combination of Truman's horrid experience as VP and his supreme confidence in his running mate, he allowed Barkley to became one of the best in his position. Truman invited him to all cabinet meetings, made him a member of the NSC, and ordered the creation of a VP's coat of arms. Had he not been too old and rundown, he could have made a run at the White House. He was the first true 20th Century VP.
If after his years of public service, John Adams somehow ended up in hell, the devil would most likely make him be Vice President for all eternity. Adams was a man of action, and in 1789, no government office was more ineffectual than his. Washington kept him out of most cabinet meetings, and after he suggested we call the president "His Excellency," the Senate took away his talking privileges. Maybe if they'd let him speak, he wouldn't have had to cast a still unbroken record 29 tie-breaking votes. Still, he gets a lot of points for doing the job extremely well. He supported his president and managed to hold onto enough popularity and power to win the presidency.
As of writing this, Harris has been Veep for three days. This placement on the list is based on mostly nothing. It’s up to her to rise or fall. Already, in just three days, she has transformed the office simply by occupying it. We no longer have to wonder if a woman could be elected Vice President. We no longer have to wonder if a person of color or a person of Asian descent will ever hold this office. For her sake, and for the sake of the country, I hope she rises on this list. Only time will tell. (NOTE: In order to not change my format completely, updates aren't getting new numbers. Kamala is one spot below Coolidge. For proper numbering, click the link at the bottom) EDIT JULY 2024: Taking over the re-election ticket bumps her up quite a bit, but I'm keeping this here to show how the list evolved.
The first VP appointed under the 
Rockefeller was the right man at the right time. For the first time, a vice president had to take office because his president 
Following Cleveland, McKinley, and Roosevelt, Taft was the weakest president in 30 years, and he relied heavily on Sherman to get his agenda done in Washington. Sherman's will was so strong, Senators resented his involvement in their affairs. After four years of hard work, Sherman died shortly before the 1912 election. It made no difference, Taft wasn't going to get re-elected.
For the times, Wheeler was the perfect VP. His close relationship with President Hayes gave him the opportunity to advise his commander-in-chief on a few occassions, but he never rose to the level of full advisor. He cast a few tie-breaking votes in the Senate, but for the most part, he just kept his head down. 
Marshall was exactly an active VP like Wilson needed. When the president went abroad, he trusted his second in command to run the country in his absense. That trust only went so far, though. When Wilson suffered a debilitating stroke, the president and first lady conspired to keep his condition hidden, lest Marshall have cause to take over. With good reason, the Wilsons saw Marshall as more of a fun party guy than a world leader. As cries for him to forcefully take over rose, Marshall gets a lot of credit for realizing these calls came more from a desire to oust Wilson than any greater good.
When suddenly the prospect of becoming president laid before him, the once forceful Senator turned into a giant wuss ball. Even though he disagreed with Johnson on many issues, he just fell into line. Somehow thinking it would make him more electable, he went on Johnny Carson a lot, which only made him look like kind of a buffoon. He was still a viable candidate in 1968, but Nixon kicked his ass.
I actually had to re-tool the list a bit to make sure Fairbanks ended up on the good side. He came into office ready, willing, and able to help a revolutionary president put forth an agenda of sweeping reform. By the end, Roosevelt was such a dick to him, he ended up siding against his president on trust busting, even trying to lead the Senate against him. In a last hard slap to the face, Roosevelt picked his drinking buddy Taft to succeed him instead of his own VP.
This blog is not to be taken seriously. Seriously. I take this seriously, but you shouldn't. You should do what you want, but you'll probably enjoy this more if you don't take anything I say seriously. I mean, I mean what I say, but it's not serious. Oh also, swearing is hilarious. It shouldn't be, but it is.
