Throughout U.S. History, our Presidents get all the glory. Nobody really ever thinks about their sidekicks, the Vice Presidents. Unless, of course, it is someone like Dan Quayle who uttered stupidities every other minute.
Anyway, the office of the VP may sound dull, but it’s actually packed with strange, quirky, and sometimes scandalous stories.
So here are some weird facts about the Vice Presidents.
John Adams — Our very first VP was a second cousin to brewer Samuel Adams (Oh yes, the beer guy). His third cousin? His wife, Abigail. Family ties ran close in the 1700s.
Martin Van Buren — Raised in a Dutch-speaking New York community, he’s the only Vice President whose first language wasn’t English.
Henry Wilson — Born Jeremiah Jones Colbath, he changed his name at 21 after reading a biography. Later, while serving under Ulysses S. Grant, he became one of the seven VPs to die in office.
Chester A. Arthur — Before becoming president in 1881, critics spread rumors that he had been born in Ireland and falsified his records.
Henry Wallace & Hubert Humphrey — Two inventive VPs. Wallace developed hybrid corn and founded Pioneer Hi-Bred. Humphrey, a pharmacist, whipped up something much like Vicks VapoRub.
Charles Dawes — VP in the 1920s and a musician. His tune Melody in A Major later became It’s All in the Game—a #1 pop hit in 1958.
John C. Calhoun, Spiro Agnew & Schuyler Colfax — Notorious for resignations and scandals. Calhoun quit to pursue a Senate seat, Agnew resigned amid bribery charges, and Colfax stepped away after a railroad mess.
John Nance Garner — Once Speaker of the House and later VP, Garner lived to 99. At 95, he received JFK’s final known phone call.
Alben Barkley — His grandson coined the nickname “Veep,” turning the stiff title “Vice President” into something a little more fun.
And finally. Seven VPs Died in Office:
George Clinton (1812): Jefferson’s and Madison’s VP, died near the end of his service.
Elbridge Gerry (1814): Madison’s second VP, passed away just two years into the job.
William R. King (1853): Served under Franklin Pierce, but died weeks after the inauguration.
Henry Wilson (1875): Grant’s VP, died after just two years in office.
Thomas A. Hendricks (1885): Cleveland’s VP, died in his first year.
Garret A. Hobart (1899): McKinley’s VP, well-liked but died midway through the term.
James S. Sherman (1912): Taft’s VP, passed away just days before the election.
So, there it is. The bribery scandals. The pop songs.
It is the second-highest office in our country. But it never gets much notice. Nonetheless, it has never been short on surprises.
So while the VP might wait in the wings, history proves they’ve always been doing some of this and that. Sometimes, they even get close to being hanged by an angry mob in the Capitol. What a job it must be.
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“The vice presidency is not worth a bucket of warm spit.” — John Nance Garner (FDR’s VP, though he actually said something saltier)
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“Second place is just the first loser.” — Dale Earnhardt
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“History is a vast early warning system.” — Norman Cousins
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