Vice Presidents of The United States Podcast

A history of the United States, as told through its vices, the holders of the second-highest office in the land. Bruce Carlson delves into the lives of the individuals who have achieved the second office of American government. Learn history, and hear some great stories.

The Forlorn Hope: Richard Mentor Johnson 01/20/2024

The Forlorn Hope: Richard Mentor Johnson War Hero, Congressman, State Leader, and Senator. Kentucky's Richard Mentor Johnson was considered for the Presidency and might have obtained it in the case of his friend Andrew Jackson not seeking a second term. But timing is everything: Jackson did seek a second term, and in that term, politics changed. Johnson did become Vice President in the shuffle, and like most 19th Century Vice Presidents, spoke very little to Martin Van Buren, the President he served. Johnson is known for a few things. One is, many said of him that he killed the Indian warrior Tecumseh. He never made the claim directly, but it was said of him. The second, was that he took a wife among one of this slaves. While this was not uncommon as a secret practice, Johnson made it public and took care of his wife's daughters. For this, he earned the distinction of being the only Vice President not receiving enough electoral college votes, and needing the Senate to sign off on his Vice Presidency. Johnson also spoke for debt relief and set up an academy for Indian children. We discuss all these facts in this episode. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/29575828

The Shoemaker: Henry Wilson 10/23/2023

The Shoemaker: Henry Wilson Henry Wilson's experience as a workingman would have a double benefit in his political career. Not only could he identify with average people, but he could demonstrate that unlike his slaveholding oppponents, he worked his way up in a country that allowed him to do so. His very presence from actual rags to some riches (at least for a time) compelled Republicans to place him on the ticket with Grant as his second vice-president. Not a bad run for man who had to flee from a poor family and change his name. We tell his story. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/28397018

Walk in the Sunshine - Hubert H. Humphrey 03/17/2023

Walk in the Sunshine - Hubert H. Humphrey If he wasn't ever Lyndon Johnson's Vice President, HHH might have been remembered as a pretty good Senator. And a well-regarded mayor. But Hubert wanted more. We take a look at the man who was almost President, his bumpy relationship with the President he served under, and the choice he was forced to make in the waning days of the election. We also look at a mayor who took on crime and a Senator who passed many things we take for granted today. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/26261829

Best Rabbit: Dan Quayle 12/12/2022

Best Rabbit: Dan Quayle Dan Quayle's name conjures up images of late-night comedian jokes and verbal gaffes, but he may have offered a little-known service to the President he served. In this episode, we discuss George H.W. Bush's vice president, including his ups and downs, and even his recent role in advising Mike Pence during the Jan 6, 2021 events. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/25300791

Breaking the Gavel: Nixon's Time as Vice President 09/03/2022

Breaking the Gavel: Nixon's Time as Vice President Though Richard Nixon's presidency would get most of the attention of history, his time as Vice President was formative. He was one of several veeps that helped modernize the office. He was more active on foreign trips than his predecessors. He even came under attack and was heralded for his calm nerves. He acted as floor leader for the GOP on civil rights legislation, up agains Lyndon Johnson. And in a late night session, there was that time he broke the gavel. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/24264204

Warm Bucket: John Nance Garmer 06/28/2022

Warm Bucket: John Nance Garmer We look at the Vice President who - maybe - described the office as a "bucket of warm spit." That's a bit more questionable than some accounts, even my own podcast, makes it out to be. (He never said it directly to any reporter). The sometimes supporter of the New Deal and sometimes not VP may have been its most powerful VP occupant up to his time. And he's responsible in a little way for making two President's careers. He's also the first Vice President to campaign against the President, though since the President wasn't officially campaigning at the time, perhaps it doesn't count. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/23563784

The Smiler: Schuyler Colfax, Vice President 12/27/2021

The Smiler: Schuyler Colfax, Vice President A look at Schuyler Colfax, Grant's first Vice President lived a full life but died in obscurity and some shame. We examine the smiling vice president, former Speaker and friend to Lincoln. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/21608957

The Martyr: Thomas A. Hendricks 11/28/2021

The Martyr: Thomas A. Hendricks Grover Cleveland's first vice president barely spoke with him, did not agree on politics and was in office for political reasons. Hendricks was the bottom half of a ticket that lost the disputed election of 1876. His position on the martyred ticket that lost after a congressional commission decided for Rutherford B. Hayes would earn him a spot in the hearts of partisan Democrats. It would also earn him a second shot at the vice presidency, after an attempt to reach the the first office. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/21300554

John C. Breckinridge Ran 10/17/2021

John C. Breckinridge Ran The story of John C. Breckinridge, the only vice president to take up arms against the country he served. A charismatic and skilled speaker, he knew all of the people he ran against in the 1860 election. He took up the banner of a party associated with disunion, though his own views were far more complicated. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/20845871

Buttermilk Charlie Fairbanks, Teddy Roosevelt's Vice 02/21/2021

Buttermilk Charlie Fairbanks, Teddy Roosevelt's Vice We discuss Charles Fairbanks, Teddy's Roosevelt's Vice President from 1905 to 1909. Not only did they not see eye to eye, but Roosevelt might have given his career a little shove. Or maybe not. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/18031733

Get in The Bronco w/ Joe Biden: Biden's Earlier Years 01/24/2021

Get in The Bronco w/ Joe Biden: Biden's Earlier Years President Biden was Vice President first, and ran for President before that. In this episode, we discuss his first doomed run for President, and his improbable win over a Republican Senator during a Republican landslide election. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/17668301

The Original Adlai E. Stevenson 01/03/2021

The Original Adlai E. Stevenson Adlai Ewing Stevenson, Vice President under Grover Cleveland in his second term, has been eclipsed in history by his famous grandson. He made it to national office as Congressman, Postmaster and then Vice President. He was also a story teller and a master compromiser that could bridge the gap between conservatism and populism to help win an election. We share some of Adlai's stories from his colorful memoirs, and discuss how he could have become President. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/17403623

"Don't Call Me Willie" - Alben Barkley, Truman's Vice President 09/09/2020

"Don't Call Me Willie" - Alben Barkley, Truman's Vice President Hog caller and stump speaker Alben Barkley defied all expectations. The son of a tobacco farmer with little money to spare became Vice President and sometimes, a contender for President. Senator and Majority Leader he prospered from his ability to speak. The Original "Veep," the term first used with Barkley, he modernized the Vice Presidency but managed to keep a 19th-century style at the same time. He died the way he lived, on the stump. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/15947951

Young Cheney 05/25/2020

Young Cheney Dick Cheney is known as one of the most powerful Vice Presidents. In this podcast, we look at the years before he became Veep, and how he almost threw his career away. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/14561321

Calvin Coolidge Became Somebody 04/16/2020

Calvin Coolidge Became Somebody Nobody would have expected local pol and newbie governor Cal Coolidge to become Vice President two years before the election of 1920. Then a calamity happened, that made him the symbol of normalcy. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/14015630

Show Me the Money: Levi Morton 04/15/2020

Show Me the Money: Levi Morton Rich, popular and diplomatic, Levi Parsons Morton was a banker-turned politician who had a knack for making connections and a penchant for raising money. Serving under Benjamin Harrison. He would get along with the former General, but he would disappoint him on one important vote. And as our guest Tim Pearson, the author of Second Fiddle, tells us he had a big role in the construction of The Statue of Liberty. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/13118138

One Day in the Vice Presidency of George H.W. Bush 04/10/2020

One Day in the Vice Presidency of George H.W. Bush George H.W. Bush's Vice Presidency was not spectacular; but arguably its most decisive event happened in its first months. We discuss the day President Reagan was shot on this podcast. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/14355716

Thomas Marshall - A Sense of Humor as A Weapon 01/06/2020

Thomas Marshall - A Sense of Humor as A Weapon Wilson's Vice President prospered through his folksy Indiana charm and humor and his status as a governor of a swing state. But did his humor prevent him from a most serious role? /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/12630911

Hannibal Hamlin Stood Up 08/21/2019

Hannibal Hamlin Stood Up When his name was added to the ticket in 1860, Hannibal Hamlin's Lincoln's first vice-president was pleased to see a supportive sign that combined the two names of the candidates and read "Abrahamlicon." The campaign sign however, would not reflect the limited relationship between Hamlin and the nation's most revered President that he served under. Nor would it reflect the accomplishment of a long-serving Senator who was a key fighter against slavery in the United States. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/10944206

Dancing with John Tyler 05/18/2019

Dancing with John Tyler Born to be best, he was never a great President. But he did make history. And the Theodore Roosevelts and Lyndon Johnsons of history owed him a thank you. We talk about the man on the ticket with William Henry Harrison who became President upon his death. His history, and his love of parties and dancing. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/9834947

The Musician-Vice President: Charles G. Dawes 12/23/2018

The Musician-Vice President: Charles G. Dawes Banker, Comptroller, Campaign Manager and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Charles G. Dawes came to the Vice Presidency with many achievements already in hand. He cast a shadow over his President, Calvin Coolidge, and confronted the Senate. That didn't endear him to either. Music by Lee Rosevere and guest is Chris Novembrino of Dont Worry About the Government. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/8021423

The Guy Before Roosevelt 12/16/2018

The Guy Before Roosevelt A look at Garret Hobart, William McKinley's first Vice President who would be so influential and charming that he would sometimes be called the Assistant Vice President. Convincing the President to go to war, taking care of Cabinet squabbles and entertaining important administration allies were among the services he performed. Until his health caught up with him. Interviews with Tim Pearson and Robert Merry. Music by Chris Novembrino and Lee Rosevere. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/7935173

Kennedy Runs for Vice President 12/08/2018

Kennedy Runs for Vice President The story of John F. Kennedy's little-known and very short-lived run for Vice President of The United States. It lasted a few hours, but it's possible that instead of the Presidency, Kennedy might have been the 38th Vice president of the United States. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/7847429

Dallas 11/30/2018

Dallas Poor George M. Dallas. Not only did he have to see his rival James Buchanan rise to the Presidency, but he also may really not lay true claim to the thing he's known for, the naming of the Texas city that shares his surprisingly common name. Polk's Vice President on this episode. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/7750157

Gerald Ford's Wait and See Vice Presidency 11/23/2018

Gerald Ford's Wait and See Vice Presidency A bit about Gerald Ford's brief Vice Presidency, where he took over from Spiro Agnew. He spent his time balancing between supporting Nixon during the Watergate crisis and supporting Watergate critics. He also kept him self busy, and away from the White House as much as he could. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/7666328

45 Days-William Rufus King's Short Vice Presidency and Impactful Life 11/18/2018

45 Days-William Rufus King's Short Vice Presidency and Impactful Life Franklin Pierce's Vice President died in office before he reached Washington D.C. to serve. But his prior career had been one of a respected moderate Southerner willing to compromise. That didn't stop him from challenging Henry Clay to a duel once. We discuss rumors and speculation that he may have been the first gay vice President, and how the US may have been robbed of a needed compromiser at the wrong time. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/7604924

Sunny Jim: James Schoolcraft Sherman 11/11/2018

Sunny Jim: James Schoolcraft Sherman Years before Dick Cheney, a VP with his own politics and power base would emerge. A brake to Taft's progressive tendencies and a token to conservative Old Guard Republicans, James Schoolcraft Sherman may have had more influence over the inexperienced and reluctant President Taft than has been widely known. . He's known in history for his optimism and changing the Electoral College records forever. Music by Lee Rosevere and Chris Zabriskie /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/7516886

Henry Wallace, Harry Truman and the Axe That Changed History 11/11/2018

Henry Wallace, Harry Truman and the Axe That Changed History Henry Wallace was Vice President and wanted to stay Vice President. But the bosses wanted Harry. Even though, Harry didn't know he was up for the job. And even though, no one knew who FDR truly wanted. It's the story of the 1944 DNC Convention and the battle between two veeps. Yes, at some point, it does involve an axe. /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/7516787

The Miserable Daniel D. Tompkins? 10/28/2018

The Miserable Daniel D. Tompkins? Monroe's Vice President is known for maybe two things. A park in the East Village of New York City, and that he was a drunk. Yet, as we discuss with Tim Pearson, the author of Second Fiddle, The Strange, Sick, Silly Sad and Soused Men We Elected Vice President, there's much more to Daniel D. Tompkins. He was also a democratic superstar who defeated aristocrats, prepared New York's defense in the War of 1812, and ended slavery in New York. Music from Lee Rosevere in this episode and Chris Novembrino /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/7343237

Why Lyndon Johnson Became Vice President 10/28/2018

Why Lyndon Johnson Became Vice President Lyndon Johnson was a powerful man - a mover and shaker in Washington who had his own car phone. He worked directly with the President of The United States, and many people thought he could be President . Then he settled for VP under a junior senator. Why? /episode/index/show/vicepresidents/id/7343144

Vice Presidents of The United States Podcast

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