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20th Century Vice Presidential Ascenders

Last week, I looked at Presidents that only served one term.  I excluded Presidents that rose to the office as a result of their predecessor passing (or resigning, as the case may be).  This week, I’ll take a look at the ones that rose to the office because of the constitution instead of an election.  And, I’ll look at their own electoral successes.  Four Vice-Presidents rose to the highest office as a result of the passing of their boss.  A fifth got the job because of a resignation.  The first four won a term in their own right.  The fifth barely lost (at least in the electoral college).  Lets look at Teddy Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson and Gerald Ford.

Teddy Roosevelt (William McKinley) – McKinley was the third president to be assassinated.  Roosevelt, the former governor of New York, hadn’t even been on the ticket the first time around.  He was added to strengthen the ticket for the 1900 election campaign.  It worked.  After assuming the presidency, he observed that the office provided a “bully pulpit” to the office holder.  He dramatically expanded the national park system.  He won the election of 1904 (name the guy he ran against-’nuff said).  He didn’t seek another term.  And, he could have.  In 1912, he tried a comeback as a third party candidate, finishing second.  His political career came to an end.

Calvin Coolidge (Warren Harding) – Harding went on a trip to the west coast, developed pneumonia, and never recovered.  Calvin Coolidge is the president that conservatives harken back to when they refer to the better days.  Even Ronald Reagan referred to him as his favourite president.  He won his own term in 1924 against Al Smith.  The country wasn’t ready for a Catholic president.  And, Coolidge would epitomize the “small government” conservative presidency that modern Republicans talk about.

Harry Truman (Franklin Roosevelt) – Harry Truman got his job by 82 days.  If Franklin Roosevelt had passed away earlier, there was another Vice-President (though, given the election was 2 1/2 months before that, he still would have, ultimately, become the President).  Roosevelt, had 3 different Vice-Presidents.  For Franklin Roosevelt items CLICK HERE!Truman was his last.  Truman would definitely put his stamp on the office.  “The Buck Stops Here”.  “Give Them Hell, Harry”.  He sought his own term in 1948.  Though the Chicago Sun Times called it for his opponent, Thomas Dewey, he won his own term.  For Thomas Dewey items CLICK HERE!  The Korean War began during his own term.  A constitutional amendment was adopted during his term limiting the time a President could serve in office.  He was exempted, but chose to not seek another term.  For Harry Truman items CLICK HERE!

Lyndon Johnson (John Kennedy) – John Kennedy was the fourth (and last) president to have his life taken from him while in office.  For John Kennedy items CLICK HERE!The assassination has still raised questions.  There are many who believe that there was a conspiracy afoot.  Many believe that his Vice-President, Lyndon Johnson, was part of that conspiracy.  It is believed by many of those conspiracy theorists that Johnson was to be dropped from the ticket.  There is no proof to substantiate any of the theories.  However, upon Kennedy’s death, Johnson rose to the presidency and, a year later, won a term in his own right against Barry Goldwater.  For Barry Goldwater items CLICK HERE!  Johnson came forward with an aggressive agenda.  The Civil Rights Act was adopted.  The “Just Society” programs came into place.  The Vietnam War expanded.  Then, his address to the nation.  “I will not seek, nor will I accept my party’s nomination”.  He would serve out his term and not seek another.  For Lyndon Johnson items CLICK HERE!

Gerald Ford (Richard Nixon) – Nixon remains the only president to have ever resigned the office.  Gerald Ford remains the only person to have assumed the office without winning a national office through a general election.  A corruption scandal forced Vice-President Spiro Agnew from office.  Under changes to the Constitution, a new person could be appointed to the office.  Gerald Ford became the first person to ever have that privilege.  Soon after, the Watergate scandal would force Nixon to resign his office.  For Richard Nixon items CLICK HERE!  Gerald Ford became president.  The final troops came home from Vietnam during his brief time in office.  What’s more often remembered about his time in office is his pardon of his former boss, Richard Nixon.  Given the closeness of the vote in the 1976 general election, it’s quite easy to believe that the pardon cost him the election.  His time in office was brief.  The Democrats used Watergate and defeated him.  For Gerald Ford items CLICK HERE!  Jimmy Carter became the 39th president of the United States.  For Jimmy Carter items CLICK HERE!

In the case of Gerald Ford, it’s clear he lost because of the scandal that elevated him to the presidency.  Though not involved in any way with it, his pardon of Nixon was enough to tie him to the scandal.  However, the four who made it because of the passing of the predecessor represent another story.  Roosevelt, Coolidge and Truman had opportunity to make the office their own.  Were their predecessors forgotten?  And, were people happy with what they saw?  Even Johnson had legislative victories prior to facing the voters.  Again, were voters happy with what they saw.  Did the four receive “sympathy” votes in honour of the men that passed? Was it a simple matter of voters being happy with the job they were doing in the office?  Were their opponents just weak?  This latter one is the most interesting of all.  Opponents always seem weak after they’ve lost.  If one looks closely, 3 of the four really were weak (I’m being generous to New York governor Thomas Dewey).

In the end, especially in the days before extensive internal polling was done, it’s really impossible to know why voters did what they did.  One thing is clear…in the twentieth century, having your boss die was good for ones own electoral prospects.

Do you agree?  Disagree?  Leave your thoughts in the comment section.

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Bill’s 6: Biggest Political Bone-Head Moves (U.S.)

Last week, I launched a blog idea that I promised when I launched the site.  The first Bill’s 6 proved to be very popular.  Here’s the follow up.  Week 1 was for Canada…here’s the one for the U.S.

In putting this list together, I want to point out that I specifically chose not to include areas of public policy.  Governments are elected to enact legislation and I have no desire to open a debate on the merits of those policies (it’s the reason “the Pardon” isn’t on the list).  That goes beyond what I’m doing with this list (besides…it could anger people and the intent of this particular list is entertain).  Also, when I launched the site, I noted that I wasn’t going to include contemporary politics.  Therefore, I am not including anything on the list about anyone or anything that could in any way be considered as a part of current politics (again…don’t want to anger people about current events).  I hope that you enjoy…

6.  Henry Wallace –  Wallace was a Republican that Franklin Roosevelt appointed as Secretary of Agriculture.  He would later appoint him as his Vice-Presidential nominee.  He proved to be a poor choice and was dropped from the ticket going into the 1944 election.  Roosevelt was re-elected as President with Harry Truman sworn in as Vice President in 1945.  82 days later, Roosevelt was dead and Truman was president.  Had Wallace not proven to be such a poor Vice President, he could very well have been President of the United States.

5.  The First 1960 Debate – John Kennedy showed up tanned and wore make up.  Richard Nixon did not.  Polls after the debate showed that people who listened to the debate on radio thought Nixon had one.  People who watched it on TV though Kennedy had won.  Many more watched it on TV.  Kennedy suddenly gained credibility as a candidate and would ultimately win the election.  Not wearing make up cost Richard Nixon the presidency.  For John Kennedy Items CLICK HERE!

4.  1948 Chicago Sun Times – Dewey Defeats Truman.  Or so said the headline the day after the election.  The polls and pundits all said it would be true.  The paper, seeing no reason to doubt it, went to press with the headline.  Except…he didn’t.  Harry Truman was elected President of the United States.  Thomas Dewey went down to defeat.  It is the most famous of all media headline screw-ups.  For Harry Truman Items CLICK HERE!

3.  Thomas Eagleton and the 1972 Vice-Presidential Nomination – If Thomas Eagleton were selected a political candidate today, no one would give it a second thought.  However, in 1972, there was a much greater misunderstanding of mental illness.  After his nomination, it was learned that Eagleton had suffered from mental illness and received a “non-conventional” form of treatment to combat it.  As a result of the lack of knowledge at the time, he was eventually forced off the ticket.  George McGovern went through a very exhaustive list of replacements, all of whom said no.  He finally got a running mate, but, by then the damage was done.  McGovern’s campaign sputtered to a smashing loss.  For George McGovern Items CLICK HERE!

2.  Gary Hart “Prove It” – There had been suspicions that Democratic presidential hopeful Gary Hart was not being faithful to his wife.  Instead of backing away he dared the media to prove he was.  The Miami Herald accepted the challenge.  The photo of Hart with his companion on the boat “Monkey Business” (tell me that’s not the most ironic name in history), ended his campaign for the presidency.  Prior to the revelations, Hart was the front runner in for his party’s presidential nomination.  He also led national polls in head to head match-ups with Republicans.  He was the only candidate presenting new ideas.  He lost it all because he couldn’t keep it zipped for a few months.  For Gary Hart Items CLICK HERE!

1.  Watergate – No list of political bone-head moves could be complete without watergate.  The scandal had two components…the actual break in and the cover up.  Both were bone-head moves…both could have made this list…combined they make number 1.  The “burglars” broke into the Democratic party’s headquarters.  They attempted to learn info from their opponents.  In the end, Nixon won with about 60% of the vote.  The info the DNC had was unnecessary to the winning campaign.  Later, President Nixon participated in the cover-up made to help higher ups in his administration.  He broke the law.  He became the only president to resign the presidency.  A meaningless, unnecessary third rate burglary led to the resignation of the most powerful man in the world.  Yup…if that’s not a bone-head move, I don’t know what is.  For Richard Nixon Items CLICK HERE!

Do you agree with my choices?  Share your thoughts in the comment section.