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Vice Presidents: From Afterthought to Indispensable

From the Veep who wrote a #1 song to the one considered the most useless in history.

Alex Dalenberg

Read when you’ve got time to spare.

Every time a presidential election rolls around, you might find yourself pondering: what, exactly, does the vice president do? For much of American history, the answer was “not much.” But since the end of World War II, the vice president’s job has evolved from a constitutional afterthought to an indispensable part of the executive branch. And with the sudden the elevation of Vice President Kamala Harris to the top of the Democratic ticket, it’s clear that being No. 2 has never been more important.

Trace the history of America’s vice presidents with this collection of articles about the country’s second highest office.

Photo by Megan Varner / Getty Images

How the Vice Presidency Went From an ‘Insignificant Office’ to a Political Powerhouse

Early U.S. vice presidents focused on their constitutional role as president of the Senate, but more modern officeholders have held more influence in the White House and beyond.

Why Vice Presidential Picks Matter: Significant Moments in History and Transfers of Power

Of the 49 vice presidents in U.S. history, nine of them — or nearly 1 in 5 — have risen to the presidency due to death or resignation.

Sex, Money, Social Media — How VP Contenders Are Vetted

Spare a thought for the contenders who undergo a process that one past participant likens to “a colonoscopy performed with a telescope”.

Inside Number One Observatory Circle

Almost everyone knows the White House, but few people know that the vice president has an official residence of their own.

‘His Accidency’: The First President to Die in Office and the Constitutional Confusion That Followed

Was John Tyler really president after pneumonia claimed the life of William Henry Harrison? In 1841, the country wasn’t sure.

The Most Useless Veep in U.S. History

A hoax about the president’s death led him to believe he was Commander-in-Chief—and it paralyzed him with fear.

The Vice President Who Wrote a Hit Song

To date, Charles Dawes is the only Vice President to have a song chart at #1, though he missed the whole thing.

How F.D.R.’s Death Changed the Vice-Presidency

The possibility of a sudden succession now plays a larger part in the selection of Vice-Presidents, but not always.

The Vice Presidents That History Forgot

The U.S. vice presidency has been filled by a rogues gallery of mediocrities, criminals and even corpses.

A Brief History of Vice Presidents Bemoaning the Vice Presidency

A compendium of all the nasty things said about the job.

Why the Vice Presidency Matters

Choosing a running mate used to be more about campaigning than governing. But after Richard Nixon’s ruinous relationship with Spiro Agnew, the job has changed. Introducing the executive vice presidency.