Vice Presidents of The United States Podcast

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Two Grandmothers: Charles Curtis Oct 01, 2026

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Old Charlie, everyone's friend rose up with his ability to deal, cajole and compromise. 50 years of political life and accomplishment, only to reach the 2nd-highest office in the United States amid a Great Depression. Such is the story of Charles Curtis. The highest ranking official in history of clear Indian ancestry, which he took pride in, Curtis nonetheless pushed for policies his own tribe today call hurtful.

We Cannot Surrender Our Institutions: Calhoun Oct 18, 2025

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Defender of his view of Southern rights, Vice President John Calhoun was the only VP to serve under Two Presidents. Both of those Presidents would come to dislike him strongly, as would (we think it's fair to say) most people today. That's because he undermined both Presidents he served under, and because Calhoun's defense of slavery went beyond what a majority of Southern Congressmen and Senators in his time would support. And even in context, it deserves the anger it generates today. If there's any silver linings for (some) modern ears, we discuss his position on tariffs (against them) and his position against federal power in local areas which could get a nod from those that hate him otherwise. He also opposed the Mexican War for the same reasons as Lincoln. It was in his view a war started by a President. And in his mind at least he was always pro-Union - though contemporary political opponents contested this. We won't do much celebrating of this Vice President, but to know history we have to talk about him.

Theodore Roosevelt's Four Days Sep 23, 2025

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That's all TR had as Vice President, technically. His official duties were just four days in March. From there he spoke, wrote letters and travelled and to at least one person, complained about the restrictions of the Vice Presidency. Until the change.

In this episode we'll actually get a bit into those four days in March 1901 and what happened. They did cover a bit of American history. And we will look at his ride to become President.

Make It Big: Nelson Rockefeller Jul 23, 2025

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Nelson Rockefeller was already a household name and a figure of some stature when Gerald Ford asked Congress to approve him as Vice President. True to form, he attempted to make the Vice Presidency a big office.

Liberal, with No Apologies - Walter Mondale May 23, 2025

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A one-term Vice President known for being liberal on issues and associated with Hubert Humphrey, Carter's Vice President Walter Mondale changed the office more than anyone else. He moved it from the Senate to the White House, where it has been since. He also ran for President twice, and ended up with a 49-state blowout. Yet, he never doubted what he did was right.

Partisan-Statesman: Chester Arthur May 13, 2025

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Those that know the full story of Chester Arthur know he became President and instituted controls on replacing workers in the civil service. That's largely because a tragic shooting made him President and he, in a statesman-like way, implemented his sucessor's programs.

But as Vice President, Arthur was all Stalwart. The Stalwarts, Half-Breeds and Independents fought each other as much as today's Republicans and Demcorats. He was opposed to Half-Breed Garfield's appointments and spent his vice-presidency fighting his own President and supporting his President's political enemy.

But once Garfield was shot, VP Arthur signaled a change in his ways. By deliberately not coming to Washington. We tell the story.

Great Goliath - George Clinton Apr 19, 2025

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Large in his time, mostly passed over in history, George Clinton's ascention to the vice presidency would not have surprised contemporaries. If anything, he was a contender for the top office. He was a giant in New York State, and in the democratic-republican movement in the nation. But his stand against The Constitution, his opposition to the new state of Vermont, and a parade of well-spoken competitors in ambition limited him. Thus he rose to VP, an office that he warned against creating. Clinton's warnings about the system of American government, likely written under an alias (Cato) may have earned him few friends among historians or in his time, but we read some of them as they could contain wisdom.

Disinterested Friend - Elbridge Gerry Apr 15, 2025

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Elbridge Gerry was never a speaker with "thunder in his voice," per one contemporary description, and he was hard to pin down in terms of his politics, yet that may have made him persuasive. A compromiser and a critic, a pro-government and pro-liberty who hated both mobs and dictatorship. His experience may have been

The Forlorn Hope: Richard Mentor Johnson Jan 20, 2024

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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.

The Shoemaker: Henry Wilson Oct 23, 2023

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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.

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