Vice Presidents of the U.S. 1789-1993

Book excerpt: Holding the least understood and most often ignored constitutional office in the federal government, American vice presidents have included some remarkable individuals. The men who served as vice president of the U.S. varied greatly in their talents and aptitude for the post. What they generally had in common was political ambition and experience in public office. This book tells the stories of these diverse individuals and hence the development of the vice presidency itself. It includes a lengthy introduction to the office of vice president; an illustrated chapter on each vice president in chronological order; an appendix listing major party presidential and vice-presidential candidates, 1788-1992; and a bibliography.