University of Virginia Center for Politics



University of Virginia Center for Politics

The Vice-Presidency: Choosing a Running Mate

Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to examine the role of the Vice President and how that role has changed in the modern era. Students will determine the importance of selecting a running mate in a Presidential election.

Objectives:

1. Students will define the role of the Vice Presidency in order to describe how that role has changed in the modern era.

2. Students will identify criteria used in selecting a vice-presidential candidate in order to evaluate the candidates in the 2004 election.

Key Words:

Running Mate Balance the Ticket

Materials:

1. Handout, Let’s Hear a Cheer for the Veeps

2. Transparency, Cheney as Puppeteer

3. Handout, The Evolving Role of the Vice-President (Forms A and B)

4. Transparency, Vice -Presidential Doggies.

5. Handout, Balancing the Ticket

6. Evaluation sheet, The Changing Role of the Vice-Presidency

7. Instructions, Vice-Presidential Blues

Procedure:

1. Warm Up. Place the following directions on the board or overhead.

a. List all of the Presidents that you can remember.

b. List all of the Vice Presidents that you can remember.

Divide the class in half and assign them to either direction a or b.

Compare results. Ask the students with assignment a why they had greater success then the students with assignment b.

• What does this infer about the role of the Vice President?

• Why do Presidential candidates expend so much effort in choosing a Vice Presidential candidate?

2. Distribute the article, Let’s Hear a Cheer for the Veeps. Have the students answer the following questions based on the article.

• How does the author use satire to illustrate his opinion of the role of the vice-president?

• What can the reader infer about the role of the Vice President from this article?

3. Place the transparency, Cheney as Pupeteer on the overhead. Ask students what this illustration is saying about the role of the Vice Presidency today.

• How does this contrast with the article we just read?

4. Have students read the article, The Evolving Role of the VP either version A or B. Students should answer the following guide questions in response to the article:

• How has the relationship between the President and Vice President changed in the last 30 years?

• In the author’s view, why has the role of Vice President become more important in modern times?

5. To summarize the first objective have the students read the following quote and create a new quote that would better describe the modern role of the Vice President.

"I can only do two things: one is to sit up here and listen to you birds talk....The other is to look at newspapers every morning to see how the president's health is." 

Vice President Charles Dawes

6. Explain to students that with the role of the Vice President becoming more defined the need to choose a running mate (Vice Presidential candidate) has become crucial to running a campaign. Ask the students to work with a partner to brainstorm a list of criteria that would be important in choosing a vice-presidential candidate. After reviewing their answers formalize the list by stating that a candidate will try to balance the ticket by choosing a running mate. They will try to choose a candidate that has strengths and characteristics that they themselves do not posess and thus try to attract voters who may have otherwise have voted for the other candidate. They will try to balance the ticket:

• Politically- they will try to choose someone who will counter their political ideology (further to the center or to the right or left)

• Geographically- choosing someone from another region of the country- particularly a region that tends to support another candidate.

• Culturally- a candidate will try to pick someone from another social or cultural group. For example, a younger candidate, a woman or minority.

7. Have the students look at the political cartoon, Vice Presidential Doggies. What is this cartoon implying about the selection of John Edwards as a vice-presidential candidate in comparison with Dick Cheney.

8. Using the handout, Balancing the Ticket have the students examine the candidates for the vice-presidency and identify how each balances the ticket. Visit crystalball/ and click on the President prompt on the left hand column of the home page. Have the students read, Veep! Veep! It’s Edwards, and The Cheney Dilemma. For further information on the current presidential candidates visit . Students should share their research and discuss how each candidate helps or hurts either the President or John Kerry in the upcoming election.

9. To assess student understanding of the objectives ask the students to respond to the following quote using the evaluation sheet, The Changing Role of the Vice-Presidency.

“ The Vice-President has only one serious thing to do: that is, to wait around for the President to die. This is hardly the basis for a cordial and enduring friendship.”

Arthur M. Schlesinger

As an alternative assessment have the students work with a partner to write a song entitled, “The Vice-Presidential Blues.” Use this activity to assess student knowledge of the changing role of the vice-presidency. Students can perform their songs to the class.

Extension Activity:

1. Have the students research a Vice President prior to 1976. Use as a resource. Have the students participate in a Vice Presidents Convention in which they act as the Vice President they researched. Students could have a forum on, “The Vice Presidency: How it Has Changed.” Discussion topics could be:

• The role of television on the vice-presidency

• Why be friends: The Changing Relationships of Presidents and Vice Presidents

• Strategies for balancing a ticket

Hint: There are some great trivia questions on the Vice Presidents web page that could be used for some fun ice-breaker activities at your forum.

Let's hear a cheer for the veeps

By JEFF KRAMER

Courtesy of The Orange County Register

 

Go ahead - pour yourself that second cup of coffee. Kick back. Your long weekend just got longer. I'm declaring today Vice Presidents Day. It's time No. 2 got its due.

No, my declaration isn't official. That's where you come in. If you do nothing else today, write your Congress Person and demand that we honor the contributions of our second top bananas.

 

These semi-great figures are familiar to us all. Alben Barkley. Schuyler Colfax. Hannibal Hamlin. You'll recall that Hamlin was Abe Lincoln's lightly regarded VP who spent the Civil War cloistered in the 1860s equivalent of an "undisclosed location" - Maine.

 

Dan Coen, who runs (yes, really) listed Hamlin as his favorite.

"He was vice president for four years and had no impact,'' Coen said. "Then, in the second term, he's kicked out and Andrew Johnson replaces him. And a month later, Lincoln is assassinated. That's the whole vice presidency in a nutshell."

 

The utter pointlessness of the post was also captured by Richard Nixon's veep, Spiro Agnew, who once quipped, "A little over a week ago, I took a rather unusual step for a vice president. ... I said something."  If only he'd stopped there.

 

All I'm saying is that it isn't too much to ask to set aside a day to honor this rich vice presidential heritage. Look what we'd gain:

 

A four-day weekend.

A healthy, national acknowledgement that you don't always have to be No. 1. Sometimes No. 2 is OK.

A four-day weekend - but I guess I said that already.

Initial reaction to my proposed holiday was mixed when I floated it yesterday in Orange County's second-largest city, Anaheim.

 

"I don't think vice president is really anything special,'' said Raul Corea, 23, working the parts counter at Pep Boys. "Do you ever look for the second in command in anything?"

 

Yes, Raul, I do. Presently, I look for him to run the country.

 

Linda, a Kmart clerk, was more enthusiastic.  "That would be great,'' she said. "But we won't get it off."

 

Linda, you work for Kmart. Something tells me getting days off won't be a problem.

Also on board with Vice President's Day was Huntington Beach Muffler, which, coincidentally, donated a stainless-steel muffler and tailpipe to my reader-financed van, the Ethics Mobile.

 

Today only, owner Steve Tustison is offering a 5 percent Vice President's Day discount on any new muffler. 

Cheney as Puppeteer

[pic]

Version A

The Evolving Role of the Vice Presidency

Dan Coen, President and Publisher



6/1/01

While Dick Cheney may already be the most influential vice president in history, much of that honor stems from his close relationship with President George W. Bush. More importantly, it is Bush’s willingness to provide Cheney with the authority to make decisions and exert influence that has catapulted Cheney into such a dominant role. 

It wasn’t always that way. From our first Vice President, John Adams, through the mid 1970’s, our Presidents have always controlled and closely monitored the power wielded by their Vice President. In fact, in some cases, the Presidents selected Vice Presidents from the least threatening rather than the most qualified prospects. How many people recognize names such as Garrett Hobart, Schyler Colfax and William King? For over a century, the position of Vice President was so ill defined that it didn't even own a branch of Government, much less any responsible duties within the Government. In the early days, the office was considered to be less a part of the Executive wing, and more a part of the Legislative wing. The sitting Vice President was considered to be neither an ally of the President he served, nor of the Senate he chaired.

In the nineteenth and mid twentieth centuries, the Vice President regularly presided over the Senate, owned an office in the Senate, and saw the President about as much as did other members of Congress. Once, while presiding over the Senate, Vice President Charles Dawes stated casually to a Senator "I can only do two things: one is to sit up here and listen to you birds talk....The other is to look at newspapers every morning to see how the president's health is." 

This situation is well-grounded in our Constitution, which vested little actual power or responsibility in the Vice President. To preside over the Senate and cast tie-breaking votes were the only true duties specified. In fact, the founding fathers never specified that the office of the Vice President was to be filled in the event it was ever left vacant – so on eleven different occasions the country has operated without a sitting Vice President. (From 1850-1857, the country had a Vice President for 30 days.)

Instead, the scope of the power, responsibilities, and opportunities of the Vice President were left strictly in the hands of the President. Abraham Lincoln thought so little of his Vice President, Hannibal Hamlin, that Hamlin lived much of his time in his home state of Maine, where Hamlin had no influence on the management of the nation's Civil War. Franklin D. Roosevelt had three different Vice Presidents serve with him over his four elected terms, and he relied on none of them to help manage the Depression and World War II.

It has only been since 1977, when Jimmy Carter vested Walter Mondale with true access and a partnership in executing policy that the Vice President of the United States has taken an increasingly responsible role in managing the country. Today, people under forty would be shocked to learn that the Vice President was not a dominant force in almost every administration from Washington through Ford. The influence that Walter Mondale, George Bush Sr, Dan Quayle, Al Gore and Dick Cheney have exerted during their administrations, to an extent that would dwarf the responsibilities of all prior Vice Presidents has changed the future landscape of the Vice Presidency.

So why has the Vice Presidency changed so dramatically in the past 25 years? The answers may be traced to two fundamental changes in the culture of our society. First, the dominant role of the media in our country has vitalized the office. The Internet, 24-hour news networks, constant political commentators, increased technology, and the glorified celebrity of public figures due greatly to television has turned the role of the Vice President into a national celebrity. More of the country knows about, recognizes and has opinions about the Vice President today than 150 years ago. Today’s Vice President, as the point person on a multitude of administration issues, speaks on news shows, writes columns, heads critical task agencies, and represents the President in meetings with world figures. The American media culture has created this opportunity. The Vice President simply can’t hide from society. The national interest demands that the Vice President work, and be held accountable for the decisions and results of his administration. Whereas in 1872 Vice President Henry Wilson could spend all of his working days writing a three-volume history of the United States (2 volumes published in 1872 and 1874), Vice President Dick Cheney must be actively involved with the day-to-day implementation of all facets of public policies. The President, due to political realities, must embrace his Vice President as a leader in the administration. President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush have recognized this reality more than any other Presidents in the nation's history. As society has changed, the very position of the Vice President has attained mammoth growth.

Second, because the Vice Presidency is a perceived platform to the Presidency, better quality individuals have accepted the role of Vice President and relish the opportunity to serve. Walter Mondale, George Bush Sr., Al Gore and Dick Cheney, four of the past five Vice Presidents, were far more qualified for the office than almost all of the previous Vice Presidents since 1804. Mondale, Bush and Gore each earned his party's nomination for President after his term as Vice President was completed. Bob Dole, Lloyd Bentsen, Jack Kemp and Joseph Lieberman, four of the nominees for Vice President since 1976, are leading national political figures that readily accepted the challenge of being candidates for Vice President. Bentsen, Kemp and Dole all have been candidates for their party's Presidential nomination. In fact, since 1976, with the exception of Geraldine Ferraro (1984), every Vice President and Vice Presidential candidate has campaigned for their party's nomination as President. The office has simply become a breeding ground for the White House. Yet for nearly a century and a half the office of Vice President was regularly considered to be a lesser post than even State government positions. Daniel Webster, the powerful United States Senator in the mid nineteenth century, outright refused to accept the office of Vice President, and many dozens of well qualified individuals would never have dreamed of accepting a role of Vice President that so limited their abilities to achieve other results. History shows that from 1804 to 1968, only one Vice President (Martin Van Buren) assumed the Presidency for the first time via direct election. All other Vice Presidents that assumed the office for the first time gained the office through the death of a President. That's thirty-five Vice Presidents that were never directly elected to the Presidency after serving as Vice President. Today’s media culture has transformed the Vice Presidency into an office that leading political figures strive for. The most qualified political figures position themselves to earn a place as number two on the ticket, if for no other reason than for the opportunity to gain a shot to become number one four or eight years hence. Because of our media culture, and due to political and social realities, the office of Vice President has achieved an epic growth in powers and responsibilities since our founding fathers gave so little thought to the job in 1787.

Version B

The Evolving Role of the Vice Presidency

Dan Coen, President and Publisher



6/1/01

While Dick Cheney may already be the most influential Vice President in history, much of that honor stems from his close relationship with President George W. Bush. His influence has increased because President Bush has been willing to provide Cheney with the power to make decisions. It wasn’t always that way. Until the 1970’s little consideration was given to the role of vice-president. In fact, in some cases, the Presidents selected Vice-Presidents from the least threatening rather than the most qualified prospects. How many people recognize names such as Garrett Hobart, Schyler Colfax and William King?. Up until the 1970’s the vice-president rarely saw the President. Once, while presiding over the Senate, Vice President Charles Dawes stated casually to a Senator "I can only do two things: one is to sit up here and listen to you birds talk....The other is to look at newspapers every morning to see how the president's health is." 

Paragraph prehension Check: Highlight the answers to these questions.

• Why is Dick Cheney regarded as the most influential vice-president in history?

• What qualities did Presidents look for in a vice-president prior to the 1970’s

The Constitution gives very little responsibility to the Vice President. To preside over the Senate and cast tie-breaking votes were the only true duties specified. In fact, the founding fathers never specified that the office of the Vice President was to be filled in the event it was ever left vacant – so on eleven different occasions the country has operated without a sitting Vice President. It has only been since 1977, when Jimmy Carter vested Walter Mondale with true access and a partnership in executing policy that the Vice President of the United States has taken an increasingly responsible role in managing the country. Today, people under forty would be shocked to learn that the Vice President was not a dominant force in almost every administration from Washington through Ford. The influence that Walter Mondale, George Bush Sr, Dan Quayle, Al Gore and Dick Cheney have used during their administrations would dwarf the accomplishments of all prior Vice Presidents.

Paragraph 2. Comprehension Check: Highlight the answers to these questions.

• What responsibilities does the Constitution grant the VicePresident?

• How many times has the nation been without a Vice President?

• Who was the first President to use his Vice President to enforce public policy?

So why has the Vice Presidency changed so dramatically in the past 25 years? The answers may be traced to two fundamental changes in the culture of our society.

First, the dominant role of the media in our country has vitalized the office. The Internet, 24-hour news networks, constant political commentators, increased technology, and the glorified celebrity of public figures due greatly to television has turned the role of the Vice President into a national celebrity. More of the country knows about, recognizes and has opinions about the Vice President today than 150 years ago. Today’s Vice President, speaks on news shows, writes columns, heads critical task agencies, and represents the President in meetings with world figures. The American media culture has created this opportunity. The Vice President simply can’t hide from society. The national interest demands that the Vice President work, and be held accountable for the decisions and results of his administration. Whereas in 1872 Vice President Henry Wilson could spend all of his working days writing a three-volume history of the United States (2 volumes published in 1872 and 1874), Vice President Dick Cheney must be actively involved with the day-to-day implementation of public policy. The President must embrace his Vice President as a leader in the administration. President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush have recognized this reality more than any other Presidents in the nation's history. As society has changed, the very position of the Vice President has attained mammoth growth.

Paragraph 3. Comprehension Check: Highlight the answer to this question.

• How has the media changed the role of the Vice President?

Second, because the Vice Presidency is a platform to the Presidency, better quality individuals have accepted the role of Vice President and relish the opportunity to serve. Walter Mondale, George Bush Sr., Al Gore and Dick Cheney, four of the past five Vice Presidents, were far more qualified for the office than almost all of the previous Vice Presidents since 1804. In fact, since 1976, with the exception of Geraldine Ferraro (1984), every Vice President and Vice Presidential candidate has campaigned for their party's nomination as President. The office has simply become a breeding ground for the White House. Daniel Webster, the powerful United States Senator in the mid nineteenth century, outright refused to accept the office of Vice President because it would have prevented him from achieving other results. History shows that from 1804 to 1968, only one Vice President (Martin Van Buren) assumed the Presidency for the first time via direct election. All other Vice Presidents that assumed the office for the first time gained the office through the death of a President. That's thirty-five Vice Presidents that were never directly elected to the Presidency after serving as Vice President. Today’s media culture has transformed the Vice Presidency into an office that leading political figures strive for. The most qualified political figures position themselves to earn a place as number two on the ticket, if for no other reason than for the opportunity to gain a shot to become the president. The office of Vice President has achieved an epic growth in power and responsibility since our founding fathers gave so little thought to the job in 1787.

Paragraph 4. Comprehension Check

• Why are more people willing to accept the role of Vice President today?

Summary Questions.

1. How has the role of Vice President changed since the 1970’s?

2. What does the author cite as the major reasons for these changes?

3. Do you agree with the author that increased media attention makes it necessary for a Vice President to more active in policy issues? Why or why not?

4. Why do you think that most Vice Presidents are given their party’s nomination for President following their term in office?

Vice Presidential Doggies

[pic]

What is the cartoonist implying about the selection of John Edwards as a Vice Presidential candidate in comparison with Vice President Dick Cheney?

Balancing the Ticket:

Choosing a Running Mate

[pic]

Presidential Candidates

Republican Democrat

George W. Bush John Kerry

Texas Massachusetts

Former Governor State Senator

Strengths: Strengths:

Weaknesses: Weaknesses:

Dick Cheney John Edwards

Political Qualities: Political Qualities:

Geographic Qualities: Geographic Qualities:

Social/Cultural Qualities: Social/Cultural Qualities:

How does each of the Vice Presidential Candidates address the weaknesses of the Presidential candidate they are running with?

In your opinion, how much influence does the selection of a Vice Presidential candidate have on an election? Why do you believe this?

The Changing Role of the Vice Presidency

Evaluation Sheet

Evaluate your knowledge of the changing role of the Vice Presidency by responding to the following quote and prompts in an organized essay.

The famous historian Arthur M. Schlesinger described the relationship between Presidents and Vice Presidents prior to 1976 with the following quote:

The Vice President has only one serious thing to do: that is to

wait around for the President to die. This is hardly the basis

for a cordial and enduring friendship.

Using your knowledge from this lesson to prove that Schlesinger’s statement is no longer valid. Address the following in your argument.

• How has the role of Vice President changed in modern times?

• Why must the President and Vice President have a different relationship today then in the past?

• How has the criteria for choosing a Vice Presidential candidate changed as a result of the evolution of the office?

• How important is choosing a running mate to the outcome of a Presidential campaign?

[pic] Vice Presidential Blues

The Blues is a uniquely American musical form that is used to sing about hardships, heartache, passions, religion and politics. Many songs share the hope that a better day is coming.

In thinking about the traditional role of a Vice President it is easy to see how these men may have felt like, “singing the blues.”

Imagine that you are a Vice President. Write a blues song that will explain the following information.

• Describe the traditional role of Vice President. Why was this job “depressing” in the past?

• How has the role of the Vice President changed throughout time?

• Why is it important for a Presidential candidate to choose a running mate?

Example:

I’m all alone

I’m so sad.

All alone- in Maine.

No one to advise- Traditional Role of the Vice President

I’m in so much pain.

I’m not wanted unless there is death.

The President shuns me-

I’m seen as a threat.

But my time

It is a comin’

The television shows me

Forming an opinion. How that role has changed in the modern era

The President needs me

Now ain’t that a shame.

I’m planning my own-

Political campaign.

I was chosen

‘Cause I am the best

And especially because

I am from the west. Importance of balancing the ticket

I balance the ticket

And make him look fine

That will be great at election time.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download